It would explain his behavior... He and Koa are always together these days, after all. They’re built a really close friendship... It is a friendship, right? They’re different species after all. But maybe they’re similar enough? Hmm...
My head was still reeling with theories when Koa huffed lightly, almost as though she was exasperated.
Not lovers, then, or she wouldn’t have reacted like that... I guess maybe Chai likes her, though. Poor boy, getting huffed at by the girl he likes.
“Chai, you’re so damn cute,” I said, voice tinged with affection. Both canines looked at me blankly.
I can’t help but want to cheer him on... Even if they are different species. With animals, it’s usually all about making sure your own kind doesn’t go extinct, I guess... He’s gonna have his work cut out for him. Oh, but this is a parallel world, so maybe it’s not so impossible?
“You got this, boy.”
Well, maybe not, but a little encouragement isn’t gonna hurt!
“Oh yeah— I was gonna go for a little run through the forest to clear my head. Do you wanna come with me?” I asked, well aware of the futility of the question. The animals only occasionally seemed to understand me at all—and even when they could, it wasn’t like they could reply. I received two identically confused expressions in return, just as I’d predicted.
You do look cute together.
“Okay, um... Forest,” I said, pointing to the trees. Koa and Chai nodded. Next, I pointed at myself, and imitated a running motion. They nodded again.
Looks like we’re mostly there... Crap, I never know how to communicate “together,” though!
“Grrr.” Koa tapped me lightly with her nose and stood up. She ambled off the deck and into the clearing beside, and turned back toward me as if waiting—
Wait, she did understand me! Who’s a smart girl?
“Thanks,” I said, hurrying after her into the clearing.
I’d taken to going for a run whenever I felt especially stressed or when I simply needed to refresh my mind. It didn’t leave me too tired afterward, and in fact, I usually came back feeling better than I had when I’d left.
“Oh, Chai—you’re coming too? I get it. You don’t wanna let Koa out of your sight, huh?”
He’s freaking adorable. He looks scary, but his behaviour is so damn cute.
I grinned at Chai, failing to stifle a chuckle. He huffed and looked away pointedly.
Yep... Super freaking adorable. Argh, I wanna pat him so badly! But he’ll definitely get mad at me if I do.
Knowing that I wouldn’t be able to control myself if I kept looking at him, I averted my own eyes and willed myself to calm down.
“All right, let’s go!” I took off, flanked by a canine on either side. I was rather impressed with Chai for managing to prioritize my protection over Koa’s, although I quickly noticed that he was constantly glancing over to check on her.
It’s a real shame you’re not the same species. You guys would have the cutest puppies.
I scanned our surroundings as we ran through the forest. The remaining traces of the curse had faded even more over the past few weeks, and there were barely any shadows to be seen. Life inside the Barrier was getting close to being one hundred percent curse-free.
“Ah!” I let out an involuntary shout as a huge rabbit bounded right past us.
Hang on, didn’t I deep-fry you yesterday? Or one of your friends at least...
Walking outside yesterday to find a rabbit twice my size waiting to be butchered had been fairly surprising. More surprising, though, had been said rabbit’s taste and texture—both of which were a pretty near match for chicken.
That’s parallel worlds for ya! Also, it turns out that karaage’s a real crowd pleaser in every world...
I shuddered, remembering how the wolves had responded to the meal last night.
Oh, hang on—that’s one of the wolves over there, right? Which means...they’re mid-hunt? Oh, cool! I never get to see them hunting! Ha ha, it kinda seems like the rabbit is coming this way, though... Actually, make that rabbits. Three of them.
Koa and Chai darted in front of me, lowering themselves to pounce.
Um... What do I do? Because I reckon standing here like a statue isn’t the right answer. Oh, I should probably get out of their way!
I shuffled an inch to the left, only for the foremost rabbit’s bloodshot eyes to snap to mine, long, wicked fangs bared.
Scary!
“Wall!” I shouted, the spell more of a reflex than a conscious decision.
Crash. Crash. Boom.
Three successive sounds echoed through the forest like a series of explosions. Koa and Chai turned to stare at me. I could have sworn they looked reproachful.
Yep, I did a bang-up job of getting completely in the way. Sorry.
I’d also just figured the downside to my new defensive Wall spell—it was, well, a wall. I had no idea what things looked like on the other side.
I can’t hear anything, though... Maybe it’s fine to dispel it?
I carefully approached the wall, straining my ears for any sound of danger, but it was still unnaturally quiet.
Guess there’s only one way to find out.
After getting Koa and Chai to move to a slightly safer distance via charades, I decided to call out a warning just in case. “I’m gonna bring the wall down, so watch out!”
If any of the rabbits were still alive on the other side of the wall, they wouldn’t understand me anyway, but it made me feel better about potentially crushing them. I took a few steps back and visualized the wall collapsing.
“Crumble!”
The wall shuddered and shattered into countless pieces, turning from a sturdy structure to something resembling ancient ruins in seconds. A sudden screech cut through the sounds of destruction.
What was that? It... It wasn’t one of the other wolves, was it?!
“Is everyone okay?!” I shouted, but I could barely hear myself over the chaos—there was no way the wolves would have been able to. As soon as the last chunk of solid dirt finished tumbling, I scrambled over the mountainous ruins. “Is everyone okay?”
“Grr.”
I sighed with relief as the trio of growling wolves padded over.
No injuries as far as I can tell. Thank goodness. Did I imagine the screech, then? I looked around. Er, where are the giant rabbits? Oh...
I glanced back at the wreckage of the wall.
Yep, that’s a foot. Crap, I probably turned them into pancakes... I can’t just leave them like this, though.
Preparing myself for the potentially ghastly sight, I used Ascend to lift the remains of the wall away.
“No pancakes... Jeez, that’s a relief.”
The four giant rabbits had a decent mix of superficial injuries between them, but they still, thankfully, resembled rabbits. Whether from running into the wall or having it fall on them, I wasn’t sure, but all of them were unconscious but still breathing.
No idea where the fourth one came from, though... Oh well. What do I do with them now?
Before I could even begin to think it over, one of the wolves approached—Shion.
Hey boy, what’s up? Whatcha doing— Oh.
I hastily looked away as Shion darted from one rabbit to the next, dispatching each with a skillful—and terrifying—bite to the throat.
Well, they’re definitely dead now. I shuddered. Well, they were hunting these when I blundered my way in—either way, the rabbits weren’t getting outta here alive... I just added insult to injury by dropping a wall on them first. Sorry, bunnies. I’m gonna turn you into delicious karaage, if that brings you some peace. You won’t go to waste, I thought, closing my eyes in a brief and somewhat tactless prayer.
Okay, that’s over. What should I do now? I could watch them hunt for a little longer... Nah, I still want to run a bit more.
“Koa! Chai! Let’s keep going,” I said, pointing farther into the trees. “See you later, Shion!”
I’d briefly considered helping them transport the rabbits back to the mountain but ruled it unnecessary after realizing the four carcasses were already floating in midair. The wolves didn’t need my help at all.
The wolves are all really good at magic, huh? I’m kinda jealous.