Kyuden Shika

The sense of the sublime hung heavy in the sodden woods; the mist gathered under the eaves of each tree. Kitsuki Hajime, bright green umbrella firmly in hand, ambled down the increasingly muddy paths, taking in the majesty of mighty trees.

"They're wonderful, aren't they?" says Nesshin as he jogs up behind Hajime, spear in hand. "But there's some danger to them, too," he adds, explaining the spear. "More for those who leave the paths."

Hajime felt a slight shiver run down his spine. That had to be the cold. His hand came to rest on his swords. "Dangerous, Shika-san?" His face scrunched up slightly. "Beasts in the woods and so forth?"

"Any woods will have some," Nesshin notes. "And some say those who have gotten...lost still wander the woods, waiting for the unwary.

"But," he adds, grinning, "I've never seen any such, myself. I imagine they're the kinds of tales told everywhere, thrilling and chilling and being in the end just stories."

"Well, far be it from me to pooh-pooh a scary story. These things are chilling for a reason, and I should hardly like to be the next cautionary tale, thank you very much!"

He smirked. "Although I must say I do feel a bit more secure with the pride of the local guardsmen walking with me."

"Yuki-sempai is here?" Nesshin asks, whirling about--deliberately dramatically--to look around. "She is a most excellent scout!"

Hajime didn't bother to suppress his giggle. "Shika-san is a funny man." He turned his head to look off into the forest. "Does Shika-san know any of these stories? Perhaps they were told to him when he was a young guardsman, to give him a fright?"

"Oh, there are several," Nesshin replies. "They all center on the same thing, though. Those going where they ought not don't always come back. Might be because they left the paths. Might be because they came in with hostile intent. Might be wayward children. Doesn't matter; they wander aimlessly until the end.

"Unless..." Nesshin trails off.

Hajime's ears pricked up. "Unless what, Shika-sama?"

"I'm no expert on such things at all," Nesshin notes, "but don't the priests always say that ghosts persist unless laid to rest?"