Come down, come down sweet reverence

Jynn had a bounce in her step most of the journey back to Tojo. Her meeting with the young Hemlock alphess had gone well and they'd arranged a practice raid for a bounty of herbs and ale added to the winner's purse by Hemlock and sake and tea on Tojo's side. This would be an excellent experience for the youth. Not only the march all the way north but the actual fighting as well. She couldn't wait!

When she arrived back she took a moment to report her news to Hattori and then rest for a few days before calling the meeting.

The morning of the meeting dawned crisp and cool. Sunlight filtered through the bamboo leaves, offering a few fleeting patches of warmth. Jynn moved to the main gathering area in the bamboo and barked out her call to the youth of Tojo and any other that wished to participate in a raid to answer and gather.

ooc: Deadline September 14th, noon CST.

Keito awoke to the crisp embrace of the morning air, sunlight weaving through the bamboo and casting dappled patterns on the ground. The clear call of Jynn reached his ears, summoning the youth of Tojo. A raid? This was the moment he'd been waiting for, an opportunity to prove his worth and bring honor to his family.

He swiftly donned his gear, securing his blade and adjusting his armor with practiced precision. As he stepped outside, the scent of fresh bamboo mingled with the subtle hint of excitement in the air. Keito made his way toward the main gathering area, his footsteps light yet purposeful.

Arriving, he joined the assembling group, offering a respectful bow to Jynn. "Jynn-san," he greeted, his voice steady, "I stand ready to contribute to our cause and represent Tojo-Kai with honor."

His eyes reflected a seriousness and a hint of anticipation. He wondered who he would be against in the raid, and if it would be as embarrassing as fighting some of his family members could be. Couldn't be worse than that, right?

"Speech"

CODE BY SIN

Majima usually rose early, but the chill of the autumn was intense and he'd found himself more easily excusing choosing to remain warm for a while longer than her otherwise might. But it wasn't a good enough excuse to miss the call echoing off the bamboo. With a grumble the young Hattori got himself up and after stretching and shaking himself out headed to answer the call for a raid. Admittedly he was eager for a chance to actually get a little violent, even if he couldn't go all out what he wanted was someone he could really sink his fangs into. A real fight. Majima arrived only shortly after Keito, and offered Jynn his own dip of his head though did not give up his own vocal greeting before settling himself beside his brother and giving him a small nudge, raised brows the closest thing to a smile he would get right now. He too was curious who they were raiding, and who he might get a chance to actually go up against. Maybe he'd get an opponent his own size for once, already outgrown by the majority of his siblings. He wondered idly if he'd see the small wolf-dog he'd met what felt like a lifetime ago, before he tried to shake the memory of him from his mind. "Speech"

Art by Talia!

Kaizen still had so much to learn, but he knew just wanting something did not mean it would simply land in his paws- as frustrating as that may be. Even Hattori himself had to make sacrifices to get where he was today, the yearling did not expect or even want a free ride, but the anticipation that something, somewhere down the line may go wrong? He did not like change, not one bit. Still, he heeded Jynn's call, he could finish descaling this fish later, he knew he had to present, make it clear he was willing to make the effort. Do what needed to be done.

By the time he arrived at the communal area, two of his brothers were already present. Majima was a given but Kaizen was still...quietly pleased Keito had returned, that Hattori had welcomed him back into the fold without much of a fuss. Remaining standing, Kaizen offered his brothers, then Jynn a polite nod.

"Good morning." He greeted in their native tongue, voice not as deep as he'd like thanks to pesky puberty.

Seiko wouldn't miss out on an opportunity like this for anything. This was exactly what they'd been training for, after all. To defend their family's honor. Not that anything about Jynn's call indicated a situation anything like that. Still - wanting to prove to themselves that they could when necessary was important. And exciting. Their heart beat a little bit harder in their chest with anticipation as they headed toward the meeting. Many of their siblings had already arrived, which earned a slow nod of approval from Seiko. They took a deep breath of the crisp morning air, moving to settle in and wait for what Jynn had to say.

Takeji had spent the dawn hours traversing the outer edge of the bamboo, something between scouting and exercising. He knew his young body had a ways to go before maturing into fighting-fit adulthood, but he would do what he could to speed the process along. So it was that when Jynn's call rang out from farther within, he was eager to turn and divert his attention wholly to her summons. By the time he arrived he saw that several of his siblings had preceded him. Keji first gave a deep and respectful nod to Jynn before catching eye contact with his brothers and sibling, a more informal greeting with a hint of a smile. He wasn't certain what would come of this, but it also wasn't his primary concern either. While the results did matter, and of course he wanted to prove himself capable, it would be more accurate to say the young male wanted to push himself. Real combat with wolves outside the Clan would be an invaluable lesson and win or lose he planned to reap as much as he could from the experience. He settled himself, posture upright and intent, and waited for their meeting to begin. "Talk" "Listen" Think