Hey, I know that all I've been explainig so far isn't exactly "exciting," but don't worry, things will get interesting soon. Why? Because this is the part where I explain my departure from home.

"Ahh, time for the funnest part of leaving home..."

Okay, I forgot to mention that I am an Arctic Fox, or, as we are also known, a "Frost Kistune." So, I live in cold places, like a mountain at Dante's Freezer. Also, since I live in cold places, I have naturaly long, thick, and (my favorite part) FLUFFY fur. Speaking of fur, I don't think I've told you what I look like, have I?

Well, I have all of the norml features of a fox, like the traingular-ish ears, the pointed muzzle, the whiskers, the tail, blah blah blah. My fur is mostly a dark-marine blue, with the exception of all four of my paws, which are black, an abnormally fluffy "V" shaped patch of fur directly under my neck, which is white, and the semi-short hair on top of my head, which is also black. Oh, right, and my eyes are hazel, but can change color slightly depending on the light. The brighter the light gets, the more blue my eyes become, while the dimmer the light gets, the more green my eyes become. Oh and, one more thing. I wear a flourescent green and yellow rope necklace around my neck that makes me think of the word "limon" for some reason. And lastly, I wear a faded black hooded cloak that only comes down to my stomach...or, the center of my back, as the case is.

I walked through the snow to the top of a very long drop to the bottom of the mountain and looked over the edge, grinning at the thought of what I was about to do. You see, once most people make it to the top of the mountain, they usually don't leave, because the winds and steep slopes are hell to get through, but getting down, that's a whole different story. An easier one, that is!

I took a few steps back, and croched slightly, preparing myself for a good few steps before the jump. I closed my eyes and took a few deep breaths, then quickly kicked-off! I only took three steps before reaching the edge and jumping. I sailed through the air for a few moments before gravity took affect and I came plummeting toward the slopes, bracing myself for impact, but it wasn't really needed because the deep snow broke my fall for me.

After bouncing up a little bit, I was able to regain balance and land on my feet. And then the fun began. Since I was on slippery snow on the side of a steep mountain, gravity slid me down toward the bass of the mountain. It was like snowboarding, except without the board. Snow sliding, I guess? Whatever it should be called, it was fun!

"Whooooo-hoooo!" I laughed as I gained more and more speed, the snow and wind whipping through my fur and ears. That was the most fun I've ever had in my life, and I wish I could do it again, but, like I said, getting back up there isn't exactly something easy to do.

Eventually, I reached the bottom of the mountain, where a small village was, and quickly found a nice motel to settle in for the night. Of course the owner was a little skeptical, since I was only twelve, but, after paying him a few extra gems, he didn't think any more of it.

For the next year, I traveled from village to village, just doing whatever the heck I wanted. Of course I had trimmed my fur down when in hot areas, and let it grow when in cold areas. During my travels, I had gotten mugged and jumped a few times, but thanks to a friend i made in one of the villages, I had a way to defend myself. Wanna know what it was? It was a stick.

I walked through a forest path, examening my new staff by twisting it around in my paws. It was made from a very durable wood, and seemed to glow slightly, but that was only because it was new. It was just about the same size as me, but a little bit smaller.

"Well, this will make defending myself from muggers a hell of a lot easier." I said cheerily, "Especially since this is the only weapon I
know how to use."

I continued down the path a little longer, carrying the staff over my shoulder, but I had to stop because I was blocked by a group of four snickering cheetahs.

I tilted my head to the side, a small smile on my face, "Well hello." I said cheerily, "How are you today?"

One of the cheetahs laughed a little bit, "I think we found a retarded one, boys." this brought more snickering from the others.

I raised an eye at this one, "Oh, I'm not retarded, I'm just...optimistic, is all."

"Oh really?" said one of the other cheetahs.

"Yep." I responded brightly.

"Alright, whatever, just give us that stick, and any gems ya' got, and you won't have to eat some dirt. Mkay?" said the first cheetah bluntly.

I looked up and to the side slightly, placing my paw under my chin in a thoughtful look, and said, "Hmm...I think I'll pass on that."

The cheetah shrugged, "Your choice..."

The other three took casual steps toward me, not expecting a fight because of my constantly happy disposition. When one of them reached for my staff, I quickly flicked it out, slapping his hand like a cook slapping away impatient customers.

Ow!" yelled the cheetah I had struck, "Now you're dead!" he yelled as he attempted to punch my face, instead, He punched my staff because I moved it into the way, "OW!"

I chuckled slightly this time, "And I'm the retarded one?"

"Get him!" yelled the cheetah who had just punched my staff.

The other two subordinates charged me from opposite sides. Once they were reletively close, I spun and took a step toward the right and flicked out my staff, slamming it against the head of the cheetah running at me and sending him to the ground with a pounding headache. Continuing the spin from the momentum so that I faced the second cheetah, I twirled the staff from my right paw, to my left then tossed it slightly into the air as it continued to twirl. I took a step toward the cheetah, turning slightly and placing my right hand out, then took another step while catching my staff and completing the turn. The poor guy was out cold before he even hit the ground.

The last two looked at me with expressions that were a mixture of shock, and fear, but mostly shock.

I gave them each a bright smile, and said, "I think I'll aim lower next time. I was thinking somehwere around the groin."

The two instantly turned and ran, deciding that a few gems and a staff weren't worth never having a sex life. Couldn't blame them.

"Hey! You guys forgot some stuff!" I shouted after them, laughing. I then turned behind me and saw one of the remaining cheetahs hastily dragging his unconceouse buddy away, "Oh, nevermind...I guess I'll just keep goin."

After a few more minutes of traveling, I made it to another village. Imediately after walking in I saw the four cheetahs from earlier mumbling to eachother. Deciding to have a little fun, I walked calmly up behind them, leaned slightly over their shoulder, then whispered.

"What's up?"

All of them froze, then slowly turned and looked at me, eyes wide. After staring at me for a few seconds, then all suddenly turned and
ran, stumbling over eachother as they went, and bringing a laugh out of me.

"Haha, they're such idiots..." just then, a chilling wind blew by and caused me to shiver a little, "Brrr...I guess I need to let my fur grow out a bit..." I looked around the area to see if there were any places for me to stay in for a while, and spotted a small place with a sign hanging by the door that read, "Nights Inn," and began walking toward it, "This looks like a nice place."

I entered the door and saw that the first room on the first floor was a small bar. There were a few lights on the walls that glowed dimly, some tables and chairs scattered about, and a red fox looking through some racks behind the bar. There were also some stairs leading up to what I guessed would be the guest rooms. I walked over to a table and sat down on a chair, propong my feet up on the table and leaning the staff against the other chair.

I didn't really do anything after that, I just felt like resting for a bit. I'd get a room later, of course, but resting sounded like a good idea at the moment. I calmly closed my eyes and listened to the squeaks of the floorboards, the wind that whistled by outside, and the sound of my own breathing.

Soon, though, I heard another noise. I opened my eyes and turned my head over my shoulder to see that the bartender had left his spot behind the bar, and had walked to a table that a young female wolf was sitting at. Interested, I listened to what the bartender said.

"Listen it's okay to stay in the bar if you're buying something, or if you rent a room, but you've only sat there." started the bartender, "And I'm sorry, but the manager doesn't tolerate loitering."

The young wolf looked up at him pleadingly, "But I can't pay for anything! I don't have any gems!"

"Then go home!" suggested the fox.

The wolf looked down at the table, her ears and eyes drooping, "I would if I could..."

The fox's eyes widened in realization, "Oh...dang, I'm so sorry, but you still have to leave, unless you pay."

I looked down at the small pouch that I kept my gems in, and began thinking, but I turned once more as I heard the scraping of chair legs against the floor, and saw the wolf beginning to leave, her eyes beginning to tear-up.

"Hey!" I shouted. The wolf stopped and looked at me, her eyes curious, "Catch."

I tossed her a few gems that I removed from the pouch. After she caught it, she gave a suspicious look, "What are these for?"

"So you can have some place to stay." I said with a shrug.

"No, I mean...Why are you helping me?" she asked.

"Oh...well, I, being optimistic, think that something good will happen no matter what, but I'm also a realistic type person, so...wait, that's going off topic..." I chuckled nervousely, realizingthat I was rambling, "Sorry, I tend to ramble sometimes...Alright, to the point. I'm helping you, because I can."

She stared at me, confused, then said, "I...what?"

I laughed, "Just forget that I said anything and go ask for a room." then I looked over to the bartender, who had been listening to our conversation with curiosity, "I'd also like one too, please."

The fox smiled, "Of course." aferwards, he turned and went to go pick- out rooms up the stairs.

I stood and grabbed my staff, then began to walk toward the steps, but stopped when the wolf said something.

"Wait!" I turned and looked at her, curiouse, "Thank you."

I smiled brightly at her, giving a big cheesy grin, "Hey, no problem." then continued up the stairs.

Once I reached the top, the bartender motioned for me to follow him. He led me to the end of the hallway, then opened the door on the right with a key, which he then handed to me.

"Thanks." I said before walking into my new room.

"No problem." responded the fox before he closed the door, leaving me alone, again.

I stood in the middle of my room and looked down, my eyes going blank, "Alone..." I whispered, "Did I really makethe right choice?" I asked as I looked up. At that moment, the window in my room blew open from a strong gust of wind, which I imediately closed, a smile returning to my lips, "Geese, won't even give me a moment of doubt, will ya?" then I stepped back and sat on my bed, closing my eyes an shaking me head, "And here I am talking to nature again..."

I then stood up and bent my back until I heard a loud pop and felt a small twinge of pain, then straightened-up, sighing, "Well, I think I'll go for a quick run..." a boom of thunder interrupted my sentence, but I ignored it, "...like I said, I'll go for a quick run, then get some rest."

After exiting my room and getting down the steps, I spotted an open window, and, feeling a sudden urge to do something acrobatic, I sprinted towards it then jumped, kicking my legs up and out. I hit the ground outside and rolled to my feet, bouncing as I stood. When I looked back, I saw the bartender giving me a very confused look.

"Heh, I sometimes feel like doing 'spontaneous acrobatics,' as I call it." I said with a chuckle, "One of my many oddities."

The bartender laughed and returned to his work, "Crazy kid..."

After I laughed a little bit more, I turned, skipped slightly, then hit the ground doing a dead run. I sprinted past the houses, recieving some confused looks from people that I passed. Eventually, after reaching the edge of the village, my breath began to become shallow and my chest began to sting. I ignored it though, I mean, I was only running for five minutes.

After a few more minutes, my legs began to feel sore from the constant running, which was my cue to turn around. So, I slowed to a stop, breathing heavily with my hand on my chest.

"Hey...I can see my breath..." I mumbled to myself, "Well...time to....turn around." so I turned around and imediately saw a fork in the path, "Aw crap...I DON'T KNOW WHICH WAY I WENT!"

I put my hand on my forehead, "Man, I wouldn't be this concerned if I didn't leave my staff and gems back at the room, but I DID!" after finishing my rant, a chilling wind blew by, causing me to shiver, "Gah, I'll just pick right..."

I started to walk down the right fork, when a voice suddenly came from my left, "Wrong way."

I stopped, turning my head to see a familiar black wolf leaning against a tree, "Wait, you're that girl from the inn."

"Yeah, I am."

"Wll then, thanks for your help." I said as I changed direction and began to walk along the left path.

"Thanks for the gems, by the way." she said as I passed.

"So, is that why you stalked me all the way out here?" I said with a smirk without looking behind me.

I don't know what she looked like, or what she did, but I did hear a loud, and very angered "WHAT!?" her voice cracking slightly.

"Well, see ya!" I said hastily as I sprinted down the path, waving over my shoulder and laughing.

Once I reached the village again, I stopped running and walked the rest of the way to the hotel, my breathing once again heavy. I was about to enter the hotel when I suddenly stopped and looked up at the sky.

"Huh, it didn't rain for once...weird." I entered the hotel and saw that the bartender wasn't there anymore, then I noticed that it was actually dark outside, "Hmm, guess he went to sleep. Think I'll do the same."

That day was over, and the next day would begin in a few hours; my journy would continue. Sometimes I wonder why I continue to travel without a destination, but then I remembered, the reason I did this, as well as everything eles, was a simple one: Because I could.

Nice philosophy, ain't it?

Lol, no, I didn't leave home, but, considering school, scouts, camping, vacations with friends, and a whole bunch of other stuff, I'm not at home often. And...lol (again), that is a philosophy that I live by. For example, Science: why does the universe exist? "BECAUSE IT CAN!"
Why is this triangle congruent to that one? "BECAUSE IT CAN!"
Life: WHY THE HELL DID YOU JUST JUMP THAT GAP EVEN THOUGH IT WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE AND YOU WOULD HAVE DIED IF YOU DIDN'T MAKE IT!?!?!? "Do I really have to say it? I'll say it anyway...BECAUSE I CAN!!!"

Lol, see what I mean? It's life's loophole.

Cy