Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters, for they all belong to the talented Diana Wynne Jones.

Author's Note: I recently read and fell in love with "Howl's Moving Castle." Anyway, I got inspired to write this drabble.

This is Howl and Sophie's first meeting in Market Chipping on May Day, only it's from Howl's point of view. I just couldn't help but wonder what was going through his mind when he first spotted Sophie.

(Edit) Min Farshaw pointed out that I could have gone into a bit more detail. When I thought about, I realized she was right so I just edited it a bit and try to put some more detail into it. Thanks for pointing that out to me!

"Fated Encounter"

May Day had always been a busy one for Market Chipping.

Howl had realized this a long time ago...but this was not a bad thing. On the contrary! The busier it was, the more ladies there were waiting for him.

This year had quite a large assortment of young pretty ladies. All of them were giddy and wearing bright colours of red, yellow, blue and every other colour of the rainbow.

Howl gave a casual greeting to each one, while searching on the side for a girl that would spark enough interest to be his next target...or 'next heart to eat' as Michael had put it.

The town was buzzing with excitement. It was if the buildings themselves were laughing in complete merriment. Howl began his ritual hunt. He would greet and chat with a fair young giggling maiden and would then move on to the next one he spotted. There were many to choose, but none so far had the "qualifications" he was looking for.

It was then that a strange sight caught his eye. A young girl was trying to sneak through the crowd, but wasn't having much success. She looked terrified while doing it. She scurried through the crowd like a mouse trying to sneak by a group of starving cats that were just waiting for an easy meal. Odd behavior for a girl her age.

She stuck out like a sore thumb. Unlike the other bright coloured girls, she was dressed in grey. It really was a crime! Grey didn't suit her at all! That was a colour meant for 90 year old ladies!

Despite this, she was rather lovely. Howl felt intrigued and approached her.

The girl fearfully stepped back and tired to hide in a shop doorway.

Howl couldn't help but pity her. There were two things he had never liked to see, a girl being scared or crying. He offered his famous charming smile to show he wasn't some blood thirsty monster waiting to gobble her up.

"It's all right, you little grey mouse. I only want to buy you a drink. Don't look so scared."

"Oh no thank you, if you please, sir." the girl stammered. "I-I'm on my way to see my sister."

Howl took a different tactic. "Then by all means do so. Who am I to keep a pretty lady from her sister? Would you like me to go with you, since you seem so scared?"

"No. No thank you, sir!"

And the girl ran away like a rabbit who was escaping the hungry jaws of a fox.

Howl was stunned. He wasn't used to having girls flee from him. Usually, girls were running to him instead of the opposite direction.

"Strange girl," he thought.

Still, she was a pretty little thing. If only she would wear something other than grey!

He continued his stroll and wondered what his chances were of bumping into the "grey mouse" again.

Very low, no doubt, but who knew?

Perhaps fate had other plans.

Howl wouldn't complain if it did.