"I beg your pardon!" A cry split the early morning stillness, ringing bright and clear through the chill grey air. There was some muffled tapping, the sound of someone rapping on a wooden partition or door. After a few moments, the call came again. "I beg your pardon!"

Touka shuffled her feet slightly, her sandals sliding almost smooth against the cold grey stones of the road. They were beaten-up and old, nearly worn through; she would have to make a new pair later. The thought that it might be embarrassing to arrive here, at this particular place, with shabby and worn-out [i]waraji[/i] crossed her mind briefly, and she snorted. If the human pup was to scorn her for something as trivial as her shoes, how shocked would the faces of the elders be when she returned and told them just where their misplaced faith had gone? How sweet would it be? If she was turned away here, she'd head back immediately, not even staying to rest a night or fix her sandals, not in [i]this[/i] house. Well, maybe she'd steal the pup's. Let him feel just how horrible it was to have to walk with near-naked feet.

She raised her hand to knock again, rapping the same spot on the wooden gate. It was probably wood cut around here; she recognized the hard pine. "I beg your pardon," she shouted again, trying to mask her irritation. Times like this always gave her an upsetting little itch in the small of her back, and she stiffened, trying without much hope to scratch her own back with the weight of her [i]obi[/i]. It was nice enough, a lovely orange and very soft, but it still didn't feel right. And again, dressing up for a pup! Maybe she could just deliver Grandma's letter and leave. No one would know the difference if she said she had been insulted at the gate - and really, being made to wait this long was an insult. She glanced back over her shoulder at the village below, much larger than her hometown. Smoke was just starting to waft up against the slate-grey sky; she sniffed and smelled cooking fish. She bit her lower lip.

Well, maybe she'd give them the opportunity to insult her over breakfast.