Jumping over tipped over trash cans and avoiding the alleyways at all cost, Yuna decides to walk a further distance from her home. It was written all over her face, she was bothered by the conversation she had with the two wolves. It was just a fairy tale- Paradise-, it was something that was hard to believe. Looking at the spots where she used to play with her grandfather just made her more sick to the stomach from being homesick. After his death, she gave up the urge to leave and to find a better place than this. Her grandfather's dying words told her different, but she wouldn't know where to start, she barely gets by as it is.
Walking on a stone bridge, Yuna snaps back into reality as she puts her one foot in front (as she is not paying attention) and suddenly hears loud yelp as she feels something under her foot. Startled, Yuna is taken aback at first, almost dropping the basket of flowers as she sees a rushing figure high tail it behind some empty crates. She shakes her head to clear her thought and looks around to see the cause of loud yelp. Looking up ahead, a tail of a dog stuck out from behind a number of crates, staying perfectly still. Sniffing the air, a familar scent catches her attention as she walks forward slowly to the abandoned crates. Near the crates, Yuna stands on her toes to identify the animal, doing so revealed a beautiful cinnamon colored wolf cowering in the corner of the crates. From the size of him, he was still just a pup.
"Um, hello there..." Yuna says softly.
The wolf turns his head and looks at the twin colored eyed girl with a scared look. Maybe he was paralyzed by fear, but he didn't even try to run. Yuna walks to the wolf and kneels down to his height, setting the basket of flowers down next to her. The wolf gingerly turns himself and sits in front of the girl.
"Did I step on you, little one?" She kindly asks. The wolf, understanding her gesture, barks once and quietly. Yuna wasn't surprised by his quick understanding. "Oh, please forgive me. I wasn't paying attention."
The wolf walks a few steps, close to her face and sniffs her a few. The wolf, confused by her scent as she didn't smell any different then a human, silently whimpers as he walks back abit scared. "Please, don't be scared, young pup." she says kindly as she smiles, "I may not look or smell like it... but I'm like you too."
In an instant, Yuna reveals her true form as a blonde furred wolf. Sitting up straight, wagging her tail slowly. The young wolf was startled by her transformation. Yuna, now back as a human, slowly reaches over and smooths the top of the wolf's head. The wolf leans his head into her hand as she is petting him, obviously enjoying it. Giggling, Yuna then says, "Strange day... you're the third wolf I've met today."
Yuna takes hold of the basket and stands back up, smiling down at the young pup. "Come with me, I'd like to talk to you." Walking back to the bridge, the wolf hesitates for a moment before he stands back up and follows right behind her. Sitting on the ledge of the bridge, Yuna cradles the basket in her arms on her lap and murmured a secret excitement to see another of her kind.
"What are you doing in a place like this? It's dangerous to be wondering around by yourself." Soon, a unexpected persona took place of the wolf.
"Umm, well... I have nowhere else to go." he says sadly. The wolf was now in the form of a young boy. Hair color the same as the color of his fur, his bangs hung over his forehead. The now human wolf sits down next to the she-wolf, swinging his one leg on the edge and resting his head on his knee.
"You don't?" Yuna says with concern, "Surely you must."
"No, I don't. Granny... she... she adopted me when I was still young. She was gentle and kind, and she took very good care of me..." Raising his right arm, he looks at the metal bracelets with sorrowful eyes. "She even gave me the bracelet here."
"What happened to her?" she asks. The young boy looks down at the ground sadly, telling Yuna the obvious. Sensing his answer and depressing, she sets the basket aside and scotchs close to the boy, causing him to blush. Yuna wraps her left arm around him and places her other hand on his right arm.
"It's all right." She says tenderly."You don't need to answer the question. I'm just sorry for your loss." The boy smiles slight and giggles.
"Thank you. You're a really nice lady..." Hesitating for a second, he looks at Yuna with a confused look. "Um, what's your name?"
"Oh! How rude of me..." She exclaims. Yuna lets go and introduces herself. "I'm Yuna, I've lived here for awhile myself. What's yours?" The boy blushes and smiles as he scratches his cheek with his index finger. "I'm Toboe, nice to meet c'ha." Toboe says happily.
"Toboe? That's a cute name for a cutie like you." Yuna says, making Toboe blush.
"Yuna's a pretty name too." Toboe saids with a giggle, enacting Yuna too as well. Looking over at the basket of flowers, Toboe's curiosity scratches at him. Now in this day and age, flowers are rarely seen. They've either died off or have been moved away.
"What's that basket of flowers for?" Toboe asks. Taking the basket and placing it back on her lap, Yuna smiles and says, "Oh, this? I sell these flowers here; it's my job."
"Really? I've never seen flowers this beautiful before, and none that smell that nice."
"Mmm-hmm, I live alone so that's about all I can do."
"Huh? You're alone too, Yuna?"
Yuna looks down sadly at the scaling height below the two, never had she talked about her grandfather to anyone before. But, it seemed to help Yuna feel less stress when she said it aloud. Maybe talking about it to another person might help.
"I was raised by an older man. He saved me when I was younger and has raised me ever since then. He passed away three years ago from a illness, so I've been working to support myself ever since."
Toboe looks at Yuna sadly, empathizing with her.
"Oh, I'm really sorry for asking." Toboe says very regretfully. "Don't worry about it, Toboe. It was a long time ago."
Placing her hand on Toboe's shoulder, Yuna kindly looks at him. "You know what my grandfather said to me before he died?"
"No, what?"
"He said: "Death is not a time of sadness, more of a journey we all must take one day in our lives. Allowing our spirits to fly free, we can still live on in the hearts of those we will miss. But know that one day, they'll make the same journey as you, and you'll be reunited again." "
"He really said that?" Toboe says with slight amazement
"Yeah, and what I mean is, is that even though the women who took care of you is no longer here, just know that she still lives on in you."
"Do... do you really believe that?" Toboe ask. Yuna nods her head. "... Thank you, Yuna. I feel happy to hear you say that." Yuna smiles brightly, happy that her grandfather's dying words have helped another.
"Do you still think your grandpa is still around, Yuna?" Toboe asks.
"Well, at time I have doubts. The last three years have been hard, and sometimes wish I had listen to more of his teachings. But, yes. I do still believe he watches over me and prays for me. I hope he is."
Toboe smiles at Yuna and says, "Me too... I mean, I hope so too." Yuna gently smiles back at him.
"Thank you, Toboe. That's very sweet of you to say." Earning Toboe a sheepish giggle. Yuna stands back up, grabbing hold of the flowers in hand. With the two sharing glances, Yuna reaches her hand to Toboe.
"If you have nowhere else to go, Toboe... you're welcomed to come with me." Toboe's eyes widened abit, looking at Yuna's gentle smile, as he slowly takes her hand and stands back up. "You mean... you want me to stay with you?"
"Of course, we wolves have to stick together, you know. Beside, I'd like the extra company. Do you mind?" Toboe happily shakes his head and says, "Oh no, not at all. Thanks alot Yuna." Looking behind Toboe, Yuna noticed a man coming out of the alleyway and walking towards them; with a grin on his face, holding a knife at his side. As he continued to approach closer, Yuna's inner instincts told her to take evasive action. Taking hold of Toboe's hand, she backs away. "Come on, Toboe. We have to go." She says with a scared tone. "Why Yuna? What's wrong?"
Toboe looks behind Yuna and is stricken with a terrified face. He points behind and shouts, "Yuna, watch out! Behind yo..." His sentence is cut off as a man's hand covers his mouth. Yuna felt someone wrap their arm around her, blocking off the use of her arms, causing her to drop the basket of flowers on the ground, landing perfectly on the ground without them falling over. The coldness of steel is pressed against the skin of her neck as she hears the voice of a common familiar.
"I finally have you, bitch!"