Beauty, in the Beast World

Beyond the Cave, Into the Wild: Reprise

{Atlas's POV}

Atlas couldn't shake the feeling that Lila had been right. As they made their way back to the village, the hairs on the back of his neck prickled with unease. Someone was watching them, of that he was sure. But just as they neared the edge of the village, the sensation vanished as quickly as it had come, leaving Atlas with a lingering sense of uncertainty.

Once they arrived at the cave, Atlas shifted back into his human form. His tall, muscular frame stretched as he set down the sack he had been carrying. Without missing a beat, he crouched by the fire pit and began to relight the flames. The cave, their sanctuary, felt safe and familiar, yet that odd feeling gnawed at him.

Lila came to rest beside him, settling on the animal furs that had been laid out near the fire. Though she smiled softly, Atlas could see the subtle furrow in her brow as she watched Zache pluck the bird he had hunted earlier that morning. Something was on her mind, and it wasn't hard to guess what.

"Is something on your mind, love?" Atlas asked, his deep voice laced with curiosity. He glanced at her, waiting for her to speak.

Lila nodded, turning her gaze toward him. "While you were picking the red fruits, I was sure someone was watching me."

Atlas paused, recalling the fleeting sensation of being observed himself. It had been so faint, almost unnoticeable, and yet now that she mentioned it, the oddness of the moment came rushing back to him. It was strange—he, a triple-marked wolf warrior, had felt it only briefly, but Lila, a female, had sensed it far more acutely.

"I felt it too," he admitted, deciding not to hide the truth. His blue eyes met hers, serious and contemplative. "But it was very faint."

Lila's expression shifted slightly, a glimmer of concern flashing in her magenta eyes. "And was it a wild beast, as you said?" she asked, her tone probing gently but firmly.

Atlas sighed, blowing on the kindling to coax the fire to life. "No," he said at last. "I'm sure it was a beast man of some kind." He glanced back at her quickly, not wanting to alarm her. "But the glade we were in is very close to the Jaguar village. It was probably just a Jaguar male, too nervous to come and say hello to you."

Lila laughed softly, the sound easing the tension in the air. "You're probably right," she said, though a shadow of doubt lingered in her smile. "But I'd feel more at ease if Zache slept in our sleeping room tonight."

Atlas nodded in agreement, casting a glance over at Zache. The brown wolf had been quietly working on the bird, but at Lila's suggestion, his ears perked up immediately.

"Really? I—I can?" Zache stammered, disbelief clear in his voice.

Lila smiled warmly and nodded, her face glowing with affection. In a flash, Zache dropped the bird he had been plucking and rushed over, scooping her up in his arms. He peppered her face with playful kisses, eliciting a soft giggle from her.

After the brief moment of levity, the three of them settled down to eat a simple meal of roasted bird meat, with Lila nibbling on the red fruit Atlas had gathered earlier. The fire crackled warmly, and for the moment, the cave felt like a sanctuary again.

When they finally retired to bed, Lila nestled between the two wolves. Atlas lay on one side of her, his arm draped protectively across her waist, while Zache, still buzzing with happiness, curled up on her other side.

Though the strange presence from earlier still lingered in the back of Atlas's mind, for now, the warmth of the fire and the comfort of Lila's closeness allowed him to rest easy. Whatever had been watching them could wait.

{Lila's POV/Main POV}

Lila awoke to the soft patter of rain against the stone walls of the cave. The steady rhythm of it filled the air, a soothing sound that always made her restless. She frowned as she pushed the furs aside and made her way out of the sleeping room, her bare feet silent on the smooth stone floor. The dim light of dawn filtered through the entrance of the cave, casting shadows over the main room where she expected to find Zache by the fire pit, as usual.