Sydney and the lion brothers had no choice but to join the group of strays and despite her worry of having her cover being blown, she kept her cool.
Boulevard who was the leader of the small group had the others go hunt food and soon a fire was lit. The lion brothers jumped up and away from the fire in shock, curiosity and awe. This was their first time seeing fire.
Boulevard burst out laughing at the over the top expression of the two lions. "Have you not seen fire before?!" he asked in amusement.
Sydney looked at the beastman named Boulevard with alot on her mind. Her impression of strays was that they were cold hearted and ruthless but seeing this beastman, he seemed like an other male from earth. He had personality besides what was generalized about their kind. In her conclusion, he was a simple minded and cool person, reasonable too.
Boulevard looked towards the small male and saw that he wasn't as surprised as the lions. "You know fire?!" he asked.
"Yes. I saw it before I was abandoned by family " Sydney lied smoothly that was impressed with how good she was getting at this.
Oh. I wonder though, how come your brothers have no idea about fire. Tell me, what's your excuse?!" he smiled with a concealed mirth dancing in his eyes. Sydney couldn't see much because of the night and the shadow cast by the flames.
I was born with no beast form and my parents thought I'd be a female only to turn out a male. I became a burden and was abandoned later. I grew up surviving on wild fruits and berries. As I had little to no knowledge, I was poisoned a number of times when I ate whatever I could to keep alive and almost died. After I met with my brothers, I ate raw meat along with them but got sick and uncomfortable from eating it and gave up with time." Sydney played her cards well that even her expression was on point. Boulevard looked at the small male and felt pity for him. This was a world where the strongest survived, he personally couldn't imagine how he'd survive if he had no beast to him.
That explained why he was so small.
The two beastmen who went out to get food returned with cleaned meat and cooked it over the flames. Sydney who had been going down on energy looked on at the prece of meat with drool dripping from the side of her loosely hung open mouth.
The aroma of the meat, the golden brown sheen on the surface of the meat, the sizzling as fat from the meat burned off into oils that dripped in the the fire. Everything literally drove her crazy but she knew that hunt wasn't her own so she couldn't covet the others food..She had snacked on the last batch of berries she had with her but that wasn't enough and she was hungry looking at the juicy meat.
Her stomach unable to hold out let out a loud growl that startled all the beastmen around the fire.
Sydney's face turned red putting shame to the red locks stashed away in her hood.
If Boulevard didn't know better he'd think there was a beast in the vicinity.
"Are you sure you have no beast form?! That was for sure one loud growl!" he teased with a laugh causing the other beastmen to laugh along. This little male was likeable.
The lion brothers gwaffed along. Though a little vigilant, they felt happy to have company and hear others talk.
Sydney was beyond embarrassed as she didn't even have where to hide. She took her bag and searched it to see if she could distract herself from the embarrassment but before she could do so, a pipping hot piece of meat hanging off a stick was stuffed in her face. The aroma drove her blood cells into a frenzy. Saliva dropped from her mouth again.
Boulevard was amused. She seemed like those little ones, completely unable to conceal his desire for food. He really liked this little monster. "Stop drooling. Eat up. I've sprinkled some salt..it tasted better that way." he said and Sydney hesitantly took the meat which she greedily took a bite ignoring how hot it was.
Her tongue was scalded and tears formed in her eyes but that was far from the feeling of finally having some meat to put in her stomach. Tears of joy filled her eyes.
"Is it that tasty?!" Boulevard asked a little bewildered. Looking at the little male's teary green eyes and felt his heart thump to the point that he could hear his heart drop.
"It's the tastiest food I've had in a while!" Sydney sniffed and took another bite. It was soft and tasty, just good enough for her teeth and highly appreciated by her taste buds.
Okay. I'm glad you like it." Boulevard said and signalled for the others to come and get a piece of the food. Surprisingly, the brothers were also given a share and their expressions were no different from Sydney's, if not beyond.
"How long is it to your home?' Sydney asked out of curiosity.
"Not far away, we should he able to get there in a day. Why? Did you already have plans?! If not you can stay in our colony." he suggested.
"I know a alot of herbs, I was intending to move from place to place to learn about other herbs and also look for my family." Sydney said weakly. She wondered how well her gang was fairing. 'Please wait...I'm coming to you...'
Boulevard didn't ask more and let them tag along. When the morning came, the group set off and Sydney learnt that Boulevard was a golden tiger who was exceptionally huge!. The group of strays had three tiger beastmen, two bear beastmen, one owl beastman and three mountain wolves with dull grey fur coats.
They ran for the entire day and by the time the sun set, they were at the colony called Death. The outer sketch of the place spoke volumes. Sydney who had been riding for the whole day was extremely exhausted but all that died when she reached the place. All through her sight was terrible in the night, she couldn't ignore the hundreds of glittering eyes in the dark. The hairs on her body stood on end. She felt fear!
Oh... you've returned! Welcome back!" a beastman walked over and received the group.
We've been on the run for a while. We will rest and talk tomorrow." Boulevard said dismissively.
Who are these three new persons??" the young chap asked.
Those you don't need to concern yourself with and so must the rest. Offending them is equivalent to pissing me off." he sent out his warning and turned to Sydney. We will talk tomorrow after you've slept. Our colony has some sick beastmen that require your help. Please help us cure them!" he spoke out loud to spell Sydney's identity.
Doctors were exceptionally rare to come by akd once found, they were treasured beyond hope.
The other strays who had been curious were stumped to see such a smallale with exceptional talent. They had intended to bully him a little but knowing he was a doctor, they respected him and a few offered their caves for him to stay only to be turned down by Boulevard.
He gave up his cave to Sydney and her two lion brothers and dug his home right next to his previous home. Despite having accepted all that he said, he felt a weird feeling looking at him and wanted to know more. He didn't even know the small male's name.
Sydney settled in really well and slept away her fatigue.
Boulevard walked over to the cave entrance and beckoned the brothers to come out and talk to him. With him, he had a lion beastman whom they were going to interrogate these two chaps.
How could he sleep when his own heart was uneasy...he felt like he liked the young male. It was stupid of him to like a fellow male but his heart kept thumping to a point he thought he was sick.
[What?!] Eldest questioned his eyes shifting to the lion beastman behind Boulevard.
"Be honest and tell us the truth about you and that male. If your truthful, we won't harm him but if you lie, we shall kill you all, after all you were already abandoned by your families before. Dying now would do them no harm."
[ Look at this! Are you threatening us? I thought you were pleased with what he said and you accepted it all! Why are you getting sneaky about?!] Youngest sneered.
"We can kill you and no one will say anything about it. Mind your tongue!" Boulevard hissed after learning what the brothers were saying
[He is our little brother and if you think we wil watch you harm him...then you are terribly wrong. You have no idea what we've been through or what we had to do to keep him alive. If all that is going to get down for naught then we might as well persih with a few of you.] Eldest gritted his teeth in anger. Traitors. While they had been easy about it in the day, now that the night was here, so was their true colours. [ He'll be really disappointed in you Boulevard]