Jinx's tour around the mountain continued, Chirin leading the way the entire time. All the while Jinx acted like an excitable child. She had never seen a mountain before, and all the while she acted like "What's this?" Or "What's that?". Chirin simply stood by, taking it in bit by bit, yet as they moved forward, the more he found it grating.

"Are you always this chatty?" He asked.

Jinx coyly glanced at him and replied, "Sometimes."

Chirin raised an eyebrow then shook his head, "You have to be one of the most insufferable sheep I have ever met,"

Jinx gave a little laugh then put a hoof to her chest, "Oh why thank you, good sir! I do try."

This only served to confuse Chirin all the more, "You actually get enjoyment out of acting like this?"

"So? What's wrong with that?" Jinx asked.

Chirin's brow furrowed confusedly, "It's not a sheep should act...right?"

As far back as Chirin remembered, the sheep in his flock were timid creatures too afraid to step outside their pens without proper guidance. They offered no comfort or courage, only awaiting their potential deaths. Yet then there was Jinx.

"So you'd rather I act like…this?" Chirin didn't dare add anything else on there, like "fool". Even he had some courtesy around females.

"You got it big boy!" Jinx proclaimed proudly, "Sure I aint one of those hoity-toity ewes you see being presented as a showcase, but I think I bring a unique flavor to my flock. Even if they don't think so."

Chirin's eyes widened a bit, "You're an outcast?"

"Bold line of questioning isn't it?"

"Well, I-" Chirin stammered.

"Eh it's no problem!" Jinx assured, "I guess you could say that, almost, at least my half-sister accepts me, but my dad? Eh, big no on that front!"

Chirin felt a twinge within his heart, and nearly said, "That's something we had in common." But he remained silent.

Within that moment, he thought back to that night, the rain, the little lamb walking up to him without fear, only for its mother to pull it back, and then shutting the door on him completely. Chirin felt another twinge, a burning hot feeling that could only be described as rage. He didn't know why he felt angry? In essence, it made sense why they shut him out. After all, even if they did believe he was the same Chirin who lived with them in the meadow, he was no longer like them. That and he had just slaughtered the guard dogs and then killed Wor. His strength alone was frightening, but still, he would have appreciated some form of gratitude. Perhaps that was selfish but to frank, he didn't know for sure. So many conflicting feelings, he dropped his guard when Jinx suddenly announced.

"Oh my gosh look at those rabbits!"

Excitedly rushing over as much as her injured leg could, Jinx darted over to a gray looking rabbit.

Stopping in front of it, Jinx lowered her head down and announced, "Heya!"

The rabbit blinked uncertainly and replied, "Um...hello?"

"Wow! I've never met a mountain rabbit before, well I've never met a mountain creature in my life, other than him and that lion," Jinx directed behind her.

The rabbit blinked again, "Lion? Maam I don't-" The rabbit trailed off as it noticed the large shape of Chirin behind Jinx. The minute it saw him it gave a loud yelp and scampered off.

Jinx held her mouth open in dismay, "Well that was rude!" She declared.

Behind her, Chirin gave a solid expression. Even after Jinx turned around and asked, "What was his problem?"

Chirin simply sighed and said, "Tour's over, let's go back."

Without another word, and before Jinx could protest, Chirin turned around and headed back. Pouting in disappointment, Jinx followed. She knew there would be no use in arguing with the larger creature.

The pair eventually settled in Chirin's den, Jinx making herself comfortable as she settled down near the back, and Chirin near the entrance.

"Well that was a fun day wouldn't you say?" Jinx said as she finally got in a good position.

"Sure," Chirin briskly replied.

Jinx felt the silence hit but considered what to say next.

"So...if you don't mind me asking, what kind of animal are you?" Jinx asked.

Chirin didn't say anything but instead snorted.

"If I had to guess, you're some kind of stag right?"

Again, nothing.

"That or there was some crazy crossbreeding between-"

"I'm a ram!" Chirin suddenly shot.

Jinx cocked her head back in shock, widening her eyes as she did so, "A ram? Well…Guess they grow em good on your farm eh? Growth hormones? Steroids?"

"I'm the way I am because of the way I live!" Chirin spat.

"Alright alright sorry...just trying to inject some humor," Jinx excused. Settling herself down further, Jinx muttered out again, "I'm sorry...I didn't mean to touch a sore spot."

The ewe didn't expect anything, but then to her surprise, she heard, "It's no problem. You didn't know. Really, it's alright." Chirin said.

Jinx smiled at that, and with nothing more to say, the pair settled themselves, and in time, they fell asleep.

XXX

Chirin found himself walking along the mountain path, the snow falling softly. It wasn't anything new to him, for he had walked this path many times in the past. The sound of his hooves against the ground reached his ears. They were a melodious pattern, one he had become accustomed to. And then he came to a halt. His eyes glanced down as another sound reached his ears: the sound of a hoof scuffing against the ground.

At his feet lay a small white lamb. His face innocent, his eyes clear, and as he looked up, Chirin saw he was staring into his own.

"I haven't seen you for a while." The young version of him said.

Chirin turned towards himself and said, "I haven't had much to say."

The young him looked down, "Yeah, not since Wor died. It's just been you for a while hasn't it?"

Adult Chirin gave an annoyed snort, "Why are you here?"

"I dunno," The young him said as he scuffed the ground again, "I guess meeting her made you think of how you used to be."

"She's a sheep, nothing more," Chirin retorted.

"One that isn't afraid of you," His younger self countered.

A brisk grumble echoed up from Chirin, "Your point?"

"I think maybe you're comfortable around her. Must be nice having someone who doesn't run in fear of you. Then again she hasn't seen you kill anyone yet." His younger self spoke.

Chirin looked away slightly, "Perhaps,"

"But who knows? Maybe she still wouldn't be afraid? I mean she is different from other sheep that's for sure,"

Indeed, Jinx was different from the other sheep he had met. Even the ones who had lived on his old farm. For a moment it made him think about his old home. He wondered how the sheep were living their lives? Did they speak of him? Did they remember him? It would be rather hard to forget someone like him, especially after that fateful night. But being sheep, he supposed they would go on with their daily lives, doing their best to forget him, being the cowardly creatures they were. But why was Jinx so different? That question lay within his mind even after his younger self spoke again.

"Maybe if we had a friend like her back then, we wouldn't have left? Maybe we would be different? Maybe others wouldn't think we're a monster?" Suggested the young him.

"She and I aren't friends!" Adult Chirin snapped, "I saved her life, and nothing more!"

"But why did you save her life?"

"I don't…I don't know!"

"Why don't you know?"

"I just don't!"

"That's not an answer."

"I don't want to talk anymore."

"Don't avoid the question!"

"I said I don't want to talk!"

"You can't keep running from me!" His younger self rose, face full of fury, "I'm tired of being alone! I want someone to talk with. Someone who isn't you!"

"Shut up! Just shut up!" Adult Chirin bellowed.

"No! I became a monster because of you! You're the reason Mama is dead! You're the reason Wor is dead! And you're the reason everyone's afraid of us!"

"I SAID SHUT UP!"

The younger Chirin kept himself silent, face showing no fear.

Adult Chirin breathed heavily, stifling down his rage before he spoke, "I had to become stronger. I was tired of being scared and weak. I don't need anyone or anything. I'll do what I want, whenever I want! And I don't need you to tell me how to live my life!"

His younger self suddenly let out a giggle. Yet there was no joy, "Keep telling yourself that, but you and I both know you're only fooling yourself."

Chirin remained still as his younger self began to circle him, "You try to act tough, you try to act like you don't care, but you do," And as the last line of the child dropped, a new voice spoke, "And the more you deny it, the more strain it puts on you." And as the new voice arrived, Chirin could see out of the corner of his eye a familiar shape, and when it circled back in front of him, he saw he was staring at his current self.

"Truth is you are still the same, scared little lamb. And suddenly, Chirin found himself staring up at his twin, and when he looked down, he could see the small hooves that lay before him. He was now a small weak little lamb again. The same white wool. The same innocent eyes, and the same tiny stature.

Now his older self looked down at him with a smirk, "You can't stand talking to me because I'm a reminder of what you were, and what you've become, "Mocked his older self, "Makes you wonder what our mother would think of us? She told you to never leave the meadow, and look what happened when you disobeyed her. Guess we weren't such a dutiful son were we?"

Chirin backed away from his older self, his bell jingling as he did. His eyes felt hot as he felt something began to form. A sheer shine shone upon it, as tears formed and fell.

"And to think Wore spent all those years training us, only for you to kill him. Granted he was proud of you, but it just shows, anyone close to you ends up dead." His older self stood looming over him, eyes glaring down in disapprovel.

"Not a sheep, not a wolf, guess you're just nothing aren't you?" His older self flashed a nasty grin.

Young Chirin stared up and as he felt the burning sensation in his eyes, he let the tears fall, fall so freely like they had done the moment he realized how alone he was after that rainy night.

Yes, he was indeed alone in the world, and then…

"Good morning!"

Chirin snapped his eyes open, blinking as he looked about, his bell jingling as he did. He looked on ahead and found that he was back in the den. But he noticed that Jinx was missing. Least until he looked down. There standing below him was Jinx's smiling face.

"Um...good morning?"

"Well good morning to you! And I have to say I feel like a million bucks! Especially after the dream I had!" Jinx declared.

"Oh?" Chirin asked curiously, "And just what did you dream about?"

Jinx gave a deep sigh, "Cider my friend, cider,"

"Cider?"

"The nectar of the gods! The highest form of recreational beverage!"

"I've never heard of it," Chirin remarked bluntly.

Jinx shook in surprise, turning towards Chirin with confusion, "Seriously?" Chirin's lack of humor told her he was serious, "Oh well it's a drink humans make from apples and it is damn good!"

"Really? I've heard humans made juice from apples," Chirin said.

"Oh this aint no juice brother! It's, it's, just incredible! It's tangy and sweet, and just so...oh my gosh it makes my mouth water!"

Chirin's eyes grew wide and he listened. The only drinks he had partaken in were water and his mother's milk. The concept of cider was foreign to him.

"Of course drink too much and it makes you...more or less drunk," Jinx said.

"Drunk?" Chirin repeated.

"Yeah, and the hangover afterward is always killer." Jinx grimaced placing a hoof to her head for emphasis.

"Hangover?" Chirin repeated once more, learning more new words all the while.

"Yes but you feel such joy, such release. You become wild and untamed and just freeing yourself, it's so exhilarating!" Jinx sighed, "And that's what my dream was about. I was in a land of cider! Rivers, lakes, waterfalls! Cider flowing all around, and I just drank to my heart's content."

Chirin did his best not to chuckle, "Really?"

"Oh yes, and by the end let's just say I could rival my sister's size!" Jinx looked to Chirin, smirking, "Imagine me? Big as a house! Ha!" The ewe snickered.

The thought crept into Chirin's head, and he gave a slightly uncomfortable look.

Jinx realized what she had said and coughed, "Well other than that rather peculiar mental image I've given you, how was your dream?" She asked.

Chirin looked down, his eyes growing grim, "I'd...rather not talk about it if you don't mind?"

The ewe was about to press on, but the minute she noticed Chirin's expression, she kept silent. "Well okay...I just have to say it's good to see you up and about! So? What's on the agenda today?"

Chirin looked up, and the ram simply said, "Taking you back for one thing,"

"Hmm?"

"Your leg is better."

Looking down, a gasp of realization escaped Jinx, "Oh my gosh you're right! I've been hopping about! I didn't notice!"

Chirin rose up, his bell ringing as he did, "I'll take you down the path, case Selena is near."

Those terms were well enough, so Jinx allowed the larger sheep to lead her down the mountain path. Thankfully their trek was without incident. There was no sign of the mountain lioness. All the better for Jinx. In no time they made it down to the mountain. Jinx could make out the outline of her farm just ahead.

Turning around to Chirin, Jinx said, "Thanks for looking after me. You have a good heart underneath all that stone."

Chirin snorted and said, "No problem. Now head back to your meadow. Graze, grow fat, reproduce, and live out the rest of your life."

Suddenly, Jinx gave out a laugh, "Excuse me? Sorry, bud but after my brief stay here, I like what I say, so I think I'll come back sometime."

"What?" Chirin muttered.

"I mean sure I have to check in with my sister. The poor girl's probably having a panic attack. But once things have settled I'll come back to see you okay?"

Chirin's face took on the same stoicism that it had shown when he first met Jinx, "I doubt you're coming back." Chirin then turned around, heading up towards his home.

"Chirin!"

The ram's bell jangled as he turned around in shock. Looking back, he saw something within Jinx's eyes. There it was, a shine, a spark, something that Chirin had seen once before.

"I'm coming back to see you, and that's a promise." Jinx declared.

All Chirin could mutter was, "Why?"

Jinx shrugged, "You look like you could use a friend,"

Chirin looked down at his hooves, "I don't deserve friends."

"Well, you got one now."

And then Jinx headed towards her farm. With nothing more before him, Chirin resumed his trek up to his mountain home. All the while he recalled that spark he had seen in Jinx's eyes. It was something that had been seen once before, through Wor's eyes.

And he knew it was determination.