It was relatively dark out, and Ziade'd decided that it would be best to go back to the Storm later. It wasn't too long after her fight with Bat, but she'd cleaned herself up pretty good. She was sitting in front of the lake against one of the trees. She'd already stitched her shoulder up herself, but didn't do too great of a job. Akira was the real medic, but she didn't want him questioning her. But of course he would since her Kimono was covered in blood. That was something she couldn't wash out so easily. But she'd come up with a little formula for getting blood stains out of her clothes. In her line of work she had to. She didn't want to have to buy a new Kimono after every mission she went on, that would just be a waste. She looked up at the full moon as it shown in the sky. Every now and then Ziade longed to be able to dance again, but with the way she portrayed herself nowadays no one would take her serious anymore. And she couldn't have that. Ziade blinked as she heard a small barking-like sound. She looked down to see a snow white fox in front of her. The fox sat down in front of her and stared at her. "What?" she asked, feeling a little silly talking to an animal. She looked at it for a moment longer. "You seem to be lost little one. You won't survive long out here with such a bright coat," she said, reaching her hand out to it. The fox sniffed her hand a moment before rubbing it's head against it and jumping onto her lap. Ziade looked at it for a moment. "I didn't say you could come up." The fox stared up at her and Ziade gave a sigh and started petting it, stopping a few moments later when she heard someone heading that way.

Akira was mildly worried about Ziade. He knew she was able to take care of herself but she had been gone all day. Heading out he left Lightning in charge and went in search of Ziade. It didn't take long to track her down. He could hear her voice as he came around a bush. He could see a white fox sitting on her lap and Ziade was surprisingly petting it. He didn't know she had a kind side to her. He was trying to let that be the scenario because the other was unpleasant. "The others are awaiting your return," he said as he walked up to her. The closer he got the more clearly he could see the blood and the stitched up wound. He'd offer to redo it, but he didn't want her biting his head off for trying to help.

Ziade didn't have to turn her head to know who it was. She gave a sigh as he said that the others were waiting for her. "Well they can wait a little longer," she said simply. She was quite tired and didn't feel like getting up for the moment. The fox gave a small whimper at Ziade and nudged her hand with its nose to tell her to continue petting it. With a soft smile that soon disappeared before Akira could see it, Ziade continued petting the small fox. It seemed to be no more than a few months old.

Akira walked over to Ziade and sat a few feet away and looked at the fox. Or at least it appeared that way. He was actually determining how many wounds she had and just how bad they were. Though he was curious as to why she had a fox. "May I assist in making sure your wounds don't become infected," he asked taking his chances. "You'll be no use to the Storm is you can't fight," he said.

Ziade froze for a moment as he asked if he could take a look at her wounds, then looked at him. "What, you think that I didn't take care of them myself?" she said, then sighed and turned back to the little one on her lap. "Do as you wish," she said simply. Truth was, she knew she hadn't done a good job with her wounds, and she knew Akira was right. And if there was anyone she trusted to take care of her wounds, it was Akira. She'd never say that aloud of course.

(hmmm)

Akira stood up as she said do as you wish. But her previous words made him more cautious than usual. He started to with her so called stitches. Using a senbon to remove then he started to redo them. Once he was done he started on her other wounds. When he was done he moved away from her and sat down in his spot once more.

("hmmm" what?)

Ziade only flinched slightly as he started on her shoulder. She wasn't the type to whine like a child when something hurt, even if the wound was severe. She sat patiently and quietly while he finished on the rest of her wounds. After he had finished, she looked towards the lake. "Thank you," she said simply. She wasn't one to ignore when something kind had been done for her either, unless it was mercy, which she'd never been in such a situation before. She watched as the fox jumped off her lap and over to Akira.

Akira was looking at he grass when she'd told him thank you. He looked up and gave his usual kind smile. "No need to thank me, I would have done the same for anyone else." Ziade was no exception even if she did seem cruel at times. Looking down at the fox he petted it lightly on the head. It reminded him of the wolf he'd seen a few days back.

(I said "hmmm" what?!)

Ziade looked at the fox, then up at the full moon. The creature's coat reminded her slightly of it's glow. Her gaze then turned to the moon's reflection in the lake. She never thought of incorporating the moon in her dances before, but it was too late now. "You know that you didn't have to come looking for me. I would've made it back fine myself," she said with a sigh. She didn't quite like acting like this on such a beautiful night.

Akira was curios as to why she kept looking to the moon and the lake's reflection of the moon. Maybe it was because she didn't want to look in his direction. It didn't matter, he held nothing against her, no matter how much he disagreed with her acts. He then petted the fox and looked to her as she told him he didn't need to come for her. "Then shall I take my leave," he asked.

(..........)(And that didn't last long)

Ziade looked at Akira as he petted the fox and said that he was going to leave. "As you wish. Please inform the others that I will be back soon," she said, getting up and giving a small whistle to the fox. "I'll return after dropping the little one back at the snow valley," she said as the fox ran up to her. For something so young it sure knew how to follow directions.

(sorry I forgot, I was hmming because I was thinking. And it doesn't end that easy)

Akira stood up. "I will do as you ask, but are sure that you can make it that far. You'll be traveling to a whole other land," he told her. "With you wounds Im not sure you'll be able to make it there and back." He told her. He would rather accompany her than leave he by herself. Strong or not she was injured and reopening her wounds would be bad if she fought.

(good, it doesn't need to end so easily, that would be a waste of a thread)

Ziade had started to turn but stopped with a small sigh as Akira protested that she shouldn't go by herself. "My wounds aren't as bad as you make them out to be Akira," she said, turning to look at him. "But if will put you at ease, feel free to come along," she said, turning once more and starting to walk. She had no objections to being around others, at least not when they weren't irritating her. The fox trailed behind her, then began running in front of them. Ziade gave a small smile watching it as it went, but then remembered that she was with Akira, and the smile faded.

Akira looked at her and started after her. He mad sure to stay behind some. He didn't wat to disturb er As the fox moved ahead he hadn't paid much attention to Ziade so he missed he smile. He didn't even think she could smile not unless she though a fight was worthwhile atleast.

(lol, he thinks she's a robot)

Ziade heard Akira's footsteps following after her and she looked down as she walked. He was such a softy it wasn't even funny, but in a way she was glad he came along. Had she been attacked by rogues after going by herself, she wouldn't have been too sure she would've been able to handle them herself. She was also glad he decided not to ask why she was going through all this trouble for such a small creature, but by now she knew he thought that kindness was something Ziade did not possess. And she was fine with him thinking that as long as he wasn't stupid enough to rub it in.

Akira looked upwards. The moon was full tonight so he'd listen for the sound of wolves. He looked down at the fox. Why would such a creature travel so far out of it's natrual habit. It's not more than a blue bell in the snow. An easy target for predators. He then looked at Ziade. As usual she was being herself. Looking around he concetrated for any sign of chakra besides there own. He was right to do so. Three chakra presences were off somewhere to their left. If they were a threa or not he was no yet sure.

(of course)

Ziade looked over her shoulder at Akira as he looked around. "Something wrong?" she asked. She wasn't very adept at sensing chakra, so she could never tell when someone was coming her way. It never really mattered much, since she was normally the predator anyways. The fox stopped and sniffed the air and Ziade stopped, nearly running into it. She looked down at it and gave a sigh, picking it up. "I'm not going to wait for you to keep moving," she said to it as she started walking again.

Akira shook his head. "Not yet," he said responding to her question. Hethen stopped as the fox did, even though he was nowhere near running into Ziade. As she picked the creature up and started walking he continued after her.

Ziade looked over her shoulder again as she walked. "Not yet. Are there others around?" she asked as the fox squirmed in her arms trying to get down. She looked at it and put it down and it started hopping around her again as she walked. She shook her head slightly. Children...

(children?)

Akira walked after her and nodded. "Three to the left," he said. "Not sure if they're a threat yet," he said. "They may not have seen us just yet." He then smiled as the fox tried to get down. The tiny creature was a so active.

(The fox is a kit)

Ziade sighed as he said that there were three people to their left. She wasn't in the mood for fighting right now and putting that aside, she was dead tired. "Let's try not to catch their attention," she said simply. She was sure that Akira thought that all Ziade liked to do was fight and lead, but he was about to get a wakeup call.

Akira looked at Ziade as she said she wanted to avoid them. He was shocked beyond repair. When had Ziiade not ant to fight? He thought her life was about fighting. He gave a small shrug and continued waing. "Okay," he said. He didn't try and hide the shock in his voice.

Ziade couldn't help but give a small smile at Akira's reaction. "What, you think I'm going to fight in this condition?" she asked without looking at him in response to his obvious shock. For the most part she knew what Akira thought of her, but once in a while she'd like to know she wasn't mistaken in that.

Akira shook his head. "I just though you preferred fighting," he told her. He smiled lightly. "Guess I was wrong," he said. He didn't mind being wrong, he thought of it as a way to learn what was right. Looking at Ziade he shrugged. Even in her condition he though she'd fight to the death.

"Normally yes," she said looking over her shoulder at him. "Why do you walk so far behind?" she asked simply. She wouldn't care if he walked in line with her. Afterall, she didn't consider herself the leader, the others did, and she just played the role. She watched as the fox danced around carelessly. She wondered if they could really avoid being seen with something like that accompanying them.