The golden tiger beast stared at the deer carcass. One leg was gone. The air was tainted with a scent he didn't recognize—except for a single snow-white animal hide lying beside the body.
The thief hadn't just stolen from him. They had the gall to "pay."
The golden tiger beast's pupils narrowed. He sniffed the hide, memorizing the scent, then slung it over his back. He would find them. Eventually.
---
Meanwhile, Krai returned to her cubs with the stolen deer leg. She hadn't been gone long, but the three of them were frozen in place, each clutching their uneaten fish.
"Look what your mother brought back," she said, setting down the deer leg—thicker than her own waist.
Chaoang blinked.
"Stupid female… you didn't run away."
She patted his head.
"Is that what you think of me?"
He held his forehead, cheeks puffing as a strange warmth stirred in his chest.
Chow Chow stared at the deer leg.
"Mother, where did you get that?"
"I traded an animal hide for it."
The cubs didn't ask further. They were just happy to have food.
---
They set off again. The deer leg was large—enough for three days if they rationed carefully. Reaching the edge of the snow forest, Krai noticed a long trail of blood leading from the kill site into the trees.
The tiger beast was probably still nearby.
"We're not going in," she said. "It's safer to stay out here."
---
In the forest, the golden tiger beast feasted on what remained of the deer. But he wasn't alone.
A black-furred, tusk-faced beast lunged from the shadows. It was fast and brutal, piercing the tiger's leg before he could turn. With a roar, the tiger fought back, snapping the beast's neck—but the damage was done. He collapsed beside it, his massive body shifting back into human form.
---
Krai and the cubs heard the roar echo through the sky.
Night was falling. They had to find shelter.
At the base of a mountain behind the forest, she located a small cave. Inside, she laid out animal hides and carved meat from the deer leg.
"Eat quickly and rest. We continue tomorrow."
The cubs ate eagerly. But Krai… couldn't. Even with the fire starter in her system, there was no firewood.
She tried raw meat but gagged.
"Mother, what's wrong?" Chow Chow asked.
Krai forced a weak smile.
"Nothing. Just tired."
She got up, gathered some shriveled dry leaves, melted snow with her fire starter, and gave them warm water to drink.
The cubs blinked.
"Warm water?"
They slurped it eagerly.
"Stupid female, I want more!" Chaoang said, ears twitching.
Krai raised a brow.
"What did I tell you to call me?"
Chaoang flushed.
"You didn't let us before. Now you want us to?"
She sighed and looked each cub in the eye.
"Your mother has something to say. We don't know where we're going yet, but we'll survive together. Just like that water—everyone will get their share."
She gave her meat to the cubs. They stared at her, unsure.
---
The next morning, Krai jolted awake. The cubs were gone.
Panicked, she rushed outside—then froze.
In the cave, lying unconscious on her animal hides, was a handsome, golden-haired beastman. Naked. Injured. And familiar.
Her cubs returned, grunting with satisfaction.
"We found this male for you!" Chow Chow grinned.
Krai was speechless.
"You… what?"
"He's strong!" said Chaoang. "He killed a big tusked beast. Hurry and mate before he wakes up!"
The male stirred, opened his eyes, and locked his gaze on Krai.
"Who are you?"
Even injured, his presence was suffocating.
"You're the stupid female's mate!" Chaoang announced proudly.
The man's golden eyes turned cold.
"I'm not her mate."
Krai folded her arms.
"Good. I never asked you to be."
She stared back at him with equal fire.
"My cubs saved you from dying in the snow. You should thank them."
He was surprised. Most rogue females would've claimed him as a prize. But this one… didn't.
As his gaze drifted, he spotted something half-buried near the fire.
The deer leg.
"You were the one who stole my prey."
Krai tensed.
She looked at him carefully.
"You're the golden tiger beast…"
She admitted it.
"I left a hide. It was fair."
"Did you get my permission?"
The cubs watched their exchange, entertained.
Jin Ling—the beastman—sneered.
"I'll stay until I recover. That deer leg was payment."
Krai's eyes narrowed.
"One leg? Not enough. I want half of all prey while you're in my cave."
Jin Ling's aura darkened. He released his oppressive beast energy. Krai could barely breathe—but didn't flinch.
Then… he retracted it. His wounds were too severe. He had no strength to argue.
"Fine."
She immediately led the cubs into the forest to claim their half of the kill. The black-furred tusked beast was massive.
"We'll skin it first," she said. "He never said who gets the pelt."
---
They carried the meat back and stored it inside. Jin Ling noticed Krai's frostbitten hands. For a moment, something softened in his expression.
Once everything was organized, Krai lit a fire using her starter. The cubs panicked, running from the flame.
Jin Ling sat upright, watching.
He didn't say anything.
But inside, he was shocked. A rogue female—who could cook?
"Wait!" Krai stopped the cubs.
"I'm not stealing your meat. I'm cooking it."
"Cooking?" Chaoang echoed.
"You'll see."
She skewered the meat and held it over the flames. Soon, the scent of roasted deer filled the cave.
Jin Ling swallowed instinctively.
Chow Chow crept back.
"Mother… it smells so good…"
Krai handed her a skewer.
She took one bite and her eyes lit up.
"So delicious!"
Chaoang rushed over and reached for it, but hesitated.
Instead of stealing it, Krai handed him his own.
"There's plenty."
Even Chao Lie took one—though his face remained impassive.
They ate until their bellies were round.
Krai divided the rest and gave half to Jin Ling.
"This is to thank you for sharing the prey."
He offered her raw meat in return.
"I don't need a female to feed me."
"Then let's call it an even trade."
They ate in silence.
Afterward, Jin Ling examined his leg. The wound still ached. His heart illness made him dizzy. He closed his eyes and leaned back.
---
That night, his breathing grew labored. Krai woke up, checked on him, and touched his forehead.
Burning hot.
She melted snow and applied it to key points on his body. As she did, she noticed something—
Five stars marked his shoulder.
A five-star beast soul.
Even in major tribes, that was rare.
She kept applying the snow, watching over him. Then, tired, she leaned forward—and fell onto his chest.
He woke.
"What are you doing? Get off."
Thrown to the ground, she growled.
"I was treating you, you ungrateful—!"
The cubs stirred.
Chao Lie glared.
"Useless stupid female. Can't even handle one injured male."
"I was treating him!" she snapped.
The cubs all rolled their eyes.
---
The next morning, Jin Ling woke up and realized his body was covered in dried blood. He remembered the fire in his chest, her hands applying snow, her odd methods.
Could she have been… telling the truth?
Krai was asleep near the fire.
Not planning to steal his food. Not trying to mate with him. Just sleeping beside her cubs.
Different.
Definitely different.