The tribe was unusually quiet that morning.
Kaoshi noticed it before she even stepped outside—the kind of silence that presses on the air, as if nature itself were holding its breath.
She had just finished storing dried herbs when a sharp chime echoed in her mind.
> [System Alert: Five-Star Mission Triggered.]
[Objective: Defend, Heal, and Mediate – Survive the Unknown.]
[Conditions: Cubs must take the lead under host's guidance.]
[Time Limit: Active Upon Contact.]
Her heart tightened. Five stars. She had waited for this—but not like this.
Before she could process more, shouting erupted from the outer edge of the tribe.
She rushed outside just in time to see Hong Xi and three guards dragging in a bleeding, unconscious mutated humanoid beastman—not tiger, lion, or fox, but something else. Its mottled fur and half-reptilian limbs were like nothing she'd seen before. A second one, smaller and snarling, was shackled in chains behind them.
The elder arrived moments later, eyes narrowed. "Caught them at the base of the cliffs," he barked. "Don't know what they are. One attacked. The other surrendered."
"They don't speak our tongue," muttered one of the guards. "They're like animals."
Kaoshi's breath caught. This was it. These were not tribe members, not beasts from nearby lands. But they were people. And they were wounded.
The elder ordered them locked near the eastern holding shelter. Jinling moved to follow—but Kaoshi stepped forward.
"I want to help."
The elder hesitated. "You?"
"I can treat the wounded one. If you let me." Her voice was calm, but firm.
He gave a single nod. "Fine. But if they lash out, you're on your own."
---
Guidance
Kaoshi didn't go alone. She brought her cubs—Chaoang, Chow Chow, and Chao Lie—with purpose.
"Chow Chow," she said, crouching beside her daughter. "Watch how I clean and seal the wounds. You'll take over once I stabilize him."
Chow Chow nodded, her eyes wide but focused.
The older mutant's body was a mess of deep claw marks and infection. Kaoshi quickly boiled herbs over a stone fire and cleaned the gashes. Chow Chow watched her hands carefully—then copied the process, slower but steady.
Kaoshi whispered, "Don't just mimic. Feel the flow of energy when you press here."
Chow Chow pressed her small palm against the beastman's chest. Her pupils contracted. The faintest golden shimmer passed from her hand to his wounds.
He stopped convulsing.
She gasped, but didn't stop. She moved on to the smaller wounds and closed them, one by one, until he lay still—breathing, but unconscious.
"Excellent," Kaoshi murmured, brushing back her daughter's hair. "You saved him."
---
Conflict
Then came the growl.
The younger mutant, chained beside the wounded one, lunged—breaking his bonds with shocking speed. A guard screamed as he was thrown backward into a rock.
Chao Lie reacted first.
He dropped low, his legs morphing into his snake form, and launched like a dart, wrapping around the mutant's legs and dragging him down.
The creature roared in pain—but didn't strike. Confused, he looked from Chao Lie to the unconscious body nearby. Then to Chow Chow. His rage trembled—but didn't ignite.
"Chaoang!" Kaoshi called. "Take over—fast!"
Chaoang darted behind the mutant, climbing a nearby post and launching from it mid-shift. In full fox form, he slammed into the attacker's side and pinned him down.
"Don't kill him!" Kaoshi shouted. "Hold!"
Chaoang bit down—but not to tear. He growled low, assertive. The mutant froze.
Kaoshi stepped forward and knelt beside the younger beastman. She kept her voice even, calm.
"We're not enemies."
He blinked. Wariness in his golden eyes… and confusion. Slowly, he relaxed.
> [System Update: Step 2 Complete – Combat De-escalation and Control Achieved.]
---
Diplomacy
Later, Kaoshi sat before the elder and Hong Xi with all three cubs flanking her. The two mutants sat nearby—unrestrained now, silent but clearly listening.
"They're sapient," Kaoshi said plainly. "You saw the way he hesitated. They're not wild animals."
"And yet they attacked," Hong Xi snapped.
"Because they were hunted. Chased. Hurt. We would have done the same in their place."
The elder frowned, thoughtful. "Even if you're right… what do we do with them?"
Kaoshi's eyes shifted to Chaoang. "Show him the cloth."
Chaoang stepped forward, pulling a torn piece of deep red fabric from his pocket.
"When I tackled him, this fell out of his satchel," Chaoang said. "It's marked. Like a symbol. He was protecting it."
The elder took the cloth. His brows knit. "That's… not from any tribe I know."
"They might be from a forgotten group," Kaoshi said. "We might be the only ones who've ever spoken to them."
The elder turned to the two strangers. "Do you understand me?"
The younger one tilted his head, then mimicked a word. A single syllable, repeated: "Gah… ree."
"It's a start," Kaoshi said. "Let me teach them. Let them prove themselves."
Hong Xi looked ready to object—but the elder raised a hand.
"You and your cubs handled what five of my guards couldn't. I'll give you one day. But if they cause trouble…"
"They won't," Kaoshi said.
---
That night, Kaoshi bathed the cubs under dim lantern light. Each one was quiet—tired, processing, proud.
"You were incredible today," she told them as she rinsed Chao Lie's hair. "You did more than most adult beastmen ever could."
Chao Lie muttered, "I just held his legs."
"You stopped a killing blow," she said. "You chose restraint. That's harder than striking."
Chow Chow leaned against her. "Mama… was I really healing him? I felt something. But I was scared."
Kaoshi wrapped her arms around her. "Yes. You healed him. You were scared, and you still did it. That's bravery."
Chaoang stayed quiet, staring into the fire.
"What's wrong?" Kaoshi asked.
He looked up slowly. "I felt like I knew what to do. Like… it wasn't the first time."
She ruffled his hair. "Maybe it wasn't. Maybe it's who you're meant to become."
---
As the fire crackled low, the system chimed silently once more.
> [Mission Complete: Five-Star Rating Achieved.]
[Points Awarded: 50]
[System Mall Unlocked.]
[New Feature Unlocked: Beast Core Fusion Preview System.]
Kaoshi didn't react outwardly—but her heart surged.
Her path had finally widened. And the cubs were ready for whatever came next.