| [Dec. 17th, 2017|02:44 am] |
Their captors’ preferred method of prisoner transport was to take several twigs, transform them into sturdy poles, and lash the shinobi to them by their wrists and ankles. The dogs were muzzled with lengths of rope (except for Pakkun, whose jaws were too short) and tied two to a pole.
Hanging upside down, slung between the shoulders of two of the bigger tanuki, Raidou considered life from the perspective of a slaughtered deer. It did not have much to recommend it.
Mission report: The Daimyou’s sake was taken by mythical woodland creatures. Upon making contact, Team Six was defeated in twelve seconds and tied to trees. Requests for assistance were thwarted by being in the wrong universe.
From Kakashi’s pole, there was a snap and a scream. Raidou jerked his head around and saw a smaller tanuki clutching one of its paws. Kakashi’s mask had been pulled halfway down his nose. His neck was arched like a snake.
“Not a good idea,” Raidou said, relentlessly amiable.
One of the older tanuki made an aggravated sound, like a growling teapot, and conjured a heavy cloth bag. Two of them forced it over Kakashi’s head and tied it closed, which, Raidou had to admit, did solve that problem. Even if it made him want to bite someone himself. Kakashi snarled but subsided, while Pakkun made several choice comments that earned him his own bag.
Addendum: Inter-dimensional international incident nearly caused by personal issues and dogs. Avoided by improvised headgear. Future recommendation: Agent Hatake should never be made a political envoy.
Kurenai, sensibly, kept quiet and observant, watching their captors through half-lidded eyes.
Ryouma, less sensibly, asked, “I thought the lady in the teal kimono — uh, Azami — said you don’t steal from humans. Doesn’t this count as stealing us?”
A short tanuki with dark-tinted ears started to answer, before another cuffed her around the head. “Don’t talk to the prisoner.” But, only a few moments later, the cuffing-tanuki asked Ryouma, “You also smell like wolf. Did the Old Ones try to eat you?”
Raidou cleared his throat loudly.
Ryouma craned his neck, caught Raidou’s eye, and told the tanuki coolly, “I don’t tell stories to people who tie me up.”
The tanuki scowled, which was a fascinating expression to watch on a creature with a face like a living toy. It turned away, slapping Ryouma in the ear with its tail.
Kenta, the giant tanuki in charge, rumbled an order. The pole-bearers bounced into action and Team Six plus Kurenai, plus dogs, began a teeth-rattling journey through the lush forest. The rest of the tanuki flowed around them, darting through light and shadow with a grace that spoke of muscle and magic and threat. If the transformed prisoner-shuttle hadn’t already been a clue. |
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