⠀ 𝐀𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐈𝐓𝐀𝐋’𝐒 𝐅𝐈𝐀𝐒𝐂𝐎, exhaustion washed over the entire hoshidan army. their movements sluggish, eyes wearing down to the rocky surface beneath their weights as they retreated back over nestra’s border. morale was at an all─time low. a plethora of soldiers felt incredibly defeated by the outcome, some mourning for the losses inside &. outside of the amphitheatre.
⠀ what were they even thinking? settling for peace on nohr’s territory, much less──trying to eliminate 𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐆𝐀𝐑𝐎𝐍 in the opera house right then &. there. not to mention, one of their royals ( 𝐀𝐙𝐔𝐑𝐀 ) split from the group unexpectedly after they barely managed to escape.
⠀ those troubling thoughts ran through their minds as they tread through the wolfskin peak, trying their damned hardest to retreat back to hoshido to recover what remained.
⠀ once night fell, their movements were forced to halt. 𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐑𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐌𝐀 declared a resting stop for a while until they were ready to move on their feet. for now, they have to make the best of what they can. each team knew that they couldn’t sit idly before dawn arrives ; for the nohrians were approaching quickly behind them. the retainers’ duties were simple : for every royal, they required one guardian to scout the area & remain on lookout, while the other remained by their masters’ side for their safety. afterwards, they would switch cycles to assist each other or rest momentarily.
⠀ from 𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐒𝐀𝐊𝐔𝐑𝐀’s designated team, 𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐀 volunteered herself to the former task for the first round.
⠀ « hana, » 𝐒𝐔𝐁𝐀𝐊𝐈 𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐒 out to her, « are you sure you want to take this shift? you can stay here with lady until we switch. »
⠀ 𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐀 𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐊𝐄𝐒 her head, ❝ it’s alright, i don’t mind ! however, please take care of sakura… i know that she might overwhelm herself with the amount of patients there are. ❞
⠀ 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐈𝐑 𝐄𝐘𝐄𝐒 𝐆𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄 at their beloved master, tending to wounds with a serious expression on her face alongside their ally, 𝐀𝐙𝐀𝐌𝐀, assisting alongside her. a gentle blue light glimmered around the individuals’ bodies from their staves, healing them in an instant.
⠀ ❝ it will be a little difficult if it is just those two acting as medics… so, i think it’s best if you can help them out as much as you can before lord ryoma calls the orders on our move again. i’ll be fine on my own ! promise. ❞
⠀ 𝐒𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐒 him scratch the back of his neck, sighing defeatedly. he didn’t want to admit that his rival had a point. they needed all hands at this small campsite.
⠀ « okay. return back here safely. the sooner we get everyone settled &. served our cycles, the less danger we will possibly be in with the nohrians coming. »
⠀ 𝐍𝐎𝐃𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆, the swordswoman soon made her way into the thick forest.
⠀ 𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐔𝐓𝐄𝐒 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐄𝐃 since her discussion with 𝐒𝐔𝐁𝐀𝐊𝐈. there seemed to be no sign of enemies within her path. so far, at least. from the distance, all she could hear was the sound of howling wolves in the distance ; one of the biggest concerns within this area. rumour has it that people often disappeared in the dead of night by men who were able to transform into canines, especially around wolfskin peak.
⠀ &. to be honest, the mental image made her shiver.
⠀ just as 𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐀⠀was about turn back to the campsite, her ears perk up. she could hear the sound of rustling leaves in close proximity &. a faint breath nearby, slowly creeping from the shadows. hazel eyes shut to concentrate on their precise location. as a trained samurai, it was essential to hone all of her senses to concentrate on her surroundings, becoming more alert on various missions alone, or with a team.
⠀ ❝ i know you’re there, ❞ 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐋𝐎𝐑𝐀𝐋 𝐒𝐀𝐌𝐔𝐑𝐀𝐈 𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐒 only to be met with silence.
⠀ a hand grips on the white, diamond─patterned handle of the katana at her hip. she’s steady, awaiting an opportunity to strike.
⠀ gradual movements of gravel shifting allows her to sharply rotate at the source’s direction. swiftly, the sheath unveils itself with its blade shimmering against the moonlight, cutting through the tough, thorny rose bush in a blur to reveal ( @nohrs-lost-soul ) hiding behind the plant.
⠀ 𝐒𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐋𝐃𝐋𝐘, narrowing her eyes at the dread fighter with the tip of her katana pointed directly at their throat.