Turquoise eyes settled on both sides of the dame. She was amazed at how there was this little hidden place in-between the two mountains. In between these two mountains the dame was what was keeping them apart; the wolf that held them at bay! Perhaps like the wolf Glacoris in one of those legends her parents had told her as a pup. The wolf that kept the mountains apart! Maybe she was just lice Glacoris...but she was too much of a runt to hold two mountains apart; plus it was physically impossible for any wolf.

With a sigh Maka sat down on some smooth pebbles and let her turquoise gaze take in the scene. Snow was seen near the top as she breathed in the cool air. It was Autumn, and winter would be coming soon.

The Sun was beginning to set which turned the sky into a show. But where was her mother Crusade and her sister Keki? Both of them were with their puppies taking care of them. Maka never felt so....alone since before she had been reunited with her sister. Sure she shouldn't mind really since they had to take care of puppies but...with the whole turn of events with both of them busy the femme had realized something. Since her transfer from Valhalla to Glaciem due to the adoption of her and her sister nothing had came up until now.

Maka didn't have any friends. Sure she had one before the disaster and that was Fett but where was he now? And there was also Thane but she had only seen him from afar. A smile appeared on the dame's face as she remembered the fun she had had with Fett on that cold winter day after she had joined Valhalla. Sliding on a frozen pond, having a snow fight, playing in the snow, catching snow hares! But....it was only a memory and she doubted anything like that would happen again.

Maybe she had just let go too and have fallen to her death into the jaws of the abyss with her mother. But then she would have died for nothing...she had sacrificed herself for Maka. But why? Keki had always been the favorite pup; Keki this, Keki that, why can't you be like Keki Maka? Why?

With a humph the dame looked back up at the sky and watched the colors dance.

[B}"Why?....."[/B] she said softly to the wind

No, she would not be sad anymore, she had family now again. So a familiar tune came to mind. Her tail drummed against the pebbled as she let her voice strike through the mountains!

"I'm almost there, I'm on my way"
"I'm on myyyy journeeey home"
"I've found my paaath and now I'm a co'oming home"
"So don't you worry cause I'm on my waayyyy"

As Maka's voice fell silent she let her ears take in the echo of her voice in the mountains. A small smile appeared as she had made herself quite content at the moment. Maybe another wolf would have heard and would like to be her friend. Hopefully....

... Champion was too much of a wandering soul for her to stay cooped up in Amenti for too long. Newt had promised her a life in which she could come and go - so long as she was around when she was needed, and that suited the young giantess just fine. She'd already spent lots of time around the packlands. The trails of Amenti, with all their redwoods and hidden creeks were now an open book to her. But beyond that? Oh there was still so much to explore. She'd had to tone things down a bit within the confines of the pack. She couldn't just be the runaway who was ready to fight anyone for the thrill, she had responsiblities; she had to command. It was interesting. She was maturing to some extent, but there was still the fire just below the surface, ready to ignite and burn. She would never be a tame creature. So it was that on the blessedly cool slopes of the mountains, Champion let herself fly. For such a big creature she could move - born having to muscle through snow, these southern lands were so easy to transverse, almost too easy. If she wasn't careful, the south would make her grow soft. Anyone watching, however, would've testified that impossible by the way she ran - herling herself upon boulders, crashing through thickets as though they were a flower patch. Her fur, which some might've called lovely was always hosting a collection of twigs, burs and mud splatters. She was a tomboy sort of fae - never caring for her appearence, never feeling the need to impress. She just lived. It was a fine existence whether she was alone or entertaining company, and fate seemed to design that it would be the second option today. Her path was on a direct collision course with the Glaciem fae, who's scent Champion only just caught as she rounded a bend in the moutnain pass. Champion halted. And then came the song. The lion sized she-wolf paused, her tail curled high and her fluff filled ears perked as she drank in the sponateous sounds of music. Eventually the voice stopped and even the many layers of echoes faded. Champion wanted to meet this singer, and, having pinpointed the direction of the source music, set off to do so. It didn't take her long, Champion found the intricately marked she-wolf padding along the terra only a little ways ahead. The Amenti she-wolf barked, rather than howled a hello. "Greetings, stranger! That was a lovely song!" She spoke boldly and warmly as was her nature, and she trotted along, closing the distance between them. "I'm half suprrised not to find a bird's wings or tail on you. But no... you seem all lupine." Champion made an elegant bow of her huge head. "My name is Champion, may I ask for yours?" ...

Gray ears turned at the sound of another voice. It offered greetings and a compliment on her singing. A small shy smile appeared on Maka's face as she looked down shyly. Then did the dame continue and say she must be part bird. Maka tried to keep in her giggle yet failed. The dame's name was Champion then asked for hers as well.

"My name is Maka....thank you for your compliments." she said with a friendly smile

Champion was huge; it must look funny to have this giant wolf standing by this runt called Maka. The small femme then thought that it was nothing new. Compared to her old friend Fett it wasn't unfamiliar. And yet with that thought brought more. Where was Fett? Had he perished in the disaster? Did he make it out alive? Did he move on? Did he even remember Maka? Negative emotion swamped the dame as she thought about her only friend she had back in Valhalla...But why did she care so much? Maka wouldn't admit it but she actually kind of liked the brute.

It was a shame the disaster had to separate them. Memories of their fun day came back to her. They had gone on the ice, hunted, and played in the snow! But should she let go? Maybe...but perhaps just keep him stored in the back of her mind. Maka was always the immature pup-like dame to others now. But who was the real Maka inside? She looked up at Champion with her turquoise eyes. She smelt of another pack. Maka had heard of the other packs but didn't quite know hich one was which. Whatever happened to Lentajin...it was Amenti now right? This dame was from Lentajin!...uh Amenti...maybe Maka was right, had she done a good guess?

"Uhm, you're from Lentajin right? I mean Amenti...." she guessed withh a small shy smile.

The runt sat down on her haunches and awaited for Champion's answer.

"I'm from Glaciem' she threw in.

... To the name, Champion nodded her head in acceptence of the curteosy. But to the thanks which the fae, Maka, gave, the big she-wolf only chuckled - a sound which would've been much higher in a smaller creature, but in her own deep, barrel chest seemed to gong like a brass bell. She'd meant it! And wished no thanks for it. Her interest today was in the moment and in merry-making. Good cheer was it's own reward. Sometimes Champion found it in a good, flesh ripping fight, other times in the simple tune of a stranger's song. The smaller's fae's next words however, caused a ceasing in the chuckling. "Right down to politics, eh? Well yes I hail from the assassin's pack, under the rule of the Queen Newt." Her liquid ruby eyes blinked with lazy, half lidded interest. "Glaciem you say? You're one of the snow-goers?" Champion was not the sort to underestimate a wolf, and yet she was surprised to find so small and fluffy looking a creature chose to take up residence in the harsh lands of the north. "I myself was born in the lands of the Far North.? More than once Champion had wondered if she hadn?t ought to have gone back. She shook her bear sized head. ?But I am a wandering soul." ...

gray ears perked up as Champion mentioned the word politics. Oh, no she hadn't meant it like that. Just a simple statement of where she must come from. Maka swayed her tail back and forth as she thought. Her turquoise eyes focused on the big wolf before her. She looked so fluffy. Her own unusually soft fur couldn't compare to Champion's volume! Her head cocked to the side as Champion said she was one of the snow-goers.

She even mentioned that she had been born in the North, yet a wandering soul.
Then it was Maka's turn to speak. What to say, what to not say. How wouldn't she embarrass herself? Of course public embarrassment was a daily thing for the small femme.

"Oh I didn't really mean politics; all that stuff is just kind of boring to me. Why should we all care how others live? And if you're called the assassin's pack then surely there is a bright side there. Because...my papa once told me that there is always light in dark and dark in light. But I don't think Lenta-Amenti is dark...just judged a bit too much..." she tried to explain.

Maka then let her own turquoise eyes meet Champion's red ones.A friendly smile was given as she wagged her tail. On to the next statement or question.

"Well I guess I am now...I've always really liked the Spring; I was bron in the Spring in a woodsy area full of meadows of flowers. I remember my sister and I would always tussle in them! But before this I resided in Valhalla before my sister and I were adopted by Crusade, our mother now. I'm just happy my sister Keki and I have a family now. Heck, she has already had a litter of pups!" she said with a small chuckle.

Maka then delved deeper into the subject letting her usual chatterbox self appear once more as she grew more comfortable around this dame.

"You should really see her three little rascals, they're so cute! My nephews all oddly look alike in a way. Same patterns yet different eye color and color of their muzzles and toes with base coats. There's Tiberious who I think is quite smart, he's white based like his mother.I guess he's a bit like Keki, always the serious one. Then there's Pericles; I personally like to think he looks a bit like me with the turquoise eyes and light gray base coat. And next is Kairos who I guess looks more like their unknown father. He has a handsome black base coat with purple eyes."

She then took a moment to take a breath before saying one more thing.

"Well I'm quite glad you're a wandering soul; all free and stuff. Andif you weren't then I wouldn't have ran into you today...or you run into me more like" she said with a small giggle.

Maka then patiently looked at Champion awaiting an answer. Did she talk too much? The dame certainly felt a bit chatty now.

... All of a sudden, Champion's world was filled with words. It was surprising at first - Champion spent most of her time around more tight-lipped sorts, but she quickly found herself at ease. It was nice to meet a wolf who was naturally inclined not to hide things rather than the other way around. Champion herself could be bold and talkative at times, but certainly nothing to compare to this. Her words on Amenti held a sort of philosophy to them, but one if taken too far, could easily prove dangerous to such a one as she. "No doubt" however, was all that Champion had to say on the subject. Light and Dark, well that described herself pretty well. She could be a dangerous, blood letting she-demon when she wished, or she could be a fluffy, giant teddy bear ready to listen happily to a rambling stranger. A lazy, half-smirking smile spread on the Chevalier's features. She flopped down on her haunches - her tail still thick and curled. She could accustom herself to such conversation. Maka went on to describe her birth - in spring, with meadows and flowers and family. How lovely that must've been. How different from the circumstances of Champion's own birth. The memories were brought home sharply by the mention of this adoptive mother's name "Crusade". It seemed that every so often some name came along that made Champion wonder. "Sadie" had been the name that Champion's own mother had gone by, but it was known not to be her true one. The great warrior lady had been tortured for months by dark wolves who wished to know about her southern pack and so even after "Sadie" had been freed, she went by this other name to protect those she loved. Crusade. Of course it was nothing. Just a coincidence. But it was enough to make Champion chuckle wryly once more. "That sounds absolutely lovely. I never saw flowers until I was more than a year old. And I never knew my mother. Through the trick of a jealous midwife, my mother 'Sadie' was told that I had died. My mother greived and eventually left, returning away to the south. My father had died before I was born. He and my mother had fought in the Far North, taking down an empire of demented white wolves." Champion shook her head. Ah, now who was the thoughtless talkative one? But it mattered little. Champion had never met someone who was so quick to speak personally and to share. It was only fair that she do the same in return. And how strange it felt. Not so much a release as.... well there was no word for it. Social. She'd have to try being that more often. Maka's next outburst was eaqually surprising. The continuation of the news made her brow raise slightly over those burgondy eyes. The name of the last pup was all too familar. As was the description. Had Newt's mate been wicked again? Champion knew next to nothing of the male's escapades, but everyone heard the rumors. He might've been her Alpha Male, but Champion's friendship and loyalty lay with Newt. All the same - Champion wasn't about to risk a pack war over idle gossip. She chose to keep her lips shut on such a matter - at least until she learned more. All she said was "Congradulations!" And she meant it. "Pups and a mate, I admit, never appealed much to me, myself, but I can be happy for those who have them." She shrugged. That whole wandering thing - perhaps that's what had kept her mind from thinking in such directions. Yet even now as a settled Beta, she had no wish to seek a mate. What male out there could possible hope to compete with her physically? ...

the small dame sat there on her haunches patiently listening to Champion. Maka tried to sit still but she was just so full f energy that it was kind of hard to. Then did the small femme stop once she heard Champion tell her own story of her birth. that was weird....It was similar to Crusade's part of her story. No doubt Maka's been around and has heard some stuff but this was just plain weird. With a furrowed brow she opened her mouth to say something then closed it.

"That's weird...Crusade said that...." she stopped in mid-sentence unsure if she should say it or not.

Maka then looked up at Champion who had offered congratulations for Keki.

"Thank you I'm sure Keki would appreciate that but she doesn't have a mate though. She...she was raped one day but I'm not sure if anyone knows by who. Honestly Keki once told me one of the pups looks like the father. And I'm sure you and I both know which one. But I'm not saying I don't love them all the same. But that little black one is kind of the troublemaker of the litter. Oh....litle Kairos, but I still love him. One of my cute nephews if I must say." she finished.

Then after that she decided she would say or finish what she had said before.

"And about that first part with my mother's side of the story. I've heard that she had a pup and the father's name was Mouse if I'm correct. That's what I've heard and that he was called mouse because he was so big! But she said she was told that the puppy died and then there were more deaths of loved ones but then she adopted my sister Keki and I as her daughters right after the disaster. I'm not sure if that's as accurate but it's oddly similar to your part of the story isn't it?" she said as she spilled the beans.

Maka patiently sat on her haunches waiting for Champions reaction or reply. Hopefully she hadn't unloaded too much on the giant dame. Turquoise eyes looked up at her new friend patiently waiting.

... This kind, new soul carried on. Champion was inwardly made uncomfortable by the continued talk of these illegitimate pups. Oh her Alpha... she disapproved his tendencies most ardently, but again she kept her mouth shut like a good soldier. She wasn't going to start anything. She was thankful for the next subject hop, but Maka was two sentences into it before Champion's eyeballs nearly exploded from her head: "-I've heard that she had a pup and the father's name was Mouse if I'm correct.-" Mouse. She'd said Mouse. Before too long, this fae said it again. She was saying Champion's father's name. How was that possible? Champion's father had been dead months before she was born, but somehow she'd still grown up feeling very close to him. She looked like him in many ways - in form and in color, though he had been gold and brown all over. She even inherited his tail curl. The red eyes, she was told, came from her father's sire, and the uncommonly large shoulders came from her mother. In her early years she was practically raised on stories of her parents - it was their comrades and captain who brought her up after all. A finer bunch of vetrans there never was, and Champion had learned all she could from them. When it came to her mother, however, their knowledge was somewhat limited. They knew she had come from the south - where she had been a leader of a pack, but she never breathed a word of it. She'd been tortured in the mountain dungeons of the White wolves, for they wanted to know more of other lands which they might take over. They did horrible things to her, but they were never allowed to mar her beauty - for her fighting form and markings had caught the eye of their brat of an emperor who wanted the fae for his harrem when the interrogations were done. But Sadie had outlasted them all - and, when fate gave her the chance, made good her escape - running almost smack into the arms of Champion's sire, Mouse, who took the bruised, starved shell of a she-wolf back to the camp of defiant rebels. It made for such great stories - all told in the dark windy nights with the Northern Lights dancing overhead. But Champion had come to believe that stories was all they ever would be. What this she-wolf was pouring out.... these words... they changed everything. But 'shock' never really registered with Champion. No sooner had Maka stopped speaking, then Champion was asking for more. In her haste she skipped over the question that was left hanging in the air. "Tell me more! What's this Crusade like? It sounds like you all have a lovely family!" For all outsider purposes she was jut an engaged stranger, happy to hear more of this nice she-wolf's life, but, oh, how her heart was beating in her chest - racing and thudding like a bull moose in spring. ...

Before Maka could even collect her own thoughts her new friend burst out asking for more. Surprised a bit the small dame quickly looked up then composed herself. A small smile appeared on her maw as she let out a small giggle. Yes, she was laughing at herself because she had been a bit surprised at the sudden voice. But could there be a connection with this dame and her mother? If she was...hm...ok Maka would have to use her brain now. Ok, try again. If she was the pup in the stories....then Maka and Keki would be....hm..her adopted sisters? Maka;s tail began to wag at the thought of it! But then she continued on more information that Champion had requested.

"Well she's a very kind and hospitable wolf. She mostly puts the pack first and others before herself. Unless if it has to do with family I swear she can put an end to whatever havoc there is with that. I guess some think of her as old and past her prime but my sister and I know that she isn't even close. Our mother's full of great characteristics that I can't even name them all! She's just great and even as ex-Chief she is still a great leader. Well since I can't name everything think of a great kind loving leader. She cares for the pack and it's members and her family. She tries her best to make things right. But honestly there's so much good stuff about her that she's almost indescribable!"

"And our mother has recently had a litter of pups herself who are Keki and I's younger siblings now. And there's Uncle Gargie and Uncle Rogue. And Cifer, our adoptive father I think. And Uncle Gargie's and Aunt Ocena's puppies, our cousins. And Keki's litter, my nephews and our mothers grandchildren. Wow, I hope I got that all right. I probably forgot some but my mind can't really think of everything at the same time. But the question is...do you think you're part of the family too? With your eagerness for more of my mother I suspect that you may be. Plus I think I saw a bit of surprise on your face." she said with a friendly smile.

Maka sat there with her tail wagging as she waited. Could Champion be her sister? Personally to Maka, that would be the best thing ever. She was always happy to have more family members! Her smile continued as turquoise eyes looked up at the dame before her.

~*~ All those words, all those blissful notions of family and comradery and pups, they touched the roamer?s heart in a way she could not express. She had never been a coarse creature. She could allow herself to be gentle and playful to the excess only because she was so terribly strong at her core. Not just strong, but rough and dangerous ? she had never considered she had anything else there?. But maybe?. Deeper down than even that, she had the desire for family such as she had never truly had the chance to feel. But such revalations take time to unfold. All this was happening too quickly. Maka had caught on to something and Champion, to her confusion, heard the question asked plainly. ?No? ? said Champion. ?It?s too impossible?? But the shock and the quiet of her voice lent themselves rather towards the opposite opinion. Her face was that of one who awakes only to find themselves in another dream. At any moment she might try to rub at her eyes with a paw to ensure herself she was in the world of the conscious. She had to run now, to go. Not out of fear, no, Champion rarely felt fear and still less rarely acted upon it. No, she had to run because this was all becoming too perfect. Too true. Too surreal, and it is only after one awakes that one can say whether the scene was nothing more than a dream? or if it was some midnight memory. ?I?m sorry,? Champion stumbled. ?I have to go.? The mammoth she-wolf turned, took a few plunging strides and then stopped at an angle as though some force were trying hard to pull her back towards the smaller fae. ?I-I?m glad I met you Maka, I?ll see you again.? And with that promise, she was off. --EXIT-- ~*~ ~I?m now becoming my own S.e.l.f.-.f.u.l.f.i.l.l.e.d. Prophecy ~