The little girl stumbled up the mountain slowly, leaving bloody footprints behind. Her mind was slowly going numb with exhaustion. A giant paw nudged her side softly causing her to look up tiredly at the giant canine besides her. The three headed dog stood at least 10 feet taller than Mike.
"What is it Cerberus?" She asked her voice quiet and horse.
Cerberus just looked forward indicating for her to do so as well.
When the girl turned forward she saw a man in cloak and turban. The man's broad back was to her. The small brown skinned girl hesitated before slowly saying
"E-excuse me? Sir?" He turned towards the voice and he walked closer causing her to flinch and take a step back.
Cerberus growled slightly causing her to reach over and cling to his leg.
"You're from the Dark Continent aren't you big guy." He stated rather than asked looking up at the dog ignoring the child clinging to the beast's leg.
The three heads nodded at the man simultaneously.
"Woah! You can understand me?" He asked happily shocked.
Cerberus looked down at the girl and nodded towards Her. She nodded back and slowly let go of his leg and walked toward the man cautiously.
"So you thought him how to understand our language? That's incredible. Especially for someone so young." The man said to her which made her clench her tattered dress and look down.
She isn't used to compliments and to actually get one surprised her.
"M-my name's Ashe and that's Cerberus. W-what's your name?" She asked the man quietly fidgeting with her beyond ruined dress. "My named is Ging. Ging Freecs and I'm a hunter."
He kneeled down to Ashe and handed her a water canister which she took without hesitation and gulped it all down.
"Well it seems it been awhile since you had water huh." the brown eyed man said smiling as he watched her guzzle the water down.
The girl nodded and tilted her head to the side as what he said came back to her.
"What's a hunter?" She asked as curiosity took over her face and voice.
Ging smiled widely taking off his turban showing his face to the girl as he sat down and gave a very long winded explanation of what hunters are.
Ashe sat as well absorbing everything being said to her before nodding with a determined look in her eyes. "I'm gonna be a hunter too!"
She looked to Cerberus who was laying down and walked up to him.
"Are you gonna be a hunter with me?" The great beast stood on all four legs and howled.
"Thank you Cerberus!" She yelled to him crying yet laughing. 'Maybe now I'll be able to find mom and hopefully big brother too.'
The man let out a hearty laugh placing his hands on his hips as Ash wiped her tears away.
"Alright Ashe, Cerberus I'll train you guys for about a year then you're on your own. I'll take you to a city when we're done training. Okay?"
Ashe nodded excitedly bouncing on the balls of her feet smiling widely.
"Then let's get started!"