Originally, I had written two separate unlinked scenes from the movie infused with details from the actual book. I've decided to fill-in between the scenes just for the fun of it.

The girl was surprising to be fast as she made her way through tight alleyways. It was obvious that she had lost her way. Howl had to draw back into the shadows when the she paused to check her note and decide which way to go next. This was not a safe place for her to be, the passages between the tall buildings were dark and many strangers were in town for the festival, including new regiment soldiers from the Royal City. Howl recalled with amusement that he himself was a stranger in pursuit of her now.

The little gray mouse wasn't even watching where she was headed. Reading her note, she had almost walked into a young brash soldier and his friend.

"Hey, looks like a little mouse lost it's way."

Howl was incensed that the fool had the nerve to use the mouse nickname that he had already given to her in his own thoughts. He crept in closer, using a little magic to keep well concealed. He had her within arm's reach if protection became required.

"Oh, no, I'm not lost."

She was so unconvincing that Howl knew she was not prone to lying. She was however afraid. He liked the sound of her voice, like the rest of her, it had a familiarity to him.

"Little mouse looks thirsty, we should take her for a cup of tea." The soldier leaned in.

How dare he make an advance on a lady that Howl had yet to approach first!

"My sister is expecting me." The girl lowered her head and backed away.

The second soldier then leaned in to look at her face closer.

"She's pretty cute for a mouse. How old are you anyway? Do you live around here?" The first man inquired.

"Leave me alone!"

There was a fight or flight energy in the way that she stood before the men.

"You see, your mustache scares all the girls." One teased the other.

"So? She's even cuter when she's scared."

That insipid oaf, taking pleasure in a frightened girl! Howl appeared out of nowhere from the shadows. He placed a protective hand upon her shoulder.

"There you are sweetheart. Sorry, I am late. I have been looking all over for you." He controlled his voice to a velvet calm for her benefit yet his eyes were narrowed sharp upon the two men.

"Hey, hey, we're busy here."

"Are you really? It seemed to me like the two of you were just leaving."

He was now thoroughly amused with the situation that this girl had put him in. In a mere flick of the finger and a passing turn of the arm. The two oafs straightened up and marched away with astonished expressions on their faces.

"Don't hold it against them, they're actually not all that bad." He made light of the situation.

The girl's large brown eyes looked at him in wonder and still there was fear in them. He hoped that the rumors about the terrible wizard and his moving castle on the Waste land had not reached her cute little ears yet, in case she had figured out who he was already.

"Where to? I'll be your escort this evening."

She was the perfect height for him to rest his arm so he kept his hand in place.

"Oh, I'm..I'm just going to the bakery." She shrinked back yet stayed in his reach.

The ring on Howl's left hand finger tightened alerting him to the presence of his nemesis, the Witch of the Waste's oily henchmen drawing close.

"Don't get alarmed but I'm being followed. Act normal."

As a noble gentleman, he offered his arm to her and she accepted him. He had to get them moving fast. She stayed very close to him as they walked into a brighter lit alleyway. She acted normal even though there was an energy radiating from her of an uncertain apprehension. Howl smiled even though he knew that several slimy henchmen were almost upon them.

"Sorry, Looks like you're involved."

The henchmen were now behind and ahead of them. The girl clutched his arm even tighter.

"This way!"

They made a sharp turn into a sunlit passage. A sleeping drunkard on the ground didn't see them or the oily henchmen on the chase. They were cornored again with no where to go.

"Come on." Howl urged.

He had no other option than to reveal his sorcery by lifting her with him into the air, safely out of reach of their attackers. High above the rooftops, he held her tight until the initial shock had washed over her.

"Now straighten your legs and start walking."

She was so quiet, no scream or even a shout. She did as she was told and the enchantment took right to her. Howl wondered if this girl had gifts of magic herself that she concealed. Perhaps she was so naive as to not be aware of it at all.

"See, not so hard is it?" He kept his fingers lightly wrapped around hers so the spell would stay connected between them. In this way, he could also feel her energy too. She was alarmed, disturbed, excited then fascinated, exhilarated and thrilled. He laughed enjoying these sensations for the first time again through someone else.

"You are a natural."

He encouraged her for now she was enjoying their escape to the sky. A few people on the ground noticed them pass by, most were two busy socializing to look up.

"Where are you taking me to?" She asked in a happy voice.

"Cesari's Bakery, of course. Who am I to keep a pretty lady from visiting her sister?"

"A kind wizard, I believe. I should warn you, there is another here. His name is Howl."

"There is. You have met him." He smiled making his admission sound like a questions.

"No. I was told that he wears a blue cloak with silver diamonds and very high boots that are caked with mud at his feet."

Howl was grateful to have chosen his gray and pink jacket on this day instead of the other and not the seven-league boots used for traveling.

"I have seen his castle very far off in the distance from my home. It was moving east across the Waste this morning and then it disappeared."

"You live close to the Waste? Where may I—"

The henchmen were on the move through the crowd who couldn't see them. The young lady watched them too.

Howl was sorry to see the high balcony of the bakery up ahead. Their first meeting was ending. He would not wait long to arrange a second meeting after he could find out who this charming young girl is and where to find her home near the Waste land. He placed her gently on the balcony and stood on it's railing.

"I'll make sure to draw them off. Wait a bit before you head back outside."

With a momentary reluctance, he let go of her hand.

"Okay."

She was slow to let go herself.

"That's my girl."

He had said that expression before to a lady or two. This was the first time that he felt like really meaning it. He took to the air again then rapidly dropped several stories to the ground and vanished out of sight.