Beauty, in the Beast World

Beyond the Cave, Into the Wild

Atlas returned to the cave in his beast form, his large frame nearly filling the entrance. A wild bird dangled from his jaws, and with a low growl, he dropped it at Zache's side. Atlas barked a few short commands, his eyes gleaming with urgency. Zache nodded without a word and gathered a few supplies—some spices, a stone bowl, and small animal skin bags—before loading them into an animal skin sack, which he carefully secured on Atlas's back.

"Ready to go out, Lila?" Zache asked, looking over at her as he prepared.

"Out?" Lila blinked in surprise. "Are we going to play?" Her excitement was tempered by a trace of confusion.

Zache smiled, ruffling her hair affectionately. "Atlas is taking you out for awhile, and afterward, you'll stop to pick some berries, vegetables, and fruit to bring back. I know you've been cooped up in the cave for days. It'll be good for you to stretch your legs."

Though Lila smiled at the idea, she couldn't shake the feeling of unease that crept into her chest. She glanced at Atlas, who stood at the entrance, his ears pricked and his tail wagging slightly. "Atlas," she started softly, walking over to him and placing a hand on his fur, "can Zache come with us?"

Atlas's ears drooped at her words, and he let out a low whine. Lila, sensing his disappointment, leaned forward and kissed his wet nose. "I know you're strong," she whispered, "but it would make me feel better if Zache came along. You always tell me how dangerous it is for females to leave the village."

At her gentle reassurance, Atlas's ears perked back up, and after a moment's hesitation, he nodded. Lila beamed at him. "Thank you, my love." She kissed him again, though this time more firmly, before adding playfully, "I'm going to ride on Zache today, if that's alright."

Atlas let out a soft, protesting whine but didn't argue, his tail flicking with mild frustration. By the time Lila turned back to Zache, the second wolf had already shifted into his beast form. His dark brown fur was rich and sleek, his size slightly smaller than Atlas's. Lila carefully climbed onto his back, settling into the familiar comfort of Zache's strong form.

Once she was securely in place, the three of them made their way out of the village. As they passed through the rows of caves, Lila spotted Isla and Ryder near the entrance to their home. Isla waved with a warm smile as the group trotted by, Ryder standing protectively at her side.

Lila waved back, her spirits lifting with the promise of adventure. Soon enough, the two wolves bounded into the thick forest, their paws padding lightly over the soft forest floor, stirring up leaves and debris in their wake. The canopy above filtered the sunlight into dappled patches of gold, casting a serene glow over the forest. Everywhere Lila looked, vibrant flowers bloomed in shades of pink, red, yellow, and orange, their colors popping against the deep green foliage.

Once or twice, Lila urged the wolves to stop so she could gather some of the flowers, captivated by their beauty. Zache, ever the gentle companion, braided a few pink blossoms into her silver hair, his wolfish grin softening when she admired the way they looked.

"They suit you," Zache said with pride, his voice barely a rumble in his throat.

Lila grinned, the flowers framing her face perfectly as they took off once more. Atlas led them deeper into the forest, never stopping until they reached their destination—a secluded rocky pool hidden within the trees. A waterfall cascaded down from a high rock face, its water splashing into the pool below in a steady rhythm that made it seem as though the water was falling from the heavens.

Lila slid off Zache's back, her eyes wide with awe as she gazed at the serene beauty surrounding them. The sound of the waterfall echoed through the quiet glen, and colorful fish darted beneath the surface of the clear water.