Seiko walked with scarce a sound, as though she was walking on clouds, and not through a gnarled forest. It was a talent she had learned from a friend - the very friend she was on her way to see - and it was one of the many lessons that she had learned from her.

It seemed as though the trees were whispering to her, indicating where she should go, and she listened. She listened, and she discovered exactly what she was meant to.

In the clearing, a woman stood, her back turned, putting the final touches on a lean-to.

"Min!" The cheerful girl spoke, gaining the attention of the other female, who turned with a frown.

"You're late."

"Well, it's not easy finding you," Seiko explained, and Min huffed.

"I'd hope so, I've got a lot of mutts on my back."

"Well, that's what I'm here for, right?"

Min pulled a face, "are you suggesting that I'm just using you?"

"Yes," Min scowled, and Seiko began shaking her head, "no. Nope, never crossed my mind at all."

After a scrutinizing glare, Min turned and entered the lean-to. Seiko quickly followed behind her.

"So, it's been a while...."

"4 months, like always. We have a schedule you know."

Seiko nodded, "tell me what's happened?"

Min sighed, "Seiko, and I say this as your friend, it is really sad that you live vicariously through me. You need to go out there and make your own memories, do something different. Something big!"

Seiko drew back, offended, "hey! I do exciting things, okay! Like, you'll never believe this, I just started my own vegetable garden! Yeah, that's right, in a few years I could be completely self sufficient. Talk about vigorating news, am I right?"

She looked to Min for a reaction, and was disappointed to find the brunette was less than impressed.

"Sei, baby, that's depressing. That's it. Next adventure that comes your way, you take it. You hear me?"

Seiko faltered, settling for staring down at her lap.

Their conversation was cut short, and Seiko found herself paralyzed as wolf howls seemed to fill up the span of the forest. Min seemed to be frozen as well, silently anticipating the meaning of the musical screams.

It was unlike anything she had heard before, and she had the urge to cry at the obvious emotions behind the howls. However, it's meaning was lost to her. Nature may be her companion, but her Wiccan lineage did nothing to bring her closer to full communication with the other animals in the forest.

When the howls died down, Min stood up and rushed out of the lean-to, her shoulder colliding with some of the branches, causing the shelter to slouch farther against the large oak tree.

"Min, wait, where are you going?"

"Sorry, something big has happened! The Janus pack just send out a warning. They're only a couple miles away, so I'm going to check it out." Min grinned for the first time since Seiko had known her, "oh, I hope it's another mutt fighting to be alpha, I love seeing the beat downs."

"But, but what about us? And the tea? Well, you never actually drink it with me, but it's, it's fun, isn't it?"

Min looked at Seiko with pitying eyes. "Sweetie, it is, but I just have to see this. Besides, you can't get used to the routine of things, you need to change it up."

Min started pulling off her clothes, as Seiko stumbled out of the lean-to.

"But... What about your clothes? When you get there you won't have any. Why don't you walk?"

Min smirked, "too much time. I'll just have to charge them for the show." Seiko sighed, and shielded her eyes for a moment - she hated seeing the change. It looked so painful, not to mention how horrendous Min would look mid transformation.

When she removed her hand, an ochre wolf stood in front of her. The pile of clothes was the only indication of the woman that had stood there only seconds before.

"Wait, but I didn't charm you..."

The wolf whined once before turning and running away, leaving Seiko alone.

Next adventure that comes your way, you take it.

"It's only a few miles," Seiko mumbled, stuffing Min's clothes into her bag.

"Come on, you can do this. Prove Min wrong."

Seiko took the first step, and each following step was easier than the last.