Chapter 17

The sunlight reflecting off the blanket of snow was blinding as Huey and I ran toward the village.

Huey said he wasn’t entirely sure where we were, but since both dogs and wolves have a homing instinct, he figured that if we kept heading this way, we’d probably reach the village.

Huey ran ahead while I followed behind.

I thought it might be nice to run side by side, but every so often I’d end up sinking fwump into the snow, and Huey the wolf would have to pull me out. So instead, I stepped carefully into the trail he packed down with his paws.

Huey’s black tail swayed rhythmically as he ran.

I found myself watching it absentmindedly… and something began to stir at the edge of my memory.

What was it? I felt like this had happened before—like I’d once followed behind him, staring at that same tail.

Lost in thought, my pace must have slowed, because Huey suddenly stopped and looked back at me.

Maybe thinking I was tired, he gently grabbed me by the scruff of my neck and carried me behind a rock outcropping.

So, a break then.

I wanted to focus on that flicker of a memory, so I gratefully accepted and sat down.

Something about it felt… frustrating, like having a tiny bone stuck in my throat.

I was so close to remembering something important…

I looked up at Huey, who was peering at me with worry in his eyes.

But the moment I saw his face, whatever I’d been on the verge of recalling slipped away.

No—his face wasn’t the key. The situation just before that had been…

That’s right! It was when I was watching his back!

I quickly slipped behind Huey.

He froze, confused by my sudden movement, while I fixed my gaze on his tail—no, more precisely, on his tail and rear.

Something—something was right there in my mind!

Just as I was about to grab hold of the memory, Huey turned around with a troubled expression, blocking my view.

"Arf!"

"Don’t move!" I barked, and Huey immediately spun around, presenting his rear to me again with quick precision.

In my mind, another image surfaced: a small, round, black backside, and a short tail wagging energetically.

The vision filled me with a sudden, almost childish sense of frustration—

"Woof!!"

I remembered!!

It was fragmented, but I finally recalled a memory involving Huey!

I had to tell him right away!

I ducked into the bushes behind the rocks to hide myself.

"Huey! I remembered something—just a little, but I did! When we were little, we had a race, and you beat me! I was so upset about it, I cried!"

Since I was in human form—and, well, completely naked—I poked just my head out from the grass to see his reaction.

Huey the wolf froze, eyes wide open.

From that expression alone, I couldn’t tell if he was happy that I’d remembered something, confused because he didn’t recall it himself, simply surprised, or maybe disappointed that I could only remember that.

I’d been so eager to see his reaction… but ended up terribly let down.

Also, it was freezing, and being stark naked wasn’t helping.

So, I quickly transformed back into my canine form.

Then, running up to the still-frozen Huey, I headbutted him with a "Get moving already!"

Huey stumbled, blinked as if snapping out of it, then looked down at me.

"Sh-Should we keep going?"

And then—

"Did you remember anything else!?"

"Yip!! Yip!!"

"Ah—sorry!"

Right in front of me, he transformed into human form.

And of course my eyes went right there! I mean, come on, I’m a small dog—my eye level’s exactly there!

Not that I’m some squeamish girl who’s gonna scream “Kyaaa!!” or “Pervert!!” or faint from embarrassment—but seriously!

And for the record, I was not thinking that maybe he’s even more impressive than I was back when I was a guy!! Definitely not!!

Huey then dove into the same bush I’d been hiding in earlier, sticking just his head out to peek at me.

Tch. Don’t give me that cute look. I’m not thinking it’s adorable!

To answer his earlier question, I shook my head—no, I hadn’t remembered anything else.

He looked a bit disappointed for a moment, but quickly smiled.

"That’s amazing, Mimosa! Yeah, you’re right—back then, we had a race, and I won just that one time. That must be the memory you’re recalling."

Probably. Or at least, that’s how it seemed from his reaction.

Maybe he’d hoped I’d remember what happened around that race—the things before or after.

But for now, that was all I could recall.

Huey probably wants me to remember everything someday…

"Whine…"

My ears and tail drooped in disappointment.

The excitement I’d felt at remembering even a little shriveled away in an instant, as if it had never existed.

"What’s wrong!? Did remembering something suddenly make your head hurt!?"

At Huey’s panicked voice, the grass I was hiding in rustled violently.

"Arf arf arf!!"

“Just… don’t come at me naked!” I barked, and Huey, in wolf form, dashed forward and peered into my face.

How could his wolf face look so worried?

I stared at him, dazed, when he suddenly licked my face like a mother wolf checking on her pup.

Oh no, oh no. If Huey’s maternal instincts fully awaken, that’s going to be… dangerous.

…Or maybe it’s already too late?

I wanted to reassure him, so I spun in place and barked energetically, "Woof!"

Still worried, he kept looking at me. I couldn’t help myself—I bolted ahead, letting him know I wouldn’t wait around forever.

Huey scrambled after me, occasionally glancing back, but quickly regained the lead and ran in front again.

I will—absolutely, absolutely—remember everything, no matter what!!

I renewed my resolve and, in search of some clue, kept my eyes locked on Huey’s rear as we ran toward the village.

Oh, Huey…

You don’t have to keep looking back like that. I’m following just fine!

Such a worrywart… geez.

We couldn’t reach the village in a single day. Along the way, we stopped for meals and breaks. Just like in the cave, Huey made sure to provide food during our journey.

He led us into the forest. By the time we reached this point, the climate matched that of the village—warm enough that snow was nowhere to be seen.

We found a hollow at the base of a tree just the right size for a break and sat down.

Huey darted around to the back of the tree. Curious, I tried to peek.

"I’ll go fetch some food, so stay put here!"

Huey realized I’d been trying to peek at his naked human form and hurriedly returned to the hollow.

I remembered that he used to hide away to devour live rabbits. Despite being a simple, kind-hearted boy, he had quite a wild side.

I also recalled he would collect nuts for me—but that wouldn’t have been possible in his wolf form.

Did he climb trees naked in a snowy forest to get them? Or maybe he dug through the snow with his wolf nose to find them?

A sound made me turn, and there he was—Huey, a little hesitant.

Oh no, oh no.

I must have been imagining him wandering naked in the forest. Somehow, he had returned while I was lost in my fantasies. I may have even laughed out loud.

Before I could get caught up in my thoughts, Huey shoved nuts and fruit toward me as if saying, Eat already.

Before gratefully taking them, I slipped behind the tree and transformed into human form.

In my mind, I saw Huey struggling in the cold water to wash the smell of blood off himself.

I never wanted him to go through that again.

Just remembering it made my chest tighten and tears prick at my eyes. I spoke with a shaky, wet voice.

"Huey… you’re not going to eat? Even if there’s blood, I’m not scared. You don’t have to hold back for me…"

I sniffled and continued,

"…You can do whatever you want, Huey."

Huey blinked, confused, then hurriedly moved behind another tree.

"Ah, right! I’ll eat properly. Mimosa, don’t worry about me—just eat!"

Huey… why does your voice sound so high-pitched?