Surviving Zombies Was Easier Than Raising Beast Cubs

Chapter 43: Chapter 43: The big adventure

Soren met his gaze without blinking.

The cave became sharp again.

Kael’s stare said she belonged to him.

Soren’s stare said she wore his scale.

Kael’s claws dug into the ground.

Soren’s tail shifted once.

Swanly was too busy trying to stop the smallest from climbing onto her head to notice the silent fight.

The meat began to smell ready.

Kael broke the stare first because the meat would burn.

He brought the roasted pieces over.

The meat was hot.

It was also plain.

Very plain.

Swanly looked at it.

Then she looked at Kael.

Then she looked back at the meat.

Her mouth pouted before she could stop it.

Kael saw it and looked guilty at once.

"I only roasted a little because I did not want to wake you."

Swanly’s heart softened.

Then her tongue remembered it had rights.

"You could have asked me for spices."

Kael’s ears lowered slightly.

Swanly quickly touched his arm.

"I am not angry."

He looked at her.

She sighed and reached into her space.

"I am just not eating sadness flavored meat when I have salt."

The cubs perked up.

"Salt."

"Soup."

"Food."

Swanly pointed at them.

"Do not chant at me."

They immediately chanted louder.

Kael almost smiled.

Swanly brought out a little salt, dried herbs and a small wrapped spice leaf.

She tore the meat into pieces and tossed them into a small pot with water.

Soon the smell changed.

It became warm and sharp and rich.

The cubs sat in a row like three starving judges.

The smallest tried to lean forward.

Swanly pushed his forehead back with one finger.

"No tongue."

He pouted.

She served Kael first.

Then the cubs.

Then herself.

Soren watched from the corner.

Swanly did not give him any.

She did not even look at him.

The smallest looked at Soren and hugged his bowl.

"Mama food."

Swanly ate calmly.

"I heard nothing."

Soren’s silver eyes narrowed.

The food smelled good.

The snow fox female was still angry.

Both things bothered him.

When they finished eating, Soren’s coils shifted.

His upper body rose from the ground and the cave seemed smaller at once.

"We leave soon."

Swanly wiped the smallest’s mouth with a cloth.

"I am washing first."

Soren stared at her.

She stared back.

"I am not going to a rotten death forest while smelling like sleep, cub spit and cave smoke."

The eldest sniffed his own arm.

The second sniffed Swanly’s sleeve.

The smallest sniffed Swanly’s nose.

Swanly caught his face.

"Do not even think about it."

Kael stood at once.

"I will take her."

Soren’s eyes moved to him.

"You will slow us."

Kael’s voice turned low.

"I am going."

Swanly did not even argue.

Of course Kael was going.

No one could stop him.

Not with Soren near her.

Not with some rotten seed waiting in a place that sounded like death had built a nest.

Raku waited outside as guard.

The crocodile beastman held his stone weapon and looked like he had already decided today would be ugly.

Nahla was called to watch the cubs.

Before leaving, Swanly washed at the stream with the cubs.

The cubs were now tiny boys.

That made washing worse.

The eldest tried to stand still like a warrior.

The second held Swanly’s hide skirt with both hands.

The smallest splashed water, laughed and then tried to lick wet stone.

Swanly caught him by the back of his tiny hide shirt.

"Why must your tongue test the world?"

The smallest smiled.

"World taste."

"No."

Kael found soft hide scraps and Swanly used a bone needle with sinew thread.

The tiny skirts were crooked.

They were also adorable.

The cubs stood in front of her wearing little hide skirts, little bare feet and little proud faces.

Swanly pressed both hands over her mouth.

"I cannot survive this."

The eldest looked at his skirt with pride.

"Big male."

The second touched the knot at his waist.

"Not fall."

The smallest spun once and fell on his bottom.

Swanly picked him up and kissed his cheek.

"Beautiful disaster."

When they returned, the air around the cave had changed.

The Rot Nest waited beyond Riverbone.

Even the name felt wet and wrong.

Soren spoke while Raku checked the path.

"The flooded forest has infected beasts."

Swanly held the cubs closer.

"How many?"

"Enough."

She glared at him.

"That is not an answer."

Soren’s eyes stayed cold.

"Some are not normal."

Kael’s shoulders tightened.

Raku’s jaw hardened. frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓

Swanly’s blood felt colder.

Soren continued.

"Some do not move like beasts."

The cubs looked up at her.

"Some listen."

Swanly’s grip tightened around the smallest.

"And you want me to go there."

"You agreed."

"I agreed because you trapped me with screams."

Soren did not deny it.

That made her hate him again.

Nahla came forward and held out her hands for the cubs.

"They stay with me."

The eldest immediately grabbed Swanly’s leg.

"No."

The smallest wrapped both arms around her neck.

"Mama no go bad snake."

The second did not speak.

He only held the edge of Swanly’s fur bundle and stared at her face.

That quiet look hurt the most.

Swanly crouched in front of them.

Her heart felt like someone had squeezed it too hard.

"Mama has to finish an important task."

The eldest’s eyes filled.

"No task."

The smallest shook his head until his hair bounced.

"No snake."

The second whispered.

"Mama come back?"

Swanly’s throat tightened.

She pulled all three into her arms.

"I will come back."

The second pressed his face into her shoulder.

"What if no?"

Swanly closed her eyes for half a breath.

Then she opened them and made her voice steady.

"Then you bite Kael until he brings me back."

Kael’s face changed.

Pain moved through his eyes.

Then he crouched beside them and touched the second cub’s head.

"I will bring her back."

The eldest sniffed.

"Promise?"

Kael looked at all three.

"I promise."

Swanly kissed each small forehead.

"If you behave for Nahla, I will bring back something sweet."

The smallest’s wet eyes brightened a little.

"Sweet?"

"Yes."

"All behave?"

"All three."

The eldest nodded with great suffering.

The smallest nodded faster.

The second nodded last.

Nahla took them.

Or at least she seemed to.

The farewell became messy.

The smallest cried into Swanly’s hair.

The eldest tried not to cry and failed.

The second stayed silent, and that made everyone think he was only sad.

Swanly’s fur bundle lay open near the wall.

It was filled with spare fur, cloth, a little dried food and herbs that smelled strongly of smoke and her own scent.

While the smallest clung to Swanly’s neck and the eldest argued with Nahla, the second changed back into his small black panther form.

He slipped under the folded fur without a sound.

His body was tiny.

His scent vanished under Swanly’s fur and the smoked herbs.

Kael was watching Soren.

Soren was watching the path.

Raku was watching the gate.

Swanly was wiping the smallest’s tears.

Nahla thought the second was behind her legs.

No one saw the bundle breathe.

Swanly finally stood.

Her eyes were red but dry.

Kael stood beside her.

Soren moved ahead with his white tail sliding over the ground.

Raku followed with his stone weapon on one shoulder.

Behind them, Nahla held the eldest and smallest close.

The second cub was not there.

Swanly lifted the fur bundle onto her back.

It felt a little heavier than before.

She thought it was the herbs.

The group walked toward the old path.

Riverbone watched them leave in silence.

Inside the bundle, the second cub opened his golden eyes.

...

DUN DUN DUN!!!