Yume wanted to sleep, but rest eluded her. Her mind wouldn’t stop racing, and the memories were beginning to surface—fragments she had tried so hard to keep buried. They slipped through the cracks of her resolve, one after another until her eyes welled up with tears. She remembered something striking her head, the blinding pain that followed, and then the icy grip of the water closing in around her. After that, only darkness. The pieces fit together too easily, but she refused to accept the truth. She didn’t want to believe it—not yet, not now.

The night around her was achingly beautiful as if mocking her turmoil. The moon hung high and radiant, casting its soft silver glow over the archipelago. The stars were scattered like diamonds across the velvet sky, bright and endless. Despite everything, the sight calmed her, if only a little. Her eyes, glistening with unshed tears, lingered on the familiar constellations. Even here, so far from home, the stars remained unchanged, a constant she could cling to. They felt like old friends, watching over her from above.

"Oogumaza," she whispered, her gaze resting on Ursa Major. Her voice was soft, trembling slightly as she spoke. She turned her head, tracing the constellations with her finger as she repeated their names. "Kogumaza, Orionza, Shishiza..." Her native tongue flowed like a gentle melody, each word grounding her in a world that had started to feel so foreign. The repetition soothed her frayed nerves, each name a small reminder of who she was and where she came from. The night’s beauty wrapped around her like a fragile cocoon, holding her together for just a little longer.

""

code by Cloudy

hover speech for translation

If he was being honest with himself, he had come here to sulk. The last few months had ground him down to his very essence and he felt more despondent with each passing day. A failure, a failure, a failure. He had survived the gargantuan ice worm, the blood red sky had faded, he had returned home only to have his rear end handed back to him by the Hallows heir apparent... Katsu felt less than worthless. An unworthy blight on his family's name. Still, Tojo-kai had prevailed, and a small celebration had broken out in the after math of the raid. Fires flickered with warmth and all of his many, many siblings traded stories of battle glory and tales of other successes they had. Kat had remained silent, stayed as long as was necessary, and dissipated like mist once he was able to.

Brimstone Lake edged a few of their territories, but he'd never been particularly fond of the place. Sulfur and brimstone belched from the crater assaulted his senses, but the sky above was a worthy trade. Outside of the bamboo and tall oak trees, it lay out in front of him like a vast glittering carpet that stretched far over the ocean and to distant lands. Midori gave a reproachful squawk, perched in one of the oaks that stood tall before the tree line gave way to black rock and stony cove. Kat fixed him with a firm glare. Yes, the bird thought it would behoove him to return to the celebration, but he'd already fucked this whole year up - what was shirking more social niceties?

Still, Midori had a point. He would only steal a few more moments before slinking back. Kat edged around the base of the crater and towards the shoreline, avoiding that particular cove which was home to a host of nasty spiders. A single passing glance towards that shadowy area highlighted the form of a small, lone female. He didn't want to alarm her, but his father and elders had always impressed the importance of staying away from that place. The creatures that dwelled there had frightening venom at their disposal, and the idea of leaving this poor girl to die here shocked him into action past his typical reserved exterior.

He trotted up quickly, ears pricked, only to catch faint murmurs of his mother tongue on her lips. Kat froze. He'd never heard anyone outside of Tojo-kai speak the language. "Koko ni wa kumo ga sunde imasu. Totemo kiken'na kumodesu. Anata wa Tōjō-kai no kyakudesu ka?" Katsu flicked his eyes and gestured slowly towards the shadowy cove behind them. He couldn't picture anyone on their shores speaking this language without knowing of Tojo-kai or his father. "Pātī made tsurete kaerimasu kara, tsuite kite kudasai." It was comforting, actually, to speak this language with someone who didn't belong to his pack or family. His usual trepidation with greeting and interacting with new wolves burned off like so much mist beneath a high noon sun. She must belong here, mustn't she?

"speech"

coded by NachoMumma

Gazing at the stars helped ease the tension in her chest. She traced each constellation she could remember, whispering their names to herself like a calming mantra. Her eyes lingered on the brighter dots in the sky, trying to pinpoint the planets she recognized, though the effort became repetitive. Still, the ritual kept her grounded.

She couldn’t help but wish Fujiko were here. Her sister would have known what to do, how to get home. She would have it all figured out in an instant, and she'd be along for the ride. But Fujiko wasn’t here, and the ache of that absence lingered.

The soft crunch of footsteps broke her concentration. She stiffened, ears flattening instinctively against her head as she turned toward the sound. Was she allowed to be here? The thought struck her as her eyes locked on the approaching figure. His scent reached her first—faint yet oddly familiar. It stirred a memory, something tied to marked borders she’d crossed in her recent travels. Before she could dwell too long, he spoke, his voice cutting through the quiet. As soon as he mentioned the spiders, she perked up.

“Ehh? Kumo???” Ehh? Spiders???

Her eyes widened, and she pulled a paw to her chest, recoiling instinctively. “Kimochi warui!” How disgusting!" she blurted, her voice trembling slightly. Her gaze darted around anxiously, scanning the ground for any sign of the eight-legged creatures. Much to her relief, she didn’t see any.

It took her a moment to register that he had said something else.

“Tojo-kai?” she repeated, tilting her head in confusion. The name was unfamiliar, and she couldn’t quite figure out what it meant. “Sore wa.. anata no kazoku desu ka?” Is that your family? she asked cautiously, her voice softening as her curiosity took over.

When he mentioned a celebration, her nerves gave way to excitement. “Ehhh, Pātī?” she asked, stepping closer without realizing it. Her eyes sparkled with interest, and her tail flicked slightly behind her. “Nani o iwatte imasu ka?" What are you celebrating?

For the first time in a long while, she felt at ease speaking her native tongue. The words flowed naturally, the comfort of familiarity wrapping around her like a warm blanket. He was the first person on her travels who understood her language, and that simple connection made her heart feel lighter.
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code by Cloudy

Katsu didn't want to alarm her further, but she was right to be nervous. He was ever aware of his size and might as he grew older - it could be intimidating, and some wolves used it like a cudgel to subjugate. Perhaps he'd better use his words. "Watashi wa kumo ni ichiban chikai anata no tonari ni suwarimasuga, watashitachi futari tomo sugu ni idō suru hitsuyō ga arimasu." Kat moved slowly around the smaller female in a wide semi-circle until he sat close on the side closest to where the cove lay, keeping one eye on the shadows and the other on the girl. "Watashinonamaeha Hattori Katsurō de, Tōjō-kai wa watashinokazokudesu. Kono gengo o hanasu hito de watashitachi no koto o shiranaihito ni atta koto wa arimasen." His brows furrowed as he spoke. It was true enough - the only wolves he knew that spoke this language hailed from his pack, but he hadn't exactly met every inhabitant across Boreas and Auster.

A flicker in the shadows caught his attention and he stood, nudging her sharply with his shoulder. They were quick when they wanted to be. He'd seen them overtaken a young capybara who had wandered too close and the sight had been gruesome. "Hanarete, kigi no kata ni modorimashou." Stay calm, cool, collected. That much he could do. He mirrored his father's own unflappable gaze and led Yume back towards the tree line. Once they were some place safer, he could continue to answer her questions without constantly looking over his shoulder.

"speech"

coded by NachoMumma

For a brief moment, she almost forgot about the crawling menace surrounding them. But the reminder hit her like a jolt, causing her delicate ears to flatten against her head and her wide eyes to dart around the clearing once more. She couldn't see any spiders, but she could feel them—or at least imagine them—lurking in the darkness, thousands of invisible eyes boring into her from all directions. Her breath quickened, and she swallowed hard, trying not to panic. She turned to the handsome male in front of her. There was something about him that put her at ease. Despite being a stranger, his calm demeanor radiated a sense of safety she hadn’t expected to find in this strange, unsettling place. She gave a small nod, her expression uncertain but trusting.

"Hajimemashite. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu, Hattori Katsurō-san." It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Hattori Katsurō. she said softly, bowing her head with a delicate grace that spoke of upbringing and discipline. As she straightened, her mind snagged on his family name. Hattori? she thought, frowning slightly. That name didn’t ring any bells. Odd. Her family knew just about everyone of note, didn’t they? She lingered on the thought a moment longer, but before she could introduce herself, he nudged her lightly.

The contact startled her. A spider? Her heart leapt into her throat as a squeal escaped her lips. "Doko??" Where?? She practically leapt to her feet, darting after him as he began to move toward the treeline. Her panic faded slightly as she noticed his relaxed posture. He didn’t seem fazed in the slightest. She watched him carefully, noting his calmness and ease. Clearly, this wasn’t his first time dealing with these creatures. He was from here, she reasoned, probably well accustomed to the local fauna and their creepy-crawly habits. And he had to be older—right? Someone venturing out alone into these woods surely wasn’t a child.

Gathering herself, she walked a little closer and cleared her throat. "Watashi no namae wa Murasaki Yume desu."My name is Murasaki Yume. She said, her voice steadying. "Watashi no iewa Nakatomino Kō ni tsukaete imasu." My family serves the Nakatomi clan." She offered him a small, tentative smile, then added quickly, "Annooo.., Yume tte yonde kudasai. Watashi wa koko no shusshinde wa arimasen, yoku wakaranai.." But, um, please call me Yume. I'm, uhh... not from around here, I don't think..."

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code by Cloudy