Chapter Ten

At the river not too far away Sallie could be seen scrubbing a rather large dog, who seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the treatment.

"Now I need to find a name for you." She though out loud.

"How about Cheeky?"

Sallie turned to see the kind rancher Fado standing beside the river, he was a tan man whose clothes looked like they had seen better days-what with their weariness. She smiled at her tall friend, "Nah Cheeky would be better for you." She said sticking her tongue out at him, "Anyways what are you up to? Just intruding on random washing events?" The two had been friends for as long as they could remember, Fado was like the older brother Sallie never had, while she acted as his younger sister whether he wanted to or not. Normally he rejected the younger sibling behavior just because they were near the same age range or the fact she could be really annoying at times. Nevertheless they were very close friends which explains the immediate rejection of Fado hinting at something more, he was in the friend zone…forever.

"So where did you get the dog? Or wolf? It's huge!" Fado pointed at the dog, nervous at it's size. "I didn't get him to be honest, he kinda got me. You could say I was adopted." Sallie laughed and continued to wash the dog, still aware that Fado was still watching her wash the big, green, dog, "Heh yeah. That would make sense since you never say no." He chuckled.

"Oh really? I don't think that's true." She retorted.

"It is, remember the babysitting incident?"

"Come on that was nothing."

"Sallie, the kids tied you up and left you for the monkeys."

"It happened once."

"It happened twice."

"Touché."

By this time Fado had made his way to stand next to Sallie, he was rewarded with a surprise hug from his friend. Any friend of hers would be victim to random embraces; there was really no explanation for this act of affection other then the fact the girl enjoyed it, though Fado figured that is was probably because she had grown up without parents she used hugs to feel loved by people close to her, something that she missed out on as a child.

The dog barked at Sallie tugging at her damp top with its teeth, hinting for attention. "Okay, I think someone wants to finish his bath…weird dog, I thought they didn't like baths." Sallie smiled and returned scrubbing the green hound, Fado joined in but stopped abruptly after the dog growled and snapped at his hand. Fado retreated back away from the beast's reach, "Woah okay...fiesty one you have there." Sallie merely laughed, "Not feisty just uh..."

"Dangerous." Her friend suggested with a questioning glance.

"Protective." She corrected with a smirk. Sallie had a reputation to be an "accidental flirt". The actions she assumed were only of mutual friendliness were treading the thin line of flirtatious. Fado was constantly victim to her teasing so he understood what his friend really meant was only a friendly gesture and nothing more, but that never stopped him from playing along at times. However their conversation ended sooner then anticipated as the herder spotted the two missing goats he had been searching for before meeting Sallie. It wasn't coincidence that the animals were standing next to the girl's house.

"Hey did you steal something of mine?" Fado asked suspiciously.

"Nope" Sallie replied, "Only your heart." She added, raising a soapy hand to her forehead for dramatic effect. Fado ignored the last comment and merely stated, "You stole my goats." Staring straight at her, there was no playful gesture with what he said. The disappearance of goats was not uncommon, however Fado had given his friend a final warning not to steal his animals or else punishments would be induced.

Sallie immediately became wary of her friend's tone, "They needed to be free! They're crowded in that stable, plus you leave the gate open all the time so you're just begging them to escape."

Fado shot her another serious glance, "Sallie you and I both know the only time my goats want to leave is when you and Ralia want to visit."

"Hmph" Sallie pouted defeated. Without another word she strode passed Fado leaving the dog behind who looked up from the absence of attention. The girl continued her stride until she reached the two goats. Without waiting for any further comments she grabbed a bundle of rope that lay sprawled on the ground and tied it around the first goat and climbed onto the back of the other. Both the dog and Fado just stared as the girl herded the two goats up the hill to the ranch, her head still raised high, she was angry.

"This could end badly…" Murmured Fado released from the trance he was in. He knew Sallie far too well that the girl would be more then willing to make his life difficult after chiding her the goats. Desperate to avoid anymore and conflicts in his schedule he sprinted after the girl and his goats into the ranch.

The dog merely watched keenly with its blue eyes. Wading in the river it quietly waited for the girl to return. He feared that he would have to leave soon.

It was night and the moon was high above Ordon Village. While most of its inhabitants slept, two lay wide awake unable to sleep, surprisingly enough they also shared the same name.