Beastmen: She Tames the Land

Chapter 223: A blade to protect

Several days passed, and the foxes from the fox clan began arriving. There wasn’t a specific time they came or a specific number that came to the living area. The first day, there were only three. In the following days, more arrived.

According to Uri, it might have been half the clan who arrived. Hearing such a high proportion of them arrived, Visha couldn’t help wondering if this particular clan had a penchant for having throuples.

Even the throuple Failan wanted to help in the first place arrived, two females and a male. They were not among the first group, but when they came, they came prepared. They brought gifts for Uri and Xeno, thanking them for taking them in. They also brought the largest proportion of silk, linen, and cotton.

As for the dhole tribe leader, saying he was angry was an understatement.

He stormed into the living area, demanding they return to the tribe, only to be beaten away by the tribe members. Because the foxes who appeared were mates, the trio explained to their own members what mates were, helping them differentiate between partners and mates.

Not only could they use this information to find their own mates, but it would help them stay away from mated pairs. Since the fox tribe understood mates, there must be other tribes among those present who are aware, namely the ruling parties.

The addition of such a large group of people prompted Visha to find a guide. She queried whether it was possible to change living areas. She had expected them to push back. There was no such thing. Instead, the guide brought them to a section that was suitable for their growing number.

Visha raised an eyebrow at this. She didn’t think it would be so simple. But then again, the ruling tribes wouldn’t place guides for no reason. The guides were essentially openly spying on them. It wasn’t strange that they would have a new place ready for them to live in.

The new area was not only larger, but it was also closer to the ruling parties. Visha wasn’t sure if it was deliberate. But it was also close to the place the fox clan occupied. They were not moved to a smaller area because they had fewer people.

Because their location changed, the stall also changed. Not that it mattered much. They had gotten most of what they needed. Now, their reasons for trading had little to do with the tribe and more to do with their personal preferences.

If they found anything they thought was useful, they would ask, they would ask the trio if it was worthwhile. The days of trading were filled with laughter.

Nyx, having had dreams of betrayal, wasn’t comfortable being in the valley at first. She slowly took the time to get used to everything. She thought of Visha’s words. She had been practicing being unaffected by everything around her, even when it brought back memories she couldn’t quite understand.

If the person who betrayed her were here. She wasn’t sure she could stay unaffected. She practiced steeling her expressions. From time to time, she would walk around, both recalling and steadying herself.

On this day, she was with the rabbit twins. They spoke mainly through the pack link. There were some things unsuitable for the ears of others.

"I don’t want to wait until the mating month," Vina complained. "There’s a male who likes me, and I think I want to go with his tribe early."

Nyx laughed. "Early or late. It won’t make a difference. Plus, the tribe leaders won’t agree."

"Didn’t they tell us about mates. Is the person you like your mate?" Vera questioned.

Vina waved her hand dismissively. "Doesn’t matter if he is my mate or not. I like this one. Plus, who knows if they’re lying to us? So many people haven’t heard of mates. You think telling us now makes a difference?"

"They didn’t keep it secret. They call each other mate all the time in the tribe. And they talk about other people having partners. There was always the distinction. They didn’t say it outright until now, but we also never asked."

Vina knew that Nyx had a point. But she refused to listen. Mates or partners, it doesn’t matter. What matters is they kept it from them. Only when it was convenient did they say anything.

"They tell us things when it’s convenient. Even the powers they have are different from ours. Who knows how long they started practicing before telling us?"

Vera gave a sidelong glance at her sister. She had changed in ways she couldn’t understand. There was this constant need for validation. She constantly wanted attention. This was not the sister she grew up with. She wondered if their time in the slave camp was what changed her. But she experienced the same kind of torture her sister went through. She couldn’t see anything different. Unless something happened in a place she could see.

"Sister, they’re supposed to be stronger than us. What tribe wouldn’t want their leaders to be strong? And they told us when they found out about the energy. Were they supposed ot tell us something they didn’t know?"

"Vera, you’re too trusting. There must be a lot they haven’t told us. Why should we cling to their word?"

Nyx laughed at this. She wondered where Vina got the idea that a tribe leader needs to tell their tribe everything.

"Why should they tell us everything? If they keep secrets, it is for the betterment of the tribe. They have worries none of us can begin to comprehend." Her eyes took on a faraway look. "Sometimes, to be a good leader, you need to keep the hardships to yourself. Not everything needs to be told to your tribe. Telling them might cause more problems than it fixes."

Her gaze landed on Vina. "If one day, you found a power so strong it could shake the world. Would you be willing to give it to your tribe? Would you be willing to give them the power to destroy the world? Because I don’t think you would."

Nyx took a deep breath. "They told us the power was in the very air we breathe. If every tribe knew this information. Do you think we would be as peaceful as we are now? They gave us a blade. Not to use it against others, but to protect ourselves. Would you rather they not give it to you? Because I can talk to the tribe leaders on your behalf. We can figure out how to take that power back."

By the time she finished speaking, her voice was low, dangerous. Her expression was grave. Her eyes found Vina’s searching.

Vina stuttered, changing the subject. "Nyx, don’t like that. I never said anything." She pointed at a stall and spoke openly, "Let’s go over there. I think someone is cooking. It smells good."

Vina stepped forward quickly, leaving Vera and Nyx behind.

Vera’s voice was low as she tugged on Ny’s sleeve. "She wasn’t like this before. Do you think something happened?"

Nyx patted her hand but didn’t respond. She steered Vera to the place Vina suggested.

When they arrived, they saw it was people from the panther tribe. Nyx had always known she was from the panther tribe. She was a half-shifter; there was no hiding it. Neither did she try to hide it when she came. She figured if the person who wanted to harm her was here, they would see her sooner or later.

As they approached, she took in the people sitting around and chatting. Though they had set up a stall, they didn’t really trade anything. From what Nyx could see, they were eating to fill their own bellies.

When Nyx approached, the conversation died down. She steeled herself for what was to come. She still didn’t know who she was in the panther tribe, but the way they stared at her told her they knew her.

Vina, who had gone ahead, seemed oblivious of the change in the atmosphere. She scanned the panther beastmen and females. Her eyes, assessing. She thought they stopped speaking because she approached.

She had wanted to make friends with people from the ruling classes for some time now. She hadn’t expected to stumble upon them now. She smiled to herself. It seems that suggesting going for a walk today had worked in her favour.

Before she could say anything, one of the females stood. She walked around the stall, passing Vina, who had just opened her mouth. She stepped directly in front of Nyx.

"Sister..." she called softly, but her eyes were searching. The unease in her voice didn’t pass Nyx.

And Nyx, she was holding her breath. She hadn’t expected to see the very person who had betrayed her. And this person called her sister.

She exhaled slowly in an attempt to calm her breathing heart. She narrowed her eyes. Her eyebrows furrowed so much they almost met.

"I’m sorry, but do you know me?"