Beauty and the Beasts

“From now onward, we’ll take turns keeping watch during breaks,” Parker said decisively.

His words received the tiger beastmen and Alva’s agreement.

As it was easier to see quicksand at night, all of them wanted to set off immediately after resting for a little longer. Therefore, they continued on their way in the latter half of the night.

Bai Qingqing didn’t hear this dangerous topic. She was curled up in the animal skin and had fallen asleep.

Parker used a rope to tie the animal skin onto her, with An’an bundled inside as well. Curtis carried the mother and daughter alone while Parker joined the ranks of pulling the luggage.

Bai Qingqing was very deeply asleep despite being in a vertical position. It was the best to be able to be under the warm blankets on a cold day.

When the temperature rose the next day, Bai Qingqing woke up from the heat.

She probed her head out from the blanket that was rolled up like a spring roll, her face flushed red from the stuffiness. The wind outside brought away the heat from her skin, and she let out a comfortable sigh.

Soon after, An’an’s face was brought out as well.

“When did we start going on our way?” Bai Qingqing asked.

Curtis tidied her hair and said, “After I came back.”

“Until now? Without any rest?” Bai Qingqing nudged up a little more and then looked back at the group of beastmen dragging the luggage.

The leopard with the golden hair at the very side looked a little out of place amongst the five tiger beastmen. Bai Qingqing couldn’t help but smile.

Howl!

Parker met her gaze and let out an excited cry. He instantly ran to the very front.

While he ran, he threw off the ropes on him and quickly ran up behind Curtis, straightening his body and turning into his human form.

“Qingqing, you’ve woken up? You must be hungry. I’ll go get you some food.” Parker’s legs ran like the fire and wind wheels1 to keep up with the group of tigers while in his human form.

Bai Qingqing reached out to fondle his soft golden hair that was messed up by the wind. She said, “Let’s stop for a while. I’m feeling so hot.”

Curtis immediately stopped. The tiger beastmen caught up, sending sand flying in the air like silk fluttering in the wind.

Bai Qingqing carried An’an and hid in the blankets.

Parker quickly undid the animal skin, and the heat in the blankets quickly dissipated. The dry wind brought away the faint level of sweat on Bai Qingqing. As the water vaporized, the heat was also taken away.

It made her feel as if she had gone from the hot summer season to a stretch of cooling tree shade.

“Ahh! It feels so comfortable!” Bai Qingqing let out a sigh.

An’an moaned twice and started wriggling. Bai Qingqing quickly carried her and turned her back to the tiger beastmen, squatted down, and let her pee.

It was the luckiest thing on this trip that An’an didn’t pass motion on her.

After An’an was done relieving herself, she still had to feed her. Bai Qingqings said, “Parker, you guys can sleep now.”

“That can’t do.” Parker immediately objected. He squatted down next to her and said in a gentle voice, “The sun isn’t too hot now. We’ll rush on our way for a little longer. Take two pieces of jerky first.”

Parker took out two big jerky strips and waved them in front of her.

Bai Qingqing took a look at the weatherworn Parker, her heart aching for him. She stroked his face and asked, “Aren’t you guys tired?”

“No.”

Parker grinned. The golden sand illuminated by the sunlight was behind him, but his smile was more dazzling than the desert, warmer than the sunlight.

Bai Qingqing circled his neck with one arm and planted a kiss on his lips.

“Alright, then. You guys must remember to rest too. Even if you don’t want to rest, you should let the tiger beastmen rest. It’d be bad to let them get too tired.”

Parker smiled and tapped her nose. “I understand.”