The Teddy Bear and Unbreakable Bonds

"Weeeeee~! Faster! Faster!"

Benny held both hands up in the air as the wolves wove through the trees at a fast speed. It is only kept on as the female wolf allowed Ansel to tie a ribbon around her neck...before tying Benny firmly to said ribbon. Unlike before when it was carried in the male wolf's mouth, this was a lot more fun for Benny as it can see clearly and isn't being shaken like crazy. There is also no risk of drool getting on it. They were doing a few laps around the current camp to make sure Benny wouldn't get thrown off or to adjust the ribbons to ensure Benny's safety.

"Hey, you guys! Don't go in the direction of the village!" Ansel is standing by the campfire, watching as they ran past. "Also, be careful of any humans you see! Make sure you go away from here if that's the case! I don't want people thinking I tamed you two or something!"

Come on, you can move faster than that, can't you?

You seem to forget that I'm the one carrying Benny. Well, if that's how you want to play then I'll speed up! Benny, hold on tight! Don't let go!

"Okay!"

Benny squealed in delight as the female wolf ran faster. They were coming up to a ravine and neither wolf slowed down, instead they chose to speed up before leaping across in a single powerful jump.

"Ooooohhhh~!"

Benny cheerfully laughed as the wolves climbed up to the top of the mountains faster than any horse or person could climb. The two stopped at the highest peak they could reach, staring out into the distance in the north...to their birthplace.

Do you see it, Benny?

"Hm...Nope! All I see is fields, lots of green fields, and a forest that way!"

Hahahahaha! That's true, but I mean those bits of white in the furthest distance. Can you see it?

"Hm...I think so! I can't tell if they're clouds or something else though!"

That white is what we call snow.

"Snow?! I know what that is! it's white fluffy things that are cold and melts when it gets warm!"

That's right.

We were born in the furthest north in the snowiest mountain range. Far from human settlements.

Are you cold, Benny?

"No, I'm not cold at all. I can't feel cold or hot. I can't feel hungry either so I'm okay!"

That's a relief, but it is also sad.

"Sad? Why is it sad?"

You cannot feel what we feel, you cannot smell what we smell.

"..."

Benny thought about that. It didn't understand anything about scents, taste, or the sensation of things on its fabric. At first, none of this bothered Benny...but now that she mentions it...it makes Benny curious about such sensations.

"What...does it feel like?"

Are you curious?

"Yes!"

Then...Do you wish to give to me a name?

You...What are you saying?!

No, let me ask this in a different manner. Gift to me a name.

You can't be serious, do you know what you're asking of this thing?!

Yes, I know what I am asking. However, it doesn't change that this child has saved us. So I shall bow my head and chose to submit myself to it.

"You want me to name you? Why? Why would you want me to give you a name? Didn't you say wolves didn't need names?"

Because I want us to have a bond, a bond that can be felt even when we are apart.

Alpha, if you accept a name from...you can't return to our original pack. They would never accept you back in if you allow another to name you.

"What?!"

That is a sacrifice I am willing to make.

But...No, knowing you, it would not change your mind. Then, I also want you to name me.

You can return to the pack, you don't have to accompany me.

The only person I would ever accept as my alpha is you, no one else.

"I...I don't get it, why are you asking me for this?"

I don't know myself...but it feels...right.

If she is choosing to accept a name from you then so shall I.

Why would you...?

As I said, you are the only one I will accept as my alpha. If we are not pack, then I would rather leave and be alone.

What a fool you are. Benny, can you untie yourself?

"I think so...?"

Benny struggled to untie itself as Ansel used some really complex knots...but it managed to get free after a bit of squeezing. Benny tumbled off the wolf's neck, almost rolling downhill if she didn't bite into its leg to stop it from rolling too far away. She carefully placed Benny onto a nearby rock. The male wolf helped nudge Benny to sit up. The two wolves laid down around the rock, both facing the direction of their home.

We will leave today, Benny the Teddy Bear.

"W-What?! Why, weren't you supposed to leave when Philia returns? I...I wanted to be with you two a little longer...is it because...I'm not sure about giving you a name...?"

Do not cry, pup.

"I'm not crying! I-I promise I'm not!"

We are not leaving because of that. We decided this once we were sure you would reach your next destination safely.

We doubt that dragon will be an issue to you all even if you were to encounter it.

Perhaps you would charm it like you had us.

"Charm?"

Before we part, I want to give you a gift...a gift only I can give. Give you experiences that I can feel.

"...but won't you be alone then?"

Didn't you hear? The only one who matters in my pack decided to stay with me.

I have no intentions of leaving her.

"...I...don't know if I can give you a good name though."

Take your time, enjoy the scenery. If you rush, you lose sight of the things around you.

Benny went silent...looking at everything around it to find inspiration to giving the pair a name. It stared long and hard at the grass beneath the rock its sitting on. It watched it sway in the wind before looking up to the sky. It's a cloudy day with no hint of sunshine. It stared off into the distance where the two's home is supposed to be.

"White...snow..."

As if remembering something from long ago...Benny began to remember the times in the other world...when Marie was most excited during the winters...when snow began to fall.

"Look, look, Benny! It's snowing, it's going to be a white Christmas!" Benny and Marie are staring outside the window, peering at the snow that is drifting down from the sky. "Mom said we're going to sing Christmas carols and all my uncles and aunties are going to come visit. It's only during times like this can all of us family can get together and be happy!"

"What do you think of the name...Carol?"

Carol? Where did you think of that name?

"Christmas carols...Songs of happy days and memories, with friends and family! A song that will bring happiness to everyone! To match, I want to give him the name Noel!"

I'm afraid that I'm not very good at singing, but...my howl is the most impressive.

Benny wondered what a howl is, but the female wolf...no, Carol sat up. She raised her head to the sky and released a sound deep within her that echoed across the mountains. The male wolf sat up as well, following her lead as the two began to howl into the wind. Although Benny is a mere teddy bear, the howls sent shivers down its spine. Then...as if in response to the howls, the winds picked up and snow began to fall.

"Pretty..."

Whether it is the sound of the wolves' howls or the snow itself...only the teddy bear could say. The howling came to a stop and Benny could have sworn it saw two people on either side of him instead of two wolves. The snow made it difficult to see as it is sticking to its button eyes. Benny had to use the flat of its hands to rub at the buttons to get it off.

What's wrong, pup?

"Did you two become people?" Benny tilted its whole body curiously. "I thought you did?"

Hehehehe, perhaps you were imagining it.

You're going a bit crazy, bear.

"I'm not crazy, you're crazy!"

Benny the Teddy Bear...cover your eyes...and feel what we feel.

Benny didn't understand Carol's words...but did as she said. It covered its button eyes with its hands...shutting out its sight. Suddenly...a chill it had never felt before resounded within its body. It wanted to move its hands away, but it felt as if someone was holding their hands over its own.

"This is sensations only the living can feel...though you are not like us...I want you to experience it...everything I can...sensations that make you think...I'm alive. Let me share it with you...what the living can experience...my master."

Benny didn't understand whose voice this is...but it sounds gentle and kind. Suddenly...Benny began to see things through eyes that isn't its own. The sensation of the cold freezing air against its face as the forest sped past them...of a strange thing that tickled its nose in a funny way. It was far from unpleasant...but it is something it had never experienced before.

"The sensation of the wind against one's face...the scent of the forest...of grass and forest moss...of the uneven dirt beneath our feet as we run across the forest."

"Who...are you?"

"Didn't you just give me my name? Call it out...the name of your first servant...of your own familiar..."

"Carol...?"

"Carol is a bit of a meanie, isn't she? She didn't tell me that giving her a name would mean she would be my familiar...I didn't know that I had magic, but it is small and weak...despite that, she wanted me as her master. Yet...yet...that day...I felt things all humans could...the sensation of the cold wind...the scent of the forest as autumn turns to winter...it was beautiful...and new...it was a beautiful gift...and I can still feel her now...her and Noel...they're in the coldest winter forest and mountains...I can see the beautiful snowflakes that fall from the sky even though I am right beside you...I can feel our bond even though we are far apart..."