Ao awoke to the sound of rainfall on the roof of his tent, and the smell of the rainfall meeting the earth. ‘Well that’s not a bad way to start a new day off by any means’ Ao thought to himself as he stepped out of the tent and stretched his arms high above his head. The rain wasn’t torrential by any means, but it was falling at a steady pace nonetheless. Ao didn’t mind though, it had been a while since he had taken a proper shower anyways so he could use a good rinse. Ao ran the fingers of his right hand through his hair, from the front to the back, in order to pull it back and out of the way.
Ao had been en route to the Village hidden in the Clouds when the rain initially started rolling in. He, more than likely, could have made it to Kumogakure before nightfall, but he decided to spend one more night in the wilderness instead. The forest he had found himself in reminded him of home after all, before the once tropical lands of Water Country had become a frozen waste land, and he could not resist camping out in the woods as he had done as a child. It had been quite refreshing, and it helped to calm Ao’s nerves in regards to visiting Kumogakure. He knew very little about the Hidden Cloud village, especially regarding their views on former shinobis from other villages, and he had been stressing about it for a week now.
Ao moved away from the tent, the rain had begun to lighten, so he decided that it was breakfast time. Ao had set up camp close to a small creek last night, but he hadn’t paid close enough attention as to whether or not it contained any fish. He moved closer to the creek and peered into its waters and saw nothing but a few bugs and minnows. A sigh escaped his mouth, ‘I suppose I’ll have to forage or hunt for something, too bad I already used up all of my rations.’, he leaned his head back so that he was looking up to the sky and closed his eyes. The rain fell on his face, lightly massaging his face and helping him clear his mind. Ao had nothing against hunting usually, but he wasn’t exactly in the mood to find a creature, track it down, slay it and then prep and cook it. So he decided that he was going to try and find some fruits, nuts, or wild vegetables to eat for breakfast.
Ao packed his tent and the rest of his belongings up first, and then started off in the direction of the village. He figured that he would either find something edible and stop, or make it to the village and hopefully get something there. If he was let in that is. Roughly and hour had passed, the rain now a mere drizzle, when Ao heard the small and familiar voice of the being inside of him.
‘We are not alone, someone or something, is watching us.' Instantly the hairs on the back of Ao’s neck stood straight, his pace slowed slightly, and he began to focus on the sounds and smells around him. Ao did not want to turn and look for fear that it might give away the fact that he now knew he was being followed, but he did want to try and figure out who or what was following him before it was too late.
After a few moments Ao had decided on a course of action. He lifted both hands and put them on the back of his head, he leaned his head backwards a little until it rested in the palms of his now intertwined metal hands. Ao then stopped walking suddenly and spoke without turning around.
“I know you’re following me, if you are planning to rob me I assure you that I have nothing of any value. If you are lost than I would be happy to help you find your way. And if you’re following me with ill-intent, I can assure you that I am not easily killed. So why don’t you do the polite thing and come out and talk to me, face-to-face, I’m sure we can find some middle ground here.” Ao then turned around, with a big grin on his face, in hopes that whatever or whoever was following him would show themselves.
Ao had been en route to the Village hidden in the Clouds when the rain initially started rolling in. He, more than likely, could have made it to Kumogakure before nightfall, but he decided to spend one more night in the wilderness instead. The forest he had found himself in reminded him of home after all, before the once tropical lands of Water Country had become a frozen waste land, and he could not resist camping out in the woods as he had done as a child. It had been quite refreshing, and it helped to calm Ao’s nerves in regards to visiting Kumogakure. He knew very little about the Hidden Cloud village, especially regarding their views on former shinobis from other villages, and he had been stressing about it for a week now.
Ao moved away from the tent, the rain had begun to lighten, so he decided that it was breakfast time. Ao had set up camp close to a small creek last night, but he hadn’t paid close enough attention as to whether or not it contained any fish. He moved closer to the creek and peered into its waters and saw nothing but a few bugs and minnows. A sigh escaped his mouth, ‘I suppose I’ll have to forage or hunt for something, too bad I already used up all of my rations.’, he leaned his head back so that he was looking up to the sky and closed his eyes. The rain fell on his face, lightly massaging his face and helping him clear his mind. Ao had nothing against hunting usually, but he wasn’t exactly in the mood to find a creature, track it down, slay it and then prep and cook it. So he decided that he was going to try and find some fruits, nuts, or wild vegetables to eat for breakfast.
Ao packed his tent and the rest of his belongings up first, and then started off in the direction of the village. He figured that he would either find something edible and stop, or make it to the village and hopefully get something there. If he was let in that is. Roughly and hour had passed, the rain now a mere drizzle, when Ao heard the small and familiar voice of the being inside of him.
‘We are not alone, someone or something, is watching us.' Instantly the hairs on the back of Ao’s neck stood straight, his pace slowed slightly, and he began to focus on the sounds and smells around him. Ao did not want to turn and look for fear that it might give away the fact that he now knew he was being followed, but he did want to try and figure out who or what was following him before it was too late.
After a few moments Ao had decided on a course of action. He lifted both hands and put them on the back of his head, he leaned his head backwards a little until it rested in the palms of his now intertwined metal hands. Ao then stopped walking suddenly and spoke without turning around.
“I know you’re following me, if you are planning to rob me I assure you that I have nothing of any value. If you are lost than I would be happy to help you find your way. And if you’re following me with ill-intent, I can assure you that I am not easily killed. So why don’t you do the polite thing and come out and talk to me, face-to-face, I’m sure we can find some middle ground here.” Ao then turned around, with a big grin on his face, in hopes that whatever or whoever was following him would show themselves.
I’m fine with anything, but I would prefer anything but Marine Mammal. I will also be using the "Discovery of Contract of Random Choice" I purchased here: https://www.ninpocho.com/viewtopic.php?p=245330#p245330 as I mentioned in my request. Thank you again for taking on my contract search.
