Chapter 13

Wolfie groaned in pain as he grabbed his head and rolled on the ground.

Tom wasn't any better than him either as she rubbed her forehead to ease the pain in her forehead and scowled at the pain "What are you up to again?!"

"Ugh... I was just looking at you..." Wolfie said as he rubbed his head which hurt from hitting Tom's forehead.

"You... eh? Where are my clothes..." Tom finally realized that she was naked. He tried to cover the exposed parts of his body with both hands but failed in the end.

Wolfie straightened himself and answered thoughtfully, "I washed it."

"... Everything?" Tom said dumbfounded. He couldn't possibly be naked all day right?

Wolfie turned his gaze towards a tree branch not far from them, on that branch there were several clothes hanging. He replied firmly, "Yup! As-you-a-his-".

"...." Tom was silent to hear Wolfie who claimed to have washed all his clothes, even his underwear.

"Come on, Uncle, don't be angry, come on... let's make a bonfire, that way we can dry your clothes faster. There are a lot of fish in the lake, we can burn some fish too! Here wear this cloth to cover your naked body. ." Wolfie said handing Tom a large white cloth to use as a blanket to cover herself.

With no choice, Tom grabbed the large white cloth and she wrapped herself in it, covering herself politely. Then he picked up twigs and leaves, helping Wolfie to make a bonfire.

Sitting across from the bonfire, Wolfie looked oddly happy, "It's been a long time since I've had cooked food lol, I almost forgot what it tasted like!"

After he finished grilling the first fish, Wolfie couldn't stop gulping because of the deliciousness and the smell. He couldn't wait to sink his teeth into the grilled fish. As Wolfie raised the fish to his mouth, he stopped. Then, Wolfie handed the food to Tom.

"Here, you can eat it." Wolfie handed over the fish he had burnt with all his heart.

Tom saw the tormented expression on Wolfie's face, his expression implied that Tom was as if torturing a child by taking the food the child wanted.

".....You can eat it. Mine is almost done." Tom said looking at the fish she was burning.

Without any further hesitation, Wolfie happily sat in the corner of the field as he munched on the grilled fish. He ate voraciously but with a happy smile.

"The fish is delicious- - Hahahaha" Wolfie said with his mouth full of food.

A sudden rush of emotions that Tom was unfamiliar with filled his heart, a feeling like the ripples of a lake when the wind came.

And then, the day had ended with the activities of them baking their food and drying their clothes. The sun quietly set as Wolfie continued to speak excitedly. As the woods darkened Tom wasn't too sure, but maybe because of the fireplace it wasn't so cold now.

"Wolfie, let me repeat it one more time, stop sticking too close to me, and don't..." Just halfway through the sentence, Tom felt something rub against her cheek.

Wolfie returned to his usual demeanor.

"Stop it! You're not a dog!" Tom shouted angrily pushing Wolfie's massive body.

The young man paused, then asked quietly, "You... don't like dogs?" He said hesitatingly afraid of Tom's answer.

"They're disgusting." He answered without hesitation. His bad experience as a child where he was often urinated by dogs crept in his memory.

"..." Wolfie lowered his head feeling disappointed by Tom's answer.

All of a sudden, the fireplace went off even though there was no wind or anything that could cause it to be off.

"Uncle!!" Wolfie seemed to feel something approaching Tom, he jumped in front of Tom and protected him and then growled at the very dark forest in front of him.

Tom had never heard of a human being able to let out such an aggressive growl akin to a beast like that. The young man stared into the darkness in front of them, "Hey Uncle..." Wolfie's deep voice was a complete contrast to the soft and innocent impression he usually gave Tom.

"If... if he shows up, I'll hold him back, and you'll have to run."

~~~~

Wolfie's copper brown eyes shone under the night sky as a threatening voice echoed throughout the forest, making the atmosphere extremely terrifying.

Tom bit her lip as the familiar fear began to creep up and numb her senses, swallowing all her thoughts. After it felt like centuries had passed, tranquility began to return to the forest.

"Come on, Uncle," Wolfie took Tom's hand then he continued, "The lake isn't safe anymore. We have to get out of here as soon as possible."

Tom tried to muster strength into her icy fingers, "What... what is that?"

"It was a wild beast that roamed and broke through the labyrinth before." Wolfie explained after noticing Tom's confused look. "These wild beasts live outside the twelve Palaces of the beasts, it's just that they usually spread out everywhere, so it's rare for anyone to come face-to-face with them."

"This beast is called a Yeti, an aggressive beast that is rare in number. I've fought it before. But… the difference in our strength is too great. I almost got killed." The young man lowered his head and said quietly. "I... I'm really useless."

Wolfie clasped Tom's hand as he walked ahead to lead the way, removing the thick branches that were blocking their path. They were walking further away from the forest path, when Tom said, "...Wolfie, you're exaggerating."

"Hmm?"

"I don't care how strong you are... But you saved my life and you tried to protect me before..." His voice was firm with every word.

"... Thank you." Tom continued.

Wolfie who was walking in front of him didn't answer, but just tightened his grip on Tom.

When the moon was hanging high above the sky, the two of them found a giant rock surrounded by thick tree trunks.

To be continued