The Day of Thunder

"Today? Possibly backup from someone my people trust," she said seriously.

"Tomorrow, the Harbinger will likely send people after the villagers who are focusing their will on the Thunder defeating the Champion. They'll need to be protected. If the Harbinger influences some of them, they may need to be kept from committing suicide. Once it's all over, please help anyone who wants to go find their way out... or if the Harbinger has some last nonsense up her sleeve, evacuated."

She took a breath. "We will need a lot of help in the next day or two."

"Why specifically someone they trust?" he asked. "Why not anyone willing?"

He puffed his pipe. "I think there's no finer way to get understanding between sides that have had opposition and mistrust than to work together when everything is at it's darkest. I think you'll find that humanity shows through finest in this moments."

"Because the ceremony in question is confessional. They're used to only having locals there. If someone non-local is there, it needs to be someone they trust," she said.

"Any likely candidates?"

"Wu Zhe, Shiba Kumori, you two, Ryoshun Yukara, Yoshitsune Ayako," she said, tapping each finger in turn. "Any of them."

"Yoshitsune-san seems reliable", he answered, having met her and taken her measure informally. "If i can help I don't have an issue, I'm certain Shiba-hime will take the request seriously." He nodded his head at Sora. "I don't want to speak for my elder though."

"With this eye, might be best if I just wrote something. Want to put people at ease, and... well. I think Shiba-hime will make a better representative anyhow."

He gave a crooked half-smile.

"Some people find me reassuring, but it usually takes them some time to get there."

Chouri chuckled. "I suppose coming from me, it doesn't help to say that I find you reassuring."

"Oh, it helps a bit."