Chapter 14. Refrigerator Girl

Two platforms on different banks of the river were connected by a flow of energy that formed a bridge.

"This is an energy bridge," Itinit said. "You can walk on it, although you may feel like you could fall through it."

"This bridge is similar to those on which trains travel across rivers," Tuot noted. "He won't disappear?"

"It operates constantly," Itinit said. "Of course, it is possible to turn it off, but it is not easy to do. This is done very rarely."

People and feathered dinosaurs with long tails walked across the bridge. They walked on it as if on the ground, and did not pay attention to the fact that it was translucent.

"The main thing is not to look down," Itinit warned. "The bridge is made of energy. If you look down and see water, you might feel like you're going to fall into it."

Itinit entered the bridge and turned around. Tuot and Etinnei stood at the edge of the stream of energy and looked at their feet.

Tuot stood with one foot on the surface of the bridge and felt a slight vibration.

"The main thing is not to go to the edge of the bridge," the dinosaur thought.

But then he saw other dinosaurs walking across the bridge. He realized that it was even more difficult to fall on this bridge than on a paved road because of the smooth surface. There were simply no objects to trip over.

Etinnei carefully stepped on the edge of the bridge with her foot, but did not feel anything. Then she crouched down and touched the surface with her hand.

"The bridge is shaking a little," Etinnei thought. "But the surface is hard. This is weird".

"You can walk like a human," Itinit smiled. "You won't fall."

Etinnei looked down. There, through the translucent surface of the flow of energy, water could be seen flowing in the river. The Arctic fox girl got scared and jumped back beyond the bridge.

"This bridge is too high," Etinnei said. "And there's water below. You say the bridge will not disappear, and I believe it. But for some reason I'm scared."

Itinit approached Etinnei and took her hand.

"Let's go together," Itinit suggested. "You won't fall with me."

Etinnei felt that with this man she would not be so afraid. The Arctic fox girl stepped on the edge of the bridge and followed Itinit.

At first, Etinnei was able to not be afraid. But in the middle of the bridge, she accidentally tilted her head down and saw through the translucent surface of the stream of energy the water that flowed in the river. Fear immediately returned to the animal girl. Etinnei tightly squeezed Itinit's hand and looked at the cloudy sky.

With the help of the guide, the Arctic fox girl reached the end of the bridge, stood on the platform and looked back. From here, the bridge didn't seem so scary, although Etinnei didn't want to cross it one more time.

Across the river there was a city built up with tall stone buildings in the shape of pyramids and towers. A wide straight street, paved with gray stones, led from the bridge deep into the city.

"At this distance, the city looks even more like the city in the game," Etinnei noted.

"Very similar," Tuot agreed. "Maybe this game was developed in this city?"

"I couldn't find information on the network about the place where the game is being created," Etinnei said.

"Of course I didn't find it," Tuot said. "In fact, this is classified information. The developers are afraid that players will find out their location and do something to them."

There were few passersby on the outskirts of the city. But at the nearest intersection there were suddenly more of them. They walked the streets in groups of several and even in whole crowds.

It was the first time Tuot had seen so many dinosaurs. In this city, he saw for the first time any dinosaurs other than himself. He had parents as a child, but he didn't remember them. The first memory that Tuot had was meeting Halankuo in the forest.

The further Etinnei went into the city, the more surprised she was at what surrounded her. Every building, every stone on the road aroused curiosity in the arctic fox girl. As she walked past one of the buildings, she accidentally noticed in a large open door a warehouse with large wooden boxes on which sat a beetle-like robot. Etinnei became interested in this being, and she entered the doorway...

The robot disappeared behind the boxes. Etinnei's body began to emit a white glow, and soon turned into a small arctic fox, the size of a large puppy. In this form, she walked up to the boxes and smelled them.

Etinnei smelled a faint smell of metal at the opposite end of the warehouse, where there were large wooden boxes, and there was an exit to another street - from there, a white light emanated from a wide doorway. The Arctic fox ran there and stopped near the boxes. The smell of metal intensified sharply.

A beetle robot emerged from behind the boxes, walking on six legs, and then ran away into the street. Etinnei ran after him, but the robot was no longer on the street.

The arctic fox girl returned to the warehouse, took on an almost human form, and then went outside.

It was a wide street with gray stone sidewalks and tall white stone buildings with sharp tops that resembled statues of coniferous trees. The street was separated from the sidewalks by alleys of tall green thorny plants. Crowds of people and dinosaurs walked here, but they did not pay any attention to the animal girl.

Etinnei looked around to find Tuot and Itinit, but on such a busy street it was impossible to see anyone. The Arctic fox girl returned to the warehouse and sat down on one of the boxes.

"I'm lost," Etinnei guessed. "This city is too big for me. Maybe write to Tuot? How will he find me? I don't know where I am. Maybe I should look in the interface?"

Etinnei ran two fingers through the air. A virtual map of the world appeared in front of her in a yellow frame, with nothing on it.

"Nothing is shown here, like in a game," Etinnei became restless. "I thought the interface would have a normal map."

But soon objects appeared on the map, including a red dot in the middle part of the Northern Continent. Etinnei touched her with her finger.

The map area around the point has increased. The name of the city appeared above the dot, written in black symbols.

"Munmut," Etinnei read the name of the city. "This name was said by Tuota's friend, who took me across the bridge. I need to zoom in to find special objects. Otherwise, Tuot won't find me."

Etinnei zoomed in on the image with a movement of two fingers. A detailed map of the city with three-dimensional models of buildings has appeared. The Arctic fox girl's attention was attracted by a tower with a spike on top in the central square. Etinnei instantly forgot about Tuot and Itinit and now wanted only one thing.

"I wonder what it looks like?" the arctic fox girl thought. "I need to see."

Etinnei left the warehouse and walked towards a tall tower with a shiny spike on top.

The street led the arctic fox girl to a huge square. The tower turned out to be a gigantic monument with a sparkling gray spike at the top. This building stood in the center of the square and was visible from all the streets that faced it.

Etinnei looked at the top of the monument and could not move. The arctic fox girl never thought that such a structure existed somewhere in the real world. It seemed to her that such objects could only exist in games.

From the other end of the square there were cries similar to those of birds. Etinnei turned around and saw a crowd of dinosaurs standing near one of the buildings and talking about something. The arctic fox girl felt anxious and realized that it was better to leave the square before it was too late.

Etinnei went down the path through the block and found herself on the embankment of a wide river.

On the opposite side of the river there were white-yellow tower buildings, and on the very bank there was an alley of tree-like green thorny plants typical of Munmut.

Etinnei approached the river and noticed that the water in it was light blue. Several energy bridges were generated across the river; some of them were visible in the distance, and one was located near the place where the Arctic fox girl was sitting.

Etinnei did not walk across the bridge, so she walked along the shore and found herself among giant tree-like plants with sword-sized thorns. A path of gray stones ran along the shore, near which there were stone benches with awnings. Above the entrance to this place hung an inscription in a red frame, consisting of glowing symbols of the same color.

"Park," Etinnei read. "The game also included a park. But there were trees there."

Two dinosaurs sat on one of the benches and ate meat. Etinnei was walking by and accidentally overheard their conversation.

"I remember when he was a puppy," one dinosaur said. "He was so funny."

"He ran after us," the second dinosaur added. "It was fun to be with him."

The first dinosaur stopped eating meat and looked at the river.

"Why do we eat it?" asked the first dinosaur.

"Because I want to eat," the second one answered.

Etinnei realized that these dinosaurs were eating the dog and was very scared.

"I need to go faster," Etinnei thought. "What if they find out that I'm an arctic fox and eat me too?"

The animal girl ran deep into the park and sat down on a bench with a canopy.

"If these dinosaurs eat dogs, maybe Tuot eats dogs too?" Etinnei was even more frightened. "It's unlikely that Tuot will eat me, but he might bite off my leg."

The arctic fox girl's eyes opened wide, her mouth opened a little, her arms and tail dropped, and her legs closed.

"Don't be afraid, refrigerator girl," a thin voice in Etinnei's head said. "Your friend will not eat you."

The arctic fox girl noticed a white and blue penguin with a metal horn on its forehead near her.

"It's you again, Minniges," Etinnei answered mentally. "I understand that, but Tuot is a dinosaur. What if he wants to eat me?"

"Then ask him," the voice answered.

"I'm afraid to hear the answer."

"Do you want ice cream?"

Etinnei drew attention to the transparent light bulb that ended Minniges's horn. She really did look like an ice cream cone.

"I won't be able to eat it," Etinnei answered mentally.

"You try," Minniges answered mentally. "Such a good refrigerator girl, who combines ice and electricity, should not be afraid. Maybe ice cream will help you a little." 

Minniges's horn turned white-pink. Then his translucent energy copy separated from him and moved to Etinnei. The little beast took it in her hand and brought it to her mouth.

Etinnei's tongue touched the ice cream cone. The arctic fox girl felt the cold and sweet taste of ice cream.

But the pleasure was short-lived. Soon the girl felt pain and pulled the ice cream out of her mouth. But there was no more ice cream. It was her finger that was the ice cream.

"You deceived me, Minniges," the arctic fox girl turned to the being in her head. "It's not real ice cream."

But Etinnei did not hear the answer. The animal girl looked to the side, but Minniges was not there. And then she remembered that she was lost.

"Where is Tuot? Where is Itinit?" Etinnei was scared. "It seems I went too far and didn't notice it."

Etinnei opened the virtual screen and wrote a message to Tuot, and then laid down on the bench, curled up into a ball, grabbed her tail with her hand and closed her eyes. The virtual screen slowly disappeared into thin air.

"Tuot will find me," Etinnei thought. "In the meantime, it's better to sleep. I'm far from those dinosaurs. I hope they don't eat me."

Etinnei closed her eyes and almost fell asleep, but then she heard footsteps and in one jump found herself on the path. The arctic fox girl opened her eyes and saw Tuot, who had almost approached the bench.

"Don't be afraid, I won't eat you," the dinosaur said. "I don't eat beings like you."

It became easier for Etinnei. Now the arctic fox girl was sure that her friend would not eat dogs.

"Why did you ask?" Tuot asked.

Etinnei opened the virtual screen and logged into her account. In a chat with Tuot there was a message:

"Do you eat beings like me?"

Etinnei closed the virtual screen and turned away. Her tail pressed against her buttocks and her ears twitched several times.

"I wanted to write where I am," the arctic fox girl explained. "But I wrote this instead."

Tuot sat down on the bench and lowered his head. After some time, he noticed Etinnei's legs, but quickly turned away.

"What if I want to eat her?" the dinosaur thought. "I don't want Etinnei to know what I think about her."

"Is what you said true?" Etinnei grabbed a strand of hair with her hand.

"Yeah. Why are you asking?"

"Did she really read my mind?" the dinosaur was scared.

"I heard two dinosaurs talking about eating their dog. I thought that you also eat dogs and I was scared of it."

"She didn't read my mind," Tuot calmed down.

"I want to confess something to you," the dinosaur said.

"Did your character in the game eat fox meat?" the animal girl suggested.

"No. I didn't even think about that. I wanted to say that... I want you."

"Do you want to eat me?"

Etinnei looked at her friend in fear. The tip of an icicle appeared from the sleeve of her fur top.

"I want you in my collection," Tuot explained. "You're the first real animal girl I've met."

The icicle went back into the sleeve. Etinnei climbed onto the bench with her legs.

"What does it mean to "my collection"? How is in the game?" the animal girl asked. "

"I will place your images in my room," Tuot explained. "And I will admire them."

"Do you like me?"

"Yeah."

"But I'm not a character in the game."

Etinnei got down on all fours, and then took the form of an arctic fox and jumped onto the bench. Tuot noticed the small furry animal next to him, screamed and jumped off the bench.

"Don't be afraid," the arctic fox said. "It's me, Etinnei."

Tuot turned his head in different directions, and then took a step forward.

"It looks similar," the dinosaur noted.

"I'm actually Etinnei," the arctic fox said. "I took on my animal form."

"Why did you do this?"

"I did this so you wouldn't see me in battle form." 

"Is this your battle form?"

"I can use skills in the form of an arctic fox human."

"It's clear. Are you against the fact that I like you?"

"No. But you're too into animal girls. As long as it didn't affect me, I didn't care. But now I'm embarrassed."

Etinnei returned to her previous appearance, but got up from the bench and walked up to the low thorny bush.

"Maybe we can just be friends?" Tuot asked. "You are my friend and friends..."

"Are not food?" Etinnei asked. "If you think about it, it sounds right. If you eat a friend, you won't have him anymore."

"Yes. If I eat you, I will regret it."

"It's not my fault that I look like this." I didn't create myself."

"Who created you?"

Etinnei returned to the bench and began dangling her legs in the air. Tuot looked at the river so as not to look at his friend.

"I want to know," the animal girl said. "But I can't remember anything. It's like I have no memories except those from the Southern Continent. I don't know how I ended up there. I want to know this. But I can't remember, although I try."

"I don't know anything about your past either," said Tuot. "That's why I can't help. But if I have a dream in which you will be, I will tell you about it."

"Will you really tell me?"

"Yes. I'll tell you everything I see and hear. And I'll share the meat if it's there."

"How do you get meat out of sleep?"

"No way. It's a joke."

Etinnei looked at her friend angrily:

"Do not joke so. I believed it."

Etinnei pressed herself close to Tuot. The dinosaur tilted its head and saw the small fluffy ears of an arctic fox that peeked out from behind the white-yellow human hair. Tuot carefully reached out to one ear and accidentally touched it with his claw. Etinnei opened her mouth and let out a weak moan. The Arctic fox girl's tail slapped the bench several times.

"I see that you have already found Etinnei," the voice of Itinit was heard.

Tuot turned around and saw his friend.

"I thought it was too difficult for you," Itinit said. "But you did it."

"Of course I did it," Tuot said. "I know how to use the navigator in my interface. I was actually just walking around the area and saw this park and thought Etinnei might be there."

"That explains why you found her," Itinit said. "While you were looking for Etinnei, I found the hotel. We can spend the night like civilized beings."

"Is there a pillow there?" Etinnei stuck out her tongue and began wagging her tail.

"Why do you need a pillow?" Itinit suspected something strange. "Not for sleeping?"

"Of course not," Etinnei answered. "I won't sleep on a pillow. I will gnaw on it. What else can you do with a pillow? I have the teeth for this."

Etinnei opened her mouth and showed her sharp teeth, more like the mouth of a predatory animal than a human mouth.