"Everyone should get some rest. We have to go hunting tomorrow." Eventually, the unease inside the cave simmered toward tranquility.
The evening breeze grazed Manli’s bare legs, her heart pounded intensely in the pitch-black night. Moonlight cast mottled shadows through the treeline, large trees swaying and rustling, the occasional sibilant sounds echoed from the darkened shrubs, as if a ferocious beast lurked within.
"What are you doing here?" A somewhat feminine voice resounded in Manli’s ear, the warm breath of an orc brushing against her ear’s velvet, causing her to shiver involuntarily.
The familiar voice allowed her to relax her previously taut body.
"Today, that old female shaman actually brought that ugly female cub Shan Zaizai to my cave, and even took away a male I’m fond of. I haven’t even mated with him yet!" As she recounted her day, Manli’s cheeks seemed slightly distorted from resentment.
"Oh~
Why did the shaman take your male away?" The orc’s lazy, effeminate voice drifted away a bit.
A touch of loss flickered in Manli’s eyes: "She said they were going to collect the Fruit of Divine Punishment. I really don’t understand what the clan leader and the shaman are thinking. They pick up things that other tribes don’t want, don’t they fear that our tribe will perish because of it!"
Turning toward the muscular orc beside her, Manli swallowed hard at the sight of his gentle face under the moonlight, the infatuation in her eyes deepening.
"Ya Gu, when will you take me to your tribe? I want to mate with you and bear you many, many cubs." Manli urged, gripping the orc’s arm, the soft affection in her eyes, if seen by the people of the Watson Tribe, would certainly astonish them.
Ya Gu tensed slightly, the female’s touch causing the orc a degree of repulsion; however, thinking of the orders from the clan leader and the shaman, he suppressed his inner disdain and mockery, pulling the female into his embrace.
Resting his shapely chin atop Manli’s head, he gently soothes, "You’ll just have to bear with this for a while. After I’ve taken care of some things in a few days, I’ll take you back to the tribe."
Manli burrowed into the orc’s broad embrace, the scent of him permeating her senses, causing the already dim-witted Manli to become dizzy, unconsciously agreeing to help him keep an eye on the movements within the tribe.
The two then engaged in a fervorous act of love within the speckled darkness of the jungle.
As dawn approached, Manli extricated herself from the orc’s warm embrace, putting on her beast skin, and under Ya Gu’s watchful gaze, she took her leave, her face glowing.
As the female figure gradually faded into the distance, the warmth of Ya Gu’s smile turned sharp, "Go tell the clan leader and the shaman that the Watson tribe has discovered the Fruit of Divine Punishment in their tribal territory, and that they’ve organised orcs to gather them."
The shrubs rustled, as a gray wolf slowly emerged, "Are you really going to take this female back to the tribe?"
Ya Gu’s lips curved in a cold smile, not a trace of affection could be seen in his eyes, only a chilling indifference, "She’s just a female from a foreign tribe. I wouldn’t even touch her if it wasn’t for the clan leader and the shaman’s orders.
After everything is done, I’ll take her back to the tribe and make her a communal female."
A flicker of delight passed through the wolf beast’s eyes. In that case, he also has a chance, and considering this female already has a cub, it proves she’s highly fertile. Perhaps, in his lifetime, he might have his own cub.
"I’m going ahead then. You be careful here, don’t get discovered by the orcs of the Watson tribe." Suppressing the excitement in his heart, the wolf beast cautioned before vaulting into the jungle.
Watching the direction of his departure, Ya Gu turned and walked deeper into the forest, a faint, disdainful chuckle fading into the distance.
The birds were still tucking their heads into their wings, deep in sleep.
A faint light painted the horizon as daylight emerged, gradually breathing life into the forest.
A tiny white figure flitted through the branches, quickly darting toward the Watson Tribe.
···
"Woof! Woof!" Ji Nuan was roused from her peaceful slumber by the adorable cries of a young cub. Rubbing her bleary eyes, Ji Nuan forced herself to sit up.
"Woof~" The cub Xiu Yan anxiously extended his pudgy paws onto Ji Nuan’s thigh, pushing slightly with his compact pads.
Feeling the pressure at her waist, Ji Nuan lowered her gaze, meeting a pair of dewy round eyes. The pup had apparently just woken up too, its normally glossy fur uncombed, a small tuft of hair standing upright on its round head.
Seeing Ji Nuan looking over, the little one lifted up his wounded paw, eyes gleaming. Ji Nuan read a message in his eyes: It should be better by today, right? Hurry up and remove the binding!
Ji Nuan gently cradled the cub’s round head in her hands and gave it a rub. After feeling the pup’s injured leg, she broke into a grandmotherly smile, "Little one, think about how ugly your crooked leg will be."
Then with a sway, she walked toward the Food Storage Cave, leaving the disappointed cub behind.
The disappointed "woof" from behind her brought a broad smile to Ji Nuan’s face. Bathing in the morning light, the scene painted a warm and beautiful tableau.
The shaman was seated on a beast skin in the cave, a ray of sunlight coming in from outside cast a halo on the ground. Shaman Grandma lifted her head to face the beam of light, her aged cheeks basking in its warmth, the wrinkles on her face seemingly easing.
A white figure darted into the cave, morphing into a towering orc.
"Did you go out yesterday?" Shaman Ama’s tone was somewhat cold, tinged with a deep-seated disappointment.
"I did go out, and today that orc named Ya Gu also came. She didn’t leave until just before dawn.
Ya Gu also has a companion from the gray wolf orc clan, but he has already returned to deliver the message. From their conversation, we can confirm that they are indeed from the Tumang Tribe.
And it seems, from what Ya Gu said, they have other business here, but they didn’t mention specifics!"
The orc’s tall physique is a stark contrast to his cute beast form, but no orc would dare underestimate the Lightning Mink Cat Beast Orcs for their unmatched speed and razor-sharp claws render their combat skills no less inferior than any Beast Orc.
The shaman mused for a moment, "Fu Yi, you go and call Shan Zaizai over!"
Fu Yi nodded. Rather than transforming into beast form, he ran off on his powerful legs.
···
"Alright, alright! Stay home by yourself. If you get hungry, eat the Giggle Beast that I placed on the bed. I’m going out to gather some materials and will return in the afternoon!"