Howlless

Chapter 1

Spring, 7th day (Play) of Fafnas, year 1494, 3rd Era.

"... You're running too far again."

Winter had barely passed, with spring peeking right around the corner, as the first swallows were already collecting sticks to build their new nests.

Ten years have passed since the Hound took that strange child with him, and in ten years, an unorthodox existence had been crafted for the two of them. With their own hands.

"There's no one~!"
The young lady who used to be so minute in stature replied almost in a whine, halting her steps only to raise her rear, whipping her tail of bones so vigorously – a little taunt, for her overprotective guardian.

"Behave."
Though the Hound frowned and austered his voice, with his tone still mellow, tender, like a forceful gentle push. Just so the young lady would listen to him — she never disobeyed him after all.

As these roads — as empty and tranquil as they might be — were still reawakening with beast that had starved throughout winter, and bandits looking for any easy victims.

The Hound's nature was simply that of alertness, awareness, and precaution.

The young lady pouted her lips. But without any more laments, she obliged, hopping back towards him; Hopping back into his arms, as she jumped onto him, expecting him to catch her without a miss.

And the Hound did, holding her tight towards his chest.

"Aren't you a bit too grown up for me to carry you, now?"
He teased her, as the young lady tied her tail around his waist, just like when she was a child. However, now, instead of barely holding onto his side, she could loop around his entirety with easy.

"Nah~ I didn't grow much, anyway~"
The young lady chuckled at her own size – short as she was, she could easily still pass as a child in manies' eyes.

She then locked her arms around the Hound's neck, which was already burdened by the heavy halberd on his shoulder, from which their belongings hung on its shaft.

"I wasn't talking about your height."
The Hound teased her again, as he made her hop for an instance, adjusting his hold on her, so they both could stay a bit more comfortable.

But the young lady had no notion of maturity, or growth, and at times even shame or embarrassment – she was taken at such a young age into the visceras of earth, and then raised by what most would consider a savage.

There was no real way for her to understand what was expected of her, unless directly told so.

"Do you want me to get down, then~?"
The young lady turned her pale, milky eyes on the Hound, staring at him like the countless times before – a mix of curiosity, infatuation, and that perennial stare that grasped directly at his soul; At his throat.

Though, the Hound had learned to adore it.

"No, I like you here."
He accepted, tapping his forehead with hers, as the young lady's hair shifted in the breeze, gently waving like the finest silk.

There really wasn't any reason for the two of them to be together; They could've lived their lives separated, and nothing would've changed anyway.

Their encounter was never dictated by Fate or Gods – it was purely whims, and caprices:
A little caprice from the child, who obsessed over those faintly glowing amethyst eyes of the Hound, and a whim from the Hound, who found anything extraordinary a new interest to enjoy.

An enjoyment that was initially supposed to last a week, two, three – then it turned into a month, two months, three months.

And soon, without realizing it, he was already accustomed to her company, and just simply decided to keep her around.