Having come from a more sheltered, traditional type of family, Chickadee was still having a hard time getting used to the openness of the wolves she had met here in Moladion. Her past was a similar story to that of Jagger's; but rather than being a brave soldier clearing the path for change, Chickadee had lived a dull life being obedient and modest and doing whatever she was told. Her biggest accomplishment, in fact, was simply that she had left her family in search of new lands. She had only expected to find more of the same -- different names and faces, but always the same attitudes, the same jobs, the same future.

It wasn't that her heart was in the wrong place; Chickadee was simply the sort of girl who liked to take things as they came, even if they frightened her. She believed in fate -- a faceless deity who had predetermined every event of her life, from birth until death. The thought was comforting to her, to think that there was little she could do to change the pathway of her destiny. Perhaps it eased the guilt she would have otherwise felt at accepting her role as a destined mother and mate. All she wanted in life was to find her imprint mate and raise a litter of healthy pups; she had no aching for glory or fame. But that did not mean she would avoid such things if they came along... Life was like a story, for her -- and with interest she waited to turn each page, savoring the twists and turns that came along, without questioning why things were the way they were.

So in some ways, she and Jag were very different -- but in other ways, they were quite similar. It seemed destined that the two would make for a perfect duo.

Chickadee was glad to hear that Jagger was just as new to Moladion. It made her feel so much less alone. Her tail wagged happily at the thought, and she couldn't help but grin. "What are the odds?" Chickadee laughed, her voice trembling a little with the last disappearing ebbs of nervousness. "I was beginning to think I was the only outsider..."

Jagger changed the subject quickly, and her addition of the word 'love' to Chickadee's nickname made the auburn girl's stomach flutter with giddiness. She felt her cheeks flush with bashfulness, but she did her best to hide how flustered the kindness had made her feel.

"Not really," she answered honestly. Without pups to care for, the idea of creating a den for herself hadn't really crossed her mind -- but now, standing there in the open winter air, she couldn't think of anything she would have liked more than a warm, dark place to curl up in. "But I know of a place not far from here, where we could go. There are plenty of places to find shelter."

Chickadee rose to her feet, flicking her tongue nervously over her nose. She hoped that Tesseract wouldn't mind if she brought new blood into his home; but based on what little she knew of him so far, she doubted it would be much of an issue. Tesseract matched Jagger's charming kindness, but in a far different way -- where she was energetic and quick, he was leisurely and polite. But somehow, Chicky thought (or at least hoped) Tess would approve.

She turned to look Eastward, where the forest would eventually give rise to the salty-aired sea shores of Glorall. She cast a wary glance back at her new friend, her tail wagging slowly with uncertainty. "It's just to the East of here," she said quietly, her lips curling into a shy little smile. "I can show you, if you'd like?"

---

CHICKADEE
^{you're not alone}