Precarious Parcel Mission

[Hoarfrost Imp]

The wind didn't blow today across the two shinobi, a stillness in the air that was almost stifling if unaccustomed to the weather overall. However there was still an unresolved kind of tension in the air. Their last interaction had been weeks upon weeks ago with Juniper taking active steps to find out where exactly she fit in this ever changing world that toiled around them, solid blue eyes raking across the permafrost and at times over at Kahimi as well.

With a lingering stall another Juniper poofed into being and immediately began to scamper ahead, getting a running start before bounding two jumps ahead till she was out of sight and the two of them were alone once again.

"Mom..." She scratched in her rough tone, wondering if she still got to call her that after the rift that'd rippled into being between them. "Will be okay? For mission?" Being in the vicinity of danger was life for the younger of the two and it'd been so long she had trouble differentiating normalcy from coping.

As they walked there was a tall hill seven meters away and from the top of it all of the Yuki flat landscape was visible up to the mountains and at the very bottom of the hill sat a carriage, a young boy with frighteningly bright blonde hair and a fierce set of green eyes, just waving like a madman up at them. Suspicions were high for everyone but Juniper stopped and waited for Kahimi before settling onto all fours and scampering down the hill at full speed, disappearing into deep snow at times!

[Claws of the Tundra]

"The River runs Black"

(Prelude)

---

Now detached from the confines of Yukigakure, Kahimi kept a steady but heavy pace as they tread through the snow. The need for keeping minimal tracks was a nonissue for now. Unfortunately, it didn't take very long before an uncomfortable amount of tension was felt. The initial feeling turned Kahimi off completely in terms of acknowledging the situation.

Making her demeanor even more...closed off. The clues were night and day. Nature, and everything about it surrounding these two, we're in far better shape. More color...more presence. Less complication. Healthier existence. A sense of real purpose. The plants and wildlife had their cycles to go through.

However...this? This is just another day. Its work, its life, its...forgettable. What isn't forgettable is the last time they had talked. Its been hard for the Inuzuka. Very hard. Most likely even harder for Juniper, but at least she is doing something. At least that is how Kahimi feels. That thought running across her mind would cause a visibly agitated reaction to spread across her facial features.

To force it to stop, Kahimi dug her pointed nails a little roughly into her left forearm. Not enough to draw blood, or leave noticeable marks. But certainly enough to feel pain. The nerves screaming for her to not press on further would eventually get their wish within a few seconds of her feeling...less roused in brewing frustration.

Although afterward...there would be a numbness that follows. The pain was starting to be less and less, alarming by the day. And then Kahimi's face went blank again. However, despair and discomfort would refuse to not waft from her aura. The signs would be obvious to anyone who so much as glances at her.

[Claws of the Tundra]

"But the Waterfall runs like Wine"

Upon the sudden summoning of Juniper 2, Kahimi's heterochromatic eyes shifted and gazed at the clone immediately. Her head remained still. Her thoughts, momentarily interrupted as she would silently and still watch the clone scamper ahead. Clearly running a recon for something. Kahimi would pass it off as simple instinctual choices made by her partner. Who has been running the occasional job out in the field over time. This is to be expected.

What wasn't expected by the white-haired Inuzuka was to hear that word. Her body would react far faster than her mind could even process. The sudden jerk as she stopped in her monotone steps, and faintly gasped. Her eyes widening similarly to someone waking up from a weird trance they had no idea they were even in.

Kahimi's couldn't help but just...turn and look at Juniper. The look on her face would tell the truth of how she was feeling before she could even speak. She...has been taking things very hard lately. She never anticipated being called that title ever again. It was lost to her that day... Kahimi's face had a sense of confusion. Like it must have been a mistake. Either way, the results were the same. If Juniper wanted her attention she has it now.

It would be a lie to say that the Yukikage wasn't on the verge of cracking a relieved and tearfully joyful smile when she heard what was asked of her. To...find that Juniper must still care in that way. It did touch her heart enough to wake her out of her unnatural coldness. And as a result, she'd eventually be able to fight the self shame in her heart and bring back the strength to not be so pathetic.

Realizing she hadn't really paid Juniper any real attention at all since she got here. Even Lana at least says hello before putting a thorn in Juniper's side. Realizing that she had been acting even lower than that wretch was...a very disgusting feeling. Its the wake up call that she needed for a moment just like this.

"Yes, I'm alright Juni... Thank you." she'd say. The warmth and softness of her tone would cut through her pain very easily. Her genuine feelings could be hear still. And the Kahimi that Juniper might at least remember and still love was audibly fighting still. That much is true.

And so...moving forward the Inuzuka would think about other things. Much more positives as the two of them traveled up the escalating landscape. And once it had came down to them seeing their assumed tag along. Kahimi would be far much more active enough to chuckle a little at the absurdity of the boy's appearance. Kindly of course. Only really laughing at the stark contrast of bright colors against a bleak white and brownish background.

Juniper wouldn't really need to check on her for long as she'd simply read herself before taking a leap down from the top of the bank. Sliding down the incline, before she would sink herself down into the All Fours technique. Making a very quick rush down the hill, and NOT disappearing into large clumps of snow unlike her much smaller and much bluer counterpart.

However, the most shining bit of all is that she would be smiling while doing it. She was happy to be out in the field again. Happy to be around her daughter. And happy to take risks. Just like she used to.

[Hoarfrost Imp]

At the bottom of the hill emerged Juni with mussed hair, wet clothes that quickly seemed to dry and that animal-like glare that had become trademark for the blue fury. Must have scared the daylights out of the boy because he all but jumped into the back of the carriage and stared over it's lip with wary eyes.

"E-escort from Yuki?" Clearly shaken by the approach of Juniper she just nodded to keep from scaring him even more with her disgusting inability to talk like a normal functioning person. That seemed to dissolve the tension though and right around the arrival of Himi the boy vaulted out of the carriage and landed out face first in the snow.

"You're the driver. Stay your ass out front." Carried out from the covered area of the carriage, a violent eyed female with equally vibrant violent hair poked out and beamed out at the two women from Yuki.

"OH! Lovely~" Standing so just enough of the sunlight revealed her stark black leathers and holsters that seemed to hold some kind of pistongrip handle and several small throwing daggers the woman set a foot up on the back of the driver's bench and let the sunlight hit her face.

"Evenin' ladies! I'm your parcel for delivery~"

The look on Juniper's face was.... not amused.

[Claws of the Tundra]

Once she had traversed the snow-covered downhill slope and made it towards the bottom Kahimi pivoted herself to force her legs to now slip out in front of her. Using her feet and leg muscles to start gaining traction with the ground so she could come to a sliding halt and avoid crashing into the carriage. Because of this she'd manage to stop herself, right into to watch the kid smash his face right into the snow in a heavily dorkish fashion. Thew view of which sparking a conflicting need to hold in a laugh, but also feel pity for the kid.

Spontaneous exercise and face blasting aside she, would be taking the initiative to engage in verbal responses on Juniper's behalf for now. Wanting to keep things on a simple path of progress.

"That would be us," she'd answer quickly. Though before she could return a question of her own, the addition of a new voice caught her attention and made her pause. Her eyes immediately trained on the carriage now. Sight of the female passenger with brightly colored eyes, & hair now throwing a loop into the scenario at hand. A surprise that Kahimi is having trouble deciding on how she feels about it admittedly.

"That at least answers why a carriage is here. Can't say I expected a person..." she'd say before taking a pause. Analyzing her appearance, her demeanor, sighting the equipment that she had with her. Whatever she needed to get a first impression. But to avoid setting unnecessary tension she'd go with it for now.

"In any case, I'll just thank you for entrusting us with the delivery. You may call me Kahimi, and my partner there is Juniper." She'd then say. Keeping her eyes on the girl while she stepped a little closer to the carriage.