Izo had been with the woods demon tribe, eating dinner with Maiha and a few of her kinsmen when Ice Master found him. Izo had been listening silently with them, debating when he should ask their leader if he could travel with them once the tribe split from one another. The woods demon tribe stayed mostly to the southern part of the nomadic territory, where most of temperate forests were and plants they could gather for their healing properties could be found. This tribe was less fighters, more healers. He figured they would be less fun to be with and train with, but they would be less of a risk to make him fall. He could also learn from them about healing, things Asa and Yukina had not taught him. He could offer to be a protector of sorts to them. He wanted to be careful about how he asked the leader though, as Grandfather had once set one of their forests ablaze and slaughtered a good number of their people. The thought of it made him furious.

Another thought that made him furious was the dark crone was still up here and would be staying relatively close to this tribe. He was mad she only complained about the cold, but had yet to succumb to it. The woman wanted to harvest Mother. He had also seen her looking at him with far too long of a gaze. He reviled her.

He noticed the Ice Master approaching just as he had finished his own meal. The woods demon tribal leader greeted him. Izo watched the exchange silently as the two spoke to each other. He excused himself to go clean his dishes by the water buckets. He had been the first one to do so.

As he cleaned up, he noticed the Ice Master was watching him. Izo looked up over at him curious. The Ice Master cocked his head to one side, beckoning him over. Izo quickly finished washing his dishes before he went over to the him. He stood before the Ice Master, one of those who had witnessed his fight with 'Uncle' Yusuke. He bowed stiffly to him, watching him bow back. He waited patiently for him to speak. No one else was around them, it was almost peaceful.

The Ice Master produced a piece of paper from his pocket. "Lady Maeshu bid me to give you this letter from your mother." He held out the paper for him to take.

Izo sucked in a breath, snatching the letter out of his hand like a beggar would snatch a piece of bread. He hastily opened the letter, tearing it at one side in the rush. He read it quickly, trying soak in every ink blotted word. 'Mother...' he thought to himself. He had not realized how much he missed her and the rest of his family. He disliked the words mentioned about Yukina worrying about him though. He was not a child. He could handle himself.

Izo ran his hand through his braided hair, folding the letter up and pocketing it for himself to read over and over again later in the privacy of his own tent. "Thank you for bringing this to me," he said, regaining his composure. Demons valued strength. He had to remember that.

"You're welcome," Ice Master replied. "Have you given thought to what tribe you will travel with when we all break camp in a few days?"

Izo answered, "I have actually. I was planning to go with the woods demons, if they'll have me."

Ice Master gave him an almost confused look. "You're stronger than the lot of them, you know that right? Even if you keep your angelic side at bay."

Izo nodded. "I can fight and I can heal. I can learn more about healing from them. One of their ranks, Maiha, saved my sister's life with just some seeds. I wouldn't mind learning more about those and other plants they use. Plants the elvish healer Asa, doesn't even know about."

Ice Master seemed to take in his words. "You haven't reached your peak yet in fighting. You'll never reach it with them," he said, shaking his head. "Healing is valuable, but you would do better to improve upon fighting first."

Izo crossed his arms over his chest. "What tribe, or even just group, would have me then that could teach me what I haven't yet learned from my parents?" he asked, knowing his words were bold, borderline rude.

"What about the shinobi?" Ice Master asked.

Izo looked at him curiously. "That's the group you're from?" he asked, unsure of the answer.

He knew they were a small band, brotherhood of ninjas up in the North. Made even smaller by his grandfather. They were elite fighters, ones not to contend with. They traveled all over the North, sometimes doing the leaders bidding, sometimes doing their own thing. Rumored to be assassins for hire if the right bidder came along. He felt humbled when he suddenly realized he was standing before one of them.

Ice Master smirked at him. "If you pass the initiation trial, you might be able to join us."

Izo looked at him curiously. "Why do you want me?" he asked.

"I saw you fight your kinsman. You've got potential," he complimented.

Izo felt the temptation rise up inside of him. He knew he was strong, but had thought himself kidding himself if the shinobu were interested in him. He had heard of them and their legacy from Father, but could never imagine them being interested in him. When Father was younger and roaming around the North, they had never bothered recruiting him. Yet Izo also considered that if he were around a group of powerful demons, he ran the risk of falling, at least that was what Father had led him to think. Maybe around them though, he could learn how to prevent it from happening. Or control it...

He shook his head, disappointing the Ice Master and himself. "I am honored, but I don't think I should accept," he admitted.

Ice Master studied him curiously. "What could I do or say to convince you to accept my offer?"

"Nothing," Izo answered, even as he the thoughts of what he could offer danced in his mind.

Ice Master cocked his head. "You know if you went with us, the dark crone would not be close by. She'll be nearby with the woods demon tribe. She seems just as interested in you as she was in your mother."

"What, are you offering to kill her for me? She's under my mother's protection. That's the only reason my father or-" he bit his tongue. "That's the only reason my father hasn't killed her. It would make my mother honor bound to avenge her or die trying."

Ice Master looked about ready to lose his composure. "You want the dark crone dead just as much as your father does?"

"Yes, but why does it matter? Not at the risk of my mother," he admitted. "If you can figure out a way to kill the dark crone without dragging my mother into it to avenge her, then yes, I'll go with and join the shinobi," Izo swore.

Izo left Touya after that, going back to his tent. He wrote a letter to his mother, thanking her for her letter and for Yukina's warning. He included he was planning to go with the woods demon tribe once the tribes separated. Before going to bed for the night, he sent that letter, half wishing he could go with it.