"Ash are you alright?!"

Alyssa said going over to comfort her slightly bruised and battered savior.

"Y-yeah I'm fine." He responded half truthfully while receiving a teary-eyed hug from Alyssa.

"Thank you for saving us Ash," Nova began, "though how did you know we were in trouble?"

"Well we weren't very far, because on our search for food which was actually a giant circle thanks to Caleb."

"Hey!" His brother responded then scolded.

"I sensed you too and three other wolves, and figured that something may have happened." Ash finished explaining.

"Ash you look really bad," Alyssa said examining the scarred and bruised wolf

"Maybe the local pack here has a healer," Nova inquired "we should get you to one."

"Yeah," Alyssa agreed, "you saved us so the least we can do is take you to someone that'll tend to your wounds."

The group of wolves set off deep inside the territory of Jasper to find a healer, and during the search Alyssa found a way to break the silence then engaged in conversation with Ash.

"I like your spots." Alyssa began.

"I'm sorry, what?" Ash responded inattentively.

"I, um, like your spots," she repeated, "I think they're cool."

Ash's face began to heat up and blush. This was the first time anyone had ever expressed interest in his spots he usually thought of them as a dull feature.

"Uh-hum... thanks," he said abashedly, "I uh... I like your eyes, they're beautiful."

"Thanks..." Alyssa responded also blushing.

Soon enough the crew happened upon some local wolves and they guided them to the pack Healers Den which almost seemed full, but luckily they could accommodate Ash.

The healers tended to his wounds afterwards night fell and the rustle and bustle of the busy den quieted down as everyone but Nova began to rest including Alyssa as she fell asleep along side Ash.

Nova looked down upon the sleeping duo and smiled.

"Young love," she thought, then quietly exited the den. Caleb noticed this and followed her.

Caleb pursued the wolf under the stary night, and there was no need to be stealthy about it for she couldn't see him anyway. She arrived at a clearing with an outcropping and lay down at the ledge.

"Oh, Aaron," she monologued, "I made a friend yesterday, she's really nice and you probably would have liked her too."

Caleb felt a little guilty about eavesdropping on the unsuspecting wolf, but as was far as she was concerned he didn't exist to her or to anyone besides Ash.

"I told her about you and what you did," she continued, "and she felt pretty bad about it, so maybe I shouldn't have huh?"

Nova sighed before lowering her head to her paws.

"I miss you... brother." She concluded, then closed her eyes and fell asleep.

Caleb returned to the Healers Den with a heavy heart; he didn't know what he'd do if he lost Ash. Currently all they have is each other in this cruel world, but would he stop existing if Ash stopped believing in him? Was he really just a figment of Ash's imagination?

Nevertheless he brushed these thoughts off upon arrival as the night slipped away and the morning sky swiftly approached. Alyssa opened her eyes with a yawn and Ash had awoken shortly after; both completely oblivious as to how closely they were cuddled together until she noticed Ash's arm gently embracing her abdomen, then quickly shot up in embarrassment.

"Ash, I'm so sorry," she apologized, "for um... violating your personal space, or if I made you feel awkward in some wa-"

"Alyssa, Alyssa," he cut her off, "it's ok trust me it's fine, you didn't make me feel awkward or anything like that besides it was kinda cold last night."

"Hehe, kinda cold eh? You were hugging her like a bear on a salmon hehehe." Caleb teased.

"Shut it Cal." Ash inaudibly snapped.

Alyssa giggled, "Well um care to take a little morning stroll with me?"

"Sure." He replied in approval.

"That is of course if you feel alright."

"No actually I feel fine," Ash assured, "guess all I needed was a little TLC."

With that the two set off into the scenic wilderness of Jasper. Along the way birds chirped about and pups play in the snow.

"This place seems nice." Alyssa said.

"Yeah, it does." Ash replied.

"Can't you believe that winter is nearly over," she began, "I'd love to see what it looks like in the spring."

"I bet it's beautiful," Ash said gazing upon the frost covered treetops then down to Alyssa, "yeah, beautiful."

He then nervously glanced about trying to avoid any type of eye contact with her what-so-ever, for he had a question that his heart very well desired to ask her, but he was unsure how to.

"Um... Alyssa... this is kind of a personal question," Ash began, "and you don't have to answer it if you don't want to, but are you seeing anyone... um... special right now?"

"No," she replied quickly, "actually I'm single, but uh... why do you ask?"

"Um... well I.. um.. a... well I think you are a nice person." Ash responded nervously, "and there aren't many who are willing to give me a chance... ya know... given my uh... circumstances, but you've actually spoken to me instead of calling me a freak, and I really like that about you."

Ash caught himself before he went too far. He was very terrible when it came to talking to women. He had no idea how to flirt, and he didn't want to come on too strong in case she didn't feel the same way that he felt about her.

Alyssa looked at the tense wolf sympathetically.

"Oh, but honestly I don't mind actually I think that makes you special."

"Um, thanks," he began, "I uh, know we're from um, different species and all.. and... I um, uh-"

Ash sighed and regained his composure.

"Alyssa, do you like me?" He questioned.

The vixen was taken aback by his question.

"I... Um... I mean of course I like you Ash." she responded.

At this point Caleb was rolling on the ground laughing.

"Ash, you idiot! She's waiting for you to ask her out!" he guffawed.

Ash stopped and turned to him.

"She wants me to ask her out!?" he asked him aloud then realized what he said, "I- I mean... I-"

Ash stammered as he turned back to Alyssa.

"Yes," She said with a smile, "The answer is yes, that is, if it's ok with you..."

"Oh, um, of course!" Ash said excitedly as his tail began to wag behind him.

Alyssa couldn't believe it, and for a split second reality froze around her.

"My first date," she thought.

"Well... um tell me about yourself." She said enthusiastically slightly blushing.

Ash didn't know what to say. His life was so boring. Surely if she knew just how average he was she wouldn't like him anymore, but what could he tell her that she would believe? He was a horrible liar. He sighed and resolved that it was best to tell the truth.

"Well, there really isn't a whole lot to tell, but I guess there are some things you probably should know." he replied hesitantly, "I was basically an orphan my dad left before I was born and my mother died days after she gave birth to Caleb and I yet no one in my pack really knows how or why. We were taken up by the pack's orphanage and Caleb was the runt so naturally he didn't survive. Just recently they kicked me out for, I don't know, being different I guess, then again that's probably why I was never adopted, because I was "different"."

Alyssa couldn't respond, for she was struggling to hold back tears to no avail. Caleb face palmed; Ash noticed this and realized he screwed up again.

"I'm so sorry," he apologized, "You know what enough about the dark and brooding stuff one of my favorite things to do is lie down at night, look up at the stars, and wonder who else might be looking up at the same sky as me. This world we live in is so vast, and wonderful; the mystery of our existence is absolutely mind-baffling to me."

Alyssa looked at him with teary yet intrigued eyes.

"Yeah, the world is an amazing place." She replied. "Though I wonder where Nova is."

"You didn't see her in the Healers Den this morning either did you?" Ash asked.

"No, as a matter of fact I didn't," she affirmed, "we probably should look for her."

Ash looked around then nodded.

"Sounds like a good idea," he replied, "and while we look, you could tell me a little more about yourself."