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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Tokiwong" data-source="post: 92795" data-attributes="member: 961">Skirmish in the Crane Lands6th day of the Hare in the 1159th year of the Emerald EmpireKakita Sani hunched down low, in the rice fields as dawn began to break upon the land.  The cool misty air, tickled her skin as she scanned the horizon.  She glanced to the bushi at her side, always hoping that it was Renshi at her side.  Instead the young Daidoji scout simply nodded to her as he turned his gaze back to the horizon.  Sani turned away from her from small band of bushi; she did not relish the chance to lead such young bushi into the throes of battle.  She focused her thoughts on the horizon, her eyes narrowing slightly as she spotted movement at the edge of the fields…  The Hiruma scouts were on the move; the battle would begin soon.  She could feel the air of unease settle over her men, as she motioned for them to advance, the sun had yet to crest the horizon but it was coming, Sani could feel it.She moved with the grace of the wind as her troops fell into formation behind her as she moved quickly across the rice fields, taking a position to flank the Crab skirmishers.  Her men ducked behind the remnants of a stonewall; some drew their yumi and prepared for the slaughter to come.  Sani gently rested her hand on her katana, feeling reassured by its cool hilt. She glanced to the Daidoji youth at her side and nodded silently as she moved towards the scant wood line, four of the Daidoji scouts followed her as they stalked slowly through the woods.  Sani kept her eyes moving, scanning for the telltale signs of movement, ready for anything…An arrow sailed through the scant tree line quickly, landing in the chest of a young Daidoji archer; he tried to scream as another arrow silenced him, piercing his throat.  He fell to his knees as Sani instinctively rolled to the side staying low taking cover in the brush.  She could hear the Crab rushing forward through the trees, their battle cries as they charged headlong at her men.  She grimaced, the Crab had outmaneuvered her men, and there only chance was to fight, or die where they stood.Sani gathered herself as a Crab bushi leapt over the bush she had been using for cover and turned to her hefting a mighty tetsubo.  He lifted the weapon with a mighty roar, and prepared to strike.  Sani instinctively reached for her blade, not thinking only acting; her ancestral slid from her saya with ease, her face shielded by her ocean blue mempo.  The blade whistled as it flashed through the air and slashed the Crab bushi through his gut, spilling his entrails upon the ground as he collapsed to his knees and gurgled in the throes of death.Sani turned to the rest of the charging Crab and shouted, “We must fight… we shall not give an inch for this is our land… and this day Kakita Sani, will be victorious!” Her men answered with war cries of their own as they unleashed a barrage of arrows at the charging Crab bushi.Sani glanced to see the young Daidoji scouts engaged in vicious melee with their Hiruma counterparts.  She grimaced as one of her own fell screaming, before silenced with a final chop.  She ducked instinctively; as another barrage of arrows sailed overhead… she rushed once more headlong into the fray… Once again wishing Renshi was at her side once more… now more then ever…</blockquote>

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