- 12.
Thanks to the food storage methods I introduced, the White Tiger Tribe’s warehouse was packed to the brim after a busy autumn. Each stone house was also stocked with plenty of
supplies.
When the bitter winter arrived, snow blanketed the ground in thick layers. The beastmen, like every winter, began to hibernate in their homes, relying on their stockpiled resources.
One day, however, word came that the chieftain had fallen ill.
Kaelan wasted no time. He grabbed the salve he had carefully made in the fall using the fattest prey and rushed to the chieftain’s side..
Within three days, the chieftain had fully recovered.
Relieved, I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.
At least now, Kaelan wouldn’t have to risk leaving the village in the freezing cold.
As the first month of winter passed, pregnant females in the tribe began to give birth.
For most beastwomen, giving birth was relatively straightforward. Their bodies were naturally strong, and as long as they were cared for properly, they could deliver healthy babies without complications.
But Nicole was a different story.
In our past life, she had carried the serpent beastman’s child. Because serpent beatmen laid eggs, Nicole had only needed to deliver a snake egg roughly the size of a human
infant’s head–not too difficult.
This time, however, she was carrying the werewolf’s child.
Wolf cubs were nearly twice the size of human babies. Nicole’s labor quickly turned into a
nightmare.
Panicking, the werewolf came running to Kaelan for help.
22:45 Fri, Jan 10 e G
Wolf cubs were nearly twice the size of human babies. Nicole’s labor quickly turned into a
nightmare.
Panicking, the werewolf came running to Kaelan for help.
Kaelan grabbed his supplies and prepared to leave, but not before tending to the fire in our stone house. He carefully stoked it until the flames roared. “Lily, I’ll be back soon,” he
said.
“Alright,” I replied, giving him a quick nod before returning to my task of preparing bean
sprouts.
After all, eating nothing but dried and pickled vegetables every day was starting to wear
on me.
Kaelan returned about an hour later.
“How’s Nicole?” I asked casually. “Did the baby make it?”
Kaelan nodded but seemed distracted. His expression darkened as he looked at me.
“Lily, which tribe are you and Nicole from? You seem to know her well.”
Caught off guard, I hesitated before answering. “We… know each other fairly well. Why?”
Kaelan’s face grew cold.
“That female…” he began, his voice filled with disdain. “She’s trouble. She tried to sow discord between us, claiming you’re an outsider who will bring disaster to the tribe.”
My heart skipped a beat.
Nicole, have you lost your mind?!
Did she really think dragging me down would save her?
Kaelan’s expression hardened further. His golden eyes burned with frustration as he
growled, “If she weren’t a female, I would’ve ripped her apart right there for daring to slander you!”
“She insulted the priestess the beast god sent to us. You’ve brought nothing but blessings to our tribe. Without you, this winter would’ve been a struggle. We wouldn’t have enough food, and the newborns wouldn’t have enough milk.”
Kaelan’s conviction was unwavering. His faith in me was absolute.
Watching him, I hesitated for a moment before making a decision.
It was time to tell him the truth.
i
“Kaelan,” I said softly, “it’s true. I’m not from this world. I don’t know how it happened–l was just hiking, and somehow, I ended up here. You found me and brought me back.”
Kaelan’s reaction was immediate.
“It must be the will of the beast god,” he declared firmly. “The beast god sent you to us.”
Before I could say anything, he added with absolute certainty, “Everything is part of the beast god’s plan. It was the beast god who brought you to me.”
I stared at him for a moment, then quickly nodded in agreement.
“You’re right,” I said, my voice steady. “It has to be the beast god’s will!”
If Kaelan wanted to believe this was all some divine intervention, who was I to argue?
I needed him to keep thinking this way. The last thing I wanted was to be labeled an outsider or, worse, a threat.
If they decided I was dangerous, I’d be burned at the stake before I could even explain myself.
No, it was better to lean into this narrative.
Whatever this mysterious beast god was, it had conveniently become my best shield.
