The trees crowd in on all sides
Trying to deny the existence of the sun
The Shinomen jealously guards her secrets
But the light finds its way
Splashing across paths
That the Unicorn once rode.

Now the Ikoma look on in reverence
The Matsu and Akodo salute
And the Kitsu utter prayers of gratitude
To he who returned their forbearer
To the world.

K’mee, the Nezumi monk,
Steps forward to bless the Shrine
To Te’tik’kir, of her people
But she is nervous and upset.
Where are the Nezumi?
Why have they not come
To receive their honor?

She remembers the call from the Chief of Chiefs
And knows the answer.
‘Tomorrow has come’ she says ‘And the Nezumi are no more’
Her tears wet her fur
And she pulls her jingasa low.

All fall to quiet as Nintai approaches
The Lion fall to their knees
And renew their thanks
To their ancestors, Te’tik’kir,
And all of the Nezumi
That the last true Kitsu
Walks the land.

The light reflects on Nintai’s red mane
But his face is dark
As he relates the tale
Of the Nezumi going to save
The Transcendents, their ancestors
And their bodies falling still
Breath ceasing, hearts pumping no more.
‘None survived’ said the Leonine
Creature out of memory and legend.

‘One survived’ corrects a voice from the air.
The words seem to swirl around them
As a misty form takes shape.
Shiba Ningen, Master of the Void
Coalesces in their midst,
With one other at his side.
‘If only I could have saved more.’

Ningen tells a tale of a danger to all
With none to stand against it
But the Nezumi, alive and dreamed
Saving themselves, Dream and existence itself.
But at such a cost.

‘They gave their lives for us.
They gave their lives for Rokugan
They gave their lives for the world.
In a world full of heroes
That often treated them as lesser things
They may be the greatest heroes of all.’

The Nezumi at Ningen’s side steps forward
Chi’kel is his name.
He tells a tale of Dragons
He tells a tale of the Sun and Moon
He tells a tale of fierceness and bravery
He tells the tale of Tomorrow.

Chi’kel then vows to stay at the Shrine
To keep it for any who wished to hear the tale.
The Lion swear to record Chi’kel’s words
As Chi’kel is no Rememberer, and through them
The story of Tomorrow will not be forgotten.

The gathering is interrupted a third time
As the trees and grass of the Shinomen
Seem to produce creatures
Made all of green.

A group of Naga surround all
And many Lion samurai put hands on katana,
Prepared to defend the Shrine and its people.
But the Naga draw no weapons
Despite the bearing of warriors upon them.

They speak, sometimes one, sometimes another
Single thoughts shared amongst them.
The Akasha know of the sacrifice
Made by those the Naga once thought of as prey.
The Naga, as all who live,
Are now in their debt.
Thus they have awoken
To guard the Shrine and its keeper
From any who would do them harm.

Chi’kel nods and thanks them for their service.

Now they stand together, Nezumi, Human, Naga and Kitsu
And they know that now,
The Nezumi, a people who lived without a history

Will never be forgotten.