Beastmen Love-Chapter 182: Raptors

Bono and Otto were amazed by that small show of Astri’s powers. She’s so calm and kind that she makes anyone forget that she carries powers no one can measure. freeweɓnøvel.com

Bono focuses on finishing the walls, and the whole tribe is focused on that, but Bono doesn’t let them overwork, so they won’t be ready when the war comes. Bono always spends the end of the day at Astri’s house.

Astri was resting under a tree, watching everyone play soccer with the children.

"What are they doing?" Bono asks, sitting on her side.

"Playing soccer. It’s a game. There are two teams, two groups, both with the same number of people. The objective is to take the ball and put it inside those areas with their foot or head. Putting the ball inside it, you scored a goal. The only one who can take the ball with the hands is the goalkeeper, that is the one who protects that area." She explains, pointing things out to him.

"Interesting. They look like playing and having fun."

"They are. But they’re also training their teamwork. That is something you’re also training with your tribe, but not playing soccer." She answers.

He smiles and sighs, supporting his body on his hand, leaning back a little.

"I’m afraid our team still does not have the same quantity as the other team." He says, referring to the quantity of tribe members compared to Freyd’s army.

"Yeah.. He has more in quantity, but most of those beastmen don’t actually respect him. They don’t share the same purpose. There was a war once, called the Battle of Thermopylae. It was 300 against around 70.000. There were other fights around, but the most famous one was this one. A King called Leonidas led an army of 300 males against what appeared to be certain death." Astri says.

That caught his attention, making him return his eyes to her instead of the game.

"Did they win?" Bono asks.

"Yes. It’s not about quantity. It’s about this." She says and points to her head.

"About the mind?" He asks.

"Yes. And about being smart. King Freyd’s head is all about getting more power. You’re smart. You can turn this against him."

"How did King Leonidas win?"

"He studied the place of the war. Used the terrain that his enemy didn’t know to work in his favor. Adding to the morale and purpose he put into his warriors made them unstoppable." Astri explains.

"The terrain.." That brightened his ideas. "The terrain! The direction he will come from there are holes, tall grass, and trees. We could use that since all of them are big dinosaurs." He says excitedly.

She nods, agreeing it’s a great idea.

"But how to surprise them so we can have an advantage? I don’t have flying dinosaurs. He has." He sighs.

"Think wider. Don’t think about size. Who is faster, smaller, and can open the way for your bigger warriors?" She instigates him.

"Raptors.."

"Yes! They’re the ultimate hunters. Work perfectly synchronized with their team to achieve the same goal."

"Raptors... They have their own tribe. They don’t mix with others."

"Because they’re underestimated. Trust them and invite them to join."

"You can’t come with me. You’re too near due time." He says.

"Take Cyprian, Caris, and Carist, and your father. You can convince them by showing you believe in their skills. And show them your plan to prove it."

"All right. Give me two days. Please, hold this pregnancy a little longer." He says, standing up.

She chuckles.

"I’ll try. Don’t worry. I think I have some more days." She says. "Oh, yes. I heard about Lina."

"Yeah.. The other females might envy the attention you have, but they respect your value. The females beat up Lina and shaved her hair. Her males didn’t help her. She’s feeling ugly and doesn’t want to come out."

"I see. I believe that as long as she understands what happens after a betrayal like that. She was scared of me. If I’ve done something more to her, she would only see that I’m just more powerful and wouldn’t think you’re trustworthy for having someone like me on your side." Astri says, peeling a fruit.

He blushes after hearing about having her on his side and knowing that she was worried about his image and not hers. He clears his throat quickly.

"I understand. Feeling what the tribe thought about what she did would make her understand better." He nods.

"Exactly. Hope she gets better. Fruit?"

"No, thank you. I’ll organize my departure with the others."

"Have dinner first. I won’t deliver now. Even if I did, Freyd doesn’t need to know exactly after it." She says, then asks for help to stand up.

He pulls her slowly by her hands. She removes her jacket and shakes it to remove the grass from it, that’s when he sees her big belly. His mind brings him to where he shouldn’t be again, imagining her carrying his eggs.

He spots her beast mark and is impressed with how big it is. She dresses again and they start walking to the dinner table.

When the dinner was served, the game stopped. While they were having dinner, Bono told everyone about the ideas Astri gave him. Cyprian doesn’t want to go, because he doesn’t want to lose Astri delivering their next children. Since she’s not feeling movements, they’re sure it’s eggs, and he wants to be there if it’s his.

"Don’t worry, Cyprian. I’m pretty sure I won’t deliver them in the next four to five days. In the other pregnancies, I could feel my body warning me 7 days before at least. The Raptors will hear Bono better knowing he has strong allies, and dragons are always good allies." Astri says.

"All right.. But if you start to feel something, you need to tell me and I’ll come back!" Cyprian says.

"You have my word and love, handsome dragon."

He smiles and nods.

"I’ll just go because Astri asked." Carist says.

"Liar." Caris says back.

"Shut up."

Everyone chuckles. After living there for those 7 days, Caris and Carist started to make friends. Bono is one of them because he welcomes their ideas and listens to both of them.

Bono tells his ideas to Tyr, Beau, and Lee, who are the best with strategies of battle. Everyone is impressed with the great plan Bono brought up. Astri gives them some more ideas, and Bono asks Troy, Roy, and the triceratops Pete to organize that strategy with the others.

In the morning, they leave to find the Raptors’ Tribe.

"I’m proud of you, son. I never heard this kind of strategy." Otto says as they walk together.

"Me neither. Lady Astri told me about a war called the Battle of Thermopylae. It was a war where 300 males won against 70.000. When she told me their strategy, I just thought of doing the same." Bono answers.

"She’s teaching you many things." Otto smiles.

Bono smiles, rubbing his thumb on his staff that he carries everywhere.

"We did something similar when we battled against the Monster King that found Astri’s location." Cyprian tells.

"And how did it go?" Bono asks Cyprian.

"The Monster King had other strong Monsters that would open portals to bring more and more Monsters. They looked like they would never end. There were two giant worms, bigger than me as a dragon, that only Claud and Kangki could face. They surprised us in many ways." Cyprian chuckles.

"And how did you win?" Otto asks.

"Astri. When they destroyed the front wall, she decided to fight too. She destroyed the King and built new walls with her powers."

"So you failed to protect your tribe." Carist snorts.

"In some ways, yes. But you need to take into consideration that they knew exactly what they were dealing with. King Freyd and Juno don’t know." Cyprian says.

"I see. They knew they would face Astri, and they brought all they could." Otto says.

"I won’t let Astri move a finger against those lizards." Carist says.

"That’s right, brother. Astri is too precious to be facing those disgusting things." Caris nods.

"We won’t let her either. Last time, Astri was always showing signs that she would intervene. This time, she looks calm and reassured. She’s not giving any of those signs. That means she feels everything will be all right." Cyprian mentions.

Bono smiles, happy that she feels this way even though he wasn’t feeling the same. She gave him ideas and hope to face this war.

After walking for some time through the tall grass. They hear many running steps. Cyprian, Caris, and Carist could sense them, but the sounds coming everywhere made them confused. Bono knows it’s the Raptors.

"We didn’t come to fight. We don’t want to hurt anyone. We came here to talk to your leader." Bono loudly says.

When they notice, they’re circled by several velociraptors. They’re amazing hunters. Bono could see firsthand how perfect they are for their plan.

A bigger velociraptor with a red crest on its head comes walking through the other ones. He shifts and shows a male with dark skin and red hair. He’s lean, but he’s almost half the size of Bono.

"What do you want here? If you’re lost, just turn around and leave." The male says.

"My name is Bono. Leader of the Daerns’ Tribe. I came here to talk to you. I would like us to be partners." Bono says.

The male snorts, then starts to laugh with the other velociraptors around.