Chapter 7

After running through the dark night for about an hour, Zoan and his companions arrived at a large rock that jutted out into the sea of the plain like an isolated island. They snorted and sniffed the air to ensure there were no suspicious or pursuing individuals before finally standing on two legs.

"We will rest here tonight. We will head to the village in the morning."

At the base of the large rock, which towered like a lookout, several long-haired animals resembling nu were tied up, hidden in the shadows of the shrubs. Zoan and his companions built a simple hearth by piling up stones near the animals and quickly started a fire using dry wood and grass they had gathered.

"Are you exhausted, Noble Fang?"

In response to Fierce Fang's teasing, Shemul, who was breathing heavily with his shoulders heaving, frowned and wrinkled his nose. He resisted the urge to collapse, puffing out his chest.

"I am deeply grateful to Fierce Fang and my fellow tribesmen. Noble Fang will not forget this kindness."

"Hmph. There's no need for thanks. You are the son of the great beast god. You must unite the Zoan tribes for the battle against the humans. You must lead us."

Fierce Fang's words elicited a wry smile from the other tribesmen, who knew he had been the most concerned about Shemul's safety. Despite his embarrassment, Fierce Fang bared his fangs at his fellow tribesmen, but then remembered the human child Shemul had been carrying on his back.

"Noble Fang, what is this?"

As Shemul gently placed the human child on the ground as if handling a fragile object, Fierce Fang asked, his tone filled with suspicion. The other tribesmen, though they did not voice it, were also suspicious and puzzled about why Shemul had brought a child of the hated humans.

"I don't know..."

"You don't know?"

"Yes. I don't know, which is why I brought this child."

Shemul's vague answer made everyone exchange glances.

"More importantly, give me water and food."

When a water bag and dried meat were handed to him by a fellow tribesman, Shemul first drank the water. The water was sweet and seemed to permeate his dry body. Resisting the urge to drink more, he soaked a piece of cloth and slowly gave sips of water to the blue horse, whose throat moved as the water trickled down. Shemul felt relieved.

While giving water to the blue horse, Shemul put dried meat in his mouth and chewed it thoroughly. The taste of the meat, which he hadn't enjoyed in a long time, made him want to swallow it immediately, but he resisted and chewed it until it became like soup before giving it to the blue horse mouth-to-mouth.

At the moment of mouth-to-mouth feeding, the tribesmen behind him were murmuring, but Shemul ignored them and took another piece of dried meat to eat himself.

Fierce Fang and the other tribesmen were surprised. Among the Zoan, there was little distinction between men and women. In daily life, women hunted as hunters, and in battle, they fought alongside men as warriors. Shemul, a girl, was as strong as any man. For her to take such meticulous care of someone was as surprising as the earth goddess rolling over and causing an earthquake.

The tribesmen looked at Fierce Fang as if seeking help, but Fierce Fang himself needed help. From what he could see, the human child Shemul had brought did not seem to have much value. The child's arms and legs were thin, and the way the muscles were attached made it clear that the child was weak. Fierce Fang thought the child might be a farmer's child, but the palms were soft, and it seemed the child had never done farm work. If the child was a noble's child, it wouldn't explain why Shemul had been in the same cell.

It was completely incomprehensible.

However, Fierce Fang decided that the priority was to reach the village safely. He set up a watch rotation and then covered himself with a woolen cloth to sleep.

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The next morning, as the sun peeked over the eastern horizon, the Zoan mounted the animals resembling nu and began moving north. Although the Zoan could run as fast as horses for short periods, it was easier to use these animals for long distances.

The blue horse was also carried on the back of one of the animals, cradled by Shemul. Since then, the blue horse had not regained consciousness. When given water or food, his body would reflexively swallow it, but his consciousness did not return. Moreover, Shemul's instincts told him that the blue horse's body was weakening.

After a full day of travel, the landscape gradually changed to a gentle uphill slope, and trees began to appear. The leaves had already fallen from the branches, and the cold north wind blew through the bare branches, making a whistling sound.

With a steep cliff on the right and a gentle slope with a forest on the left, they followed a mountain path wide enough for three horses to walk side by side. Shemul said,

"The path has improved a lot. Did you widen it while I was away?"

"...It wasn't us. Be more cautious."

Shemul tilted her head at Fierce Fang's grumpy response.

After a little more travel, they would reach their tribal village. The sound of the rapid river flowing beyond the forest on the left felt nostalgic, even though they had been away for only a month.

"Alright, stop. We will go up the mountain from here."

However, Fierce Fang stopped the group and pointed to the mountain on the right. If they were to go up the mountain, they would need to climb the slightly gentler slope in this area. However, there was no need to go up such a slope; they could reach the village by continuing straight along the mountain path.

When Shemul pointed this out, Fierce Fang simply said, "You'll see," and dismounted, leading the animal up the slope. The other tribesmen followed without a word, so Shemul also began to climb, careful not to let the blue horse fall.

The last tribesman smoothed the ground with a branch and scattered leaves to erase their footprints before the group continued deeper into the mountain.

Shemul felt a sense of unease. Even though this area was within the Zoan's territory, it was strange to go through such a mountain. Moreover, the tribesmen were visibly tense and on high alert.

What happened while I was away?

"Wait here!"

After traveling a bit further into the mountain, Fierce Fang said.

"Noble Fang, follow me."

Saying this, he walked alone to the left. Shemul hesitated to leave the blue horse but asked a nearby tribesman to take care of him and followed Fierce Fang.

"Don't make too much noise."

"What's going on?"

"I'll show you. Just follow me quietly."

Fierce Fang drew a mountain knife from his waist and crouched, walking forward. Confused, Shemul followed.

Shemul's instincts told her they were on the cliff behind the village. Her instincts were correct, and soon they reached the edge of the cliff.

"Don't stick your head out too much. Look down slowly."

Following Fierce Fang's instructions, Shemul peered down and was shocked.

Below the cliff, which was about twenty meters high, should have been their village. There should have been tents made of woolen cloth, with totem poles for their ancestors, and the sight of hunters returning with prey and children holding fish caught from the nearby river.

However, what was there now was a desolate scene of burned and charred tents, toppled totem poles, newly built wooden structures, a large flag fluttering in the north wind, a sturdy fence surrounding the village, and armed human soldiers.

"Shortly after you were captured, the humans attacked our village. They used fire to burn our tents and tried to kill the women and children without mercy."

Fierce Fang explained as Shemul gazed in shock at what was once their village.

"We noticed the smoke rising from the village while we were still on our way back from the battle at the fort. The chief, leading those who could fight, rushed to the village, but it was already a sea of fire. The chief and we fought the soldiers there and gathered the survivors to escape into the mountains."

As Fierce Fang spoke, Shemul's eyes were fixed on the piles of charred tents and the bodies of her fellow tribesmen, stacked like garbage. The bodies of young children and the elderly were discarded like—no, exactly like garbage.

"We gathered the other survivors and fled to a hidden place in the mountains. But even there, we are not safe. The humans intend to exterminate us. They have established a base where our village once stood and plan to hunt us down one by one."

"Is... Is the chief? What about Chief Garguz?"

"He is dead. He fought until the end to help us escape."

Fierce Fang turned his back to Shemul and walked back the way they came, saying dismissively,

"Now, I am the chief."