Just then, roars echoed from outside the tribe, one after another. The little cubs on the rocks stopped sunbathing, hopping down one by one and yelping as they raced toward the tribe's entrance.
The commotion also caught the attention of Wu Yue and the other tribe members, and they instinctively looked toward the sound.
The sight that greeted her was so shocking it once again shattered her perception of this society. 'Holy crap, what is all this?'
A dozen or so giant beasts entered the tribe, either carrying blood-drenched prey on their backs or gripping it in their jaws. Following behind were several tall Half-beastmen and Pure Humans.
They all carried weapons of various lengths—long spears tipped with sharp Stone Tools.
In their other hands, they carried precious, bulging Beast Skin Bags.
Staring at the giant beasts that defied all comprehension, Wu Yue fell silent. 'I'm not even as big as one of their toenails...'
'If hunting in the forest is dangerous even for giant beasts like them, what would happen to someone like me if I ran into a wild animal... I'd probably get blown away by one of its farts...'
The returning Beastman Warriors were downstream, washing the blood and grime from their bodies. The massive carcasses of their prey lay silently on the bank.
The little furballs that had just run over from the clearing were now clambering all over the carcasses, tearing and biting at them while letting out growls that were both kittenish and fierce.
But their tiny milk teeth couldn't make a dent in the thick hides, leaving behind nothing but puddles of drool.
A Snow Tiger shook the water from its fur and, with a single leap, landed beside a carcass. He stretched out a massive forepaw and flipped over a little cub that was busy smearing drool on the prey's belly.
He opened his massive jaws, bit into the carcass, and with a powerful rip, tore off a piece. The thick scent of blood instantly filled the air by the riverbank. The other drooling cubs immediately stopped and turned to look at the great tiger.
The Beastman paid no mind to the fiery gazes of the surrounding cubs, selfishly devouring the fresh meat and blood from the carcass.
One little cub tried to approach for a share, but the Beastman turned his head with a low growl. The cub let out a small whimper and retreated to its playmates.
Only after all the Beastmen had eaten their fill did the cubs, who had been waiting nearby, swarm forward to fight over the scraps.
The Half-beastman and Pure Human children, however, could only stand to the side, gulping as they clutched the wild vegetables their parents had given them.
Once the Beastman Warriors had finished their meal, a Half-beastman Warrior stared at the carcasses by the river and swallowed hard before composing himself. Only then did he lead the burly man and his group forward.
"Clan Leader, a small tribe has come to trade for food. They've brought some slaves. We lost many slaves over the winter, so I was wondering if we should acquire some more."
The Half-beastman bowed before an imposing Snow Tiger Beastman in his animal form, distinguished by three golden stripes on his left paw, and posed his question.
At these words, the lazily lounging Snow Tiger Beastman rose to his feet. An intangible pressure radiated outwards, causing the members of the smaller tribe to hold their breath.
The Beastman took a few steps forward before his entire body erupted in a dazzling light. When the light subsided, a powerfully-built, middle-aged Beastman Warrior, standing over two meters tall, appeared before the crowd.
"How many slaves do you have?" The Beastman's voice was deep, his expression filled with authority. His entire being radiated a domineering aura.
The burly man quickly bowed and stepped forward, wiping beads of sweat from his forehead. "Lord Clan Leader, all the people we brought this time are right here. Please, take a look."