The old city

Ion blink and retracted her had, watching the shadeling intently. Well, he hadn't ignored her, and he was sitting beside her, so that was a good sign. Maybe there was hope for left for other Shades and their shadelings to have a relationship she and Cri had. Cri, rolled onto her other side and looked at the shadeling sitting next to her. A quick glance up told Ion she was thinking the same thing. "What's his name?" Ion asked, giving a quick jerk of her head towards Wolf's shadeling.

Wolf looked down and suddenly felt a little ashamed. "Doesnt have one..." Wolf had always hated shades. It was why he had no parents. "I guess the two of us just are... aquantances.." He added holding tighter on her hand. "Cri saved your life... Mine made things harder."

"He doesn't have to," Ion said quietly, squeezing back and giving him a half smile. Of course she knew she didn't understand what it was like to be in his position, and she wasn't going to pretend to. But she was going to try and help them form some type of relationship.

Wolf looked down at it and sighed. "I dont know... I'd never heard of a shadeling getting a connection and being ok with the human. Not before you at least. It would be handy, but I dont see it working." Wolf rubbed higher up on her leg feeling her squeeze his other hand.

"Well, I guess you'll never know until you try, right?" Ion reached down slowly, hesitating just before making contact with the earth shadeling. Cri was like a cold mist to touch, what would this be like? And would he even let her touch him. She waited patiently to see if he would allow her to follow through.

The shadeling looked up but just kept still watching her. "Careful." He said slowly watching as she went to touch it. The shadeling looked uneasy about it but didnt even try to move. The shadeling looked to Cri almost for support before letting out a series of small high pitch noises, asking the other shadeling if it was ok. Wolf watched his shadeling speak to it and sighed. He didn't even know what it was saying.

Cri nodded enthusiatically. Ion ignored Wolf's warning and waited until Cri had soothed the shadeling before letting her hand drop down a little further.

Wolf watched her move down and his shadelings small body perked up awaiting her touch. The small body filled in as its natural shape and color moved over the dark cloud. A soft mesh of moss covered over it resembling a chi pet. Wolf watched with an air of Curiosity uncertain what would happen.

Ion brushed her fingers against the cool moss on top of the shadeling's head. Cri came cover and sat down beside her leg in case anything started to happen. It truly was an odd feeling, touching a shadeling that wasn't Cri, but it wasn't bad.

The Shadeling calmed down and rolled up blending right against the ground. "Guess he liked you." Wolf smiled watching her hand rub over the top of the creatures head. "How come I never get any petting?" Wolf asked smiling playfully as he looked up with the thought. "Just saying.."

"Because your head's not covered in moss," Ion chuckled. She trailed her fingers down the shadeling's back a couple of times before moving closer to Wolf. Cri on the other hand lied down where she was and cocked her head at the shadeling curled up.

Wolf chuckled watching her pet him. It was getting a bit chilly out but Sharing Ion's heat kept him warm enough. "Figure you join Halloween at the village?" He asked hoping they would still be continuing the tradition this year. "Maybe join me at the dance?" HE asked smiling, He had only gone one year before but starting a new life meant changing things.

"Halloween sounds fun. Now, unless we go back to the bookstore and get some intruction books on how to dance I think you should keep me sitting down." Ion smiled and shook her head. She pulled at a string on her shirt for something to keep busy.

Wolf gave another smile squeezing his leg. "Im sure you'd be great." The sun was setting already but it was likely only 5 or 6. Got dark early in the fall. "Well this will be an awkward existence if we can never decide what to do." He joked hoping they could come up with something.

Ion bit her lip and stretched her toes in her shoes. "How set are you on staying at the village?" she asked, not looking up. Whether it was the right time or not she wasn't sure, but it was on her mind so she just decided to blurt it out.

Uh oh... Wolf let off a blink as the random question bounced in his head. "Well... I... uh..." Wolf had no idea how to respond... He hadnt thought about it. "I guess you'd rather not stay?" He finally came up with his hand loosening its grip on her leg. Akward... he thought pulling her farther onto his lap his arms wrapping around her. "Depends what your thinking."

"Well, I was just wondering. I mean, the villagers seem to be handling themselves pretty well lately, and I, uh, kind think it would be fun to go traveling again. We could search for more Shades and maybe make a colony of our own. I'm sure there are some out there who are confused about what's happened, they don't know how to control their powers and keep their shadelings at bay. We could help them, teach them how to be the masters." She stopped and risked a glance up at Wolf.

Wolfs face was a look of confusion but he nodded anyways. No romance for who knows how long, but dragging me off to a different town they would make together was alright? Wolf almost laughed at himself. If thats what she wants, then thats what I want, Stop being such a prick and grow up. He looked over to her and smiled. "I would love that." He hugged her tighter and smiled. "Were coming back for Halloween right?"

"Well, I was thinking we could stay until Halloween, then work our way south, if that was OK with you. I know the timing's not the greatest, but I mean..." Ion wrapped her arms around him, embracing the hug, before pulling them back and moving back slightly so she could see his face.

Wolf nodded smiling to her. "Sounds great. But why south? How far do you wanna go?" He asked playing over her emotion for the situation. Why ask now? She could have asked later, or even at the start.

Shrugging, Ion put her hands down on the dirt behind her and leaned back. "I don't know, it's warmer south, and has more rainfall. We only have to go as far down as we want." She could already feel her veins being pumped with the adrenalin that came with traveling. New sites to see, scents to smell, food to taste, and new people to help. Ever since she had made it to the village she had been observing how 'typical' Shades acted, alone and with their shadelings. Now with the progress made with Wolf's shadeling she felt as though she could really help people, and maybe if she did it would decrease or at least slow down the number of full Shades being created. Like the one who was killed in the raid. That picture was forever engraved in her mind.

Wolf nodded thinking about this carefully. Well... it would be fun.. But who knew what would happen. Just a backpack worth of stuff... If they got in a fight what would he do? walk back? But instead a instinctive chill ran up his back as he thought about it and looked to Ion. Its what I feel i need though...

"And I was thinking we could see about asking Lilith and maybe the others to tag along. They're Shades right? It would be a good start." Cri stood up and stretched, then jumped onto her lap and lied back down. Ion shifted her weight onto her other hand so that she could lift the other one to pet her.

Wolf nodded hidding his mixed feelings. It was only fair... This girl was like a giant charity work. Giving her leg another rub he lifted his head. "What are we going to bring with us?" The question also suggested he was curious of there transportation.

Ion shrugged again. "Well, how good of shape is that Escalade in? That would give us a way to carry more things and travel faster."