They moved on through the jungle with Lucius in the lead until they finally reached a grove. It was a sparse stretch filled with towering pines and climbing vines, a place their kind favored. It hid them well within the underbrush, softened the ground with fallen leaves, and promised a rest well deserved
Lucius stepped into the grove admiring what his younger brother Lurnze—the family's scout—had found. He drew a deep breath. The air was damp and cool… and beneath it he felt what the rest of his troop could not: earthly essence pulsing faintly in the soil
That could mean promise at the same time it could mean danger. He would scout the area himself. Only then would he decide if this could be their home
"Alright everyone gather up We'll rest here tonight. Drogo Lurnze keep your eyes out. I'll scout the area" Lucius rumbled moving along the grove sniffing and feeling the earth with his palms
"Alright brother" came the replies—Drogo's deep voice and the lighter one of Lurnze slimmer and the youngest of Lucius' brothers
The rest of the troop scattered some climbing high treetops others making beds of leaves and broken branches to curl into for the night
Drogo leaned close to Curze his nephew. "Alright boy I'll head up to the tree tops and keep watch. Go on ahead. If the night bites too hard crawl to Grandma"
"Ok Uncle" Curze said watching his favorite uncle vanish into the canopy. How he longed to take such duty himself—but that would have to wait until he truly became a Beast. For now he was still only a cub of flesh. Without a stable home none of the young could risk their first transformation
He padded between pines careful not to disturb his siblings or their mothers
"Little Curze why don't you sleep closer to us tonight We'll keep you warm" called Trenn Drogo's mate
Curze turned to her smiling at his kind and favorite aunt
"Yes Curze we can also play with stones before sleep" piped Liya her daughter eyes shining
"No I'll be fine Aunt. I'll go stay in that tree" Curze said pointing at a taller pine
"But it'll be colder there" Trenn replied
"Oh that's true. Then… I'll go to Granny" he lied turning toward the brush
Trenn's eyes softened. She knew his character—independent like his father. She remembered Lucius rising against their slave-masters. She remembered another face too: a female kind and filled with hope Lucius' first mate Curze's mother… lost during their escape
She sighed. "Come Liya. It's cold"
"But Mama Curze will grow cold"
"Curze will be fine. He'll stay with Grandma"
Curze climbed to the highest pine and gazed out over the treetops. The moonlight washed the forest silver. He looked up at the stars—he always did when he was alone. They gave him hope shining unbroken night after night. Granny once told him the stars accepted wishes and since then he'd always wished
I'll be strong. Stronger than Father. Strong enough to meet his eyes one day
He had seen Lucius fight once—against a pack of spiked mongrels. The way his father moved like a raging bull tearing through thorns burned into him. It gave him resolve. Yet the truth remained: without shelter none of the young could risk the Beast's sleep. And so Curze stared at the sky heart beating with hope. Let this place be our home
---
Lucius prowled deeper into the grove. His senses caught a trail—not a great threat not with him around but danger enough if ignored
He leapt from tree to tree his movement soundless. Ahead a hollow panther lay curled muscles twitching in slumber. A troublesome foe if allowed to stalk them in the dark; swift and silent killers. This one was a fanged feral beast Ranked two. Not a threat to him—but careless it could cut down the other males of the troop
Lucius positioned himself etching closer quietly his body then dropped with crushing momentum aiming to smash its skull in one blow
But the rush of air stirred the leaves. The panther jolted awake twisting aside. His strike split the ground blasting it off its feet anyway
"What—who are you" the panther snarled voice sharp and female
Lucius surged forward a blur of muscle and fur. His fist swung a pulse of primal force. She moved with trained agility but her limbs felt sluggish. Impossible—for her kind were famed for speed. Then it struck her like a spear of ice. This beast… is a rank three
BAM
Lucius' fist smashed into her flank. Bones cracked as her body was hurled into a pine trunk. She coughed blood and bile her eyes wide with fear
"Why…" she gasped
Lucius' face was stone. Because it is the law of the jungle he thought not bothering to reply
His fist came down. Skull and earth met with a wet crunch
He felt nothing. Only usefulness. Meat. This would feed his younger brothers push them further into the Fang Stage of rank two. For they were too weak too soft they hardly assisted him in battles they needed it
Lucius gripped the corpse by the neck and dragged it through the brush. If no more trouble stirred this grove could serve. He was satisfied that he had scouted—for had he not the hollow panther's hunger might have fallen upon his brothers in the dark