Huh. Writing this, along with the creative juices flowing, has made me really want to get back into both series. Think it's about I finished Okami/Okamiden and re-watched Spice and Wolf. Oh, and I'll also add that it's annoying that the Spice and Wolf wiki is so underdeveloped compared to other wikis. Hard to get information…
PocketSnails does not own Okami or Spice and Wolf.
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狼と他の女神
Ōkami to hoka no Megami
Wolf and other Goddess
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The girl ran through the streets of Ruvenheigen, the freezing rain hitting her skin that was not covered by her cloak.
"Damn it, I'm gonna catch pneumonia if I can't get out of this…" she thought to herself.
She continued to run, trying her hardest to not slip. She quickly turned a corner, and cursed herself as she saw a group of people from the church. They quickly turned, practically blinding her with their lanterns.
"Hey, you there! Freeze!" One of them called out to her.
"Over my dead body…" she thought to herself, doing an about face and running off.
As she ran, she could hear them following, her feet and theirs splashing in the puddles of water. She quickly made a sharp turn, but twisted her ankle on it, falling in a huge puddle of water, screaming during her descent.
She turned around, seeing the church members turning the corner themselves, when suddenly, a smoke bomb was thrown through an upper story window, blinding them. The girl slowly got up, snickering as she ran some more, walking through a hidden door in the wall.
"Thanks a lot good friend. Saved my life yet again." She thought, going up the stairway to the bedroom.
When she got there, another girl was sitting on the bed; having already closed the window that she threw the smoke bomb out of, already quickly making another.
"Hey Norah." The girl on the bed responded, her voice young and soft-spoken. "Glad to see you're safe."
The other girl didn't respond, quickly rushing over and kissing the one on the bed.
"All thanks to you love. If it weren't for you and your smoke bombs…"
"I know." The other said, interrupting Norah. "You wouldn't have lasted this long if it weren't for me."
"Exactly." Norah responded. "So, what should we do? We both know that I won't last in this city for long. They'll eventually catch me, and you probably won't be around to save me when they do."
"That's what I need to talk to you about: We'll leave in a few minutes."
"Wh-what?!" Norah asked, shocked.
"Yes, we leave now. Like you said, they'll find you eventually. You need to leave now, under the cover of both night and barely visible conditions."
"But where would I go love? It's not like the church's influence stops when we reach the walls of Ruvenheigen. I'm wanted throughout the entire nation of Trenni."
"That's why you're not gonna stay in Trenni. I'll stay here and try to lead the church astray. As for you…"
"What?"
"…you'll head north. Past the Roam River, to the farthest reaches of the Nation of Ploania…to the far Northern town of Nyohhira."
"Wait. Nyohhira? That means…"
"Yes. You'll finally get to see them after all this time."
"But I don't wanna go without you! You're my one true love! I want us to make this journey together, like they did!"
"Look Norah, we can't! I'll meet you there eventually, but we have to split up if you have any chance of making it! I'm doing it because I love you! Understand?"
Norah paused, a little frightened that the soft-spoken girl raised her voice at her. Finally, she responded.
"O…okay. I'll see you there."
"Good. Now get into some warm clothing, and some thick clothing. It'll only get colder as you go north. You don't need to die of hypothermia before you reach Nyohhira."
"Right…I'm assuming we'll be burning this place down as well?"
"Yes, but don't fret – we'll rebuild in the north."
"Okay."
Norah slowly began to strip her clothing off to change, silently saying good-bye to her home.
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I stood there in the market, watching the snow fall. Holo had informed me that it will start to fall harder as it gets colder. Lawrence then informed me of the fact that Nyohhira is well known for its hot springs, so I'll be able to keep warm that way.
Ever since the incident where I was attacked by the Imps, I actually got to thinking, and decided that I should find some way to pay back Holo and Lawrence while I'm stuck here. And what better way than to start up a merchant's stall? Unfortunately, the downside is that I am not the greatest merchant ever, and the other merchants in the market have better sales pitches, better selections, better customer relationships, and even better prices in some cases.
I sighed as people just continuously walked past my stall, going to other merchants and buying from them.
"Is this really what all new merchants have to go through?" I thought to myself, getting more and more annoyed that I have yet to make a single cent since I had set up this stall.
I stared off into the distance a bit more, when suddenly, I saw a girl leaning against the side of a building, looking like she was hurt. I quickly walked away from my stall over to her to see if she was okay.
"Excuse me, are you okay? What's your name?" I asked her.
"I…I…my name is…N-Norah…" she responded.
I sighed to myself.
"She's gonna die if I don't do something…her skin is ice cold…" I thought to myself.
I thought a bit more about what I should do. Her eyes were closed, and she seemed disconnected from reality. I quickly looked around, making sure no one was looking at us – there wasn't.
I quickly took out my brush, dipping it into an ink pot, and I quickly began to draw an outline in the air around Norah's body.
"Rejuvenation." I whispered when I connected the end of the outline to the beginning.
I quickly hid my brush and backed away, Norah's body starting to get visibly warmer and healthier. After a few minutes, she stood up, fully healed.
"H-hello? Where am I? Who are you?" She said.
"Hello. My name is Amaterasu. You're in the town of Nyohhira." I responded. "Who are you? What're you doing here?" I asked, already knowing the answer to the first question.
"My name is Norah. I come from a city to the south. I…I'm looking for a…friend." She responded.
"Norah, what is your friend's name? I must know so I can help you."
Right before she was about to speak, a loud booming noise was heard, and we both turned…
…to see a large group of Imps. Except this wasn't just the normal Green Imps that I had encountered a week before. Now, there were quite a number of Red Imps dispersed with them, and a trio of Yellow Imps had burst up out of the ground, clearly leading the assault.
I sighed, knowing that I would now have to reveal myself to the people of Nyohhira. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Lawrence and Holo, along with some local strongmen trying to push through the crowd of people running. I knew they couldn't get here in time, and I slowly stood up straight, walking towards the large group of Imps.
"Norah," I said, "prepare to witness true power in all its glory." I reached up, unhooking my hood and tossing it off to the side, my ears, tail, and weapons visible to all.
I drew Thunder Edge from its sheathe, and grabbed my Celestial Brush as well.
"I'm not sure what you creatures want with me…but you will not succeed in it today!" I yelled out.
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"NORAH!" The girl yelled out to her lover.
Norah didn't respond, running through the freezing rain, which was pouring down now. It was hard for her to run from having twisted her ankle before, but she was doing her best. Suddenly members of the church stood in front of her.
"I'm not in the mood for this stupid shit!" She screamed out, kicking one of them in the face and throwing down a smoke bomb to run through them.
She heard more screaming…her friend yelling…cries of death…screams of retreat…
"Damn it, I don't want to leave her behind…but I have to…" she thought to herself.
As Norah ran, she could just barely see the gates of Ruvenheigen. While they were closed, she knew she had a chance of surviving the fall when she jumped from the high wall…slim as that chance was. But just as she was sure she was home free, she felt the wind get knocked out of her and she fell to the ground, trying to catch her breath. She looked up, seeing a woman, one with violet eyes, mahogany hair, and impressively pale skin…
"Oh, you" Norah spat out in distaste. The woman simply giggled.
"Ohoho, Norah! Must you always distrust me?" She asked, holding her hand out to Norah.
"Tsk. Of course I will. Especially after the stories I've heard of you trying to turn you-know-who over to the church all those years ago." Norah replied icily, though she did grab the other woman's hand to get up.
"Oh, you're still on that? Well listen Norah, we both know I'm reformed – did I not help you when you first arrived here?"
"Touché, but then I met my lovely associate, and you were no longer needed, Chloe."
"Well, I am needed now. She and I did speak, and she actually wishes for me to help bring you to Nyohhira."
"How can I trust you?" Norah asked suspiciously.
"You can't." Chloe responded coldly.
Norah thought for a moment, before…
"Alright. I guess it's my only choice."
"Great! Now let's go!"
Norah and Chloe ran over to the gate, and slowly climbed the ladder up to the top of the wall. They walked to the edge, and stood there, careful not to lose their balance.
"So uh, which of us is going first?" Norah asked.
"Well Norah…" Chloe began.
"What?"
"I just wanted to say: Have nice trip!" She grabbed the back of Norah's clothes. "And see you next fall!" She threw her off, finishing the bad pun.
"Chloeeeeeeeeeeeee!" Norah screamed out as she fell.
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Well, two interesting, new, and mysterious characters. And yes, I did bring the much-hated Chloe back. I know most people don't like her, but I did like the concept of her betraying Lawrence in the anime…despite the writers making her seem like a seductive, cold-hearted, back-stabbing bitch.
Just so any of you who are familiar with the Spice and Wolf fandom know, Norah isn't supposed to be the character "Nora Arendt" with the alternate spelling. This Norah in the story is a completely different character from her. Oh, and I've decided the next few chapters will be centered on Norah and her journey north. Why? Because might as well get in character development for her…
PocketSnails signing off.