"There's no way that happened."
Nevertheless, he still tried to confirm it as there existed doubts deep in his mind.
But it really didn't change how weird he looked for staring at the corpse of a wolf. Specifically, the fangs of a wolf.
As if he wanted to --
Yohan: --Thank you, I guess...
It seemed that he wasn't doubtful anymore. Judging that from a mere glance would seem invalid, but that patch of... something in between its red fangs gave a clue to the truth.
He reached his hands... sorry, I meant his hand into the fangs of that wolf. Ignoring all that sticky and putrid blood that stained it, he grabbed onto that something and tugged it away from the sharp grip of those teeth.
In his hands was now... something.
Yohan: That looks like my shirt...
After giving a feel for it, that something seemed to have a soft texture. The type that you drape over your naked body to cover yourself for the sake of decency. Other times for the sake of protection.
And right after that, he reached his hand behind him. Not literally behind him. Rather, he placed his hand over the back of his neck. And then, slowly but surely, he would slide his fingers downwards along the bridge between his nape and his back. Along that path, he could feel his bare skin, which was covered in blood that dried up. It was a good thing he couldn't see it as it looked nothing different from the wound on his leg. Truly disgusting.
And when his hand reached the end of that bridge, it stopped, laying atop his bare skin.
And bare skin was all he felt. And in realization to that, he carelessly screamed.
Yohan: Dammit! This is my shirt! And it's my favorite!
Though, where he shouted or not, it wouldn't change anything.
And right after he realized that the wolf tore a piece off his shirt, he began to look at wolf with disdain once again. Caring not about the situation surrounding him. Though he didn't need to anymore.
But he became quite bitter for someone who was thanking that corpse not too long ago. Or had he already forgotten why he thanked it in the first place?
Yohan: Oh wait... that's why...
He had forgotten something. Not the reason behind his gratitude, but something that went further back in time. But not for long, apparently...
*****
Yohan: Hah.... hah... hah....
A completely different sight from the current one, and a separate sight from the non-existent one was what followed the memory of that horrid laugh.
But that laughter began to fade out. He could feel his vision begin to blur as he couldn't help but close his eyes slowly.
He had sustained a lot of injuries. He had pissed himself. He had lost his arm and bled out a lot. And to make matters worse, his consciousness was slipping away.
He was dying.
He thought he was dying
Wait, was he dying?
CHOMP
And then... that wolf had closed its maw on Yohans neck.
However, no blood had spurted from that moment.
And then... that wolf had pulled at his neck while keeping a steady grip.
However, his immobile body was simply dragged along the ground instead of his entire neck being pulled from his shoulder.
It was strange. Really. It was.
But then again, from the minute sound of fabric stretching, it was clear that the wolf wasn't exactly biting onto his neck.
And even though he wasn't awake, when he had woken up, he felt an itch on his butt as if it had been dragged through thick and thin.
*****
Yohan looked around at the litter of monsters that dead wolf had laid waste to by its lonesome.
He was astonished, to say the least.
Yohan: So not killing you was somehow useful, huh? Good boy...
Then he proceeded to pat the head of that corpse. Ignoring its current lifeless status, it wasn't surprising he did that. Anyone would do that if their pet did something really helpful. But that's where it went all wrong.
This was not a pet.
This wasn't a canine.
This wasn't anything like a canine.
And although it looked like one, Yohan knew full well it wasn't. After all...
Yohan: What a betrayal, though. Considering you're a monster and all.
He couldn't let himself forget that fact, no matter what.
This was a monster
This could only ever be a monster
There couldn't be anything other than monsters
After all, he was in hell.
Yohan: Alright...
Soon after he returned to his senses, his necrophilic ass finally stopped patting the head of that wolf. Unfortunately, he did something far more deserving of the title 'Zombie Lover' than 'Adventurer'. Though, these two genres weren't too far apart.
Yohan: Let's go...
Through that one hand (which was all that anyone needed), he began walking the dog.
And somehow, that long walk through the dark forest took him back to memory lane.
*****
Yohan: Hah... hah... hah...
He had been running constantly, without any consideration for the contents in his bag that were constantly shaking.
He didn't even care about the empty feeling in his stomach.
He. Had. To. Run.
*****
Yohan: I can't stress myself with the thought of that.
He had immediately halted his flashback while the film was still reeling.
Yohan: Think happy thoughts, like...
Maybe this was how he managed to keep his calm in this hell. Makes you wonder what kind of situations he's been through as an adventurer to need that sort of skill which he had bore seemingly a while before arriving here.
And back to memory lane he went.
*****
Yohan: Did you know that my full name is actually Yohan Laura Lorenski? Bet you didn't. Anyway, I know it's quite feminine, which is why I don't EVER mention it to other people, and neither should YOU. Got it? Anyway, it was actually my dad who thought of my second name while my mom thought of my first one. Whenever I questioned my second name, he always laughed it off with "she's a badass." Meanwhile, my mom would usually follow it up with a "No way I'd let my sons name be taken by that bi-- I mean, there's no way I'd let my son be mistaken for a girl whenever someone mentions him. It would embarrass him. Teehee..." Now that I think about it, she always looked a bit jealous of this 'Laura' person whenever she was mentioned. Weird, isn't it?
???: Ah, my second name is also feminine. It's embarrassing, wouldn't you saaaa~y.
*****
Yohan: Dammit!
Seems his trip down memory lane wasn't so fun after all. And it happened so quickly that he hadn't even made it past the rock he woke up lying against.
But nonetheless, he wouldn't let a bad thought ruin his plan. And so, he continued to move, ignoring the rock he had woken up against.
Yohan: I wonder why it dragged me in this direction?
It was strange, but he didn't hesitate to follow that path ahead. It was quite reckless, as there was no guarantee that the direction he was headed to was specifically beyond the rock. Maybe the mutt just wanted to place him there so it could give him some rest. But on the off chance it was likely heading in that direction but was interrupted by the horde of monster...
Yohan: Off chance or on chance, I gotta keep moving. Find a safe place. Maybe there are scavengers here in... in here! With all those dead things, I'd be swarmed again if I stayed there.
But it wasn't like he wouldn't be swarmed right where he stood either.
Yohan: Sniff... thank God I'm clear of that stench.
He had realized that as he continued further and further away from that gallery of corpses, the weaker that putrid smell had gotten. It was rather fortunate, as he couldn't stop himself from using his nose as his hand was too busy carrying the wolf to pinch it closed. Though, the weak yet bloody scent of that wolf still lingered. Nonetheless, he managed to ignore it and keep walking.
Walking. Walking. Walking.
Dragging. Dragging. Dragging.
That was all he focused on.
Not on the sound of footsteps-- sorry, his footsteps.
Not on the bag that was hanging on a tree branch.
And definitely not on that wolfs scent.
Nor on the scent of... ammonia...
Yohan: Wait...
Suddenly, he halted his footsteps. Was he planning to turn around? Was he planning to take a break after waking up not too long ago? Or was he planning to do something with that damn corpse for once?
Yohan: I'm definitely tripping.
Indeed, he was if he was walking backward without a hint of worry that he might trip and fall. But that really wasn't the problem. But rather--
Yohan: --How the hell did this get here?
Indeed, how did THAT end up there?