Hunters Moon - IC

[arcanus]

Mt. Seorak, Sokcho, the Kingdom of Joseon - 1869.

To our most illustrious daughter,
It is with a sense of great reluctance that we must ask of you to attend to matters in far lands.

Our kingdom and the Courts are precariously balanced, the sleeping children as ever squabble and since the oekuk-saram arrived in their steel ships, they plot amongst themselves endlessly.

The orchestration of the Green Court of course offer no help in these matters but it is the plotting of the Lung and Ije that prompts me to call upon your help.

In the far lands ravaged by the Devourers storm, the restless Lung and Ije are seeking to seize a city, the city of the golden bay.

We ask you to travel to the Golden City, however it is not to stop this looming battle, as great as you are I fear this would overwhelm even you and the Beast Court cannot lose another daughter.

Many moons ago a family set forth from Joseon to the Golden Bay, the family are an ancient one, humble, they pretend no blessing from the courts or noble blood but their pedigree is honourable and true, now the last of them remains.

I would ask that under the auspice of the great guardian you find this man and offer him protection.

It is our fear that his lineage as humble as it is, has drawn dark attention and we would seek comfort in knowing that he has been gathered beneath your ward.

Travel well illustrious daughter

Your humble ancestor

Nang Ah-Hyun

[Keeper]

When the short log landed in the fire it sent bright orange sparks swiftly towards the roof of the cave. Another log joined it, sending more sparks roof-ward.
Slowly the glowing embers, darkened slightly by the addition of the logs began to birth flames upon the new wood, the light from which cast dancing shadows upon the uneven surfaces of the cave’s walls.
The fire was just inside the entrance, the smoke rolling steadily along the roof and out the entrance.
A slight figure sat cross-legged beside the reborn camp fire and warmed its hands.
Outside it rained, the staccato retort a haphazard cacophony playing out across the jungle.

It did not take long, with the addition of more dry wood, for the fire to roar, warming the cave and the dweller within.
Before long the person stood and removed her clothes, hanging the sodden material from a string that spanned one side of the cave. They began to steam.
She moved to the entrance looking out over the jungle canopy, her cliff-side retreat offering a view to the distant, unreachable mountains.
A sudden breeze chilled her naked body and she retreated from the entrance. Despite the fire, her wet clothing had chilled her deeply and she had not yet made use of the fire’s warmth.
She stood beside the flames, feeling the radiance touch her skin and sighed at the sensation.

It would be simple to change, to shift her form slightly to take on more of Tiger, envelop her form in fur and insulate her from the encroaching cold. But then she would not have the fine manipulation she required to read, or more specifically, re-read the letter she had received from court.

There were furs bundled upon a rock near the back of the cave and the young woman lay them out on the ground next to the fire then lowered herself, cross-legged once more and gave a shudder as the warmth began to permeate her chilled body.
Reaching up, she untied her long hair, black as night, yet tipped purest white and let it fall loose across her shoulders and back so that it might dry quicker.
Only then did she reach for the waxy leather pouch that contained the folder paper.
The instructions contained within the letter, upon cursory inspection, appeared innocuous enough.
They wanted her to go to the place they called the Golden City and find the descendent of Kin-Folk there and protect them.
The letter made her both curious and concerned.
Not concerned for this long lost kinsman, nor concerned for her role in the task of protecting them. But the Golden City was in what the few Europeans she had spoken with had called the New World.
What had that meant, this New World? It had begged the obvious question; where was the old world?

It was Master Huan Ho that enlightened her. He said to imagine the Europeans were just a crude and uncultured version of China, and that they had crossed an endless sea to a vast unexplored land. It was so for these brash white skinned folk and their course entourage.
He had warned her of this Golden City, saying many had left the Lands of Emerald and Jade to seek their fortune in this New World, but he had heard no good of it.
He had warned that to the Centipede this New World was a fertile place ripe for its machinations. He had warned that there were those of the chaning folk there that did not follow or know of the Paths of the Emerald Mother and the Beast Courts.
He spoke of course of the wolves, the Garou, Gaia’s proclaimed warriors. They had been the ones who had brought the wars against the other changing folk, had decimated cat and bird and crocodile and obliterated bear.

There was so much that she did not know about this Golden City, these Europeans, these Garou, this New World, and it frightened her.
But that was not all. She was going alone. No sentai, no courts. Everything would be so different. It was frightening and exciting in equal measure.

She folded the paper carefully and placed it back in the pouch.
She curled up on the furs, warm and snug and safe. Nothing would come here tonight. This was her world, here she was Empress.

It darkened outside.
The rains poured harder.
Inside the cave a seventeen year old girl slept soundly.

Water dripped at the cave mouth but it no longer rained. Sunshine beamed in and warmed the fur of the sleek white tiger that slept soundly beside a dying fire.
The creature yawned, all huge teeth and whiskers. It padded on huge paws to look out over the jungle as mist rose in wisps from the damp dank canopy.

She stretched, changing as she did back to the young woman. The clothes were dry but smelt of smoke. A small price, she considered.
Dressed, she moved to the natural pool that occupied the very rear of the cave and looked at her reflection in the water’s mirror-like surface.
Slowly the cave faded away and Cheung Moon found herself elsewhere.

[arcanus]

As she stepped from the familar surroundings of the cave, she winced as screeching emited by a swirling torrent of rage momentarily barred her transit.

It was akin to hundreds of pieces of metal scraping against each other and jarred her spirit, she shook out of her mind as she looked out from the field she had returned to, standing on a hill overlooking the Golden Harbour and the city of San Fransisco.

Ignoring the smell of the city and its port, sniffing the air she caught the scent of another, a familar scent she turned eyebrow arched.

Sat as if he had been there for perpetuity a large Siamese cat looked at her knowingly, as bold as brass he starting talking in homid Kugo
"당신은 그들이 당신을 완전히 혼자 보낼 것이라고 생각하지 않았습니다" (You didn't think they'd send you completely alone)
"당신은?" (Did you) he added, almost accusingly
She frowned, which he ignored parading past her head high and tail swishing, despite her swiping, it it flicked away mockingly
"당신이 건너면서 느꼈던 폭풍은 이 땅에 닥친 큰 재앙입니다" (The storm you felt as you crossed is the great evil that befalls this land)
He turned looking at her meaningfully
왜국사람은 폭풍을 먹는 자라고 부른다 (The waeguk-saram call it The Storm Eater)

[Keeper]

The girl wore simple, traditional travel clothes, a loose grey Tabard in Chinese style over a dark, long-sleeved top and loose pants wrapped right at the ankles. Soft but sturdy travel shoes covered her feet. She had had a cloth bundle across her shoulders.
Moon blinked incredulously at the cat for a moment, then remembered her manners.
Bowing she said "안녕하세요 공식적인" (annyeonghaseyo), greeting the cat politely and formally. "I am Cheung Moon, I am honoured and pleased to meet you."
"I was told I would travel alone. I did not see you on the voyage over, were you here already?" she asked

[arcanus]

Moon concentrated calling upon her power, allowing her physical senses to merge with her spirit.

Her vision was overlaid with swirling colours as she looked upon the cat, her gift allowing her to see the true nature of things, however although it indicated power it revealed little other than this was a cat that could talk homid.

[arcanus]

The cat sat watching her, its face still bore the amused expression it’s blue eyes glinting mischievously.

Moon was unsure whether it knew what she was doing but nether the less it seemed to wait before answering her.

“The Beast Courts sent you alone that is true, however the courts underestimate the danger of these lands, so I decided to help a fellow cat”

[Keeper]

Moon felt the familiar urges, deep and primal, calling to her conscious thoughts. Felt the beginnings of change rise in her blood, but forced them back, calming herself. There would be opportunity for that later, if need be. But she was in the land of the wolves and did not want to give herself away.
The dogs would discover her true identity at some point, she was sure of it, but she wanted the freedom that anonymity would give her for as long as possible.

"And how is it that you know of this dangerous land?"
She stared back at the distant town. It didn't look too different at this distance to some of the cities she had seen in China. Except there was more smoke.

[arcanus]

The cat cocked its head regarding Moon

“We cats wander far and wide, when we meet we share our news” he replied

[Keeper]

Raising a thin eyebrow, Moon regarded the cat once more.
"So, you have not seen these dangers for yourself, Master Cat? You only know of these things from hearsay and tales told by Wanderers and foreigners to our courts who have supposedly been to this Land of The Golden City?" she smirked, the amusement reaching her eyes.
"We cats do not tell tales when we speak of such things!” the cat replied indignantly and fixing the young woman with a glare. But the feline relaxed and cocked it's head sideways.
"I see you are not as stiff as some of those that frequent the courts," it said.
"One must know when to be serious and when to be mirthful," Moon smiled. "Well then, Master Cat, it seems that as your knowledge of this place exceeds mine, then you can be my guide here. And if there are any gaps in your knowledge we shall discover them together. Does Master Cat have a name?"

[arcanus]

The cat smiled "Master Cat, that has a certain ring to it, you may call me Master Tails"

"Should we make our way into the city, we can't stand on this hill all day and where are you staying?"