Hu Baiyu turned his head sharply.

Mu Qingyi raised his brows.

Lin Huahua blinked between them.

Then, in the next second, the three males were not fighting with fists or claws because this was not about hatred. This was about something far more serious.

Who got to carry the female.

Feng Yiren pointed at Hu Baiyu first. "You carried her before."

Hu Baiyu glared back and tightened his grip on the spear, clearly unmoved.

Mu Qingyi said calmly, "You nearly dropped her into trouble yesterday by arguing with her too long."

"I did not drop her anywhere," Feng Yiren snapped. "And why are you talking as if you should carry her? You carry her all the time."

Mu Qingyi’s deer tail flicked once. "Because I do it carefully."

Feng Yiren let out a dry laugh. "What is that supposed to mean?"

Lin Huahua stood there between them, watching the argument shift back and forth over her head like she was some priceless item being negotiated by ridiculous but extremely handsome savages.

In the end, perhaps because Hu Baiyu had already lowered himself first and perhaps because Lin Huahua, being Lin Huahua, simply climbed onto his back before they could continue, the matter was settled without anyone’s permission.

Hu Baiyu stiffened in happy surprise.

Lin Huahua wrapped her arms around his neck from behind, her white rat tail curling around his waist for balance. "Go, go," she said, sounding extremely pleased with herself. "We are wasting morning."

Feng Yiren stared at her like she had betrayed him personally.

Mu Qingyi simply laughed softly and picked up the basket.

Thus the four of them set out.

The path to the river wound through the edge of the tribe and into the greener parts of the forest. Primitive life spread all around them in raw, vivid detail.

Low stone caves and hide-covered shelters sat between tall trees. Smoke rose from morning fires.

Beastwomen with tails and ears of all kinds washed roots beside flat stones while their mates knelt close, helping without a single complaint.

Small baby beasts chased one another through patches of grass, some in half-shifted forms with tiny paws or twitching ears, tumbling around while their mothers called after them.

Strong beastmen walked by carrying prey over their shoulders, bare chests gleaming in the light, hide beast skirts brushing powerful thighs.

Bird calls sounded overhead, insects buzzed in the thicker brush, and somewhere farther off, a beastman laughed so loudly that a whole flock of small woodland creatures darted out of a bush in alarm.

Lin Huahua looked around greedily, taking it all in.

This place really was alive.

By the time they reached the river, the sun had climbed higher, and the whole area was bright and beautiful in that untamed way that only belonged to a world untouched by machines.

The river spread wide and clear, its surface flashing silver under the light. Tall reeds grew along the edges, dragonflies skimmed across the water, smooth stones warmed under the sun, and in the distance the river widened and curved toward a much larger body of water where the breeze smelled cooler and deeper.

Hu Baiyu crouched and let Lin Huahua slide gently from his back.

The moment her bare feet touched the flatter stone, Mu Qingyi was already beside her, checking the ground first with that careful habit of his. He laid down a folded hide for her to sit on and placed a small basket of fruit beside it.

Hu Baiyu set the spears down, then immediately looked around the area, making sure there was shade nearby. Feng Yiren, though still acting like he was reluctantly involved in all of this, pulled over a broad piece of driftwood so she could lean against it if she wanted.

Lin Huahua sat down like a pampered little princess and accepted everything naturally.

Her three males moved away just enough to start fishing, but none of them truly left her. Mu Qingyi waded into the shallower part of the river with calm, measured steps. Hu Baiyu went farther along the side where the current was stronger.

Feng Yiren, quick and clever as always, picked a place with better visibility and balanced on a smooth rock with his spear ready. From time to time, all three of them looked back.

Look.

Then look again.

Then look one more time.

Lin Huahua noticed it and pouted a little.

"I am not going anywhere," she called out.

Feng Yiren did not even turn fully around. "That sentence means nothing. Stay where you are."

Lin Huahua huffed. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

She truly did stay for a while. She ate two pieces of fruit. She watched Hu Baiyu spear a fish in one quick motion and secretly thought he looked so cool it was unfair. She watched Mu Qingyi sort the catch with patience, keeping the better ones for her. She watched Feng Yiren show off with such annoying skill that she wanted to throw something at his head.

Then, because Lin Huahua was Lin Huahua, sitting still started to become difficult.

She got up and began looking around.

At first, it was harmless. She only wandered close, stepping across the flatter stones, peering at flowers growing between the cracks, poking a leaf with her toe, watching bright insects float by. The males noticed and each one glanced back.

"She moved," Feng Yiren said.

"She is only nearby," Mu Qingyi replied.

Hu Baiyu was already staring so intently that it was obvious he was this close to going and standing beside her permanently.

Lin Huahua pretended not to notice.

Then something farther down the water caught her eye.

There, near the meeting point where the river widened and seemed to blend toward the deeper body of water beyond, little silver fish were leaping.

Not once.

Not twice.

Again and again.

They jumped out, landed with tiny splashes, then darted around in circles like they were playing some game only fishes understood.

One especially bold fish even sprang up beside another and smacked back into the water with such an enthusiastic flop that Lin Huahua burst into a small laugh.

"They are so cute," she murmured.