Beauty and the Beasts

This cub’s cry woke up the other two. They opened their eyes, took a look, then started crying as well.

“Pa!”

Muir broke a branch in the middle of the path. Hearing the sound, Bai Qingqing looked over. Only then did she notice him, and she quickly tidied her clothing.

“When did you come?”

“When you were waking the cub,” Muir replied honestly.

Bai Qingqing put her hand to her forehead. She had been too focused and hadn’t noticed that she had exposed herself again.

Forget it. Even in modern society where people placed great value on privacy, many mothers still often breastfed their children in public. The degree of her exposure was really nothing in the beastmen’s era.

Muir didn’t enter the house. He said, “I’ll go to the vicinity to see if there are any other villages. We might be able to find a doctor.”

Bai Qingqing had already guessed the crux to the problem, but it was safer with a doctor. Therefore, she nodded in agreement.

“Alright, don’t fly too far. If you can’t find one, then forget it.”

“How can we forget it?” Muir suddenly spoke up in a sharp tone, interrupting her.

Bai Qingqing was shocked by him and was stunned for a moment.

Muir’s tone immediately softened, and he said, “I might only come back at night. I’ll carry you to the sandpit so that you can relieve yourself. Later on, I’ll get Alva to come to watch over you.”

“Alright.” Bai Qingqing was still a little afraid of Muir. She lowered her head and said softly.

After drinking two bowls of soup, it was true that Bai Qingqing had a little urge to pee. She stuffed the children under the blanket and got up slowly. Before she had straightened her back, she was carried up by Muir’s long and strong arms by the waist.

As Muir carried her, he wasn’t able to walk as steadily on the spiraling staircase that wasn’t fastened.

It rained heavily yesterday, and the ground was still wet. Bai Qingqing felt a little cold when she walked barefooted.

It was painful to go to the toilet after giving birth. Bai Qingqing broke into a faint layer of cold sweat after settling her biological needs.

Muir prepared one day worth of food for her, then called Alva over. He then spread his wings and flew off anxiously.

In the evening, Muir finally came back, travel-worn.

Bai Qingqing had yet to settle the milk problem, and when she saw Muir, her eyes lit up.

Muir brought in prey, and Bai Qingqing glanced behind him. When she didn’t see any stranger, her heart sank.

“How is it? Did you find one?” Bai Qingqing was hopeful as she asked hesitantly.

Muir took on his human form, and his expression caused Bai Qingqing’s heart to sink to the very bottom.

“I haven’t found one yet. There are only flying beastmen in the area. All of them lay eggs,” Muir said.

Bai Qingqing put her hand to her forehead. The three leopard cubs might seem fine, but after a careful look, she realized that they had gotten a lot weaker. Their cries weren’t as loud as in the beginning either.

If she still didn’t feed them milk, after tonight, they might not be able to open their eyes tomorrow.

Alva, standing next to the wooden house, suddenly spoke up. “Why not just feed them with pine nuts? We can just bite and crush up the pine nuts before feeding them.”

Bai Qingqing shook her head. “Mammals aren’t able to digest such food when they are young.”

Moreover, leopards didn’t eat nuts either. Even Parker, a mature beastman, didn’t really eat a lot of plants and fruits.

“Then, what should we do? Let’s just give it a try.” Alva then said, “I’ll go peel some pine nuts right away. Oh right, our peacock tribe’s children like to eat worms. I’ll go catch a few for them.”

“No.” Bai Qingqing objected firmly. She didn’t wish to see the children having the runs despite not having eaten anything. They’d die.

Alva’s enthusiasm was extinguished.

Seeing Bai Qingqing’s irritated expression, Muir said to Alva, “You can go back. I’ll be here.”