Mori versus the Oni Part 2 - Chapter 7

Pleasant Partings, Wretched Welcomes

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Mori awoke in darkness. He listened for others and heard nothing, no rustling, no talking, nothing. Shaking Kota and then Ano awake he peeked out from the pale canvas tent into the ronin camp. A dim and distant sun send spears of sunlight streaking across the forest floor while the night sky clung on in rich blues above. The stars had been vanquished, save the brightest few, and the moon had retreated for another day. Smoke rose from the fire pit growing cold. Ano yawned. Mori followed.

The trio crept towards the fire pit where Mori hoped he would find a morsel of food for Ano and a drink for himself. Instead he found a man. ‘Morning,’ Hidetaka smiled sucking the meat off a fish bone. ‘Can you believe the others leave food? Too used to the cushioned life serving a daimyo and living in a castle.’

Mori cursed inwardly, ‘Morning.’

‘Set on leaving?’ Hidetaka tossed the bone into the fire pit.

Mori answered with a grunt.

…