Mountain Passage

[Shen Wu]

The mountains of Ji in the Hei Bei region was always known for its cold, burtal mountain passes and ranges. It was apparently chock-full of bandits who prey on the passing merchants and anyone else brash enough to travel through the Ji mountains. It was the nature of a vagabond a mercenary to travel and that is what found Shen Wu in the mountainous Ji region in Northern China.

It was cold and the wind was unforgiving, but a situation that was something that Shen Wu was used to. With each and every gust of wind that howled violently past him, the beige cloak he wore fluttered upwards, revealing the large sword at his back. He was a swordsman by trade and purposefully ignored the pleas of the villagers who had told him not to go alone. He had lost track of his long time freind and brother in arms days before. A man who was even more fearless than Shen Wu himself was made out to be. In reality it wasn't about being fearless and not in the face of bandits, it was about constantly testing himself at every turn in an attempt to keep his skills polished. If they attacked he would defend, it was as simple as that.

As Shen Wu made his way further into the mountain pass, the wind began to becomes less and less intense. The walls of the pass rose higher and higher as he went, leaving him with just enough room for only a few men shoulder to shoulder.

A perfect place for an ambush...hmmm...

Shen Wu thought to himself as he pulled out a small handfull of rice and literrally tossed it into his already open mouth. The man ate like he hadn't eaten in days, even if he had. He smiled ot himself as the food satisfied his hunger for the moment. He had no time to stop so her continued his trek up the pass. As it looked like he was nearing the 'peak' point with which the path would then head downwards, he heard something ahead. The clank and swish of movement. He lowered his right hand down to his waist where Ookamitsume rested, slowly inching his way towards the sound to investigate.

---This is an open thread, feel free to use the sound as an entrance point.

[Nohime]

Nohime was just up ahead, making a small camp just inside a cavern. She was too cold to travel any further. She wrapped herself in thick animal furs, doing what she could to retain any sort of heat. Luckily, she did managed to kick up a fire that was generating quite a bit of heat. She had also remembered to bring a few simple supplies for making tea or even a bowl of rice. She had grabbed a handful of snow and melted it in a tea pot. After it was warming up, she tossed in a few tea leaves and waited for it to boil.

As the water began to cook, she reached into her bag and accidentally caused a small avelanche in her supplies, knocking over a small pot. The loud, sudden noise spooked her horse, causing it to rush further into the cave, its hooves making loud noises against the stone. She sighed and shook her head. "Why did I agree to do this? It's too damn cold..."

[Yen Wang (Burai)]

“Great..Yen wang, you managed to get yourself lost.” He was wonder around through this mountain passage. A trader on the road said it was a shortcut, but sadly Yen Wangdidn’t listened to the rest of the man’s words. “Tch, I should be more patiently, but that man smelled terrible and my nose. Couldn’t handle that stench!”

Yen Wang huddled his arms together; he was wearing his regular attire, which wasn’t suited for this climate. His fashion was for such beautiful weather, not this cold and brisk white terrain. “Such a hedious sight.” A strange sound echoed, He quickly grabbed his weapon and began to cautiously walk in the direction where he heard the noise.

An odd smell drifted into his nostrils, he followed the scent; it lead him to an odd construction. He believed people referred to these as caves? He questioned it. Most unfathomable creatures lived in caves. Like that trader who gave him the terrible directions. Such obscurities needed to be destroyed. Yen Wang walked forth and entered the cave. “Come out creature, so I can slay you like the vermin you are!”

[Shen Wu]

The snow was getting brutal and no matter how one sliced it, Shen Wu was prepared. He had battle on the mind, but there was always a chance the situation would be peaceful. Shen Wu recalled what he master had told him many years ago.

"Acting on instinct alone may yield the results you seek or it may not, however using one's brain in conjunction with the soul to assess the situation will yield the results you seek and more..."

Shen Wu sighed and slowly moved his hand from its resting spot on the hilt of the sword at his waist. As he did, he sighed out loud, pulling the cloak up over his head to shield himself from a sudden gust of snowy wind. He could unsheate his sword quickly enough if the situation demanded it. He stood up strait and began walking normally with his head down, making his presence known in the area ahead. An odd scent met his nostrils accompaning an uncharacteristically warm gust of wind.

Shen Wu smiled. He was always hungry and what his gut was telling him was that some one was cooking ahead. Seconds later the clot of galloping horses met with his ears at the same moment another warrior came into view and spoke out loud into a cave that was the source of the sound. Shen Wu looked quickly to the man, then again to the cave.

'I'd hold back with all the anger...'

Shen Wu said to the man as he began to walk forward towards the cave.

'I don't think we are dealing with a monster...'

Shen Wu anticipated someone exitting the cave any second, as he turned to look at the other man once again. He smirked.

[Nohime]

Nohime gasped sharply and stood up, her furs still tightly wrapped around her. She looked toward the entrance but made no movement towards the source. She almost thought she recognized the voice, but no matter the situation, she was insulted by his comment. She then saw another figure step in beside him. There was a quiet murmur before Nohime finally got a chance to say anything.

"How dare you?!" she shouted. "I am no vermin! I am Nohime and I've just taken shelter. In case you didn't notice, it is freezing out there!"

She was in no mood to fight anyone, physically or verbally. She was tired, she was cold, and she just wanted to rest. She then removed the hood of fur to reveal that she indeed had a human face. She then turned to her little campfire. It was starting to get a little low, so she walked over to her lumber pile and tossed a few sticks onto the fire. She then turned to the two men. "Against my better judgement, you may join me. It's too cold for anyone out there, and I will not have your deaths on my conscience." Not that they really would have been. She just didn't want to be attacked right now.

[Yen Wang (Burai)]

Yen Wang took a step forward; and, as he was about to make his next step. A man approached him from his blind spot. He had offered some advice to Yen Wang; though he wasn’t feeling the need to be gracious and accept it. “Or what? You are going to do something about it?” Yen Wang voice was boisterous. Only the strong and those who Yen Wang found worthy had the right to offer him advice.

He tilted his face to the side, looked back at the man. “Hmph..They’re is no we. You are dealing with a monster, whether there is one in the cave is beyond me.” He tilted his head back and took another step forward. A female voice reached out to him. “Seems like I need to put you in your- Nohime?” Burai became silent and wrapped his weapon around his neck. He proceded into the cave. He left the man alone; He didn’t care if he followed, as he ventured in the cave Nohime came into view. “Is that how you greet me?”

[Shen Wu]

The mountains began to get worse and worse as the wind whipped up large amounts of loose snow. At this point it pelted the two men. Shen Wu covered his face as a large gust of wind pulled some snow from the ground and up at his face, with a sigh he made his way the remaining fifteen feet or so the the mouth of the cave. It was a good idea to take up the woman on her offer and enter the cave, even if that meant Shen Wu would simply find himself a comfortable corner of the cave and rest his eyes. It was obvious from what the other man had said that he was familiar with the woman now revealed as Nohime. An interesting name to say the least.

With his head down and shielded from the snow, Shen Wu followed the man into the cave, despite the unfreindly comments he had made before. Shen Wu knew people like that and worked with them all the time, he wasn't planning on taking anything the man said to offense. No doubt the only result would be an arugement that could easily becomes a fight, one that noone wanted it seemed. As he entered the threshold of the cave, Shen Wu let out a small cough as he nodded to the woman and spoke quietly.

'Much Appreciated...'

He said simply as he walked further into the cave, carefully unslinging the large sword on his back and leaning it against the cave wall as he next pulled the smaller sword from his waist and sat it gently onto the rocky cave floor. A deep breath, followed by the shifting of his gaze to the two unfamiliar warriors he shared the cave with followed. He spoke loud enough that they could hear him, but not loud enough to interrupt the other man as he spoke.

'Oh...carry on, it seems as though the two of you have some catching up to do...'

His name and introductions weren't so important at the moment, as he would just be interrupting anyways, he was just glad to be out of the snow. He closed his eyes and crossed his arms. The rest was a long time coming, he hadn't exactly 'rested' since he began traversing the mountains.