Chapter 56

Thirteen days ago, in the Werewolf Tribe.

The weather had turned a bit colder, and the werewolf hunters were starting to see an increase in their prey. With limited salt supplies, they aimed to hunt as much as possible before the cold set in, making it easier to preserve their catches. On this particular day, the tribe leader had led most of the werewolves on a three-day chase after a brown bear.

At the outskirts of the werewolf territory, two leopards had arrived.

Without any visible patrolling werewolves, the two leopards hesitated before entering. Instead, they got closer and started to roar. After a while, a young werewolf rushed out from the tribe.

“Awooo~” the young werewolf howled.

The two leopards shifted into human form, dropping their wicker basket to reveal a hefty stash inside. These were the elder leopards from the Leopard Tribe: Ake and A Meng.

“We are the leopards from the Leopard Tribe, here to see your leader,” Ake said.

Upon seeing them, the young werewolf also transformed into human form. He looked quite youthful, resembling a seventeen or eighteen-year-old boy. His irises were a faint blue, his face narrow, with deeper-set brows that gave him a striking appearance.

Ake chuckled and nudged A Meng, saying, “Look at that! The werewolves really do have blue eyes, just like A-Yin. If only A-Yin could take on human form; he’d look just as handsome!”

“He is quite a handsome lad,” A Meng remarked, not just referring to the young werewolf but also hinting at A-Yin.

The two leopards felt a sense of kinship with the young werewolf, thanks to A-Yin.

“What do you need from our leader?” the young werewolf asked, his initial suspicion easing as he recognized the leopards’ friendly demeanor. Normally, the werewolves and leopards had good relations, but he recalled the elders’ teachings and maintained a hint of wariness.

Ake and A Meng burst into laughter. “Good lad, has your leader gone hunting?” Ake inquired. “When did he leave?”

“Three days ago,” the young werewolf replied, his guard rising again—how did these leopards know that?

A Meng speculated aloud, “He must have gone far to hunt, and with the whole tribe out patrolling, it seems there’s no one left here.”

“That makes it too late; he likely won’t return soon,” Ake said, glancing at A Meng.

“We still need to hurry back before the blizzard hits,” A Meng added.

After some quick deliberation, Ake waved his hand, and A Meng squatted down to untie the wicker basket. “Weren’t you curious about our purpose here?” he asked, opening the basket. “We were sent by your leader to deliver salt to your tribe.”

“Salt?!” The young werewolf’s caution evaporated, and he rushed over. Peering into the basket, he exclaimed, “This isn’t salt!”

Ake laughed heartily. “No, this is our own salt from the Leopard Tribe!”

“Here, give it a taste,” A Meng encouraged.

They held out some of the salt, and the young werewolf eagerly dipped his fingers in and tasted it. His eyes widened in disbelief as he exclaimed, “This is real salt!”

Both Ake and A Meng burst into laughter. Ake said, “Take this back to your tribe, and gather your werewolves to come collect the salt. We have some messages from your leader to relay to him as well.”

The young werewolf replied, “But our leader is out hunting.”

“Yes, we know,” A Meng reassured him. “You mentioned it earlier. Your tribe’s caretaker can relay the messages to your leader when he returns. We need to get back to our tribe before the snow falls.”

Trusting them, the young werewolf invited the two leopards into the tribe. Ake and A Meng laughed again, and the young werewolf felt embarrassed, unsure why they were amused. Ake explained, “The Leopard Tribe and the Werewolf Tribe are on friendly terms, but we won’t enter your tribe without an invitation from your leader.”

“If your leader were here, he’d have to invite us in,” A Meng added.

Scratching his head, the young werewolf was nonetheless eager about the salt and was afraid the leopards would leave without him. He turned into a wolf and howled as he raced back to his tribe.

“Hahaha, he’s just like A-Yin!” Ake chuckled.

“A-Yin howls just like him. I can see who he takes after!”

“His mother is a werewolf, what was her name again?”

“Isn’t it beautiful?”

“Looks like it’s Little Mei,” someone replied.

But it didn’t matter.

Ake and A Meng chatted as they waited for the werewolves to emerge. Meanwhile, the young werewolf, Xiao Wo, rushed into the tribe, worried that he might have kept the leopards waiting. In his haste, he didn’t even shift into human form, howling all the way, “Awooo! Awooo!”

The other beastmen in the tribe exchanged glances. “What happened to Xiao Wo?” “I don’t know. Is he out on patrol?” “He’s still so young; he hasn’t even come of age yet!” “He will soon, after the snow season.” “What’s he howling about…?”

“Salt? The leopards came to deliver salt?” Xiao Wo’s partner exclaimed, astonished.

Xiao Wo paused to howl and then hastily shifted into human form, barely covering himself as he exclaimed, “Yes! They’re just outside the tribe! They said the Leopard Tribe leader sent them with salt! They asked if our leader was here, and when I said no, they said they wouldn’t come in but wanted someone in charge to go out…”

“What in the world?”

The tribe leader couldn’t have taken all the werewolves with him on the hunt. Just then, other werewolves arrived, having heard Xiao Wo’s howls. “Salt? Did Xiao Wo say salt? From the leopards?” “Is he just messing with us because he’s bored on patrol?”

Some remained on guard, suspecting the leopards might not be what they seemed.

Xiao Wo waved his hands frantically. “No, no, no! They really are leopards! They shifted right in front of me, and they let me taste the salt! It’s real salt, and it’s salty!”

“Did you eat some poisonous mushrooms?”

“Did you go into the forest to play with mushrooms?”

Everyone asked questions in confusion, and finally, it was Xiao Wo’s partner who decided to lead a group of robust beastmen out of the tribe to check on the situation.

After what felt like an eternity, Ake and A Meng finally spotted the werewolves approaching—only they looked fierce, with many beastmen wielding sticks and stone knives. Ake and A Meng exchanged bewildered glances: ??????

“We are from the Leopard Tribe!” they shouted in unison.

The werewolf tribe leader’s partner halted at a distance, eyeing the leopards cautiously. After a long pause, she waved for everyone to lower their weapons and stepped forward. “With the snow season approaching, what brings you to our tribe?”

“The leader sent us to deliver salt,” Ake said, opening the basket to present its contents.

A Meng, accustomed to this, chimed in, “Our salt is whiter than the one from the Feather Tribe market. You can taste it.”

After tasting the salt, the leader’s partner’s eyes sparkled, and the earlier tension evaporated.

“Our Leopard Tribe leader discovered that we had salt after returning from the Feather Tribe market. Making salt is quite a hassle, and given that our tribes have always been on good terms, we decided to send half a basket of salt to the werewolves before the snow season. We hope everyone can safely get through it.”

After Ake finished, he glanced at A Meng as if to confirm he had remembered correctly. A Meng nodded, “We need to return now.”

At that moment, the werewolves stood frozen, disbelief etched on their faces as they stared at the leopards. They opened their mouths, but no words came out. They didn’t even know what to ask.

Salt?

Could it really be salt?

It wasn’t until the leopards shifted back into their leopard forms and dashed away with incredible speed that the werewolves snapped back to reality. “The leopards really just came to deliver salt.” “Is it really salt?”

Everyone turned to the tribe leader’s partner.

“It’s salt—salty and white!” she exclaimed, her eyes fixed on the salt pouch. She held it tightly, afraid even a little might spill out.

Behind her, the eyes of the beastmen and sub-beastmen followed the leopards as they disappeared into the distance…

Meanwhile, six days later, in the Tiger Tribe territory…

Huo Xia and Da Ya arrived at the Tiger Tribe lands. As soon as they entered, they spotted tiger beastmen hunting a group of unfamiliar prey.

The creatures weren’t tall; they crawled on all fours and appeared plump and clumsy.

Huo Xia and Da Ya didn’t approach but instead climbed up a tree to watch the tiger hunters. Those round creatures, lacking any horns, seemed easy to catch, yet the tiger beastmen’s expressions suggested otherwise.

They exchanged glances but remained silent.

As expected, when the tigers closed in, the squat animals opened their mouths, revealing a dense array of sharp teeth, and their large mouths looked menacing. To their astonishment, these creatures ran swiftly along the ground and could burrow into the dirt, leaving only small mounds behind.

However, the tigers were experienced hunters. They spread out, and soon, blood spurted from the ground, followed by a chorus of shouts: “I caught one!” “I got one too!”

After the tigers had butchered their prey, the Tiger Tribe leader, Hava, glanced at the tree where Huo Xia and Da Ya were perched. “Leopards?”

Huo Xia and Da Ya jumped down and shifted into human forms, each carrying a wicker basket. Without much preamble, they explained their purpose. Hava stared, momentarily taken aback. “Salt?”

Da Ya handed over the wicker basket.

Hava accepted it and opened the pouch. “This isn’t salt; salt isn’t this white,” he thought to himself. Yet, he also knew that the Leopard Tribe wouldn’t travel such a long distance just to deceive him. Their two tribes had never clashed, and the Leopard Tribe leader had always been peaceful.

They wouldn’t come to provoke the Tiger Tribe.

He dipped a finger in and tasted it, stunned to realize that it truly was… salt.

While tigers might be impulsive and reckless, they were also sincere. When treated well, they doubled their hospitality. Huo Xia and Da Ya, known for their straightforward personalities, couldn’t resist the tigers’ warm welcome. The tiger beastmen rallied around them, inviting them into the tribe to rest.

That evening, Huo Xia and Da Ya feasted on the day’s catch—a creature called the Earth Dragon Beast. This creature lived underground, making the soil soft and loose. Anyone who accidentally stumbled in could become trapped and buried alive.

“…When this happens, don’t struggle. Stay calm, and slowly push yourself out with your arms,” one of the tiger beastmen advised.

“The Earth Dragon Beast has sharp teeth, so Leopard brothers, wait a moment. I’ll make some Earth Dragon teeth knives for you. They’re compact and perfect for your partners and children to use.”

“Right.”

“And the meat of the earth dragon can be cooked over a fire, burning for a long time.”

The meat of the earth dragon is quite fatty, with a lot of grease and not much lean meat. Generally, the tiger people don’t eat it except during winter when they hunt for it.

Beastmen and sub-beastmen gathered under the tribe’s tree, roasting meat and chatting, encircling the leopard brothers while asking questions about the white salt. Their curiosity was genuine, not a covert inquiry.

Suddenly, an elderly sub-beastman rushed over. “Did the leopards bring salt?”

“Daen’s mother, they really did bring salt! From now on, you can eat the salt the leopards brought; it’s not like the eagle people’s salt.”

At this moment, the tiger clan leader, Hava, explained to the two, “She is Daen’s mother, a beastman who lost her legs in the eagle market. Ever since we returned, she hasn’t had a single grain of salt.”

Both Huoxia and Da Yan had heard about this incident, even though they hadn’t been to the market.

“The eagle people are too much,” they said without thinking.

The tiger people nodded in agreement, treating the leopard brothers like family. Daen’s mother’s eyes glistened with tears as she looked at the two with gratitude.

“When our salt exchange team returned, we found out we also had salt, but it was salt mud. There’s a sub-beastman in our tribe named Zhuo Yan. He’s very clever and managed to extract salt from the mud after a lot of boiling and drying.”

“Our clan leader said that from now on, the four tribes of the grasslands won’t have to suffer the eagle people’s forced salt trades anymore.”

The lively atmosphere in the tiger tribe square fell silent, a gentle breeze rustling the air, until the soft sound of weeping broke the stillness. Daen’s mother covered her face, crying for her son, who wouldn’t have gotten into a fight and lost his legs if the eagle people hadn’t bullied him.

Hava’s eyes turned slightly red, but he quickly regained his sharpness. “We, the tigers, will remember the leopards’ friendship. Thank you.”

Then it was time to eat meat. After a night’s rest, when Huo Xia and Da Yan set off the next day, they left with half a basket of salt and returned with gifts from the tigers: a good portion of earth dragon teeth.

“We don’t have time to grind them now; you can do it yourselves when you get back,” said Hava.

Daen’s mother also gave them frozen fruits, hard to chew. “Let them sit in the snow; they’ll soften up when you eat them.”

In short, they returned with a basket full of goodies.

The tiger beastmen personally escorted the two out of their territory, ensuring their safe departure before returning to the tribe. Hava stood in the square, addressing all the tribe members loudly. “Before next year’s eagle market, I’ll lead the team to visit the leopard tribe first.”

“It’s time to settle our grievances with the eagle people next year.”

The square erupted with cheers, filled with a fierce determination.

Originally, Daen had been despondent after losing his legs. Since returning, he hadn’t touched salt. The thought of next year’s negotiation with the eagle people for salt made him want to give up entirely; he couldn’t focus on healing, haunted by the humiliation and anger of a young beastman whose legs had been taken by the eagle people.

This bitterness consumed his pride.

Now, Daen resolved to heal properly; he intended to go to the eagle market next year and personally thank the leopard tribe.

Hava was clever; if the leopards had little salt to offer, they wouldn’t have informed the tiger tribe so soon before winter.

The leopards were different from the eagle people.

This was a gesture of goodwill and harmony from the leopard leader. He personally led his people to convey this friendship, eager to reciprocate the kindness.

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Leopard Tribe.

The first snowfall arrived quickly, with flurries beginning in the middle of the night. Zhuo Yan felt no chill inside the cave, snuggled warmly in A-Yin’s embrace. “I’m growing taller,” he said, but A-Yin had grown too, so this winter, A-Yin could still wrap him snugly in her warmth.

It felt warm and soft, as if he were sleeping on cotton.

When Zhuo Yan woke up and opened the door, he saw a thin layer of white snow covering the ground. The river babbled merrily, with snow not accumulating just yet. A-Yin, holding a water bucket, followed her brother as they headed to the river to fetch water, also exercising their bodies.

Ake and Amen returned that morning.

“Good morning, A-Yin! Are you playing by the river with your brother?”

“Aw~ No playing here, just working,” A-Yin replied.

Ake ran to the riverbank. “We met a werewolf who looked very handsome, just like you. He had blue eyes too—” Nearby, Amen kept nudging Ake, trying to signal him to stop since A-Yin couldn’t transform yet. Why say such things?

“Oh, oh, we should be going then. Enjoy your play!” Ake realized he might have said too much and hurried off, but after a few steps, he turned back and pulled a frozen grass mouse from the basket.

“Da Yan said you love these, A-Yin.”

A-Yin tilted her head and howled, indicating it wasn’t her favorite.

But Ake and Amen had already dashed away, having traveled so far. They reported to the tribe leader and were ready to cozy up in their cave for winter. This year, they had prepared plenty of smoked meat, potatoes, and taro, allowing them to rest well.

Zhuo Yan noticed A-Yin’s howls, guessing that Da Yan was teasing her again. Regardless, he picked up the hard grass mouse—about the size of a rabbit, referencing modern rabbits, which were even bigger.

Grass mice were the rodents of the prairie, feeding on grass seeds and roots, as well as bugs.

“Our A-Yin doesn’t like these. Let’s give this to the pig for extra food,” Zhuo Yan said, packing it away by the river to avoid waste.

A-Yin’s howls were now more playful and affectionate, no longer anxious, nudging against her brother. Zhuo Yan gently patted her head to soothe her.

It was clear A-Yin had been too young before, without anyone to teach her hunting skills. So when she was hungry, she had to settle for catching whatever she could find.

After skinning the grass mouse, Zhuo Yan didn’t want the fur and buried it in the soil. Once he finished tidying up and washed his hands, A-Yin prepared the water, and Zhuo Yan said, “Let’s head back.”

A-Yin ran ahead, expertly carrying the water bucket without spilling a drop. Zhuo Yan carried the basket filled with cleaned potatoes and taro, one hand gripping the peeled grass mouse.

On the way back, they passed the animal den, which had grown spacious—now two meters high, divided into two sections with a fenced area for the chickens and rabbits and another for the pig. Zhuo Yan instructed A-Yin to occasionally check on the den to scare off the pig, ensuring it wouldn’t eat the chickens and rabbits.

“Tooth Pig.” Zhuo Yan called out at the cave entrance, and the Tooth Pig emerged, rooting around. Zhuo Yan tossed a grass mouse, and the Tooth Pig caught it in its jaws, crunching loudly as it devoured the creature in a few swift bites.

Afterward, Zhuo Yan returned to the cave, pulled out some hay to feed the rabbits, and shooed the chickens outside to forage for themselves. As for the chicks, he planned to boil some potatoes, mash them, and mix in a bit of meat for their meal.

However, he couldn’t keep things this way all winter. The chicken population was getting a bit high—eleven in total—and he was starting to consider butchering a few, leaving only two or three chicks behind.

… Maybe he would wait a bit longer.

He beckoned A-Yin into the cave. The entrance was partially open, with a large stone piled nearby. Inside, they had built a small stove in the living area, just the right size for their clay pot. Near the entrance, neatly stacked firewood leaned against the cave wall, with charcoal piled nearby. On the opposite side was a storage space for smoked meat, with a rectangular wooden box placed close to the entrance to keep it cool, packed tightly with a large bundle of straw mats.

Alongside the firewood was the furniture; two rows of wooden shelves were fixed to the cave wall, easily accessible for grabbing supplies. On the top shelves lay neatly stacked skins, while the lower shelves housed woven baskets filled with tools like bone and stone knives. At the bottom were two wicker baskets—one old, holding chestnuts and walnuts.

There were also hooks next to the shelves, currently empty.

In a deeper part of the cave, potatoes and du-du fruits were stored, the latter placed towards the back. Behind the living area stove stood two tables: a low, long table that held a small clay stove, bowls, chopsticks, water cups, and a salt jar. The other was a higher, round table—cut from a thick tree stump and leveled off for use.

The living area doubled as a kitchen. Across from it, recessed into the wall to avoid the wind, lay the stone bed. Zhuo Yan had laid a straw mat underneath, topped with a large skin from a bear he had hunted last year.

It was warm and cozy.

A-Yin poured water from the bucket into the stone pot, then dashed off to fetch more water.

“Don’t wander too far, just grab some and come back.”

In response, A-Yin let out a muffled howl. His diligent companion was always hard at work.

Zhuo Yan began cooking, scooping some water into the clay pot and placing it on the stove. He tossed in chunks of cleaned potatoes and taro, letting them boil together. Once the water began bubbling, he added two pounds of washed smoked meat, no salt needed.

A-Yin returned with the second bucket of water and poured it into the stone pot until it was nearly full. Zhuo Yan suggested they take a break, leaving the cave entrance ajar. Outside, it was lightly snowing, and the dim light inside wasn’t great.

Plus, cooking with the fire created a lot of smoke, so it was nice to air things out a bit.

A-Yin settled beside his brother, crouching at the entrance to shield him from the wind.

Soon enough, the pot began to bubble, and Zhuo Yan stirred it with a spoon, finally sprinkling in some chopped scallions and minced garlic. Aside from lacking some vegetables, the dish was perfect. He promised himself that come spring, he would plant bamboo rice so they could enjoy fresh winter bamboo shoots—he was certain that day would come.

“A-Yin, dinner’s ready.” Zhuo Yan served the food into bowls and placed it on the table while it was still steaming hot. A-Yin danced around him excitedly, but only settled down once Zhuo Yan took his seat.

“Let’s eat.”

The unassuming dish, though simple in appearance, was absolutely delicious. The food here was fantastic—meat was the standout. The potatoes and taro were soft, soaking up the rich aroma of the smoked meat, which wasn’t at all greasy. The flavors melded beautifully, infused with a hint of wild garlic’s spiciness.

Zhuo Yan devoured a hearty bowl, a thin sheen of sweat forming on his brow; it was just so satisfying. A-Yin’s bowl was specially made for him—not deep but wide, resembling a large plate to make it easier for his brother to eat.

One big pot of meat soup was enough for both of them to last a whole day.

After finishing their meal and washing the dishes, Zhuo Yan noticed the snow had started to fall again. He ushered the chickens back inside, placing a layer of hay at the cave entrance to keep out the cold wind, before closing the door and settling back on the stone bed.

“I’m so bored,” Zhuo Yan sighed, lying back with A-Yin in his arms. “After working so long, being idle feels like there’s nothing to do.”

A-Yin nuzzled against his brother, eager to keep him company. Zhuo Yan turned on his side, resting against A-Yin, with his legs propped up on the cave wall. “What should we do?”

“Ow-oo?” A-Yin seemed to ask, curious about his brother’s thoughts.

After a moment’s thought, Zhuo Yan decided that playing Go would be too dull, and there wasn’t much else to do. “Forget it, let’s just sleep.”

To his surprise, A-Yin became excited. Just as Zhuo Yan adjusted to lie down, A-Yin lifted a paw and began to give him a massage. Zhuo Yan was taken aback. “Wait, A-Yin, we’re supposed to be sleeping, not playing! But… this feels nice.”

Eventually, Zhuo Yan gave in, letting out soft hums of contentment before drifting off to sleep.

Thus, two more days passed. The snow began to fall heavier, and Qiao and Xiao Xian visited. Of course, Ada and Ah Tou were there too, both bringing gifts for their partners and brother.

“Amang Beast Father hasn’t returned from the Tiger Tribe yet,” Qiao mentioned.

Zhuo Yan replied, “He should be back soon. Just the other day, I saw Ake and Ah Meng returning from the Wolf Tribe.” He added, “Actually, the first half of the snow season is usually quite safe.”

They all nodded in agreement. With no games to play, the group enjoyed lively chatter in the cave, and Zhuo Yan didn’t find it boring at all.

The following evening, Huo Xia and Da Yan finally returned to the tribe, making their way straight to Zhuo Yan’s cave and calling out a few times.

A-Yin rushed out, with Zhuo Yan trailing behind.

Huo Xia and Da Yan were covered in snow, carrying a wicker basket. Huo Xia rummaged through it while Da Yan said, “The Tiger Tribe hunted a Tooth Dragon, and they sent this tooth for you to make a bone knife. Take your time grinding it down.”

“And we also brought frozen fruits! The Tiger Tribe said they’d taste great if buried in the snow first,” Huo Xia added.

Zhuo Yan expressed his gratitude and asked if they needed to share the items with the tribe. Da Yan laughed, “We traveled so far. This is a gift from the Tiger Tribe just for us. You can keep it all!”

After that, Da Yan and Huo Xia prepared to leave. Just before departing, Da Yan playfully patted A-Yin’s head. A-Yin bared his teeth and let out an excited howl. Da Yan laughed, “The entire tribe knows you love grass mice now? Hahaha!”

And with that, they wandered off into the distance.

A-Yin was still grumbling, letting out a series of frustrated howls. Zhuo Yan couldn’t understand the words but could sense that A-Yin was likely “scolding” Da Ya for his careless remarks. Zhuo Yan reached out and gently stroked A-Yin’s ears, instantly calming him down.

They had just acquired a handful of dragon beast teeth—Zhuo Yan counted eleven in total. The teeth were about the length of his palm but quite narrow, the widest being just an inch across, while the smallest resembled slender, sharp shards. Zhuo Yan couldn’t help but imagine how massive the dragon beast must have been; a single bite could easily sever a limb.

Having complained about boredom earlier, Zhuo Yan now had a task at hand—sharpening these teeth into needles! He picked out the thinnest one, inspecting it closely. The tip was razor-sharp, and with a bit more refinement, he could create something useful. The base was thick enough to drill a hole through, making it suitable for sewing leather. He had plenty of scraps at home—enough to craft a rug or a door curtain.

With determination, he set to work.

Over the next few days, Zhuo Yan and A-Yin sharpened dragon teeth into makeshift needles. Then, the first major snowstorm of the season hit. Zhuo Yan felt the temperature plummet as he opened the door to find snow piled up to his calves. He grabbed a shovel and set to work clearing the path, rewarding himself with roasted meat for lunch.

That night, as they settled in for bed, Zhuo Yan noticed A-Yin’s hind legs twitching. Though he remained silent, the look on A-Yin’s face betrayed his discomfort. Concerned, Zhuo Yan called out, “What’s wrong? Does it hurt?”

A-Yin let out a soft whine, and Zhuo Yan instinctively reached out to inspect his legs. As soon as he touched one, A-Yin flinched.

“Is it your leg that’s hurting?” Zhuo Yan quickly hopped off the stone bed, lit a fire, and examined A-Yin under the warm glow. There were no visible injuries. “Did you twist something while shoveling snow this afternoon?”

A-Yin nudged him with his head, signaling that he was okay, but Zhuo Yan could tell he was still in pain. “Could it be that you got cold? Last year, you refused to use blankets, and now that it’s snowing heavily, it’s probably aggravated your condition.” He wrapped A-Yin in a bear skin for warmth.

“I’ll go boil some water for a hot compress,” he said.

Without bothering to put on a vest, Zhuo Yan threw on a leather skirt and set to work. When the water was ready, he soaked a piece of leather, wrung it out, and placed it on A-Yin’s leg.

“Is it too hot?” he asked.

A-Yin let out a soft howl, shaking his head—no, it wasn’t too hot.

Zhuo Yan watched A-Yin’s expression closely; he seemed to improve a bit. A sense of guilt washed over him. He should have insisted A-Yin stay bundled last winter. Who would have thought A-Yin could suffer from rheumatism?

But then again, A-Yin had endured a lot as a cub. His beast father had neglected him, leaving him to fend for himself, so he had surely suffered more than Zhuo Yan.

Regardless, that night, Zhuo Yan warmed all of A-Yin’s limbs. Before bed, he covered A-Yin snugly with two pelts, the bear skin providing a cocoon of warmth. Zhuo Yan settled into another skin nearby.

A-Yin, wrapped tightly, only had his fluffy head peeking out, his bright blue eyes clouded with disappointment. He wanted to share the same blanket as his brother.

“Sleep well; good boys need to behave,” Zhuo Yan said.

A-Yin let out a resigned whine, as if to say, “But I’m not a little cub anymore!”

Zhuo Yan pondered A-Yin’s pain. He wondered if Da Ya still had any powder from the short-footed beast’s wings. Ada and Ma’s herbs were good for external wounds, but the wing powder was for bones. Tomorrow, he would visit Da Ya’s cave.

Just then, he noticed A-Yin’s pitiable state, all bundled up like a dumpling with just his furry head showing. His heart softened. He leaned in and kissed the space between A-Yin’s eyes, brushing his mouth against the soft fur. “Be good. If it hurts again, tell me. Don’t try to hold back.”

“Aw-woo~” A-Yin wagged his tail from within the bear skin.

The next morning, the snow still hadn’t let up. Zhuo Yan remembered A-Yin’s trembling leg from the night before and wasted no time. He grabbed an old pelt to wear. A-Yin rushed to the entrance, eager to carry his brother on his back. Zhuo Yan hesitated—A-Yin’s leg was hurting, and with the heavy snow, he didn’t want to worsen the condition.

But Zhuo Yan needed A-Yin’s help to reach Da Ya’s cave—especially now that the snow was dangerously deep. Gritting his teeth, he said, “Alright, let’s go early and return quickly. We’ll warm you up again once we’re back.”

The two trudged through the snow to Da Ya’s cave. Thankfully, A-Yin was with him. The snow was thick, making it easy to lose one’s way. If Zhuo Yan had gone alone, he would have struggled.

“Aw-woo~” A-Yin called out to Da Ya from below the cave.

Before long, Da Ya popped his head out, lazily saying, “Come up.”

A-Yin dashed up the slope with Zhuo Yan on his back. Once inside, Zhuo Yan quickly explained their purpose. Upon hearing that A-Yin was injured, Cong Lu frowned. “Is A-Yin hurt? Let Da Ya take a look.”

“Sure.” Zhuo Yan stepped into the cave, standing near the entrance. “A-Yin wants Da Ya to examine him.”

Da Ya felt around but found no wounds.

“There’s only a little powder left from the wings,” Cong Lu said, pulling out a piece of dry leather. “Just take it.”

Zhuo Yan gratefully accepted it. “Can he drink it with water?”

“Let him lick it directly,” Da Ya replied.

Zhuo Yan and A-Yin left without further disturbance. Zhuo Yan feared A-Yin might be in pain again if he stayed outside too long, so he carefully folded the dry leather. Once home, he opened the leather for A-Yin to lick. As he watched, he suddenly felt foolish.

There wasn’t enough to warrant bringing some back; they could have finished it back at Da Ya’s.

Feeling anxious earlier had clouded his judgment. After A-Yin finished, he folded the leather and stored it, planning to return it to Da Ya come spring.

Inside Da Ya’s cave, Cong Lu remained worried. “What do you think happened to A-Yin? His leg started hurting suddenly, and Zhuo Yan is really worried. Is the short-footed beast moving to another area this snow season? That could make it hard to catch.”

Da Ya stayed silent, lost in thought.

Cong Lu pondered several solutions but none seemed viable. Not hearing Da Ya’s response, she turned to him. “What’s on your mind?”

“The second time I transformed, my legs hurt too,” Da Ya remarked, his brow furrowing deeper. “But A-Yin is already a beast—no, that’s not right, it shouldn’t be that way.”

Cong Lu’s understanding flickered, then he froze in shock.

“Are you saying A-Yin is transforming into a human? If he can turn human, doesn’t that make him a half-beast?”

They exchanged glances, both frowning in contemplation. Cong Lu tried to recall his own first transformation, the moment he shifted from a leopard cub into a human—did his legs hurt? The memory eluded him.

His first transformation had been long ago, and he was just a tiny cub; he couldn’t remember whether he felt any pain. Since then, he had remained in human form, merely a half-beast.

“You felt pain when you transformed into a leopard for the second time while already in human form?”

Da Ya nodded. But A-Yin wasn’t a human transforming into a leopard; even if he did manage to transform—

“I’m saying he’s perfectly fine as a companion! But that brat A-Yin insists on calling Zhuo Yan ‘big brother.’ If he’s really transformed, they’d both be half-beasts. Just imagine how that would turn out; it’d be worse than how things are now.”

At least A-Yin could still hunt effectively right now.

The mere thought of this possibility intensified Cong Lu’s worry for Zhuo Yan. “But what if A-Yin can transform into a beast?”

“How old is he now?”

True enough. A-Yin had been late to transform into a human for the first time. If he transformed into a beast now, Zhuo Yan would be even older. How would Zhuo Yan manage then?

After deliberating, Da Ya finally waved his hand, dismissing the thought. “Maybe A-Yin’s just experiencing leg pain, not something related to transformation.”

Inside the Cave

Zhuo Yan heated more water to help A-Yin with his leg, then grabbed a bone knife and decided to take care of the rooster. It had been crowing obnoxiously all morning, making a racket and laying no eggs. It had arrived weak and timid, always trying to escape.

While killing the rooster, Zhuo Yan found plenty of reasons to justify his actions, and he did so with a ruthless determination.

He boiled a pot of hot water, scalded the feathers, and carried the pot to the river to clean it. He ordered A-Yin to stay on the stone bed and not follow. A-Yin, having faced his brother’s reprimand for the first time, didn’t get angry—he never could stay mad at Zhuo Yan. Instead, he resembled a loyal puppy, resting his head on the stone bed and gazing longingly at the cave entrance, unable to see outside yet sniffing the air, catching a whiff of his brother’s scent.

This brought back memories of the last snow season when Zhuo Yan had been busy, leaving A-Yin to watch from the stone bed. A sense of regret washed over A-Yin as his azure eyes glistened with disappointment. He realized that this winter, he could have been a tremendous help to his brother, but instead, he had become another burden.

“Leg, oh leg, why don’t you listen? Why do you have to hurt?” A-Yin thought, his head drooping in dismay.