The Utonagan female walked hastily over the pure white snow. The strong wind blew snow across her thick pelt. She left muddy footprints wherever she went. She chased her tail for a moment, feeling lonely.

In the darkness of the shadows, a creature lurked and followed. Stalking the little wolf looking dog. Its prints were softs, its strides were were silent. Arai would never suspect its following.

Awe, a playful one, but it was a painful play. That of one without another half. One who was not whole. Azin could see the pain in her eyes as she twirled about half heartedly. Why, why are you hurt little one? Why do you weep within yourself? Come, come and join the light.

And into the light he stepped; the long haired wolf hybrid. Golden eyes staring intently on the girl. His movements were slow and calm. His head held even with his shoulders while a fluffly fifth appendage fell easily against long thin hind hocks. His bodice was all legs and a medium sized frame. His face was proud yet gentle, his neck only slightly thicker than her own.

Soon he stopped just a few yards from her. Front stalks hugging each other, causing his chest to seem bigger and more muscled. Hind legs curled under him, forcing him to sit into a graceful pose. Banner curled around his hips and feet. Neck held high while a broad face tilted down. Harks were to the side in a calm way.

He was still, very still; after a moment a part of him twitched: His lips curled into an amused smile. "Hello my dear, You seem a bit troubled." His voice came out as if they were the lulling notes of the grand piano. Lingering for a moment, and then continueing into its beautiful song. "My name is Azin, A lone wolf-hybrid, searching the land for a reason for being. I have only seen you a short time, but your pain seeped out and filled my heart, and now it ails me with its every beat. Please, I wish to see you happy, to make the pain go away. May I help?" He ended softer than her started. Golden orbs strong and staring intently into hers, then moving toward the middle of her brow as the respective sign of the wolf.

Arai swung around when she heard a new voice. "You startled me." She said. "I am Arai, once a pet, but no longer. I am happy to meet you, Azin." She sat down, for she figured that this conversation may be long. "My past troubles me. My food was taken from me. The last of my pups was deliberately killed. My master punished me just because he could. I was thrown out on the streets, left to fend for myself. Now I don't know who I am or what I'm supposed to do. I have no friends or anything. All I want is to be loved. Is that to much to ask?" She looked as if she was about to cry.

He winced as if his heart was stabbing him. His eyes grew full of sorrow and pain. He was speechless for a moment, consumed in her emotions as they really did seem to affect him; as if his spirit was entwined with hers at that very moment. When her face contorted into one about to cry he spoke soothingly, a melody to calm the soul. "Do not weep my child, you are free now. And I beg to differ your opinion, but you are not alone. You have a friend. Never forget that." He spoke in confidence, no falter in his words. He rose again and began to step closer. Not hesitating in his actions even though he knew it was a dangerous move.

As he neared he lowered his head into a deep and respective bow. A short mane fell about his face as it was lowered, then resumed its thick position around his neck when he face rose once again. "My dear, I shall lead you from pain, but that is only if you wish." He was now within two feet of Arai, soft breath escaping into white clouds of steam from his nose. Strong orbs more intense now as he stared at her. In them, one could see he was a foundation. He was the type to be built upon, and promise they shall never fall. "Do you want to escape the prison of pain? Or would you like me to leave and let you deal with your own?" The last words were as if a dagger, for once she sent him away; he would not return.

Arai's eyes sparkled when she heard the word friend. At first, she wondered how she could have a friend. But then she didn't care. Azin she he was her friend, and that's that. But a sad look grew on her face again. "I want you to help me." She said. "I don't want to hide from the world anymore." She stood up and put her head low.

Again his tone lightened as she accepted his offer. Gold globes seemed to dance within as he lowered a soft muzzle onto the top of her head, letting it rest with gentle assurance and then rising as if to lead hers up with confedence. "Then you shall no longer hide from the world, But I must say, no matter where you go, pain is sure to follow. It is your own strength that will let you defeat that evil." Strong words seemed to come freely without force. He spoke only the truth to her and hoped she could accept it for what it was.

Now he had to decide what future she really wanted. "My dear Arai, You say that the humans wronged you. As they have wronged me as well. However I was too young to remember any more than being left in the streets with multiple pups to live or die without the care of who set us there." Despite the story, there was no pain in his complextion. "I was rescued by a wolf, along with my brother Boki, I am not sure what happened to the others." He shook his head with his own half hearted chuckle, "But that doesn't matter now does it? I'm as happy as a bird in their courtship season. You on the other hand still need help recieving the joy that awaits you. Tell me, Where do you see your future? Amongst the heartless two legs, or in the wild with some ravenous wolves?" His lip curled up at the wonderful options... the world really was a cruel place. But to him, it mattered not: And he hoped he could make her feel the same.

Arai's ears perked up and her eyes sparkled once more. "I will be wild for the rest of my days. I will live like a wolf and live among the wolves." She said, and quickly added, "And the humans can no longer take my future away from me." She was very happy to speak those words.

---
My Name is Arai

My Gender is Female

My Breed is Utonagan

My Eyes are Dark Brown

My Fur is Dark Gray, White and Brown

I Live Wherever I Want

My Heart Belongs to No One

Golden eyes grew alight as she spoke with such confedence in her choice. It was a sign that pleased him so and he surely let his approval show. My dear Arai, You have chosen your path and now you must follow it with all your heart. If your heart is to ever be lost in your quest, you will be traveling but an empty trial." His bodice rose and he turned to an opening in the trees. The pine leafs hanging limp in the cold while almost all of the other trees could only reach out with frozen crooked fingers."Come now, It is time to live out in the world. Now that you are free... What do you wish to do?" He spoke as he walked. Climbing a little entry step that was in his way before the path. A thin film of snow crunching under his feet as the sky began to cry its frozen tears.

As he made his way further into the forest, he listened for her responce. He had no pack of his own, nor did he want to join or make one. If she wanted to visit the packs, he would come with her, if she were to stay, he would have to leave. " Come now come now, what do you know of the wolves? Hidiously evil beasts they are. He laughed as if the saying were a joke. "I shant say they are all evil, but a word of advise, if they look evil. You had only better hope you have luck and strength on your side."

He continiued a strong defiant walk. "Come now, there must be something you want to do. Hunting? Playing? A treasure hunt perhaps?" He was diging through his own mind for things a fea would like. To him, napping was the best. But that timem would be cut short with a companion. He did not mind.

Arai nodded. "Treasure hunt, you say?" She asked, now wagging her tail. "How does one hunt treaure?" She seemed quite interested in his last suggestion.

A bright chuckle rumbled through his cords at the magnificent question. "To hunt Treasure..." He began as he continued down the path. His tail bouncing gently against his hocks as his legs moved in their walking pattern. "Is simply to hunt what you treasure most." He nodded at the way he put his words. Yellow orbs danced around as he looked toward the setting sun. Keeping silent for a moment while the snow beneath him crunched in rythem to his steps.

"A Treasure hunt to those striving to be wanted legendaries, would be to kill. To a good legendary, it would be to save and help." Again silence fell upon his breath as he walked deeper and deeper into the tree's. The snow birds who chirped quieted as the two passed them. To the wolves left was a canyon ledge, the edge slowly creeping toward the path as they moved on. They were soon to step light on the brim of the canyon. 100 ft below was another ledge, but Azin dared not to jump it, he just pressed on. "Careful, the path narrows ahead." He spoke as the wall to their right began to push the path to a simple foot and a half wide trail. The trail was headed toward a lower part of the canyon wall.

Only when the ledge became a safe three foot wide path did he continue, "Tell me, Arai, What do you treasure most? What do you strive for?" He did not turn back to see her expression, just simply placed an ear back to hear.

"What I treasure most is to make others happy by doing good deeds." Arai replied. "That's what dogs are supposed to do, right? At least friendly dogs..." She looked to her right as she followed Azin. The ground below appeared to be a sea of rolling hills covered in thick snow. That made her feel big and strong, though when she looked to the left she saw the towereing cliff, and that made her feel small and weak. She quickly looked back down at the snow-covered hills. "Wait." Arai stood still "Who can we help? How can we help? Who would possibly need my help?" She paused. "I'll try my hardest, but I'm not very good at anything." She thought she was speaking the truth, and she thought that she would be punished for talking about herself in such a bad way.

His pause came after hers, looking back at her to see what she had to say. "A dog is to choose what a dog wants to do. You are not required to follow what humans think you should do now, it is your choice." He turned a bit with a pair of strong eyes gazing into her own as she condemned herself worthless. "When the day comes, I may need your help." He spoke his words sharp but true. "If you deem yourself worthless, then that is what you shall be." He paused and walked closer to her, "Only you can control you, If you let anyone else use you, then you are no longer a living being. You are dead, a puppet and no more. Right now you are your master. And what happens when a master finds their puppets worthless?" He stayed quiet, his eyes aflame to see how she answered his question. He did not seethe but it was apparent his disapproved of her words.

Arai was speechless. "Your words are powerful." She said, and thought for a moment. "I want to be my own master now. I want to help those who are in need." She wagged her tail. Her past seemed to have little effect on her now, for it is way back in time. "Where can you take me?" She was worried that she was being rude to her friend.

He smirked and tossed his head back in a light humor. Approving her words then speaking in a soft zephyr tone, "I can take you were ever you wish, Humans are in need, wolves are in need. Everything is in need, There is no good, there is no bad. There is only what you make." He paused and closed his eyes, letting the earth around him speak into his mind and he sighed. "There is a power that is rising. Those who call themselves Shadow Haunters. A pack of dogs called Shadow Lurkers. Those who are against both, those who are for both. There are lone wolves such as Taijya and Vicious who kill humans and their pets just so that humans will turn against them and spred their names. If you consider killing bad, than it is bad. And those that are dieing are in need. If you find killing good, then those who are alive need to die. It is all up to you, now what path is your 'right' path?"

Golden globes once again opened, a sharp wind blowing, sending a blanket of loose powdery snow to black out the sky for a second and then dance its way down the cliff. Azin's hair blew freely due to its long length but he did not flinch. Only stared through strong eyes as always. Would his strength ever leave them?

Arai thought hard. It was a difficult decision. She finally said, "As much as I despise those horrible humans, I believe we should help them from those who are doing wrong. I am not against killing, only against killing those who don't deserve it. I will gladly be rid of a murderous animal who isn't just acting on instinct. We all have to eat, but we don't have to kill humans or animals for sport." She paused and her face showed a confident look. "Let's go find those bad dogs."

He smiled. Eyes alight as he turned ready to head toward the town. He was a cross bred dog, he had no wolf in him. He would be safe from guns as long as he stayed away from bad humans. He was ready to help her. "Alright, yes, Let's He chuckled quietly. Turning and trotting off to find those 'bad' dogs.