InsaneJournal

February 14, 2008
Who: Mitsuko and Midori (narrative)
When: Very early morning
Where: Near the forest cottages
What: Mitsuko searches for her friend, gets into trouble and has a surprising moment.

There were only bits and pieces of information. The Council was playing things pretty close to the chest. The only thing Mitsuko knew was that Dante had taken two women hostage. She knew of Dante's interest in Adrienne. And her friend was not at her home.

Mitsuko had not formally volunteered for a search party. She suspected as a young woman with three teenagers in her charge, she'd be rebuked, that it was too dangerous for someone with such responsibilities. And she couldn't say she was at all comfortable with the Council still.

Besides, Mitsuko was a hunter. She was better at searching on her own, in her animal form. If she was in a 'search party', she would be slowed down.

The small white fox stopped and let out a small growl. She was tired-- she'd been at this for nearly a day. Her body ached and she was just getting confused. So many people were out searching for Dante and the kidnapped girls that her nose was clogged with the scents of so many people.

But she couldn't give up. Not when her friend was out there. She had told herself she wasn't going to lose anyone else she cared about. If that meant she had to push herself, she was going to do it. She continued on, deeper into the trees.

She was weary and her nose was close to the ground. So focused, she didn't notice the large creature leap at her.

She yelped as she was pinned to the ground. It wasn't much larger than her, but it was enough to dominate her. She felt teeth dig into her back leg. The fox howled and changed to her human form. The added mass and weight gave her the advantage and she managed to toss the attacker off.

Mitsuko sat up, panting. She could see the Cross Fox that had attacked her. With her change, it had become frightened and scampered off.

"Better run! You territorial bastard!" Mitsuko shouted. She put a hand to her thigh where the flesh was torn. Injuries were kept in both her forms. And it probably wasn't a good idea to go after a psychotic werewolf while she was bleeding.

Mitsuko glanced at her injury. It wasn't too bad. But it needed to be cared for. She was close to the forest cottages.

She limped her way to the cottages. She sighed as she looked at the one that reminded her far too much of the home she'd left nearly eight years ago.

She rapped sharply on the door. A few minutes later, the door opened and she was greeted by her mother.

"What are you doing here?" Midori asked, more surprise in her voice than irritated at the late night visit.

"I don't have time to talk," Mitsuko said sharply, pushing her way into the cottage and going up the stairs, not bothering to remove her shoes. "This is the last place I want to be, but I didn't have anywhere else to go. My friend is missing. I'm looking for her and I got attacked by a territorial todd."

Midori blinked at her daughter for a moment, before following her upstairs. Mitsuko was in the bathroom, retrieving bandages. She leaned casually against the doorframe. "He was protecting his mate. And probably very confused as to why a vixen like you wasn't pregnant."

Mitsuko glared at Midori. "I said I don't have time for this!"

"Actually, you do," Midori said firmly. "You're exhausted, you're injured... And Dante Donovan is not someone you should go against in that condition. If you won't listen to me as your mother, you will listen to me as a Vice Council member."

"Okasama!"

Midori knelt on the floor in front of Mitsuko. She took over bandaging Mitsuko's leg. "At sunrise, you can go back out. But... You need rest, Mitsuko." She took a long pause. "Please."

Mitsuko's eyes grew wide. She never expected to hear her mother say that word. She knew her mother was a skilled liar, but there was no doubt she was truly pleading for Mitsuko to rest.

Mitsuko gave a quick nod. "All right. But at dawn, I'm out of here."

Midori nodded. "That is all I ask."

With her leg now bandaged, Mitsuko followed Midori into one of the bedrooms. As it seemed to be well-decorated, Mitsuko assumed it was Midori's own.

Midori gestured to the bed wordlessly.

Mitsuko gave her mother a wary look before sitting down on the bed. She then transformed into her fox form once again, curling up and letting her eyes close.

Once she was sure the girl was asleep, Midori reached a hand over to stroke Mitsuko's fur. She though better of this before she touched her and pulled her hand away. Looking over her daughter for one last moment, she turned and left her alone to rest.