Beastmen: She Tames the Land-Chapter 41: To the Tiger Tribe

Visha patted her chest, feeling relief.

She told the two about her thoughts and discovery.

She hadn’t yet told them about the system, so she made it sound like she was only just realizing the age disparity. She also told them that, whether with the bond or her accepting the identity of priestess, they didn’t need to worry about age.

After their conversation, they got cleaned up.

In the next few days, they would set out for the Tiger tribe.

Uri talked to Krag and Chi about dropping Heta off. They didn’t have any resistance to the idea. Since no one was actually going into the tribe and would only be leading the way.

One day before leaving, Visha got a system notification. This was the first time she didn’t get a task from the system.

System notification:

[Soul-bond: Stable]

[Control training for instincts required]

After her men told her about the growling, Visha had tried to consciously stop herself from doing it. She knew it had to do with her control over her beast side. If she weren’t able to control it, she would become much more impulsive than before.

Although her instincts were sharper, her body had changed, and she needed to completely integrate her mind and body.

Soon came the day they would leave.

In the few days they had, Visha scoured the entire grotto for anything she had missed. Anything edible was put in the space for later cultivation when they found a new settlement.

Everyone gathered their baskets on their backs, their animal skins, furs, crockery, and utensils, carefully placed.

As they stepped out of the grotto, they noticed that the once barren ground now had flashes of green. Life has been renewed, and the cycle begins again.

Their footsteps were heavy. Although they only spent the winter here, it was a place that held meaning to them.

With one last look, they started their journey to the Tiger tribe.

Visha took note of the fact that they were walking towards the direction of the cave they had previously left.

When they arrived at the cave, there was no one there.

Visha was sure they weren’t dead. She received the reward from the system, so they must be doing well. She did not dwell on their whereabouts.

What concerned her was that they were walking towards the place she had come from. The place with the Wind Wails. Uri and Xeno felt her tension as they walked towards this place.

They could understand why she was like this. Uri was also feeling a mix of emotions walking this path. It was where he lost his arm. But it was also the place Xeno found Visha.

Standing between the Visha held their hands. The closer they got, the more tense she became. They walked until they came to the river Visha had fallen into.

What surprised Visha was that there was no wall. Her confusion as to the direction they walked was not cleared up. Instead, it gave her more questions.

"The way to the Tiger tribe was blocked in the winter," Uri stated. "The ice wall appears in different locations each winter. We don’t know why it moves. But we do know it moves from East to West, then North to South."

"So, it’s in a different place every winter? Then what about the Wind Wails?" Visha asked curiously.

"They move with the ice wall," Xeno said.

Visha nodded in understanding. She had to admit that this world was magical. She was looking forward to the other surprises it had in store for her.

After that, the journey to the Tiger tribe was unremarkable. Besides the daily hunt, Visha would go around looking for any plants or medicines she could find.

According to Xeno, it takes ten days to get to the Tiger tribe.

They were three days away when Krag, who was scouting ahead, froze. He quickly signalled the group to halt.

The males put the female inside, forming a protective circle.

"What is it?" Visha asked. Her new senses strained to understand what was happening.

"A patrol, Uri murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "Tiger tribe, they shouldn’t be here."

A shape emerged from the undergrowth, low on the ground, its striped fur blending with the darkness. There were at least six of them. They encircled the group.

Xeno let out a small growl, muscled coiled, ready to spring into action at any moment. Heta let out a small squeak, pulling Nimo closer to her side.

Just as the lead tiger was about to strike, a voice ran out, rough and surprised. "Hold! I know that scent."

A large scarred tiger beastman stepped into the clearing, his nose twitching. His eyes widened when he saw Heta.

"Heta? You’re alive."

His gaze swept over the rest of the people in the group.

Heta’s group looked well fed, and the group of tiger beastmen looked tattered.

The tension broke, but it left an awkward atmosphere in its wake.

"Kael, Heta whispered, recognizing the warrior, "What are you all doing this far? The Tiger tribe boundary is still far away."

"The winter is harsher than any of us expected. Many herds have moved. We’ve expanded our hunting grounds." Kael spoke carefully.

Visha’s group couldn’t believe it. They were warm and happy during the winter, yet the Tiger tribe was having such a hard time.

Visha hadn’t wanted to get into the Tiger tribe’s situation. She wanted to send Heta back and leave. But now, they have meet warrior from the Tiger tribe, it seems they would have to visit.

Visha and her group asked the Tiger tribe warrior to speak amongst themselves for a moment.

Her voice was low as she spoke, "We agreed not to visit the Tiger tribe, but now they have expanded their hunting ground, and we end up meeting them anyway. I’m asking you all, what’s the course of action?"

"I would rather us not go. However, I don’t want us to create potential enemies for ourselves. I would rather bring Heta directly to the tribe, all of us. We can say that we are passing by. The next day, we can leave." Uri made his opinion known.

"It’s not necessarily a good idea to go to the Tiger tribe. But I agree with the leader. We don’t need to make unnecessary enemies." Krag stated.

After a brief chat, it was decided that they would go to the Tiger tribe. However, they would only stay for one night.

The next three days, the Warm Pack and the Tiger tribe continued their journey towards the Tiger tribe’s territory.

Before arriving, Kael let out a loud howl.

"He is letting the Tribe Leader know about our arrival," Xeno whispered in Visha’s ear.

As they arrived at the entrance of the tribe, a large man, seemingly in his forties, was walking out to greet them.

Knowing the way age worked on the Beast Continent, Visha could only assume that the Tiger Tribe Leader was over one hundred.

Visha could tell this man was at war with himself. Confronted with the people he had driven away, who returned looking strong and healthy. In contrast to his own people, who are now suffering.

Along with the Tribe Leader came a smaller man.

He wore a chin of animal bone. His back was straight, and his eyes were sharp. Visha noticed there was something different about him compared to the rest of the Tiger tribe.

He was not as gaunt as the people who accompanied the Tribe Leader. His eyes searched their group, contemplation on his face. But he did not speak.

"You have come back," The Tribe Leader’s voice was gravelly. His eyes scanned the group, lingering briefly on each of the new faces. "And you’ve brought supplies."

This wasn’t a question. It was a statement.

Visha almost scoffed at the brazenness of the Tiger tribe leader.

Uri stepped forward, "Heta has decided she wants to return to the tribe. She was not originally exiled. She could have stayed, but chose to leave with her partner. Now she is willing to return."

The Tribe Leader eyed Uri, his gaze stopping on the missing arm.

"Rogue," he spat, his voice full of disgust.

A deep growl left Xeno at the mention of the word and the way the Tribe Leader spoke to Uri. Visha’s eyes also became sharp.

Visha turned to Heta, "We have returned you to your tribe. You are safe." She then turned back to the tribe leader. "This was our mission here. We will leave." 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

The man who had been standing beside the tribe leader spoke. "You should stay for a while. It will be dark soon. It isn’t safe outside the tribe.

"We’ve managed well for the past few days. We will return Heta to the tribe and leave." Uri responded.

Hearing Uri’s response, the tension between the two groups heightened.

"I’m sure you do not speak for everyone here, rogue." His voice was calm, tranquil. There was no disdain on his face, but from his words, it was obvious he did not hold Uri in high regard.

"He does." Xeno chimed in. "He is our leader. He can speak for us as many times as he wants.

Xeno did not place himself in a leadership role. Being from the Tiger tribe, he understood what it meant for him to take a leadership position with another tribe.

He knew it would pose a threat. He had been one of the strongest young warriors in the tribe. He didn’t want the conflict between the two tribes to escalate anymore than necessary.

"I see," the man said, his eyes flickering. "I still insist you stay the night. I’m sure visiting old friends for one night isn’t a bad idea."

Visha felt the shift in the pack’s emotions.

It seems she would need to stay the night.