Xin Yi woke up to chaos.
Loud banging. Shouting. The sound of heavy things being dragged across the ground. She stumbled outside, still rubbing sleep from her eyes, to find half the Panther Clan gathered around her little house.
"What is happening—OH MY GOD!"
They were building. Or rather, they were constructing something around her existing house.
Hei Yan stood in the center of it all, covered in a light sheen of sweat, directing his tribe members like a general commanding troops.
"No, no! That support beam goes THERE! And make sure the walls are straight!"
"Hei Yan!" Xin Yi called out. "What are you doing?!"
He turned, his face lighting up. "Good morning, little female! Do you like it?"
"Like what? What is THIS?"
"Your new house!" He gestured proudly. "I told you I would build you a better one!"
Xin Yi looked around. They had already constructed a framework that was at least three times the size of her current dwelling. Stone foundations. Proper wooden supports. And they were working on walls made of that cement mixture she'd taught them.
"This is... this is ambitious," she managed.
"Only the best for my female—" He paused, correcting himself. "For the female I am courting."
Xin Yi's heart stuttered.
[Aww, he learns fast! ☆]
That was when she noticed the Tiger Clan watching from across the clearing. And at their head, Feng Huang was smirking.
"Oh, a bigger house?" the Tiger Alpha called out. "How.….rustic."
Hei Yan bristled. "It's sturdy! And functional!"
"I'm sure it is." Feng Huang walked forward. "But you see, little female..." He looked directly at Xin Yi. "I was thinking about what you said. About providing for your needs. And I realized, you need more than just shelter." His eyes glowed. "You need comfort. Luxury. Beauty." He clapped his hands. "Bring them!"
Two Tiger males rushed forward, carrying bundles.
They unrolled the first one, a gorgeous fur pelt, silky and soft, dyed in rich reds and golds.
"For your bed," Feng Huang said smoothly. "Taken from the rarest tiger in the northern mountains. Soft as clouds."
Xin Yi's mouth watered. That looked SO much more comfortable than the leaf piles she had been sleeping on. The second bundle was revealed, carved wooden bowls, cups, and utensils, all polished to a shine.
"For eating," Feng Huang continued. "Because a civilized female deserves civilized dining tools, doesn't she?"
Xin Yi's eyes widened. "How did you—when did you—"
"I had my craftsmen work through the night." He smiled. "I take courting very seriously, little female."
Hei Yan looked like he wanted to punch something.
[Ooh, Tiger is pulling ahead! This is getting interesting! (≧▽≦)]
"That's not—" Hei Yan started, then stopped, his jaw working. "Fine. You want to play this game?"
He turned to his second-in-command, who looked just as about motivated as his Alpha. "Run Chu, Get everyone. We're going to finish this house by sundown. And it's going to be the most impressive thing this forest has ever seen!"
"Yes, Alpha!"
The Panthers sprang into action with renewed energy.
Feng Huang just laughed at them. "I look forward to it."
The two Alphas locked eyes again, and it was then that Xin Yi realized she needed to establish actual rules before this escalated into a full-scale construction war.
"WAIT!" she shouted. "Everyone stop!"
Both clans froze.
"This is getting out of hand!" She stepped into the center of the clearing. "If we're going to do this courting thing properly, we need RULES!"
"Rules?" Feng Huang asked, intrigued.
"Yes! Official courting rules!" Xin Yi scrambled to think. "First rule: No fighting between males! Any male who starts a physical fight is immediately disqualified!"
Hei Yan and Feng Huang both nodded reluctantly.
"Second rule: The courting period lasts.….." She paused. How long could she stretch this? "...one full moon cycle!"
[Clever! That gives Host 28 days! ☆]
"One moon cycle," Feng Huang repeated. "Acceptable."
"Third rule!" Xin Yi was on a roll now. "All courting gifts and gestures must meet my civilized standards! That means..."
She pulled out her fingers, counting.
"You must provide: proper shelter, proper food, proper hygiene facilities—"
"Hygiene?" Hei Yan interrupted. "What is hygiene?"
"Cleanliness! Bathing! Washing!" Xin Yi gestured wildly. "Where I come from, people bathe regularly and don't just roll around in rivers!"
Feng Huang's eyes lit up. "Ah, you want a proper bathing pool?"
"YES! Exactly!"
"Consider it done."
"Wait—" Hei Yan looked panicked. "I can build that too!"
"Fourth rule!" Xin Yi continued. "You must also show that you respect my opinions and treat me as an equal, not just a prize to be won!"
Both Alphas stared at her.
"Equal?" Feng Huang asked slowly.
"Yes! Equal! Where I come from, males and females make decisions together!"
"But.…..you're a female," Hei Yan said, confused. "Females are precious. We protect them and provide for them."
"Yes, but that doesn't mean we can't think for ourselves!" Xin Yi planted her hands on her hips. "If you want to court me, you have to respect that I have my own thoughts and choices!"
There was a long pause. Then Feng Huang smiled. "Interesting. I have never met a female like you." He bowed slightly. "I accept your terms."
"As do I," Hei Yan said, though he still looked confused.
"Good!" Xin Yi felt a small surge of triumph. "Then let the courting officially begin! May the best male win!"
[Quest Complete!]
[Reward: Temporary Peace + 50 System Points!]
[New Achievement: Accidental Harem Queen! ☆]
"I am not a harem queen," Xin Yi muttered.
[Not yet! ( ̄▽ ̄)]
"SYSTEM!"
~
For the rest of the day, both clans worked themselves into a frenzy.
The Panthers finished her house by sundown just as Hei Yan had promised. It was impressive, two separate rooms, a dedicated cooking area with a stone hearth, proper windows with shutters, and even a small covered porch.
The Tigers, meanwhile, had constructed an elaborate bathing pool using heated stones and diverted water from the river. They had even added fragrant herbs to the water.
By the time night fell, Xin Yi was the proud owner of:
One impressive two-room house
One luxury bathing pool
Multiple fur pelts and blankets
Carved dining tools
Enough food to feed a small army
Two very competitive Alphas glaring at each other from across the clearing
Xin Yi let out a satisfied sigh as she sat on her new fur bedding. She stretched out on the impossibly soft fur. After sleeping on leaves for days, this felt like heaven.
Maybe this courting thing wasn't such a bad idea after all.
[New Quest Alert incoming in 3... 2... 1...]
"Oh no."