Wasuren sat up abruptly when he heard the banging on his door.
"Get out here boy you don't want to be late" said the deep voice of the commander of the wolf wardens.
"I'm up Masaki Taisho" Wasuren replied as he groggily approached the door. He gathered his things which consists of his new sword only. He would join the rest of the wardens in the armory to suit up before departure.
" Taisho" Wasuren called as he opened the door, "why were you banging on my door like that, I thought there was an emergency"
Masaki Taisho silently observed Wasuren as they headed to the armory.
With a deep sigh Wasuren said, "say what's on your mind Taisho"
Masaki released a small chuckle. "What made you think I had something to say to you?"
Wasuren gave him a blank stare, "isn't it obvious, with the way you're stealing glances at me as if I was a woman"
"W-watch your mouth boy I'm still your commander" Masaki said to Wasuren as he adjusted his gaze. " I see you've got a new sword"
"Just ask me about the dinner Masaki " Wasuren said to Masaki Taisho.
"Ren. I don't care about the dinner" Masaki said softly to Wasuren, " I care about how you are doing, you've had this intense look in your eyes since you returned from the estate. I want to make sure your head is on its way to Aoshima with us and not lost in the family drama."
Wasuren released a chuckle, " you know you were on the right track at the start of the conversation"
Masaki cleared his throat. " Come on we're heading to the temple. Let's say our prayers to Okuchi no magami."
Okuchi no Magami, the Great Wolf God of the Mountain was the deity whom every Wolf Warden swore fealty to before setting foot on the battlefield.
Ancient songs spoke of him as the guardian of Hinokagura's northern borders, the silver-furred wolf who howled beneath the moon to keep away the serpents and shadows of the old world. Long before the Wardens were formed, his spirit was said to have descended upon the first of their kind — a warrior named Raiga Ōkami, granting him the strength and instinct of the divine beast. It is believed that the spirit of Okuchi no magami had blessed Raiga with the ability to shift his form from man to wolf. Since then, every Warden bore the mark of the wolf upon their armor and their forearm, a silent vow to fight with loyalty, ferocity, and restraint.
Before any campaign, the Wardens visited his shrine a simple yet sacred hall of stone and cedar, lit only by wolf-shaped lanterns and a single flame had been lit for illumination. There, they offered a drop of their blood, so the god might walk with them in spirit. They prayed for the spirits of their fallen comrades, those that fell to the serpent in hebimori and they prayed for safety.
For Wasuren, the rituals were both familiar and distant. He had prayed at that shrine a hundred times before, but tonight, as dusk settled and the scent of burning incense filled the air, something about it felt heavier. Perhaps it was the weight of the mission. Or perhaps it was the way his father's words still echoed in his mind. As he knelt on the stone floors, he looked up at the face of the giant wolf statue. "Okuchi no magami, guide your wardens" Wasuren spoke.
When they were done with prayers, they set out for Aoshima. Fifty samurai all in full battle armor ready at the gates of Kajuraro, Hinokagura's Castle town. At the gate was Raizen, soon to be head of the Hoshigami household and Kaito here to see them off but he wasn't alone. Other samurai and townsfolk stood on both sides of the street waving at the wolf wardens. Although there are other squads of samurai and hunters, the wolf wardens had a special place in the heart of people in Kajuraro and Hinokagura they loved this band of warriors and when they heard that their favorite samurai group was being sent on a mission, they made sure to be there to wish them good luck.
Masaki Taisho and Wasuren were at the front leading their comrades. When they reached where Raizen stood they all bowed.
Raizen jestured for them to rise. "Okami no Banshi, go forth to Aoshima, and may the light of Amaterasu be with you.
Cheers erupted from the townsfolk, and some may confuse this as acknowledging their bannerman's words. But their cheer was a sign of excitement, because they are about to witness something they rarely get to see, a spectacle that is shown only when the wardens are going on a mission such as this. You see, the wardens rarely travel with horses, this is because these samurai have tempered themselves through training, so much so that they are faster than horses. Of course there are other beasts that they could ride, beasts that exhibit strength and speed beyond that of horses. But the wardens refuse to ride only when absolutely necessary. Because they have made it a tradition to show strength to the people of Kajuraro and they also take it as a part of their training.
Masaki Taisho raised his right fist high above his head and called in a loud voice. "OKAMI NO BANSHI" with unison they raised their fists and banged it on their chest, making sounds of drums through the streets. Hearing this, the people cheered even louder.
Masaki lowered his stance, placed one hand upon his war hammer at his side, while Wasuren and the others placed their hands on their swords and for a brief moment the streets went absolutely quiet. But in the blink of an eye, a sound as if thunder from heaven burst through the ears of every person out on the street, but before they could register what was happening, the wardens were gone. For they moved so fast and in sync that only extremely skilled and fast warriors would be able to perceive them. All that was heard was the sound of footsteps of fifty soldiers shaking the ground beneath them.