Friend or Foe

Sugimoto walked along the river stopping occasionally to check for signs of tracks before continuing along his way. He thought about how beautiful this area was with the river that flowed peacefully through the forest. Sugimoto didn't have his companion with him at the moment. He left him back at their campsite because he didn't intend to run into any trouble while he was out. He was just simply scouting the surroundings and trying to find something easy to catch for them to eat later that night. A soft breeze blew through his long blonde hair that wasn't hidden under the canine skull that adorned his head. His bright blue eyes scanned the ground for any signs that might have been left by something that could've passed through this area early. A simple print or broken twig to even mud smeared where it shouldn't be was what he was looking for. 

Then the breeze changed causing his nose to pick up on an unfamiliar scent. He stopped in his tracks taking it in and trying to locate it. The scent had the faint smell of blood mixed in with it which made him even more curious. The smell was coming from up ahead around the bend. Sugimoto continued along his way but more quietly now that he knew he wasn't alone. He was eager to see what awaited him ahead. Finally he rounded the bend and seen a woman knelt down washing her hands in the river. Sugimoto's eyes glanced around looking for signs of other but she appeared to be alone. He didn't know why she was here or what she was doing but he knew that most people around here spelt trouble. He stopped for a second and bent down to pick up a large rock in his right hand never letting his eyes leave the woman. 

(WC=309

Sugimoto watched as the woman went on about her business without acknowledging him. He wasn't completely sure whether she saw him and chose to ignore him or if somehow she didn't notice him at all. He highly doubted that she somehow didn't see him and began to wonder why she didn't react in any way to him. He tilted his head gently to the side as she turned and began to walk away. Did she have friends waiting for her where she was going now and she chose to ignore him to simply avoid confrontation until there was safety in numbers? This thought crossed Sugimoto's mind and he knew it could very easily be a trap but he decided to follow regardless. 

Sugimoto clutched the large stone in his right hand and began to quietly tail the woman from a safe distance but making sure to keep her in his sight at all times. The possibility that she was able to ignore an obvious aggressor fresh in his mind as he carefully stepped over small twigs and dodged leafy limbs. His curiosity was getting the better of him at this moment but if she turned out to be just an ordinary trespasser in his territory then he planned to make quick work of her. Perhaps she had something worthy of adding to his collection and if not at the very least she had caught dinner for him. He would continue to follow her all the way back to her camp if he remained unnoticed or if she continued to ignore him. 

(WC=260)
(TWC=569)

Things had been awfully quiet lately. For once there was an opportunity for some sort of entertainment, as the lass had noticed the presence of that stranger along the river. Her eyes hadn't seen any visible headband that symbolized what village he was from, but then again he could have been to far for her to be certain that he was a rogue. She'll find out soon enough.

Her scarlet hair disappeared behind the thick brush. Carelessly not giving much of a damn if the unnamed followed her or not. If he did, it would either be intentions of curiosity or mischief. Kana was giving him the opportunity to decide, as she gave no reaction to acknowledge the fact that she had seen him.

If he did decide to trail her path within the woods and make it past the brush, he wouldn't find her anywhere at eye level to the ground. Instead, the time that he took to get through where she disappeared into, Kana would have positioned herself on a thick tree branch. The branch was sturdy, and didn't buckle in the slightest with her weight. Perched like an owl, twelve feet from the ground, ready to observe if the stranger had followed her or not.

The skewered hare meat were in her left hand, while she gently gnawed on the thumbnail of her right hand. Her teeth bit into the tip of her nail as she waited. If he appeared through the brush, Kana would entertain him with a silly phrase to tease his actions. "Curiosity killed the cat?"  {WC: 262 | TWC: 837}

{1st Claim on the Christmas Calendar}

Sugimoto stepped through the brush and was met by the crimson haired woman waiting above on a limb. Just as he figured she must've seen him at the river and was just acting clueless to lead him here for whatever reason unbeknownst to him. Now that he was close enough to actually see the woman he would tilt his head slightly to the side as he looked her up and down. After which he would take a second to glance around, insuring that this wasn't an ambush of some kind. As he glanced around he sniffed lightly trying to pick up any other scents but to his surprise she was truly alone.

A small smile appeared on his face as he listened to the words she spoke. He found that idiom that she quoted quite humorous and it suited this event rather well. Sugimoto still held the large rock in his right hand but it was rendered useless by the distance between the two so he let's it fall from his hand and onto the ground. He decided he may need both of his hands free since he no longer had the advantage of being hidden.

"But satisfaction brought it back." Sugimoto finished the idiom quietly. Though he rarely spoke he found it too entertaining not to do so on this occasion. He wasn't sure what this woman was doing out here alone, maybe she was an outcast like him. As this thought crossed his mind he began to wonder what she may have done to be cast out if that was truly the case. What if she had killed someone? What if there was some kind of bounty on her head? Was she strong? He wondered all of these things as he looked at her. All of these thoughts came back to the same thing. Was she a worthy opponent? Did she have something to contribute to his collection? For an instant a flicker of hunger could be seen in Sugimoto's eyes as his mind raced with questions.
(WC=339)
(TWC=908)

Sure enough, the unnamed stranger from the river made his way through the brush. He followed her trail right to where she was waiting. Kana silently watched as he seemed to survey her. Still gently biting away at her nail as his lips curved into a smile.

From this distance, the man would have to make it obvious that he meant harm if he wanted to. Unless he wasn't completely alone. If Kana began to feel some sort of discomfort, she wouldn't hesitate to flee or fight. But right now she would like to not lose the dinner within her left hand. As the scarlet Kunoichi took the time to plan ahead on an escape, if needed, the rock within the man's hand would fall to the ground. Kana arched a brow in response. What was his intentions?

To her surprise, the stranger responded to her words. Finishing the famous saying and bringing a smirk upon her lips. "I've never heard of that part."

There was a long pause. The braids in her hair shifted slightly, as the wind caught ahold of the raven feathers that ornamented them. Right now the only thing that could possibly seem valuable upon her, was her feathers and the hare skewers within her fingers. As well as the ryo that was within her pocket, but would one take the chance of assuming it was worth the trouble? Perhaps. .

Kana glanced at the meat within her hand, before returning her attention onto the boy. Still content of being perched within the tree. "You look like a starving stray down there, whether you are hungry for food or trouble," The rogue paused her sentence to gesture at the meat within her possession. "I'll share my meal for your name in exchange. You can give me a lie or the truth, it doesn't really matter to me. But cause me any trouble and I won't hesitate to spill blood."

This would give Kana the opportunity to try reading more into his intentions. She was pretty good at reading one's words. Hopefully this go es s by smoothly so that she could eat soon.
{WC: 356 | TWC: 1,193}

{Claiming for the 3rd Calender day}

Unfortunately, the young man refused to acknowledge her generous offer. Resulting in the occurrence of boredom as Kana tsked to herself. She gave her thumbnail one final nibble before lowering herself from being perched within the tree.“Fine~ I don’t need to share with anyone. That only means more food for me right."
{Claims} +12 Speed
Thousand Flying Water Needles of Death (1,361/2,000) 115 wc from here

Exits and claims approved. -Wan