Beastmen: She Tames the Land-Chapter 71: Taking a look around

"Come," Uri said, his voice a gentle command.

He led the pack down a narrow winding path. It was the only way to get off the ledge. The descent was steep, but safe.

Stepping into the caldera gave them a sense of newness. The warm air enveloped them like a blanket. The smell of damp earth, flowers, and water mixed, creating its own unique scent. The insects and birds create a symphony of life that cannot be replicated.

Willa knelt by a patch of strange blue moss. She touched it, amazed at how soft it was. Fil dipped his fingers into the stream, smiling as he watched the clear water rush past his fingers. Cato took a look at the perimeter, as if patrolling his own territory.

He was, in a way. This was now their home.

Nimo ran to a patch of soft ground near the stream. He lay down, claiming the patch of moss he lay on as his territory. Kit found some of the same moss close by, claiming that section of moss as his territory as well.

One by one, the pack members began to choose their own tasks. They didn’t ask for permission or wait for something to be assigned. It was as if a shared understanding passed among them.

Visha stood there, taking everything in. Seeing them genuinely treating this place as a home made her heart burst with joy.

Seeing everyone leave, Vish also felt the urge to go exploring.

She turned to Uri and Xeno. She could see Xeno was itching to go off somewhere and run. Uri also wanted to leave. He wanted to explore the terrain.

She didn’t stop them from going, "Go. Do what you want. You don’t have to worry about me. Remember, this is home now. I won’t go far."

As soon as she finished speaking, she walked away. She didn’t want them to miss their own fun because they stayed with her.

She used Commuine to find different plants and other resources. She found edible ferns, flowers that could be used as medicine, and ways to create sustainable energy.

Her mind didn’t linger on the sustainable energy part of the analysis. They were still a long way from something like that. They hadn’t even started building houses. Tonight, they would sleep under the stars.

Whenever Visha found something useful, she would try to catalogue it. She compared some of the plants to what she saw in the Hearth-Keeper’s book. Many of the plants and herbs in the books were things she had never seen or heard of.

Now she had the chance to find a few of them. She couldn’t resist picking one or two.

Uri walked away after Visha left. He waited until he saw her picking herbs before he truly left. He made his way to the closest wall, the one they had descended from. "The rock is solid," he murmured, talking to himself. "I can’t see any sign of instability."

He looked around at the other walls, trying to figure out whether they all had the same feel as the one in front of him now. He thought about how to make the pack stronger.

Xeno, just like Uri, only left when he knew Visha would be fine. He focused on the wildlife. His gaze landed on the deer-like creature with six-pronged antlersgrazing. He spent his time looking at random colourful fish. He watched the birds lay in their nest and take care of their young. "We can eat well here. There are no predators. We still need to patrol, but that can wait for another day."

Dusk fell while the pack was having fun. They found fruits, swam, and played. Their laughter echoed in the caldera. This was the first time in a while that anyone has been able to let go. Visha, Uri, and Xeno enjoyed watching them have fun.

They made their camp near the ledge close to the hidden passage. This is where they felt safest. The pack, exhausted from the day of exploration and finally being able to let go of emotional tension, fell asleep under the stars.

Uri, Visha, and Xeno, however, were a different story. The long journey, filled with fear and near-death experiences, had been a source of constant tension for them. Now they were home, able to let go.

Xeno moved first, his warm hand finding Visha. He didn’t need to speak; she could feel it through their bond. His sense of relief at being able to find a safe place for his mates. Uri’s hand settled on her shoulder. Different from Xeno’s warm hand, his felt cool. His feelings were much more complex. Like Xeno, he was glad to have a safe place. But mixed with that was a wonder of the place they found and a deep love for her and Xeno.

Uri leaned in, kissing Visha’s lips, and his hand roamed her body. It felt as if he was rediscovering her body; he moved with curiosity and something akin to worship. Xeno’s hand was firm, demanding. He pressed himself against her back, wrapped his arms around her waist, and buried his face in her hair.

Clothes were shed. The moonlight shone down on the three bodies.

She reached back, tangling her fingers in Xeno’s hair, pulling Uri closer and deepening the kiss.

Uri’s teeth grazed her collarbone, sending a jolt of pleasure coursing through her body. The tremble of her body drew a low growl from Xeno. Using his hands, he mapped every inch of her body.

They moved together. Visha lay between them, connecting with both. Allowing her body to be a bridge. Their sounds mingled with the nightly noises of nature. Xeno’s low possessive grunts and Uri’s murmurs of love made her lose herself.

After reaching the peak, they lay together, still connected. Their bodies slick with sweat, they revelled in the night air. It was still warm.

They allowed the night to wash over them, looking forward to a new day.