"Papa! Mama!"
Ah, I actually have two fathers and two mothers. Since they don't have names, I refer to them as Papa or Mama, followed by wolf or fox. They're not actually my parents though, and they just adopted me when they found me in this forest.
I was told that they didn't manage to find out anything about my real parents and my origin. I still consider them my parents, though!
Today, we are in charge of hunting for food again. Ever since I was two years old, my fathers and mothers would bring me out to watch them hunt, and train my strength and stamina.
So, even if I say 'we', I actually don't help with their hunts at all. I want to get stronger so I can help them, though.
(Oh? What happened to you today? You seem unusually happy.)
Papa fox is the first to notice my happiness. He's usually quiet and doesn't say much, but he's the most observant of all of us. He's also going to be teaching me magic, starting today.
"Of course I'm happy! I'm learning magic today after all! I also just learned how to-"
Wait, is it just me, or did he say something strange there...?
(-What do you mean 'unusually happy'!? I'm happy all the time, you know!?)
Ah.
I just used telepathy at him, didn't I? My ears were ticklish when I thought that.
And I was just about to use telepathy to reveal to them at the same time too... I ended up revealing it to him first...
(You just learned how to...?)
Ah. Now Mama fox is urging me to finish my sentence that I cut off earlier. So, I direct my thoughts towards everyone.
(I learned how to use telepathy!)
((((Oh!))))
They all reacted in surprise and happiness together as I reveal my ability to use telepathy now. Except for Papa fox. His response seems fake now, since I snapped at him using telepathy earlier.
Somehow, it's making me a little annoyed watching him fake a reaction.
(Well done, Mimin.)
(That's amazing!)
(Eh~. Did Fluffy teach you to use it?)
(...)
Papa fox is silent again. Seriously! Why am I getting more annoyed now!?
Papa wolf and Mama wolf complimented me, so I'm feeling better now, I think.
Mama fox seems to be mildly upset that I learned to use telepathy though? I must be imagining it. I hope I'm imagining it.
(Ah, yes! He just taught me!)
I replied to her with enthusiasm and show her a smile. I realized that letting her see me smile will always cheer her up, for some reason.
(Haah... I didn't teach you yet because you don't need to use it, and I thought you are still too young to use it. I guess Fluffy beat me to it...)
Eh? Is that why Mama fox is upset? Because Fluffy taught me something before she could? She's upset over something like that?
"What's wrong, Mama fox? Are you upset that I learned to use telepathy?"
I decided to use what she taught me two years ago against her. Feign ignorance, and look up at her with moist, innocent eyes. Hehehe~. How will you react to this?
(N-No! Why would I be upset? I'm happy that you learned to use telepathy, of course!)
Success! You deserved it for being jealous of Fluffy there, Mama fox.
...!? My ears and tail suddenly stiffened and my fur stood up. What is this feeling? Fear?
Papa fox is glaring at me from beside me. His sharp glare seems to be able to pierce through me at any moment. What did I do for you to look at me like this...?
(Don't mind Mama fox. Let's go. I'm supposed to start your magic training today.)
"Y-Yes!"
Papa fox has already stopped glaring at me, but the feeling still lingers in my heart. I better not do anything to anger him in the future. This is the first time he's done something like this, too.
Papa fox is scary!
----------
We're at the usual hunt location again, somewhere around 1 km away from the hill. There's a lot more trees around here compared to the hill, but we are able to move around without much issues.
Papa wolf, Mama wolf, and Mama fox left together and begin their hunt, while Papa fox stayed behind with me to teach me magic.
Why am I still shaking? My ears keep twitching, my tail keeps swinging, and I can't calm down. I can't control myself!
Am I still scared of Papa fox from earlier? Why can't I stop shaking? Someone, help me!
(I can't start teaching you magic if you don't calm down, you know? Magic requires you to stay calm at all times, otherwise it's difficult to control it.)
I know! But my body just won't listen to me! I don't understand...
Papa fox turned around and looked at me as he said that. He isn't mad at me anymore, and he's looking at me with a slightly worried expression on his face.
Still, even if that's the case! When he looks at me, I feel a sudden urge to escape as fast as I can! My body is screaming at me to run immediately, and I'm doing my best to force myself to stay.
Why...?
(Look, I'm sorry about earlier, alright? You weren't being nice to Mama fox, so I tried to stop you from continuing with your mischief. You were wrong to behave like that. But I didn't mean to scare you to this extent. That is my fault, I'm sorry.)
Eh? Suddenly, I lost the urge to run, and I'm not afraid of Papa fox anymore. Was it his apology that did this?
He's now looking at me, concerned that he overdid it with the intimidation against me. He seems like a completely different Beast compared to earlier.
"Yes... I'm sorry!"
I run up to him and started hugging him. Before I noticed, warm tears started to flow down my cheeks, and I started crying into his fur, making it wet and not fluffy anymore. He didn't seem to mind it, though.
(Don't apologize to me. Apologize to Mama fox instead.)
"Yes!"
This is weird. I was told that I rarely cried in these four years that I've been taken care of.
We then stayed like this for the next few minutes. Papa fox said nothing this time.
Papa fox is kind.