Yes, all the pretty signs, colored lights and great neopoint offers had looked great at first. "A Trip to scenic Terror Mountain!", they said....and for free! Talk about an opportunity. But, this wasn't exactly what you had in mind. A nice, relaxing ski trip perhaps...or some stay in a warm log cabin for a week as you lounged about in your warm footies and long-johns had been the first thought in your mind. But no, this was a 'roughing it' trip through the cold, nearly uninhabited terrain of Terror Mountain as your tried to reach one of the tallest summits to visit the castle of Taliea.
I can't believe I ever agreed to this..
you stated with a continuing monotone as the other campers started their treck.

Hours seemed to pass by slowly as you crept along behind the rest of the group. With each step, you continued to sigh, unimpressed and unwilling to even be there at this point. Your eyes lifted, seeing in the very front of the caravan was the form of a young, ice bori, shimmering body taking in the sun and casting it back on the brilliant, white snow around him.
Every so often he would stop, standing up on his hind legs to point out a certain part of the mountain.
This here, campers,
he would state, overenthusiastically,
is the sight of the largest mound of snow ever recorded on Terror Mountain.
The rest of the group ooed and ahhed at the sight of the billowing and shifting white flakes that stuck together closely knit like a quilt.
Who cares...It's just a big, giant pile of wet stuff..
you mutter from behind, crossing the arms of the snow jacket in front of you as you stare angrily ahead. The leader bori didn't seem to notice, flicking his tail with a 'clink' noise before moving on up the slope. The others followed in line obediently...but, for some reason, you decided to linger.
Just then....It started to snow

Your eyes fell upon the mound, blinking up while leaning back to try and see to the top of it. It was, indeed, a very tall mound. You scanned all around it, though from where you were standing you couldn't quite see all the way around it. With a gruff, you put down the pack fastened tightly on your back before moving away from your earlier position. The snow crunched loudly under your foot steps, boot incased with the white, frozen water while you slowly made your way to the other side. As you walked, the sound of footsteps echoed from behind the mound. Stopping quickly; you turn about to peer behind you, head moving so fast that whiplash almost set in. Yet, to your dismay, there was nothing there. More muttering came from the back of your throat before you faced the front again, waiting a few moments before pressing onwards_

A few more seconds passed and the sounds came once again. Now this was getting creepy. They where definitely not your own feet making the sound, as they stopped a little behind when yours did. A shiver crawled up your spine as you turn around, again, to nothing. Finally you made it to the side of the mound. With wary eyes, you peered over it to the other side, searching for the source of the noise. Nothing was there...Just more snow, an ever increasing amount as the constant drift fell down from the sky. With a relieved sigh, you put your hand over your heart.
Heh....I'm just hearing things...This stupid trip has got me upset and tensed..That's all...
You say, hoping to reassure yourself. Yet, when you turned your head around to go back to your pack, you found the smaller, leaner form of a young lupe, fiery eyes glancing right into yours. .

AHH!
you called out, falling backwards as powder flew about your falling body, hitting the earth with a loud CRUNCH. Placing your hands over the rest of your body, protectively, you opened your eyes just a bit to look back to the brute.
Don't eat me! Don't eat me!
You repeated, convinced that this creature was looking out for his next meal. The lupe just stared, his fiery tail flicking behind him as his head tilted, somewhat cutely.
Eat you? Bah! I'd never do that...
he said, his voice soothing, but obviously belonging to that of an adolescent. He then smirked, ears pinning to his head, playfully.

But...That doesn't mean that I can't.
he now teased, baring his fangs.
You whimpered, wincing your eyes shut as you almost went into a fetal position in a defensive maneuver. The lupe laughed.
Don't worry, human, I'm not going to hurt you...My name's Auma, the son of the Phoenix.
he stated, somewhat proudly, though there was a slight hint of coldness in his voice.
You managed to open your eyes back a small bit, focusing more on the features of the lupe.

He was mostly white, though light colored flames moved up his legs, tail and ears. His eyes reflected the same color as his flames, though a little more yellow. Upon his left cheek were marked three, light blue dots...the same color dotting the very end of his tail. He seemed young...but his voice portrayed an elder lupe then he was. He was short for his age.
After a second or two, you finally sat up, staring at Auma with a raised brow to his earlier statement.
...Son....Of the...Phoenix?
you asked, hesitantly.
Auma nodded, giving a warm smile.
Yep! My dad has the soul of the Phoenix in him....Which, I guess, is pretty cool...
he said, head turning away for a moment to look to the fields of snow before him until finally returning.
....Then...Does that mean you do too?
you question once more, no end to the inquiries that were within the realm of your mind.
Auma let out a small laugh, lifting his head, and letting out a bark into the darkening sky, snow still swirling around, but with greater force now.
A loud, squeaking sound came from the sky, the small, firey shape of a creature coming into view shortly, bearing the same color flames as its caller. The fireball cooed and blinked its black, beady eyes towards you, floating there in the air beside Auma before he waved a flaming hand.
Blinking with great surprise, you look over to it and then slowly turned your eyes to Auma for an explanation.
Auma smirked.
This is Iuna...He's kinda like my Phoenix spirit.
he answered, nodding in response. .
he answered, nodding in response. You continued to stare at Iuna for the longest time, not minding the flakes of powdered, fresh snow that were starting to fall on your bare head.
....Spirit?
You eventually asked, being totally lost.

Auma rolled his eyes lightly and then flicked his tail over his haunches before his head turned to the sky, two bangs of hair falling over his eyes.
Hmmm.....Well, let me tell you a little more about myself before I try to explain anything else.
he suggested, lifting up his short legs before he walked towards you, nudging your arm.
It'll be good to get out of the cold too...Blizzards come around this place all the time.
With a slightly thankful, though nervous, look; you agreed and got up from the snow, following the fuzzy lupe over the snow as best you could, glad that his flames marked the way against the pounding white all around you....Secretly, in your heart, you wondered if this was a good idea or not.....


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