15 - Noble Eagle (1.57k words)

In the peaceful tranquility of the forest clearing, Curtis and Vick were deep in conversation, exchanging knowledge and insights. At the mention of Nivi, I took the initiative to walk on my own, flanked by Vick on my right side while Curtis was on my left side."The weights Yaya wears have a seven-day effect before requiring reactivation. That's when things get complicated — she never let me put them on without us getting into a fight. It hurts me that I have to use force on her, but I always tell myself that it's for her own good," Vick said, referring to the time he almost choked me to death in order to put some weights on me and to stop Curtis's advance, "But at the thought of her fighting the scorpions with a disadvantage, I couldn't bring myself to lock her weights."I snorted, unimpressed.Curtis looked relieved yet frustrated, finally understanding the mystery behind why I was so heavy one day, and then suddenly so light. The reason why he couldn't just pick me up by force and carry me faster to the Camel Hump Valley was because the weights were still in effect. He had picked me up and put me on his tail instead of carrying me like Nivi, and also didn't protest when I wanted to walk on my own.Curtis pressed on to clear the misunderstandings between us, "Yaya, are you still upset at me for listening to Vick's advice? First, it was about getting scorpion poison, then observing the scorpion's combat techniques against other beastmen, followed by taking one by one behind my back, and next thing you're off wanting to go to Flame City for the antidote. Vick or no Vick, I would rather cut off your legs than allow you to go there."I snorted arrogantly again, which made a small vein bulge on the side of Vick's and Curtis's foreheads. I had known all along, yet what did it matter? I wasn't here to gain any favor points from any males.Vick took the opportunity to share a bit about his own past, "Since I remember, my precious Yaya had always been like this. Just like here, the world I came from was inhabited by beastmen. But the balance between females and males wasn't as skewed. I could have had any female I wanted. So, when Yaya's father found me and suggested I try my luck with his daughter, I didn't give it the weight it deserved. I ended up focusing too much on making an impression on him rather than truly connecting with Yaya. I've been trying to make it right, but here we are, ten years later, and I'm still at square one."Curtis also shared some of his past and his ancestor's legacy. He seemed quite impressed that Vick hadn't put his spousal imprint on me by force yet. "I don't think she would care if you did. She told me that it brings her more benefits than disadvantages.""I prefer it to happen naturally when she truly accepts me," said Vick, stroking my hair thoughtfully, "Yaya's heart is colder than ice, but you can't really blame her for it. She had inherited it from her father."Speaking up, I finally found my voice "You've been quite diligent in defending my actions lately, Vick. What's going on? Have you developed a case of Stockholm syndrome because of me?"Hearing his name from my lips after so long brought a wide smile to Vick's face, "I prefer to think of it as being irresistibly drawn to danger. And you, my precious, are the most captivating peril I've encountered."The tranquility was shattered as a majestic eagle descended from the sky, its large wings casting shadows upon the ground, its words cutting through the air like a knife. "Please, allow me to assist your female. You've made her walk on her feet for too long, I'm afraid she may soon reach her limit. It's not safe for her to continue this way, especially in these woods. Allow me to carry her; it's the least I can do to ensure her well-being.""Hey-" Before I could retort with a snarky retort about my weight, Curtis covered my mouth with his right hand while Vick stepped forward."I'm Vick, my precious Yaya's head male," Vick asserted, introducing himself, "Our Yaya wanted to walk by herself, If you doubt our word, feel free to accompany us and see for yourself."A shimmering light enveloped the bird, transforming it into a striking male. He stood tall and muscular, more so than Curtis. His attire — a piece of cloth skirt and a cloak adorned with feathers — remained perfectly intact. With an eagle's sharp, intelligent gaze and a noble demeanor, he embodied the majestic bird's essence in human form.I shot the newcomer in my view-a withering glance, which surprisingly made him blush. The reaction suggested my face had regained much of its usual effect, enough to elicit such a response.Despite being less powerful than both Curtis and Vick, the flying rat stood confidently in their presence, unshaken. "You rejected me because of the feral snake's influence. Now, with you having accepted a new mate, our traditions dictate that such actions reset the prior conditions."Who accepted a new mate, huh? The flying rat likely assumed that Vick had challenged Curtis and emerged victorious, thereby assuming the role of head male.The flying rat introduced himself to Vick with a dignified air, "I am Muir of the Eagle Tribe, distinguished by my three stripes, currently without a mate." His gaze turned earnest, revealing his intentions, "I seek the honor of courting lady Yaya once more and earnestly implore you to let her accept this gift."From within his cloak, he produced a luminous necklace intricately crafted from a pearl that shone in the night.Curtis, acting on behalf of Vick, accepted the necklace and carefully placed it around my neck."Hey, I thought-" As I was gearing up to voice another sharp retort, Curtis hushed me with his lips, plunging his tongue inside of me, making me smirk in amusement as I continued to poke fun at his initial insistence on a one-mate policy.Vick, with a measured look at Muir, finally nodded in agreement. "Alright, Muir, you may court our Yaya, but let's start with something fundamental. Prove your worth and commitment by managing the fire and securing our food," he stated, laying down the initial conditions for Muir's courtship.Muir nodded in elation, then looked at me nervously, not knowing how to start a conversation since my mouth was now covered by Vick, "Um, lady Yaya. I assure you, I will work on improving your comfort. For now, if you need anything- anything at all-just signal. A nod for 'yes,' a shake for 'no'?"I raised an eyebrow at Vick, who gave me a silent offer: a punch to his handsome face in exchange for a kiss. Boy, I would even entertain your kiss, provided you let me punch you not once but twice.Suddenly, Curtis spat out a mouthful of blood out of nowhere.Vick, with a nose now bleeding, couldn't help but lick his lips with a mixture of pain and satisfaction as if relishing in the wildness of the moment.To an outsider, it might have seemed like Curtis and Vick were entangled in a jealousy skirmish. Because of these two ferals, no males dared to approach our group except for Muir. Their exaggerated efforts to uphold my reputation in front of Muir-to keep the illusion of my pristine image — were so blatantly overdone that I couldn't contain myself.Laughter spilled from me uncontrollably as I turned to give Muir a confirming nod that I understood.His eager look was unmistakable — he was already imagining the moment I'd accept him, dreaming of kissing me just like those two did.He must be under the impression that I treat all my males with an equal hand, which, in a peculiar and twisted manner, was not far from the truth.· · ─────── · ⊱❈⊰· ─────── · ·With the new addition, our trio became a quartet, altering the dynamics of our journey. Curtis and Vick immediately dropped their discussion of sensitive matters, their attention shifting to gauge the newcomer's strength.Every so often, Muir would pause in his small talk to ask, "Do you need a rest? We can stop anytime you like."He seemed genuinely invested in ensuring my comfort, often scanning ahead for a suitable spot to rest. "Here looks good, doesn't it?" he'd suggest, indicating a shaded area or a spot with a scenic view, making sure it was a place where I could relax comfortably, even within the constraints of my 'difficult' situation.I was really looking forward to seeing Nivi again, so Muir's constant offers to take breaks just weren't what I wanted to hear. Even though part of me wanted to prove Vick wrong at first, I ended up saying no to all the rest stops. Seriously, I just wanted to get to Nivi as soon as we could.Vick and Curtis shot Muir a look that was practically synchronized. Their eyes saying it all: "See? We told you."╔═══ Author's note ════╗Poor Muir found himself in a vixen's lair, yet still believes he hit the jackpot. 🤣╚═════════════════╝