-North Fuuhzan-
-997 New Fuuhzan Calendar-
It had been three weeks since Feng and Kaiko were sent northward from the Shoi Ni camp at Wansen Tai, and they both knew it could potentially take up to another week from where they currently were to reach the city of Sendoh; depending on whether the weather remained clear or not.
Unlike South Fuuhzan, where it was pleasant and warm and dry, North Fuuhzan was cold and icy and snowy most of the year. This meant that the weather and its dangers were a constant concern for travellers. It was such a big consideration, in fact, that the entire region of North Fuuhzan was littered with small huts and shelters from the elements for public use.
As the cold and windy evening was beginning to somber, Feng was musing on how long it had been since the both of them had a proper night's sleep. She appreciated the shelters they had found along the way, but she found herself longing for a soft and warm bed as she felt the last warmth dissipate from her hot water bottle.
She looked over at Kaiko who was not too bothered by the bone-chilling wind. In the cold Feng was often jealous of Kaiko, just as she was certain he felt the same way towards her in the truly warm weather.
Kaiko spotted smoke ahead over the horizon and pointed it out to Feng. She couldn't see it when he had pointed it out, but it did not take long for the smoke to become obvious to her human eyes too. It also didn't take very long for them both to release that while they were expecting to find someone's make-shift camp, they may be finding something much better and bigger. Feng and Kaiko became excited as they sped up the hill towards the smoke. When a tavern popped into view over the next hill they both wordlessly began running towards it.
The tavern was particularly large and it's light was beaconing brightly in the dusk, punctuated by the darkness of the woods behind it.
Feng and Kaiko had run without a break from the moment they spotted the tavern, at which point they both took a moment to catch they breath.
"Happy that we'll be sleeping in a warm bed tonight?" Kaiko said between small heaves.
"Yes!" Feng responded completely sincerely and unapologetically, "Unlike someone, I don't have natural fur to keep me warm out here."
"Sometimes my unique physique has advantages," Kaiko boasted as he struck a pose, "You had the advantage in South Fuuhzan."
Feng nodded with a soft smile before turning around to face the tavern door. She opened the door and they both walked in, Feng leading the way.
A burst of hot air rushed past them as they entered and shut the door behind them. They had walked into a large open room with many tables strewn about. Currently just over half of the tables were occupied, and each table has at most two people, none of which payed any attention to the new arrivals. Everyone seemed more focused on the many small metal fire baskets that were laid into the middle of the tables.
Now that is more like it Feng though to herself as she let the warmth of the tavern embrace her.
"Greeting," An older man's voice shouted at them from behind the bar at the back of the tavern, "Find a seat wherever you want, one of us will be right over."
Kaiko spotted an empty table who's little cradle of fire seemed brightest and pointed it out to Feng. It also happened to be tucked in the corner, away from everyone yet next to the large open fire that served as the main heat source, it seemed like an idea place to sit.
Feng dashed over towards the table while Kaiko walked over to the bar.
"Hey there," He said to get the man's attention, "We'll gladly wait to order food and drinks whenever you're ready, however, I had a question."
"Do you have any beds?" Kaiko asked as he lent over onto the bar, "Honestly, it doesn't have to be anything fancy."
"We do," The bartender began with a little hesitation, "But we're already overbooked for the night. Best advice I can give is to try east of here. It's quite a while away but there is a bigger inn called the Tohsang Willows. Until them feel free to warm up here, though."
Kaiko nodded before walking away from the bar to join Feng at the table by the fire. She had taken the seat so that she was caught between the table fire as well as the open fire in a clear attempt to selfishly hog all the warmth she could. Kaiko took off his coat and placed it aside where it could dry.
"They told me they are full tonight," Kaiko had to disappoint Feng, "Nothing on offer tonight at all."
Feng, who was already hypnotised by the fires around her, glazed over; Kaiko assumed correctly that she was grieving the thought of a warm bed for the night.
"At least we can have some food and warmth," She muttered, mostly in an attempt to cheer herself up, "The fire is nice, too, and I get a chance to remake my hot water bottle before we go back out there."
"And its not like we necessarily need to sleep out in a hut tonight either," Kaiko began, "The bartender told me of an inn to the east, though admittedly he didn't say how far."
Feng didn't respond.
"He said it was called Tohsang Willows," Kaiko continued, this time catching Feng's attention, "You've heard of it?"
Feng remained quiet though her initial reaction being more animated than she would have liked made Kaiko very curious, leading him to push her on it a little more.
"Is it important?" Kaiko said slightly more seriously.
"Yes it is," Feng sighed, "So I'll tell you. I've not heard of the inn in question, but we'll have to skip. The region of Tohsang is off limits to Shoi Ni."
"Again," Kaiko sighed, now understanding why Feng was so reserved, "What did they do this time?"
The bartender walked up to their table just before Feng could answer the question, leaving both to stare in silence.
"What can I get you to drink, and are interested in something to eat as well?" The bartender inquired as he put down a carafe of water with two cups on the table, "Today we offer a Yato hare broth served in a bowl made of our homemade bread rolls."
"Sounds good," Feng began, "I'll have some broth, I'll love whatever chai you have on offer to drink."
The bartender nodded and looked over at Kaiko.
"The hare broth sounds really good," Kaiko said excitedly, "And for me anything strong you have."
Kaiko made a gesture of a small delicate shot cup, and the bartender knew exactly what he meant. The bartender started walking away.
"Oh, mister," Feng said as she waved to get his attention, without realising that he wouldn't be able to see it with his back turned to them, "Do you have a kettle I could use to refill this one?"
The bartender had now turned around and could see Feng waving her hot water bottle in the air.
"Ah, yes, of course," The bartender began, "I'll prepare a separate kettle for your warmer. Along with two broths, a chai and liquor."
He then cheerfully walked away towards the kitchens.
"So," Kaiko said in a hushed voice, "About Tohsang?"
"Right," Feng responded as she leaned closer to Kaiko, "Shoi Ni didn't really do anything, in a manner of speaking. We just don't have jurisdiction to operate anywhere in North Fuuhzan."
"So, what does 'in a manner of speaking' mean exactly in this context?" Kaiko enquired.
"It's a lot more benign that in sounds, I promise," Feng laughed softly, "Shoi Ni and the Sendoh Syndicate have an agreement when it comes to their respective territories. We can operate only under strict and direct supervision of the Syndicate. Until we reach their headquarters and get our mandated escort, we cannot freely accept jobs or grant aid against Yohkai."
"So," Kaiko began in thought, "Are we meant to be incognito or not?"
"I don't this so," She stated with some confidence, "We've been invited to come to Sendoh for a job. Having said that I don't think we should push our luck and do anything to stand out until we reach Sendoh. Deviating to Tohsang feels like overstepping, and we don't want to cause issued between the two organisations. Also, I think we stand out a little, what with not being used to the cold, and all."
"Speak for yourself." Kaiko laughed.
Kaiko quickly stopped laughing as his ears perked up at the sounds of creaking floorboards behind them. He looked over to see an older man hesitantly tiptoeing in place, apparently unable to decide whether he wanted to walk forward or away, avoiding looking Feng and Kaiko in the eye.
"Can we help you?" Kaiko asked somewhat puzzled.
"I swear I didn't meant to eavesdrop," The older man began, "But you are exorcists, yes? Working for Shoi Ni of East Fuuhzan?"
Feng and Kaiko looked at each other in silence before then turning back towards the stranger, still wordlessly.
"Look," He hesitated as he tried to find a comfortable way to rub his hands together, "I don't care about the feud, I need help and the Syndicate can't be trusted with this."
Once again Feng and Kaiko could only stare at each other in deliberate silence, before looking towards the stranger again. The stranger had gotten more fidgeting and could no longer stand still. He walked over to them knelt down in front of them, his eyes swelling up with tears.
"Please," He whispered, voice crackling, head bowed low, "You're our last hope. Our entire village pooled our coin together and we don't know who else to turn to."
"There is no need to humble yourself before us," Feng began as she got up from her seat to his level and tried to help him up, "As you have guessed, we are exorcists for hire, and we do indeed represent Shoi Ni of East Fuuhzan. Because of this we cannot promise anything, but we'll listen, if nothing else."
The stranger got up while profusely thanking the bother of them. He proceeded to sit down at the table with Feng and Kaiko. As soon as he sat down he started searching for something in the inside pocket of his coat.
"My name is Denkoh," He began as he found a small scroll in his pocket and set it down on the table, "I am the son of the chief of Sehsang, a village on the outer edges of the Tohsang region."
Denkoh proceeded to undo the cord keeping the scroll sealed and laid it in front of Feng and Kaiko. They both looked at the content of the scroll. It contained a message that was clearly handwritten with a thin and delicate ink brush in a calligraphic style that wasn't used anymore. Feng could identify a few pieces, but overall she could not read the whole thing. By contrast Kaiko seemed to have no such trouble, which he then read out loud for Feng's benefit.
By the power invested in me by the Tohsang state:
I, Ankhor, chieftain of Sehsang, confirm the identity of Denkoh, my son and right hand man, here before you.
Under my instruction and jurisdiction he has contacted you.
I beseech you, heed our request.
Signed and marked by official seal - Ankhor
"This calligraphy style is old," Kaiko confirmed without being asked, "Probably not seen outside of North Fuuhzan in at least five hundred years."
"And the seal is real, too," Feng added, "It is infused with the Kami's Glow, as one would expect from an official document."
They both looked at each other in a moment of silent contemplation, seemingly holding a conversation with their eyes, which was quickly interrupted by Denkoh.
"How did you…" Denkoh mumbled as he struggled to line up the several important questions rushing through his mind simultaneously.
"You two are the real deal!" He exclaimed, "I beg, you have to help us."
"You seem well enough informed, yourself, Denkoh," Feng pointed out, "You know about the organisation for which we work and why we wouldn't be able to help. Yet you still choose to approach us. We promised to listen so you can make your peace."
Denkoh nodded several times in silence.
"Yes," He eventually began, " Everyone here knows about the rules of the organisations, the feuds and the limitations. The Syndicate makes sure we all understand who we must turn to for help. Yet who can we turn to when the Syndicate itself is part of the problem?"
Neither Feng nor Kaiko said a word at this point but felt themselves lean forwards towards Denkoh, silently telling him to keep going.
"Where to begin with all this," He mumbled to himself, "I guess I'll start with Tohsang. My brother works for the chief there…"
Denkoh paused for a moment, appearing to be recounting things in his head.
"Right, I should probably tell you that first. Our family has been working in the area for generations. We have always worked for the governing bodies of North Fuuhzan, in one way or another, and we maintained a strong support network across the region. Granted we don't communicate often, I have last heard of him two years ago now. Though I must admit that I wasn't concerned right away, some months ago our sister contacted me with similar concerns. It was then that we decided to go visit Tohsang ourselves."
Denkoh paused again, leaving Feng and Kaiko to look at each other in silence with a silent agreement before turning back to Denkoh.
"And, so…" Kaiko added in an attempt to continue the story, "You didn't find him?"
"Worse," Denkoh sighed, "We never even made it close enough to see the outskirts of the city. The Syndicate had deemed the entire region unsafe and is actively keeping everyone out, by force if required.
"And force they did use, excessively," Denkoh continued, "Only one of us has gotten past them in several attempts. We haven't heard from him either since he reached the city limits. That was four months ago."
A moment of silence hung over the table, interrupted by one of the bartenders arriving at their table.
"Sorry for the wait," He began as he set down Feng's bowl first, then Kaiko's next, "Shahna will bring your drink and the kettle momentarily."
After putting down the two bowls the bartender put down a plate with a few more slices of the same bread. He was in the middle of turning around to leave when he put his hand on Denton's shoulder and moved in closer.
"I thought we told you to stop harassing the customers, 'Koh," He said soft enough for his voice not to travel beyond their table, "You're going to have to let the Syndicate deal with this."
"It's no bother at all," Feng said with a soft chuckle, "If anything, he's indulging us for a moment."
The bartender bowed and walked away looking a little sour. It wasn't long before another staff came around with two jugs and a kettle. She hung the kettle from a metal hook above the fire in the middle of the table before setting the remaining two jugs and two cups in front of Feng and Kaiko. She bowed and walked away as quickly as she had appeared, leaving the three of them unattended once more.
After pouring both Feng's drink as well as his own, Kaiko took a really long and deep sip of his alcohol. He then put down his mug on the table with more force than was necessary, causing Denkoh to flinch. He then watched in his startled state as Feng, completely unphased, calmly picked up her mug and hovered around the rim to take in the fragrance. A look on her face suggested a pleasant confusion. She took a small sip and her face instantly glowed a palpable warmth. It was very clear that this was excellent chai and that it was to her liking. She took several small satisfied sips in a row, letting the silence hang uncomfortably around Denkoh. The silence was broken only by the sputtering sound of the water in the kettle getting warm and pushing steam out.
"So, Denkoh," Feng began with a warm exhale, "What exactly do you expect from us?"
The question was so straight to the point that it took Denkoh slightly aback, especially coming from Feng. She had a particularly serious aura about her that Denkoh instantly recognised as serious.
"I am not really certain, I guess…" Denkoh fumbled a little as he looked down to the ground.
He took a deep breath to calm himself, and tried to gather himself to match Feng, as much as he could.
"Can I, euh…" He said as he met Feng's steady gaze, "Can I speak on my own behalf, not just in my father's name and with his authority, before I leave you be?"
Feng and Kaiko looked at each other quickly before nodding simultaneously.
"We'd prefer it, actually." Kaiko then added.
"Oh, thank you," Denkoh began with a sigh of a relief, "Even though my father sent me out to list aid for Tohsang, primarily in his capacity as chief, it's about more than just that. Our family has gotten caught up in this. Two of my brothers are now missing because of this and I wish there was more I… Well… Any of us, really, could be doing."
He paused to massage his face a little while he collected his thoughts.
"We went through the proper channels, so to speak," He continued, "But the Syndicate is not acting normally. I can't put it any other way. They are more secretive than usual, and they have been far more passive in responding to thing; it wasn't like them to just sit and wait things out. We don't really know what exactly is going on, and we don't know who else to turn to."
Denkoh took a last deep breath before slamming his hands onto his knees to stand up.
"I will take my leave now," He said as he bowed, "Our family would certainly appreciate any help you can offer, not to mention the city of Tohsang. If you do end up in the neighbourhood of the Tohsang Willow, even if it is not to help, ask for Chandarin. She'll be sure to make your visit worthwhile."
He took a few steps backwards while still partially bowed before turning around and disappearing around the corner, out of sight.
Kaiko leant back into his chair and sighed. Without looking he attempted to grab his mug, missing and causing it to almost topple. He peeked from one eye so he could adjust his grip before downing the whole thing. Feng put her mug down and took the howling kettle off the fire to tend to her hot water bottle in sad anticipation of their return to the cold evening air. As she enjoyed the renewed warmth she too leans back into her chair with an audible sigh.
"What do you want to do?" Kaiko asked as he turned his plate around looking for the best angle to start eating.
"Honestly," Feng began as she picked up a piece of bread from the plate to start eating, "I wish we could help, but if as Denkoh implied they are actively patrolling to keep people out, we must avoid the area."
"So," Kaiko then followed up, "If we can't go to Tohsang, we're resuming our trip to Sendoh?"
"I'm afraid so." Feng said plainly between bites.
"Do you think well reach anywhere warm tonight?" Kaiko asked, less for his own sake than for hers.
"Not if we walk, no." Feng said with a mischievous smile.
Kaiko stopped biting his food to squint his eyes and stare Feng down, who returned the favour. They stared at each other just long enough for Kaiko to look away with a friendly huff.
"I knew it," He said, "I knew you were going to make me do all the hard work."
Though it didn't happen often, it had occurred a few times that whether due to terrain, time constraint or good old fashioned laziness, Feng had asked to ride Kaiko in his fox form to travel; not simply for combat. Though he wouldn't complain, Kaiko had mixed feelings about it. He would more often than not indulge Feng in her requests, but he wasn't the biggest fan of serving as a pack mule. Some of that was a bit of personal pride, but carrying their belonging around wasn't always the most comfortable in his fox form; not to mention Feng hadn't quite had enough practice to ride Kaiko without the armour. On the other hand he did enjoy the freedom of being in his animal form, a privilege rarely afforded under the circumstances.
"I know you don't like carrying our stuff that way," Feng said to reassure him, "You won't need to carry our things on your back, nor will you have to let me ride your back."
"What are you proposing, then?" Kaiko responded, confused.
"You'll see," Feng said as she rubbed her hands menacingly, "Let's finish our food and I'll go pay. Hand me the coin purse."
Kaiko found and handed over the purse over to Feng before they both finished their stew at a somewhat hasty pace. Once they had finished eating Feng ran past with to go pay, telling Kaiko to wait for her outside with their stuff.
He picked up their backpack and walked out, looking at Feng over his shoulder. She was excitedly gesturing to the bartender then proceeding to pay. Once outside Kaiko had a good look around while he waited for Feng to join him. The sun had now set entirely with the faintest glow still visible over the horizon. The snow still had some luminosity to it, though he was aware that he his vision was significantly better in the dark. There were no clouds nor was the moon out presently, leaving a sea of stars visible above them; sadly contributing very little to the low visibility.
Feng interrupted Kaiko with a firm pat on the back. Excitedly she gestured him to follow her around the side of the building towards a reasonably large shed. She told him to wait while she disappeared into the darkness.
"You have got to be kidding," Kaiko said dismissively as he saw Feng pull a sled out of the shed, "You're not making me pull that like some sort of dog!"
"Come on," Feng said playfully, "Your fox form is larger than any sled animal, this is going to be so quick and you won't have to worry about our things, we can just put them in here."
Feng not only pointed towards the carrier area of the sled, but ran over to him to grab their belongings and putting them on the sled.
"This will be the quickest way to Sendoh," Feng said less enthusiastically, "And I can't lie, I don't really fancy another night under the stars, if we can avoid it."
Kaiko looked up at the sky and took a deep breath, followed by a long sigh.
"Alright, alright," He eventually said, "If it will make you happy well go by sled."
Feng clasped her hands excitedly and tried to hype Kaiko up. He moved to the side to give himself the space to transform while she tied down all their belongings to the sled with the provided rope and tarp. She also started preparing the ropes with which to tie the sled to Kaiko while he slowly began to transform. He continued to transform beyond the humanoid and entirely into a massive furry foxed-beast.
Once he was done transforming Feng instructed him to lie down in front of the sled while she tried to figure out how to strap him in. It took a couple of minutes of trial and error before they found a way for the harness to stay put around back and his torso. It wasn't long after that they were ready to head out. Kaiko took a moment to turn a little to address Feng before they left.
"Feng," He growled, "We you also thinking that Tohsang is under attack by a Yohkai?"
"I don't know," She admitted, "But that's what I was thinking too."
"Can we really leave them to it?" He asked.
"We'll when we meet the Syndicate, I suppose." She responded, trying to avoid the question.
A quiet moment hung in the air as the screeching of the ice wind descended down upon them.
"Go, Foxy!" Feng suddenly shouted, "Run to Sendoh!"
Kaiko rolled his eyes but was smiling on the inside. He kicked off with a strong leap, almost leaving Feng behind. As the sled sped up she had almost lost her grip as the tug was stronger than she was expecting, but she luckily managed to catch herself on time. It then took Kaiko a few minutes to find the right pace, being somewhat larger than the animal that would have normally been pulling made the sled slightly less steady than it normally would have been.
It was an interesting balancing game, he wanted to run fast enough to take as much advantage of their new means of transport as possible, but it needed to be sustainable for several hours, preferably without throwing Feng off the back. In regards to the journey, Feng would have estimated it would take only a several hours to reach their destination, though the truth was she really didn't know. They had no choice but to go as long as they could, which Kaiko took as a personal challenge.
For two hours Kaiko kept a steady pace without the need for a break, but the temperature had continued to drop as the night went on and the wind had only gotten stronger. Even though there was no visible snowfall at all, the wind carrying a never-ending bombardment of miniature ice daggers with every passing gust begged to differ.
When Kaiko mentioned he wanted to take a break Feng was more than happy to agree. She insisted they head towards a patch of dense trees ahead in the distance.
"We need shelter from the wind," Feng argued, "Well, I need shelter from the wind."
"I know my fur keeps me warm," Kaiko responded with a smile in his voice, "But I don't know how much longer my nose will survive this wind. I'll try to find us a spot where I can dig us into the snow."
When they got closer Kaiko slowed down and started pacing along the tree line in an attempt to see deeper within for a suitable spot to take a break. Feng was barely able to see, so relied entirely on Kaiko to scout while she did her best to stay standing on the sled on the more uneven terrain. It took Kaiko a good ten minutes of pacing along the forest for him to spot what he thought looked like an opening they could take the sled through.
Suddenly and entirely without warning Kaiko stopped dead in his tracks, rocking the sled and almost throwing her over the sled into the snow. She didn't have the time to tell him how dangerous that was that he shook violently, throwing the sled, with her barely holding on, into the air.
"Watch out!" Kaiko managed to growl quickly as he attempt to thrash the harness off his back, "We're under attack!"
Feng was still holding onto the sled with one hand as they both seemed to hover in the air slowly.
From below a suddenly and violent gust shot up from under the snow followed by a visible dark spire piercing through a part of the sled. The force threw the sled over, slamming it and Feng into the snow. She caught herself quickly enough to see the spire droop back down into the snow. Kaiko, who had managed to throw the harness off completely jumped in front of Feng, facing the hole in the snow and the forest behind it. He let out a powerful howl that shook the the air in a cone in front of him deep into the darkness, throwing snow and dead timber everywhere.
There was silence for what seemed like an eternity, interrupted only by a soft puffing sound coming from the hole left by the spire.
"Thank you, Kaiko," Feng began as she stood up, "I hadn't sensed anything."
"For just one moment," Kaiko tried to whisper through his showing teeth, "I sensed something inhuman."
Feng immediately grabbed her staff from the sled to then stand by Kaiko's side with one hand on his back the other gripping her staff tightly.
"We don't want to fight!" She shouted into the darkness, "We are simply travelling to Sendoh!"
There was no response.
They waited for several minutes, ready to fight, yet still nothing happened. There was no noise other than the echoed howls of the wind. Neither Feng nor Kaiko could sense anything further. Eventually Feng went over to the sled to try and estimate the damage, while Kaiko announced that he would run down the area in his fox form to make sure they were safe and most importantly: alone.
Kaiko ran off into the forest, the sound of his weight stomping into the snow disappearing quickly, muted by the constant barrage of wind; leaving Feng alone.
She inspected the sled extensively and noted that the most significant damage was to the left ski. The spire had properly pulverised it but had missed everything else, leaving the sled and their belongings in otherwise impeccable condition, all things considered. An oddity she noticed rather quickly, once she had confirmed the damage by feeling the sled with her hands, was that there were gooey black droplets on the underside of the sled. Once she recoiled at the cold wet feeling of the droplets she became aware of a similar feeling under her feet, leading her to realise many little droplets in the snow all around, particularly around the hole left by their attacker. It seemed odd for anything to remain liquid out here, but on top of that, the spire that hit them was definitely solid.
She inspected her hand and the underside of her boot, but none of the liquid seemed to have transferred. Over in the hole it was clear to see there was a puddle of black liquid, stubbornly refusing to let the snow embrace it.
Kaiko suddenly ruffled through the trees which slightly startled Feng who was engrossed by the mysterious black liquid to notice him until he was essentially next to her.
"I couldn't find anyone," He huffed, "Couldn't find any scent nor any footprints. But there definitely was someone and their shelter would be ideal to make camp tonight."
Feng didn't turn to face him, transfixed on the hole in the snow, which Kaiko couldn't help but join.
"What is it?" He asked.
"I'm not sure," She responded pensively, "It's black, it's not freezing and it is most definitely what attacked us."
Kaiko got a little closer with his snout and smelled it a few times before recoiling in disgust.
"I don't know what this smell is," He said through gritted teeth, "It's faint, but whatever it is, it's really nauseating."
Kaiko tried to get away from the lingering smell by walking over to sled. Now that he could identify it, it was stronger than every and he couldn't seem to escape it. He was happy to see their belongings seemed fine, but immediately recoiled when he could smell the droplets on the underside of the sled. He couldn't help but let out a sigh.
"I doubt we can salvage it tonight, if even at all," He eventually said, "We should probably call it here and get some sleep."
"Agreed," Feng said turning to face him, yet keeping the black liquid in the corner of her eye, "But we need to come back and inspect this one more properly in the morning."
Kaiko nodded, after which he grabbed all their belongings in his jaw, grabbing the bags by the strap between his teeth. Feng then grabbed her staff as it was the only thing Kaiko couldn't grab, and followed him as he led the way through the forest to their campsite. It didn't take long for the forest to swallow them entirely, making it impossible to tell that the forest ever ended.
Despite the timeless feeling of the forest at night, it didn't take long before Kaiko pointed out a small ridge around the dug out area that would serve as a camp. In the dark the ridge was easy to spot for Kaiko, Feng would have had an equal chance of seeing it as she would have to have tripped face-first into the snow.
The little hideout they then walked into was almost like a bubble carved out of snow all the way down to solid ground with at its centre the remnants of a campfire; some of the wood remnants were entirely unburnt. Though it was nothing impressive, it was everything they needed to get through the night; the wind was nowhere to be heard.
Feng ran in first, wasting no time pulling her sleeping bag out of her backpack without letting Kaiko put it down so he could transform back into his human form. Before Kaiko had the chance to put down the bags and join Feng in the make-shift igloo, Feng was already rolled into her sleeping bag. Kaiko took a few things from his backpack before he too joined Feng in the igloo. He, on the other hand, came in with a small paper ball as well as a few more logs with which to fuel the fire and a kettle.
Wordlessly Kaiko set up the wood for the fire, a combination of the half-burned logs and their own logs. He then took the paper ball and pressed it until it let out an audible click. He threw it under the little pyre he had set up and a fire began almost immediately. The kettle was then quickly filled with snow and set to boil on the fire.
Feng wordlessly handed over her water bottle without ever leaving the sleeping bag. A few minutes of silence filled only by distant howling winter gusts, Kaiko pressed the renewed water bottle against the sleeping bag, which then proceeded to swallow the bottle out of his hand. Feng then turned around to face the ice wall to get away from the last remnant of wind and letting the fire warm her back. Kaiko changed back into his massive fox form so that without moving he tried to cover Feng within her sleeping bag with his bushy tail to help keep her warm.
"Thank you." She whispered as she began dozing off.
Kaiko responded by laying down next to her and laying down his head, closing his eyes but keeping his ears propped in anticipation throughout the night.
While Feng and Kaiko were resting, two figures were making a very conscious effort to walk around them in a very larger radius. One of the two was a taller and wider male, while the other was a slimmer and shorter female. In many ways the were very similar to Feng and Kaiko, as they too were travelling incognito. They were covered from top to toe in thick black garments and their heads completely covered by a cloth-hung strap hat. They not only concealed their identity but were also actively keeping them warm in this biting cold.
These were the previous occupants of the camp and they had their sights set on the sled Feng and Kaiko had left behind. They had gone far enough out of the way of their previous camp to leave the forest entirely and walk the remainder of the way along the edge of the forest.
"You must be more insane than I had realised," The taller one told the shorter one, "I told you they hadn't spotted us."
"Look, Yah," a rebuttal came swiftly, "We agreed to do whatever it takes, right? So I took an executive decision in the moment."
"Maybe next time, Hujin," Argument continued, "Either execute them or don't bother. We need to remain secret."
"Yeah, yeah," She brushed off, "It worked out, didn't it?"
"Don't you start that with me, again" He responded, "One day that recklessness is going to cost us dearly."
"Well, now is not the time to worry about that," She said, changing the subject as the sled came into view, "Make sure you not to leave a single drop."
As they arrived at the site of the attack, they split up. Yah went over to the liquid in the snow while Hujin immediately inspected the sled. Yah summoned a strange gourd from under his clothing which he uncorked. As soon as he did all the liquid in the snow and on the sled were sucked up. The gourd quickly disappeared under his clothes again before joining Hujin by the sled.
"Is it usable?" He asked her.
"I think so," She said with a wide grin, "If you conjure us some sort of pulling animal, I think we will be in Tohsang in no time."