The Return of the Beast Princess

Chapter 20 - The Barrier *

"You better go hunt now to eat. I bet you are very hungry. Even though your skin is practically glowing after the shedding, you looked like you lost a lot of weight. I'll...I'll just clean up and wait for you here. I have a lot of things to discuss with you when you get back...."

Asha was keeping a straight face but her blushing skin is betraying her. She can't believe that she and Dumu just went and did something lewd. They just met again and did up to third base just like that. And Dumu kissing her skin all over her back is not even helping to cool down from the high that they just came to.

He sucked a small patch of skin right behind her neck that made goosebumps cover her all over. Her knees would like to give out already. She knows he just marked her but it made butterflies flutter in her stomach.

"Have you eaten? I will hunt more so we can both eat. Stay right here and wait for me?"

Asha looked back at him and it made her blush even more for it was the first time she saw him smile so affectionately at her. Her heart is beating so fast that she only nodded at him before she was released from his embrace. She was standing still in the lake naked with the water just up above her knees as she watched him leave the barrier.

Her brain was still processing what happened. Time even passed by and she only snapped out of her thoughts when she felt a shiver from the cold breeze.

Right, I'm still naked and in the lake. Better do a quick scrub and put some clothes on. It's not that I'm regretting anything because I feel attracted to him in the first place...Aaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!! Fucking morals! I'm already an adult so I can do what I want! Period! Now move Ashanti Bridges for he'll be arriving anytime soon with food.

She quickly bathed one more time in the lake before leaving. She put on a loose dress for this was the first thing she got swiping out from the space. She didn't even notice the sexy undies that she is wearing for her thoughts are still floating in the air.

She was absent-mindedly picking fallen twigs and branches so she could start a fire pit when the whole surroundings suddenly shook. It made her alert and observe her surroundings when another loud bang can be heard and everything around her shakes.

"What the hell?!"

A succession of very loud bangs were heard as the ground shook with it. Then she suddenly realizes that something or someone is trying to destroy her barrier from the outside.

"Dumu!"

She immediately ran towards the direction where the barrier was being hit, dropping all the branches from her hands.

Stupid! Stupid Asha! I was so caught up with thinking of what we did that I forgot to tell Dumu about the barrier.

She slipped through the invisible barrier when she saw Dumu trying to destroy the steep rock hill in front of him. He looks so distressed and worried while attacking the rock hill with his massive black tail.

"Asha! Where are you?! I have to save her! I know this rock hill was not here before... Asha!!!"

"Dumu stop! I'm here...."

Asha felt a gush of strong wind on her sides after she was enveloped by strong arms. Her face was leaning against a cold and broad muscular chest.

"Asha... I... I thought something bad happened to you...I thought... I... lost you...."

That's when Asha realized that Dumu's whole body was trembling. He was shaking in fear and worry and that made her heart melt even more for him as she hugged him back, soothing him.

"Shhhh shhhh everything's okay now. Just breathe and relax. Sorry... It was all my fault. I forgot to tell you about the barrier that I made to protect and hide us while you were shedding your skin."

Dumu looked at her, checking if she was hurt anywhere. The worry in his eyes made butterflies flutter even more inside her stomach, making her blush.

"Are you not hurt anywhere? Are you okay Asha?"

She nods at him smiling.

"Mm-hmmm. This steep rock hill formation that you are seeing right now is just an illusion. It camouflaged the barrier and looks like that to prevent other beasts from going near it. I made it to hide us."

Dumu slithered slowly at the rock hill while still holding Asha. He touched it curiously. It repels him immediately by blocking him from getting through.

"Illusion? Camouflage? It feels like it is a dangerous rock hill."

"It is supposed to look and feel like a small rock mountain. I made it look so steep and dangerous so no one would even attempt to get close to it. But truth be told, this is a protective barrier. Like a very big dome to cover where we were. No one is allowed to go through and enter it except me, the one who created it. You were only allowed to exit it earlier but once you are outside, you won't be able to get back in. Look...."

Asha touched the rock hill and to Dumu's surprise, her hand went through and it looked like her hand was swallowed and disappeared. She smiled at him when he tried to do the same but was blocked again. She removed her hand and let him see that nothing bad happened to her hand. He was touching it curiously and looked at her again.

"This is what you call an illusion. It makes you believe that what you see and feel is what I want you to see and feel but really, it is not. I camouflage it like this to blend in with the surroundings so it would be more convincing that this rock hill formation is part of the forest. Camouflage means to disguise or to hide. Do you understand now?"

Dumu nodded as he was more amazed after Asha explained it to him.

"You are more powerful than witch doctors. No one in the beast world can make something like this. Do not use this power unless you are in danger. If other beasts know that you have this ability, they might want to snatch you away and take this power from you. There are a lot of evil and greedy beast men out there. If others want to harm you, I will kill them."

She kissed his cheek that made him blush and looked at her lovingly.

"I know. I'll be careful. Thank you Dumu."