Year of the Crow, Second Month, Day 6.

Despite the late night to bed, I awoke with the roosters; my mind awash with yet more questions. Why, in all of the Kingdoms, did Mother think the invention of a contagion would convince the other Houses that she was not going to hold a funeral for me? Crying Orchid and Laughing Spider would surely have questioned why she had not closed Pale Twilight's borders... All this thought of contagions made me remember the news about White Lake; I wonder if that has been contained. Evidently it is not enough of a concern for them to have closed their borders, either; if it were, I am sure we would have seen evidence of it as we skirted their Lands on our way here...

The Lord and Lady Purple Lightning obviously knew I was coming here; they were not even remotely surprised to see me. If Kaede has already written to them, why did she bother writing a letter for me to give to them? There is something very strange going on, I know it. I just cannot quite see it. I may ask Haru if she has any thoughts when she comes in to see to my breakfast. 

I was so stunned by the news of my apparent death yesterday, that I struggled to concentrate on the rest of my conversation with the Lord and Lady Purple Lightning. The basis of it was that I am welcome to remain in the guest House as long as I like and I am to consider the House at my disposal. They were very kind. 

Now that I am finally here after so many months, I feel strangely empty. The truth is so close and yet still so far away. I have no idea what to look for or even where to start. I may as well still be in Dying Crane so far away am I from any sort of answers. It has been many, many years since I visited Purple Lightning and I do not really know anyone here. The Lord and Lady Purple Lightning's daughter is about my age and I remember her a little bit but she is with her husband's family so I cannot reconnect with her. I suppose I could ask for some time with either Tsuyoshi or Ichiko... Since they appear to be kindly disposed to me being here, perhaps they would not mind me asking them some questions...

I will see what Haru thinks. Perhaps once I have eaten, I will take a walk around the grounds and explore my new surroundings. It is not nearly so cold here as it was in Silent Thunder so I may not even need a wrap once the morning mists have lifted which will be delightful.