Beastmen: She Tames the Land-Chapter 35: Small Hope

As Visha went to the cave to rest. The others in the group continued to talk.

Visha told them it was their choice, and indeed it was. She could go anywhere she wanted. She hadn’t grown up like them. And a place that can throw people away for the slightest thing wasn’t her idea of home.

Uri and Xeno looked at these people they had known all their lives, then back to Visha, who was walking away.

"You have a choice to make. Xeno and I have made our choice with her. We will go where she does. We will go with you to visit the tribe, but we will not stay."

With that, Uri turned around. He patted Xeno’s shoulder and left.

Xeno eyes travelled over the group. His parents, his brother’s friend, and his parents, even Krag and Chi. He could understand what they were thinking. They wanted to go back because it is where they felt safe.

But sometimes fantasy and reality are different things.

Turning to Krag and Chi, he asked, "Do you want to stay with the tiger tribe?"

Krag shook his head, "We will go where the three of you go."

Xeno nodded. "What about you? Ma, Ba?"

"We don’t have to stay. We understand what they did, but I want to give it a chance." Fil spoke, sounding cautious.

Xeno nodded and looked at his little brother.

He was almost certain they wouldn’t be able to stay with the tribe. Kit’s situation, even if you don’t talk about it, will become news sooner or later. People will ask. If no one says anything, then it will pass before long. But if someone were to make the mistake and mention Visha.

He stifled a growl in his chest. He would not allow anyone to harm her.

He turned to Cato and Heta. He didn’t say anything when Heta jumped in.

"I want to go back to the tribe. Why should I go out and wander?"

Having said this, she turned away, walking back to her cave.

Cato stood there, somewhat dumbfounded. He was caught between a rock and a hard place. If he wanted to stay, he would be able to be with his partner and child. If he decided to leave, he didn’t know when he would see them again, if ever.

In the end, Cato didn’t say anything, opting to speak to Heta about her decision at a later time. He walked away after shrugging.

Kit and Nimo knew something was happening, but as children, they had no say in what their parents wanted to do. Although Kit voiced his opinion, he wasn’t sure what would happen.

Xeno took one last look before walking away.

This was a choice everyone had to make on their own. He hopes, a small hope, that they wouldn’t be separated.

Since that day, things have been strained. The weather got colder, and people stayed inside more. Kit and Nimo would sometimes visit Visha’s cave. They would use the Softlight crystals to paint and make murals. Visha’s cave had a constant glow.

Kit and Nimo, fascinated with painting, also decorated everyone else’s cave. It was as if they couldn’t feel the cold. Their laughter echoed day by day.

Visha didn’t avoid everyone.

There was a day she called Willa, Heta, and Chi to her cave. She wanted to teach them how to weave baskets. During the searches of the grotto, food had increased rather than decreased.

While a beast man’s diet was mainly meat, they could eat the different mosses and fungi that were found. It kept them full until they could go hunting again.

The one who took to weaving most was Chi. Her hands were dexterous. She moved quickly. Even faster than Visha, who had the basic weaving skill. She would tell her about different designs, and she could implement them immediately.

Every now and again, Visha would visit Kit and Nimo. The two had a large cave to themselves. She could play around with them for a while. Plus, she could get away from Uri and Xeno for a while.

The men were like hungry beasts. It was getting harder to fend them off. Their stamina isn’t something she can compete with. It makes her a little afraid to try going all the way.

On one such day, Visha saw Kit and Nimo playing with a small ball, just kicking it around. It looked like a small clay ball. She asked where they got it. They confirmed that Uri had given it to them.

When she asked Uri about it. He told her it was leftover clay-moss from when they used it to cover the caves.

The ball was warm and lightweight. She also noticed that whether the boys played with it in human or beast form, it wasn’t easily broken. So Visha set out to find some more clay-moss and binder reed to make other things.

It was the tail end of winter, and even her cold adaptability seemed to have reached its limit. Vish was once again wrapped up from head to toe.

Uri didn’t leave the warmth of the cave. As soon as he stepped out, his movements would become slower. It isn’t that he wasn’t able to pick up speed, but Visha felt he shouldn’t harm his body. So when she went to pick up the binder reed and clay-moss, she decided to dig up as many as possible so as not to come out again. She also took some from the roots.

Since the inventory gave her a keep-fresh function, she would find a way to plant these things in other places.

Thus, when Visha and Xeno came back to their cave, they started a round of creation.

They made small bowls, plates, and cups.

Visha didn’t expect it to work as well as it did. Although they weren’t as strong as things fired directly in a kiln, they were strong enough to eat with. They could use it to carry water, and it kept the food warm longer.

They made multiple, hoping the leave the stone bowls behind and use these instead. They are lighter, and they will be able to bring more with them.

All these actions took place over the course of the winter.

Almost two months passed before the spring breeze started blowing.

Everyone left their caves. This was the easiest winter they had experienced, but they also knew it was time to make a choice.

Like last time, everyone gathered around. This time, they hadn’t eaten yet. This was to be the first hunt of the spring.

The males were about to go out to see if any animals had come out of hibernation. The females are there to see them off. After they left, the females went to Visha’s cave.

Inside, they saw the baskets, bowls, and so on that Visha had made over the winter.

"What’s this?" Chi asked, taking up a mug.

"It’s a mug, you use it to hold hot water. I made it over the winter. There is a lot. You can have some if you want." Visha gestured to the things piled in the corner.

Chi ran over to look at them.

Willa and Heta also looked at them but were more reserved. Which is expected considering their ages.

"I made them for everyone to share. If you think you want to give some to the people in the Tiger tribe when you go back, you can."

Willa put down the plate in her hand.

She took Visha’s hand when she walked over.

"I remember I asked you to make a promise. That you would take my son with you, back to your tribe. Do you still want to go back?"

The question caught Visha off guard. Did she want to go back? Not really. Although this place is not as convenient, she hasn’t thought of going back for a while now.

She placed her free hand over Willa’s, "I haven’t thought about leaving for a while now."

Saying the words out loud made her realize she doesn’t consider this world a temporary place. The time she spent here hasn’t been long, but she wants to stay.

She hears that annoying voice more frequently now. It doesn’t say much, but it does comment on Uri and Xeno a lot. Keeps asking Visha to jump them. It wants to stay.

Willa smiled, "Then there is no reason for us to join the tribe again. If you are willing, our family will follow you."

"But didn’t you want to go back before?" Visha asked, confused.

"Of course, I wanted to go back. If you were willing to take Xeno with you, I wouldn’t allow Kit to wander with us. I would find a way to go back since he is well. If you are willing to stay, I will go with you."

"Me, me too, I’ll go too." Chi chouted excitedly.

Visha felt their warmth. These two people were willing to go with her, not knowing whether she would actually find them a proper home.

Heta stood back, watching them, emotions flashing across her eyes.

She held resentment for the tribe, for Visha, for her circumstances. But she wanted to go back to the tribe. She thought others wanted to go back, but it seems she was the only one who was interested.

Her emotions were complex; she wasn’t sure what to do now.

She didn’t say anything to join the conversation. She decided to wait until everyone was together to see what would ultimately happen.