Beastmen: Divinity in the wild

CHAPTER - 8

The excitement of Rael’s awakening had settled into a comfortable routine for the family. The following days were filled with a sense of pride and joy as Rael grew more confident with his newfound power. The family was closer than ever, their bond strengthened by the shared experience.

The family gathered in the courtyard, enjoying a rare moment of leisure. Aria sat on a blanket, surrounded by her fathers and brothers. Ursan, Selwyn, Rafe, Jax, and Alaric lounged nearby, watching over her.

Rael, ever the mischievous one, had a glint in his eye. He had been practicing his fire manipulation diligently, and today, he had a new idea. He decided to play a prank on his family.

With a sly grin, Rael focused on his hand, summoning a small flame. He carefully shaped it into a harmless, glowing orb. He tossed it gently towards Kieran, who was absorbed in his own thoughts.

Kieran jumped as the flame orb landed near him. “Rael!” he exclaimed, his voice a mix of surprise and amusement. “What are you doing?”

Rael laughed, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “Just having some fun, Kieran!”

Thorne chuckled, shaking his head. “You’ve got to be more careful with your pranks, Rael. Fire isn’t something to play around with.”

But Rael was undeterred. He created another flame orb, this time tossing it towards Jax. The orb landed at Jax’s feet, causing him to yelp and hop away.

“Alright, alright,” Jax said, his tone playful. “You’ve had your fun, Rael. Now let’s see if you can handle this!” He took a large leaf and started fanning it, causing a burst of wind, blowing Rael’s flame orb back towards him.

Rael dodged the orb, laughing. “Nice try, Jax! But I’m getting better at this!”

Aria watched with wide eyes, her tiny hands clapping in delight at the playful exchange. She loved seeing her family happy and engaged in such lighthearted moments.

…

Later that day, Liora decided it was a perfect day to take Aria on a walk through the village, offering her a chance to explain the village's distribution and dynamics and also to introduce Aria to the female gathering. She dressed Aria in a beautiful little dress and carried her gently in her arms. As they walked through the village, Aria’s fathers watched nervously from a distance, their protective instincts on high alert.

Liora carried Aria in her arms as they strolled through the village. Aria's wide eyes took in the sights and sounds around her. Despite her infant body, her keen mind absorbed everything, albeit through the haze of emotions and distractions that came with being a baby.

"Aria, my dear, I thought it would be good for you to understand how our village is structured," Liora began, her voice gentle and soothing.

They walked past several homes, each one distinct yet similar in their rustic charm.

"Our village has around 1,500 members," Liora explained, pointing to different areas of the village. "The majority are males, about 1,350. Out of these, around 270 have awakened their powers. The remaining 1,080 have not, but they still play crucial roles in our community."

Aria cooed softly, her eyes following a group of children playing nearby. Liora smiled and continued, "As for the females, we are only 150 in total, with more than 100 being foxes. Females are rare and thus highly valued and protected. Of these, 120 are adults, and the rest are children, like you."

They approached a central area where the council hall stood, a large, imposing structure. Nearby, villagers gathered around the marketplace, trading goods and sharing news.