Autumn was Hattori's favourite time of year. Made him feel as though he bled into the scenery, like he belonged. The climate was far more agreeable too, a distant cry from the sweltering summer nights that made sleep difficult, like a hare he couldn't catch no matter how hard he pursued it. Maybe it was Tenshi's tea though, working its wonders, either way he was settled and content enough. Sayuri's absence was still felt, but not like a wound...more like the feeling of looking upon a felled tree. The moment of realisation that it would never grow again, that its branches would soon fall barren, that it had shifted into something else. Loss, but somehow not quite.

And yet something's stayed the same, as they should. Some might argue Tojo was too cut off, irrelevant in the political scheme of things, but in Hattori's mind this was how it ought to be. If he was needed, most knew where to find him and that ought to be enough, no?

Allowing his musings to simper to an end, he eyed the rolling waves ahead of him. The water was a little fiercer here than the Bay, had more of a temperament as it rolled back and forth up the beach. He hadn't come here when it was so warm, but as a drizzle began to fall he noted he liked this place enough. That if nothing else it was worthy of consideration when it was time to expand. Did they need more fishing grounds though? Not really, the Bay provided all they needed and so he turned his sights to the Oaks instead.

This land was dark and shady, full of ancient and gnarled trees whose trunks held seasons of stories...if they could speak. There was plenty of space to hide, to disappear just as easily as in the Bamboo Maze. It felt right, enclosed and private, befitting of Tojo's nature.

"Speech"

Sedna was there when she was needed and not when she wasn’t. It was in her nature. Today she had spent her time in the shaded dusty oaks, collecting ferns and mushrooms, barks and sap. It was a veritable grove of useful things. As much as she loved the way the wind whispered through the bamboo like the wind through willow leaves, there was only so much use she could make of bamboo.

The rolling waves drew her out, towards the beach that would prove the easiest walk home. It was always like emerging from somewhere hidden, out of her old life and back to her new. The trip north had been a disaster, all things considered. Perhaps, she wouldn’t bother making the journey again. If anyone wanted her, they knew where to find her if she just stayed put.

Her steps slowed as Hattori came into view, a small grin pulling at one corner of her lips. Raijin had been working hard to teach her his native tongue and her children taking a preference for it only accelerated her learning, although some of the words still felt the wrong shape in her mouth. “Kaicho, you seem pensive this evening.” She gestured to Otis to continue on his way home with the supplies he carried, she would follow with the rest soon, but at least her family wouldn’t be left wondering if something terrible had befallen her if he wasn’t in a panic.

“Speech”

home is where you are loved the most and act the worst

The Archer stood out amongst the shadows of the trees, dark yet light with her dappled nebula markings. Hattori liked Sedna and as strange was it was to think, he thought she was a good fit for his cousin. Level-headed, a reasonable sort of woman who did not get underpaw but still paid her dues, had well and truly earned her place amongst the wolves of Tojo. Was a clan mate through and through. To say he seemed pensive was...not entirely inaccurate, he supposed it showed on his face. He had much to think about and she was as good as any wolf to discuss matters with, was smarter than most and often held a unique perspective.

"Sedna." He greeted, voice level and calm, carrying the barest hint of appreciation. "What do you make of these Oaks? If we ever had a need to expand, do you think it would be worthwhile to claim them as our own?"

It was all hypothetical for now, no moves had been made yet and he would refrain till he truly saw a need. But knowing it was possible, that the groundwork was already in place would make the effort far easier in the long run.

To say she had spent a significant amount of time with her packmates was an extreme understatement. Since she had joined, she did help out here and there, but most of her had been outside of the lands up until recently. What did she do out there, one might wonder? She did what she did best. She scouted and spied, gathered information on the world outside of Tojo. The koi pack was reclusive, keeping to themselves which was perfectly fine by her, she didn't mind it. But she felt that she needed more information about the world she had come to, the wolves that were different than what she was used to. Being among the koi clan here helped her to feel at home...but then again, her original home while it was something she didn't mind, her father's way of rule was something she couldn't stand. Hence why she was here now, and not there.

As she made her return to the maze, she crossed Hanzo's scent heading towards the ancient oaks that resided nearby. Hm? Altering her course, she figured she ought to report to him about the goings on - assuming he didn't already know. Fall in Auster was here, and she couldn't help but notice how easy it might be for the alpha to blend in if he so wished. As she tracked him down, her steps slowed when she heard his voice, and the voice of another. She generally wasn't the type to cut into someone else's conversation, but she supposed the timing of this was right. She was returning from gathering intel, and she didn't just want to walk up in silence. "It's quiet here. The trees have many stories to tell, I am sure." She quipped as she made herself known.

"Kaicho," She greeted, dipping her head in respect before turning to the woman she wasn't quite familiar with and giving her a dip of her head as well, "I've just returned from the other side of the land bridge, gathering information. However, my curiosity is piqued with this place and its potential future with the Clan."

"Sakura Haruno"