MA: 80. The Fathoms of Three Paw

< “I was born a wolf. But I wasn’t recognized as one by mother and father. Siblings who scoffed down more than enough food to fill us all twice over never allowed me to approach. I fed on leftovers, the remains of a messy picnic, hoping to join them one day.” >

All of it reminded her of when she first interacted with Rockie. How the Rock Bug gazed off into the abyss of its own reflection, contemplating what a Rock Bug does. Deep down, she understood that it was more complex than that.

If a Corrupted like her was able to reflect on her existence, then why couldn’t a Rock Bug?

Why couldn’t a wolf do this either?

“I had no place I belonged to either!” Red kicked off the Corrupted, skidding backwards, and then launched herself forward.

She narrowly avoided being bisected by an oncoming slash, arcing her back over the scissor blade before dragging her blade along Three Paw’s hide.

“No pack of mine to call my own!”

The blade found its mark, eliminating another Fruit of Everlasting Miracles. But she did not stop her. She zipped around Three Paw’s hind legs, using it as leverage to shoot herself upwards and strike another False Fruit of Everlasting Miracles.

“BUT IF I EVER HAD PACK AND THEY TURNED THEIR BACKS TO ME–!”

[Huntress’ Slash]. [Punch]. The Hunt Must Go On’s stats further increased as her fury reached newfound heights.

The Hunt Must Go On

ATT : 800

“–THEN I’D FORM MY OWN PACK! WITH NO WOLVES!”

The Bloody Trail was clearer than ever, and she capitalized on it to take down another set of False Fruits of Everlasting Miracles, bringing the Corrupted Three Paw’s HP down further.

“AT THE END OF THE DAY, NO ONE IS GOING TO TELL ME WHO OR WHAT I AM! IF YOU TRULY WANTED TO BECOME A WOLF–!”

The Queen of Sweet and Bitter Thorns | HP: 14,000

Three Paw | HP: 43

When her onslaught was over, she received a message from Snow who predicted his next attack. She disengaged from Three Paw and instinctively threw up numerous Rock Bug shields as he winded up, preparing to unleash his ultimate attack.

“THEN WHY ARE YOU KILLING YOUR OWN KIND!?”

Red’s words were meant for both Three Paw and the Queen of Sweet and Bitter Thorns.

She could not understand this. Scarlet Logic did the same. They were not humans in her eyes. Even wolves, who were her mortal enemies, should not be killing one another for such senseless reasons.

“Ten years from now… when you become normal, and when they become the abnormal – don’t you think it’s just going to repeat itself!?”

A storm of brambles swiped at her, cracking the Rock Bug shields and further ripping her apparel. Deep lacerations appeared across her body. Tendons were cut open, causing an arm to droop.

But no matter the pain, no matter the struggle, Red had already set her heart onto saving Three Paw.

Because this was the tiny wolf who had given its life to save her and Snow.

< “Is it so wrong for me to envy what I lack? The familial love that was unconditionally given to my siblings? I had a mouth too, but no food was ever given to me. I have a voice, but I could never howl at the same moon. I have a family, but they did not consider me as their own.” >

Red’s HP was on the brink of depleting. Faint sobbing could be heard in the distance. It came from Snow. The confessions of the tiny wolf pup broke her down. Those tears riddled the pages of her diary, as Red’s blood trickled beneath her.

“Did you forget about Hearth Village!?” Red shouted.

Suddenly, the attack stopped at a second early.

Three Paw was supposed to pounce on her. But instead, he stood there, as though taken aback by those words.

“You have us!” Snow cried. “You always, always had us. From the day that I found you… you’ve always been a part of our family!”

Snow recalled the moments she shared with Three Paw, as did the little wolf that resided within the depths of the Queen of Sweet and Bitter Thorns.

Red used her last Nemesis Token to replenish her HP. Her new maximum HP was a pitiful 8,000. She pushed onward, reengaging with Three Paw to capitalize on his sudden daze.

< “I am a wolf seeking to become normal.” >

< “Seeking familial love.” >

< “Seeking worth.” >

< “That is… what I am.” >

Three Paw’s voice became uncertain. It called for someone to answer him. Deep within Three Paw’s mind were the endless murmurs of the Queen of Sweet and Bitter Thorns who tried to lead him astray by rekindling repressed emotions.

But Red, who continued to cleave away at the False Fruits of Everlasting Miracles, cut through the darkness in his heart with a voice that urged him to carve out his own path.

 “THREE PAW! You’re a wolf. A mutt. A damned disgrace of everything that’s touched this world! But I’ll be damned if you go down believing you’re lost! Is that why you tried to save me!? Why you saved Snow!? To prove your own worth to us!?”

< “What else could I have done?” >

< “I… lack a fourth paw.” >

“I LACK PROOF THAT I’M HUMAN! BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN THAT I CAN’T ASPIRE TO BECOME ONE!”

< “There is nothing else I can do.” >

Red was at her limit. Nothing she was saying was getting through to Three Paw.

But if there was one thing she knew that could unhinge the mind of even the most stubborn of people, it was wrath. Red had experienced it herself, how wrath can drive one forward regardless if it was right or wrong.

And so, Red’s tone shifted.

“Then that’s it for you. A thousand mutts will be born after you take over. They won’t be able to protect anything. Just like you are now. You thought you could protect Snow by giving your life. But I promise you this – Snow isn’t going to last long.”

“No! Three Paw, if it weren’t for you – then I would’ve been dead! Red! How… how could you…?”

Red gave Snow a knowing smirk in an attempt to dispel her shock. She mouthed: “I’ve got a plan.”

Snow could only hope that she was right.

< “A mutt. A lowly wolf. A disgrace…” >

< “Yet, I was able to save Snow.” >

< “Yes. I saved her life.” >

Three Paw engaged with Red once again, this time, with twice as much effort. Spectacular sparks exploded from their clashes. The light that once glowed dimly began to shine ever brighter.

The Queen of Sweet and Bitter Thorns | HP: 5,000

Three Paw | HP: 20

… like that of a flame on the verge of fizzling away.

It became near impossible to follow the Bloody Trail now. Three Paw’s instincts had taken over entirely. And yet, Red couldn’t help but break into a smile. She was high on the thrill of the hunt. But more than that, she was estatic to see that Three Paw was acting on his own rather than by the orders of someone else.

“A wolf is a wolf. But I’ve never seen a wolf as loyal as you. I guess that’s to be expected from a wolf raised by humans!”

< “They tended to my needs unconditionally.” >

< “I was never a part of their pack. I was different.” >

< “Yet it did not matter to them. That garden of roses… accepted me.” >

< “… No. I was a withering rose. They were gardeners. They watered me every day.” >

< “But above all, I was given something that was neither necessary to survive or require.” >