The Day of Thunder

[Otomo Akutou]

So stick it with jade, Akutou thinks. If'n we c'n find it.

He considers.

Damn, that stinks.

But th' Harbinger'll show itself, no doubt.

[Chuchu]

"What about crystal, Grandmother? Would that work?" Chuchu cheeps.

[Canary]

"What about crystal, Grandmother? Would that work?" Chuchu cheeps.

She shook her head. "Crystal is for those with no name, child. It wouldn't have much effect on the dram-of-evil."

[Shiba Kumori]

She had counted down the questions in her mind… Knowing this to be the last one Chuchu promised she asked.

“Is there anything you can give to us that will help accomplish these things?”

[Otomo Akutou]

What're you thinkin', Princess? Akutou wonders

He touches the jar of pickles.

Shoulda brought more.

[Canary]

She had counted down the questions in her mind… Knowing this to be the last one Chuchu promised she asked.

“Is there anything you can give to us that will help accomplish these things?”

The Transcendent smiled. "Chuchu shaman of strong-strong Name. When time comes, will support. She give blessing to make strong-strong Thunders."

[Otomo Akutou]

Akutou produces the jar of pickles, holding it ready to give.

Presumably, one or another of those present and above him will tell him when he should give it over.

[Chuchu]

Akutou produces the jar of pickles, holding it ready to give.

Presumably, one or another of those present and above him will tell him when he should give it over.

Chuchu raises her hands for the jar!

[Otomo Akutou]

Akutou grins and surrenders it to her.

Then his face wrinkles.

What is that damned smell, really?

[Chuchu]

Akutou grins and surrenders it to her.

She opens the jar, steals a single pickle to eat herself, and then offers the rest to Grandmother, her tail wagging. The Transcendent don't have to eat, of course -- but one honors the Transcendent by offering them something old (or something new) to help strengthen the collective memory of the People, and remind them of their time as mortal beings.

"It's yummy!" Chuchu cheeps. "Share with everyone?"

[Shiba Kumori]

“I thank you for your guidance ‘Grandmother.’ We are pleased to have Chuchu with us. We will protect her as we would any of our own.”

She looked over to her aunt in the distance.

“Thank you for looking after my family as well.”

[Canary]

Grandmother takes a pickle herself, pausing to speak before munching away on it. "Yes. Doji strong-strong heart. Better here than strong arm. You remember. May make difference between you seeing night-after-tonight or Tomorrow."

"Yes, please share them with our guests, as well."

[Otomo Akutou]

I'm catchin' a few words o' this, Akutou thinks. Wonder if'n I oughta ask 'bout--

His thought trails off, and he fights to keep his face calm.

Who done let off?

[Chuchu]

"Kay-kay!" Chuchu first offers to Kumori -- for she is favored! -- before scampering to Akutou, whose distress grows more palpable by the moment. "Eat eat with me?" She cheeps. "And hold my hand!"

After inhaling another, she cheeps, "Grandmother, I have a question too!" Her eyes turn briefly to the final guest -- the Lady at the center. How will she get some to her..?

[Shiba Kumori]

Kumori takes Chuchu’s hand and the pickle with a kind nod and will eat the pickle at the appropriate moment.

[Otomo Akutou]

"O' course," Akutou says, and he pops his pickle into his mouth before taking the Nezumi's paw in his hand.

She'll find it callused heavily.

[Chuchu]

Kumori takes Chuchu’s hand and the pickle with a kind nod and will eat the pickle at the appropriate moment.

She'll find it callused heavily.

Chuchu lets Akutou hold the jar so she can hold both hands. She squeezes and, softly, murmurs under her breath, "It's okay. If you let yourself get scared scared, you'll feel worse worse."

[Otomo Akutou]

Chuchu lets Akutou hold the jar so she can hold both hands. She squeezes and, softly, murmurs under her breath, "It's okay. If you let yourself get scared scared, you'll feel worse worse."

"Ain't skeert, Friend-o'-Humans," Akutou says. "Just smellin' somethin' rank, an' I can't place th' smell."

[Chuchu]

"Ain't skeert, Friend-o'-Humans," Akutou says. "Just smellin' somethin' rank, an' I can't place th' smell."

"'Kay," She cheeps back, squeezing again. Adults are so confusing sometimes. "If your nose is being mean, can I show you something special, instead?"

[Otomo Akutou]

"'Kay," She cheeps back, squeezing again. Adults are so confusing sometimes. "If your nose is being mean, can I show you something special, instead?"

"If m' nose's bein'--" Akutou cuts off. "Chuchu, what's that even mean, m' nose's bein' mean? You ain't smellin' nothin' off?"