Beastmen: Divinity in the wild

CHAPTER - 16

On the third day of the festival, the air was filled with excitement and anticipation as I made my way to the village center with Luka by my side. The vibrant atmosphere of the festival was infectious, and I could see the curiosity in Luka's eyes as he took in the colorful stalls, the bustling crowd, and the lively music.

"Ready to learn how to take care of me?" I asked playfully, nudging him.

Luka gave a small, reluctant smile. "I suppose I have no choice."

We walked through the festival together, exploring the various stalls and attractions. Vendors called out, trying to entice us with their goods, and the air was filled with the scent of roasted meats and sweet pastries.

As we wandered, Luka and I began to talk. At first, the conversation was casual—about the festival, the different stalls, and the various foods. But soon, it delved into more meaningful territory.

"So, Luka," I asked, "where are you from originally?"

Luka hesitated for a moment before answering. "I was born in a small village on the outskirts of the lion territory. I was a bit... how to say it? I guess I was a bit different since I was young. My parents didn't like me being so abnormal, so I think I should have guessed what was to come?"

I furrowed my brows and nodded in encouragment. "What happened?"

He sighed, his eyes darkening with painful memories. "My family was poor, during winter, my mother didn't have enough beast pelts. So they found a slave trader, and sold me to him in exchange for pelts. I was naïve, when they promised to buy me back after winter, I believed them.

He scoffs, "And guess what? They never came."

I felt a burning rage inside me, how can they do something like that to a cub? Do they have no shame?

I stopped in the middle of the road and turned towards him, giving him my undivided attention. I wanted him to believe me, I wanted him to know that whatever I am going to say would be nothing but the truth.

Her eyes soft but determined as she looks at him. The sorrow in his gaze cut her deeply, knowing the weight of his abandonment. She places a hand on his shoulder, her touch gentle yet firm, grounding him in the moment.

"Hey," she starts, her voice low but steady, "I know... I know how much it hurts. To feel like you've been left behind. Like no one cares. But I need you to hear me." She tilts her head slightly, trying to catch his eyes. "I'm not going anywhere. I'm here. With you."

Her fingers tighten just slightly, a reassuring squeeze. "Whatever happens, whatever storms come... I'll be here. You're not alone in this, not anymore. I promise you, I will never leave you behind."

He tries to say something, the walls he had built over the years, the strong front he tried to keep, it was crumbling, and it was crumbling so unexpectedly in the hands of a five-year old female cub. His voice cracking under the weight of his emotions, but she cuts him off softly. "No, listen to me. You're worth fighting for. And I'll fight for you, even when you can't fight for yourself. Your'e not my slave, your'e my friend and I want you to believe that ok? We're in this together now."

Her words linger in the air, warm and full of the promise she would never break. She lets the silence settle, giving him the space to process, but never once loosening her hold—never once letting him feel alone.

"It was," he admitted. "But I survived. I learned how to hunt, how to fight, how to stay alive."

"You're very strong," I said, admiring his resilience. "I hope we can help you find some peace here."

He looked at me, his gaze softening slightly. "Maybe."

As we continued walking, I tried to talk about lightehearted topics, to make him forget his sadness. As long as he was with me, I'll never make him feel the heartbreak of abandonment.

Soon, the conversions started flowing and we started looking fo things to buy. I spotted a beautiful necklace at one of the stalls. It was made of intricately woven beads and feathers, shimmering in the sunlight. I reached out to take a closer look, but another hand reached for it at the same time.

"I saw it first," a haughty voice declared. I turned to see a young woman, her expression imperious.

"I'm sorry," I said, trying to remain polite. "I didn't realize."

The woman scoffed. "Of course you didn't. But it's mine."

Before I could respond, her brother appeared, a tall, imposing figure. He looked at Luka with disdain. "Is there a problem here?"

Luka stepped forward, his posture protective. "No problem. We're just looking."

The woman's brother sneered. "Looks like your little slave doesn't know his place."

Luka's eyes flashed with anger, but he kept his composure. "I'm no one's slave," he said calmly. "And I suggest you mind your words."

The tension between them was palpable, and I could feel a confrontation brewing. The woman's brother made a move to push Luka, but Luka was faster. In a blur of motion, Luka dodged the attack and landed a swift, precise strike, sending the man stumbling backward.

The crowd around us gasped, and the woman's brother looked both shocked and furious. "How dare you!" he shouted, lunging at Luka again.

This time, Luka was ready. With a series of fluid, well-practiced movements, he disarmed and subdued the man, pinning him to the ground. The crowd erupted in cheers and applause, clearly impressed by Luka's skill.

As the man's sister rushed to his side, glaring at us, Luka helped me up. "Are you okay?" he asked, concern in his eyes.

"I'm fine," I assured him, still a bit shaken by the confrontation. "Thank you."

Once the situation had calmed down, Luka explained. "I had to hunt for my previous master. I learned how to fight to survive."

"You're incredible," I said, genuinely impressed. "Thank you for protecting me."

He shrugged, though I could see a hint of pride in his eyes. "It's my job now, right?"

As we continued through the festival, I felt a newfound respect for Luka. He was not just a slave; he was a warrior, a survivor.

We spent the rest of the day exploring the festival, enjoying the various sights and sounds. Luka even began to relax and enjoy himself, and I saw glimpses of the person he could become—a strong, capable individual who had endured so much but still had a spirit that refused to be broken.

By the time we returned home, we were both tired but content. I knew there would be more challenges ahead, but with Luka by my side, I felt more confident than ever. We were forging a bond, and together, we would face whatever the future held.

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Hello, my lovely readers

It's been so long since I posted something. I definitely underestimated the load of college.

To describe it, the only thing I know what to say is that it's tiring.

It takes me 4 hours to just travel to and fro which again is tiring.

But I am back in business again. No promises on how much I'll post but all I want you to know is that I am not abandoning this book. I want to finish it and I have gotten so many ideas in these few weeks that I have been gone that I really want to write it down.

Question of the chapter-

· What do you think about this dynamic?

Well, that's all for this chapter.

I hope you enjoyed reading it.