After the defeat of Lechku and Nechku, Amaterasu and Issun decided to go a little father past Kamui, since it was rumored to have been unexplored before, and Issun, just couldn't pass up the thought of undiscovered tresure. They knew that when the Volcanic Incantation was recited, all would be fine, and Kamui would thrive once again with the life it was known for.
"Ammy, I hope you know where your going...I don't think it was a good idea to go this far past Kamui, you need to learn to stop sticking your nose where it doesn't belong..." said a worried Issun.
Amaterasu just barked, and rolled her eyes. She knew that it was HIS idea to go past Kamui, and she knew that when she went back...the Ark would be waiting to take her back home, and she just wanted to spend more time with Issun, before they said goodbye...
"...what?! Don't blame this on me furball!!!"
Amaterasu smirked her wolfish grin, and treaded happily along the snow. The snow felt so fresh and cool against her warm fur, that if she didn't know she would freeze to death, she would sleep in the snow, and let it fall upon her. But she wasn't as stupid, as Issun made her sound to the villagers and other animals.
"Ammy...I think you should find us some shelter...I sense a storm!"
In her mind Amaterasu thought,'But how? I defeated those demons, so how can there be a storm?'
Being able to read her face, he let a sigh escape his mouth,"Its not the fact of those demons, its the mountains, and theres always storms of snow sometimes, so ya just gotta relax, and focus on some shelter ok?"
Amaterasu let out an understanding bark, and ran slowly as she searched around for somewhere, an abandoned house, a cave or something where she can find somewhere to stay for the night.
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Balto laughed watching Borus slip and slide along the ice of the frozen puddles. He told Jenna that he had some buisness far off the coast of Alaska, and that he'd be back as soon as it was finished.
"Balto, you should not have dragged me with you to this horrible place!"
"What are you talking about? I don't remember asking for you to come with me..." Balto said with a smirk.
"Bah, I could tell by your face, and other than that, you'd get yourself killed or lost without my help"
The snow had begun to fall and Balto had yet to find to find a place for he and Borus to stay, and before they knew it, the light falling snow had turned into a horrible freezing blizzard, and it was beginning to become difficult to see.
"Borus! After this blizzard is over, you should fly back to Alaska, I don't want you getting lost or hurt out here!"
Borus couldn't hear his words and yelled,"What did you say?"
"Borus where are you?!"
"Balto!!"
The blizzard was becoming worse and worse, and now they were lost. They had gotten seperated in so little time! This was beginning to look bad for them, and no one knew where they were, and they couldn't even find shelter!
"Borus!!! If you can hear me, head to the nearest shelter you can find!! Don't wait for me! Just go home!"
The wind was muffing his words and all that he heard was,"Bor- hear me-head-home!"
He thought,'Why would this crazy wolf come this far, and then say he wants to go home?' and yelled,"OK, Balto! I will meet you there at the ship!" and he flew off fliying in the direction of the wind back home, and it was easier for him to see where he was going since the snow was behind him.
Balto coughed and shivered, and ran faster. After some time, things were starting to feel like he would die out here, until he saw a small little cave, and smiled.
"Finally!" he said with a triumphiant voice.
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Amaterasu barked happily as she saw the opening of the cave, and ran faster. She entered it and shook off all the snow and sleet from her beautiful white fur. She yawned and lied down. She looked up and saw little Issun grabbing small little sticks, and putting them in a pile.
Issun noticed her staring,"Well don't just stare furball! Help me start a small little fire, or we can still freeze to death!"
Amaterasu yawned,'And just when I was getting comfy too..." Reluctanly she got up and gathered larger sticks and lighted it with her new found power from Moegami.
Issun sighed and lied down on Amaterasu's fur. She smiled and closed her eyes, and felt the warmth of the fire on her fur. Soon she was dreaming, about her home in the Celestial Plain. How she missed it...though as much as she did miss it, she...didn't really want to go back. She wanted to stay traveling with Issun, discovering treasure and making new friends. Even though they both knew that they couldn't be together forever, it was nice to think about it.
Her ears began to twitch as she heard quiet footsteps approching. She slowly opened her eyes, and stood up, expecting to find a monster about to strike them, or maybe find Waka. She slowly walked to the footsteps, ready to pounce.
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Balto heard footsteps approching from where the fire was at. His first thought was a hunter, ready to kill any animal he laid his eyes upon. Slowly he walked ready for the worst. What he saw was so surprising...
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Amaterasu stopped as she saw a gray wolf approching. It came as a shock to her. All this time in the forests and mountains, shes never seen another wolf except for herself. It also shocked her that he spoke. Inside her heart, she felt sad. Every animal she came across, it could speak to her, and sadly, she couldn't respond to them, but instead have Issun translate her actions and facial expressions.
"Who are you?" asked the gray wolf.
Amaterasu couldn't do anything but bark.
"...I'm sorry?"
She sighed, and went back to her little spot by the fire that was now dying out.
"Uh...My...my name is Balto..."
Amaterasu looked up, and used her tail to sweep a spot for him to lay down.
Balto sighed,"Thank you. But how did you manage a fire?"
She just shrugged and put her head down. Reluctantly, Balto walked toward her and layed down next to her. What surprised him the most was her scent, unlike Jennas...well dog smell, she smelt of blossoms and roses. It made him feel strangely at ease. And her fur was so beautiful...just so pure white like his mothers coat...only this wolf had strange crimson markings on her. He was about to ask her, but saw that her breathing indicated she was already deep in sleep...He sighed and layed his head down, and instead of his dreams of Jenna running off with Steel, he dreamt of his puppyhood, with his mother and father.
Amaterasu sighed, and looked at Issun...'Still in a deep sleep...heh...Something about this wolf...is strange...he seems to be confused of his true nature...If I could speak, I'd help him...'
Just as she was about to shut her eyes, the light from the fire dimmed, and bright shinning light began to form. 'A constellation!? But...but how?! I have all my powers back!'
Just then Issun woke up,"W...whats all the noise about...?" he said drowsily,"...hm? What the!? A CONSTELLATION!?"
Amaterasu closed her eyes, and filled in the missing stars. A parrot bird appeared and bowed before her,"Ah...Amaterasu, savior and mother to us all...Long long ago, on the Celestial Plain, you used to speak, but as you fell, with that horrid beast, you lost that ability, but your desire to speak has reawakened me. I, Samuigami, grant you the power of speech."
Issun jumped up and down,"You can talk now!? I can't believe it! C'mon Ammy!! Say something!!!"
Amaterasu opened her mouth, and what sounded like a forced sigh emerged.
Issun sighed,"...Maybe...it will come back to you in the morning..."
Amaterasu sighed defeatedly,"I don't think I'll ever be able to speak..."
Issun jumped,"AMMY!!! YOU SPOKE!!!!!!"
"What?...I did?...I did!! I thought I had just barked, but I spoke!"
"Thats great furball!! Now you can say things to people, without me having to say it for you!...Hey...who is that wolf over there?"
Amaterasu walked over,"I'm not sure...he just appeared out of the cave. He looked very tired, so I let him sleep by the fire. He...said his name was Balto..."
"...Well he looks suspicious...anyway...we ought to go back to bed..."
"Yeah...you're right..."
Amaterasu sighed happily, and thought,'Its so great to have my voice back! I feel so completed, even though I'm still weakened...'
The night dragged on and on, the blizzard making it extremely cold and noisy, though from all their excitement over her returned voice, it was as if, those noises didn't exist...