Beastmen: She Tames the Land-Chapter 37: Naming the tribe

Visha slowly opened her eyes.

She felt herself wrapped in warmth.

After fainting like that, she expected to be in pain. Instead, she felt renewed. She focused on the bodies beside her, ignoring everything else. She didn’t want to move yet.

She was waiting for her body and mind to catch up to what just happened. She also wanted to check the system. She heard it say it would upgrade. She wanted to see what the new upgrade would be.

System Status

[Name: Visha]

[Title: Priestess (unnamed tribe)]

[Race: Human/Primal Beast]

[Soul-Bound Status: Triad Soul circuit (Partially active)]

[Partners: Uri (unnamed tribe), Xeno (unnamed tribe)]

Core Status

[Strength: 12]

[Agility: 14]

[Vitality: 15]

[Spirit: 25]

Priestess abilities

[Nature’s Echo, Rite of Vitality, Tribal Blessing]

Passive Abilities

[Empathic Resonance, Aura of Authority, Tribe Stabilization]

Affinity

[Inactive]

Latent Abilities

[Primal Shift (Locked)]

[Land’s Pulse (Locked)]

World Map:

[Status: Partial (known regions visible)]

Mall (Open)

Task

[Complete: Survive the winter]

[Reward: Continuity Points (CP) 300, Lore Fragment]

[Title unlocked: Winter-bound Priestess]

After seeing the new additions, she opened her eyes. She took in the sensations she had neglected before. The world felt different. Her vision was clearer. Seeing further than ever before. She could hear the crackle and huff of the fire. She can smell the lingering aroma of the stew.

She could feel...feelings?

She felt the anxiety outside the cave. It wasn’t overwhelming, but she could feel it. What she felt even more was the worry of the two men beside her. It was so palpable, she could almost touch it.

"You’re awake." Xeno’s voice was soft.

Uri sat beside her, his eyes fixed on her face as if he had been watching for hours. Xeno was sprawled on her other side, hand supporting his chin, his smile tugging on his face. His expression softened as his eyes met hers.

Visha pushed herself up, still taking in all the new sensations.

"You scared us," Uri said, his voice low. "When you fainted, you started glowing. We brought you in because everyone was crowding." Pointing with his chin towards the cave entrance, he said, "They’re all pacing out there. Waiting for you to come out."

Visha’s eyes trailed Uri’s face. Why does his face seem more handsome? She then turned to Xeno. He looks more handsome, too.

Visha thought about the soul bond she saw on the system. She couldn’t help wondering if the system was trying to make her more attracted to the two men.

Visha decided not to think about it. She needed to finish talking to everyone. Most have decided to stay, but they need to talk about how to deal with Heta. Since she wants to go back, they would definitely have to go to the Tiger tribe.

Even if they wanted to leave her to find her own way, Visha wouldn’t allow it. She may not like Heta, but she didn’t want her to come to harm because of her.

"Let’s go out and see," she said, replying to Uri.

For now, she decided, everything else could wait.

Xeno jumped up, ready to pull Visha to her feet. Uri stood as well, ready to follow.

Xeno pulled her up, hugging her slightly. A low rumbling sound came from Visha. Xeno looked at her, puzzled, then at Uri, who noticed it as well. They both looked at Visha, who seemed unaware of the sound she just made.

The two signalled each other with their eyes. Uri shook his head slightly. Visha didn’t seem to be in any immediate trouble. If she did it again, he decided they would address it at that point.

The three walked out of the cave. As soon as they walked out, heads snapped towards them. Their relief, awe, and joy were all captured by Visha.

She still doesn’t know what to do with these feelings. But she is glad to realize that they are fading. They are not as intense as when she just woke up. But they were still there. She hoped that with time, it would be more manageable.

As she walked towards them, flanked by Uri and Xeno, all talking ceased. Those sitting began to stand.

One by one, they put their fist over their heart and bowed their heads. Visha could feel the respect radiating off them. She could also feel pride. She looked over at Krag and Chi; she didn’t feel respect from them as she did from the others. But she felt their pride.

Like an adult proud of what a child has become.

They didn’t bow their heads like the others. But they made the same gesture. A gesture Visha took as a mark of respect. They nodded, a small smile on both their faces. Visha reciprocated.

She didn’t demand respect from others. Especially not those two. She knew there was something special about them. She noticed it even before now. But looking at them again, through new eyes, she could see the difference.

It was like seeing something on a different wavelength. They were the same as them, but they were fundamentally different in some way.

She didn’t question it publicly. Only acknowledged the difference silently and moved on.

Krag spoke, "You have accepted your duty and have been accepted by the land."

Murmurs rippled through the group.

Krag continued, "Everyone should have noticed the difference in themselves. It is different from the feeling you had when you were in your previous tribe. Accepting the position of priestess and being accepted by the land are different. You will learn them in time."

Saying that, he left with Chi, heading back to their cave. No one followed.

Kit and Nimo ran up to the three of them, grinning widely. No one was sure what they wanted to do.

"Priestess Shasha, Leader Uri, Leader Xeno," they greeted in unison.

Visha was surprised byt he name. She accepted the identity as the priestess, but she wasn’t used to being called priestess. It felt...different. There was a presence behind the name she hadn’t noticed before.

She smiled at the two children, then looked at Uri and Xeno. Xeno’s constant smile was still on his face, but now his chest was slightly puffed out and his back straightened. Uri’s face was calm, but the sharpness in his eyes had not faded.

"Little Kit, Little Nimo, do you want to say something?"

The brave little things became embarrassed. Visha could see they thought about the beginning but not the end.

"We..." Nimo scratched the back of his head. "We wanted to know what to name the tribe."

Kit’s eyes roamed among the three of them.

Visha bent down to their eye level. Her smile was gentle and genuine. She didn’t mind the children’s question.

"What would you like the tribe to be called? It can’t be the Tiger tribe. There aren’t only tigers here."

Nimo looked at Kit, who looked at Visha.

"Can we call it The Warm Pack?"

The hope in his eyes made Visha’s heart soft. She looked at Uri and Xeno, who nodded. They were okay with it, but what about the others? Visha didn’t want them to think they didn’t have a voice in this new tribe.

She regarded the group, noting Heta was off to the side, not getting involved. Then her vision returned to Nimo and Kit.

"How about we ask everyone if they like the name?"

The children nodded. Visha stood up.

Addressing everyone, she said, "I know you all have a lot you want to say. I won’t take that away from you. But the children came to me first. I want to know what you all think of the name they just said. Would you like to be called the Warm Pack?"

"We don’t mind!" came Chi’s shout from the cave.

Visha laughed. She always thought Chi was a playful person, and she was right. A smile still on her face, she looked at Cato, Fil, and Willa.

"You’re asking us?" Cato asked, looking incredulous.

"Aren’t you a part of the tribe? You don’t want a say in what we name it?" Visha asked.

"Besides the leaders and priestesses, they don’t ask other tribe members about things like this. The people are usually only informed after everything has happened," Uri stated.

"Us doing this now would definitely be different," Xeno said.

Looking around, Visha realized how true their words were. "Well, I think we should change it. I’m not saying we need to vote on every little thing. But for large decisions, we should at least get their input from time to time."

Uri nodded in agreement. Xenoshrugged nonchalantly.

"Okay," Visha said, once again turning to face the three people. "What do you think about the name? Tell me honestly."

The three people looked at each other. Visha didn’t see any dislike for the name. But she couldn’t tell what they were thinking, so she could only wait.

She didn’t wait long. The unanimous agreement was for the tribe to be called The Warm Pack.

Kit and Nimo cheered. Their important business had been passed. The adults smiled.

"Alright, we are now The Warm Pack. There is no tribe before or after. As long as we grow and maintain well, I believe The Warm Pack will become stronger." Uri states, already stepping into the role of a leader.

"We’re done with that. We know the beast god hasn’t forsaken us. But now we need to find a place to live. We also need to send her back," Xeno pointed at Heta, who was sitting in a corner by herself.