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Sabra Knight via Discord

Katori stretched her arms high above her head. The hybrid was preparing herself for another stretch of travel with Finn and had decided to partake in an older tradition of waking up with an ice bath. Just a quick dip and then back to more training. Leaving behind her outer layers, Katori stood in only her bare minimum before jumping straight into an area of the lake where the breaking ice had drifted far enough away to leave a decent sized swimming hole. The sensation of pure cold hitting her warm skin brought an awareness to Katori that was both refreshing and adrenaline inducing as she floated down through the water for a moment before darting back up to gasp fresh air. "Oh!" That was definitely colder than she remembered! A laugh escaped her lips before something fuzzy nipped at her ankles and Katori found herself twisting in surprise. What in the-

A zanteer all the way out here?! After a series of bobbing up and down, Katori eventually pulled herself back to the top of the ice with a sleek companion tucked her arm and wiggling like crazy. "This yours?" She asked as she realized that there was someone else here, the hybrid holding out the wiggling package towards the Matori girl she had spotted. "Should I let go or return the little guy?" Even if she was in leggings and an undershirt, it was definitely starting to feel a little frigid now that the cold air was hitting her damp skin.

"I was wondering how a zanteer got all the way to Zena." Katori chuckled as she moved her head so that the creature could sniff her wet hair. Once the wiggling creature had gotten a good sniff, Katori let her go so that she could slip and bounce around the ground. "Freezing? Maybe." Katori grinned as she went over to pick up her coat and leggings, the hybrid slipping into her outer layers and tugging on her boots last before walking closer towards the Matori. "It's a good way to refresh, actually. Have you never heard of an ice bath? Though I suppose if you're actually from Matori it would make sense." Strangely enough though the girl seemed almost familiar with the area, not shivering beneath a ton of layers like some other foreigners whenever they visited Zena. Though it wasn't like they were in the far north where the ground never melted like here where spring was beginning to thaw through the layers of ice as some warmth returned to the landscape. So maybe she was still from Matori and this was just warm enough to be acceptable?

Katori shrugged lightly. "To each their own, I find it's a good way to really get your blood flowing." Maybe from the shock of the cold? Or was it because her magic liked near death experiences to give it a good jolt? Either way Katori had picked up the idea from some of her father's training books, something that made her wonder if he ever did such daring things though it was hard to imagine the man doing anything super risky. He was probably the safest person in their family, all things considered! She tilted her head thoughtfully though as she glanced over at the Matori. Closer to home, an ice bath? Was she close to home currently? Would it be rude to ask?

Sighing, Katori decided to let her question rest before glancing at the sermal. "No worries. I've dealt with a few rambunctious sermals before." She grinned, adjusting her bracers with gleaming runestones as she walked towards the fire. "My family has an animal sanctuary towards southern Zena so we get all sorts of foreign creatures, especially those from Sauti and Tale. I have some dried fish, works like a charm to earn some favor. If you don't mind?" She was already working to dig through her outer fur coat, the hybrid taking out a piece for Flana so that she could toss it across the ice for a game.

"Well, I didn't say that I would have to stay cold." Teased Katori with a grin as she snapped her fingers and the runes along her bracers lit up for a quick moment. Static rippled through the air around them before erupting into a warm wind that completely dried off the hybrid's skin and hair, fluffing it up even like a puffball before she patted it back down. "My father made certain I learned that spell once he realized that was part of my training." She explained before listening to the story with a curious expression. "Interesting! I suppose our families have a thing or two in common then. Do you live actually live in Zena, as well?" If so then that was even more interesting! Why would a Matori family be all the way up north like this instead of enjoying the warmer climate? It did make her think of someone that her family knew, an old family friend of her mother's but surely not...right? How small was the world that she kept running into that family?

"Aww, poor little thing." Katori crouched and held out her hand so that the cub could sniff the back of it and get her scent. "I don't mean any harm, I actually have something that you should like." As Fiadah introduced herself, Katori glanced over at the zanteer and chuckled. "Nice to meet you, I'm Katori. Oh? Flana may actually get it that try! Oof. Maybe not." Katori grinned as the zanteer went flying over the treat for a second time, the hybrid simply shaking her head at the antics before returning to the cub. "Nightclaw is a fitting name. Even if she goes back to the wild I don't think she'll be hurt as long as you train her how to hunt properly and to be wary of earthlings. Though I suppose I'm not helping much, am I?" Katori smiled as she continued holding out the treat, patiently staying still to not startle the creature.

"I suppose that's very true, when my magic behaves it can be very handy." Acknowledged Katori with a small nod before giving a sheepish smile towards Fiadah. "I do have family members that missed out on the gene, but at the same time they found other talents that surpassed my abilities with magic. My cousin can play music that would make a man weep, promise. Not that I know if music is your thing, but there's so many other options too." She expressed thoughtfully before blinking. "My family's animal sanctuary is actually a bit south of here but close. If you ever find yourself needing more help with animals then feel free to visit, my mother is a beast tamer who is talented with healing. My brother and I started traveling about your age to help out animals as well, my favorite being beating up poachers to free the poor beasts."

A soft smile crossed Katori's lips as she slowly tilted her hand so that the fish would dangle from her finger tips. Rather than taunting the cub she wanted to have her stretch out, silently allowing Katori to check for any injuries that may prevent the sermal from grabbing the fish from her hand. Though when it looked like Nightclaw was dangerously close to her hand, the hybrid acknowledge that she seemed healthy enough and allowed the treat to slip free so that the sermal could grab it if she wanted. "I suppose I do have a few more. No point in carrying around too many when I don't have any familiars with me at the moment." She offered with a sly look towards Flana. "The sanctuary is only a few hours away so it's not like I'll need to snack that much, myself."

Katori chuckled. "Duly noted that music is not in your future." Amusement danced across her features at the very image presented by Fiadah. "Also, fair enough on the other point. I'm sure my own mother has been scratched and bit quite a few times by beasts." Her magic definitely scratched her when it could, hence why Katori was more prone to fighting magic rather than anything more technical.

"We could swap notes then." Agreed Katori with a smile. "I think it would be interesting to see how similarly or differently we handle things." It would give them lots of ideas for growing and working on the sanctuary, something Katori was determined to help with when she had the chance to linger in the area again. "I could only imagine what it would be like dealing with so many animals alone! My mother is fortunate we have a big family and even if we come and go there's always time to help out when visiting." It was nice seeing that pride and Katori felt a kinship just talking about such similar passions. "Of course. Even better if they never try to poach again. " She added with a grin, raising a fist as if mocking anyone who dared to try her.

Katori chuckled at the pouncing and simply watched as the sermal enjoyed her treat. "When she's a bit bigger you could always take her towards the Northern mountains to hunt, if you are comfortable with that. There's some local hunters in the area that could help you, some are my cousins." She gestured towards her white hair with a grin. "Just look for a shifter or any ice and shifter children." How Zyphire had continued the family trend was amusing and beyond ironic, but Katori was glad to see him so happy.

As she spoke she gave a glance towards Flana, jerking her hand teasingly before tossing another fish the opposite direction to slide across the ice for more play.

"Oh? He sounds like a researcher of sorts! My father is the same way, but instead of focusing on animals he studies magic and artifacts." Katori grinned before shaking her head at the thought. She never was that great with studying, she was far too impatient for looking over ancient tomes and the like for hours. How her father and uncle could stand to do such things was beyond her. Her gaze shifted back towards Fiadah and Katori nodded slowly as she explained about Sauti. "That also works. There's some cliffs along the border that you could visit with her, I personally made certain any poachers in that area lost interest." The hybrid tilted her head thoughtfully and opened her mouth before closing it again. She knew how hard it was to release animals who claimed a piece of your heart, but it was for the best if they wanted the creatures to have their own shot in the wild instead of being raised as a pet or the like. They had released a few back into the wild over the years and Katori understood the mixed emotions. She always worried about their safety, about missing them and such similar thoughts while also knowing that some of the beasts had their own families and the like out there to reunite with. Keeping them in Zena was not always the best idea, especially for those accustomed to warmer climates. "Everything will work out the way it should." Is all she could offer with a knowing expression as she looked over towards the cub also. Familiar or wild, that much was up to the cub and the spirits....at least that was what her mother would say.

"Zi-ziya?" Katori blinked before grinning. "That guy is my younger cousin, so yeah. Either you've been in Zena long enough or my family is starting to get too big for the area." She joked lightly. "We always joke that he looks the most like my mother, but he has the personality of his father and my uncle. It's a dangerous combination. Hopefully he didn't give you too much trouble when you encountered him!" Crouching she carefully slid a final treat towards Nightclaw before letting one final fish fly towards Fiadah again. "Final pieces, you two. My mother trained a zanteer to do some interesting tricks for treats, if your familiar is willing then that could always be a fun thing to do though once someone trained their zanteer a bit too well and he ended up picking pockets for a living." She mused as she remembered that crazy encounter as well, the Oban thief lingering in her memories from her travels.