A Novel's Beast World

23. Can't Foxes Swim?

Okay, I caved.  I'm not a patient human and I'm far ahead with chapters.  Here is the third update for today April 17.  Have a great day!

Edited: February 17, 2023.

Qingqing still hasn't shown up. I asked Harvey to check around town for information. I don't know how long Curtis and Qingqing stay on the run. I don't plan to stay around too long once I catch Winston, but I'd like to know where I am in the plot line. Staying by Qingqing would be helpful for a while. I want to steal her random knowledge. I have no clue how to make stuff, but she does. That'll make my life easier.

I got to eat some flavorless fruits in the meanwhile. They looked like dragonfruit, but had bright orange flesh. They were hydrating, but had almost no flavor. Shuu brought me all kinds of fruit to try. Being a royal has its perks.

For the next few days, I made crafts with Harvey when he was home and went to the river with Shuu when he wasn't. Even me and my shitty directional sense can know find my way to and from the river. So far, the river was my favorite place. The water was clear and cool. I would even get Shuu to join my swims.

Today, Shuu was fixing up some fishing baskets and emptying the others. A bear male, I think, was chatting with him. Since it didn't look like they'd fight, I relaxed and chilled while floating. The river carried me slowly along. If only I had an inner tube, this would be peak relaxation.

Or it would've been if some intense splashing wasn't happening next to me. I checked the area out, pissed that someone was fuckin around with my peaceful moment. A little girl was flailing around, with a young man flailing next to her. I lifted her out of the water and put her on my shoulders, before grabbing the drowning guy beside her. I got a couple of feet before the girl was ripped off my shoulders by some huge man hands.

Since one burden was gone, I focused on the second one who I swam to shore. Why couldn't man hands take this guy instead? He was the heavier one. I dropped the deadweight and hoped I didn't have to do CPR. I hadn't renewed my license and didn't want to.

Cough. Cough. Cough. Oh good, he isn't dead. Since my swim was ruined, I was going to leave. I don't need to know what happened, my bullshit sensor was tingling.

"Wait, female." Can I pretend it's not me? "Healthy female in the river." Damn, guess it's me.

"Yeah." I tried to look calm, but a crowd was forming and my anxiety was awakening.

"You saved a female cub." Okay. If you want to pay me, fork over the cash or crystals. Otherwise, leave me alone.

"And?" Big man hands looked shook. You're the one that brought it up. Get on with it man. "Can I go now?"

"This female cub is my offspring. Thank you for saving her."

"You're welcome." Finally, I can leave.

He seemed to have said what he wanted, so I dived under the water and swam away. I made it back to a frantic Shuu. I told him the story and he looked at me dumfounded. After he got over it, he openly worshipped me. For the love of...

"Shuu, for the love of God. Stop staring at me like that. I get it. That's not a normal action for a female. You're standards are lower than my life's expectations. Where I am from, you don't just let others drown, even if you really don't want to get involved." He let off a bit, but I could still see him peeking. "I didn't even exert myself. Hell, I didn't put any real effort. I didn't want to feel guilty later, so I grabbed and dragged."