These are more or less stand-alone vignettes that I've worked on, time permitting. There is an over-all theme and there are spoilers for Shadow Hearts Covenant. And Poochie, for those who don't know, is the name Yoshiko Kawashima used for Blanc in the Japanese game. I preferred it to snowball. It's actually funny when you think about it.

I don't own Covenant, Nautilus has that honor, to whom I bow in admiration.

Chapter 1

Blanca

Yoshiko knelt by the pond in the garden, the stone lamp at her side. She sniffed slightly, catching the scent of the candle burning within and then turned once more to watch the water on the pond. She was waiting. It had been too long, but she was waiting. Her father was inside, writing, but she wanted to wait in the quiet garden - for him. She hoped he would be all right; he was strong after all, but they were going into such danger!

A plopping sound in the pool caught her attention and she smiled as she caught sight of a brilliant koi swimming by. She bent down and dribbled her fingers in the pond, moving them like sea fronds in the quiet water. The koi ignored her entreaties and swam silently away. The young girl sat back on her heels and sighed. Where could he be?

A nearby insect buzzed softly and wings churred in the distance. She counted the seconds, letting her hands fall to her knees, smoothing out the folds of her pleated skirt. She was about to rise to go in when she heard the soft tread of feet on the outside path and a moment later the gate swung in. There, in the night, was her friend; his white coat draggled and torn, bits of dirt and - could that be blood - on his muzzle. But he yelped softly and ran across the close-clipped lawn to bowl her over, knocking her down, wetting her face with his tongue and she laughed, tears joining the wet licks on her cheeks.

"Oh, Poochie, you came back."

Looking down at her the white wolf panted, his long tongue tickling her nose. Blanca was home.