Rain had come and passed. Nightfall looming overhead with the stars and moons hidden up high by heavy clouds in the sky. Nayun sat beside the cart with her back pressed upright against a wheel. The horses had been left to graze and rest. Yun, her kitsune companion, had also been allowed to roam free and hunt as she saw fit. Nayun sat alone with a fire roaring before her. The heat, along with her heavy cloak, allowing her to stay warm within the chill of the early winter air.

The changing of seasons was something. The sounds along the plane where she made camp had been little to none. No animals. No sounds of chirping crickets. Only the crackling of the fire and whistles of the wind. Nayun closed her eyes and took in a deep breath, then exhaled slowly through parted lips.

A foreign sound came. The brushing of dew soaked grass. It was not Yun, as the bell the fox worn would have warned her of such things. No, this was something else — or someone else. She'd open her eyes and stare out into the open plane before her. The blanket of darkness covering much of it from beyond her fire.

It had been a simple task without confrontation; yet it seemed things would change. She'd part her lips to take in another soft breath. Steady as it went, nice and low to keep her ears pinned to the sounds of the creeping unknown venturing closer with each grass crushing step. One, two...One, two. It is no animal that came. Two steps. One after another. Humanoid then. The time between the two showing a larger stride. Tall, possibly male. Nayun took hold of her katana and rose to stand then.

"May I ask your name?" The Adennian spoke in her monotone, but even it felt somewhat calmer in tone.

The footsteps ceased. Worry' The seconds passed without any other. Contemplation' The unknown and possible assailant had left themselves open by such an act. Nayun turned her head and looked toward the darkness that covered the intruders advancement.

"I could have killed you twice." and she made sure they knew this. "If you wish to play assassin, you must not wait. The element of surprise is lost; you have two options. One is to retreat, the other is to come and face me."

The cards laid out on the table, so to speak. Nayun set thumb against the guard of her katana. The lightest of clicks sounding out as a passing wind carried it along.

Yellow, orange. The fire burned hot and flickered about. Its range growing larger, only to shrink some seconds later by another passing wind. The sound then came. Not of wind and not of the fire. No, it was the sound of weight being pressed to grass once more. Nayun's eyes kept their unblinking stare out into the distance until the figure could finally be made out. The fire coating the man with a shadow that forced the Adennian to squint to gain a better look. One step closer and she had what she needed.

It was the man from the raid earlier last month. She had pierced his stomach with her blade and left him to die a cowards death; slow and painful. But death did not become of him, or she would not be seeing him in front of her right now. A vengeful spirit — this man is not.

"You're alone.." He said.

Nayun gave a lift of her chin. "Yes...These horses are no threat to you, so I am indeed alone." Drawing her blade had come to mind. But, she held her hand back as another thought crossed. He had not charged her yet, even though he held a spear. His voice also told her another thing; he is unsure of himself.

"May I ask what you planned to do' Avenge your fallen comrades" Take my life for almost taking yours?" Nayun questioned him. The man kept still at the opposite side of the fire. She watched his body language, the way he tensed up. The way his fingers gripped tightly at the spear he held. The way the light of the fire shimmered across his face to show an expression of worry. He lost his element of surprise; it was do or die now. That must be on his mind.

"You're alone...You wouldn't be able to grab for your rifle." What he spoke is true. Her rifle had been left within the cart. Nayun gave a soft tilt of her head at this.

"Yes...and no." Nayun's voice trailed as she slid as right arm rose. Her fingers brushing against the fabric of her cloak and pushed it back to expose layered kimono she wore. Not only that, but the handle of one of her revolvers. With light tug, she'd draw the weapon and aim it at the man.

Instantly, he took a step back out of worry. Nayun watched his body tense and the fight or flight instinct took over. He will either charge her or run. Charge her or run. Charge her - or run. Two options. Both had a high possibility of death. Could his spear take her in the time she could pull the trigger" Impossible. He had to know this too.

"You did not answer my question. Did you come here seeking revenge for your comrades or for yourself?" Nayun questioned once more.

The man didn't speak. He instead took a better grip of his spear and took a step forward. He was going to charge, Nayun could see that easily enough. All she had to do was pull the trigger...yet, she did not.

To the mans surprise, which shown in the way he jerked back in fear as Nayun's revolver-held arm lowered itself; she would not shoot.

"Live today. Fight tomorrow. Words my mother told me. You do not run out of fear, you retreat to plan your next move. When the opportunity comes, you take it." Nayun holstered the weapon back at her waist and set the butt of katana's saya against the wet ground; between her parted feet. One hand pressed to the pommel of the weapon, while the other set itself over the hand.

"You ran out of fear. Yet you are here. A mixture of both. Tell me, my attempted murderer. Are you here to avenge your comrades or are you here for yourself?" Nayun asked once more.

"I don't give a f*ck about them.." She could hear the anger in his voice. Not only that, but confusion. He must be wondering why she dropped her stance and took on one that left her even more open.

"Let me attempt to understand...A sell-sword. Seeking money before winter blankets this land with snow and death. By your appearance it seems you have not eaten well in some time.." Nayun's monotone paused. "You may interrupt me if I am incorrect."

But he didn't. He kept quiet. So, Nayun continued. "You joined a group of marauding bandits to take what you need to survive winter. You wondered if they would betray you once the mission was over."

Nothing. He spoke not a word. Nayun closed her eyes and took in a soft breath. "You do not come here for them...You do not come here for riches or survival. You come here to strike me down because I have taken something from you." Her eyes opened then. Fully focused on the man before her.

"Your honor," She paused. When she spoke those words, he moved. Not away — but for her. Stalking steps that crept closer and closer to thin the range between the two of them.

"You know I can kill you. That I will kill you. You know that you have no chance of defeating me. Yet, you continue on.." He stopped then. They were only a few feet from one another then. The man well within range to thrust out his spear, and for her to choose to step away and pull free her blade and break past his range for the kill.

He knew this. She knew this. Even without pulling her blade, she had him in check. He could retreat here and create more distance, but even then - how would he kill her"

"It is an admirable trait in a warrior." Nayun confessed. Another cold breeze moving between them. The fire dying down from its force, only to be reignited when the air stilled once more.

"Tell me...Nameless man who has come to kill me." Nayun took in a breath, then exhaled. The fire between them growing bigger and illuminating the space about the two of them.

"Do you wish to continue to stay a dog...Or is the wolf still there, in your spirit...Does it wish to join a pack?"

The nameless man moved then. One step. Two steps. The spear thrust forward. And, as predicted. Nayun moved. Even as he attempted to pull the spear back to create a barrier between the two of them, it had been too late. His range completely lost in a split second and the shimmer of flame reflecting off steel danced across his features.

Nayun's blade found his waist. Her left palm pressed against the blunt back edge of the blade. All she needed was to apply pressure. To continue the motion. He would be disemboweled within a matter of a second — and he could do nothing about it.

But...They stood there. The fire light dancing across both of their figures.

"I never liked...being a lone wolf." He said. His spear dropped to the ground with a soft crush of grass. He stood there. Unmoving. Accepting that he had been defeated not once, but twice by the same woman.

A silence took place between the two of them. It ended when another cold breeze rushed against the two of them; it enveloping their forms with a chilled presence before flying away. Nayun pulled her blade away soon after. It given a flick to the side, then directed back into the saya which it called home. With a turn, she'd set her back to the man and step away.

"Do you like tea?" Nayun asked.

"I do.." He replied.

Conflict did not always need to end in bloodshed. To have a life owed to you is better than taking one. Words from a monk of Yasuo. G'nort said, `No Survivors`. But this man is already dead. His life now belonged to her. Nayun's pack grew that night. Another wolf to run along with the rest. The trip back to the railway construction site wouldn't be a lonely one.