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Near the western entrance to the temple lies an area of land that has been cultivated to create beautiful gardens. It is obvious that forest kitsune magic has been used in creating this, as many of the flowers and shrubs are larger than one would otherwise expect on a mountainside. Some of the shrubs have also grown into intricate shapes and patterns without the use of pruning or wiring.

Hedges in the shape of foxes are dotted about the gardens in numerous places. These have been created in a variety of poses - some are sitting, standing or lying down; others are rearing and some are in playful, almost puppyish poses. In the summer, the gardens are a riot of colour, with countless varieties of flowers spilling from their beds. The numerous lawns are in immaculate condition. Gravel paths separate the various lawns and flower beds, and allow access to all parts of the gardens. Where paths cross, marble fountains have been placed. The centrepiece of each fountain is a rearing fox, with the water jet gushing from its mouth.

Towards the northern side of the garden, a gravel path leads to an area enclosed by a tall wooden fence sunk into the rock. A short distance behind the fence there is a large pool, naturally formed from the surrounding rock. Steam rises from the pool indicating that this is a hot spring. Whether the spring is naturally hot, or whether one of the kitsune has had a hand in heating the pool is undetermined, but the water remains hot even in winter. In any case, it is a pleasant place to go to relax.

Over the past few days Kisho had found that he preferred to be active at night. The young kitsune would wake up in the late afternoon, only an hour away from the sun setting and then go to bed at dawn. It was something to do with the shadows he suspected, as they'd always been his favourite place to be. Thus it was very usual for him to be out at this time, of course his sleep did tend to be irregular, and being a kit, he slept in short naps rather than in a big bulk of time so it hadn't been to hard for him to change his schedule.

Kisho tottered along towards the garden, stopping every few seconds to yawn. Yesterday afternoon he had overheard the older kitsune talking. They tended to overlook the small Kisho, so it was easy for him to flop down beside a doorway and just listen. They'd be talking about how lovely the spring day was, and how beautiful the sakura trees were and that it would be a shame once all the petals were gone. Of course he'd been in the garden before, but only at night, and so he'd vowed he would see them the next day.

Rounding a building corner, Kisho sped up, nearly tripping over his own feet in his haste. As soon as he rounded the corner, he leapt off the porch area onto the garden path and hurtled headlong into the world of flowers, shrubs and trees. Delighted he ran beneath the trees, his head craned upwards to see the flowers. He was somewhat annoyed to see he'd missed most of the petals falling, and that by now they all littered the ground beneath him.

Skidding to a halt, Kisho frowned in disappointment. Yet he was not a kitsune that let things bother him too much. Within moments he was wrestling with a nearby fern and running back and forth across his garden area with boundless enthusiasm. Not even his tail was safe from his exuberant play fighting. A number of times his feet tripped him up, sending him hurtling into a bush or flower plantation but tt wouldn't take long for him to get up again and continue his game.

Perhaps this kitsune wasn't the most perceptive, since it took a while to notice the other kit who lay beneath the shade of one of the sakura trees. He stopped dead in his tracks, wondering if he should join her and if she had been watching him. He licked his pink tongue with his nose, tilted his head to the side and then bounded over with a yipping sound of delight.

Kisho really didn't have anything particular in mind at that moment, besides going over and covering her face in enthusiastic licks. He pretty much lived by the second, and if his attention abruptly changed to somewhere else it would be of no surprise. Overjoyed that she had responded in a friendly way, the kit bounded over, reaching over to n** at her ear playfully and rub his head happily against her neck. They would play games all day, tussle and play hide and seek and perhaps even explore. Oh yes, explore!

The kit abruptly flipped himself over and waved his paws in the air, looking rather like a beetle stuck on its back. Rolling back onto his paws he danced away, turning once to yip, beckoning. Kisho want to go deeper into the garden and see what there was to see. They would have a marvellous adventure together, but only if she would follow. Once more he made a yipping noise, stopping his prancing and looking back at her with his head tilted to the side.

Come with me. His reddish eyes seemed to say, the mischievous glint that was ever present in his gaze burning bright.

While he waited, Kisho briefly tried to chase his tail, stumbling over his own paws in the process. When his bright, happy eyes looked up, they saw Isara moving cautiously towards him. Overjoyed he yipped loudly and waited for her to hurry closer. As she did so, seemingly catching his delighted and adventurous attitude, he waited with his tongue lolling out in a pant. His energetic jumping around had tired him out a little, but no doubt within seconds he'd be as overly-enthusiastic as before.

Giving her a quick lick on the muzzle as she nudged his side, he started forward in his strange prancing run. Kisho kept turning to look back at her, making sure his newfound friend was following. His gaze would then sweep around to the garden in which they travelled, considering the options of where to go. Right now they were following a path, but Kisho would like to go bounding off the main track to see what lurked beyond those towering trees.

'This way!' He called with a flip of a tail, running out onto the grass and flowers, away from the grove of cherry trees. The beautifully planted rows of flowers came up under Kisho's paws, though he cared little, and was soon scrambling under bushes. The pines loomed in the distance, calling to his adventurous heart.

The young kit continued to bounce around in delight. His plan was to get past the line of trees, to see what was beyond. It all seemed so simple and so wondrous that he wondered why it had taken him so long to travel out here into the gardens. Everything was utterly perfect, just waiting for him to come along. And he had a companion, a friend, who could share this great fun. That made the moment all the better. Another plantation of flowers waited in front of his path before a short run across a well-manicured lawn to the trees. So very close. Kisho started into the daffodil patch when a worried yip sounded out from behind.

Kisho skidded to a halt, looking over his shoulder at Isara in question. His ears flickered back and forth, his face a picture of puzzlement. What had stopped her? Was she afraid? To Kisho, the towering trees and the shadows they created beckoned to him rather than repulsed. The kit made a whine like noise in the back of his throat and then turned around, trotting back to the female. He pressed his noise against hers, nuzzling her gently in an attempt of reassurance. Reaching up to tug lightly at her ear, the kit then bounded a few paces away, yipping enthusiastically.

Oh, how he hoped she would follow, otherwise they would have to stay there, and that would be mighty boring.

The young male's reassurances seemed to work on the pale-coloured female. Her ear flickered as he nipped it playfully and she would have smiled if she could have. She walked a few more steps hesitantly and then, feeling the confidence he had, she bounded forward with him. What was the point of being scared of something you didn't know, afterall?

Her small paws pressed into the lush grass, her bushy tail brushing softly against it. As they got closer to the trees the grass seemed to get a little deeper and slightly more unruly. This part of the garden felt a little less 'manicured' and a little more wild. It was as thought someone had decided that it would be nice to let nature make it's own display. Large bushes covered in bright blossoms, thick, tall, dense pines and leafy deciduous trees, prickyly shrubs and a few fragrant herbs all vied for space in the space nearest the edge of the garden.

The garden was a little darker here, the sun dappled instead of beating down. Isara felt slightly cooler but not chilly in her thick coat. She had a feeling of security in this more foresty part of the garden, as if she would be safe in such a place - more so than out in the open. As a kit she didn't quite understand her instincts yet but they still came to her mind.

Isara looked over to Kisho once more, wondering what he had intended when they got here. It certainly was pretty but he didn't look like he intended to stop here...

Isara caught up quickly, her bounding gait becoming a slightly, tumbling halt. She rolled to her feet again quickly, acting as though nothing oof the sort had happened, yipped happily and moved a few steps further into the mass of green. Isara found herself in a fantasy land of soft shadows interspersed with shafts of blazing sunlight.

It truly was a forest now - not just a lawn and ornamental shrubbery. The pine trees seemed to loom gracefully as though bending over to greet the young kits as they passed. Isara's feet crunched over the carpet of pine needles and she began to notice the difference in this external landscape. It was warm here, too, but chillier than the gardens. The plants here were more alpine and the shrubs or flowers which poked through did not seem so lush as those theyhad passed before.

It would seem, then, that they had reached the limit of the supernatural gardening which seemed to have prompted the courtyards perennials into such a frivolous display. Without that tending such plants would not have grown so large or perhaps even at all. Isara's young mind didn't register much of this, though. Her only concern was that this place seemed 'outside' and not part of their safe home. She turned to the male cub, to see what he made of this strange outer realm.

Isara pawed her nose - it tickled when he licked it! The pale pup decided that they had been safe thus far and, afterall, there were two of them! What could go wrong? She walked forward, following his lead, her paws crunching softly on the leaf litter. She hadn't realy learned the value of stealth yet and probably would have found it hard to be quiet anyway at her young, uncoordinated, age.

After they had been walking a little Isara's tummy beganto rumble. It had been a while since she had eaten - several hours at least since breakfast. She looked at the fawny male cub and nudged him in the stomach lightly then pointed her nose back in the directin they'd come from. Food!? she was trying to suggest.

ooc: That's ok, just a small one from me too.