A few days passed, and Freya still thought about what had happened. About the cute otter named Silver she was ordered to eliminate, an order she carried out by eating him. The collar displayed on her desk ensured she never forgot about it. As did the pot belly she got from digesting him. Eventually, she decided she had to know what his last words meant. When she was finished for the day, she went for a walk, having a good idea for the routes he travelled based on where she always saw him.
It took a few hours, but she had her answers at last. At the end of the route, just before she was to head home, she saw an otter. The short stature was to be expected, but the mercury colored eyes ensured it could have only been him. She stared in stunned silence until, finally, she was able to believe what her eyes showed her. He looked just as happy and carefree as ever, and showed no signs of knowing she was there.
Relief washed over her, once she knew she hadn't pointlessly ended a life. She didn't know what would happen if her superiors found out. They'd likely think she was too soft to do her job, and order someone else to eliminate him in addition to whatever they did to her for lying about it. Could he even be eliminated, after what she saw?
She doubted she could convince them to leave him alone if they ever found out. But she knew she didn't want or need the reminder of her past deed. Freya went back home and mulled it over. Eventually, she had an idea. One that could work for both of them.
The next day, she tracked down the otter on his daily walks. Wisely, he went further from her territory, where he was unlikely to be seen by any of them. But she used the skills she learned as a criminal to find him. The look of shock showed he remembered who she was, and a look of confusion replaced it while she approached. Silver didn't step back, and instead gave her the same friendly wave he always gave when he saw her.
"You were serious." Freya said, still finding it hard to believe.
"I told you I'd be fine." Silver said with a smile.
"How?" Freya said, feeling she had to know.
At that, the otter shrugged. "I just wake up somewhere else whenever it happens. Usually next to the one who gave me the collar."
Freya scratched the back of her neck. "Still. My apologies for digesting you."
"Oh. It's no big deal, Miss! It happens." He said with a shrug, and she wondered just how often it happened for him to be so casual about it.
She gave a slow nod and reached into her pocket, and held his collar out to him. "Here's your collar. I washed it for you."
Silver's bright eyes lit up when he saw his most precious possession. "Thanks for bringing it back!" He said and hugged it to his chest.
"You're welcome." She said, and gave a soft smile in return while he opened it up.
Then, she held out an open hand. "I wouldn't do that."
He stopped immediately. "Why not...?"
"They'll know it's you if they see you wearing it." Freya said.
Silver's hands fell to his sides once he closed it back up, then looked over it again. He gave a low sigh. "Truth be told, I do need to stop wearing it. I don't need the reminder."
Though Freya didn't know exactly what he meant, she just gave a nod and said "You and me both."
Silver tucked the collar into his shorts pocket then looked up at her. "So what happens now?"
She looked down at him. "They will need to think you're out of the picture. Permanently. I don't know what they'll do if they find out you're still alive. To either of us."
He gave a nod. "I had already planned on staying away. But...I meant, what happens with us?"
She shrugged. "We part ways and go about our lives, I guess."
Silver wilted as she turned to leave and he gave a nod. "Will I ever see you again?"
She stopped in her tracks at the inquiry and looked back at him. The little otter was cute, very sweet, and she had numerous questions about him. She thought it over and gave another shrug. "Maybe."
That was enough for him, and the previous cheer returned in an instant. "Hopefully, under friendlier circumstances." She said, and the two went their separate ways.