(This chapter is dedicated to @ValkyrieCentral)
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Just with two more steps, we reached her den, but my jaw automatically opened and almost dropped down on the ground when I looked around the den.
'Just.. Just what... What is this?' I thought.
Den or Cave... These two words are too short to describe the place at that momemt. It was such a big place, almost like two football grounds combined together.
And not only were there several beds, everything was arranged, neat and clean. There was also a big pool like thing bounded by few boulders, filled with water which was coming out from a small hole of the cave wall.
Just one glance and "Luxury & Magnificent" automatically popped up in my mind.
The several rows of animal skins on each other, were neatly arranged at the corner, too.
And to compliment the scenery, there were even holes from which warm sunlight was also peeping in, making the cave brighter and giving it a so classy look.
And the place so arranged neatly and perfectly that I thought there might be an OCD beast living here.
"Come in, Cub!" Lisa said as she dragged the 'dazed me' in by grasping my wrists.
She dragged me near the water pool as she pointed me towards it and said softly, "You can take your bath here. Just wash all the dirt from your face and body first."
Dirt?
In my face and body?
I swiftly took a glance at the water pool, but couldn't see anything clearly. My lips subconsciously pouted as I turned to Lisa who came back with another animal skin in her hands.
She looked at me from top to bottom and asked, "What happened? Wash yourself first! Then we have a long conversation to go with."
"Am I looking dirty?" I asked while biting my lips.
She just raised her eyebrow further. I stopped biting my lips and pursed them.
Well, it didn't matter of I was dirty or not! At the least, I could have a private bath in here and that what mattered.
I remembered that the book said that the female lead, Sofia had to take her bath in the river, in the open, in front of all.
I was a lot in better condition than her. And now that we're taking about the bath, I suddenly felt smelly and sweaty.
So I immediately opened my clothes and dipped in. I had originally thought the water would be cold, but never in my wildest dream I had thought it would be this warm and comfortable.
I took a few more dips and felt my stressed muscles were relaxing.
"Well, well, Cub, it seems like you're enjoying it a lot. Now, mind coming here?" I heard Lisa's voice and I reflexively turned around to find her standing there with a smile.
"I thought you had left!" I said while moving towards her.
"And why would I? This is my den?" She said.
I just chuckled as I settled myself near the boundary.
"Turn around!" She commanded and I obeyed turning my back on her.
I felt her hands on my hair as she massaged my head with something that was making me feel so good and relaxed.
"What is this you're massaging with? It smells so good! And your massage skilss are the best! I'm loving it!" I said her and asked curiously while enjoying her love and care that I never enjoyed from anyone before. Even the professionals of my world would lose to her massage skills.
"Our fox beast's secret art. Its prepared only by the chosen ones from the essence of five plants with five types of drying. Are you feeling good?"
"A lot!" I said as I rested my back head on the boundary.
"You know, I always wanted a cute looking but brave and intelligent Shasha of mine. But unfortunately, I only got those smelly Shans all the time. And even the Shasha they brought back are just like them. Rude and selfish! Now as if God has finally heard me, He sent you to me." She said and I felt a little proud when she praised me.
Hehe! No one hates to be complimented and praised, right?
"Okay now all done! You go wash up!" She said as she pushed me a little to the middle of the water pool.
I found myself obeying her even when I wanted to keep on massaging my head. I took four to five dips and rub my face and arms and other body parts in the water.
After I finished it, I went back to the boundary as I dressed myself. The animal skin cloth was the same as the previous one but this time there was a little change in the design. There was some soft furs at the neck and at the either sides of the hands, with Lisa's sweet amd attractive smell all over it.
Aah?
It's so good and soft and comfortable! I love it so much!
How did she do that? Did she make this it? But... How?
"Ohh? You ready? Come here with me now. We need to talk!" She said as she dragged me and made me sit on one of the beds which appeared a little bigger than the other six. Then, after she settled down beside me, she held my shoulders and stared straight into my eyes, almost making me nervous.
'Just... just.. what was this all of a sudden? Aren't we good just a moment before?' My inner self was screaming but I made an indifferent face as I stared back and waited for her to speak first.
Time elapsed like rising of waves, but she didn't voice out a word until then. Just kept on staring in my eyes. And even though I didn't want to put it like that, but I was getting impatient and irritated.
The cave was too quiet and except the sound of the water falling and our slow breathes, nothing else could be heard.
So, I decided to break the silence, "Umm... Lisa..?"
And then she blinked after a long time as she relaxed her hold on my shoulders. But the words that she first said after coming into her den, almost made me choke on my saliva and spit out my blood.
"Please mate with them at the same time. Please take both of them in your care. Please save them!" She said as she gave me a determined and saddened look.
"I-I... wh-who are you talking about?" I asked.
'Heck! Just what is going on? Mate with them? Not just him? Who should I mate with? And why?'
My inner self was screaming and even banging my inner walls.
'Do I somehow appear a girl with too much of stamina for her to say that?'
I looked at her with all questioning and puzzled look.
She took a long breathe as she broke the eye contact and then exhaled heavily. She then again looked into my eyes, "You are different from us!?"
Her words appeared more of an affirmative sentence than a question. My eyebrows furrowed automatically with that.
"What do you mean?" I asked with all alertness and alarmed.
She patted my shoulders as she gripped them again tightly, "I have seen everything about you from your memories when you were unconscious. And I also know that you aren't from here, HUMAN!"
Those words literally struck me hard. She... she knows?!
She knows and saw everything about me? When I was unconscious? How? Did I mutter some words in my unconscious state of mind?
Did she join the pieces of my mutterings and came to this conclusion?
'No! No! No! I can't let that happen!'
"Lisa, I-" I was about to overturn the matter when she put her finger on my lips, "Shh! You don't need to worry. I know why you came here. For Kevi, right? But you got feelings for Kyle after interacting with him!"
I bit my lips hard as I clenched my hands tightly, when I felt a soft touch on them.
"It's really hard to believe that this world is a mere creation for your entertainment purposes, at first. But-" She was looking at my side when she made eye contact with me again, "When I thought about all the things going here, even if the world is nothing but fake, the things going here is true. Our lives are true. Our breathes are true. Our pains! Our hearts! Our desires! These are also true."
She carressed my cheeks as she continued, "So, please save my cubs. I know you came for one of them, but I want to protect then both. They might be silly sometimes, maybe playful too, but they are good at their hearts."
I saw a tear escaped from her eye. I stretched my hand to wipe them, when I felt her thumb brushing on my cheeks. Only then did I realize that I also got a little emotional.
Yes! I came for Kevi and Siri here!
Yes! I got attracted to Kyle!
But I had never taken this world as a reality. From the start to until now, I was just taking it as my mission. But now that Lisa was speaking like this, I couldn't help but agree with her.
Yes! This world might be a fake one! But the people or perfectly beasts living here are true!
Both their lives and pain!
Just like how I could feel the woman's pain filled emotions now.
"I promise to take care of them, Lisa." I said as if I was taking a vow that was getting mixed in my body.
She smiled as she leaned forward and kissed my forehead, "I know, you will. You already know many things about this world and you're different from others here."
I smiled in reply as she continued, "But, remember. Everything is linked with each other. One change can lead to many changes. Everything will not go as easily as it seems it can. So, you need to protect everyone. If the evil changes to good, another evil will take its place to continue the chaos. Remember this, greed and jealousy never end. It just replaces from one host to another."
She warned me while rubbing my face. And I also understood her points too.
Kyle was the main villain of this world. But I stopped him before he turned into one. Since, a world doesn't exist without the main protagonists and antagonists, another villain will be born soon in this world to keep the flow of the story.
So, I not only need to protect myself but also my near ones.
"Don't worry, Lisa. I'll never let any evil eyes to fall on us. And if by chance, ther happens to be a bad situation, I hope it can be solved soon without any major issues."
She smiled but then she suddenly pinched my ear after grabbing it, "You, naughtly Shasha! Call me mom now. Not Lisa! I gave my two sons to you. I deserve some respect. Don't you think so?"
My pursed my lips at that thought. I've never called anyone 'Mom' after that episode of my life. So, calling Lisa 'Mom' was really a tough job for me.
"Or you can also call me mom from tomorrow after you officially mate with them today. What do you think?" She asked with a teasing glint.
"Mooooom!" I shouted as I rubbed my cheeks which were burning due to the blood rush under them.
I didn't even think thrice or hesitate anymore. Lisa is my mother-in-law now and that's it! She's the one and only woman (beast) whom I decided to call Mom.
Yes! That is it!
Ohh... the main thing...
"Umm... Li.. Mom. These dresses.. Did you make it?"
She raised her brow as she said, "What do you think? Only I saw your past..."
My eyes brightened with her reply. She.. She's just too caring. I pounced on her as I hugged her earning a giggle from her.
"Thank you soooo much, Mom!"
She wrapped her arms around me as she hugged me back, "Well, if you want to thank me, then teach me your those fighting moves that you use to take several Shans down. I also want to learn them!"
"Of course, I'll!" I said cheerfully.
But then... our lovely atmosphere broke when an unfamiliar voice came in our way.
"Mom, you called for me?" A magnetic and firm voice echoed in the cave as both of us broke the hug and together turned our heads to the source of the voice.