Beastmen: She Tames the Land-Chapter 138: Hope of the Beast Continent

The silence hung in the air. Everyone stood, unsure of what to say.

Visha knew what they were here for. If they didn’t even have the courtesy to speak with respect, she would not allow them to stay. She felt her beast stir in the back of her mind. She had become more and more connected to it. She could feel her own changes. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Though they were minimal, she knew if she were to truly merge with this beast, she would become a more complete version of herself. She was excited and afraid.

When the silence was beginning to become awkward, Visha smiled. "Now, let’s start over and get to know each other. We are not enemies, so I believe it is best to start with a simple introduction and go from there."

Her words were easygoing and completely different from the weight her earlier words held.

All those standing here are warriors of their various tribes.

The most polite person of the bunch, the female Fil and Willa had met, was the first to speak out.

"Alair, of the Cheetah tribe," she said. Her fist placed on her chest. Motioning to the people behind her, "These are all members of our tribe."

Visha did not mind them not introducing themselves individually. She nodded and turned to the loud man. Following her gaze, everyone waited for his introduction.

"Alin, boar," he stated gruffly.

"Roc, from the Ram tribe," came another voice. This man had been quiet this entire time. He was observing everything happening without saying a word.

It made Visha more wary of him than the others.

Still, she introduced herself and her mates, "Visha, Uri, Xeno, the Warm Pack. I am the priestess, and they are the leaders."

"Priestess?" asked Alair. "Then why does it seem you know nothing about the howl?"

Visha chuckled embarrassedly.

Uri responded, "It is not that she is unaware. It is because the matter stems from this place."

Visha’s eyes went wide. She did not expect Uri to let them know they were the ones who caused the phenomenon. Her body was rigid; she tried not to give off any other reactions.

"We noticed it just like you have. But we have no true knowledge of it. I am not sure how you arrived at this place. You may have noticed that there are different tribes living on this mountain. They have not come to inquire. It means they were either not aware or the trigger spread outward, not affecting those living on the mountain."

"I also suspect that it is a beacon of some sort. For those close by, it holds no more significance than seeing a new moon. But for those who are not close, it becomes a beacon that draws them in. As for the reason, we cannot be certain."

As Visha listened, she understood that Uri did not necessarily give them away. What he did was to include everyone in the mountain and the nearby forest. Because what he said was indeed true. The people they interact with on a regular basis have not appeared. Rather, it is the people they do not know that have arrived.

But even with this explanation, it cannot completely absolve them.

"Salvation, that’s what you said. What kind of salvation did your priest tell you about?" Xeno asked.

"Salvation for the Beast Continent," Roc said. His expression was impassive as he spoke. "There have been strange happenings across the continent. The seasons are changing. The most obvious is winter. It is colder every year than the last. Animals are migrating. There are tribes where males are unable to shift, or the change is becoming difficult."

"I am sure there are different places experiencing different things."

The trio watched Alin and Alair nodding along with what Roc said. Uri and Xeno could attest to the winter getting colder. As for the others, they had not seen it themselves, so they are unsure of these things.

They recognize that they have been closed off from a lot of things. Whether they were in their old tribe or not, there was a lot of information they missed. They thought having stable trading partners would give them more information about the outside world. But now, they fear that many things are still being hidden from them.

"So the hope of the Beast Continent rests on the shoulders of whoever or whatever caused the colours and howl that night?" Xeno asked.

"Yes. Without knowing who or what caused it, things may get worse before they get better," Alair responded.

Xeno nodded and asked. "And what do you plan to do with this thing when you find it?"

"I am not sure about others. But we were told to find it and protect it." Alair’s eyes surveyed the three people. "I wonder if you are willing to help us?"

"Did you all get the same objective? Find and protect?" Visha asked.

They answered in the affirmative. Even Alin responded, despite looking annoyed.

"No need to worry then, the ’thing’ doesn’t need protection," Visha said, smiling.

"So you know where it is?" came Alin’s loud voice. "Tell me where it is. I won’t leave until you give it to me. My boar clan people are more than capable of taking care of it. We don’t need you."

"If you want it, go find it," Visha said dismissively. "You don’t even know what it is, and you dare make demands."

"We implore you to let us stay. Our Cheetah tribe would be forever grateful." Alair bowed slightly.

"No," Uri responded immediately. "Unless you agree to a condition. Then you’ll know everything you want to know."

"Anything," Alair responded quickly.

"Do not say ’anything’. There will always be conditions you cannot fulfil," Uri stated.

"For the good of the continent, there isn’t anything we cannot do," she said, self-assured.

Uri waited for a response from the rest. With how quickly Alair responded, it was obvious that whatever was happening to the continent was greatly affecting their tribe. He would not point it out. He waited for the response from the others.

Alin kept a stubborn look on his face. It was obvious he did not want to have anything to do with Uri, but he could not say no.

"I will let our tribe leader know your conditions. If it is reasonable, then we will concede," Roc said.

Alin gave a sideways glance to Roc and then nodded. Everyone was intelligent enough to realize he was nodding because he agreed with Roc’s statement.

Uri smiled; it was the kind that looked kind to others but was extremely suspicious to Visha and Xeno.

In the midst of everything, when they saw him smile, they could help mind linking each other.

What is he up to? Xeno asked.

No clue, just wait. I can bet he’s asking for something impossible. Visha responded.

The brief conversation went unnoticed by everyone except Uri.

"My condition...is that you join our pack," Uri stated.

The incredulous look on both Xeno and Visha’s faces would have been comical if there weren’t a number of people looking at Uri as though he were crazy.

They wondered briefly if Uri was trying to create enemies for himself.