The Teddy Bear...in a Pinch?!

"Philia...Ansel...Nao...where are you?"

Benny is releasing a sobbing-like sound...using its stubby hands to cover its eyes. Although no tears were falling, its clear how sad the little bear is. Benny wasn't even sure how it ended up in this situation, having been peacefully asleep in Nao's bed one moment, the next it awoke to find itself in what looks to be a birdcage that it can't get out of.

"Wwuuuuu! Wuuuuuuu! Save me...!"

Shut up already!

"Waahhhh!" Benny jumped when someone shouted at it. "W-Why are you so mean?!"

Stop that, it's clear that they got a human child this time around. The poor thing is clearly scared.

Doesn't matter! Don't go spoiling the dumb thing!

Don't call the poor child dumb simply because it can't understand us.

"I can understand you though..."

Are you sure this isn't a beast like us?

Nonsense! That is clearly the speech of humans!

How can a human child understand us then?

Perhaps it is simply gifted.

More like a weirdo.

Like you're one to talk!

Benny is a bit scared as the two clearly adults were arguing in the metal box near it. It isn't sure what sort of animal it is, but there is a lot of growling sounds and rattling of metal. The two argued like Philia and Ansel, making Benny even sadder.

"Did...Ansel and Philia...abandon me...? Is it because I was too excited to be with Marie again...? Is it because Nao bullied them...? Wuuu...!"

Okay, okay, calm down. Little one, you can understand us, can't you?

"Yes, I can understand you..."

Tell me, what do you see around you? Just describe it best you can.

"Um...metal boxes and a lot of cloth...I see weird clothes and shiny things all over."

No humans?

"No..."

I don't hear any guards...we should be good for now.

Benny didn't understand what the owner of the female voice meant...until the rattling of metal got closer. It's coming from the large metal box near it. Benny has never seen such a big dog before...and it was completely mesmerized by its beautiful silver fur.

"You're a huuuggee dog!"

It isn't a human child...rather, what are you?

"Me? I'm Benny, Benny the teddy bear!"

What a freak.

Shush, you, be nice.

The large white dog smacked a brown dog next to it. The smaller dog growled at the bigger one, but the bigger one merely smacked it down, squishing his head against the ground. Benny noticed how they had metal collars around their necks...but didn't understand its purpose.

"Who are you two?"

You can't tell...Benny, is it?

"Yeah! I'm Benny!"

We are wolves. Names are a human thing. How can you move and speak?

"I dunno!"

Hey, this thing is useless. It won't help us get out of here! Stop talking with it!

Didn't I say to be silent? Benny, do you have a pack who will come to save you?

"Pack? Like packing bags?"

No. A pack is what we wolves call our family.

"My family...My family is Marie...I only have Marie...but Marie isn't here anymore...wuuuuu...!"

Is...that so...?

As I said, useless. Hmph, I'm going to sleep. If I'm going to get sold off, I'm going to rest up so I can bite the throat of whoever gets us out of here.

Don't mind him, he's angry because of our situation. He's a member of my pack and is still learning to be civil with others.

"Where are we?"

Most likely underground, deep beneath a human settlement.

"You mean we're underneath that huge city?!" Benny couldn't imagine it...a big room like this beneath the city? "Why...?

Because there are those who do bad things. We are to be sold. You, him, myself...everything in this room as well.

"Sold...like how Philia and Ansel buys things from the shops?"

I am not entirely sure what sold is myself, but the humans who come in here call us 'commodities' and 'product'. They speak of selling us which means we will likely be taken out of here and be given to someone else.

"No! I can't be sold! I have to go to Philia's granny's house and then I have to find my Marie! I can't be sold off to someone else!"

Don't cry, Benny. Crying will get you nowhere!

"B-But...!"

If you want your freedom, you must obtain it yourself! Can you get out of your cage?

"I-I'll try..."

Benny didn't want to do this...but it had no choice. If it didn't want to be sold off, it had to get free! Benny began squeezing its body out of the gap in the cage. As it is has big gaps, it was simple for Benny to force its head out first...but it began to tumble, hitting the ground with a clank. The female wolf froze up, her ears twitching lightly while Benny is frozen in place...scared that the bad people who took it from Philia and the others would come by.

It's safe, hurry. Come here, I'll help you get out.

"O-Okay..."

Benny put its feet in the gaps of the cage, wobbling over to the female wolf. It stuck its hand out for her to bit down on...which she did as carefully as possible. She slowly pulled and thanks to Benny's soft and malleable body, it was able to be pulled out with just a bit of tugging. Benny looked at its hand...suddenly glad that it chose to offer a hand instead of its head and neck...as there are tears on its hand.

"My cotton is spilling out..."

I apologize.

"So now what?"

I saw the humans place the keys over on that wall over there. Go get them.

You're trusting the wrong thing. Just wait until we get moved again before we try to get out.

Shush, you! We have to at least try!

Benny squeezed out of the gaps of the wolves' cage...It ran in the direction the female wolf was talking about and saw the key ring...but its too high up. Benny tried at first to jump and down, but after four attempts it gave up and began running around to find something to knock it over with. It managed to find a tall gold metal stick, but as Benny didn't have any muscles, it couldn't lift it...but it ended up falling and crashing into something...resulting in other things falling and making a huge ruckus.

"Eeeekkk!"

Hurry! Come this way! Humans are coming!

Benny quickly ran towards the wolves. In its panic, it didn't notice how its ribbon was yanked off when it was running. The female wolf quickly hid Benny beneath her body...tucking her head above Benny, but allowing it some space to see. Benny could hear people talking, but because of all the fur around it, it couldn't hear anything very clearly. It could see many feet running around and the wolves began to growl, making Benny think that its body is vibrating.

"Are they gone...?"

Not yet. Stay hidden a while longer.

Benny isn't sure how long it took, but when it was finally let out...it slowly walked towards the edge of the cage to peer out. The door to the room had been left open, but the key to the cage is gone!

"What do I do...?" Benny ran back to the cage, this time being careful not to knock into anything. "They took the key, what should I do?"

I suppose this is our fate. You should go.

"Go?"

That's right, leave without us. If the door is open, with your small body you should be able to escape on your own. Go, find your way back to your humans and be free.

"No! I won't go without you two!"

Don't shout, what if the humans hear you and come back.

"I-I'll find the keys and come back! I won't leave you behind!"

Why?

"Why what?"

Why go so far for us when we do not know one another.

"I...I don't want to leave someone behind...I was really sad when Marie left me behind. I remember it...remember it very clearly..."

"I'm sorry, Benny."  Benny remembers being held tightly in her arms. "I'm so sorry...I am leaving...I don't know when I can come back for you."

Where are you going? Why can't you take me with you?

Benny wished to desperately asked this, but couldn't move. It desperately wanted to ask her why she was so sad? Why was she crying? Benny wanted to wrap its arms around her to comfort her, but it couldn't move. Benny wanted to get up, to chase after her, but it can't. It cannot do so because it is simply a teddy bear. It doesn't have the power to get up.

"Marie, it's time."

"Yes...I'm sorry for making you wait."

"That's your teddy bear?"

"That's right...I brought Benny with me to this world..."

"Our journey is going to be dangerous from here on out. Nothing like our days training."

"I know...that's why I have to leave Benny behind. Let's go...Asahi..."

"..." Benny couldn't see who this Kenta is, its head is angled downwards. "I'll take care of her on your behalf then...just wait, she'll come back for you..."

"Marie left me behind...she never came back..."

You were abandoned.

"No! I wasn't abandoned, that boy with her said that she'll come back for me...I just...Just couldn't wait anymore...maybe that's why I can move...If she can't come back for me...I'll go look for her! That's why, that's why...I don't want to abandon you!"

What a brave thing you are. Hey, fool.

Huh?

I'll break your chains, help this child.

Why should I?

Because unlike you or I, this child has a chance to free us. Even if you can't find the key, you can find its human companions.

You believe in it that much?

Yes.

You are my alpha, I'll obey your request. However, if we fail, I won't abandon you. I'll come straight back here to get you out even if I die trying.

Really, what a fool you are. Just like when I was captured, you tried to protect me then too.

O-Obviously I would, you are our pack's future alpha!

The female wolf released a sound similar to a laugh. She brought her snout closer to the neck of the male wolf, opening her mouth to press her fangs against the metal. Without hesitation, even though it clearly damaged her own fangs...she tore through the metal and broke the male wolf free.

This fool wouldn't escape on his own, that's why he stayed with me. He is loyal and a fierce hunter. Trust him and he will trust you.

"Okay!"

The male wolf merely snorted, almost mockingly. He opened his mouth, snagging Benny by the body. He didn't bite down, knowing its fangs would penetrate the soft fabric that is Benny's skin.

"I don't like this."

Endure it.

Benny clearly didn't like this manner of being carried, but couldn't help it knowing that it couldn't hold onto the wolf in any manner without assistance. The wolf didn't know where it is going, but kept running. Benny wanted to cry out as it was too fast and it was getting dizzy with how fast things were going past...walls and people alike.

"One of the wolves got free?!"

"Which idiot didn't check to make sure its chains were on properly?!"

"It has the magical artifact!"

"Stop it! Don't let it get outside!"

Benny is getting dizzier and dizzier, but when the wolf finally managed to break through a door leading to a large room...the wolf had frozen up...growling lowly. Benny slowly lifted its head to see...men in armor, armor like Philia's. They were pointing long spears at them.

"Where did this thing come from?!"

"Forget that, don't let it escape! The moment it jumps at us, pierce it!"

Sorry, bear...but I refuse to die here. I have to stay with my alpha, I won't let her go anywhere alone.

"No! If we find Philia and Ansel, they'll save her! Philia, Philia is a brave knight! Ansel is good at lightning magic too!"

"That cursed doll is talking?!"

"That's why...that's why...We have to find them! Granny Elizabeth said that they'll protect me!"

But...

"Trust me! The big wolf said so herself! Trust me and I'll trust you!" Benny stared at the wolf as best it could from its awkward angle. "Trust me because I trust Philia and Ansel! Hurry, we have to find them!"

Don't blame me if things go wrong...!

The wolf released a harsh growl, taking a look around. The room had two floors, wide space. The wolf didn't know what the room is used for, but...he can clearly see a doorway on the upper floor. The wolf ran forward before taking a sharp turn towards the wall, his sharp claws digging into the wood as it put all its strength into leaping towards the balcony on the upper floors. It rammed into the wall, but it was able to get away from those men in armor.

"Woooahhhh!"

That seriously hurt...Don't be too impressed! If this was the forest, I'd show you my real hunting skills! These humans have such narrow spaces, it's hard to run in here!

"Okay! We can do that in the future! We have to go find Philia and Ansel now!"

Shut up! I just need to find the scent of the two who cling to you...I can smell them! They're here!

"See! I told you!"

Heh, you got a good pack, huh? They don't intend on abandoning you.

"Hehehehe! That's right!"

"Marie, did you know? A pack is another word for family. To me, not just you...but Philia and Ansel too! They are pack, they are my family! Philia is a bit mean sometimes, but she cares a lot!  She's brave and strong, just like the female wolf I met! Ansel too! He cares a lot about Philia just like the male wolf did the female wolf! I love them, just like I love you!"