Clumsy Beast, Keep Your Paws Off-Chapter 416: Midnight Crisis: Not in Heat, Just on My Period!
The night deepened, and the forest outside the cave fell into a heavy, peaceful silence.
Inside, the fire had burned down to glowing embers, casting a soft orange light on the stone walls.
Su Qinglan was exhausted. She curled up on the large stone bed, her arms wrapped around her three cubs.
The little ones were already snoring softly, their round bellies rising and falling in sync.
The bed was wide, but with five strong males, it was a tight fit. One by one, they shifted into their beast forms to save space and provide warmth.
A large tiger, a golden lion, a sleek green snake, a magnificent wolf, and a beautiful fox all settled around her. They formed a protective circle around her.
Su Qinglan fell into a deep sleep, comforted by the familiar scents of her mates.
In the middle of the night, a sharp, cramping pain suddenly blossomed in her lower abdomen.
Su Qinglan gasped and bolted upright. Her forehead was covered in a thin layer of cold sweat.
At first, she thought she just really needed to use the washroom, or perhaps the crab hadn’t sat well with her stomach.
She scrambled over the wall of fur, trying not to wake them. She didn’t notice that the moment her feet touched the ground, Hu Yan’s golden eyes snapped open in the dark.
She didn’t say a word. She just hiked up her animal skin skirt and ran out of the cave toward the nearby bushes as fast as her legs could carry her.
Inside the cave, the other four males stirred.
Their sensitive noses twitched. A strange, sweet, yet metallic scent began to fill the air. It wasn’t the scent of an injury; it was something thicker, more potent.
"Do you smell that?" Rong Ye whispered, his voice slightly raspy.
Their gazes became hazy and intense. In the beast world, this scent was a signal...a signal that a female was ready.
Han Jue and Shi Feng immediately began to rise, their instincts urging them to follow her into the darkness.
"Stop!" Hu Yan’s voice cracked like a whip. He had already shifted back into his human form. "Don’t go. You’ll scare her."
The others froze. They knew Hu Yan was right. If they all rushed out now, driven by their rising heat, they might lose control.
"I’ll go alone," Hu Yan said firmly. He grabbed a piece of soft animal skin, wrapped it around his waist, and disappeared into the night.
Deep in the tall grass, Su Qinglan was squatting, clutching her stomach. But as she looked down, she froze.
Her eyes widened. There, on her simple underwear, was a bright red stain.
My period? She felt like she was losing her mind. Ever since she arrived in this world, she got pregnant and had almost forgotten this part of being a woman existed.
"Damn it... what am I supposed to do now?" she muttered, her face turning red with a mix of frustration and embarrassment. There were no pads here, no tampons...just leaves and animal skins.
Suddenly, the bushes rustled nearby.
Su Qinglan’s heart jumped into her throat. Thinking it was a scavenger attracted by the scent, she grabbed a nearby stone and prepared to hurl it.
"Lan Lan, it’s me."
Hu Yan stepped out from the shadows. He looked concerned, his eyes scanning her for any signs of a wound.
Su Qinglan let out a long breath and dropped the stone, but then she realized what a mess she was in. She tried to pull her skirt down further, her face burning.
"Hu Yan! What are you doing here?" she squeaked, trying to sound annoyed to hide her shame. "Do you... do you want to dump together? Go away! The male’s side is on a different side!"
Hu Yan didn’t move but became embarrassed and said, "Lan Lan, I am not here for a dump!"
"Lan Lan," he said softly, taking a step closer. "You’re not hurt. You’re... entering your season."
Su Qinglan’s face was beet red. She didn’t want Hu Yan hovering over her while she was in such a mess, especially since she didn’t know how to explain a "period" to a beastman who thought she was just "in season."
"Go! Don’t just stand there!" she hissed, waving her hands to shoo him away. "Go back to the cave and bring me a clean set of animal skin clothes. Hurry up!"
Hu Yan looked startled by her sudden outburst, but he didn’t dare argue. He nodded quickly and disappeared into the shadows to fetch her things.
As soon as he was gone, Su Qinglan leaned against a tree and groaned. System! she called out in her mind. Are you there? I need help. Do you have any pads? How am I supposed to survive this in the wild?
A calm, robotic voice echoed in her head.
[Host, you still have the remaining post-birth recovery diapers for females in your inventory. They are made of high-quality organic fiber. Would you like to use them?]
Su Qinglan froze, then slapped her own forehead. Right! The postpartum supplies! She had completely forgotten about the extra items the system gave her after she had the cubs.
Yes, give me those! she thought.
A soft, thick bundle appeared in her hand. It was perfect...absorbent and comfortable. She let out a breath of relief.
Just then, Hu Yan returned, carrying a fresh pile of soft furs. He looked nervous, his eyes darting toward her waist.
"Here, Lan Lan," he said softly, handing them over.
"Thanks. Now turn around! Go back to the cave!" she commanded. She practically kicked his leg to get him moving.
Hu Yan didn’t want to leave her alone in the dark, but seeing her fierce expression, he sighed and retreated a few paces, waiting for her to finish.
Once she had cleaned herself up and changed into the fresh skins, she marched past him toward the cave, her face set in a stern line.
When she walked back into the cave, she was relieved to see the other males still lying in their spots. It looked like they were all fast asleep.
She quickly crawled back onto the stone bed, pulled her cubs close, and closed her eyes. Within minutes, the exhaustion of the cramps pulled her into a deep sleep.
As soon as her breathing became heavy and steady, four pairs of eyes snapped open in the darkness.
