Reborn as a Side Character in the Beastworld

Chapter One Hundred and One

After Bailey had left the sandbox, Bai continued to stand there with her hand over Parker's mark. For weeks now, anxiety had been eating away at her. She couldn't sleep. She couldn't focus on anything. She couldn't eat. Her appetite had completely disappeared; which might have been a good thing because every time Muir brought her food, Bella would steal it. So, when she saw Bailey, she wanted to run and hug the older girl. She resisted only because of their current location.

Bailey let her know it was ok to hope and though Muir was doing everything he could to keep her alive, he wasn't very good at keeping her hopeful. She was grateful to the eagle for protecting her and to the peacocks for providing her a safe place to wait. But the waiting had become too much. Something was wrong. With Bailey's appearance, the suspicion in Bai's heart grew. If that female had made it all the way here on foot, Parker and Curtis should have been here long before now. So why weren't they? And what was that smoke this morning? Muir had said that the other eagles were jealous of him and had been trying to kill him so they could have a chance with her, but what if it was the other way around? What if....

No. Bai shook her head. She shouldn't let these negative thoughts take hold. Muir had risked life and limb to bring her this far. She shouldn't doubt him. He had been part of the group that rescued her from Curtis. He had provided for her during the winter. And even after Curtis had woken from hibernation, he had watched and protected her from the shadows. It wouldn't be right to doubt him after all this time.

Putting aside such thoughts, she finished her business in the sandbox and headed through the bushes. Muir stood there waiting for her in his eagle form. Next to him stood a peacock that was missing an awful lot of feathers. No way...That couldn't be Alva, could it? She gave the peacock a look of confusion. He turned his back in a huff and flew up to the nearest branch then looked expectantly at them. Muir softly cooed and Bai stuffed her curiosity in the box with her doubts and mounted him. Muir followed the peacock as they rose higher up the tree. She noticed they weren't heading back in the direction her hut had been and flew higher still.

They finally stopped at a wide and steady branch with a large home at the end of it. Muir crouched so she could slide off his back and then he used his head to nudge her towards the house.

"What's going on? Does the person who lives here want to see me?"

The peacock let out what sounded like a snort and then took off. Muir shifted and quickly covered himself. "This will be your new residence. The other place was too drafty and not suitable for you. I'm sorry I didn't realize sooner." He hung his head in deep regret.

"Oh. That's ok. It wasn't that bad." She lied shyly.

Without another word, Muir picked her up and carried her through the threshold of the house like a new bride. It was solidly built with a large nest of straw and feathers in the center. Luxurious furs were piled up in the corner and a rudimentary fireplace made from river stones was built into the far wall. It was like night and day compared to the place she had been living in.

Looking around the room in awe, Bai couldn't believe how nice it was. "This is so nice. Are you sure we can stay here?"

Muir replied in his monotone voice, "You're a female. You should have been brought here from the start." He set her down on the nest and Bai looked at him with gratitude. He grabbed one of thicker furs from the pile and placed it over her. "You must be tired. You should get some sleep."

"Muir? Did you hear what Bailey and I talked about at the sandbox?"

He shook his head. Birds didn't have the greatest hearing. They mainly relied on their impeccable eyesight to hunt and thrive. From the way Bai was acting, he didn't think the fox female had said anything about his deception to her. He still couldn't fathom how she knew he was the one who started the fire. He had the urge to find her and make her tell him but he knew who her mates were and could not risk their wrath. Curtis was a difficult enough opponent. His eyes strayed to the snake mark on his Qingqing's ankle and he frowned. How? Just how had the snake survived?

Noticing his gaze, she continued, "She told me that I'd be able to sense them like they sense me if I focus on their marks. I'm going to start practicing. I'm sure they're nearby. If I can sense their direction, will you help me find them?"

He frowned even further. The fox had meddled more than he thought. At this rate, Qingqing really might find out that he'd kept her mates from her. He had no idea where Curtis had gone. Should he find Parker and let her reunite with the leopard who'd hidden himself to nurse his wounds from their confrontation ten days ago? No. He couldn't do that. Parker would oust him to her and it would take a long time for her to forgive him. But then what about the fox's threat? Would she really get her mates to kill him and tell Qingqing everything?

"Muir? Please." Bai's small voice begged, bringing him out of his thoughts. "I-I need to find them. Especially Parker. I...I think I'm pregnant."

Muir looked at her face in shock. He kneeled down and reached out to touch her face but she flinched back. His first reaction had been elation. It was a wonderful thing for a female to become pregnant. But then her reaction quickly reminded him that she was not his yet, nor were her cubs. They had been together for a month but she had always shied away from his advances. She must have mated with the leopard just before they left the City of Beasts. Her weight loss and lack of appetite must have been the reason for her flat stomach. The cub, whether it was male or female, would eat its mother at this rate.

"You need food. I'll go hunt. I'll be right back." Effectively cutting off the conversation topic of her mates, Muir's one track mind had him running out the door and flying off in search of game before Bai could say another word.

Bai slumped and pouted in the nest. Yes. Something was indeed wrong. Muir had not liked it when she brought up Curtis and Parker. She was sure now. He was hiding something. She pulled the pelt close around her shoulders. Tomorrow she would go to Bailey and ask for help.