[b]Miriam 
Chapter 3: Cats and dogs[/b]

	"Wake up." Miriam bumped her foot against the snoozing old man with dry humour. The soldier only turned in his rest, grumbling something hazy about retirement. Miriam afforded a heavy sigh and sagged her shoulders before speaking up more soundly. "Wake up, old man!"
And so with a startled twitch Walter threw his head up and bumbled his response. 
	"Wh'- Yessir, I'm quite alright!" Miriam rolled her eyes and turned around from the groggy man. 

Miriam looked out through the door, the time was impossible to tell as the storm was still raging madly above them, there was another flash of lightning which lit up the endless vista of bogs before her. And then the thunder rolled around. Miriam turned back around to look at the stirring soldier, or whatever he was. Huddled in a thick cloak and yawning. At least someone had gotten some rest.
	"Young miss?" Walter politely began as he was standing up.
	"What?" Miriam retorted inhospitably, tucking her hands under her own cloak for warmth.
	"I'm afraid I didn't catch your name.", he looked to Miriam with a mild smile under his gray beard. Idly adjusting pieces of his leather attire.

Miriam left the entrance behind in silence and returned to the center of the house, she sat next to the sleeping dog and busied herself by petting its head. Walter observed her uneasily before clearing his throat. 	"I don't meet many people in my work. Do you mind if I ask what you're doing out here all by yourself?"
	"Yes."
	"Pardon?"
	"Yes, I do mind." Miriam nodded firmly.
	"Oh. Well." Walter bristled his whiskers in a mumble before speaking more clearly again. "Alright, then. - It is only, such a rare sight, is all. But what about your name? It is only proper, since I gave you mine." Miriam groaned shortly and set her eyes on the bothersome old man. 
	"It's Miriam, and now that you've gotten your rest. You can be on your way." She nodded towards the door hastily.

Walter stroke a hand over his beard thoughtfully, nodding to himself. 
	"Miriam.." He then trailed her nod and looked outside. "Out there?" Walter chuckled heartily. "You'd sentence me to drown in that rain, miss Miriam."
	"Frankly, I don't much care."
	"Hrmph, you should. Abandoned lands such as these, it is the kingdom of the wights now." Another thoughtful stroke of his beard came along the warning.
	"Wights?" Miriam cocked her eyebrow sarcastically and then scoffed. "Next you'll tell me about dragons and Pegasus." A moment of silence fell as Walter only returned a look of concern against Miriam's ambivalence. "-Listen, old man. There's nothing out here besides graves and mud. You can tell your king that." Walter perked up in confusion. 
	"Tell the king?"
	"Yes? Since you're some scout..." Miriam suspiciously dragged on.
	"Oh, yes." Walter chuckled nervously. "Indeed." A moody silence fell over the house. Walter cleared his throat and casually eyed the building, Miriam kept her eye on the man, more suspicious than before. "What breed is that?" The awkward silence was broken as Walter had set his eyes on Leia. Miriam canted her head, bemused. 	
	"She's a dog?" Walter chuckled, shaking his head. 
	"I can see that, miss. What kind of dog?" Miriam's confusion was interrupted by another crack of thunder, as the house was lit up by a nearby strike of lightning. Once it had settled Walter continued, unaffected. "A winchester, must be my guess." He nodded to himself, pleased with his own answer. Miriam shook her head, looking down at the half-asleep dog by her side. Her constant companion, her best, if only friend. A winchester, whatever that meant. "I realize you will most likely not answer me, but might I ask where you will go next?" Walter queried, eventually. Miriam looked up at the old man and for a moment, she regretted her decision not to axe his face. She sighed and allowed a waft of the hand. 
	"West, probably."
	"Is that so? We travel the same direction, then. It'd be best for both of us to travel together, no?"
	"I don't rea-" Miriam started
	"Miriam!" Walter bristled gruffly and suddenly. "I am not blind. Travel with me, and you may share my food. Take this offer now, girl, lest it becomes the last one you get." There was a flash of lightning which lit up the house, as the moody scavenger met the fierce gaze of the supposed soldier. As the flash subsided, the thunder came..