One day, I woke up and stared at the sky, but instead of clouds or stars, all I could see was wood. I wasn't home but in somebody's house. I don't know how I got there or when I went to sleep the night before, all I could remember was walking in the forest and my legs getting tired all the time. There were many people like me there, we were running away from monsters. I had my eyes covered when they came, so I was never able to see what monsters there were.
I didn't understand why mommy only let me go when we were at the big tunnel to leave the city, she knew I was scared of the dark, and yet, she didn't let me see what was all those scary noises and screams about, even when I tried to bite her hand to run away, she kept her hands in my face, closing my eyes shut. It was terrifying, like a nightmare I had sometimes, I felt the same fear as when the creature under the floorboards used to wait for me to step out of bed.
Mommy always said they weren't real, she even kept repeating that they didn't exist when the monsters attacked our city. But I knew she was lying, she has always lied. I knew they were around, I could see them, hear them, so how were they not real? But when I talked back, she always got angry and grounded me. I didn't know why she did that, it was so unfair.
I didn't understand why we had to run away, weren't the heroes going to save us? Isn't that why they were here for? All those stories, all those adventurers, and all those shiny people, shouldn't they protect us? Why didn't they? I had to leave all my toys and friends behind, walk until late at night, and then, on that day, my head was aching and I didn't know where I was.
Father always said that we were safe inside the city, that the monsters would never come in. Was he a big liar too? Were all those stories mere fairy tales? Are heroes a lie? I kept thinking to myself… when I grow up, would I need to lie too?
I couldn't trust anybody, they were all a bunch of fat liars. Even if I got yelled at, even if I ended up grounded, even if I got alone and that monster under my floorboards came out because I was being a bad girl… I didn't care.
I wouldn't listen to what my mother had to say anymore.
- / - \ - / - \ - / -
"What am I doing? What am I doing?" – A woman sobs with her back turned to me. – "Nawa, I'm sorry, I'm so-- so sorry. I didn't-- I'm not--"
No matter how much I want to, I can't get up from laying on the ground or focus my sight.
She turns, her face filled with despair as she grabs me by the shoulders and stares deep into my eyes.
"You need to stay with them okay? Mommy-- Mommy isn't well, her mind isn't thinking straight. That's why I need to go, I need to fix something that's very wrong. But they will take care of you, just promise me that you'll behave, okay my girl? You need to promise me."
- \ -
I get up in gasp and glance to the sides.
"Mom?"
But my voice only echoes in the empty room. My heart raced as I glanced down before leaving the straw bed, the ground was made of stone so it was safe, I thought. And so, I start wobbly walking around while I scratch my eyes to see better.
"Mommy?"
There's no one to be seen, only a few empty beds, a wardrobe, and a few hung white sheets in between. I leave the room nervously clamping my hands together as I looked at a long and dark corridor.
I move in my toes, careful to not make a noise, and soon arrive at an open door. Many other people were sleeping inside, some beds were empty and messy, but there was still a lot of them. I went to the side of each of them to see if mother was there, but she wasn't.
I left the room and followed the corridor, I tried to see through the small windows at the closed doors while going over the tip of my toes, but I wasn't able to see what was inside, so I carefully opened the ones I could and saw a lot of equipment piled up, or other rooms full of people that weren't my mother sleeping in.
Once the corridor was over, there was only the entrance door to go through, but instead of opening it, I decided to look through the closed window on its side first, I moved the curtains to make a small gap from below and spied an eye through it.
On the other side, I saw many houses and a stone street, not the same as the city my home is in, but a more dirty one with some grass growing between the bricks. There also was a man talking to a strange doggy-looking person, instead of white hair and horns, he had long orange ears and fluffy tails, a lot stronger and taller too. It's scary, I don't know if I want to go out anymore, I thought.
I let go of the curtains and went a few steps back, but once I turned to leave, a paper stuck on the door caught my attention, with a lot of bad drawings and lots of wiggly words all over it.
[Report News on Nepaty Sheepkin's status and Debeta Village's relations]
I'm not a fast reader, nor I could make sense of many of the words, so I just passed my eyes through it to understand what it was all about. First, there was a description of how some "reunion" went, and then a lot of what the "sheepkin" should do, whatever those words meant.
The only part that really interested me was the drawn picture of a dark-cloaked man posing with a thumbs up and a serious face, or at least that's what I think it's supposed to be because it's all scratched up; and the big letters written below the figure: "one hero remains", and then it explained that even after the di-sa-pe-a-rance of heroes, one is living in the village as a tem-po-ra-ry visitor.
So there's a hero here, why is it a big deal? They are everywhere, besides I bet he's a big liar too.
After realizing that the paper wasn't useless, I started reading from the top. It wrote that the village we are currently in is named De-be-ta, and that we are wel-co-me here and it is in-ha-bi-te-di by wool-fi-kin, they will… host?… and ma-in-ta-in sup-lies for everyone in need…
Okay, I give up.
I spy through the gap in the curtains one more time to see the person talking with the doggy, a bit hesitant and curious, but the doggy suddenly turns his gaze at me and I quickly step away to hide. They look to be okay chatting, so it must be safe… but I didn't find my mother yet, what if she gets angry if I go out alone? No, I shouldn't care, she never hears me anyway, I don't care what she thinks anymore!
I breathe in and grab the door handle to open it, very hesitantly.
The outside noise quickly filled the air: the wind, the chatting, and the stepping noises were everywhere. I poked my head out and only saw houses in my view, I turned to the other side and there was a big open park, with even more houses beyond it!
"Oh, look who woke up." – The orange-furred doggy who I saw through the window walks toward me. – "Are you feeling better?"
I look at him in awe, a bit scared actually, but I nod slowly to answer him.
"What's your name, sweetheart?" – He crouches a few steps away and I don't need to look up at him anymore.
He has such a strong voice, it's really unfitting. I glance at the man beside him, a closed face and skinny cheeks, he looks sick but he always looked like that, I remember him from when we were running in the forest, but I don't know his name. I don't think he's bad, I've seen mother talk to him sometimes. And if the doggy isn't barking at me, then they are good, I think. It's okay to talk to them.
I get out of the building and stop in front of them.
"I-I'm T-Torai Nawaga."
The doggy opens a big smile.
"Totorai? Such a cute name." – He pats my head.
My cheeks heat a little.
"It's j-just… Torai."
"Oh, I see." – He chuckles. – "I'm sorry, didn't mean to misspell it. Hmm… but where are your shoes? You shouldn't walk barefoot, you are going to hurt your feet like that."
"Ah, I--" – I look down, only now realizing it, my cheeks getting even more heated. – "I-I don't know."
"It's okay," – The quiet man spoke up with tiredness. – "It's probably in her room, I'll go fetch it." – Then, he went closer to the doggy's ears and whispered something. – "Don't bring her parents up, it's[…]"
Then he suddenly walked past me, entered the house I was in before, and closed the door.
"You must be quite lost by now, right? But don't worry, you'll be safe in this village, the monsters won't hurt you here." – The doggy stood up and looked around. – "You can play around if you want, we have a lot of kids around your age... We just need to find them…"
-/-("You're safe, the monsters can't get in.")-\-
I go one step back.
"I heard that before, shining man. I know that's a lie, you can't make the monsters go away."
"Shining man?" – His eyes widen in surprise.
"Your clothes are shiny." – I point at him. – "So you're a shiny man."
"Oh, my armor?" – He chuckled. – "I guess it's pretty shiny, isn't it? But that wasn't a lie, I promise you, we'll do everything it takes to keep you safe inside this village! It's our moral code as wolfkins."
"You 'promise'?"
"Of course!"
"No…" – I fidget my fingers. – "What does 'promise' means?"
"Huh? Wait, you don't know what a promise is?" – He scratches one of his long ears. – "It's my word on it, or better, something that I'll do anything to make true once I told so."
"So, you're not lying?"
"Exactly! A promise is the opposite of a lie. Well, something like that."
"Ah, I see! So you need to promise to make what you say true."
"Ahm… it's not that exactly--"
The door behind me opens.
"Here, I think these are it." – The skinny man came back with a pair of shoes in his hands. – "Are they?"
"…Hm huh." – I take them with wariness. – "T-Thank you very much."
"So, are you alright?" – The skinny man looked down at me, dark circles below his eyes. – "Not feeling any pains?"
"I-I'm fine. My head is hurting a little, but it's okay."
The skinny man exchanged looks with the doggy. – "Maybe we should call for that priestess to take a look at her."
"Sure… but I don't know if that's needed. Dilsu went to care for her every day and even the hero said she was completely cured. I think all she needs is some food and recharge her energies a bit." – The doggy hums in deep thought. – "But you're right, we should at least tell the good news that her little patient woke up."
"Right, I can go, I'm not very good at taking care of children anyways. You go find something for her to eat."
"Good idea, Dilsu is by the church, probably in the backrooms. Knock before entering."
The man nodded and immediately started walking without any other words.
"Good thing…" – He says rummaging his hands under his chest armor. – "That I always have an emergency stash." – He raised a finger over his lips and winked. – "Just don't tell anyone from who or where you got it," – he whispered while extending to me a piece of brown block wrapped in thin paper.
My hands go to take it but I stop mid way and I look at him in doubt.
"It's good, trust me!" – He waves the block thing. – "It's pressed wheat mixed with sugar and a lot of dried vegetables, it's an all-in-one meal, it has all the nutrients you need and boosts your energy to march for an entire day. And, ah!" – He snaps his fingers and turns to get a metallic cup behind him. – "Water, of course, we can't forget that. Go on, take it."
I stare at both things presented in front of me and slowly grab them. First, I sniff the block thing, then the cup of water.
"You can eat it, it's not like they are poisoned or something like that." – He chuckles weirdly.
They smell alright, but… should I trust him? Even if he's not a person, would a doggy lie about food?
But in mid-thought, my belly rumbles, a long and loud shake coming from the depths of my body. My cheeks burn with embarrassment as I avoid looking at the laughing doggy, and I hesitantly take a small bite of the blocky food.
"So… how is it?" – The doggy puts a hand over on his ear to listen better while making an annoying face.
"It's… fine…" – I take another bite, a bit bigger than the first. – "Good."
"Right? Right? That's why it's our secret to keep. I don't have many of those to share you know."
"It's like… cake." – I say before going for one more bite.
"Cake!?" – He widened his eyes. – "What kind of dry cake are you eating, young lady? That thing is like biting off a rock!" – He chuckled.
"My mommy does them on my birthday."
His wagging tail suddenly stiffened.
"Oh, I'm sorry, didn't mean to--" – His body stood up straight and sweat came to his face. – "Well, anyways. Ha, ha. Ha. If you have any questions, just ask. I'm here to help, remember that!"
I think for a moment while a chew, then I point to the thing erratically wagging thing behind him.
"Why do you have a tail? You have ears like a doggy but you're really big like a person."
"Ehhh?! It's because I am a person like you! not a doggy! I'm a wolfkin!"
I gulp down some of the water.
"Wolfikim?"
"Do we not exist in Nepaty? I thought they teach all about races in school! Arhhh… Don't worry, you can always learn…" – He hits his forehead a few times. – "We are all beastkin, but we originated from different beasts, some are mixed with cats, others of ducks, lions, crocodiles, or dragons even. You are a mix of sheep, so you're a sheepkin, I have a wolf part, so I'm a wolfkin."
"Wolf!?" – I almost choke with the realization. – "Like Nemibirude, the scary World Ender??"
"Eh?! How do you know that name but not about wolfkins??" – He shouts, but he quickly shows the palms of his hands. – "But… d-don't be afraid, we are not bad. We are not going to end the world or something like that! We came from the wild wolves. You said doggy, right? it's like them but instead of living in homes they live in the forest, but they are the same thing! I swear!"
"So… wolfs are doggies that live outside city?"
"Yeah, yeah. That's basically it." – He sighs in relief, but he quickly raises his hands and shakes them again. – "But don't pat them, okay? Never go near them if you find one, they bark a lot and bite to scare people away, that's why they don't live in the city and doggies do."
My eyes widen as I gulp the cake thing.
"Ahhh! My family had a doggy once but she was always biting and growling at me, so maybe she was a wolfy then?"
"Maybe?" – He laughs strangely. – "But either way, you shouldn't worry, just be near an adult and you'll be safe, okay? In doubt, just hide and wait for someone to help. Okay?"
I nod after finishing eating and I continue to drink the water. But, suddenly, a boy bumps into the doggy person.
"OH! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" – the boy said while scratching his head. – "I didn't see you!"
The boy is about the same size and had white hair as me, but instead of horns, he has long ears and a tail like the bigger doggy.
"You'll hurt yourself badly one of these days if you keep on running and looking back like that." – The big orange doggy crossed his arms and made his face all serious. – "Do I need to speak with your parents about this?"
"I-I'm sorry, sir Dusk." – The small doggy lowered his head and ears. – "I'll be careful."
"Why are you in such a hurry? Just walk, goddammit." – He startles and quickly turns to me. – "Oh, I'm sorry for the cursing, miss Torai. F-Forget the word I just said."
The smaller doggy lifted his head and stared at me, his eyes slowly widened and his white fluffy tail raised to a wavery wagging, his gaze changing from my ears to hair to eyes.
"You're so pretty…" – The small doggy said quietly.
I lower my head. – "T-Thank you v-very much… I'm T-Torai Nawaga… N-Nice t-to meet you."
"Huh… she's weird." – An annoyed girl's voice crept behind the smaller doggy, she's also white-furred but is smaller and has two fluffy tails instead of one. – "She's nothing special." – She pouts at me with an evil look.
"I'm Waji!" – The boy smiled while pointing to himself, then he pulled the smaller one forward by the hand. – "And she's my little sister, Neceha."
I try to look at the smaller doggy, but she remembers me of my old doggy way too much, very small and cute but if got too close she would bite really hard.
"N-N-Nice to m-meet you." – I clamp my hands nervously and turn to the doggy boy. – "Y-You're very p-pretty too."
The boy's cheeks went a bit red and his little sister's eyes went darker.
"Oh! Do you want to come with us?" – The boy almost jumped to talk. – "The hero is doing stuff, he's going all crazy. He's like training a sheepkin to fight and it's working! They are even sparring right now! I wonder if he can teach me how to fight if I asked!"
"Wow, wow, that's going too far, little wolf." – The big doggy said with a shake of his head. – "You should ask your father first, he's the one who is going to train you when you are old enough."
"Aaah, okay… I won't then, I promise." – He looked at me again, a bit shifty and lowering his ears. – "Oh, you were doing something already? I'm sorry I asked you to come without knowing if you were free."
I look at the big doggy hesitantly.
"That's not a problem, Waji. Torai and I were just killing time. She can go. If she wants to, of course." – He tilts his head with a smile.
The boy's tail started wagging again as he smiled at me. – "So, are you coming?"
I hesitate but I end up nodding.
The small doggy's smile brightened even more and he leaped to a run. – "Great! Just follow us! We are going to free some of our friends from house arrest and then we'll watch the hero! Let's go, let's go!"
I try to follow their sudden speed, but they are just too fast and quickly gained distance ahead.
"You damn brats… Be careful Torai! Don't let those misfits drag you down the wrong path too much!" – The big orange doggy waves goodbye. – "Oh, I should call you Nawaga, right? Sheepkin have their family names first, I forgot. Anyways, see you soon, Nawaga!"