Fluffy was agitatedly running around, digging through the entire field, dragging out a variety of plants with their roots hanging from his mouth. He would chew them rigorously, then pour out the juice from his mouth directly onto the wounds of the large fox's body.
Rihanna had no idea if the cub really had any knowledge of medicine, nor was she about to intervene in his treatment plan. She settled down a little distance away from the father-son pair, keeping a sharp lookout on the father fox as she watched the little fox laboring away.
"Hmph!....I had thought you would be thinking of how to escape while I was down. You sure have guts to be still hanging around."
Rihanna woke up with a start, only to realize that she had dozed off at some point. The large fox was till lying on it's side, it's breathing shallow, but now his eyes were open and they seemed as sharp and clear as before. Rihanna let out a sigh.
"What's the point. It's not like I can really escape. There's no way out that I know of. And caught in this place, I doubt I can hide from you either. If you want to eat me, you can catch me any time. We are stuck inside the same cage after all."
The large fox furrowed his brows, and glint of greed flashed past his eyes unseen. But he immediately sobered down. This girl's meat would help some in his healing. But even though he really was not wanting to let her go, he still remembered the purple light. Whatever it was, it had a conscience, and it was way stronger than him even in his peak condition. Tsk. This girl kept lamenting her lack of cultivation and assets, but was unaware of the great fat support hidden within her! He did not know who or what it was, but didn't have the courage to provoke it.
But....he couldn't let her go just like that.
"Musakat. I go by the name Musakat. Since my son has befriended you, you may call me Father Musakat."
Rihanna raised her eyebrows in surprise. Wow...this was some 180 degree change! What did it mean? Was he telling his name before he devoured her....or was he planning on cancelling his devouring plans?!
"Yes sir.....I mean Father Musakat. Please tell me if there is anything I can do for you.....ahem....other than becoming your meal."
Musakat looked at her, thoughts churning within, then he turned and gave a series of low grunts and growls towards his son. Fluffy looked at him, his large green eyes looking pitiful. Then rather unwillingly he dragged his body off to the hole he had himself dug, and disappeared through it.
"Indeed...there is something you can do."
Rihanna looked up, hesitant and expectant at the same time.
"Make a Soul contract with my son."
Rihanna could feel her mind on the verge of another shut-down. Was this the same kind of soul contract written in novels? How exactly was she supposed to go about it? And why would such a powerful beast want an utter nincompoop like herself to make a soul contract with his son?....Unless.....
"You are dying?"
His eyes contracted. Then he let out a long, deep breath. The dust around the floor blew outwards, almost making Rihanna choke.
"You have a sharp mind. Though you don't really understand how this world works and keep making mistakes, but you are intelligent enough. With time you will merge well with this world."
"You know I come from a different world?" Rihanna could feel her eyes bulging out in shock.
"I heard your conversation with the voice. It is very protective and caring about you. I presume he is your guardian. He is the reason you are lucky today. He is also one of the reasons why I feel it is beneficial for my son to be with you."
Rihanna chewed on her lips, deep in thought. He mentioned the voice. So she was not imagining it. But that voice not only knew she was not from this world, but also knew she was from earth. Then did it have a connection with her last life? And did it probably know why and how she suddenly transmigrated here?...But she had lost contact with it, or rather 'It' had stopped communicating with her since the last time it had helped her control the energy. But she couldn't tell the fox that!
"Are you really sure? I can't even cultivate, and your son is kind of eye-catching. If someone really sets their evil intentions on him, I doubt I will be able to protect him! Heck, I can't even protect myself!"
"Who said you can't cultivate?"
Rihanna stared at him blankly for a while, wondering where this question had suddenly popped out of. She couldn't cultivate....Ummm...everyone knew it! Was he being sarcastic?
"You still haven't realized what happened that day. Hmm....understandable, since you don't know anything about cultivation. That day, when you were sitting in the middle of the hall, doing who knows what – you actually managed to actively absorb the energy around you. Not only that, you also successfully passed it through your meridians, and finally accumulated it into a small core. I have no idea what method you used, for I have never heard nor seen such a strange method of cultivation. Nor have I seen some one form a core of energy without a spiritual root. However, you managed to do it, with your weird methods. Do you know why you were in so much pain?"
Rihanna was now staring at the Father Musakat with glazed eyes as she shook her head like a rattle drum. That stupid voice never told her anything....oh, she shouldn't curse it. After all she was still alive thanks to it!
"Because you are stupid. You pulled in all the energy, and then ignorantly passed it into your blood, flesh and bones. That is something a cultivator will begin only after completing the Foundation Laying level. This method enhances your power, strengthening your bones and muscles. You really are guarded by the purple light. You would have died that day from the bursting of your meridians and your bones would have been crushed by the sheer force of the energy. The way you rush head-long into situations ignorantly is really stupid, but you are backed up with extreme level of luck. Tsk."
Rihanna pondered on this new bit of knowledge, but then decided she needed a lot more time to dissect the information. So she returned back to the previous topic.
"Still, even if I can cultivate, a you said, my methods are new and un-tested. Right now I do not know my level of power, neither do I know how long I will take to grow stronger. So, will Fluffy really be safe with me?"
The large yellow eyes shifted around despondently, then turned back to her.
"I don't know either. But I know that I can't hold on much longer. My wounds are much deeper and serious than what I show him. I need to go in complete seclusion. That is the reason I chose this place. But more and more beasts around this area have been sensing my presence, and they also know I am wounded. If I go in seclusion, I can't protect him. But if I stay here, one day I will succumb to my injuries. At least with you he will be able to leave this forest. Moreover he has become attached to you. Strange, because beasts do not become attached to other beasts or humans easily. Maybe because you are different. Anyhow, this is the only path I can make out for him right now. You don't need to worry about his looks. I will help him change his appearance to a common and drab looking beast before you leave."
"Oh...you can do that? But what if the magic of the changed form wears out?"
"Hmmm.....it will not wear out for the next 5 years. Come back with him before the end of five years. I too will take a temporary break from seclusion at the time. If necessary, I will help him change again."
Rihanna pursed her lips. This world sure had a lot of fantastical elements. One could change their entire look with just their inner spiritual energy or blood. On earth, even a dozen plastic surgeons might not be able to attain this level!
"Now you focus on your own strength. Stay in this pool. The pool water has a steady stream of pure energy in it. You can continue using your weird methods, just absorb the energy slowly and let it strengthen the core you have already formed. I do not know how you can channelize and use that energy since you don't have a root. That is also something which you have to figure out on your own. Once I am satisfied with the power of energy within you, I will let my son form the bond with you. Then I will show the way out."
Rihanna watched the large fox slowly get up, slowly shrink in size till he was Fluffy's height, and then disappear following his son's path. Only then did it strike her – he actually knew the way out of this god-forsaken place! And to think she had been running around in a tizzy trying to find the way out!!