The Beast World Resets

Chapter 18

The warm afternoon sun filtered through the trees, casting soft shadows over the small clearing in front of Curtis' cave. Colette, dressed in a sunshine-yellow outfit, hummed softly as she tended to her flowers, her movements calm and graceful. She had fashioned a small picket fence around the garden—more for aesthetics than function—but to her, it added a charm to the rugged environment. Her large summer hat shielded her face from the sun, her long silver braid falling over her shoulder as she knelt by a patch of vibrant blooms, adjusting their placement.

Unbeknownst to her, several pairs of eyes were fixed on her from the trees just beyond the clearing. Hidden in the shadows, Zorin's mate Nyssa, Seren's mate Kalira, and Korin's mate Lirae observed the scene with varying degrees of interest and confusion.

Nyssa, ever the neat one, scrunched her nose. "Is she... playing with dirt?"

Kalira huffed, crossing her arms. "What is she even doing? Why is she moving plants around? That's not a proper activity." Her chestnut hair caught a few glimmers of sunlight as she shifted impatiently.

Lirae, on the other hand, remained silent, her silver eyes fixed on Colette. Her curiosity was deeper, less critical than the others, but she still found herself baffled. What was she doing? They had all heard stories about Curtis' female, but none of them had ever expected this.

"She looks... odd," Nyssa whispered. "Like she belongs in some kind of celebration, not out here in the wilderness."

"Curtis mentioned his mark on her heart," Kalira said with a smirk. "You can almost see it through that thin fabric. He's so proud, but look at her—she's nothing like I expected."

A soft breeze carried Colette's humming toward them, and despite themselves, the three females found their curiosity piqued further.

Colette suddenly stopped, her hand pausing mid-motion over a flower. Her head tilted slightly, as if listening. "Who's there?" she called, her voice steady but kind.

The three exchanged quick, startled glances.

"Do you think she heard us?" Lirae whispered.

Kalira stepped back, already deciding to retreat, but Nyssa gave her a slight nudge. "We've come this far, haven't we?"

Lirae, less nervous than the others, finally stepped forward, emerging from the shadows. Nyssa and Kalira hesitated before following suit.

As they approached, Colette stood, her eyes curious but friendly. She smiled gently. "Hello," she greeted. "I didn't mean to intrude on your territory, if this is yours, but I thought it might be nice to create something beautiful here."

Nyssa glanced at the flowers, still unsure of the point. "What... what are you doing?"

"Gardening," Colette replied as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

The three females stared at her, clearly unfamiliar with the concept.

Kalira wrinkled her nose. "So... you're just moving dirt and plants around? For what reason?"

Colette smiled, brushing some soil from her hands. "To make it beautiful. To give the land some care, so it flourishes. Flowers brighten up any space, don't you think?" She gestured toward the blooming patches.

Nyssa eyed the delicate petals but didn't respond. Kalira, on the other hand, seemed to find the explanation pointless.

"And you... enjoy this?" Kalira asked, still skeptical.

"I do," Colette replied easily. "Would you like to join me?"

The three of them exchanged glances again. Nyssa opened her mouth to refuse, but Lirae, still watching Colette closely, spoke first. "No... thank you. We don't... do that sort of thing. It's not something that we'd be fond off."