Disclaimer: I don't own spirited away.

The night as it begins, and winds its way from the mountain roots; the green leaves that shrine before the summer bears its fruits - and the beat and the hum of the spirit drum, and another world's high flutes.

Chihiro looked around in new wonder, taking in the image of the world before her. The lanterns that marked the trail -lighting their way slowly as they approached, and fading again as they passed beneath.

The creatures who followed her steps as if she were the fire -illuminating what they could not see. "Can they not find the way on their own?"

"There is little path for them to follow." The myth that was not so answered simply, bumping her slightly with the large expanse of his head to get her feet to move again. "The wolves could find it, if they were desperate. But then, there are many who still believe wolves dwell somewhere in Japan -hidden."

At her look of wonder -and then dawning realization, the dragon laughed, his breath fog that clung to the edges of her, as if she were making up for the creatures that were only half there.

"Come, they grow restless, and we have much to do." His voice full of dark promise, -tempting her with an eagerness she didn't understand.

And when she took a step, it was into the air -frost forming in her wake, only to fade moments later.

"Do you think you can fly as swiftly as your betrothed?" He asked, seeming almost playful as he lowered on his haunches -rolling his shoulders slightly, beckoningly, so that she might take him up on his challenge.

Her answer was to begin to run -awed by how little resistance her Kimono gave against the motion, and how her steps didn't falter in her Geta -even as she moved along in the very air, her dragon keeping pace by her side.

And it was as if the wind where carrying her -taking her steps further than they would have by her own power.

And as they rounded a bend -the earth dropping off sharply at the trail's side -she could see the village below, not far.

Chihiro did not follow the marked path -the way of the lost looking for repentance; the path that lead to the God of the amber river. And to her. Instead she let the wind carry her over that drop off, and above the trees. Around her, she felt fur against her exposed flesh, and there were wolves running with them through the air.

Howling in joyous a celebration had lights flickering on in the town below -and fading into mist before any could see them.

Note: So I loved the image of the wolves too much to not include them again. I think they might make a couple of appearances at some point beyond this. And sorry for the few day delay in posting -me and my boyfriend have been consumed with spring cleaning, which mostly consists of throwing out all the junk out last roommate left (which is a surprising amount of crap), so that our guest room is clear. We'll be back into the happenings next chapter, I assure you. And as always, Reviews are a wonderful thing to leave.

Glossary:

Geta - a form of traditional Japanese footwear that resemble both clogs and flip-flops. They are a kind of sandal with an elevated wooden base held onto the foot with a fabric thong to keep the foot well above the ground.

Japanese Wolves - There where two subspecies of Japanese wolves, the Hokkaidō wolf (or Ezo wolf) and The Honshū wolf. Which have been extinct since 1889 and 1905, respectively.