-1

"Sophie?" a voice startled her from her thoughts, drawing her attention from out the window. She turned around from the busy cobbled street view to see a man coming down the dark walnut stairs, his booted feet making no sound on the steps. A smile crossed on his pale face as he came closer, ignoring the snoring Calcifer.

"Hey, there you are. I was wondering if you went out," Howl said happily, grasping her hand and leaning out the open window. Sophie smiled at him, momentarily mesmerized by the way his raven hair blew in the wind. He had taken to letting it grow and now it was down a little past his shoulders. Reaching up she fiddled with her own short silvery hair.

"Why? I don't need to go shopping or anything," she answered confusedly. Over tiled roofs she spotted the brilliant glare of sunlight upon blue waters and white sails. Howl turned and leaned against the sill before shrugging, his sea green earrings bobbing slightly.

"Markl and Heen left and Ms. Waste is asleep. It was so quiet I was sure you had left as well."

"I was just thinking," she replied shiftily, trying not to bring too much attention to the subject. Walking over to the fire place she set a dry log next to Calcifer, smirking when he yawned and grumbled at the noise.

"Oh? About what?" Howl pressed, following behind her to sit at the table. Sophie shrugged distractedly, fretting about for something to do. Housework was now constantly kept up on and there was no shop to attend. With neither of those to do, it left her detestably bored.

"This and that, you know, nothing special," she replied softly, turning to find him next to her, looking down with amused and narrowed eyes. The pure and crystalline blue of them gave her shivers as he smiled crookedly.

"Oh, Sophie, what are you hiding from me?" he mused in a singsong, his voice low and lilting. There was always a slight, teasing growl in his voice that constantly grabbed her attention. She tried to frown at his prodding as he raised her chin with two fingers. Despite her frustration she smiled a little.

"Its nothing, Howl."

He sighed in slight annoyance before letting go of her, a quiet grin still in place. He backed away and went down the stairs to the door, twisting the knob to red.

"C'mon, lets go for a walk," he suggested lightly, opening the heavy portal. Sophie shrugged, grabbing her sunhat and gloves before following. Skipping down the steps towards the wizard she dusted the little berries and ribbon on the top before placing it on her head. She squinted in the bright light of midday.

"Its so bright," she muttered, shielding her eyes as they walked along the hill. A small grin graced Howl's lips as he gazed down at the thousands of flowers in the green grass. Bluebells, foxgloves, delphiniums and a dozen others danced in the slight, warm wind.

Grabbing hold of Howl's hand Sophie held up one end of her yellow dress from a particularly muddy area.

"Howl? What are we going to do?" she asked suddenly, seriously. He stopped and looked down at her in soft confusion.

"What do you mean? We are going to go to the waters edge and sit for a while. Inside is too boring."

"No, I mean is what's the plan? We have no shop, you aren't making spells anymore and we've been lazing about for a month now. What are we going to do?" she explained a bit uneasily. Howl thought for a moment before smiling lightly.

"I have no idea." With that he ran the rest of the way down the hill, laughing at her protests.

"Howl! I'm serious!" she hollered, half skipping as she chased after him. He gave a bark of laughter and fled faster.

"So was I!"

Groaning in frustration Sophie sped up, her brown boots running in the grass and her dress whispering in the flowers. One hand flew up to hold her hat in place as she ran, her breathing hard. Coming to the bottom of the hill she stopped and looked about, her brown eyes searching for the man.

"Howl? Howl?!" she called out when she couldn't find him. She stood at the meeting of two tall hills, the ravine heading to the west into another hill and the east breaking off into the shining, clear water. There was nowhere for him to hide. When her call finished echoing in the air, silence answered, dead quiet except for the murmuring of the wind on the slight waves.

A clench of fear stuck in her chest, strangling her air passageways. Ever since Howl had retained his heart it seemed as if she was constantly worried about him and his frequent disappearances. He did it a lot before but now it was every single day that he was gone for hours on end. It wouldn't bother her so much if he would tell her where he disappeared to. Whenever she asked he merely smiled and went on to a different subject.

"Howl! This isn't funny! Where are you?" she yelled in a near panic, cupping her hands around her mouth. Again only silence answered. Sophie frowned and could feel inane fear gripping her. She hated silence and not just the peaceful quiet; it was that utter and absolute nothingness that made her jumpy and terrified.

Scrambling up the way she came she fought every step of the steep incline. Her white gloved hands dug into the earth, pulling up plants as she climbed. Soon a stitch grew in her side, slowing her down.

"Stupid hills," Sophie grumbled heatedly, ignoring the tears in her eyes. Why did he disappear again? Was he trying to give her a hint? Was he running away from her? Did he decide she was not beautiful like he decided about the Witch of the Waste? Is that why she could never see him?

Swallowing a bout of angry yells, she reached the top, leaning into the wind as it blew hard against her. A gust hit her in the face like a slap, knocking her hat off her head, carrying it away.

"Oh no! My hat!" she cried sadly, reaching out for it, turning about, her back to the wind. The sunhat twirled and spun in the air, floating away over the land. Sophie sighed in disappointment. That was her favorite hat.

Suddenly, the ground beneath her crumbled like wet soil clumps. A small screech escaped her as she slipped down the hill, tumbling forward on unsteady legs. The world seemed shaky and berserk as she fell, her brain feeling as if it was being bounced about in her skull. Screaming in short breaks she tumbled and rolled to the bottom, her back and legs hitting rocks and outcroppings. Pain exploded in several spots as she finally came to a stop on her belly.

Sobbing slightly she laid still, her face buried in her sleeves, legs shaking from the aftershock. She could feel her knees and shins bleeding through her stockings and her back throbbing in tune with her growing headache. Oh, where was Howl?