👻 Natsuko ☠️

Enola trotted along the narrow mountain path, her paws padding softly against the dirt. She had been wandering for hours, lost in the dense forest. The sun was beginning to set, casting an orange glow over the trees. Suddenly, she heard a faint sound in the distance. Enola's ears perked up and she quickened her pace, hoping to find another wolf to guide her. As she rounded a bend in the trail, she saw a small, ghostly figure standing in front of her.

"Hello there," Enola said, cautiously approaching the figure.

The ghostly wolf turned to face her, its eyes glowing. "G-Greetings, stranger," it said nervously.

Enola was taken aback. She had never encountered a ghost wolf before, but she had heard stories of them. "You're a hodophilax, aren't you?" she asked, knowing instinctively.

The ghost wolf nodded. "Yes, I am Natsuko. The runt of my litter... I now roam as a pathway guardian."

Enola's curiosity was piqued. "What does that mean?"

Natsuko explained that he embodied the essence of the okuri-okami, a mystical escorting wolf of Japanese folklore. He guided lost souls and weary travelers along the winding mountain trails.

Enola was fascinated by Natsuko's story and the important role he played in the spirit world. "Why do you follow me?" she asked.

Natsuko's eyes softened. "Because you are the only wolf who can see me and other spirits. Y-You have a special gift, Enola. Y-You're strange."

"I know." Enola nodded, feeling a new sense of pride wash over her. She had always felt like an outcast in her pack, but now she had a purpose. She and Natsuko continued to walk together, with Natsuko pointing out different spirits and sharing their stories.

As they reached the end of the trail, Enola turned to Natsuko. "Thank you for guiding me, Natsuko."

Natsuko smiled. "S-Safe travels, Enola."

Enola watched as Natsuko disappeared into the mist, feeling grateful for the unexpected encounter with the hodophilax. From that day on, she always kept an eye out for Natsuko and other spirit guides.