Might
That's right, I'll go out for awhile.

When Might was aimlessly heading outside,

...Might Might Might Miii~~ght!!

Pam dove in with earth-shattering force.

Might
Wh, what's wrong, Pam. You're so panicked.

Pam made an especially large gesture with his hands,

Pam
Might, it's terrible! There... There were my people!

Might
Eh... Really?!

When Pam calmed down, Might asked what happened.

Pam
I was playing north in the forest a little while ago. And I saw some people who had tails and ears like mine-!!

Pam
But, when I called out to them, they disappeared... Nee, Might! Help me find them together!!

Pam was abandoned soon after he was born and didn't remember the faces of his parents. So he always wanted to know about his birth.

However because animal people by nature despised human contact, it was extremely rare to see them because they built colonies in seclusion.

Might
Ah, if it's in my power to help, I'll help you with pleasure.

Might had no objections at all. He wanted to help Pam search for his people at one time.

Pam
Thank you Might! That's why I love Might!!

Pam hugged Might tightly, embracing him closely.

The next day. Just as day broke, the two headed north into the forest.

They started in the vicinity where Pam was yesterday, and began relying on Pam's nose to search. They literally pushed their way through the animal's paths, crossed the river, and headed deeper and deeper into the forest.

Pam
Sniffsniffsniff... It's this way, Might.

Eventually, Might noticed something odd. A little while ago they circled around to a similar place.

He wasn't puzzled, either. It was as if someone made an artificial road to capture them in an optical illusion.

Might
(Maybe they made this road to hide something... If that's the case, then beyond this...)

Pam
Might, I found it! I found it! The scent goes this way!

The two followed the road that was carefully camouflaged by overgrown trees of all kinds. If Pam wasn't there, certainly Might and the others wouldn't be able to make progress towards this place.

And, as the sun sank. The two came to a wide open space in the dense forest. It seemed like there was a small village there.

And, the animal people there seemed to have similar ears and tails to Pam.

Pam
Wah... They're the same! The people are the same as me-!!

However, when the animal people noticed Might's and Pam's figures, everyone scattered and shut themselves in their houses like baby spiders.

Might
Umm, we aren't suspicious people! This child... Pam is searching for his people, and he's finally gotten here!

There was no response to Might's call.

Pam
Might... What is everyone doing? Am I not one of their people...

And then, several of the animal people came to Might. Pam became frightened and hid behind Might because he was uneasy.

On person came in front of Might, an old animal person of dignified looks, and opened his mouth. When he heard him, it seemed like he was the leading animal person of this village.

Village Chief
Humans. You should not have come here. Leave quickly... And forget about this place.

Might
Please wait, I came here looking for this child's... Pam's people. Doesn't anyone know something about this child's relatives?

Pam nervously peeked out from behind Might, and looked at the village chief's figure.

At that time, the expression of the dubious village chief changed completely. As soon as he saw the pattern on Pam's tail, the village chief flushed, and rattled on in an extremely threatening manner.

Village Chief
I don't know! He is not one of our relatives and he is not one of our people! Now leave here immediately! And never come to this village again-!!

The village chief glared at Pam, and he left with an attendant. Might couldn' t do anything but stare in shock.

Ooo... sniff... Oooo...

That crying voice was Pam's.

Pam
Uh... Ooo... Sniff...

Might
Pam...

Pam couldn't stand to suppress it anymore and finally burst into tears.

He might not have thought that he would be rejected so obstinately when he thought he finally found his people.

Might could only guess what was in Pam's mind as he cried out, the situation was beyond his control, and he could only place his hand on his trembling shoulder.

Pam
Uwaaaa~n... Uwaa~n...

Maybe it was because they heard Pam's crying. The animal people who were shutting themselves in their houses came out again, and surrounded Pam and Might. At first they surrounded them at a distance, but before long they came closer.

One person in that grouped comforted Pam, hugging him closely. And, he informed Might.

Animal Person
I don't want the village chief to blame the man's boy. There's a reason why the village chief left with such an attitude.

To calm down the crying Pam, the lone animal person took Pam to a place a little away from the other surrounding animal people. Might agreed with it, and he listened to the reason the chief of the animal people was so angry.

Might
Eh... Then, Pam is as I thought...

Animal Person
Yes, it's true that child is from our clan. Also... That child might the the village chief's daughter's, in other words, grandchild...

Might
If that's true, why did he have such an attitude?! Pam is so pitiful like this...

Animal Person
The truth is... That child's mother is the village chief's daughter, whom he disowned.

Might
Disowned... Then can it be that the mother and child were banished?

Animal Person
That's right. It was ten or so years ago now... A young man similar to you wandered astray and came to this village.

Animal Person
It seemed he was attacked by a monster in the forest, and he escaped death because the village chief's daughter warmly nursed him, and before long the two slowly fell in love.

Animal Person
However, the village chief wouldn't allow the relationship. We are a tribe that has continually refused to have relations with humans originally. Of course, as the village chief's daughter she wasn't allowed to break that taboo.

Animal Person
But, by ironic fate the daughter had a new life in her body. It might be that child called Pam. Because he has a pattern just like the village chief's daughter on his tail.

Might
And because of that... The village chief flew into a rage when he saw Pam's tail.

Animal Person
The village chief knew about the child's existence and flew into a rage, and disowned his daughter. I don't know the whereabouts of those two since then...

Animal Person
It isn't this child's fault. But, as longer as the village chief's anger isn't settled, this child won't be accepted... It's deplorable.

Might decided to tell the animal people his mind.

Might
I'll meet with the village chief again tomorrow, and explain the situation. If I explain what a truly painful life Pam has had, surely he'll understand-.

In the meantime it grew dark, and the vicinity was engulfed by the veil of darkness. It was dangerous to walk inexperienced through the forest, so Might recommended they stay for the night.

Pam became tired of weeping because of the village chief's shocking rejection, and immediately he was breathing like someone sleeping soundly. Might looked at Pam's sleeping face by his side.

It was easy to call the various trails that Pam experienced since he was born "Fate". But, even so what a sad fate.

And yet Pam had lived brightly without despairing such a fate until today. His desire to meet his people supported him for a long time. However that desire was cruelly crushed today.

Even though he grew up not knowing the fact that he was the child of a disowned daughter, but because the of chief of this place the people refused to accept Pam. Might's mind sunk heavily when he thought of how hurt Pam's heart was.

Might
(Pam...)

The next morning- Might jumped to his feet with an unpleasant premonition. Pam's sleeping figure couldn't be found by his side as he should have been.

Might
-?!

Might rushed out of the married couple's house uneasily, and search all over the village, but he couldn't find Pam anywhere. Might was at a loss, and looked up by chance-- Behind the village on a sheer cliff he saw the shadow of a small figure.

Might
It can't be- Pam?!

Might headed to the cliff in a hurry. Stopping at the edge of the cliff- as he thought, it was Pam.

Pam
Might... How did you know...?

Might
When I looked up at this cliff from the village, I saw a shadow, and thought it might be you.

Might continued while he was out of breath.

Might
Pam, let's explain your situation to the chief again. Certainly he'll understand if we do-.

Pam
It's... It's ok already, Might.

He answered in a depressed voice that he couldn't imagine from the usual Pam.

Pam
As I thought, I'm an unneeded child. I'm not human and I'm not animal person, because I'm inbetween... Whichever way I go I'm an unwanted child...

Might
Wh, what are you saying, Pam?!

The instant Might tried to approach Pam, Pam shouted.

Pam
--Don't come!! Might... I'm not going to be anywhere anymore...

While he said that he took two, three steps back towards the cliff-. Suddenly the rocks under his feet collapsed, and Pam slipped off the cliff.

Might
-Paaaam!!

Might leapt at the speed of lightning, and firmly gripped Pam's arm as he fell off the cliff. Pam's delicate body was barely supported by his one left arm.

Pam
Mi, Might...

Thinking about Might, he put power into his left arm.

Might
(What should I say to Pam at a time like this...)

Idiot! Don't say you aren't needed, it doesn't seem to be that way!

Don't say such a sad thing. If you aren't here, I...