Beastmen: She Tames the Land-Chapter 124: Heading to the Fox Tribe

Another week passed before Uri, Visha, and Xeno left. During that time, they did everything they could to ensure the pack was safe. Krag and Chi were left in charge, as they often were when the leaders left. The pack was used to it.

Lyra walked with Visha, Cato trailing behind. They had gotten closer in two weeks.

"Don’t make him wait too long," Visha whispered. She knew Cato would hear it, but that didn’t stop her from pretending he couldn’t.

Lyra smiled, rolling her eyes. But she didn’t deny anything.

As they stepped through the gate with their trade goods, Visha looked back at the gate.

Xeno draped his arm around her shoulder. "What’s wrong?"

"I always feel like something’s going to happen after we leave, but I’m not sure what." Her brows furrowed, and she stopped walking to look back at the gate.

"Krag will take care of it," came Uri’s voice.

Raising an eyebrow, Visha asked, "I thought you didn’t trust him."

"He will not harm us." This was all Uri said.

Visha didn’t question it. Whatever the reason Uri had for saying it, she knew he had thought about the pros and cons. She didn’t know about the conversation Uri and Xeno had with Krag.

It took seven suns to get to the Fox tribe. During the journey, the River Clan enjoyed themselves. The chattering voices never stopped. The rhythmic dipping of poles in water and splashing water accompanied the journey.

During the journey, Visha had handed Mika, the trade leader, a copy of a raft blueprint she had gotten from the system. She told him it was the fare for bringing them to various tribes over this period of time.

She also made it clear that if she needed to, she might give the information to the Fox tribe because it is one of the few things they had to trade. Mika thanked her nonetheless when he saw the blueprint. It was much better than their current raft.

"The Fox tribe merchants value beauty and rarity above all else. They are impressed by what they don’t have. By what they can obtain." Uri said. "The things we have to offer might interest them to some extent, but we also need to prepare for their denial."

"The things they trade have already made them popular among different tribes. We can only hope," Vishe responded.

"Salt and slaves," Xeno’s voice was disapproving. "We hadn’t known before, but I’m sure there are more than enough slaves for them to trade. And more than enough people to trade with."

"You mean the rogues," Visha asked.

She sighed when they nodded. She thought she would be the one outraged by the prospect of slaves. Instead, she noticed Xeno was very upset about it. She had never seen him so tense about something before.

Her eyes met Uri’s, and she saw the small smile on his face. Uri was looking at Xeno, who was still in a state of outrage. Through the bond, she took note of Uri’s feelings. Xeno’s were hot and overwhelming, so she hadn’t been able discern Uri’s feelings.

She reached out towards him and felt it. He was happy. Really happy. She knew there was something she was missing.

"Do any of you want to tell me what’s happening right now? I don’t understand what’s happening with either of you," Visha asked.

"He is outraged on my behalf," Uri remarked. His voice was steady, as if it had nothing to do with him.

Visha tilted her head, confusion on her face.

"Rogues are slaves," Uri said. "People like me."

Waving the partial limb at Visha, he saw the moment she understood.

"So he’s outraged because someone might want to capture you to become a slave?" Visha asked.

Uri nodded.

"I won’t let that happen." She spoke with an air of finality.

The arrival at the Fox tribe was not what they expected. There was no grand entrance. Instead, the River Clan raft glided into a hidden cove. They travelled along a winding path. It opened up into what some would consider a paradise.

It was a hidden oasis. A place filled with green grass and fragrant, vibrant flowers. They didn’t live in huts or longhouses. The places they were were semi-subterranean homes. The entrance of the home was covered with flowering vines and neatly arranged bushes.

The flowers gave off perfumes that made people want to stop briefly and take a deep breath. Seeing the flowers, the trio felt the tremor in their bond. They remembered the last time they were around so many flowers, they tried to kill them.

They were led to the central clearing where they met the Fox tribe leader, Reyn. He was a stunning male with glossy red hair. His clothing wasn’t like the usual animal skin and fur. Visha could see it was silk.

This is the first time she had seen silk in this world. She knew the River Clan traded salt with the Fox tribe, but they had never heard of them trading silk. It shows that the Fox tribe either barter silk from another tribe, or it is too expensive a trade for the River Clan.

She looked around and considered it as the former.

Reyn’s smile was warm when he saw them. He appeared so happy that they almost missed the flicker of contempt in his eyes...almost.

"Welcome all," he said in a bright tone. "I see the lovely priestess Visha is here. I’ve heard many things about you. I am Reyn. Leader of the Fox tribe."

He leaned in close, kissing Visha on the cheek before anyone could stop him.

Visha felt the fury through the bond. She herself was not in a good mood. She had never met any tribe that gave kisses when they greeted people. And she didn’t like it.

He turned to Xeno, "Warm Pack leader, Xeno. A fine male. You look strong."

Then his gaze fell on Uri. For a long moment, he looked through him, his expression blank as if Uri was a wisp of smoke. The insult was clear. It would have been better to openly sneer at him; at least then, he would still consider him a person. He was trying to tell Uri that he was nothing.

The only thing in the bond at this moment was anger, furious, roaring, and chaotic. She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palm. It took everything she had not to walk up to Reyn and strangle him on the spot.

Let me slit his throat. Xeno said through the bond.

This was one of the new things they noticed from their bond. Forming a pack bond opened not only a pack link but a link between the three of them. They felt this was minor and there was more to come.

Calm down Uri said. He was the one being insulted, and he wanted them to calm down.

Xeno’s fists and jaw were clenched tight.

The three of them knew this wasn’t the time to act out. They came to trade. They only needed to complete this trade. They didn’t need to come back.

"Tribe Leader Reyn," Visha’s voice was tight. "This is Uri, one of the pack leaders, and my partner."

Reyn gave a dismissive wave of his hand, "Of course. Let’s start the trade."

He walked away before any of them could say anything else.