The Teddy Bear's Reawakening

"What do we do?"

Benny could hear Ansel ask this to Philia. Benny desperately wanted to move, but couldn't. It desperately wished to speak, but couldn't.

"What do you mean? Our mission remains the same. We bring the bear to my great-grandmother."

"You know what I mean, Philia. Benny hasn't moved since it released that weird light. Whatever it did, it purified the miasma that wolf was given to become a monster. It stopped it from becoming a monster."

"..."

"That's high level purification magic. Magic that couldn't have possibly come from a mere doll."

"What are you saying?"

"What if...what if Marie..."

"Ma...rie...?"

"...!"

"Benny?!"

"Ma...Marie...where is...my Marie?"

"Why are you asking for her when you should be more worried about yourself, you dumb bear?!"

"Ssssttttttoooppppp!" Benny's head is being flung back and forth due to Philia shaking it. "Shaaaaakkkkkkkiiinnnnnngggg mmmmmeeeeee!"

"I'll shake you if I want to shake you!"

"Ssssaaaaaavvvveeeee mmmmeeeeee, Aaaaaannnnssseeellll!"

"Philia." Ansel stopped Philia, releasing a sigh. "Come on, give it a break."

"I want to know what are you?!"

"Benny the teddy bear!"

"That's not what I mean, you idiot!"

"You're an idiot!"

"Uuuuuuuuggggghhhh!" Philia dramatically flopped onto the table after letting go of Benny. "Why am I arguing with a bear with the emotional and intelligence of a child...?"

"Because you were worried about it."

"I wasn't worried, you were worried!"

"Yes, I was worried."

"...You're not supposed to admit it, you idiot!"

"Ow!"

"Philia! Don't bully Ansel!"

"It's fine...she's hurt so I'll let it slide today..."

"Wait, wait! Where are the wolves?!" Benny began to jump up and down. It attempted to run to the door, but was caught by Ansel. "Let go, Ansel! I have to go help them! They got hurt!"

"Don't worry about them. Nao is taking care of them."

"Nao is?! They're okay! No more red liquid?"

"You mean blood? No, they're healing up just fine...just..."

"Just, just what? What happened?"

"Benny, do you remember what you did when you shouted at us to stop?"

"No." Benny shook its whole body. "I just...couldn't move all of a sudden. I remembered...remembered when Marie did take me with her on her journey. I can remember her tears during those times...before she left me behind..."

"..."

"That's right! You were hurt too, Philia!" Benny ran over to Philia. "Let me see! Let me see!"

"Why do you want to see?"

"Just let me see!"

"Okay, okay..." Philia knelt down in front of Benny. "I hurt my hand."

"Got it." Benny gently began patting her hand. "Pain, pain, go away."

"Ah..." Philia is mildly stunned and confused. "It...It didn't hurt."

"See! It works!"

"...Heh..." Benny was amazed to see Philia smile at it. She never smiled, she always had this slight frown on her face. A soured look that didn't suit her pretty face. "Yeah, it works."

Ansel watched Philia smile as she talked with Benny. A smile he hasn't seen since they were kids and when she was still fascinated and in love with magic. Philia laughed as Benny began patting at her face next, resulting in her patting its head. Benny allowed Philia to carry it outside to see the wolves. The trio saw Nao speaking with the wolves.

"You two are okay!" Benny wiggled in Philia's arms, resulting in her dropping it. "That's great! You're okay! You're okay!"

Yes, we're fine thanks to you.

You dumb thing! If you had the power to save my alpha, you should have done so sooner!

"Bgweh!" 

Don't hit Benny after he helped us!

OW!

"Hehehehehe!" Benny began cuddling up to the female wolf. "You two really are like Philia and Ansel! Ah, that's right! That's right! You two! These are my pack!"

"The bear is talking to itself..."

"I always thought it was weird how it talked with the horses or random wild animals..."

"You two, what do you take Benny for?" Nao gave the two a strange look. "If you noticed, at least ask it if it can speak with animals!"

"It can speak with animals?!"

"Benny is the wolf mad that I hurt it?" Philia knelt down beside Benny...remembering how distraught Benny was that it managed to use magic to stop the pair from fighting. "Can she understand me?"

"Yeah! Yeah! She can understand you! Ah, this is Philia! She's like you, she's obviously our alpha!"

Your alpha is strong. She could match me and she didn't back down when it came to the safety of her pack.

"That's right! Philia is the strongest ever!"

Let me apologize for attacking you. Although those bad humans did something to me, I had still harmed you.

"Is she saying something?"

"She says sorry for hurting you because some bad person did something to her."

"...I'm sorry too. I didn't know you helped Benny. I almost killed you..."

Don't apologize for that. To protect one's pack is the most important thing. If I had died that day, it would not have bothered me.

That would have bothered me!

Shush, you.

"She says that you shouldn't apologize. To protect pack is important."

"Pack?"

"Pack! Pack means family!"

"Family?"

"Us?"

"Yeah! While it's true Marie is pack...I also think of you two as pack!"

"I-Is that so...?"

"Thank you, Benny."

"Hehehehe!"

"Benny, you were asleep for almost a week. Were you conscious throughout that time?"

"Conscious? What's that?"

"Hm...when you can speak with us or hear us."

"No. Nao, Nao, what did I do? Was I asleep for a long time?"

"...You were asleep for a good week."

"Week?! What do we do?! Will we be late meeting Philia's great-granny? What if we miss her birthday?!"

"How is that old hag's birthday important here...?"

"We have to go, we have to go!" Benny began to jump up and down. "Hurry, hurry! We need to continue our journey!"

"Calm down."

"B-Buuttttt...!"

"Benny, you do not feel exhaustion or pain. Philia and Ansel, even the wolves feel such a thing. We need to let them rest, it is important to do so."

"Oh..." Benny calmed down at Nao's words. "Will we stay here for a long time?"

"Just two more days. I already arranged for your journey through the mountains."

"What do you mean?"

"...Have neither of you ever told Benny the original route you were to take?"

"It's..."

"Well..."

"You two..."

"Don't get mad at them, Nao!" Benny ran over to Nao. It began clinging to her leg. "I didn't ask before now! I had fun each day with them! Don't get mad!"

"I'm not mad."

"You're mad! I can tell!"

"..."

"What's wrong, Nao?"

"No, it isn't anything important."

"Do you want a hug?" Benny held out its arms. "Hugs are great!"

"..."

"Hug!"

Nao knelt down, slowly pulling Benny into her embrace. Benny began patting her shoulders and head with its hands...it noticed how her shoulders shook slightly and her embrace is incredibly tight. Benny could tell she had something dark in her heart...like Marie did long ago. Marie would always hug it like this.

"Sometimes...a hug is best when you didn't know you needed it!"

"...Yes, that's right. She used to say that too..."

"I fell asleep for a long time. When I woke up, Philia and Ansel were there. The wolves that I made friends with were alive too! But...but...Nao...Nao seemed very sad for some reason. I knew she was sad for some reason, but she wouldn't tell me. That's why I asked for a hug. I wanted her to feel better. You always hugged me when you felt sad so I wanted to do the same for Nao!"