Alex decided we would take the road and travel to a place called Heavenshire.

  The thing about Alex is that he makes quick decisions and doesn’t think before deciding on such decisions.

  Example A:

  We left town without food.

  We’ve been fishing for the last three hours.

  I told him we could’ve been back in an hour, but he insisted he was good at fishing.

  Example B:

  He packed one small dagger, an old broken shield, and some adventuring gear that looks like it was made for a 10-year-old. He is 24.

  “Are you sure about that armor?” I got close to Alex as he threw his fishing line into the water.

  “Yes, this is what I wore in adventuring school.”

  I looked at him, questioning if this was the right choice. His armor fit him too tight; the top only covered half of his torso and wouldn’t close in the middle. His leggings had seen better days and had faded color, the metal parts rusted and slowly crusted as he moved around.

  “You sure you don’t want to just go back?” I got close to the water, slowly approaching the edge of the river.

  “No. An adventurer doesn’t fear anything, and hunger is just like a monster. If it can be defeated, I will do it.”

  I looked back for a bit. Those words would’ve actually made me respect him more if it wasn’t for the simple fact he hasn’t killed any monsters, and he has indeed run away from everything we’ve encountered in the last hour.

  I looked at the water. It was crystal clear. I could see myself in it, and I was finally able to see what kind of puppy I am.

  I first focused on my eyes. They were large, blue, and beady, almost like there was nothing going on inside my brain.

  My tail was fluffy, with a cute swirl that almost curved back to touch my body.

  Small body. Short legs. Short hair, but fluffy.

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  I’m a shiba.

  I’m actually so fucking cute.

  As I approached closer to the river;

  A FUCKING FISH JUMPED OUT AND ENGULFED ME INSIDE ITS MOUTH.

  “ALEX HELP!”

  I screamed, but my cries were muffled out.

  I heard tossing and turning outside.

  “LEAVE FENRIR ALONE, STUPID FISH! THAT’S MY DOG!”

  While I really appreciated his attempt at rescuing me, I couldn’t get behind the fact that I was someone’s mascot. Maybe I could twist the wording in my head around. Perhaps it’s like, “Yo, that’s my dog!” like a good friend situation. Or “He’s THE DOG,” like I’m the shit type of vibe.

  Wait… I’m still inside this stupid fish…

  I AM NOT DYING TO A FUCKING FISH.

  “Activate skill: Cold Breath

  >Yes ”

  Cold Breath activated.

  The temperature around me dropped as I felt the fish struggling to hold me inside its mouth. The humidity and wetness instantly froze, locking me inside as the creature stopped moving.

  “Fenrir!?”

  I felt drops of snow and shards of ice sticking to my fur.

  “Alex, help. It smells like fish in here.” I thought a small joke could ease the tension.

  I felt Alex’s hand reach for me. He put me on his lap.

  “Well, you are good at magic and at fishing,” he said as he held the fish and caressed my fur, helping me warm up.

  “Fuck you,” I responded as I lay down. “I guess we are having fish today.”

  A bit of light flashed as he opened the fish and pulled my head free from its mouth.

  “Took you long enough.”

  I stood up and shook quickly. Ice and snowflakes flew off my fur, melting and scattering everywhere, most of it landing directly on Alex’s face and body.

  “You are going to get hair on the fish!” Alex screamed as he grabbed it and held it up.

  “YOU IDIOT, THAT’S WHAT YOU’RE WORRIED ABOUT?”

  I jumped down and started yelling at him. He grabbed the frozen fish and pointed it at me.

  From the riverbank I heard whispers.

  “What the hell is happening?”

  Some of the fish had stopped swimming and were staring at us.

  “Keep swimming before I turn you into our breakfast, lunch, and dinner!” I yelled toward the river.

  “Who the hell are you talking to?” Alex asked as he sat down, passing his knife against the fish’s skin and removing the scales.

  “The fish.”

  I moved closer to the fire. “Thank you,” I said as I laid down.

  “Of course. I can’t let you die. You’re going to make us famous,” Alex responded, that familiar shimmer returning to his eyes.

  “You need to learn when to shut up,” I said, closing my eyes slowly.

  I woke up thirty minutes later, my fur warm and no longer wet.

  My nose started to twitch. I felt something pulling me forward. I followed the smell like a mouse follows cheese into a trap.

  And I was that mouse.

  I had become the mouse.

  The dog mouse.

  I wonder if there are creatures like that in this world.

  A dog mouse.

  Big fucking rats with curvy fluffy tails that bark a lot.

  I arrived at the source of the smell. It led me to Alex, who had finished preparing the fish. He wrapped it in a large leaf and added spices along with some nearby plants.

  “How did you learn that?” I asked while slowly approaching. I sat beside him as he flipped the fish.

  “Adventuring school. Out of everything they taught, cooking was my favorite subject.” He flicked the coal, and the fire reignited.

  …Well.

  At least he isn’t totally useless.

  Already doing more than I ever did when I was a human.

  And now I know the food will be amazing.