By the time the sun surrendered to the moon, Bellathria was beginning to question all of her life choices.... past, present, and whatever divine glitch had landed her in this forest.
Her stomach grumbled. Her arms were covered in goosebumps. The once charming forest now resembled the set of a horror movie, every rustle too loud, every animal call suspiciously close, and the shadows just a bit too alive.
She wrapped her arms around herself, teeth chattering. "I thought you said there's a tribe nearby," she muttered through clenched teeth. "You're such an unreliable system."
[According to my analysis, there is a tribe nearby.]
[Perhaps there is a hidden pathway. Be positive, Host! I'm sure you'll find your way inside.]
She stopped walking and glared into the empty night sky. "Positive? It's pitch-black, I'm freezing, and unless the hidden pathway comes with neon signs and a tour guide, I don't see myself finding anything except hypothermia."
The forest around her seemed to grow denser the further she went. She tilted her head back to look at the looming mountain hill ahead.
"…Yep. Just a giant wall of rock and trees. Super welcoming."
She kicked a stone in frustration. "Who builds hidden pathways in forests anyway? Sadistic architects, that's who."
And then... because the universe enjoyed comedic timing more than she did.... her System chimed in again, but this time with a sharp alarm sound.
[Warning! Beastman detected approaching rapidly! Host, pretend to be a fragile female!]
Bellathria froze. "Pretend to be what?"
[Fragile female!]
"Are you nuts? What does that even mean? Should I faint dramatically into a bush? Cry for help? Twirl my hair and say, 'Oh no, I'm lost, strong beastman please protect me~'? Absolutely not."
[Host, this is standard protocol...]
"I am the protocol now," she snapped back. "If someone's coming, I'll face them like a rational adult, not a swooning damsel."
So she stood her ground, planting her feet firmly on the dirt path.
From the distance, something white moved between the trees...swift, powerful, and huge. The closer it got, the more her jaw dropped.
"...Is that real?" she whispered.
A massive white tiger emerged from the darkness like some mythical guardian. Its fur shimmered faintly under the moonlight, every step silent and sure. Its eyes.... deep, glacial blue.... locked onto her.
Bellathria's rational brain short-circuited. "System," she hissed internally, "get out here this instant. Are you telling me you want me to copulate with something that's five times my size!?"
[Don't worry, Host! The larger the beast transformation, the stronger the beastman is! You're lucky! To think you'd encounter a powerful beastman before even finding a tribe....]
"Lucky," she repeated blankly, watching the walking apex predator approach. "Yes, that's exactly the word I'd use for possibly becoming tiger chow."
Her mouth twitched in resignation as the massive tiger finally stopped a few paces before her. The sheer size and presence of the creature were overwhelming, but beneath her unease, a spark of awe bloomed.
"…Okay," she admitted quietly. "You're actually kind of… gorgeous."
The tiger stared at her intently for a heartbeat, then its form began to shrink. White fur melted into pale skin, muscles shifted, bones reshaped... and in moments, where a beast once stood, a man took its place.
He was tall, well-built, with white hair that framed sharp features and icy blue eyes that gleamed in the moonlight. If the tiger was majestic, the man was dangerously beautiful.
And he was staring at her just as intently.
"A female?" His voice was cool, with a hint of confusion. "Who are you? And what are you doing here?"
Bellathria blinked. Oh right. Conversation.
Her brain, unhelpfully, supplied trivia from the System earlier, females were rare. Like, diamond in the desert rare. Out of a hundred males, there might be one female. They were treasured, protected, revered... basically walking national assets. Males would even wage war over them. Hurting a female was taboo, punishable beyond imagination.
In other words, she'd just stumbled into Beastworld as an endangered species. Fantastic.
"I… am Bellathria," she said, forcing her voice to sound less like a startled raccoon. "And I… am lost."
He frowned, his gaze sweeping over her like he was analyzing every detail. She held herself still under his scrutiny.
He noticed her silver hair glimmering faintly in the moonlight, her emerald-green eyes catching the dark like gems. She was taller than the average female in his tribe, and.... curiously.... he couldn't sense her beast form. That alone set her apart.
"My name is Ferox Klavej," he said at last. "Come. I'll guide you inside."
Before she could ask "Inside where," he stepped forward, grabbed her by the waist like she weighed nothing, and.... without warning—tossed her into the air.
"WHAT THE....!"
Mid-scream, his body shimmered and transformed back into the white tiger mid-leap, catching her effortlessly on his back.
Bellathria clung to the soft fur for dear life, heart pounding. "A little warning next time would be nice!" she yelled over the wind.
Ferox said nothing, padding forward with smooth, powerful strides.
After a few moments, though, she couldn't help it. Her fingers brushed against his fur, and she murmured softly, "...Very nice to touch."
[Host, please refrain from making the beastman misunderstand your intentions.]
"Oh, hush. I'm just appreciating texture," she whispered back, rolling her eyes.
Ferox's ears twitched at her words but he didn't comment, focusing on their destination. They approached the looming mountain hill that had been mocking her earlier. She stiffened, ready for a collision...only for the space before them to ripple like water.
In the blink of an eye, they passed through what felt like an invisible barrier and emerged into a vast, hidden valley nestled inside the mountain.
Her jaw dropped. "...Okay. That's actually impressive."
[Hidden Tribe Barrier detected. Host has successfully entered a beastman settlement.]
The village was quiet, bathed in moonlight. Wooden structures blended seamlessly with nature, and the faint glow of spirit stones illuminated paths like lanterns. Most beastmen were asleep, only a few night patrols gave curious looks as Ferox strode past with a female on his back.
Bellathria could feel their stares. If she didn't know better, she'd think she was some rare zoo exhibit.
Ferox finally stopped in front of a large, well-built house. He transformed back, catching her in his arms mid-air before she could fall.
"Seriously," she muttered, deadpan. "A simple 'get down now' would work too."
He ignored the jab, carrying her effortlessly inside. His movements were fluid and efficient, like someone accustomed to responsibility.
The interior was clean, simple, yet warm. Ferox set her down gently on a bed of furs. She barely had the energy to sit up. Her eyelids drooped despite herself.... the warmth of the room, the exhaustion from walking all day, and, frankly, the softness of the tiger ride had done her in.
Before she knew it, sleep claimed her.
Ferox watched her for a long moment. Females didn't appear outside tribes alone. Her presence was unusual.... no scent, no beast form, and a beauty that seemed almost otherworldly. He didn't know where she came from, but one thing was certain: her arrival would not go unnoticed.
With a quiet exhale, he turned and left the room, letting her rest.