Jinx tread carefully up the mountain a second time. She took note of the locations of the rocks and swiftly maneuvered around them. She wasn't falling for that the second time. Reckless as she may have been, she learned from her mistakes. Going up was a little tough, but before long she made it up top.

"There! Easy peasy!" She announced proudly. Then raising her head, she called, "Chirin?" No response, "Chirin?" She called again.

Trotting ahead, she recalled the path Chirin had taken her to his den. She kept a cautious eye around for any trace of that lioness, Selena she believed her name was.

Jinx was stated to be reckless before, but she certainly wasn't stupid. After all, she was smarter than the average sheep. At least, she thought so. What sheep could drive a tractor? While drunk no less. She still didn't know how she managed that one, but she had done it somehow. When she woke up the next morning, the barn wall had a ewe shaped hole in it. Again, how it happened was a mystery, and would probably remain a mystery for the time being. Not like there were many witnesses around to see it. Besides owls.

She stood at the mouth of Chirin's den and called out, "Chirin? You in there?" No response. Figuring he was sleeping, she headed inside but to her surprise, she found no trace of him. "Where'd you go Chirin?" She asked herself.

Stepping back into the outside air, Jinx took a whiff. The mountain air felt different from the farm air. No sheep, or dogs, or any other livestock for that matter. Just clean open-air, cold too. It held a certain chill to it, the kind that made goose pimples rise up on your skin. But in a sense, it was refreshing, bracing perhaps. Jinx took in the clean air and continued onward. She recalled the last place she and Chirin had been, right before their tour had been cut.

As she walked along the rocky path, she found herself growing all the more comfortable, losing care in watching her surroundings. As she continued, she felt a sudden prick upon her neck. It wasn't physical, but more like a snap of her senses.

"Well well, what little fly has wandered into my web?"

Jinx recognized that voice, and as she gulped, she turned around and saw herself facing the mountain lion! Selena as he recalled her name was. The she-lion was staring at the ewe with a hungry glint in her eyes.

"I had expected, a rabbit, a bird, or even a snake if I was feeling daring, but a fat succulent little lamb," Selena chuckled, "This is just my day."

"First off sister, I ain't fat, and I'm not a sheep, I'm a ewe!" Jinx shot.

"Oh pardon me dear for the flub of terms. I suppose hunger has dulled my mind." Selena excused.

Jinx looked behind her briefly and got a good idea, "Well kitty, I'm afraid I'm going to be fast food," And Jinx suddenly shot off like a rocket.

"Oh no, you don't!" Selena growled, pursuing after the ewe.

Jinx ran with all of her might, she knew what lay ahead and it could be used to her advantage. At least she was hoping she was remembering it correctly. Her running ceased as the trail ended right at a cliff!

Staring down, Jinx gaped at the fall. It would certainly be fatal for someone like her.

"End of the road lamb," Selena said as she crept towards Jinx.

Turning around to face her pursuer, Jinx noticed the gleam in Selena's eyes growing all the hungrier. Jinx felt fear rising within her, but she did not dare show it. No, she wouldn't give the predator the satisfaction.

Raising a hoof to her head, Jinx wailed out, "Oh no! Whatever shall I do? I'm weak! I'm helpless! Please have mercy on me oh great queen of the mountain!"

Selena raised her left eye, "What are you doing?"

"Why I'm just giving you the proper respect you deserve! Oh, I may be doomed, but least I will provide sustenance to a beast as mighty as you!" Jinx announced.

Selena's confusion remained fixed upon her face, "Okay...very well," And then she resumed, "If that's the way you want it!"

The lioness charged forward, leaping with her might. A spark shined in Jinx's eyes and then at the last second, she ducked. Selena's eyes grew wide as she found herself falling from the path and heading downward. Looking down, Jinx watched in awe as Selena twisted, then thrust her claws into the side of the mountain. A screeching sound rang out as she skidded down, her claws providing her a proper slowing of her descent. Soon the cat reached the bottom, panting heavily from the shock of her near death.

"I can't believe you fell for that!" Jinx announced from high above, "I mean anyone with a brain would see I was faking the praise, but hey, guess you have a big ego no?"

Selena glared upward, "You little wretch! No one makes a fool out of me!" She growled.

Smirking with a shrug, Jinx replied, "Well I just did!" Then taking her hoof, she lowered her right eye down and stuck out her tongue.

With a roar, Selena ran off deeper into the mountains.

"Jinx?"

Right before Jinx could dust herself off with pride, she heard a voice from behind. Turning around she gave a tiny gasp as she saw it was Chirin.

The ram stood there in awe, his eyes wide and his mouth slightly agape.

"Chirin?" Jinx replied, "How long were you standing there?" She asked.

"Long enough," Chirin answered, "You tricked Selena?"

Smirk returning, Jinx at last dusted herself off, finishing by breathing upon her hoof, "Naturally! I mean I was scared for sure, but I didn't want that witch to see it. Sure she would have had me at the split second, but as the old saying goes, "close but no cigar!"." Then leaning in as if she were whispering, she added, "Though I'll smoke em if you got em!"

Jinx chuckled at her own words but noticed confusion upon Chirin's face.

"You know it's just I mixed two sayings and well...ugh I think I mangled that one!" She declared.

"Excuse me?" Chirin asked.

"Don't mind me, I was just trying to mix two sayings, you know? Be clever?" Jinx clarified.

"I see," Said Chirin.

"Sometimes it's hard being the smart one, thinking outside the box and not following the herd, you know what I mean?" Jinx asked.

Chirin stared at her and all he could ask was, "Why are you here?"

Jinx was taken aback by the question, but she responded with a simple, "I said I would come back, didn't I?"

"That's right, you did...but why?" Chirin continued to ask.

"Because I promised," Jinx's response was simple and to the point, "That and you look like you could use a friend."

"A friend?" Chirin's face twisted in uncertainty, "I don't-"

"Look I know you are going to say "I don't deserve friends" but trust me when I say you have one now. And I'll hear no arguments otherwise." Jinx said firmly.

Chirin snorted a soft exhale of air from his nostrils. Honestly, he didn't know what to think. All he could do was chuckle and smile. Two things he hadn't done in quite a long time. So much it surprised even himself.

"You're a funny little thing aren't you?"

"That's me!" Jinx declared with a beam.

Shaking his head, Chirin said, "You know you've probably put yourself on Selena's list,"

"You mean her "shit list"?" Jinx asked.

"Never heard that term before but I suppose," Said Chirin.

"Eh let her come!" Jinx suddenly got on her hind legs, standing as if she were human, and put up her front hooves in a boxing fashion, "I'll show that cat this old girl has some fight in her!" Making several jabs with her hooves, Jinx suddenly faltered and found herself back on all fours, "Just to let you know, keeping a balance like that is not as easy as it looks! I mean you got to have the right stance and the right proportions, that and keeping it." Jinx noted off.

Chirin couldn't help but smile. The ewe's words entertained a part of himself that he had long thought was dead.

"So what's the deal with Ms. Sunshine?" Jinx suddenly asked.

Chirin knew, of course, she meant Selena, "She just views herself as the strongest creature on this mountain, and wants to "dethrone" me so to speak."

"Oh, a usurper! How scandalous!" Jinx remarked with excitement.

"I suppose, it's more of a stalemate, to be honest. To be honest she didn't make a serious move until my mentor died." Chirin remarked.

"A mentor? So there's a mentor now?"

"How do you think I got this big? All that training had to come from someone."

Jinx's curiosity was peaked, "So was this mentor another ram?"

Chirin shook his head, his bell jingling as he did, "No, he was a wolf."

"A wolf?" Jinx said with surprise.

"Yes, his name was Wor," Chirin remarked wistfully.

"Kind of sounds like "War"," Jinx said.

Chirin breathed in, "I suppose it does,"

A silence fell through, and Jinx likewise could sense the brief awkward cut the metaphorical knife had given.

"What happened to him?"

Chirin looked up, and his eyes held the same tone his wistful voice had given. Staring into them, Jinx could tell Chirin didn't want to talk about it. Or at least, wasn't ready to talk about it.

"You know? Nevermind! Why don't you show me more of the mountain?"

Chirin snorted happily, so much he found it strange he was happy, "I'd be delighted to."

So the ram led the ewe around, and the rest of the day went so much, that when Jinx headed home, she promised she would come again the next day. Chirin had only known Jinx for a short while, but unlike the first time, he knew she wasn't lying.

He trusted her, and as he headed inside his den, he felt eager towards what the next day would bring.