The Return of the Beast Princess

Chapter 15 - Dumu the crystal hoarder

Asha woke up early because she wanted to take a bath and brush her teeth in the river before they go. She saw Dumu was busy sewing the boar skin into something so she didn't bother him.

She tries to reflect on her thoughts on what has happened to her for the past few days while bathing. She has decided that while she is looking for a way to go back to her world, she will try to learn and adapt to this new world that she is in.

She changed into a sleeveless tee and shorts for it really is so hot during the day. Good thing that she has her reliable sneakers so her feet is comfy even if they have walked for miles nonstop.

She walked towards Dumu after she has finished packing all her things and keeping them inside her secret space.

"Good morning Dumu. Are you done with what you are doing?"

Dumu nodded at her and showed her a big pouch bag made of boar skin.

"I was planning to pick up some herbs and food along the way so I made a bag."

"You really are smart. I was planning to do the same."

"Do you need a bag? I can make one for you after we hunt another beast for our food later."

"I have a huge secret space that my father made me so I don't need any. But thank you anyways. You ready to go?"

He nods. He seems to understand now how this female talks but at the same time he doesn't. But one thing is for sure, she is not from this world like she said when they first met. He thought she was lying to him to hide some things from being a complete stranger and all. But as days pass by while being together, there are a lot of things that is new and very weird for him that she keeps on doing like it's the most natural thing to do.

Her clothes, the way she talks, her things that keeps on appearing and disappearing in thin air, the knowledge that she has, her fighting ability, her power to control plants... and even her behavior is very different from other females that he has seen and have met.

~~~

It's been hours of walking and yet, she didn't make any progress. Old Harac said that she will find a tribe if she follows the river. But it has been days already and she has never met anyone else.

She looks at Dumu who has been slithering beside her. He sluggishly keeps his pace the same as hers. He never complains through their journey. But why does he look agitated today? Is he sick or something?

"Dumu, are you feeling well?"

He was still staring in front of them like he didn't hear her.

"Dumu?"

She touched his hand and was surprised that he was a bit warm. She held his hand back tightly and made him face her.

"Dumu are you feeling sick. You feel warm. Aren't you supposed to feel cooler?"

"Asha...." His voice is a bit hoarse as he looks at her worried eyes, "I need to hide. My skin, I think I need to shed my skin."

Asha was alarmed. She remembered that her father used to tell her that when snakes shed their skin, they need a safe place to do this for it will make them agitated and violent for it's painful. They shouldn't be disturbed until they fully shed their skin.

She knelt on the ground and dispersed her aura as she touches the ground to quickly scan their surrounding.

"East from here, deep within the forest, there's a cave near a small lake. It will probably take us half a day to go there. Do you think you can make it if we walk towards there right now?"

Asha was suddenly carried by Dumu in his arms and slithered to where she said the cave was. She held on tightly on his neck as Dumu slithers quickly deep within the forest. She was startled at first but as he slithers away, the wind was so cool that it made her feel relaxed and comfortable.

She watched her surroundings pass like a mirage for this feels like driving a race car with a speed limit that can earn you a police ticket when you get caught. It feels freeing for once so as Dumu slithers in a very quick pace, Asha just enjoyed the whole ride as if nothing exists, just her and Dumu.

It only took them half an hour as they reached the cave. It was surrounded with bamboo trees and there was a small lake nearby.

They both entered the cave and saw that it was big inside. As they went deeper, the path inside was divided into two.

"Dumu, can you let me down now?

Dumu almost forgot that he was carrying Asha all the way inside the cave. He was feeling so comfortable with her in his arms that he doesn't want to let go her soft body. Her skin was so smooth when their skin touched earlier and he can smell her sweet scent more when she's this so close to him.

He reluctantly put her down and observed his surroundings.

"The right side doesn't go deep much and is a dead end. The left side is the same but it goes narrower as you go deeper. It's safer if you shed your skin on the right side, you'll have more room to move."

"How about you? I can not leave you alone unprotected Asha. I will worry the whole time."

"You worrywart, I know you are sweet but have you forgotten that I can protect myself? I'll guard the cave while you shed your skin. How long do you think it will take you to finish?"

"Maybe days, maybe weeks. But I think it will take me a week or two. Are you sure you are going to be alright for that long?"

She pats his shoulder with a smile, "I'll wait for you to finish. Hmmm if only I have precious stones to make rune stone formations and seal out this whole area so no one will ever know we are here."

"What kind of precious stones? Are they like crystals? Shiny rocks?"

"Yes! That will do. You know where I can get them?"

Dumu slithers back deeper inside the cave and transforms into a big black snake. Then he began to regurgitate for a moment and to Asha's surprise, he vomited a lot of crystals of different types, colors, shapes and sizes. The dark cave suddenly went bright because of the hill of shiny crystals in front of them.

"What in the world...."

She was staring at the pile of shiny crystals when Dumu transforms to his perfect form.

"These are my treasures. I like to collect them. Some I got from killing beast men who have links with the elements. Some from hunting cub giants, I still can not kill savage giants alone for they are very strong even for a five-starred beast man like me and they usually can be found in groups. The others, I got from bargaining my other loots to tribes and villages I stop over for breaks."

"You collected these many and stored them inside your snake body?"

Asha was still looking at the crystals dumbfounded that makes Dumu worried for a bit for he didn't know if Asha was happy or angry how he collected these especially from killing others.

"Yes. I also have a secret space like yours when I am in my beast form that I can only use in that kind of form. When I am like this or in half beast, I cannot."

Asha begins to laugh as she jumps at Dumu for a hug and kisses his cheek that made him stand still and blush deeply.

"Hahahahaha you really are wonderful Dumu hahahaha. I like you even more."

Dumu's heart begins to beat very fast as the small female clings to his neck tightly and still laughing. Even in his perfect form, he's still way taller than Asha who can only reach his chest when they are both standing. He tries very hard to keep a serious face so he wouldn't get excited too much but the corner of his lips begins to betray him as it twitches to form a smile.

"I like you too Asha."