NOVEL NEXT Chapter 35: 35 - That Bear Is A Good Cook (2.35k words)
Yaya's POV
Our routine stayed mostly the same for the rest of the month. In the morning, we would start with breakfast and then join Bai's morning classes.
Bai made Muir and Curtis read excerpts from a children's picture book on my laptop and copy down the text. It was not the same as learning a new language and grammar, which made them recognize characters and phrases more swiftly than an average beginner. Yet, Curtis was close to losing his patience over how stupid it was.
"How is it stupid?" Bai asked.
Curtis frowned, "It is stupid. It's about a rabbit and a wolf, and they're best friends. The wolf is supposed to eat the rabbit, yet he doesn't because the rabbit is his friend, and they live happily ever after. Why would anyone be friends with their food?"
Curtis's hand gripped Muir's feather, smoothly dipping the quill into the blueberry ink as he meticulously transcribed the text onto a sheet of birch bark. Like a scholar from ancient times, his movements grew more graceful, his handsome features illuminated by the morning glow.
"There is a moral lesson in the story," said Bai, "about not judging someone's appearance or nature but by their actions. And how you should give others a chance to prove their true character like the rabbit giving the wolf a chance after the wolf didn't eat it."
Curtis did not buy her explanation.
"What if the rabbit and the wolf were cubs? Would it be okay for them to be friends?" asked Bai, trying to reason.
"No. The rabbit's parents would forbid the rabbit from playing with the wolf. They wouldn't want it to be friends with a predator," Curtis retorted.
I shook my head at Bai, stopping her from trying to put her ideals and morals onto Curtis any further.
After they finished writing, Bai corrected their strokes and made them write down what they remembered.
"You can't just throw a bunch of strokes together and call it a word. Look at these shapes, these lines. What kind of shapes are they?" Bai asked, trying to keep a stern expression.
Muir pointed at the square with bunny ears and a triangle with a tail, his face void of expression, "That's a rabbit, and the other is a wolf."
Vick, slacking as always, came over to look and burst into laughter. He laughed for a good minute before he could say, "Oh, the resemblance is striking. This is art, really. This is true art. We need to frame this and put it up somewhere."
I nodded, covering my mouth. I couldn't help but laugh as well, "Let's put it in the kitchen."
Bai's face turned red, flustered, "If you don't stop laughing, he is just going to keep pranking me! Mom, nobody is taking my classes seriously because of this bizarre curriculum you've set up! You're all hopeless. I'm done with this!"
Bai stormed out of the classroom, and the sound of her laughter rang out into the hallway before the sand clock on her desk could hit one hour ⌛.
Muir and Curtis, with their quick minds, could easily grasp more complex subjects, but I didn't want them to carry unnecessary knowledge. They could survive and live comfortably even without it. Politics and books that carried modern perspectives, including subjects like physics and other advanced sciences, were off-limits.
Muir cleaned up his utensils while Curtis still seemed occupied by the story of the wolf and rabbit.
"Don't think too much about it. Not everyone is going to like the story. I don't like it either," said Vick, "If it doesn't feel right to you, then there must be a good reason why."
Vick's words seemed to reassure Curtis slightly. He looked up at me and asked, "Is it because I'm a feral that I don't understand the morals Bai was speaking about?"
It took Curtis a moment to smile back, his eyes softening, "Yaya, I will give you a better ending for that story," he promised.
3rd person POV
Muir was training by YaYa's side, so instead of lazing around under a tree, Curtis left the mansion to get inspiration for his story. And since he was going anyway, Muir had him do a few errands.
Stepping outside, Curtis spotted Tony setting up a small tent near their little European castle. Tony, the Bearman with two stripes to his name, was actually a great cook. He'd often swing by to help Bai out in the kitchen. Watching Tony at work, Curtis was reminded of Nivi's stripeless, now one stripped, healer, "Follow me."
Tony jumped slightly at Curtis's sudden approach but knew better than to ignore the order. He followed Curtis into the forest without protest.
Curtis liked keeping his tail out, only staying in his human form during visits to the Beast City. As they ventured deeper into the forest, their presence caught the attention of many beastmen who eyed Curtis with caution and fear.
However, Tony, walking closely by his side, quickly dispelled any doubts about Curtis's nature. He introduced Curtis to onlookers as a decent feral who had found a mate, smoothing potential misunderstandings.
While Tony was given the green light to pursue Bai, he knew that her dads governed everything in their household. Every time he visited, Bai would remind him of the important rules: Certain areas where her mom and dads resided were strictly off-limits. Maintaining good hygiene around Bai was a must, and to stay in her dads' good graces, he had a specific set of don'ts to follow: don't talk to Yaya, don't look at Yaya, and don't ever try to get close to Yaya.
Tony perfectly understood why Bai's dads would be so protective and possessive over their spouse. He'd probably be just as cautious and possessive if he were in their position.
When they arrived at a secluded clearing in the forest, Tony, feeling a bit anxious, asked, "What's wrong?"
Although Muir was clear about his plans and what he intended to do, the final call on whether to act on those plans was always up to Curtis and Vick. Curtis wasn't fond of indirect approaches and rarely joined those two in their schemes, so he decided to do it his own way.
"It's because you only have two stripes. Bai doesn't want you; she thinks you're weak," Curtis explained, his tail whipping out towards Tony's belly.
Tony yelped in pain as Curtis struck him, sending him stumbling back into a tree. Wincing, he managed through a bloody cough, "You... why would you do that?"
"You need to become stronger. Get up and fight back," Curtis said, his voice rough, as if he found it challenging to put his thoughts into words. "Bai is worried that Parker will come after both of you. That's why she keeps pushing you away. It's for your safety."
"H-how do you know?"
"She told us when you left after the dinner yesterday," Curtis said, thinking how Yaya didn't like to talk to other people. He himself wasn't one for small talk, only speaking up when absolutely necessary.
When Curtis first encountered Vick, he knew that Vick's nature could be far darker and more sinister than the friendly facade he typically projected. Vick revealed that he was deeply distressed by Yaya's sudden disappearance in the ocean. He spent days searching for her, having to ask her father for help, and when he finally found her all happy and joyful with someone else, he wanted to choke her to death for causing him so much anguish.
The strategies Vick shared with them frequently crossed into dark realms, highlighting Vick's ruthless efficiency and strategic mind. Even without being present on the battlefield, Vick managed to repel the scorpions with limited personnel, extending his influence from the shadows rapidly.
Despite this duality, they were both still Vick. This made Curtis wonder if Vick, a feral, could navigate that balance. Why couldn't he? He already treated Yaya and his family differently, so it shouldn't be as difficult as he thought at first, right?
Tony struggled to his feet, his face filled with disbelief, "You want to help me? You're kidding me. Ferals don't help others. You're lying."
"Don't you want to become stronger? If you do, get up and fight back." Curtis's tone was cold, his gaze piercing. "Why are you shaking? Are you afraid of me?"
"No, I'm not afraid," Tony gritted his teeth and charged towards Curtis, changing into his bear form, "Roar!"
The confrontation between the snake and the bear turned into an intense battle, stretching out over two hours. Tony, overwhelmed and defeated, collapsed to the ground, his energy spent.
Curtis, still full of vitality, approached the fallen bear. Seizing Tony's arm, he dragged him across the ground.
Along the way, Curtis managed to capture several short birds, ensuring they remained alive, which aligned with Bai's past request. She had reasoned that maintaining some livestock close at hand would reduce the frequency of their hunting trips.
With their family expanding, Curtis naturally concluded they needed to increase their livestock supply.
Even in his battered form, Tony, dragged across the ground, had to keep explaining to himself and the nearby beastmen that Curtis was just helping him out.
Curtis took a slight detour to catch a few rabbits and fish for the planned construction of a pond. He placed them in baskets Vick had made, following Bai's direction. Vick treated the baskets with wax to make them waterproof and suitable for holding the fish securely.
Yaya's POV
Two weeks later...
I rubbed my chin as I stared at the spousal mark on the side of Bai's right arm, "So did you two do it in the kitchen?" I guessed. Common hobbies had a way of bringing people together, perhaps a bit too closely in their case.
Bai's response was immediate, her cheeks flaming. "N-No! It happened in my room. When I was... When I was taking care of Tony's wounds," she blurted out, her embarrassment causing her words to cascade in a hurried confession. "You've made it clear that I shouldn't teach anything to anyone outside of our males. Tony's been a huge help in the kitchen and around our house. He is a natural cook, and I wanted to share more than just new recipes with him. I hate having to hide the grinder and other equipment whenever he comes over. I like him, and I'm tired of keeping secrets from him. He's even out there, fighting and facing danger, to become stronger for me."
I cast a brief glance at Tony's body, noticing the visible bruises and slashes that resembled the marks of a whip ─ or more accurately, the slash of a snake's tail.
Avoiding my gaze, Tony ran a hand through his tousled brown hair, an action that seemed to betray his own unease. The three stripes on his chest had transformed him; he now stood taller, his handsome face had taken on a more mature aspect, and his physique was noticeably more muscular.
"Do you realize you might be pregnant?" I said, causing Bai to widen her eyes open, but then, she nodded shyly.
Bai, gathering her courage, reminded me of a past talk we had, "Do you remember when we discussed the dangers of getting pregnant too soon after finding a mate and moving away with him? You said if that happened, I should come back home and stay until I'm fully better and know how to take care of the cubs properly."
Tony suddenly got on his knees before me and the trio in a humble gesture, "I know I won't be able to protect Qingqing on my own," he admitted, "Can she please stay here until I'm strong enough to keep her safe?"
I paused for a second before speaking up, "Fine, just don't have sex in the kitchen and other common areas," I declared, causing the girl to cover her face in embarrassment.
Vick slapped Tony on the back with a warm, "Welcome to the family, I guess. You don't need to worry about moving out. Just stick with us. It'll be easier to keep our beautiful Yaya and Bai safe without them having to take on too many males." His smirk towards Muir and Curtis seemed to say, 'Good job us.'
An extra pair of hands would always come in handy. They didn't have to share me with another male, yet here was one who would willingly contribute, particularly in caring for their cub, kitchen, wood cutting, hunting, and crafting department.
But the daunting reality was still here: Both Tony and Curtis would go into hibernation in four moons.
"Precious, do you remember the deal you made regarding Winston?"
"I would have fulfilled it already if you hadn't kept making it harder for me," I retorted, adjusting my cloak around me as I stepped out of the mansion, walking toward the gates.
"What's the rush, Precious," Vick called out, urging me to pause. He instructed Muir to stay behind and guard the house while he and Curtis hastened to join me.
Over the next three days, the task of house ─ watching alternated between Muir and Curtis, with one of them always accompanying me and Vick in a search for a new male for me.
Despite my efforts, the trio turned out to be incredibly picky.
I found myself pointing out practically every beastman we encountered, as well as every suitor who came our way. Yet, they dismissed every choice I made, behaving as if they were the ones who would be sharing a bed with the new guy, not me.
╔═══ Author's note ════╗
Welcome, Tony! 🐻 I'm so glad he is a part of YY's household. o(>ω<)o
Are you curious about what story Curtis came up with by the end of the day? ( ˙▿˙ )
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