Reborn as a Side Character in the Beastworld

Chapter Ninety-six

We smelled it before we saw it. The burning smell of wood and grass that came to us on the slight breeze of the hot summer day stung our noses and tickled our throats. The men sensed the danger first and Shuu, using his exceptional sense of smell, started steering the entire group in a different direction. Birds flew overhead and small animals scrambled to get to safer ground as we walked beneath the canopy.

Tristan, who I hadn't seen the past few days walked back to us from the front. "Shuu is taking us directly to the lake. It's upwind and downhill of the fire and he says it will be the safest place to be if it spreads."

He had a yellowing bruises on his left cheek and abdomen. It was odd to see him injured considering he was a tetra-marked beastman, but it was a question for another time.

"Is the fire very big?" I asked the question because I had remembered Muir starting a small fire to get rid of Curtis in the novel. I hadn't thought it would happen since Bai wasn't being hunted by the City of Beasts any longer and he wouldn't have the excuse of hiding her from the Ape King's lackeys to keep her mates from taking her back. Either I was wrong and this fire wasn't caused by Muir, or he had found a way to trap Curtis and use the same tactic he'd had in the novel. Unfortunately, even if I could change some people's fates, I can't change their personalities.

"We've sent Patrick and a couple others to see but with the drizzle season being over and the small breeze today, it could be dangerous."

His words made me nervous and I placed a hand instinctively on my stomach.

He noticed the gesture and added, "Don't worry too much. We wont let anything happen to you or any of the other females."

I was grateful for his reassurance and nodded my head. He started to turn away and go further back in the line, but I thought of something.

"Tristan." I called him back. He turned to look at me. "I don't know if it will help, but if it gets bad, there are a few things we can do to try and stop the fire from growing."

A few faces nearby turned to look at me with curiosity. Fire wasn't rare in this world but trying to fight one was. I told him about clearing trees and brush to make fire lines. Pouring water or dirt on a fire was common sense but I suggested reaching out to the nearby peacock and eagle clans to see if they would help with carrying buckets of water and sand. "They might not be willing if they don't think their own villages are in danger but it's worth a shot. Keeping the fire from getting too big will benefit everyone in the long run."

I didn't volunteer myself to go with them and help in any capacity. I didn't want to get the way and I didn't want to put my unborn cubs in danger. Winston would have stopped me even if I had tried. So I simply told Tristan everything I thought might be helpful and hope that it would be.

"Thank you, Queen Bailey. I'll be sure to pass on your advice." He gave me a genuine smile and then he was gone.

It took a couple more hours of walking at a brisk pace to make it to the lake. The water glimmered in the sunlight but the sun itself was no more than an outline of light trying to filter through the haze of smoke. Winston let me down and the first thing I did was provide a bush with my breakfast. Winston looked worried and flustered at my condition but Harvey calmly came up to me and put a soft, cool, wet leather to my neck. The droplets from it trickled down my skin, washing away the horrible nausea.

"Thank you, Harvey." I took the leather from him and brought it to my forehead as I sat cross-legged on the rocky ground.

"We should be able to rest here for a time. Though I worry a little about the smoke." He said looking up at the sky.

He was right, no matter how little, breathing in polluted air like this wasn't good for anyone. It would be especially bad for those closer to the fire. I thought about masks but we didn't have the technology to weave cotton or wool into cloth and the skins weren't very breathable. Plants were natural air filters but I didn't know of any you could use to make a face mask with. Then I thought of the cool, breathable, stretchy snakeskin leggings I was wearing.

I had asked Lance to make them for me as my legs had started chaffing after the first week. He converted one of my full dresses to do it but it was worth it. The fabric was perfect. Even Bai had used it to filter impurities out of salt water in the novel. But would he get mad?

I looked around for my snake and found him already swimming in the lake with Kit on his head steering him this way and that like a pirate captain on his boat. That is, until Lance decided Kit needed a lesson in swimming. He unceremoniously dove into the water, forcing little Kit to sink or swim. My heart was in my throat for a second but the doggy paddle works just as well for foxes and my cub did just fine swimming to shore looking very disgruntled. I couldn't help it and busted up laughing. My laughter turned into coughing as the wind picked up and tossed dust into my lungs.

Harvey handed me a cup of water. Once I could breathe again, I asked Winston to bring Lance to me. Lance, thinking he was getting into trouble for playing too roughly with Kit, picked up the cub by his scruff and headed my way with a look of defiance.

"If your mad about our little fun in the water, see for yourself. He's just fine. In fact, you loved it didn't you?" He asked, turning the cub to face him. Kit impishly stuck out his tongue, something he'd learned from me. Lance frowned. I laughed.

"No. That isn't why I called for you. I wanted to ask you a favor." I then proceeded to ask him to turn my pants into masks for the females, cubs and the males getting close to the fire to wear. He wasn't pleased with the idea of using his precious slough and creations for others but acquiesced to my request when I coughed again.

It was a good thing too because the smoke was getting thicker and reports from the males that had gone to investigate told us the fire was growing. The situation was turning more dangerous. Masks were given to the unmated males, then they all took a dunk in the water before heading off to try and fight the fire. They were led by Tristan. Anxiety ate at me but I knew he was the right choice with his abilities over earth and his tunneling skills with.

We all stayed close to the lake. The females kept to their mate's sides and the males kept their guards up, ready to run at a moments notice. Tension crept up my shoulders as all we could do was wait. 

Some time later a male from the peacock tribe came to meet us. He had long green hair, two stripes and masculine beauty that made him looked like a god of the forest.

He strode cockily into our little camp, straight for Winston. With his chin high and his eyes criticizing everything he saw, he said, "You must be the Tiger King. A fox told me you needed our tribe's help to put the fire out. Our chieftain sent me to see if your claims are true. Well? Are they?"