𝓑𝓮𝓪𝓾𝓽𝔂 & 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓑𝓮𝓪𝓼𝓽𝓼 𝓜𝓸𝓸𝓷'𝓼 𝓛𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽

11

35 Days in the Beastworld now, less than a handful of which she had spent getting to know Yura. And when prompted about taking leave from the temple, Moon refused strongly. She could not leave, not when she now knew that this temple was her mother's legacy and the only home she could turn to for ethereal safety.

"We can get the moss out, just a little scrubbing to be done."

Moon remarked, polishing away at the ritual alter with a handful of thatch and crushed soap bulb reeds. Her hands hardly had time to get working in the green sludge of moss before Curtis took the makeshift scrubber brush from her and continued the cleaning on her behalf.

"You should be resting. We can clean wherever you'd like."

He said seriously.

Moon smiled gratefully at Curtis's concern. She knew he meant well, but she also knew that resting would do her no good if she didn't keep herself busy. The temple had become their home, and she felt a sense of responsibility towards maintaining it. Besides, the work helped her focus her thoughts and ease some of the tension built up from their recent intimate encounters.

"There's so much work to be done... I could not possibly leave it all to you both."

Moon responded, washing the soap bulb extract off of her hands in the hollowed out barrel of water. Said water rippled and from the murky depths Moon swore she saw a bit of movement.

Curtis nodded in understanding.

"I know, Moon. We're here to help you with whatever you need."

He glanced coldly at Yura, who nodded in agreement. They both knew that Moon needed to find her own purpose in this new world, and they would support her however they could.

"Besides, us males are meant to be at our mates disposal."

Yura insisted lightly, coming up behind Moon and gently squeezing both of her shoulders.

Moon leaned forward, peering into the barrel of water as she rinsed her hands. Her curiosity piqued by the slight movement she had seen earlier.

"There might be something in here..."

She suggested, reaching further into the water tentatively to try and catch whatever it was.

Yura chuckled softly, stepping beside Moon to take a look for himself.

"Perhaps it was just a trick of the light."

He mused, but as he leaned in closer, his eyes widened slightly.

"Wait... I think you are right."

He reached into the water as well, firmly grabbing up whatever it was. Immediately the small snake wriggled and fought angrily, sinking its tiny fangs into Yura's hand as it's tail squeezed and coiled around the man's wrist tightly.

Moon gasped in surprise, watching as Yura winced from the sudden pain of the snake's bite.

"Be careful!"

She warned, grabbing a nearby leaf to wrap around his hand and try to soothe the wound.

"It's just a small snake."

She said reassuringly, trying to calm them both down.

Curtis suddenly hissed territorially, rapidly looming behind them and snatching the baby snake firmly, with the intent to kill. But if he were acting this way, it was possible the baby snake could actually be another beastfolk, just like Curtis.

"No!"

Moon cried out, quickly grabbing onto Curtis' strong arm to stop him.

"We don't know if it's just a wild small snake or another like you."