The other place she was going to paint today was the docks. She had brought a lamp just in case it gets darker in the evening. She sat on the edge of one of the piers and the Doji started to paint the pier activity. Hanatsuko mixed the colors and traced in the pillow book the scene

With the weather drawing in, Heiko decides that it's a good idea to check in with her Clan-mates, should there be anything required to secure the Koutetsukan before the storm. En route, the Crab comes across a painter at work.
Waiting for an appropriate time, Heiko introduces herself.
"Greetings, Crane-sama. It has been suggested that I speak with the other samurai on the island, and, well, I found you here."

Hanatsuko looked at the Crab and nodded. "Good afternoon, Crab sama..." Her voice sweet and soft perhaps even expected from a Crane. "I hope the day has treated you well."

"Ah, yes, thankyou. It has. And how about yourself?"
Heiko seems somewhat uncomfortable.
"Are you the colleague that Daidoji-sama mentioned who has a, um, gift? He talked about someone telling him the forest was angry."

"I am well" The Doji placed her pillow book beside her and sighed. "I suppose I am. What would you like to know Crab sama?" She offered a seat on the dock. "I don't mind the questions."

Heiko takes a seat, untidily, before continuing to talk
"We were in the forest earlier today, talking about our feelings about the place, and he mentioned that someone he knew had said that it was 'angry'. He talked about a gift with the land but I got the impression it wasn't a shugenja thing. Since I expect to be spending a bunch of time there, I was wondering if you had any further knowledge than 'angry'?"

"How do I explain this?... un... I hear melodies when I am around plants in this island that show me their mood. Many, I think are happy... but when we were about to cross a certain point the music changed into something unharmonious, it was like angry screaming. It was loud and... shocking." She frowned. "I think that they are somewhat territorial... in a sense."

"Territorial... plants? I'm not sure I understand."
Heiko takes a moment to breathe in and out.
"I'm sorry, you did say it was hard to explain, and you've probably already explained this more times than you want. Is it hard for you? Or painful? If not, perhaps we could mark a perimeter of... 'safety' for people to not cross alone?"

"It is hard for people to understand that the trees and plants have emotions. The music I hear is difficult to explain because I don't have musical training." The Doji explained "But we need to consider this is their land, we are invading. We have already taken some of their brethren. They seek the protection of the predators and the spirits of the island to stay safe from us."

"I'm not sure being trained in music would help explaining it to me - I sing like a stepped-on frog," Heiko commented wryly.
"Maybe we should look into a different approach to living arrangements, than making more wooden buildings. That said," she looks at the looming clouds, "I'm planning to sleep inside tonight."

"That sounds like a good plan. Perhaps as people start to get the feel of the island we can find out what may be taking down expeditions inside the forest deeps." Hanatsuko nodded. "I would like to see why it is so angry even defensive."

"That was my plan. I don't like the idea of people just not coming back."

Hanatsuko nodded and resumed her painting of the dock. "Do you practice any type of art?"

Heiko looks a bit embarassed, "Uh, no. I never really had the time or talent for it. To be honest, I'm not entirely sure what it is you're painting right now."

"I am making a log of the sights of the island." She continued to make the hues for the dock wood. "I am painting the dock now. I think it will be good for historians to have an idea of how this island started before what ever the future holds for it."

"Ah, yes, I can imagine how that might be useful. But, hopefully we'll be here to tell people about it," Heiko smiles.

"Well, of course but then it will be good to compare notes
from the beginning to where things are going to be." She nodded. "Perhaps for future references as progress goes. Sometimes pictures are better than words."