Just Another Beastmen Story

Part 19

Five months had slipped by, the cold giving way to the stirrings of spring. Birds chirped in the newly budded branches, signaling the end of the cold season, for many of the cave's denizens, including Iliana. Her recovery had confined her mostly indoors throughout the winter, cared for diligently by her brothers. Now, as life awakened outside, so did she, stretching limbs that felt too stiff and a body noticeably leaner from the communal effort to ensure their mother, Hannah, had enough to sustain the new baby, Hannah Jr. Iliana had protested the naming, but with her impending departure, she'd let it slide.

"Iliana, go to the watering hole and help prepare for tonight. Your fathers and brothers are heading out for the collective hunt," Hannah instructed, gently rocking the baby in her arms.

"Yes, mother," Iliana replied, moving towards the cave entrance.

"Absolutely not," Hannah's voice boomed suddenly.

Iliana halted, turning to find her mother pointing sternly at the mud bowl. Realizing her oversight, Iliana trudged back, her steps heavy. It had been so long since she last applied her mud mask that going without had become the new normal. With a resigned sigh, she smeared the mud onto her cheeks and resumed her journey to the watering hole.

The area was bustling with life, Beastmen of all kinds gathered in social circles, crafting delicate crowns from the vibrant, newly-sprung flowers and weeds for the recently born. Iliana found an empty spot and began weaving, her fingers mechanically moving as she lost herself in the monotony of the task. Despite the community's vibrancy, a wave of social anxiety washed over her, a reminder of her prolonged isolation.

"Hey, Iliana..." a shy voice interrupted her thoughts. It was Kujo, approaching with a tentative smile, holding a small crown he had been making.

Iliana looked up, momentarily caught off guard by the unexpected interaction but managed a small smile. "Hi, Kujo," she responded, her voice a mix of hesitation and politeness.

Koju settled next to her, without an invitation, and began focusing intently on his weaving. Iliana observed him as he struggled with a particularly stubborn knot, careful not to tear the delicate plants. "Saw you by yourself and figured you might like some company and help," he offered, flashing a shy smile.

Grateful for the distraction, Iliana nodded appreciatively. "I will definitely welcome the future leader of the village," she responded, her tone light, though her mind whirled with curiosity. "Why are you here with us, Koju? Shouldn't you be out hunting with the beastmen?" she inquired, looking around to see Beastmen around 4-5 years old helping their siblings or parents, her own brothers who are young are even helping the hunt.

Koju, finishing his crown with a final twist, avoided her gaze as he answered. "I wanted to help... My dad put me in charge of this today. He said it was also very important to the village, and he will take care of the hunt. Maybe next year I can go..."

Encouragingly, Iliana nodded. "Yes, I suppose it is important. Next year, you should bring back the biggest boar," she mused aloud, noting Koju's age now 17, Iliana couldn't help but feel a bit sorry for him, as his father being overly protective of Koju has made him soft. It will be hard for him to grow out of his shell when he is behind his peers. .

As Iliana swiftly completed three more crowns, Koju labored meticulously over his second. Noticing his painstaking effort, she chuckled, "I can show you a trick to this. It doesn't need to be perfect; the kids will ruin them anyway. I think half of them eat the crowns."

Koju, grateful for the tip, let out a light laugh. "Yes, please."

As they bent over their task, Becca's mother approached them, her demeanor weary and hesitant. "Excuse me, Iliana, can I ask you a question?" she inquired, her voice laden with reluctance.

Iliana, who had rarely interacted with Becca's mother, nodded cautiously. "Sure? What can I do for you?"

The woman seemed uncomfortable, her gaze flitting between Iliana and Koju. "I'm sorry about everything that happened last year with the incident. Becca told me she felt sorry for you and wanted to help you get better. She told me she has been visiting you while you've been bedridden. However, she left for your cave two days ago and hasn't come home. Did she stay over at your place?" she asked, her voice filled with concern.

Iliana felt a twinge of irritation. Becca hadn't apologized nor visited at all, leaving Iliana to wonder why she'd be used as a cover for whatever Becca was up to. "No. She has not been visiting me at all. We haven't spoken since the incident," Iliana clarified, her annoyance barely veiled.

"Oh! Really? this girl" Becca's mother stated annoyed and hurried off.

Koju, puzzled, tilted his head. "Becca is missing? Why would she lie to her mother about visiting you?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.

"I don't know what she's up to, and it's not my business. But I'd appreciate it if she didn't drag me into her schemes," Iliana responded sharply, eager to shift away from the topic.

Changing the subject, Iliana picked up a cluster of weeds. "Here, see this knot? It's simple and won't break the stem," she instructed, demonstrating the technique up close to Koju. "Oh, that's amazing. You're really good at this, Iliana," Koju remarked, his admiration evident as he watched her skillful hands.

After finishing their task, the two placed their flower crowns in a communal basket. Iliana bid Koju farewell and headed back to her cave, avoiding any lingering gazes from the crowd. Koju's frequent questions had kept her from seeking out familiar faces, focusing her instead on helping him perfect his craft.

That evening, as the village gathered for the yearly feast, Iliana and her family enjoyed a lively night around their campfire, sharing stories and laughter. Koju and his father Leo stopped by to place a crown on Hannah Jr., who, true to Iliana's prediction, promptly began to chew on it. Iliana caught Koju's eye and shot him an 'I told you so' look.

As the night progressed, Iliana scanned the village fires, searching for any sign of Becca. However, Becca's place by her family's fire remained empty, her absence notable. The evening air was warm, and the village buzzed with the vibrant energy of the New Year just beginning.