Nakahama

Now that they had found the secret place, confirmed it still had freshwater and plenty of fish, and secured it as a nature preserve through the city's permitting process, it remained to show the jimen tori the way.

So it made sense to return to the place that she and Kitsune-san had encountered a herd of the jimen tori, and the one who first told them about the secret place.

And see if they could find them again and show them the way!

"Good afternoon Kakita-sama! I hope we can help them" Sumiko said quietly as she arrived with a bow "they might take some convincing. Some of them might never have seen the spot before depending how long ago the entrance was lost."

She nodded. "I think we may want to gather up as many as we can find, have Kitsune-san explain everything to them, and then walk them all the way there. That way they'll definitely know the way, and we can identify any issues on the path, and if they have any concerns once they arrive."

"That sounds like a good idea." Kiyoshi said as he approached. "From what we were told before, it is like a place of legend among them."

Jimen tori almost seemed to have a sense about these things. When they were being hunted, they were sometimes nowhere to be found. However, most of the time, they were fairly easy to find.

In fact, there was a fair-sized group of them right over there!

(quote this post when you begin bird interaction)

Hatoful GM wrote: Mon Dec 01, 2025 9:19 am Jimen tori almost seemed to have a sense about these things. When they were being hunted, they were sometimes nowhere to be found. However, most of the time, they were fairly easy to find.

In fact, there was a fair-sized group of them right over there!

(quote this post when you begin bird interaction)

Haruhi smiled brightly.

"Look! There."

She headed towards the group, a basket of fish at the ready, though she trusted Kitsune-san to take the lead on talking to them.

Sorato is also here, now that the invisible force moving him through the universe is no longer distracted!

"We'll see how they react and decide our next steps from there," he says, sanguine. His light eyes brighten when the group spots the jimen tori flock.

((Will let Kiyoshi cast Speak with Birds for us, since the chance of wild unintended side effects is a lot less common that way than if I do it. ))

Perhaps the birds recognized Haruhi. Perhaps they recognized the scent of fresh fish. Either way, making curious and friendly honking sounds, they drew a bit closer.

Shiwahime stood further ahead towards their destination. She did not know how the birds would react to her so she did not want to stand too close and disturb the other's work.

What she could do was to scout ahead to make sure nothing would intercept them or, at least, be able to warn them of any dangers.

Haruhi smiled brightly to be recognized, and set out some fish for an initial greeting.

There were some more pleased bird sounds, and some cheerful flapping of wings at that.

They seemed to share well, each taking a single fish and no more, allowing as many of the flock as possible to eat. They showed no fear of the samurai, but neither did they crowd them.

"I will speak for the rest of you, and tell you what the jimen tori says." he explained to the others. "This may take some time, so I will have to remain focused on the bird."

Kiyoshi offered one of the fish to a jimen tori as he whispered to the air kami, asking for their assistance in communicating with the bird.

- - -
[D9, MA] Showing the birds the way (expecting), Casting Natures Touch, Deficiency | 5k3 ⇒ 28 (TN: 10)

Note: I'm in the middle of catching up at work after a four day weekend. So, I may be slow in response. Please assume Kiyoshi is translating.

"Oh, what's this, I can understand you?" The chosen jimen tori said, honking softly. "Please thank that one for the fish. We're not taking all of your fish, are we? He can take one if he likes."

"There are plenty of fish, my friend." he assured the bird. "We have located the Special Place."

The bird honked loudly.

"The Special Place! Really? We've only heard legends, passed down through generations..." Apparently jimen tori had legends.

"Can you show us?"

"We will." he nodded. "After we show you the way to the Special Place, will you tell others how to get there?"

"Well, as many as I can. My flock. If I come across another flock. I'll just give'em the ol' 'hey, follow me' call, and lead them there!"

It bobbed its head uncertainly. "Don't always come across other flocks, though."

"Kakita-san, could you record the next call this jimen tori makes?" he asked the Crane without looking.

"We will try to tell as many flocks as we can, but my ability to speak with you is limited." he explained to the jimen tori. When Haruhi told him she was ready, he asked, "What is the 'hey, follow me' call?"

"Oh, it goes like this!"

Lifting its head, the jimen tori let out a series of trumpets. The other jimen tori around all gathered around it.

What a good idea!

She carefully recorded the call.

"Thank you so much! That will help get the word to others. I could even build a drone that walks the path and gives the call."