The Beast World Resets

Chapter 8

The village had settled into a fragile calm. It had been two days since Colette and Apollo introduced the water filtration system, and the efforts were paying off. The feverish villagers, once weakened and listless, now stirred with faint signs of recovery. The herbs Colette used, paired with the clean water and isolation methods, were working. The villagers who had doubted her at first were now looking to her with something bordering on admiration—or was it relief?

She stood near the center of the village, watching as families carried pots of boiled water back to their huts. It was a simple scene, but one that gave her a sense of accomplishment. The world of beast-men might have been different from her own, but there were universal truths—clean water, proper care, and common sense.

Apollo was by her side, organizing supplies as usual, his snake-like tail flicking back and forth as he worked. The villagers had grown more comfortable around him, but the tension hadn't fully dissipated. Colette could feel their unease, especially when they whispered among themselves.

"He doesn't bite," she muttered under her breath, trying to ease the atmosphere with a small smile.

Apollo looked up, his golden eyes bright but hesitant. "They're still scared of me, aren't they?"

"Give them time," Colette replied. "You helped save their lives, and that'll mean something to them eventually."

Apollo's lips quirked into a small smile, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. He knew the fear ran deeper than just misunderstanding. The feral stigma clung to him like a shadow, and Colette could only hope the villagers would see beyond it soon.

A familiar presence tugged at the edge of her awareness, and she turned sharply. The trees on the outskirts of the village rustled, their leaves trembling as if brushed by a strong wind. But there was no wind. Colette's eyes narrowed. Curtis.

He had been watching, she was certain of it. Apollo had mentioned seeing him, but Curtis had kept his distance since that night. Colette's heart twinged with a strange mixture of relief and frustration. If he was going to lurk in the shadows, why not come forward? Why hide?

"Aren't you going to call him out?" Apollo asked, following her gaze.

"No," Colette replied, turning away. "If Curtis wants to talk, he'll come when he's ready."

Apollo nodded, though he seemed unconvinced.

As if on cue, a low hiss echoed through the air, followed by the unmistakable sound of slithering. Colette's pulse quickened as Curtis emerged from the trees, his long tail coiling and uncoiling behind him, his red eyes sharp and focused. There was an intensity in his gaze that made her chest tighten, and for a brief moment, she wasn't sure if it was anger, frustration, or something else entirely.

Curtis stopped a few feet away, his eyes locking onto hers with a mix of challenge and something deeper. "You've been busy," he said, his voice low but filled with an unmistakable edge.

Colette crossed her arms, her expression calm but guarded. "The village needed help. I did what I could."

"I noticed," Curtis muttered, his tail twitching. His gaze flicked briefly to Apollo, and his expression darkened. "You've been spending a lot of time with him."

Apollo's eyes widened slightly, sensing the tension, but before he could speak, Colette cut in. "Apollo's been helping me keep this village alive. We've been working together to solve a crisis."

Curtis's jaw clenched, his eyes narrowing. "And you didn't need me."

Ah, there it was. Colette's heart softened slightly, but she didn't let it show. "You left without saying anything, Curtis. I didn't know where you went or when you'd be back."

Curtis stepped closer, his gaze sharp. "You didn't look for me."

"I didn't think I needed to," Colette replied, her voice steady. "You're capable of handling yourself, right? Just like I am."

Curtis flinched, the sting of her words cutting deeper than he'd expected. His tail lashed behind him, betraying the frustration he tried to keep in check. "You think I don't care?"

"That's not what I said," Colette sighed, rubbing her temples. "Curtis, I'm not asking for you to babysit me. I'm asking for us to trust each other. You don't need to hover over me, and I don't need to rely on you for everything. We can be partners, not... possessors."

Curtis's gaze softened slightly, though his posture remained tense. "I'm not used to this," he admitted quietly. "I don't like feeling... unnecessary."

Colette's expression softened. "You're not unnecessary, Curtis. But if we're going to make this work, you have to understand that I can handle myself. I don't need protection every minute of the day."

Curtis's shoulders relaxed, though the intensity in his gaze didn't fade completely. "I still don't like it."

Colette smiled faintly, stepping closer. "You don't have to like it, just respect it."

There was a long pause as Curtis studied her, his red eyes searching hers for something—some reassurance, perhaps. Finally, he let out a low sigh and nodded, though his tail still twitched with lingering frustration.

"You smell like herbs," Curtis murmured, leaning in slightly. "And blood."

"I've been working," Colette replied, raising an eyebrow. "Someone had to fix the water situation."

"I could've helped."

"Then help me now," she said, meeting his gaze. "We're still not done."

As the day wore on, Colette, Apollo, and Curtis continued tending to the village. More villagers had recovered, their fevers breaking after days of treatment, but there was still work to be done. The filtration system was working, but the villagers were cautious, still adjusting to the new methods.

As the sun began to set, casting a warm golden glow over the village, one of the villagers approached Colette hesitantly. It was the elder, his expression lined with concern.

"Colette," he began, his voice quiet, "the water has been cleaned, and the patients are recovering. But... we've noticed something else."

Colette frowned, her mind immediately shifting into problem-solving mode. "What is it?"

The elder glanced around, lowering his voice. "There are rumors spreading—about a larger threat. Something... darker."

A chill ran down Colette's spine. "What kind of threat?"

"Beast-men from neighboring tribes," the elder said, his voice hushed. "They've been talking about something that's been attacking travelers and hunting parties. No one knows what it is."

Colette exchanged a glance with Curtis, who had been listening silently. His eyes narrowed, a flicker of concern crossing his features.

The village crisis might have been under control, but it seemed like something far more dangerous was lurking just beyond the trees. Something that threatened more than just a few infected villagers.