As we were walking South, Nagishi leading the way, myself behind her and Renfir following closely behind me cautiously eyeing Nagishi as we proceeded, breaking the awkwardness, I raised attention to something that was bothering me. “So, are you guys going to explain to me how you both knew which direction we should go in?” I posed this question more towards Renfir, and I could tell Nagishi understood.

  “We Fenrir have battled the humans for eons, though they do not remember the older days. We learned to only attack humans in groups because they have always overwhelmed us with numbers if we are on our own.”

  “That makes sense” I said to her, “just a question though, about how many humans did you all think where here?” I asked Renfir squinting a bit, a feeling of dread coming over me, there were four of them.

  “Well, the Elder said ‘the snake is a problem, we need to be sure it wipes out the humans before we attack’” She imitated her elders voice, I laughed looking at Nagishi.

  “Yeah, she can be scary. Continue, please”

  Her ears twitched as she continued; “He said he felt the presence of almost 10,000 humans, our senses are limited like that,” she paused for a second “or were limited.” She smiled a bit it was cute then she continued. “So, four of us the elder surmised should be enough either way, if the snake wiped you all out, we could team up on her or if you lot managed to win, you would have been easy pickings.” She stared off into the distance after the last statement, leaving me to ponder on the 10,000 human’s thing.

  “So, you caught up with us, saw we were traveling together and changed tactics?” I asked probing for more details.

  “Precisely, and then that uncomfortable feeling.”

  “It does feel strange, doesn’t it.” Nagishi interjected, shooting me a glare. I don’t know what the hostility is about I don’t remember doing anything to her.

  ‘Yeah, I’m not gonna do that, these are intelligent beings after all, and it feels kind of like subjugation so let’s avoid any more of that’ a flash of a brief history runs through my head and I shake it off. “Sorry about that. If you would like to leave and go to your people, I can cancel the contract especially since I kind of forced it on you.”

  “No!” Renfir stated emphatically. “After all, I have evolved, and I am grateful to you for that, and we Fenrir to enjoy long journeys with lots of running.” Her smile was quiet heartwarming. “Plus,” she added “there is this pull of destiny on my soul.” She stopped walking in that moment, then looked at both Nagishi and I. “Sister Snake, brother human I think we should rest for the night, it is another two days until we will reach the human city.”

  “Wait,” I looked at Nagishi, “didn’t you say like a day and a half?”

  “Well, I just woke up and I don’t need to sleep.” Nagishi returned indignant.

  “Yes, that’s fine for you, but I do need to sleep.” The look I received from her was absolute and terrifying, like I know you can’t attack me or anything, but that look could absolutely kill. I turned to Renfir with a gentle smile “You can call me Cirdec, and this is Nag- “

  “Lady Nagishi” Nagishi quick to interrupt and claim an honorific. Well, I guess that makes sense she is a Queen Ouroboros, I wonder if there is only one or if there are others who can claim the title.

  “Yes, Lady Nagishi and Sir Cirdec.” She responded, I was about to correct her then thought against it. “We should camp here, the day jewels on the trees are going out, once that happens the spirits of the trees come out, the living should not move when they move.” Her tone was deathly serious. I glanced at Nagishi looking for some kind of confirmation or denial, and I did notice tension in her shoulders.

  “Indeed.” Nagishi responded looking up, I followed her gaze, and noticed gem like stones embedded in the trees and the sheer darkness behind them. “The forest has grown much since I fell asleep.”

  “How are we supposed to camp? I’ve literally never done that in my life.” They both looked at me and broke into hearty laughter. “Why are you laughing at me, in my world there is a long history of people that look like me being hunted in the woods.” I continue expecting some kind of empathy.

  “Humans hunt humans in your world?” The question came from Renfir, she was puzzled by my assertion.

  “Yes, the concept of race is held differently in my old world.” I started to explain, Nagishi was examining one of the giant trees. “In my world someone decided that the different groups of humanity spread across the world are all different races. The race I was apart of dealt with a lot of racism during my time.”

  Renfir perked up knowingly; “oh, like how, the elves call the orcs big faced bastards and the orcs call them dainty long eared leaf-eaters.” She spits at the end, which I immediately recognize as a sign of disrespect for the orcs.

  “I guess in the literal sense, yes, that is exactly what racism is, in my world it had become engrained in world culture unfortunately.” I had a pang in my heart with the memories of seeing many different ethnic groups, not just my own, being discriminated against by various other groups. “In the world I came from skin complexion was a big determining factor to how you were viewed by others in the world. Basically, the darker your skin was the more stereotypes might have been forced upon you.” I motioned to myself specifically and continued. “In my country there was even more discrimination. We fought it tooth and nail, after having our land stolen, people enslaved, had our identities stripped, and reduced to a color by the government. Then after we fought for freedom against oppression and suppression, moving the very laws of government, groups of immigrants came over to my country perpetuated the same baseless discrimination based on a false sense of race. For some reason black Americans, that’s what I was, creators of our own culture after having our cultures stolen were looked at like the village idiots.” I shook my head remembering the struggles of speaking and getting spoken over, where my opinion was easily suppressed by hatemongers. Man, I’m glad I’m not there anymore.

  “Humans are so stupid, Fenrir are Fenrir no mater what color they are we are all majestic, intelligent, highly resourceful creatures.” Renfir boasted, and she wasn’t wrong, then she continued “The Elder said a long time ago the human tribes were spread out across the land, but some creatures made it so they had to run and gather together, then became stronger in their numbers.” She looked right at Nagishi when she referenced some creatures. Nagishi shrugged and punched a hole in a tree.

  “We shall take rest here.” She stated plainly as if she didn’t punch a perfect cave into a giant tree. I’ll be smart to remember that she is a powerful world beast. “Is that okay?” There was a slight tilt in her head as she asked the question, which was clearly directed at me.

  “Umm,” I stammered a bit still a bit in awe. “Yes, this should be fine.” How could I argue the tree was more than large enough to fit the three of us and then some. “How did you know this tree had a hollow?” I asked examining the area that Nagishi just made for us.

  “That was a simple matter many of these trees are Hollow Trees anyways, I’m sure that dog could have found one too.” She glared at Renfir, clearly this is going to be a back-and-forth thing that I hope they figure out. Renfir looked back at her incredulously, as if to confirm Nagishi’s assertion.

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  “I will gather materials for a fire.” Renfir responds in a defeated tone. I kind of feel bad for her, but why would a wolf know what different kinds of trees are especially these giant things. As Renfir walks away to go gather materials to build a fire I turn to Nagishi about to scold her for bullying Renfir when.

  Wai-

  *

  Nagishi, standing by the hollow she just made for their shelter. Watched as the pup Renfir walked deeper into the woods, she resolved that she didn’t hate her, in fact she found her quite cute and maybe she could teach her a thing or two. As they both come from the class of world beast, and as her senior maybe it was her job. The thoughts that flooded Nagishi were not normal for her, and as she shook her head to clear the intrusive thoughts; she noticed as Cirdec collapsed. “Cirdec!” she shouted not understanding why he was in such a state. She ran over to his collapsed body and tried to shake him awake, but no matter how hard she tried he would not budge. “All-Mother what should I do?” She prayed, and then thought. “He is breathing” she noted as she watched his chest rise and fall. “Okay, I will bring him to the hollow and wait for the pup to return.” With that resolution, Nagishi hoisted Cirdec over her shoulder as if he where but a pillow, and carried him into the hollow and laid him down.

  Meanwhile, Renfir is gathering twigs and dry leaves and various stones to build a fire. This is something that she knew how to do, even though Fenrir are wolves they are adept at using tools, and they prefer cooked meat so building fires is common practice. After she gathers a satisfying amount of the materials she needs, Renfir returns to the place where Cirdec and Nagishi were. “Sir Cirdec, Lady Nagishi?” She called not seeing either of them, which she found to be strange because she was not gone very long.

  “We are in here,” Nagishi called out from the hollow to Renfir. “Build the fire, our Master has fallen into a slumber and I do not know when he will awaken.” There was a twinge of panic in Nagishi’s voice, so Renfir did as she was told, viewing the directive the same as if it were given from Cirdec himself. After she had the fire going, Renfir went inside the hollow, looked at Cirdec sleeping on one side and then asked.

  “What do you think is going on Lady Nagishi?”

  “I am not sure; however, I think he will awaken soon, I feel life energy and mana converging.” Nagishi responded, she had already concluded that this may be an evolution. “Human evolution is… Rare.” Nagishi who had been around for nearly two millennia had never heard of such a thing, though she pondered Giants and Humans have many similarities, and this human she was in service to said he was a High-human. “Well,” she had come to a decision “if he does not wake by morning we will continue on our journey to the human settlement.” Renfir looked at her puzzled. “Yes, you can still take wolf form, no?” The question made Renfir’s ears perk up.

  “Yes, I can.” The amusement gleamed in Renfir’s eyes; she had a feeling she knew what was coming next.

  “Good, you can carry us the remainder of the way feel free to run as fast as you can. I’ll make sure the Master does not fall off.” The thought of running as fast as she could made Renfir wag her tail uncontrollably.

  “Umm, Lady Nagishi.” Renfir started in a very timid voice, “are we going to be able to eat anything?” This made Nagishi smile, not a tender smile, but a cold, snake like smile.

  “Well, I have some wolf left over.” Nagishi pulled a large pile of meat out of an extra dimensional storage space. Renfir, to Nagishi’s surprise, was drooling and wagging her tail even more violently now.

  “You don’t mind sharing?” She asked, her eyes sparkling like gems. Nagishi confused, wondering if the girl didn’t realize she was about to eat her own kin when Renfir spoke up. “When Fenrir fight for hierarchy, the loser often dies, and we eat them and receive a piece of their power.”

  Nagishi was taken aback, but understood and respected the custom so she allowed Renfir to have some of her spoils of war. “Make enough so the master can have some when he awakens.” Nagishi, felt that because her duty was given by the All-Mother, she must make sure the human is well taken care of. The rest of the night passed without much incident, Nagishi stayed awake ever vigilant, as Renfir and Cirdec slept.

  The next morning Cirdec, still hasn’t woken up. So, Nagishi decides to follow through on the plan from the night before. “Renfir,” Nagishi using the Fenrir’s name for the first time “can you run us to the point where we are a half day’s walk from the human city.”

  “Yes!” Renfir responds emphatically, like it is her one and only life mission. In the next moment she transforms to her Fenrir, this time she is Even larger than the Elder Fenrir was her fur had turned into an Auburn red color with a single silver lightning shaped streak that stretched from her tail all the way to the crown of her head, before splitting into two bolts wrapping around her ears and falling like side burns down her face. She had a smug look on her face as she proudly showed off her new look.

  “Are you looking for compliments?” Nagishi asked, completely unimpressed. “Here, and wait a second, I will need to transform too, but I must control my size because you are much too small.” Nagishi placed Cirdec on Renfir’s back and then she herself transformed, slowly emerging and wrapping herself around Renfir and Cirdec, strong enough so he doesn’t fall and gentle enough so she doesn’t hurt him. “Off you go.” The next moment Renfir takes off with a sonic boom, the path laid out in front of her predetermined by sheer instinct, as the adept bobbing and weaving through intricate tree roots finally impresses Nagishi. “You run well Pup I doubt there are any who could match you in a foot race.” The compliment made Renfir gush, and her speed increased, until they finally burst out of the ancient wood and she stopped. At cliffs edge the pair looked down upon a lush green forest, where the trees where much younger, yet still thriving below them. Nagishi could see the wall she remembered viewing during her astral inspection. Before Renfir spoke up Nagishi noticed a road from the wall leading to a village in a clearing.

  “Lady Nagishi, do you smell that?” Renfir asked. “It smells good.” Her tail was wagging

  “Yes, it seems as though we have come upon a human settlement.” Nagishi answered immediately, but she hesitated. “We cannot go in there like this, or even our other forms. Let’s wait until the master wakes up. I think that it will be soon.” Since Nagishi was wrapped around Cirdec on Renfir she had a much better understanding of what was happening and concluded he would wake from his evolution soon.

  “I agree, but lady Nagishi,” There was a level of concern in Renfir’s voice as she continued. “The humans had not pushed this far into the woods the last time I was here.”

  “Well how long ago was that?” Nagishi asked curiously.

  “I was but a pup of only 20 years old we used to hunt in those woods, many mountain boars.” She said sniffing the air excitedly

  “That one’s children I assume.” Nagishi muttered, remembering a mountain boar she fought in her youth barely escaping with her life. “You must have used team tactics to take down those things?”

  “Yes,” Renfir excitedly responded “those hunts were the most fun.” Lost in nostalgia Renfir started to sit. “Lady Nagishi?” Renfir continued “are you going to make another hollow to sleep in?” Nagishi uncoiled herself from around Renfir, taking care not to let Cirdec fall, all while transitioning into her humanoid form. Only after placing Cirdec gently on the ground, she responds.

  “Yes, one moment, since it is night now, I think that is the best idea.” Nagishi added, “no fires, unfortunately we do not want to draw attention to ourselves.” This made Renfir pout, she rather enjoyed building fires, and cooking meat over them. Nagishi looked over the trees in the vicinity, then started walking towards one near the edge of forest,

  *Wham

  The sound echoed through the valley, and many of the villagers looked up wondering where in the world the sound came from. “Bring the master in here.” Nagishi called out motioning to Renfir to pick up Cirdec and place him in the newly created hollow.

  “Lady Nagishi, wasn’t that loud?” Renfir was perplexed at the fact that she couldn’t have a fire after Nagishi’s performance.

  “Yeah, but a single sound is less conspicuous than a fire burning all night.” Nagishi retorted with a hint of arrogance, convinced her that her logic is indisputable. The pair ate the rest of the wolf Nagishi had stored away, there was not much conversation, yet the area of the hollowed tree was teeming with anticipation. Nagishi was the first to notice, “ah, its finally happening.”

  A red and gold energy started to envelop Cirdec. The energy that was welling, started to become oppressive, not negative, but palpable enough that the two witnesses were compelled to stillness. The energy then entered Cirdec, making his whole being glow white, which made both Nagishi and Renfir cover their eyes unable to make out exactly what was happening, and then it stopped. There was a rumbling that seemed to come from the very earth, and then silence… The next moment every animal big and small, inferior and superior, let out their own unique howls simultaneously; including Nagishi and Renfir. Then silence fell again, Renfir and Nagishi looked at each other, both mystified, then looked towards Cirdec who finally stirred.

  *

  Well, that was crazy. I mean I was about to scold Nagishi and then everything went black. I can feel them move me. I can smell them cooking meat. That smelled so good.

  ‘Oh, Mene, what’s up?’

  ‘Oh yeah, I forgot about that. Right so what do I do?’

  ‘Will you tell me the pros and cons of each one?’

  ‘Why not?’

  ‘Are you shitting me?’

  ‘Are you ignoring me?’

  ‘Fine, High-Human High-Demigod’

  Shortly after I heard that I opened my eyes to see Nagishi and Renfir staring at me, and you know its kind of awkward. “Umm, good morning!?”