Chapter 1 — The boundary line, the marriage between a girl and a wolf . Part 4

We left the paved road and went along a dirt path, to a place I had never been to before, where even the air felt distinct from the city’s .

He darted into an opening in the forest, that awaited us like a black hole .

Our silhouettes disappeared into the forest .

It was dark, dark and only dark–––everything but the sensations on my skin had disappeared inside the darkness .

I held on a bit more firmly .

So we wouldn’t be separated, so I wouldn’t let go .

In the darkness, I pictured a senseless quarrel, a senseless death .

I wonder what he wants from me in this darkness .

Everything that had happened was shrouded in mystery, just like the forest .

But there was only one thing that was clear to me .

The s.h.i.+tty world I had been living in until today had

certainly started to shatter .

In the end, I didn’t know what I’d lose, or what I’d gain .

It felt like we had been running for an eternity before an opening suddenly appeared within the dark forest .

I opened my eyes .

It was a place shaped like a perfect circle, with gra.s.s covering the ground and tall evergreens surrounding it, nothing more .

A meeting place . That was the best description for this place .

There was nothing obstructing my sight, so I could see everything with the help of the starlight .

And because I could see, I could also see that–––s.h.i.+ro was an outsider here . I could clearly see that he didn’t belong here . The dim light and deep darkness clearly made him stand out too much .

His steps made no sound until we reached the middle of the circle, where I got down from him and stood at his side .

That spot of white

white amongst the darkness exuded an aura of harsh loneliness .

As if he had nowhere to be, as if he was isolated from everything .

“I will call my brethren now,” he bellowed .

Then howled continuously to far, far away .

It echoed through the trees in the forest, and after a long while pa.s.sed, slowly declined as if sinking into the ground .

Soon, the sound of several ma.s.ses cutting through the wind could be heard .

Many wolves appeared from inside the forest, all standing motionless on the border of the circle around us .

This was the forest that was located beside the city that I lived in, but I had never been here before .

It wasn’t just a mere thought to consider this a different world anymore .

This was the kingdom of the wolves .

But they were all–––different from s.h.i.+ro–––ashen wolves . For most of them, their fur had lost its s.h.i.+ne, some even seemed to be crippled .

crippled .

There were around thirty, or so…Thinking about how many there were drained my energy . I felt weak, there were so many that I couldn’t even see any gaps between them, it was almost like they were a single ent.i.ty .

A lone, peculiar wolf stood in front of them all . His ashen fur had lost almost all of its s.h.i.+ne and he was almost twice as big as s.h.i.+ro . His eyes were round but they seemed weary, always looking at someplace far away .

He was old, and tired . I noticed those two facts as soon as I saw him .

Beside him stood another gray wolf, about the same size as s.h.i.+ro . He seemed to be the youngest of the pack as his fur still had some s.h.i.+ne and he seemed livelier overall . His gaze was sharp and he glared with hostility at us–––or to be precise, at s.h.i.+ro .

Something about their looks told

their looks told me they were parent and child .

“Father, brother, my brethren!” s.h.i.+ro shouted as he looked at those two . “Let me introduce you to the one standing beside me, my wife!”

A small commotion started among the ashen wolves and I could feel many piercing stares turn to me .

“Her name is Saki and, as you can see, she is a human!”

After he said that, the clamor grew louder .

Well, they just heard of a marriage between a wolf and a human, it’s obvious they would react in this way .

After they had calmed down, the old wolf spoke with an austere tone:

“My child, is what you’re saying true?”

“I would never lie to you, father . This girl is certainly my wife . ”

s.h.i.+ro seemed to be holding in his mirth as he spoke . I stole a quick glance at his face .

He appeared to be on the verge of laughter with his eyes set ablaze .