Beauty, in the Beast World

A Gathering Storm

As the steady drum of rain began to intensify in the days leading to the rainy season, Lila and her high-ranking mates huddled together, deep in thought over the best course of action. Every evening after the cubs had been tucked away, the fires in their home burned long into the night, lighting their discussions and schemes. The looming threat of Bai Qingqing escaping to Yan City weighed heavily on all of them.

"We need to go after her directly," Winston declared one night, his pale blue-silver eyes reflecting the flickering firelight. "She fled recently, she'll have no choice but to take refuge in one of the villages that borders the desert for the rainy season. It's our best chance to intercept her."

Lyris, his lavender eyes narrowed in thought, nodded slowly. "Are there any villages between us and Yan City?"

Curtis, his sharp ruby gaze resting on each of them, spoke up next, his voice a low hiss of authority. "Yes. Four villages stand in our path. The closest is the Horse village, then the Rabbit, the Peacock, and finally, a Tiger village right at the edge of the desert."

Winston's brow furrowed in concern. "This isn't a journey we can make once the heavy rains come. We can't afford delays, and we certainly can't risk the food we've been preparing for winter rotting in the downpour."

Lila, silent until now, slithered forward gracefully, her magenta eyes gleaming with an idea. "The Tiger King will send word tonight or by dawn," she said confidently. "We already have strong connections with both the Tiger and Horse villages. That gives us an advantage, but we must act before the weather makes travel impossible."

The fire crackled softly in the dimly lit sitting room, casting flickering shadows on the walls as Lila, Curtis, and Winston gathered around the table. The weight of their conversation was palpable, a tension that hung in the air like a storm cloud about to burst. Curtis's voice broke the silence, his sharp hiss laced with distrust.

"That may be the case, but how do we even know we can trust the Tiger King?" Curtis's eyes glowed in the low light, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. "How do we know she's actually headed for Yan City and not just moving in that direction?"

Lila contemplated his words, her magenta eyes narrowing thoughtfully. She folded her hands, her long, snake-like tail coiling beneath her as she leaned against the table. "It's not the Tiger King I trust," she said, her voice smooth but cautious. "But I trust Qin... and to a lesser extent, Isaac. They've just reinforced the ties between the Ocean Snakes and the Merfolk. She wouldn't risk our alliance by misleading us."

Curtis let out a low hiss, his skepticism evident. "I still don't trust that Ape," he muttered, his eyes narrowing further. "And I don't think that hawk would risk taking Bai Qingqing to a place like Yan City on a whim. It's crawling with rootless beasts. The entire city is dangerous, even for males. Only the strongest and oldest males, those who have ascended past the fifth mark, are able to claim mates there. The weak are swallowed whole."

Lila raised a hand to her chin, her fingers tapping lightly as she considered his words. "There has to be a reason the Tiger King told us about Yan City," she mused aloud, her tail flicking in agitation. "It's not like him to volunteer information without some hidden motive."

Before Lila could continue, Winston's ears perked up, his pale blue-silver eyes darkening with sudden realization. Without warning, he slammed his fist against the table with a loud thud, startling both of them. Lila jolted in surprise, her body jerking backward into Curtis's chest.

"Oops, sorry Curtis," she muttered apologetically, feeling the heat of embarrassment rise in her cheeks.

Curtis, his usual stoic demeanor softening, shook his head gently. "It's fine, Little Moon," he reassured her, his hissing softened into something almost affectionate. "Winston, be more careful. You scared Moon."