Cold Sentinel (Open)

[Hoarfrost Imp]

Through the roaring wind and snow of Yukikage the landscape rolled onward infinitely. Even the trees blanched a pale white that only gave the land texture but forever onward rolled with flashes of white and the mirage of something more.


She stood in this cold, piled to the helm in snow, unmoving, undeterred, watching as Yuki never changed. Even as she'd spent months upon months out of the village, off learning and doing her own thing, learning the world and shedding the shell of a child she always thought back to Mother. Kahimi. How the last time there had been so much time between them lost and unrecovered with Juniper left to the cruel devices of Lana, she'd blamed the Kage for leaving and lashed out in a pained state.

Was Kahimi hurting too? Was Juniper worth hurting over anymore? These was her norm. Come and go. For all her misgiving and attempts at patriotism to a village that mostly shunned her.... the want to be coveted was terribly strong. The grace period was long spoiled and here she stood: Alone, maybe thankfully forgotten and buried in snow like oh so many memories of places and people of the past.

"Hungry..."

A bird cry overhead tore her attention to the sky, a massive black and blue avian glided overhead, the first contrast against that grey stormy sky that raged against the ground below it. It took all these years to really realize... the storms that tore and froze at the ground of Yuki usually turned inward, imbued the inhabitants with that same frigid anger. Cold and unyielding. Deceptive and misleading. Precarious. That was no way to live...

Shaking off the snow, Juni picked a direction and began to walk. Walk in hope of finding someone or something, a place to begin trying out this new shell she'd grown into and if she could change truly.

That what Mother would have wanted.

[Hoarfrost Imp]

Downhill the white flowed, settling in thick blankets that swallowed the little ice imp in deep pockets and left her scrambling to the top of the heap time and time again, a frustrated huff blowing flurries out of her hair. There were sheets of ice where there had once been the hope of moving water and in them she got to see 'Tiamat' staring back at her, long teeth and icy blue eyes, black lines of inked on makeup that never smeared, never ran or smudged because out here there was no place for it. Or if there had been it'd been ripped out of her so young she forgot how.

"Stupid."

She spit the word at her reflection, pulling her robes tighter with the Chuunin band bouncing off her hip with it's soft metal 'Clink-Clink-Clink' with every laborious step she waded through the snow with.

Lights on the horizon turned her sights to the sky and marveled for a moment.

Yukigakue?!

No.

She was far too far out for that. This was some rime plagued part of the continent that didn't get visitors unbeknownst to her. So far off the damn grid it didn't even have a name anymore and the people who lived there liked it that way. No ninja wars. No conflict save for the fight to stay alive in the cold and no crazy litigation or espionage.

Even as she scampered through the snow, big eyes turned towards the stormy sky where the sun fought hopelessly to break through the gloom, she followed the lights. So ready to see another face she forgot all about the fetid sore people had festered inside her in the first place.

Dare anyone call it a spark of hope. If anyone could understand it'd be the people here. Salvation was here in a ways she didn't even know what possible and oh how she craved it all the way down to her bones.

The night came swift by the time she'd made it to the edge of the town with it's lit lanterns and unplowed streets. There were people outside patrolling, milling about listlessly while the bustle of just surviving gave the place a spark of unique kind of energy.

This could be home.

Running up, trouncing through the snow, several figured spotted her and she slowed, stood and offered all four hands up to show she was completely unarmed.

They weren't fast like ninja but they ran like they were used to the snow but the movements lazy and clumsy in comparison to a trained killer of chakra user. "HALT AND STATE YOUR BUSINESS!" they hollered and she shielded her eyes from bright lantern light thrust in sensitive eyes.

"Hungry..." was all she stated, sitting on her haunches and waiting for the revulsion, the rebuking of the leper... but instead a couple whispered words, a nod and there were firm. but not rough, hands pulling her up in guidance like one would a child.

"Hey, what are you doing? She's a goddamn Yukigakure agent!" one man shouted against the wind and an even icier tone answered back with so much bite she could hear the fangs in it's tone;

"And shes a fucking child you idiot. Move." Off into this nameless village she went, letting them guide because she was so tired of walking blindly. A guiding hand was nice for once.

[Claws of the Tundra]

[Introduction]

The Spring season of Yuki no kuni.

During this time the everlasting snow of the country gains a layer of pearlescence. Although for most natives, this isn't enough to shake off the veil of gloom that smothers the sun's warmth. Thus most migrate to the warmer parts of the country where the snow can't reach. A traditional moment where the entire country takes a vacation from itself. To detach, and shake off the frosted grip that everyday life tends to carry.

Unfortunately for the ninja, it is business as usual.

While natives migrate, the underground smuggling trade ramps up attempting to break through Yukigakure's security detail among all the activity. Thus in co-operation with Yomazu's Police Force, the ninja of the land are tasked to spread out and keep everything in check. Ever since the major crackdown, all the gangs of the land have since been fully snuffed out. And the black market operations now seized and turned inside out. One of the very few positive outcomes of Lana's oversight during Kahimi's coma. Unfortunately, the positive effects are still clouded in the bittersweet fog of social dehydration from the iron fist she used to make it happen.

A fog that the aforementioned Yuki kage has had to work tirelessly to help filter out. Although the scares are still there... To remind her that at this point, her sacrifices will kill her one day. But until then...she will continue to make amends for her previous failings. Although the more things slowly improve. The more she wonders if this is what her father had to go through to try to raise her back then? If so, she truly regrets driving him away...

[End Introduction]

"We're approaching sector six! If we tighten up we'll clear it out in no time. I want to stay ahead of schedule in case we need to rally with the other teams." a feminine but authoritive voice called out.

In a blur, a pearl white female figure would appear on a rocky ridgeline that looks over the outward landscape of nowhere in particular.  Their crouching stance was motionless and poised with a practiced grace. An ANBU Operative. Their owl-like mask easily obscuring her facial features.

Less than a few seconds later they would be joined by two more. One with a very similar outfit, but their figure was much less curved, and blocked by the large construct that was strapped to them. The other was another woman. Ghostly looking from a glance. Clad in robes, and a with excessively long hair that nearly touched the floor.

Undeniably the Yukikage herself.

"Actually Saracha, I would like for you both to take a break now. You've been expending a lot of chakra today. I can carry out the rest of our rounds." Kahimi would say in tone that could only be assumed to be kind.

With a sharp snap of her head, the first ANBU would turn to face her kage. Her demeanor hinting that she wasn't pleased with the suggestion.

"Absolutely not. As Owl Captain I cannot let you out of my sight. Even if I possess the Byakugan I'd prefer to be by your side. It goes against our code. I'm sorry my Lady, but that would slow things down." she'd say sternly, but with as much respect as she could muster.

In response Kahimi silently smirked. Lowering her head as she expected that sort of answer. During the moment of pause, the other ANBU. A tall, and slim male would speak up among the two.

"Hey hey. Pump the brakes a little Captain hall monitor, if the boss lady wants us to take a lunch break who are we to disapprove? I'd say we should be proud she recognizes our hard work. heh~" he'd chime clearly attempting to break the formality of his colleague.

"Ugh, of course you'd be thrilled to slow down Han. What I meant was... I don't see why we can't finish up and then take a break after? Surely that would be more sufficient?" She'd suggest.

With a soft chuckle Kahimi could only nod in agreement. A small smile curled on her lips as she admired the young woman's determination for staying on top of things. Far better than she ever did during missions as a regular ninja.

"No no, you're right. Although...I'd like to take a small detour if that's alright with you Owl Captain?" Kahimi teased. Her mismatched eyes momentarily trailing off towards the distant lights of a settlement down below.

"Lead the way." she'd answer.