Hu Jiao Jiao helped Long Xiu change his shoes.

Long Yu and Long Zhong each took their shoes, mimicking Hu Jiao Jiao’s movements, refusing her help and putting them on by themselves.

As the four cubs put on their shoes and started walking, they resembled the pets Hu Jiao Jiao had seen in videos from her previous life, awkwardly walking in strange, uncoordinated ways, as if their legs had their own minds.

“Pfft…” Hu Jiao Jiao couldn’t help but giggle.

Long Zhong’s face turned red, and angrily, he ripped off his shoes and threw them on the ground. “These things are useless! I don’t want them!”

Hu Jiao Jiao, still smiling, didn’t get upset. She gently reassured him, “It’s okay. If you’re not used to them, you don’t have to wear them. If you want to, you can. I won’t force you.”

“Mother, Ling’er likes the shoes. Thank you! I want to wear them every day!” Long Ling’er ran over excitedly, hugging Hu Jiao Jiao’s leg and sweetly expressing her gratitude, her voice crisp and clear.

Afraid that Long Zhong’s outburst would upset Hu Jiao Jiao, Long Ling’er quickly spoke up.

Long Yu, after taking a few steps, glanced awkwardly at Hu Jiao Jiao. His young face showed a bit of discomfort as he muttered, “Thank you, the shoes are nice.”

Among the four cubs, only Long Xiu remained still, carefully shifting his feet a little. Feeling the soft touch under his soles, he cautiously began to walk, using his long stick for support.

Since he couldn’t see, Long Xiu often stepped on sharp objects, injuring his feet. This had made him hesitant to go out much. Now, with shoes on, he could venture outside more often without fear of hurting his feet.

Long Xiu was filled with emotion. He didn’t know how to express his feelings. His hand tightened and then relaxed on his walking stick…

Hu Jiao Jiao just wanted to do what she could for the cubs she didn’t expect her little acts of kindness to change their views of her. So, when she saw Long Xiu and Long Zhong’s reactions, she didn’t feel disappointed.

She took out a white porcelain bowl and called softly, “Yao’er, I also prepared something for you…”

Before she could finish, she suddenly realized that Long Yao was nowhere to be seen in the yard. She almost dropped the bowl from her hands in shock.

A sinking feeling hit Hu Jiao Jiao.

“Where’s Yao’er? Has anyone seen where Yao’er went?” She quickly stood up, anxiously looking around, asking the cubs.

She had seen Long Yao earlier, sitting on Long Zhong’s shoulders. Since Long Zhong didn’t like her getting too close, she had kept her distance and soon forgot about her earlier nightmare.

Where could Yao’er have gone so suddenly?

Could that dream she had… really be true?

Hu Jiao Jiao glanced up at the sun, which was now starting to set, casting a red glow across the sky. The time was drawing closer to what she had seen in her dream.

“Mother, what’s wrong?” Long Ling’er looked up timidly at Hu Jiao Jiao.

Her anxious appearance reminded Long Ling’er of the times in the past when she was about to punish someone. But quickly, she noticed Hu Jiao Jiao’s pale face, realizing something was off.

Is mother sick?

Long Ling’er’s face filled with worry, fearing something bad might happen after their mother had just begun to change for the better.

Long Yu was the quickest to react, joining Hu Jiao Jiao in searching for Long Yao, calmly recalling, “I remember Xiao Wu came back with us. He was just here. He must’ve gone off to play somewhere.”

Xiao Wu had a mischievous and energetic nature, often sneaking off to hide. The other cubs had grown used to it, so they didn’t think much of Long Yao’s disappearance, assuming he was just off having fun.

But Hu Jiao Jiao, hearing Long Yu’s words, only became more worried.

Even though she knew it was just a dream, her heart raced with unease.

“Big brother, you guys go look outside. I’ll stay here and keep watch. If Xiao Wu comes back, I’ll call you,” Long Xiu offered in a quiet voice, sensing the tension in Hu Jiao Jiao’s tone.

“Alright.”

Hu Jiao Jiao, along with the other two cubs, rushed out. Long Zhong glanced at them, snorting coldly.

“Why are you pretending to care now? You never seemed to mind when you were hitting Xiao Wu before…”

Despite his words, he quickly ran after them on his skinny legs. After only a few steps, he turned back. Seeing that the others had gone far ahead, he glanced at the blind Long Xiu. Without a word, he picked up the shoes he had thrown earlier, dusted them off, stuffed them into his pocket, and then ran to catch up.

Hu Jiao Jiao and the cubs searched all the places Long Yao usually visited, but there was no sign of him.

Long Yu finally sensed something was wrong. His expression turned serious. “Strange, Xiao Wu usually plays close by. Where could he have gone…”

Long Ling’er’s face turned pale. “What if something happened to Xiao Wu?”

The siblings had always stayed together, except for Long Xiu, who rarely left home, and Long Yao, who loved to play. Now, not being able to find him left them feeling anxious and unsure of what to do.

Hu Jiao Jiao’s face was pale, her palms sweaty. She forced herself to stay calm and think clearly.

Yao’er in the dream… the wolves…

The Grassy field!

She quickly turned and asked the cubs, “Do you know if there’s a Grassy field near the tribe?”

If wolves were involved, it couldn’t be inside the tribe.

But why would Long Yao, a cub who hadn’t even transformed yet and didn’t need to hunt, leave the tribe and provoke wolves?

As soon as she asked, Hu Jiao Jiao felt foolish. The cubs had never been outside the tribe, so how could they know where there was a Grassy field?

But then, Long Yu’s young but steady voice spoke up, “There’s one south of the tribe. If you don’t go through the main entrance and just head south, past a river, you’ll reach the Grass field.”

He looked at Hu Jiao Jiao with a serious expression. Though he didn’t understand why she was asking about the field, he answered her right away.

Hu Jiao Jiao was surprised but didn’t have time to dwell on it. She quickly instructed, “You all keep searching around the tribe. I’m going to check somewhere else. Stay inside the tribe, no matter what. I don’t want to find Yao’er and then discover that you’re missing too, understood?”

If the dream was real, she couldn’t take the other cubs with her. The wolf pack was too dangerous, and one wrong step could cost their lives.

She could only hope that her guess was wrong, that there were no wolves in the grassy field, and that Yao’er wasn’t there…

The three cubs nodded, not arguing with her at this moment.

Hu Jiao Jiao immediately ran south of the tribe, as Long Yu had instructed.

As Long Yu had said, there was a wide, fast-flowing river south of the tribe. The river acted as a natural barrier, preventing wild animals from invading from the south.

On the other side of the river was a flat plain covered in thick, dense grass. The tallest grass could easily hide a beastman.

At that very moment, a small black figure was lazily flying over the river.

Its tiny head turned left and right, its nearly invisible nose sniffing the air. Suddenly, its eyes lit up, and it flew faster toward the other side of the river.

Before long, the little creature landed, wagging its tail in excitement.

There, hidden among the tall grass, was a piece of delicious, juicy meat, releasing a mouthwatering aroma.

“Slurp~”

Long Yao licked his lips, trying to hold back his drool as he flew down to gobble up the meat.

Unbeknownst to him, several pairs of glowing green eyes had already locked onto him from the distance…