All the beast couples are living in some separate caves at a small distance, Hugh and Kirra invited me to rest in their cave tonight after the welcome party.
Their cave was warmly decorated: several colourful conchs were placed as ornaments — they were embellished on the haystack covered with a big white fur, and there were some beautiful blue flowers planted near the stone table in the middle of the cave, some rock art was painted with red ore powder on cave's back wall. It seems like Kirra is a nice female, living her life to the fullest.
Living in a beast tribe, Kirra has already learned how to speak the beast language, so unlike me — she doesn't need Hugh to be a translator for her when she is communicating with Kruger. Taking Kirra's experience as a reference, I think it's better for me to learn this language without delay if I want to get along well with everyone in this tribe. On top of that, my life will definitely become more convenient, at least our conversation will not look like a dance contest anymore.
After chatting with Kirra and Kruger, I was informed that beasts only stay in one place for about four to five winters in general, and they will leave for other places in Australia in the fifth spring. With this arrangement, the beasts' perception range can be spread all over the whole continent to the maximum extent, and everyone has a fair chance to find their destinated mates as soon as possible.
It will be the first winter here in this jungle area. Lying on the haystack with my clothes on, I was thinking about the plans for the next five years: what preparations should be made to survive, how to involve myself in the tribe, and then listing the tools that can be used to improve our quality of life...
...
"LuLu, LuLu!"
"Wake up!"
"YOU ARE BLEEDING NOW!"
Didn't even know when I fell asleep last night, Kruger's voice interrupted my dream.
By the time Kruger woke me up, I was dreaming of building myself a cabin in the forest. Right after hearing his scream, I noticed that there was something wrong with my body: my tummy felt some familiar painful muscle cramps, and the aches spread to my back and waist before I opened my eyes — it was the damn period pain!
When I finally opened my eyes, Kruger was leaning by the haystack which I was sleeping on, looking at me in concern. He opened his mouth several times and tried to say something, but eventually didn't come up with any words. Raising my head to pat his head, I was about to comfort him and tell him it was not a big deal in case he worried about me getting injured, Kruger suddenly asked with slight hesitation:
"LuLu... Did you get the hemorrhoids you said yesterday? ... It looks the same — after eating some spicy food last night, your bottom is bleeding this morning."
"Can I suggest you not eat chilli again in the future? Is it worth eating?"
...
Damn.
Now I truly wish to have a time machine, so I can go back to several hours ago, and seal my mouth which can't help talking about everything! Weren't there other things I could say?
Why the hell did I mention hemorrhoids last night!
You have such a big mouth, Bai Lu!
I started to scream silently, in my heart.
...
NO! I DID NOT get hemorrhoids! I AM HEALTHY!
It's JUST a normal period!!!
Oh my God, this is so embarrassing.
...
But, how can I tell Kruger this time?
It's somehow true that my bottom is bleeding now...
Feeling like I have no way to explain it, and most importantly, I am not sure if he can understand my period as a normal physical phenomenon. Holding my breath and keeping thinking about this shameful moment, I almost choked myself out.
Kicked Kruger's head bitterly, I shouted at him, sotto voce:
"Don't talk nonsense! And... Don't look at me like that! This is just something that we human females experience every month!"
Kruger stroked his chin and thought for a while, suddenly seeing the light, "So it is! I do smell blood every once in a while from those females in the tribe. LuLu, don't get up, just keep resting here and I'll ask uncle Hugh what to do!"
"Wait...!"
Reaching for an empty hand, I failed to catch his arm. Kruger was so fast that has already run deeper into the cave.
Alas... It is early in the morning now. How can he disturb the couple before they get up? What if he walks in on them if they are doing something privately?
Sure enough, when Kruger came back to me again, there was a dark circle around his eyes which proves he did get a punch. However, it seemed that this bruise didn't bother him at all. Kruger grinned at me with his eight white teeth showing up:
"LuLu, all you need to do for today is lie down and have a goooood rest! Whatever you want, just tell me, and I will do everything for you."
Kruger was rubbing his palms with his hands folded while speaking to me, "Uncle Hugh told me that if I can rub your belly with my warm hands, you might feel much more comfortable. LuLu, may I?"
"Lie down here, please. LuLu, it's my turn to give you a nice massage this time!"
...
Isn't it too intimate to let a male touch my belly directly?
But we are friends now, and I did rub Kruger's belly so many times previously even though he was in the beast form...
Meanwhile, my Panadol is in the medicine box, which was stored in my car hundreds of meters away, so I don't bother to reach it, and I don't think Kruger can find it, either.
Forget it, why do I overthink this thing?
Obviously, Kruger just sincerely hopes I can feel better at this moment. I'd better not think too much since he doesn't mean anything else.
"Thank you, Kruger."
I looked him in the eye with a smile and then moved my body to make some room for him to sit. Kruger held my back in his arms and put his big warm hands on my belly, and then gently rubbed it.
"I am courting you, LuLu. These are what I should do for you, you never need to thank me for that. Only if you are happy, I will have my happiness."
"What do you want for lunch? I can bring all your cooking tools here from your car, and you can teach me how to prepare your favourite meal."
Hmmm...
I feel like something hot with soup, I guess... If it is just some simple boiled food, he might not have the chance to screw things up?