CH 8

Crisis.

That day, too, began peacefully.

For breakfast, I had the remaining jerky from yesterday, licking every corner to make it softer. To give me something this delicious, as I thought the one-eyed knight is a nice person.

I was now less wary of him because of the jerky. Also, I wasn’t so afraid anymore when I approached him now.

Still, I still got nervous when he stared at me, and still darted away when his rough hands reached out to pat my head.

Every time the one-eyed knight made a disappointed face, I also felt sorry — I’m getting good food, I can let him touch my fur a bit — but my instincts as an animal or as a spirit disallowed humans to touch me.

I understood that I wasn’t going to be hit, but a big hand slowly falling over my head was a scary sight.

“Patting is no good, huh.”

The one-eyed knight smiled bitterly.

I’m sorry, but it’s not possible yet.

I’m not a cheap woman who wags her tail at anyone. You’re mistaken if you thought that! Though I have fluffy fur that does not have a single trace of the wild, I am a noble――

“Then, see you later.”

The one-eyed knight closed the window and headed to work.

I’m still talking!

*imouto*

Having finished breakfast, I cautiously went out of the shed, trying to not be spotted. Now, what should I do to kill time until the sun sets?

As a baby fox, I don’t have to do work, do household chores, or study. I’m so free every day.

Should I have an adventure in the facility again?

I’ve been moving around the base quite daringly, but I don’t think people other than the one-eyed knight found me out so far. Maybe I have knack for being stealthy.

It’s clear this morning, and the temperature seems high for a wintry region. I heard the soldiers say, “It’s a hot day today.”

No, I don’t think it’s hot at all. Even though the sun is out, the snow hasn’t melted and I think the temperature is lower than that of Tokyo in the dead middle of winter.

Maybe their senses are weird because they spent so much time in this cold.

However, as a snow spirit that has resistance to the cold, I also felt that it was warm today.

This region is cool even in summer――on the mountain where Mother and I live the snow never melts――if I go further down south, I might evaporate from the heat. Even after I grow up and can move around more, I shouldn’t go down from the mountains in summer.

*imouto*

It was peaceful again during the daytime.

I waded through the soft snow, and greeted my friends at the stables with nose touches.

Also, these little birds flew around me and picked a fight! I had to fight back…

I thought the animals feared Mother and I because we were spirits, but I found out the unfortunate truth that the animals only feared Mother. When I become an adult and become dignified, I hope won’t be belittled by these little birds.

*imouto*

The incident happened when the sun started setting.

The surrounding grew darker and the air got colder in early evening. If it was me from my previous life, used to heating, I might not have been able to withstand the cold, but now I am a furry animal. I’m staying warm thanks to my natural fur.

Only feeling the cold on my wet nose and on my paws, I returned to the shed behind the barracks.

I moved around a lot today, so I’m hungry. I wonder if the one-eyed knight is still working? Or is he preparing dinner for me?

I panted my way towards him, but danger was lurking on my path.

“…?”

At first, I only saw a dark silhouette. It was in a far corner in the dark, so I couldn’t discern what it was.

But from the smell that rode the wind, I found out what it was.

A stray dog?

The smell of a beast, and a rough breathing sound. Come to think of it, the silhouette is a that of a dog too.

What I thought of from the word ‘dog’ was the common dog that was leashed and walking down the streets. I almost said, “Where are you from!” like an old lady.

However, when I could see it clearly as it approached, I felt danger.

It was a stray dog, not anything cute.

――A wild dog. It’s a wild beast that is not controlled by humans.

The air is tense.

It’s eyes are bloodshot, looking almost as if they’re burning. From its mouth that was panting heavily, I could see sharp fangs. Its sticky saliva dropping on the ground indicated its hunger. It had bulges between its eyes, and a low growl sounded out of its throat.

From my eye level, the wild dog had an intimidating presence, that I shrunk back in fear.

My waist almost gave out, but I managed to hold on with willpower.

However, my hind legs were shaking greatly, which also caused my vision to tremble.

It was definitely looking at me as a prey. It will move in to chomp off my throat and eat me.

The wild dog took a step forth. It lowered its head and was measuring the timing to pounce forth.

The dog is different from the little birds that played around with me during daytime. If I fight back now, I’ll die.

I felt true fear for the first time in this body. My paws were drenched in sweat.

Fear of death crept upon me.

Even as I was assaulted by terror, I did not turn my eyes away for my own safety. I slowly backed away without agitating my opponent.

However, getting restless, the dog started dashing here, so I too turned around and ran at full speed.

I got extremely desperate.

I ran up a narrow path that did not have snow. My enemy’s legs are longer, so I have to move my feet at a faster pace.

I strained my eyes, and ran――even faster than when I was being chased by those kids.

In the middle, there was a bit that still had snow, but thankfully because it was in the shade the snow had hardened. I’m light, so I was not hindered, but the dog fell in the snow. However, our speeds were still similar.

Here, I had to increase the distance, but because there was mud my escape route was not good. I ran away too carelessly.

“Owah! Wha… What’s going on!?”

On the way, there was group of knights but I had no time to pay attention to them.

I ran right in between their legs and kept running. The dog stopped momentarily, but soon resumed chasing me.

The sound of my enemy’s panting dominated my ears. I didn’t have time to look back, but I could tell that it was chasing me with its tongues out and drooling.

I could feel my enemy’s presence right behind me.

Fear crept into my head.

At this rate, I’ll be caught…!

――At that moment, I noticed a small pond lying bleakly at the edge of the base.

It was probably man-made. Thus, it was not that large, but it seemed pretty deep. Maybe they dumped the removed snow there, because there were lumps of snow floating around.

There’s no ice, but I can tell that it will be painfully cold.

Still, I headed there. If I kept running, it was clear that I could be caught at this rate.

I steeled my resolve and dived into the cold pond.

I dived into the water, but there wasn’t that freezing cold I had imagined there would be. I was worried that I might stop breathing because of the low temperature, but that was just a worry.

The reason I didn’t feel the cold probably was thanks to my fur.

Especially, my undercoat had air underneath it, that my skin didn’t come into direct contact with water.

Then, I don’t have to worry about losing body heat too quickly.

However, unlike when I was on the ground, I did feel cold and my muscles started to contract. Though I don’t think a snow spirit would freeze to death…

With my feet that became stiff from the cold, I desperately dog-paddled about. I thought that my body would become heavy because the fur would take in water, but the air inside acted as a tube of sorts so it wasn’t too hard trying to stay afloat.

The dog that was chasing me stopped at the pond as I thought. While drooling and growling, it circled about the pond so as to not let me go.

Occasionally, it poked the surface of the pond with its legs, but maybe because it was scared of water, or maybe because it was afraid of the cold, it did not jump in. It merely stared at me frustratedly.

For now, I escaped the danger of getting eaten, but it wasn’t about to give up anytime soon. It circled the pond and waited for me to come back out.

I glanced at that dog and moved my short legs under the water to swim to the middle of the lake.

-SHAKASHAKASHAKA SHAKASHAKASHAKA-

I kept moving my legs in the water, but because I had been running they were getting tired. However, if I stop moving, my nose will be submerged underwater. There’s more danger of drowning than of freezing.

Please give up quickly.

I looked at the wild dog while wishing that, but the famished dog was not about to give up quickly.

I might look round and tasty, but my body is actually mostly fur!

Meanwhile, water started seeping into my undercoat as well. When I felt that cold sensation on my skin, I let out a cry, “Hyah!” like a human. Even though I had resistance to the cold, I could still feel the cold.

My fur gradually grew heavier. It felt as though sticky mud was clinging on to my body.

My legs started to tire out as well.

Dangerous…! I’m in danger now!

Appu! Appu!

I desperately gasped for air.

“Found them! There!”

――At that moment.

The knights I just passed by came.

“The animal in the pond is that baby fox? The one that settled here recently?”

“So it was being chased by that wild dog.”

While saying that, one knight grabbed some snow, hardened it and threw it at the dog. Other knights too hurled snowballs as they approached the wild dog.

After whining a bit from getting hit by hard snowballs, the wild dog eventually gave up.

Even as it sent a frustrated gaze at me, it ran the opposite direction from the knight and jumped over the fence out of the base.

However, I had no leisure to be relieved.

My fur absorbed so much water that it’s as heavy as lead! I’m drowning, I’m drowning!

“Here, come here!”

A knight crouched down by the pond and called me over. Because I also wanted to get back on land soon, I swam there, but upon seeing the knight’s appearance, I hesitated.

Scary, shaggy bearded man…..

“Come on! You’re going to fall in!”

Even that was in a low, gruff voice, that I felt as though I was getting scolded.

This person, he’s scary!

The shout of an adult male made me flinch. My big ears twitched. I don’t want to go there.

I swam towards the shore, but turned around because the knight there was scary. I decided I’ll try somewhere else.