The sound of laughter mingled with the roar of waves, drifting across the wide plains where a group of beastmen had stopped to rest. They had settled near an estuary, the place where the river's steady current collided with the restless ocean. On the other side loomed the vast forest, its dense canopy casting long shadows even in daylight.
It is a warm day as thick clouds veil the sun, and a cool breeze sweeps across the plains. Sitting out in the open felt refreshing after a long and exhausting hunt. If the weather turned hot, the shade of the towering trees nearby would easily offer relief.
It was a perfect place to rest.
Huo, together with his group, decided to pass the night in this place. Some of the beastmen tended to minor injuries, binding cuts and bruises earned from the hunt, while others sprawled lazily in the grass, basking in the cool breeze.
They should have returned to the tribe today, but they had extended their stay by half a day to completely hunt down a herd of two-horned hippo monsters, making their hunt so bountiful that no one minded the delay. The beastmen's spirits were high with the proud satisfaction of a successful hunt.
Huo is leaning against the trunk of a sturdy tree, his gaze fixed on the horizon as though he were watching something only he could see. In his hand, he was absently stroking a deep red fur, its vivid color stark against his calloused palm. His expression was unreadable—half wistful, half lost in thought, like a man dreaming with his eyes open.
"What are you thinking this time, huh?" Cai asked, his voice carrying a teasing lilt.
Huo didn't answer. His gaze stayed fixed on the distance as his rough thumb brushed gently over the strands of fur, almost obsessively.
"Do you even need to ask that?" Ren drawled, giving Cai a knowing look. "All he can think about these past few days is Ziqian. Tsss."
The others chuckled softly. They all knew that Huo had gone to great lengths hunting the elusive two-horned red tod, a monster few could ever catch because of its swiftness. Huo intended to gift the deep red fur he now held to Ziqian, a symbol of his effort and sincerity.
Huo's lips pressed into a thin line. They weren't wrong.
Ziqian…
The name echoed in his heart, steady and heavy. From the first moment he saw the sub-beast, Huo felt something stir in him.
For Huo, the fur in his hands wasn't just a gift. It was proof that he could hunt the rarest and the strongest and bring it back for Ziqian. It was proof that he could also give Ziqian safety and comfort that others couldn't.
But then, there is Xue...
He missed Ziqian. He missed him so much that every step away from the tribe felt heavier. He wanted to turn back and return as soon as possible. He hated being apart this long, but when the herd of two-horned hippos appeared, his longing twisted into determination.
It wasn't like before, when he hunted and fought just to earn his parents' attention and approval. This time, it was for Ziqian.
And yet, no matter how many times he told himself that he was different from Xue, a shadow still lingered in his heart. His mother's words and his insistence that Ziqian should marry Xue made his fear and anxiety grow and fester in his whole being.
What if Ziqian agreed? What if, while he was away, Xue's presence and his strength made Ziqian waver?
Huo's grip on the red tod's fur tightened until his knuckles went white. No. He refused to let that happen. Ziqian had told him to believe in himself, not to compare, but how could he not? Xue was already the tribe's young patriarch, respected and admired while he was only a shadow of his greatness.
That was why Huo couldn't return empty-handed. He needed tangible proof that he could provide, that he could fight, that he could be the one standing by Ziqian's side. Only then could he silence the gnawing fear that threatened to consume him.
Huo was immersed in his thoughts when Ren's loud voice cut into his haze. "Where are they going?"
Huo unconsciously followed their gazes. In the distance, he saw five beastmen moving toward the forest, Lin walking at the front with a smug expression.
Huo's brows furrowed slightly.
He allowed his group to rest and recuperate while giving them the freedom to wander alone or in small teams. The winged tiger tribe's distribution of prey was simple: all the prey they hunted together during their journey would go into the tribe's larder to be divided among every family, but anything they hunted or found individually was theirs to keep and bring back to their loved ones.
Still, watching Lin and his men walk into the forest left a strange unease in his chest.
Huo had already taken a step forward, intent on intercepting Lin, when Cai's hand shot out to block his path.
"Where are you going?" Cai asked, eyes narrowing.
"I'll just talk to them for a moment," Huo replied, gaze fixed on Lin's departing back.
"What for? Don't mind them. Ren's just being nosy. If you interfere, Lin might stir up trouble for you again," Cai said, his tone calm but firm. It wasn't fear that made him stop Huo—it was concern. This was Huo's first hunt as a leader, and he didn't want unnecessary conflict to taint it.
Cai knew Lin well enough. Weak in strength, but sharp with his tongue, always twisting words to his advantage. Sometimes, that kind of beastman was harder to deal with than a strong opponent.
Ren chuckled, scratching the back of his head before nudging Huo playfully. "Cai's right. I was just surprised. Lin has been restless since this morning, pacing around like he has an itch he can't scratch. But now?" His grin turned crooked. "Now he looks like he has beaten you."
Cai and Wan laughed lightly at Ren's joke, but Huo didn't. His eyes lingered on Lin's back until the group disappeared into the forest.
They all knew Lin hated Huo. It wasn't a secret. The root of it was Kea, Lin's own wife, who openly pursued Huo even after his marriage. He had never hidden his interest, trailing after Huo with smiles and gestures meant to seduce someone. Normally, it would not have been an issue—sub-beasts could have multiple husbands, but the problem lay with Huo, who had repeatedly and firmly rejected him. Despite Huo's clear refusals, Kea had never stopped.
Lin could not accept it. The sub-beast he had pursued and worked so hard to marry was being spurned again and again. Huo's actions trampled his pride until it turned into resentment.
This is why Lin took every opportunity to create trouble in order to annoy Huo. It was his way of lashing out, clawing back a shred of dignity he felt he'd lost.
Huo had never liked Kea that way. They had been friends before, but the moment Kea began openly chasing after him despite already being married, Huo drew a clear line.
Huo ignored the nagging unease in his chest and turned back to his men. With calm authority, he began giving orders to those beastmen who remained, directing them to secure all their prey and set up a temporary camp for the night.
Meanwhile, deeper in the forest…
Lin's eyes gleamed with excitement as he led the five beastmen beneath a thick canopy. His voice was eager as he recounted what he had found earlier.
"Are you saying you saw pitaya fruits?" one of the beastmen asked in disbelief, his steps quickening.
Pitaya fruit was one of the rarest treasures in Gaia's forests. First, it is nearly impossible to find. Second, even if you stumbled upon one, there was no guarantee you could get it because pitaya trees were always guarded by strong and powerful monsters.
The men following Lin knew it as well, and yet greed gleamed in their eyes. The promise of such a rare fruit made their mouths water, their caution dulled by desire.
Lin nodded sharply. "Yes. It's really pitaya, and the tree does not just have one fruit but three. It's also unguarded. I checked carefully, circled the area twice, and found no monsters nearby."
"Unbelievable," another whispered. "If it's really unguarded, then the heavens must be favoring us."
The youngest muttered hesitantly, his voice nearly swallowed by the rustling leaves, "Maybe it's a trap. When has a pitaya tree ever been left alone?"
But his doubt was quickly put out by Lin's sharp laugh. "Coward. I told you that I scouted carefully. If there are no monsters, it means there is no danger. If you don't want the fruit, then stay behind."
Lin was not lying when he told them he had checked the surroundings. He had circled the grove twice, making sure no monsters were nearby. If he could, he would have harvested the pitaya fruit alone and claimed all the glory.
But he wasn't reckless, so he called the few who were closest to him, not because he wanted to share, but because extra hands meant extra safety. If a three-horned beast appeared, it would be easy for them to deal with it.