What Now?

[Mingan]

Mingan lifted his large head into the sky, the wind whispered of the direction he was supposed go, but just what was he chasing? Going purely on instinct was a dangerous idea but it was really all he had to go on, numerous wanderings were the lifestyle he had to depend his days on... "Hmmph" He let out a big sigh as he slowed down to think, "What am I looking for? What do the Gods have intended for me?" Mingan stared into the giant empty sky above, so peaceful and calm yet so lifeless and dark...

It was long before he had realized that he had dozed off in his thoughts, when he finally came to he noticed that the sun had already started its journey to meet with the moon and slowly fade away, and the small falling snow around him had gently blanketed him, he smirked at the sky and mumbled "alright, alright." He slowly started to get up and walk. "I'll get going."

[Namine]

Everything in the area was peaceful and calm, not a sound echoed through the wind and trees as the snow gently fell into the banks collecting them. Everything WAS calm atleast, until a bounding ball of fur burst from the shadows into a large snow bank sending the white fluff atleast 2 meters out, the rather petit pup popped her head out of the snow giggling uncontrollably, "That was totally WICKED!!" She sqealed. The rather tiny mammal didn't hesatate to jump into the next giant snow bank making a mess of her surroundings. "Whoo" she sighed, her laughs shortening into a slight groan. "Its not as fun alone" she whimpered, but forgetting about it a few minutes later she wandered off to find a new game to play, but a smell wafered up into her nose, the smell of another wolf, Namine sniffed the air one last time to confirm her findings.

Namine's tail started to wag at light speed as she began to shake the excess snow off, she'd been alone a whole month with no one to talk to or play with, she just had to meet this unfamiliar face but she had to be careful approaching this stranger, "It might be really dangerous!" So spotting a near by dirt patch she began to roll in it untill she was completly filthy, yeah she stunk but not the stink of a wolf who could possibly be nearby. "Ha ha lets see you sniff me out now!" She started to bound towards the scent, as fast as her legs could possibly carry her, when she thought she was close enough to see the figure she slowed down into a crawl between the trees, "stealth mode" she whispered to herself.

[Mingan]

It was not long after Mingan started up his walk when a disturbed feeling rippled through the trees on his path, "Someone or somethings here..." he thought. The only strange fact was that he couldn't see or even smell anybody close by, only the soft pine and the icy snow surrounded him and the smell of dead leaves and dirt was the only thing that wafted through the air. "Hmm" Mingan continued walking down his icy path still keeping an eye out for anyone walking close by, Mingan was sure something had to be there, it wouldn't hurt to address it, he reasoned if it wasn't there than no harm done but its the fact that the element of surprise could be used against his advantage, "but why not be friendly anyway?" He pondered. "A new ally could be useful in the long run..." Taking his chances he called out "Why are you following me?"

[Namine]

Utterly shocked that the brute (guessing from the tone of voice) was able to notice her at all, Namine came out of her hiding position to face the male. "Rats.." she mumbled as she slowly approached the large male wolf, he didn't look all dangerous she thought, he looked somewhat lonely and lost, and feeling rather confident she walked straight up to him in a joyful trot. "Well I guess you got me!" she exclaimed." Wasn't easy though was it? Heh heh" A tiny smirk crawled across her face as she began to introduce herself: "I'm Namine! I sniffed you out from all the way over there!" Namine tried to direct her paw in the direction she came from, feeling a little less frightened she began to talk to the large brute.

"So uhh... are you all alone out here? 'Cause I was just wondering if you'd like to have an ally in this journey you seem to be taking, I mean its not like i'm lonely or anything..."

Namine paused, she carefully examined the wolf, could she really trust him?

[Mingan]

Mingan was rather surprised at the young pup, so confident in her speech. He didn't see her as a threat and relaxed his muscles a little, he watched as she trotted right up to him and just immediately started talking, Mingan sighed... "Not the exact wolf I had in mind" he thought.

As he listened to the pup he wondered why was she not uncomfortable with his large figure... he seemed very intimidating to the others, at least the way they squirmed and fidgeted he assumed that they were afraid, but why not her? She seemed to be indifferent to the fact that hes big and scary and shes just a squirt...."Well I'm Mingan" He paused, there was one aspect of her speech that caught his attention especially, "So you smelled me from all the way over there did ya squirt?" he managed to work a small smile before hearing more of her words. "Well yeah I guess I'm alone out here, but its me who should asking that question, don't 'cha think? I mean your just a kid!" He looked at the pup with interest, her sense of smell was impeccable, he could use someone like that.... Not to mention her spunk, she was not one bit afraid of him, something that could make even Mingan smile warmly.

After finally finishing what she had to say Mingan figured it was his turn to ask questions. "So where you from kid? Whats your story?" He started walking with the pup, maybe it wouldn't be so dark and cold after all.

[Namine]

Namine had a great big smile on her face, it seemed she had finally found someone to talk to, "Mingan" she repeated... "Thats such a cool name!" she exclaimed, getting even more excited she stuck out her chest as big as possible and proudly siad: "Mm hmm I sure did sniff ya all the way over here, its not like it wasn't easy though...you smell like you've been to alot of different places mister!" Namine couldn't help but skip as she walked along with Mingan, he seemed to like having this sort of company around, smiling and chuckling something that Namine preceived impossible for the young adult just a few minutes ago.

Just as things got a little quieter Mingan piped up with a rather 'get out of jail free card' question, "Well i'm alone too," she replied. "I was just wondering if I could come with you... Even if its just to the Aduro pack borders, after all like you siad I am still just a kid!" Namine smiled quite sheepishly as Mingan asked another question. "My story?" Namine replied, " My story is really just beggining! But if you really want to know who I am you have to let me come with you!" Namine siad with a sly smile on her face. "Heh, I gotcha now! Hook, line and sinker!" she thought anxiously.

[Mingan]

Mingan looked a little shell shocked from the young pups words, "Alone?" he thought, "Shes so young..." Mingan looked at the ground shyly, he felt bad for bringing up a subject like that...

When Mingan looked up again he saw Namine pondering his previous question, until she finally replied, Mingan looked a little surprised at this answer too, "Come with me?" he said in an almost cracked voice, he smiled again "I don't know... Would I be able to put up with a squirt like you?" he replied in an joking tone. "Although the Aduro pack lands sounds interesting... ehhh why not?" Mingan winked and smiled a great big warm smile as he managed to squeeze out those last few words.

Mingan realized this is what it was like to have a friend, he wondered if he had any of these before he lost his memory... Then he glanced at Namine she didn't have much of an winter coat, so before it got too cold during the night Mingan invited Namine to share his winter coat: "You know, if you want to you can climb up on my back and nestle in my fur... I don't mind." he said to the young pup softly. "You'll need all your strength for tomorrow morning when we set out, you having stiff bones would really slow us down..." Mingan smiled and leaned down, the pup wasn't so bad, for a squirt that is.

[Namine]

Namine's eyes widened as Mingan put a stir of suspense in her heart, he waited to answer just to tease her, but she was too focused on her thoughts to actually hear his answer. It only broke through to her when he looked at her with a great big smile, she just stood there for a moment before breaking out into cries of joy and jumping around like a Mexican jumping bean.

"You really mean it?!" she cried. "Awesomeness!!" But just before she darted ahead with much hyperness Mingan spoke up again, With his soft words she immediately calmed down and looked at him with warm and tired eyes. She leaped up on his back into the nest of soft fur and skin and quickly got comfortable and toasty warm, Namine smiled and whispered: "Thank you so much Mingan" as they walked through the trees and shrubs of the snowy dark path.