Chapter 3
Miyako awoke with a groan, slowly becoming aware of the vibrant sounds of a bustling village around her. Perhaps The Eagle had brought her to a place near the Leaf patrols, who had then ensured her safety. The eagle was probably a member of a secretive clan that chose to stay hidden, as she had never encountered or read about anyone who could transform into an animal without the use of chakra. Miyako pondered why he had protected and saved her; the wolves would have likely overpowered her without his intervention.
She lay there with her eyes shut tight, her body a symphony of aches and stiffness. Her mind swirled with haunting memories of the battle, the clashing of metal, the screams of her fallen comrades, and the overwhelming sense of loss. She knew that when her eyes fluttered open, she'd have to report her failed mission to the Hokage or Shikamaru. But for now, Miyako wanted to gather her strength before confronting the harsh reality again.
Miyako heightened her awareness, straining every fibre to pick up on any familiar chakra signature that might confirm she was in the village hospital. Usually, her father's comforting presence would hover nearby, or Guy would be around if her father were occupied with other matters. A crease appeared on her forehead; it was peculiar that no recognisable chakra thrummed in the vicinity—not even a whisper of one. Yet, at the edge of her senses, a presence flickered, accompanied by the subtle rustling of someone moving around, tinkering with various objects. Her nose caught a fleeting scent, not of the usual sterile hospital atmosphere she anticipated but of fragrant herbs. What the hell? Where had that eagle taken her?
Her eyes flew open, and Miyako winced as she sprang to her feet, ready to fight or flee. But her world spun, and she collapsed onto her knees, hitting the wooden floor with a thud. Dizzy, she clutched her nose, trying to quell the pounding headache that appeared and stifle the pain—the sound of hurried footsteps approaching barely registered in her foggy mind.
A faint "naah" slipped from her dry lips, a mix of a whimper and a sigh. Miyako almost jumped out of her skin when someone gently rested their hands on her shoulders, steadying her. The hands were large and rough yet soft.
"Be careful, female, you're not well," a gentle voice soothed as steady hands guided Miyako back onto the bed where she had been resting. Suddenly, the voice boomed right by her ear, "Get Muir! The female he brought in has finally woken up!" The abrupt volume jolted her, and she winced, a sharp hiss of pain escaping her lips as Miyako prepared to reprimand the thoughtless person. But her irritation vanished, replaced by confusion before she could utter a word. As the man turned away, she caught sight of cat ears perched atop his head as he continued to call out for someone.
Miyako was taken aback as she watched the man kneeling before her, his head turned away. His long, wavy blond hair flowed down his back. His cat ears caught her attention—were they part of his head?
Miyako contemplated the possibility of it being a genjutsu, but she detected only a faint amount of chakra from him, so she ruled out that idea. She continued to observe him closely and noticed that his attire was white and made of fur, wrapped around his waist. The garment extended to his ankles and shoulders, fastened with what appeared to be buttons, leaving his sides exposed, and draped over his shoulders down his back. Sensing Miyako's gaze, he turned his head towards her, revealing his striking blue eyes.
To avoid embarrassment, Miyako tried to ask, "Wh-where?" but her voice faltered. She was overtaken by a coughing fit that felt as though she had inhaled sand, causing her to wince in discomfort. Noticing her distress, the man quickly stood up from his kneeling position. As he stepped back, she caught sight of a nervous, spotted tail flicking out from beneath his clothing, revealing his unease.
"Here, you must be thirsty," he said, returning to her side. He assisted her in sitting up on her bed and offered her a wooden water bowl. Although Miyako felt parched, she looked at the bowl with scepticism before turning her attention to the cat man. His face flushed under her scrutiny, possibly because of a fever.
Miyako paused, unsure whether she could trust that the cat hadn't poisoned the water. She cautiously accepted the bowl from his hand, inspecting the liquid closely. Her thirst gradually outweighed her suspicions. Lifting the bowl to her lips, she sipped slowly and deliberately, resisting the temptation to gulp it down, conscious that it might not sit well with her and could upset her system.
Miyako placed the bowl beside her, drawing in a deep breath as she met the cat's eyes. "Thank you," she said earnestly, her voice filled with genuine gratitude. Despite her paranoia, Miyako always remembered her manners. Guy had taught her the importance of politeness, no matter the circumstances. The cat seemed surprised by her thanks, but soon enough, a smile crept onto his face, and his cheeks flushed—could it be another fever starting?
Miyako watched him closely. This man, with his cat-like features, seemed trustworthy, but she suspected it could be a ruse to make her lower her defences. Miyako resolved to remain cautious until she had gathered more information about her current situation.
Where had the eagle taken her? Was there an old grudge between his clan and her village? Perhaps the eagle saw an opportunity in Miyako's predicament, rescuing her with the intention of manipulating her, to gain her trust and extract information about the leaf. This way, the eagle and his clan could infiltrate the village for revenge— not while Miyako was around. She might not be the strongest shinobi, but she wouldn't go down without a fight. Otherwise, why would the eagle save a stranger and bring her to this cat-like person, who was likely an ally of the eagle's clan?
Miyako remained on guard, her mind racing with suspicion as she tried to determine if these two were enemies. She surveyed her surroundings, keeping a close eye on the cat, and noted that she was in a simple two-room hut. As she continued to look around, she spotted the front door and deduced she was in the main room. To the left were baskets and urns filled with fresh and dried herbs. Miyako guessed that the cat might be a healer, which made sense as to why the eagle brought her to him; the eagle couldn't achieve its purpose if Miyako were dead.
Her observation of her surroundings was broken when the hut door swung open, diverting some of her attention from the cat beside her. Miyako observed as another man stepped inside, the eagle who had found her in the forest. It seemed his name was Muir.
Miyako watched Muir and felt relieved that he was dressed this time, unlike during their first encounter. Muir was tall and had light blue eyes. His black hair was arranged in a single braid on his shoulder, with bangs framing his face. Three dark blue triangles adorned his face. He wore a black fur skirt around his waist and a cloak draped over his shoulders.
Muir slipped into the hut, closing the door softly behind him. His eyes locked onto the leopard healer with a gaze that could cut through stone, clearly disapproving of Harvey's proximity to the unfamiliar female. The unspoken rebuke made Harvey's ears droop as he quickly retreated a step. Muir then moved toward the female, scrutinising her from head to toe to confirm she was not harmed—or perhaps more accurately, to ensure her condition hadn't deteriorated since he had left the hut. Once satisfied with his careful examination, he settled down beside her.
The female wore a skirt and top that Muir had crafted from the wolves they had battled. Muir had cleaned and mended her blood-stained clothes, then stored them in Harvey's medicine room along with her other belongings and the remaining furs Muir had collected from the wolves and other creatures. Normally, single males would not tolerate each other in their territory. However, Muir had intimidated the weaker male into allowing him to stay until the female regained consciousness and no longer needed Harvey's care.
Muir reluctantly left her in Harvey's care as he was preoccupied with deterring other males who sought to catch a glimpse of the female he had discovered. Some of these males, wiser than others, retreated with just a glare from Muir. The less prudent ones, however—let's just say the leopard village was left with significantly fewer residents. Muir took the furs from these unfortunate encounters to pay Harvey for caring for the female he was fond of. Harvey was aghast when Muir handed over the furs for his services.
Miyako felt uneasy as Muir's intense gaze bore into her, leaving her unsure of his intentions. She suspected he was searching for a weakness to exploit as part of his revenge plot. Cautious with her words and movements, she offered him a polite nod, choosing to wait and gather more information. At the same time, she observed the cat-like medic, deciding not to trust either of the strangers until she had a clearer understanding of her current predicament. She reminded herself that patience was an essential trait for a shinobi.
"Where am I, and how long was I unconscious?" Miyako asked the medic, her voice raspy. Her throat still felt like she'd swallowed sand, but it improved a bit after sipping the water the medic offered her.
Harvey blinked as the female asked her question, feeling a faint blush warm his cheeks. To him, she was the most beautiful female he had ever encountered, even with the cut on her face. It seemed as though Muir could read Harvey's thoughts, shooting him a warning glare. Harvey cleared his throat, careful not to provoke the eagle, aware that Muir was quite fond of the female and wouldn't let anyone near her unnecessarily until she recovered. He had the furs of those who tried to get a closer look. Harvey knew he stood no chance against Muir, who was much stronger than him.
"You're in Leopard Village, and you've been unconscious for almost five days," Harvey said softly. "When Muir brought you here, your condition was severe. You had lost a significant amount of blood, several of your ribs were fractured, and you had some serious injuries." He paused, looking at the bandages carefully wrapped around her torso beneath her furs. "Some of your wounds became infected, causing a fever that lasted a few days. Muir and I were worried you wouldn't pull through, but thankfully, your fever broke last night. You should recover fully, though you'll probably have some scars. I want to keep you under observation for the next few days," he reassured her, his eyes a blend of relief.
Miyako's index finger rested thoughtfully on her chin, a puzzled expression etched across her face as the medic explained her current location. Leopard Village? She had never heard of such a place—was it a secret location, hidden from the rest of the world? As he continued to describe her condition, Miyako tuned out the medic's explanation. Her confusion slowly turned into sorrow as vivid memories of the attack surged relentlessly through her mind.
"I see..." Miyako whispered softly as sharp images of Rino and Hanzo being killed and Sora's desperate struggle against their attackers before they were torn apart flashed through her thoughts. She clenched her teeth unconsciously and lowered her gaze to her lap, using her bangs to hide the tears she was determined to suppress. Clenching her fist, she pressed her nails into her palm, willing the tears to retreat. Miyako was resolute—she would not cry now or in front of strangers who might be enemies.
Muir exchanged a concerned glance with the leopard healer as they watched the petite female beside him. She fell silent, her jaw and fists clenching with tension. Sensing her distress, Muir moved closer, gently placing a reassuring hand on her back. She stiffened at his touch but acknowledged his support with a slight nod, her gaze downcast.
Muir furrowed his brow, confused by the female's behaviour and what she said. Her decision to fight alongside him against the wolves left him in shock, as the clans he was familiar with would never allow females to engage in combat. It was strictly prohibited because of their rarity and the risks involved. Losing a female could spell disaster for certain clans. Where was she from? And what happened to her?
"Leopard Village? I've never heard of it. Where exactly is it?" Miyako asked, her curiosity evident as she regained her composure. Usually, she wouldn't let a stranger touch her, especially a potential enemy, but being in unfamiliar territory, she decided to play along for now while planning her escape. After all, Muir comforting her could be one of his manipulation tactics.
“it is a couple of days' walk away from the City of Beasts, female. What happened to you, and how did you end up in the forest alone?” Muir answered Miyako this time as he supported her back.
What in the world? Miyako's mind spun in disbelief. The City of Beasts—how could such a place exist within the elemental nations without her ever hearing or reading about it? Her thoughts raced chaotically. A small leopard village might escape notice, but an entire city shrouded in secrecy? The very notion defied all logic. Surely, it would be marked on maps or chronicled in books, and tales of its existence would have spread far and wide through merchants and their caravans.
Wait—did Muir call her "Female," and did Harvey do the same earlier? Confusion bubbled within her. Unknown shinobis were usually addressed by their village affiliations. Couldn't they see the symbol on her headband? Her headband is the emblem of her identity as a shinobi from the Leaf Village. Speaking of which—her heart skipped a beat—where was her headband? Panic surged through her veins as she realised she couldn't feel its familiar weight pressing against her forehead. Why hadn't she noticed its absence before?
Miyako's eyes flickered between Muir and the medic, a wave of panic surging through her, though she skillfully concealed it. She would save her panic for later, opting to continue assessing the situation carefully. Where exactly was she? That question could wait. She toyed with the idea of being trapped in a genjutsu or dead. However, if she were truly dead, she reasoned, her injuries wouldn't ache, nor would they exist. This logic inclined her to believe it was a genjutsu. It became increasingly clear to Miyako that they posed no threat to her or the village. If Muir and the medic were truly enemies, Muir would have left her as prey for the wolves rather than shielding her from them. Her earlier doubts began to dissolve. Still, she hesitated to trust them fully, as her training as a shinobi taught her caution. There was always the chance they were spinning a web of deception, and her suspicions might be warranted. Yet, deep down, her instincts murmured that Muir and the medic were sincere in their words.
"Miyako, that's my name. Please, don't call me female. Before I tell you anything, I need to know your names and where my belongings are. I already know Eagle-san; you're Muir-san, correct? And medic-san, may I ask for your name?" Miyako asked as she looked between Muir and the medic. She intended to share some of what had happened but would draw inspiration from Guy's lifelong rival.
"Miyako, just call me Muir, not Muir-san," Muir said, testing out her name. It felt right to him, though he corrected her with a slight hint of confusion, puzzled by her use of that word at the end of his name. As Harvey was busy fetching Miyako's belongings from another room and couldn't introduce himself, Muir said, "And that's Harvey. He's the healer of Leopard Village."
"Do you not use 'san' here? In my village, it's sort of optional, but we use 'san' to address people we've just met as a sign of respect. So, addressing you as 'Muir-san' is a respectful way to refer to you," Miyako said, looking puzzled. She explained the significance of the terms. Adding to this place's mystery was that the people in this village didn't use honorifics.
The unusual female, Miyako, once again had left Muir in disbelief. He wasn't accustomed to females being so courteous; he was more familiar with them being outright unpleasant. Yet again, Miyako demonstrated her distinctiveness—she remained polite, even though she was reserved in her conversations with him. Muir was jolted back to reality when Harvey returned with Miyako's belongings, handed them to her, and she thanked Harvey.
Miyako absentmindedly rummaged through her belongings, searching for her headband while she began to speak, drawing on some of Kakashi's wisdom. "To answer your question, Muir-san, I'm not completely sure how I ended up where you discovered me. I was lost, wandering on the road of life, when fate intervened, and I was abruptly tossed off a cliff into the river below. The powerful current swept me away to an unknown destination. The next thing I remember, Muir-san, was waking up to find you and the wolves." With a flourish, she triumphantly retrieved her headband from its hiding place, gripping it tightly for comfort. Miyako ignored the sceptical, stone-faced expressions of Muir and Harvey, who seemed to doubt her incredible tale.
After several attempts to get information from Miyako, Muir and Harvey stopped questioning her about her attack and origins. Her responses typically consisted of cryptic phrases like, "You know, lost on the road of life" or a dismissive "Hmmm…that's not important." However, they could deduce that feral or rootless beasts hadn't attacked her. Miyako was unfamiliar with these creatures, but she wisely surmised that they were trouble, even if she didn't share this insight with Muir and Harvey.
"Miyako, do you want something to eat?" Muir inquired, opting to shift the conversation since he and Harvey wouldn't get any further responses from Miyako, though calling what they had answers would be stretching it.
"No, thank you, I'm not..." Miyako began to decline, still cautious despite deciding they weren't enemies. She wasn't ready to trust them completely not to tamper with the food. However, her stomach growled loudly, betraying her hesitation. Muir, slightly amused, raised an eyebrow at her as she scratched her head in clear embarrassment. "Maybe some food would be nice," she mumbled quietly, too embarrassed to make eye contact.
Muir chuckled softly at Miyako's antics, his eyes twinkling with amusement. Rising from his seat, he left her side and stepped outside to tend to the deer he had hunted earlier that day.