Hunters Moon - IC

[Keeper]

Although Moon had no idea what the passenger was saying, it was obvious that he was referring to her and the tone implied that whatever was said probably wasn’t complimentary.
Moon smiled at him politely and fixed her gaze firmly forward. And promptly forgot about Tails’ odd question, for ahead of them now, in plain sight, was the so-called Golden City, San Francisco.
Even from here, some half a mile out and in the dusk light she could see that this city was unlike any she had seen before.
The architecture of the docks, where many tall ships and steamships alike sat two, three four abreast against the busy wharfs, was so alien when compared to those of home, and of Hong Kong and of Hiroshima that she visited on her journey here. At those places the styles of the buildings where different, and yet strikingly similar. Here though, great stone frontages loomed high against the waterfront, square blocks of various sizes standing shoulder to shoulder and tightly packed as though there were too many building for the space they occupied.
There were other ships arriving too, even at this hour and teams of men scurried about in a seemingly haphazard manner, but beneath the apparent chaos was a singular goal that was eventually achieved as the final knot was tie to the brow allowing the passengers and crew to disembark.
It was a similar process anywhere in the world, Moon felt sure, yet here seemed so… disorganised.
No, that wasn’t fair, Moon realised as she watched from the ferryboat’s port waist. If she watched the patterns there was true process in their activities but the process was all about function. There was no finesse.
She remembered watching the ship dock at Hiroshima before the long leg across the Pacific. The Japanese wharf crew performed the same tasks yet it seemed like a well-choreographed dance, each step of the process performed to precision.
Here it was similar to the guttural, almost aggressive language, she surmised. Function but no finesse.
“Hey, Crazy Lady! You gettin’ off or lookin’ to ride back to Sausalito?” the man who had spoken earlier called over from the brow as he heaved a pack over his shoulder and began to disembark.
Moon stared at him for a moment, mulling over the sound of the words. They weren’t aggressive or harsh, just curious. She still had no idea what he said but his gesture towards the dockside brought her attention back to the present.
“OH, thank you,” she said in Mandarin, offering a little bow.
She too heaved her travel roll over her shoulder and walked down the brow.
As she stepped from the wooden walkway to the cut granite dockside she felt a sudden jolt, like electricity, course through her body. Excitement? Fear? Both? She was not sure which.

There were still many people about and Moon wondered how busy this place would become in the height of day?
She glanced around a little self-consciously but no one appeared to be paying her anything more than a cursory look her way. She was in no doubt there were those around the docks that were being paid to keep an eye on the comings and goings here, but they were likely looking out for more noteworthy arrivals.

The whole front of the wharf area was lined by the large square building Moon had seen from their approach but up close they seemed even uglier. Big flat fronts with simple square or rectangular openings for windows and doors. Many had larger doors too, for carriages and wagons and were obviously warehouses and stores.
There was a road between the wharf and the buildings laid with cobbles and the shod hooves of the few horses that traversed it made a clacking sound that somehow gave Moon comfort.
She looked left and then right, no clue as to which way to go.
Right was darker, quieter and felt oddly unsafe.
Left, east, would take her into the busier part of town where she could hear the sounds of revelry and perhaps music? Yes, there was some sort of music and some boisterous singing. Instinctively she headed towards the sounds of joy and away from the darker area and the Presidio.
She followed her ears down a narrow lane flanked by stone buildings and found herself at a wide street.
Here the stone building had more style, Moon decided. Not to her taste but a definite design of architecture. Admittedly the buildings were still great rectangular objects but their fronts had tall windows with arched tops, pillars, awnings in front of doorways and many had lights within.
One such place, the fount from which the music sprang, had large wide windows with gold lettered writing upon them that spelled out ‘HARPER’S SALOON AND EATERY’.
Although she could not read the words it was obvious this was some sort of inn. There were many people inside, some dressed dark suits like she had seen westeners wearing in Hong Kong just pants and shirts with braces and sleeves rolled up.
Many wore hats even inside, that were wide brimmed and had a leather band around the outside at the base of the hat.
All were drinking.
She also noticed that quite a few men wore guns at their hips, while others, those who tended to be cleaner and better dressed appeared to be unarmed.
So this establishment catered to all classes. Moon realised. Which, of course, begged another question – was this raw land classless?
“Master Tails, is there a defined hierarchy, such as a monarchy in this land?” Moon asked the cat who was preening himself against the window reveal.
Tails stopped the movement and sat upon the windowsill peering into the saloon before he replied.
“I have heard the place called The Land of Opportunity and Land of the Free. From the tales passed on to me they have a government, of sorts, and laws, and some folks in charge of it all, but in my opinion it all comes down to money, in the end. The more you have, the more power comes with it. I heard some say that even the lowliest peasant could rise to rule the mortal world here.”
“Ah, yes, well,” Moon sighed. “That seems in keeping. A crass social system for a crass people.”
“what the hell are you doing?” a harsh voice barked from behind her.
She turned to see one of the better dressed men in a crisp dark suit and a shiny waistcoat, top had on his head. He had bushy mutton-chops and spectacles.
A woman held on to his arm, her hair neatly piled atop her head and an impractically small hat perched, gravity defying, on top of that. Her dress was long with a well-fitting jacket and a ruffled skirt with an enormous bow at the rear.
“This place isn’t for your kind, China-girl! Be off with you!” the man ushered her away with a wave of his arm.
When Moon didn’t scurry away obediently he barked at her again. “Be gone!”
Despite not understanding him, it was obvious to Moon that the man was not pleased with her being here.
She gave a quick bow and backed away.
The man and woman remained outside the saloon as though watching to ensure that Moon did not return.
“The sooner we are done with this place the better! Wouldn’t you agree, Master Tails?” Moon muttered.

[arcanus]

Master Tails watched the exchange always only seen when he wished to be seen, there were few mortals that had the wisdom to understand the greater world and without that wisdom they didn't deserve to see his august presence.

He questioned the Beast Courts wisdom the spirits had told him much of Moon, he knew they spoke the truth to do otherwise was to be eaten and they had spoken of her capability, but this was a troubled place and the Beast Court had its own concerns closer to home with their mortal kin waring and the westerners taking ever greater advantage of the riches of the east.

Despite this they had sent her across the world to find a mortal ancestor who it appeared was not even kin, to this place of all places, his whiskers twitched as he lifted his tail and marked the womans dress, they might not be able to see him but they'd smell him soon enough.

Despite the sky appering clear and blue he could tell the other side was turbulent, he could feel the spirits hurrying around, frenzied movement just below the surface.

"Did you say you had something to collect?, the oriental district is a short walk south you might not be any more welcome but at least you'll know when they're cursing you!"

[Keeper]

Moon smiled down at Tails.
"I believe that the word you were looking for was protect not collect, but it is very likely that to do the former I must also do the latter," she said with a resigned sigh.
"I wish I knew what it is I am supposed to be protecting this person from, and why? Alas, the elders did not see fit to divulge that much detail."
The young woman walked further east and caught the scent of something familiar. "I'm so hungry!" she exclaimed excitedly.
Her pace quickened.

[arcanus]

Master Tails looked skyward and shook his feline head "I was referring to the parcel you had to collect" he muttered to himself, but he had lost Moon who had half run towards the unmistakable change in architecture denoting Chinatown and the smell of food beyond.

Upon stepping through the Mandarin archway she was immediately assailed by food vendors on each side of the road, the smell of street cuisine from across the entire east greeted her and her mouth watered.

Master Tails looked heavenward "No matter, the cub must eat", he did however frown and pointedly stared at the thong of nuisance spirits peeking from the tops of crates and nearby rooftops.

Drawing in a deep breath he ellicited a loud hiss inaudable to any mere human but deafening to spirits, the sound reverberating down the street and sending the Gafflings scurrying.

Moon for her part winced as if someone had shouted in her ear and returned her attention to which dish she would buy

Master Tails commended himself quietly and then trotted after her, after all he also had to keep an eye on these hawkish vendors

[arcanus]

Moon squinted as a gust of wind suddenly assailed her, she felt her rage rise as the swirling air wasn't in the material worldwas accompanied by the tinkling of bells, the street vendors before her all busy but not harried by a troublesome gail.

The air smelt of metal and blood, she refocused she was standing in front of a noodle cart, the pudgy vendor slightly porcine in appearance grinned a wide smile of yellowed teeth

"What do you want, come on choose or be off with you?"

Slightly distracted by the goings on Moon stopped herself from a snarl, bothered she could feel her rage rising, the tinkling of the bells annoyingly sounding around her.

[Keeper]

Moon glared at the man, blinking no annoyance.
Had the manners and respect of the Emerald Lands been replaced by the abrupt rudeness of this New World, even in her own people?
She frowned and then leaned forward in an obviously exaggerated manner, scanning over the morsels on offer.
She removed her travel cap, as though the action would help in her deliberations, long ponytail that had been tucked inside falling upon her shoulder, jet black but tipped with purest white. Despite her hunger, and the obvious quality of the food on offer by this slightly sweaty looking man, his attitude was frankly repugnant, Moon decided.
As a stranger here, she would have expected the man to be polite and moderately congenial towards a new customer. And yet he was plainly rude. She would return that courtesy.
"You expect me to pay for this filth? I would not offer this to my cat!" she sneered and turned her back on the man, scanning the adjacent vendors for something that might date her appetite.
"Tails," something is very wrong," she spoke in Korean. "I cannot see the other side, are you able?"
Whatever was happening here set the fine downy hairs upon her spine on edge.
Her hands slipped behind her, between her travel roll and her tunic, gripping the hilt of the Wakizashi hidden there. The touch of it have her courage.
It was a gift from Suro Harikashi, Fist of the Storm, a Hakken friends of hers. The blade was of exquisite quality, passed down through generations. She had saved his life.

[arcanus]

Moon's mouth continued to water now that she stood over the food cart, sticky noodles in bowls lay before her.
She noted that Master Tails appeared different, not so much more solid just that his colours appeared more earthy and more importantly he now cast a shadow.

The vendors eyes widened and his face reddened, a momentary look of annoyance then as he took a proper look at her and at the same time seeming to notice Master Tails, he looked stricken "My humblest apologies" he blurted "We get so may time wasters, what can I do for you, I'm so sorry, very sorry, very sorry!" he bowed slightly

Master Tails smiled, 'Good' he thought 'She shows her teeth'
"As we talked about this is a troubled land, on the calmest day in the Day-Realm, their are always winds and storms in the Twilight, however the Chi flows in a constructed way within this street" as he talked Moon noted that his colours had once again become more shiny and his shadow had disappeared.

"Ah ha" look at the inside frame of the Paifang near the top on both sides and along the guttering of the buildings beyond the gate
As Moon did so she noticed engraved Chinese words or symbols, denoting the five elements, she recognised them they were elemental glyphs.
Her own spirit senses allowed her to see a faint orange glow, the glyphs were directional in that they were directing the flow of energies and the tinkling sound emanated up and down the street from each of the symbols.

[Keeper]

Cheung Moon stared at the symbols, almost mesmerised. She glanced around at the other people but no one else seemed to be paying the glowing characters any heed. She shook her head clear and returned her attention to the vendor once more.
Moon picked rice that was loaded with meat and vegetables, some chicken and noodles.
She frowned, confused, when the man asked for fifty cents.
"What one is that?" Moon asked, offering up some coins from her pouch. "I am just arrived in this land and do not yet understand their money."
The pudgy man looked her up and down. "Yes, I can see that, miss." He looked down at the cat who was staring back at him expectantly. "Yes, yes!" The man said reaching out and taking a single silver dollar. "This is a dollar. There are one hundred cents to one dollar."
"So you will give me fifty smaller coins in return?" she asked.
He laughed. "I could! But you would soon be weighed down. No, so you have half-cent and cent, these are copper."
He fished through an ornate little chest and showed her. Then he took more coins and laid the in a row in the table before her.
"So these silver ones are half-dime that's five cent, dime; ten cent, quarter; twenty five cent, half dollar and dollar. There are gold ones too, but I don't have any. They are quarter eagle, half eagle and eagle. Eagle is worth ten dollar. You understand?"
Moon examined each coin in turn then flipped the half-dollar into her pouch. "Yes, I think so."
"Yes, yes! Now good luck to you, miss."
Moon bowed to the man and took her food across the street to a low bench outside a closed shop. There she sat and watched the street, people bustling to and fro, going about their business, whatever that was.
She set the rice and noodles down and cut up the chicken. She placed half in the noodles and the other half in front of Tails who suddenly looked very pleased and tucked in with gusto.
It was nice to sit and watch the world flirting by and enjoy the food which was actually really good.

"Right, Master Tails," she said after she'd eaten. "Shall we follow the light and see where they lead?"
She said, gathering her things and without waiting for the cat she stride purposefully towards the first glowing symbol.

[arcanus]

The illumination of the symbols was hard to see, Moon had to stop and concentrate to make out the hazy auras, which came and went.
From her knowledge of rituals, she knew this was more a matter of her ability (or lack of) to fully perceive the energies than them not being there, on the purely material plane she could see that they were carved into the wooden eaves of the buildings lining the street and placed on the inner frames of periodic gates that bordered crossroads.

She noticed that the tinkling noise of tiny bells didn't seem to emit from a physical bell but purely in the Chi realm and that they only tinkled as she passed across the threshold of a gateway.

She received a few quizzical looks as she stopped, squinted, moved forwards several yards before stopping and repeating the process, although to most she appeared as a new arrival taking in the sights.

Finally after taking a few turns she spotted a large symbol forged or inscribed into the face of a golden gong, the metal disc mounted upon a large wooden plaque itself incorporated into the latice frame of the a curio shop window.

Her command of cantonese told her the symbol was one of protection and fortune.

[Keeper]

Moon glanced down at Master Tails and smiled.
"Curiouser and curiouser," she joked.
Cautiously, yet with purpose she strode towards the curio shop and tried the door.