I tried waiting a while for the child to calm down. As effective as it was, it was also not effective at all. (Contradiction is interesting right?) The mistake was to be quiet; after all I was dealing with a child. Even if you give some time to calm down, a child that is alone in an unknown place with a beast (I’m a wolf, to humans it’s a dangerous existence, no?) cannot calm down by itself.

After having revelation of that I decided to act. I may look like a beast, but it’s not like I’m emanating a wild aura. I tried approaching the girl who was now curled up while holding her knees, slightly peeking at me, quite adorable actually. Talking was not a current option so I tried doing what my parents did when I was young, playing with the tail. I’m proud enough to say that the fur on my tail is soft (even for me!), so it might help somehow. I gently brushed my tail next to her face which was hidden behind the knees.

After a few tail “wags” she stretched out her hand to touch my tail. It looks like the plan worked; I couldn’t help but feel proud. I stood still for a moment letting her do what she wanted, waiting for a while before I decide to speak again. At that time she played with my tail, it seems she found it interesting. A curious look of a child, even if you’re not the child’s parent you still feel warm inside. Something completely new to me considering I never had a family of my own.

After a while I finally decided to speak.

[Are you feeling better?]

Hearing my voice she was again startled, but this time only slightly as she still continued to play with my tail.

[No need to be afraid, can you tell me your name?]

[Nn, Yui.] Oh! Progress.

[Nice to meet you Yui. I am the Beast god. But you can call me Fenrir.] The reason for my name is because of my parents, they were devoting worshipers of one of our clan who ascended once from beast to a Beast god as well.

[Sorry Yui but I have a few questions, mind if I ask you?]

[… Okay] She answers in a low voice while still preoccupied with my tail.

[Very well then, how old are you?]

[… 7.] To die so young … Life is not really fair to all it seems.

[Do you understand what happened to you?]

[Nn, I died.] So she knows.

[May I know how you died?]

[Sick.] Ah~ I see.

I couldn’t find what to say, for a child as young as her to die and know. I cannot even imagine how she felt when she lived. This is really complicating.

[Um, excuse me?] After a while of waiting (seems like all I can do is wait) in silence, this time the child decided to speak.

[Yes?]

[… Why am I here?] Oh.

[Well, it’s because I summoned you here.]

[Why?] Ah! How can I explain this now? If it was an adult beast it would have been easy, but to explain to a human child is going to be difficult.

[Hmm~] While I’m thinking of an answer she starts staring at me while waiting for my answer.

[… Do you like animals?] Let’s find out first about this.

[Yes.] She answered while looking slightly displeased with me ignoring her question.

[Well, huh. Because I need help… I know it’s selfish of me to ask this of you, but I need your help.]

[Help? How?] She looks slightly confused and I can’t blame her. To ask a child to help, I can only hate myself.

[I need your help to stop the bad guys who are killing my kind.] I can’t even tell her that the enemy Is her own kind.

[I tried to summon a person who has a pure heart and would protect the beasts, and from that summon came you. That is the reason why you’re here.] She’s quietly listening; I can’t even understand what she might be thinking now.

[I understand it’s wrong of me to ask for help, and I would understand if you decide to refuse. If so, I will somehow try to return you back home.] It might take a toll on me, but it is my fault for involving her. So I believe.

Again silence. She was quietly thinking to herself while still holding my tail. I can do nothing but wait.

…

…

[I’ll help.] !? What did she say?

[C-can you repeat that?]

[I’ll help] So I didn’t hear wrongly. Ah~ this child is really kind.

[I have to ask, are you sure?]

[Nn.] She nods while gripping my tail harder. I can’t really know what’s going on through her head, but it seems that might be the best for now.

[Thank you.] I bow my head as deep as I can. No amount of thanks could be enough for her.

[Well. May I again ask something?]

[Okay.]

[What is your favorite animal?]

[Chicken!] On my question she immediately jumped up exclaiming her answer. It even startled me slightly, but hearing her answer I couldn’t do anything but break out laughing.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

[Kh-hhahahahahahahahahahahahahahah. A chicken! Oh this is just incredible. To think you would say something unexpected like that. Hahahahah.] In all my life even if someone told me this would happen I would not believe them.

While was laughing myself for the first time in a long time, she looked slightly sad. It seems my laughing may have hurt her.

[Sorry, do forgive me. But I never expected such an interesting answer. May I know why is a chicken your favorite animal?]

 [P-promise not to laugh.] Slightly wary of me due to me recent outburst, she reluctantly replied.

[I promise.]

Observing me for a while, she continued speaking with a cheerful tone.

[Because they’re cute! When they’re small they’re really fluffy and soft. I lived in a farm where we had chickens and I liked taking care of them because of that. They’re really cute…]

She kept speed-talking about chickens so much I could only smile. She was so happy when talking about what she liked that I couldn’t force myself to interrupt, listening attentively while she was talking.

After talking for a while she was obviously tired. I gave her some of my energy to recover and continued the conversation.

[I see, so you really like them. You’re interesting Yui.] She looks happy. Better than at the beginning when she was afraid.

[Well, then, would you like to be a beast with a chicken origin?]

It seems as my question confused her.

[Um, let me explain. We beasts don’t look like me, my form is only when you acquire certain strength. Beast look like you, they have some animal traits, but other than that they’re normal like any human you know. So what I’m asking is if you’d like to have some certain traits of a chicken?]

[… Okay.] It seems she understood what I said, good.

[Then I will send you to my world, I will have someone take care of you. She’s a friend so you don’t need to worry. Okay?]

[What about you?] Me?

[Uh, I cannot leave this place. Gods cannot interfere with the living, it is a rule.]

[Ah.] She lowers her head while looking dejected. But I really can’t leave. Can I?

I was stuck, my heart was in a turmoil. I know my obligation as a god is to observe my kin and protect them from others who wish to interfere. (other gods from this or other worlds) But a part of me wishes to follow this girl, to keep her safe. But I cannot leave from here as my body is bound… Body…

….

….

Maybe if I leave my body and follow in a form of a spirit, it wouldn’t break any laws as it would not be actual interference. I only intend to follow Yui. So no one could complain. It’s worth a risk, I believe it is.

[Yui.]

[?]

[I’ll go with you.]

[Really!?] She looks excited. Yes, it’s a good choice.

[Yes, I cannot follow you in this body of mine, but I will follow you as a spirit. I will follow you and keep you company. Is it okay?]

[Yes!] I couldn’t help but smile. To think I would be swayed but a human child.

[Well then. Let’s go.]

She slowly stood up and I sat in front of her. And as I gathered my energy, sharing my powers with Yui. The portal to the world slowly opened. And both Yui and I disappeared from a place I called home for thousands of year.

Embarking on an adventure I never expected to have ever since I ascended as a god.

With a companion, I in all my life never expected to follow.

And so the gears came into motion. Even I can no longer know what is going to happen in the world I was to govern.

........

Author Note: Longer than expected, but I didn’t want to split this into more parts. Also let me explain the ascension part. Beasts have a dominant Human genome (70%) and a beast genome (25%). The other 5%? Spirit genome that will eventually show its purpose. Oh yea, ascension. Beast with time grow stronger thanks to the beast genome and the spirit genome. But thanks to the spirit genome if they grow a certain amount of strength they abandon their human genome and become a true beast (80% beast 20% spirit). Beast gods have reign for 10 thousand year, then they have a choice if they wish to continue to govern for another 10 thousand, or they wish to leave and travel through other realms. If they do, they choose one of the true beasts to ascend and take their place. Okay? Good.