Hunters Moon - IC

[arcanus]

As evening drew in a storm broke over the bay and city of San Francisco, fog rolled in off the north point, winds picked up and the heavens opened.

The temperature dropped to an uncomfortable but not unseasonable chill as the sun set, people hurried to cover stalls and get out of the downpour including a figure who ran across the narrow streets before finding shelter in the doorway of the curio shop.

Shaking himself off Yoo-Sun Hyun wiped his feet before opening the door and entering, the door bell announcing his arrival.
From the lower section at the back of the shop he spotted Chang Mao peer through from the backroom and smile.

"Hyun, it is good to see you, how are you?" Mao said hurriedly making his way up through the central walkway of the shop between its tables and display cases.
"I am good, Mao Chang" he replied smiling and giving the older man a bow
"And your parents, how are they keeping?" added Mao warmly
"Yes, yes they are busy as always, which is why I've come to see you"
Mao's smile was thinner "I thought it might be, come come lets get some hot tea and dry you out"
In the back corner of the shop situated a safe distance from the counter sat an ornate iron grill which vented heat from the stove in the back, despite it just blowing hot air the metal grill complete with its roaring Lung castings became very hot.

"Warm yourself there, it’s warmer out here than in the back" Hyun draped his wet canvas poncho over a chair and allowed the heat to dry him, Mao soon returned with a tray of tea.
"So what troubles you?"
"Well over the past few weeks I've had non-stop visitors to the workshop, all wanting to know where my parents are, that its urgent they speak with them!"
"What do they want to talk to them about?" replied Mao
"Thats the thing none of them will say, which is troubling, I am not about to tell perfect strangers where to find my parents with no explanation, there is so much violence and bloodshed about and you know that the police would not even lift a finger if one of our peoples were hurt or worse!"
"No you've done the right thing, despite this being our home things are not so different than the gold rush times, when men were killing each other just for the rumour of gold or looking at them the wrong way!"
"So today another visitor, this time a girl saying much the same"
Mao smiled taking a sip of his tea
"However she said you knew of her"
"What did this girl look like?"
Hyun described the mysterious girl, the unsettling feeling that came with her and her seriousness
Mao nodded 'That's Chuang Moon, she is my adopted daughter"
Hyuan frowned "You have adopted a Josen"
Mao laughed "Hyun you know better than that, I have always seen the peoples of the east as one people, and anyway it was necessary"
"Necessary?" replied Hyun
"Yes, things have been becoming difficult, not everybody agrees with me about one people, my own countrymen are more interested in causing trouble for we honest folk, Moon offered her promise of protection on the condition we adopt her or she would have to protect everybody and she cannot accomplish that"
Hyun's frown had not left his face, he looked confused "She pledged the same thing to me for my parents, but she is but a young girl"
Mao leaned forwards in his chair "Hyun I don't know what is truly going on and it is probably best if I don't know, things unseen, things in the shadows but we are an old people, we have always known there to be more than we understand or want to know, but there is some power in Moon that is greater than we, I know that much thats why I accepted her pledge"
Hyuan sat back thoughtfully "You are sure"
"I trust her whe she says she has travelled a long way to protect your Mother"
"My mother why just my mother"
"I do not know and I don't think Moon knows just yet"
"You think my mother is in danger"
Mao looked uncertain "I know that strange things are afoot, that there are lots of disharmony and amidst it all there are a lot of people looking for your parents or maybe just your mother, these things are not without coincidence!”
Hyun sighed heavily "My gut was telling me to trust her, but I wanted to be sure"
"Well you can tell her yourself, here she is" at that moment the door chimed and Chuang Moon stepped into the shop

[Keeper]

So forget the previous.....

Found the images i was originally looking for

Cheung Moon Close up.JPG

Cheung Moon Dress 4.JPG

[Keeper]

Closing the door to her room had muted the noises and sounds from the outside world. The gentle click as she turned the key in the lock gave her a sense of security, even though she knew that if anyone really wanted to get in then the door would do little to stop them.
Finally alone and with many paths opening up before her, Moon had needed time to quietly contemplate her choices. She had stocked the small fire in her room and then removed her clothing and knelt on the floor, sitting back on her heels and hands resting comfortably in her lap.
She’d let her mind quiet, let the ever present spirit of Gaia guide her thoughts.
Her thoughts allowed her to look upon her actions and her choices free of her emotions and they told her several truths.
She needed to reign herself in, not let herself get affected by what was happening in this place. Already she had committed herself to a task that was outside of her original plan.
It had not been her intention to stay her any longer than necessary. Get the task done and return home. Now, in the peace and tranquillity of this room she realised that she may never return.
This city, already so large only threatened to grow. Each inch of land given over to its expansion was taken from Gaia, one inch of open natural habitat stolen from her creation.
Perhaps Gaia would not mind if those that dwelt on the land lived in balance with her, but most of the expansions was born from industry, the excesses of the Weaver tainted by the Wyrm. That she could not allow and perhaps that would mean that her role here changed quicker than she might be prepared for. She would need help but was unaware how many, if any, Hengeyokai might dwell here. She had shuddered at the thought of having to deal with the Garou. She knew they were in this land, but their in-fighting between tribes could make working with them problematic. Plus she wasn’t sure, even after all these centuries, how the Garou tribes would react to non-wolves in their midst.
Moon had prayed that these gangs were not backed by shen. That would make persuading them to back down so much easier. Shen would cause problems, she knew. And she was wise enough to conclude that her strength and her guile would not be enough to face off against multiple Shen, which had brought her back to her earlier point about help.
Closing her eyes she meditated on the problems.
When she opened them again the sun had left the sky and the rain was hammering on the roof. She was curled up on the floor, nose and tail tucked in.
She’d stood, stretching her front legs out and arching her back quarter up, claws scraping gently on the wooden floor boards. She yawned, and finished it with a loud roar.
Realising her mistake she quickly shifted back to Homid, put on her dress and shoes and a heavy hooded cloak and headed out into the rain.
Reaching the curio shop she opened the door and then paused cautiously, observing the two expectant faces looking at her from the back room.
“Hello,” she said inquisitively.

[arcanus]

The Dragons Curio Shop - Chinatown
Mao smiled and stood up, Moon noticed he was moving better his bruising obviously settling down "Ah Chuang Moon, your timing is perfect"
Hyun also smiled and stood as she entered, giving her a slight bow "I am sorry about my annoyance with you earlier Chuang"
They both gestured for her to sit as Mao collected another chair from the back of the shop, Moon could hear the slumbering spirits in some of the items, not quite snoring but murmurs of perpetual dreams.

She also noticed that the store seemed more solid, almost safer in some way, she sat and looked at the two men expectantly.
"You recommended that I speak to Chang Mao and I have, he has explained what he knows and vouched for you, I must admit I agree with him that there seem to be things I don't know or understand, but he has wisely counselled that there are some things we should trust others to know and deal with"
Mao smiled and nodded
"So it actually seems like I or my parents might need your help, as Mao has wisely pointed out just because I don't like what is happening it seems that for some unknown reason there are people looking for my parents and you might be able to help with that"
He paused
"Because I am not sure these people have their best interests in mind, so what do you think we should do next? !" he asked

[Keeper]

As Cheung Moon sat there in the chair she began to ponder if it would be right to correct their pronunciation of her Family name, but decided against it for now. She also became aware of the chill from her wet cloak upon her shoulders.
She stood, removing the cloak which Mao, ever the gracious and attentive host, took from her and hung before the fire to warm and dry.
As she returned to her chair she noticed the surprised look upon Hyun's face at it took her a moment to fathom its cause.
Beneath the cloak she wore the silken dress that she had brought with her all the way from China. It hugged her lithe form and the long splits up either side of the dresses' skirts meant that as she moved her legs were exposed almost up to her hip. It was a recent fashion back in the Emerald Lands but she found it incredibly practical as it allowed her complete freedom of movement, a must for combat and stealth alike. Not so much for her modesty though, she had discovered and made very sure that when she sat down she kept her knees together and the from of the dress securely in place.
"I am gland and honoured by your decision to place your trust in me. I shall endeavour to uphold is as long a i may," she said with a smile.
She paused a moment and then asked, "How often do these approaches to your parents occur? Would you be open to introducing me in the morning?"
"Yes," Hyun stuttered. "I shall let them know to expect you, but please, can you tell me what this is about."
Moon looked him in the eye so that he would see she was telling the truth.
"I do not know. Those who sent me told me that they perceived some danger from which they wanted me to protect your parents, but did not know in what form that danger took. Tomorrow I will begin to discover the nature of this threat," she said. "That is, unless you think it would be better if we travelled tonight?"

[arcanus]

The realisation that his parents were in mortal danger struck Hyun hard, a great weight had settled upon his shoulders.
Moon and Mao quickly mobilised gathering a few items, whilst calming Hyun, the plan was to move under the cover of darkness to reach his parents.

As they stepped into the back alleys behind the Curio Shop, Moon scanned the narrow buildings her senses expanded to inhuman levels and she spotted them, figures watching from the second floor windows of the overlooking buildings.

[Keeper]

“Wait!” Moon whispered, holding her arm out to stop her companions.
“What is it?” Hyun asked, concerned. He peered into the darkness but saw nothing.
“It seems we have someone’s attention.”
“Who is it?” Hyun whispered as though whoever was out there would be able to hear him.
“I don’t know. And I cannot tell if they are friendly or if they are enemies, although I suspect the latter. But which of us is their quarry?”
Mon glanced around at the closely packed buildings that formed the alleyway. It looked as though there was a route that would allow her to close the distance to the observers quickly while remaining unseen.
“Stay here. Do not leave until you see my signal, a bright flash from one of the windows beyond. When you see the flash you must leave here quickly. I will catch you up.”
“But,” Hyun said trying to counter her words but could not come up with anything else to say.
Using the cover of the deep shadows Moon darted down the alley, her heeled shoes remarkably silent.
She sprung forward, kicked off a wall and onto the rooftop, rolling and then lying flat on the far side of a ridge.
She peered over the ridge but the observers seemed oblivious. Giving them a few moments more she decided it was safe to move.
She crept forward again, coming around the side of the upper floor room out of which the strangers watched. Behind the building was an open stair that led to a rear door.
Moon agilely dropped from the roof landing soundlessly on the wooden stair, her movements muffled by the downpour.
The door was unlocked and she stepped cautiously inside.
The plain corridor ran along the inside of the rear wall. There was another door directly opposite the first. She guessed that was the room from which the observers were conducting their vigil.
Standing in the dark hallway she steeled herself, drawing her sword and reaching into her pocket she withdrew a small black orb. She didn’t have many of these but this was an appropriate use for one, she surmised.
Moon kicked the door hard. It flew open, banging loudly into the wall beside it.
Within were three men dressed in dark clothing. They all turned in surprise and one jumped up in alarm.
Moon threw the orb onto the wooden floor, smashing it. The powder inside ignited in a tremendously bright flash and great gout of smoke.

Down in the back entrance to the curio shop, Mao tapped Hyun on the shoulder. That’s your signal boy. Be off with you!”
Hyun nodded, Mao noticing the worried look on his face but the young man took a deep breath and crept out into the darkness.

Moon rushed forward to the closest man, sword tip pressing to his throat.
“Who are you? She demanded. “And why are you spying on my grandfather’s store?”
The man glared up at her, a look of absolute hatred pulling at his eyes and pursing his lips.
The young woman noticed one of the other men reaching for a knife and she pressed the sword point home making her man grunt with discomfort.
“Don’t,” she warned.
Then she felt some hard hit her across the back. It was a strong blow and knocked the wind from her and she fell forward.
“AH! What in the nine hells?” the man Moon had confronted said putting his hand to his throat. “The crazy bitch could have cut my head off, you hitting her like that!”
Moon rolled over and looked up to see a big bald brute of a man with a bokken in one hand and a revolver, now pointed at her in the other.
“Now, what do we have here?” he said. “Girls shouldn’t play with blades. That’s how accidents happen.”

[arcanus]

As the echo of the flash subsided the room crept back into a dark gloom, the three smaller men crowded around Moon threateningly, grabbing her arms and pulling her to her feet.
“She’s heavier than she looks” grunted one in Mandarin

The brute smiled menacing, Moon was clam though, her prayer beads throbbed with only a slight warmth, the beast was quiet waiting hidden to spring upon its prey.
She screwed up her nose whereabouts the three just smelt of unwashed men, the big one although human had a chemical smell to him, a combination of cinnabar and sulphur.
He had all the hallmarks of a fighter big barrel bar chest covered with scars, cauliflower ears and a badly set once broken nose.

He smiled with a mixture of lecherouness and malice, once she was restrained he tucked the revolver in the front of his pants but kept the broken to hand, looking her up and down
“Strayed from your Nushi’s house little Jinu” he chuckled

[Keeper]

Moon noticed the big man giving her the once over. It made her skin crawl, but it could also be an advantage that she could make use of.
"Let go of me," she demanded petulantly, feining a struggle to free herself off the men's grasps.
As planned the move left her long bare leg exposed and she saw the big man's expression change.
"Who are you?" Moon demanded a second time.
"Be still and be silent, little bird or I shall be forced to find a way of stopping your chirping," the giant hissed.
The young girl sneered. "No you won't. There are four of you here spying on an old man. It shouldn't take for of you, not unless whoever sent you thinks you are incompetent, or incapable of performing the task alone. Which I suspect is the case, which means you won't do anything until one of you runs off to your master and asks what to do!"
She glared at the big man, an open challenge for him to react, to either confirm her suspicions or not.

[arcanus]

The brute looked appreciatively at Moon’s exposed leg, the whining thug doing the same whilst the man holding her left arm snorted unimpressed.
The brutes face soon soured, clearly riled by Moon’s challenge, the others gasped sucking air through their teeth “Just kill the bitch” said the left arm man

“Rude girl, you have no idea” said the brute leaning close, his breath unpleasant smelling of stale meat and liquor, both her instincts and movements were feline quick, her eyes caught a flicker of movement.

Her senses working at three or four times that of these men, she watched as if in slow motion as the brutes meaty hand balled into a huge fist and shot forward to jab her in the stomach.