animal ears

? And this, Cole is completely unaware.

Seeing Norman who was silent on the road but always caring for him, his heart was filled with gratitude and guilt. He was grateful that Norman did not leave, and he was guilty of Norman who was willing to stay.

I went to the stream to draw water. It was almost winter and the water was very cold.

"Are you so relieved to let them be together?" With a sarcastic voice, the man slowly came out from behind the bushes.

With a sideways glance, Cole said lightly, "It's you, Simon."

With a muffled grunt, he leaned against the tree by the stream. Simon crossed his arms, glanced at Cole, and said, "I didn't expect you to go anyway."

"But it's definitely not to fulfill your wish." Cole replied decisively, "I won't let you kill Ley."

"Hmph," Simon said softly, turning his head and closing his eyes, "how can things in this world always go as you wish."

"At least tried." Slowly getting up, Cole turned around, faced Simon, and said, "You..."

Half-opening his eyes, Simon tilted his head: "Huh?"

After thinking about it, Cole continued: "Anyway, we're going the same way, do you want to go together?"

Sneering a few times, Simon stood up straight and looked straight at him with his dark pupils, as if he was examining Cole. Then he touched his chin and said, "Why, do you want to keep an eye on me?"

"That's just one of the reasons." Cole nodded honestly, not shy at all, "And you are very familiar with the roads here."

"You really know how to plan, Cole..." Simon raised the corners of his mouth and raised his eyes, "But aren't you afraid that your stingy and jealous orc will be unhappy?"

As soon as the words fell, Simon turned around, waved his hand lightly, and said, "Don't worry, I will always follow you," looking back at Cole, "Also, I didn't say that because I was worried about you, except Besides me, there are other people...following you."

"other people?"

"You...be careful yourself."

"Wait……"

I still want to ask, but Simon has turned his head and disappeared into the dense forest.

Returning to the camp with this question in mind, Norman carefully stirred the bonfire. When he saw Cole, he stepped forward and pulled him to the side, then carefully held his hand, rubbed it and said with some complaints: "Everyone said Let me go, hands are so cold."

Smiling, Cole let the other party move, and said lightly: "It's okay."

"What's okay?" She pursed her lips stubbornly, and stared over like a child, "Next time you are not allowed to go, I have waited for a long time, and I am very worried."

Then came a soft kiss.

"Ah." He replied softly, Cole didn't say anything, then leaned against Norman, staring at the bonfire, somehow, drowsiness hit him, and soon fell asleep.

I feel very warm.

Why is it so warm?

Cole tried to think, but his mind went blank.

It was as if someone was whispering in my ear, it seemed to be very gentle words, but I couldn't hear them clearly. I wanted to listen more carefully, but gradually disappeared.

"Cole, Cole..."

Who is calling yourself?

"Cole, wake up..."

When I opened my eyes, it was all white.

Dazed and bewildered.

This is where?

Clutching his head that was in severe pain, Cole sat up slowly, then carefully observed the surrounding situation, and found that the person sitting next to him was... Bryce!

Shocked for a moment, Cole quickly grabbed Bryce's hand and said in surprise: "Bryce?! You, why are you here?" Then he looked around and saw a cave almost covered in snow. Outside, It turned out to be a vast snow mountain.

How could I be here?

Cole froze, his eyes widening in disbelief.

"I..." Before I could finish speaking, I suddenly wanted to get out of bed, but was restrained by Bryce, and Cole shouted anxiously, "Norman and Sarah... I'm going to find them!"

The old female held Cole's hand reluctantly, then rubbed Cole's head with difficulty, withdrew her hand, sat aside, sighed and said, "Calm down first."

Then was forced back.

"This is the outskirts of the snow wolves." Bryce said first, looking away at the snow in the distance.

"Snow wolves?"

I was clearly on the road with Norman and Sarah, so why did I suddenly arrive at the Snow Wolf Clan?

Looking at Cole who was full of doubts, Bryce shook his head and said, "You must be wondering why you are here. Actually, I don't understand. I found you not far outside this cave. It was as if she had completely lost consciousness, and she couldn't wake up no matter how much she screamed."

Completely... unconscious?

"Later, I asked a few members of the clan to carefully bring you back in the dark." Sighing, Bryce continued, "Fortunately, the Snow Wolf clan didn't find out. If they found out, the consequences would be disastrous."

"Is it just me?" Cole asked worriedly.

Nodding, Bryce said, "When I found you, you were the only one."

After calming down for a while, Cole turned his head and asked, "But Bryce, why are you here?"

Frowning deeply, Bryce shook his head: "It's hard to say."

After that, he walked to the side and picked up a small bowl.

There are traces of other people living nearby, and it seems that they have lived there for a long time. Cole also noticed that some white powder was placed around the cave, which smelled strange, but it had a strong effect of covering up the smell. Looking at these powders, he quietly froze for a moment.

"It was captured," Bryce said.

Cole turned around when he heard the sound: "Catch it?" He raised his eyebrows in disbelief.

Nodding, Bryce sat down on the stone slab next to him, then squinted his eyes, and said, "Not long after you left the Beast Ear Clan, a group of people of unknown origin rushed in. They thought their target was females. But I didn’t expect them to bring all the clansmen here.”

"What about the rest?"

Sighing heavily, Bryce pursed his lips thoughtfully, and said softly: "I don't know." Looking up at Cole, Bryce's eyes were full of helplessness and sadness, "On the way here, many people from the tribe Disappeared one after another, no..." The sadness in his eyes was even worse, "He was killed."

The voice even choked up.

"What!" Can't help but shout.

"I don't know the reason. Later, in order to protect everyone, one night, Siegel and a few tribesmen fled with a small group of people, but they were discovered on the way, Siegel was killed, and Lorraine also They were not spared, I saw their bodies were..." Biting his lip fiercely, Bryce seemed unwilling to think about it, but after a long time, he continued, "They were bitten to pieces, not even a whole piece of."

"..."

"We didn't dare to stay. After running for a long time, we finally found this place."

After listening quietly for a long time, Cole suddenly raised his head and asked, "...are all the people who chased you wearing masks?"

Blinking, Bryce nodded: "Yes." Fu turned his head again, looking at the empty cave, "Later, there were fewer and fewer people... Every day, there will be one or two fewer people who go out during the day, and they must be taken away. Alright."

Cole's heart was even heavier now.

Already...enough.

Because of my own reasons, so many deaths have been caused, and I always say that I can't forgive anyone. In fact, the most unforgivable person is myself.

Gritting his teeth, he muttered the name.

──Ley!

But such hatred is so sad.

So sad that my throat choked, my whole body trembled, and finally I was powerless, and then there was only unspeakable pain left.

This is more severe pain than dying in the previous life.

He must have been born under a curse. With such a bloodline, the clansmen and close people were injured one by one. Sometimes he wondered, if he died in the first place, he would not have so many troubles?

You can't get happiness if you start all over again. This may be called fate.

I used to want to work hard, I wanted to change, but in the end I didn't do anything.

I still stand at the origin.

How sad.

Just as he was feeling sad, Bryce patted Cole suddenly, bringing Cole back to his senses. He lowered his head and asked carefully, "You just said...you were with Sarah?"

Nodding, Cole lowered his eyelids silently, and said, "Yes..." Suddenly thinking of the child in Sarah's belly and Bryce's words, Cole jumped up in a hurry, "No, I have to find Sarah, he is pregnant. My children must not be put in danger!"

"……child?"

"Ah," said Cole, "my boy."

Then he told Bryce exactly what Sarah said before.

"Sarah said... to come back?" Slightly stunned, but as if relieved immediately, Bryce put his hands away, and said with downcast eyes for a long time, "So that's how it is."

"Bryce?" I didn't understand what Bryce said.

"That child, no matter how much he pretends to be indifferent, he still can't let go." Bryce said softly, as if sighing, and looked back at Cole, reached out and grabbed Cole's, then shook his head and said, " Sara wants to exchange her life for the safety of her people."

"What……?!"

"Because he's pregnant with your child, he knows he won't have much time, so he strongly demands to come back..."

"Wait a minute," couldn't help interrupting Bryce, "what do you mean knowing that you don't have much time?"

The purple pupils looked at Cole faintly, and the eyes he looked straight at were deep and full of pity. Bryce said lightly: "Did you know that Sarah was captured by orcs outside when she was a child, and..." Speaking of this, He paused, "He has gone through some unimaginable things, he was mistreated terribly, and although he survived by relying on Adoma, his body is no longer able to bear children, let alone... a child of the Gard tribe .”

"...Didn't you just need my blood?"

"Will he be willing?" Bryce raised his sad eyes and said with a wry smile, "That kid is the most liar I've ever seen, but he's also the kindest one...he always thought he was the one who killed Hodor Ma, so I blame myself so far, he cherishes you so much, I think, apart from guilt, there is probably... There is also an element of liking in it, he is not willing to hurt you at all."?