Kai moved through the forest ahead, gliding with minimal sound. Every step was silent, measured, and precise. He barely looked back, but he knew Aria was somewhere behind him, struggling to keep up.
"Slow down!" Aria's voice broke through the morning air. "I'm trying to keep up, you know!"
He didn't answer. It was like her words fell on deaf ears. His tail brushed against the leaves as he continued forward, taking turns as if he already knew where he was going even though he didn't.
Aria groaned and stopped, catching her breath near the roots of a massive tree. "You don't even know the way to my den," she muttered. "Fine, keep gliding away then."
Ryn's voice echoed lazily in Kai's head. "You're enjoying this way too much."
"I'm not," Kai muttered back.
"Sure. That's why you're pretending not to hear her."
He ignored him and finally slowed down. Aria, still sitting by the tree root, looked around. She could hear faint chatter from a distance—voices overlapping with the soft tremor of beasts moving about. When she stood, she noticed movement ahead. A few beastmen appeared between the trees, their eyes sharp and wary. They stopped talking the moment they saw Kai.
The tension hit immediately. Some shifted their stance, tails stiff, claws half-out. Others simply watched in silence.
Then one of them, a tall man with dark gray fur markings along his arms, stepped forward. "Who are you?" he demanded.
Before Kai could speak, Aria moved past him. "It's fine! He's with me."
The reaction was instant. Their shoulders eased, though a few exchanged uncertain looks. One woman whispered something about outsiders, but no one pushed further. Kai stood still, silent as always. He could feel their eyes tracing his scales, measuring his strength.
"Don't mind them," Aria said quietly. "They're just cautious."
They started walking again, this time together. The closer they got, the clearer the tribe became; clusters of caves built along the cliffside, connected by natural bridges of vines and stone. Smoke rose from small fire pits where meat roasted over open flames. Children darted between the rocks, laughing, while a few adults carried bundles of herbs and dried leaves.
Beastmen in partial forms such as tails, claws, sharp eyes, they all worked together without needing words. Some were weaving nets from vine fibers, others grinding herbs on flat stones. The air smelled faintly of earth and smoke, mixed with the constant scent of blood from prey both fresh and dried.
"This is the main settlement," Aria explained. "Each cave belongs to a group or a family. We trade herbs, food, or favors. Not much changes here, except for the seasons."
As they walked, a young female beastman waved. "Aria! You're back!" She ran up, then noticed Kai and hesitated. "And… you brought someone?"
Aria nodded. "He's helping me."
"Oh. Well, welcome, I guess. Just don't scare the cubs."
Kai gave no reply. Aria smirked and said confidently, "He won't."
They passed a larger cave where the healer worked. Inside, a woman was crushing herbs with a flat stone while murmuring words so soft they almost vanished into the air. The scent of crushed mint and dried roots hung heavy. Beside her stood an old woman with white hair and a fur robe, leaning on a stick. She watched quietly, her eyes faintly glowing. Beads carved from bones and stones—said to be blessed by the Beast God—hung around her neck.
The healer looked up briefly. "Aria, you returned early."
"Just passing through," Aria said. "I'll visit later."
The witch smiled faintly, gaze shifting to Kai. "A serpent," she said softly. "Those are rare this far south." Ryn whispered inside him, "She's sharp. Be careful around her."
As they moved on, they reached the center of the settlement. A few males were repairing a collapsed path while others brought in prey like wild boars and deer-like beasts with crystal horns. One of the elders was instructing two young hunters on how to strengthen their spirit cores.
"Remember," he said, his voice deep and rough, "energy control before strength. Lose control, and you lose yourself."
Aria watched briefly, her expression unreadable. "Training's gotten stricter or maybe its always like that," she muttered.
"You've been gone a while," Kai said quietly.
"Yeah, i guess."
As they walked deeper, the tension that followed them began to fade. Beasts nodded politely, and a few cubs even ran up to greet Aria. One of them tugged on her sleeve, showing off a small fang that had just grown.
"See? I'm getting stronger!"
Aria laughed and patted his head. "Good. Maybe you'll beat your father someday."
The cub puffed his chest proudly before running off again.
Kai watched the scene quietly. For a place built on instinct and survival, there was warmth here. He didn't say it out loud, but something about the way Aria fit into it all , with ease in her voice, her quiet confidence, her smile which was different from when he first met her. Back then, she was look fragile but sharp-edg and even reckless. Now, she seemed lighter, almost normal. It made him pause and think briefly which is her. When they finally reached her den, it was smaller than most but neat. A stone basin stood near the entrance, filled with clean water. Dried herbs hung along the walls, and a woven mat rested on the ground.Aria dropped the fruits and herbs they'd gathered earlier near a corner. "Home," she said, exhaling softly.
Kai looked around, arms crossed. "You live here alone?"
"For now," she said simply. "It's quiet. I like it that way." Ryn responding like he knows her "Sure she does."
Aria didn't seem to notice his silence. She brushed her hair back, glancing toward the cave entrance where the light began to dim."The others will start preparing for winter soon. One of the females in the southern cluster just gave birth, so the healers will be busy, you can stay here.''
"I didn't say I was staying."
"Too bad," she replied, grinning. "You're already here."
Kai sighed quietly. The sound of laughter and distant chatter carried from the nearby caves. The tribe was settling into its usual rhythm, fires crackling, wings flapping, tails swishing. Life went on as usual. Aria sat by the entrance, gazing at the fading sky, her eyes distant as the background noise blurred around her. "It's strange," she murmured softly. "Coming back here feels different this time."
Kai didn't ask why., He just stood beside her, the silence stretching comfortably. Ryn murmured in his head, "You're basically mates now."
If Aria could hear Ryn, she would've heard his continuous, cackling laugh.