Epoch 29: The first step in building a home.
The next day.
The sun has not risen yet, but Hou and Xue are already awake, slowly and quietly going out of bed so they won't wake up the sleeping sub-beast.
Hou stared at the beautiful sub-beast that was covered in white monster's fur and looked at the bracelet on his wrist. It feels like all that happened last night was a dream.
He really felt disappointed in his mother last night, but like he said, he was already used to it. What makes him worried is what Tang Tang will think of him after seeing how pathetic he is. That is why he tried to act like nothing had happened. But Tang Tang turned that disappointment into euphoria he never thought he would feel before.
Hou smiled, fixed Tang Tang's blanket, and kissed him on the forehead.
Xue looked at his brother's gentle movements and at the sub-beast, who was sleeping peacefully. His sapphire-like eyes were bright and brimming with emotions as he whispered. "I'm sorry," enough for the other beast to hear.
Hou looked intently at his twin brother, whom he had disliked for so long. He sighed. "You don't need to apologize because it is not your fault."
Their last-night talk made Hou realize a lot of things.
Tang Tang is right. It is not Xue's fault if he is much smarter and stronger than him. Xue has done a lot to mend their relationship, but he was blinded by hatred after being neglected and compared in every single way. He doesn't have the guts to fight back and put all of the blame on his brother, even though he didn't do anything wrong.
Hearing Hou, Xue unknowingly smiled as he kissed the sub-beast's cheeks.
They didn't talk again after, they did their chores as quietly as possible to not disturb the sleeping sub-beast.
To ensure that Tang Tang wouldn't have to go to the stream by himself to wash up when he woke up, Hou collected water from the stream and filled all the empty pots while Xue lit the fire to reheat the food that was left over from the previous night.
Prior to having breakfast, the two completed everything that was needed to be done. Afterwards, with their baskets on their backs, they bid farewell to the sleeping sub-beast.
The whole tribe is already bustling early in the morning. Other than the cubs and a few sub-beasts, all of the tribesmen were already doing their own work.
Xue is heading to the center of the tribe to lead the team assigned for hunting today, while Hou will go to Cai's tent to ask the beast for help.
"Are you going to the river today?" Hou asked.
Xue nodded and said. "I will also check the waterfalls and lake near the Mala mountain."
"Okay. Don't forget to hunt some monsters with thick fur. It is already getting colder, Tang Tang needs more clothes."
The twins were discussing their task for today. Xue was tasked with finding a soft, sticky, fine-grained soil during their hunt, and Hou will make molders and collect some ashes around the tribe. He will ask for Cai's help so he can return early to accompany Tang Tang.
After being with Tang Tang, Hou and Xue get used to sharing ideas, giving opinions, and talking with each other without bickering.
Everyone in the tribe knows the enmity between the twins, which is why when they see the two together and talking harmoniously, they can't help but be dumbfounded.
The two beasts were immersed in their conversation and unaware of the looks of the people they passed by.
When Hou saw Cai's tent, he reminded Xue. "Don't forget the time. Return before the sunset, or Tang Tang will be worried."
"I will," Xue answered before walking in the opposite direction.
When the two figures were out of sight, three females and two elderly sub-beasts immediately gathered together.
"Did anyone hear what they were talking about?" A bronze-haired female asked.
"I didn't hear anything. I'm scared to get close."
"Me too."
"I didn't hear clearly what they were saying, but I heard them mention Tang Tang," a white-haired elderly sub-beast said.
The bronze-haired female pondered for a while, then her eyes widened as if she had discovered some secret. She snapped and whispered. "Didn't they come from Tang Tang's tent?"
The other four people also look in the direction where Hou and Xue came from, and after a few moments, several restrained screams can be heard.
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When Hou arrived at Cai's tent, the beast was already awake and eating roast meat alone near the hearth.
Cai was surprised to see Hou, but he immediately grimaced and glared at him. "Visiting me now? You still remember you have a friend, don't you?" he muttered.
Hou is very familiar with Cai's childish attitude and knows how to coax him. He 'tsk' and takes out a bowl with a leaf cover and a wooden tube from the basket and places it in front of Cai.
"Eat this."
"What's that? Why would I eat food that you made?" Cai ignored the food and continued to eat his roasted meat.
"Not me. It's Tang Tang."
When Cai heard that Tang Tang was the one who made the food, he immediately set aside the roasted meat. "If it's Tang Tang, I will gladly accept it." Cai laughed.
Who didn't know how delicious the food Tang Tang made was?
The bowl is full of steaming meat stew, and the wooden tube is filled with warm soy milk. Just the smell of it can already make him drool.
Cai eats with relish. He already forgot his plan to ignore Hou to make him feel a little guilty. After the accident between them, Hou took care of him for 3 days, but after that, his best friend never showed up again, and he can only hear some news about him from the gossiping females.
Hou just let him finish his food before telling him his purpose. "I want to ask you for help."
Cai clicked his tongue. "I knew it! What help do you need?" He said angrily, but his face was full of satisfaction as he rubbed his slightly bulging stomach.
Hou smiled and nonchalantly said, "We plan to get married this Eulogia, and Tang Tang wants to live in a much bigger house. Help me with it."
"Okay," Cai answered without second thought, but as he processed what Hou said, his expression changed several times. "Wait! What?"
"Marry? Tang Tang? You want to marry Tang Tang? Are you sure you're not hallucinating? House, what house?" Cai asked continuously.
Hou's expression became sullen as he spoke in gritted teeth. "Do you want me to beat you so you can know if I'm hallucinating?"
Cai noticed that Hou was really angry. He faked a cough to calm himself. "Sorry. I was surprised. I never thought you would get married so soon," he said, but he couldn't help bombarding Hou with questions again.
"Are you really marrying Tang Tang? How about Xue? Didn't he like Tang Tang too? Did Tang Tang agree to it?"
Hou sighed.
Cai is his closest friend. Marrying Tang Tang is not a secret, sooner or later, the whole tribe will know. It is not a problem if Cai knows the details in advance, since they will need his help.
Hou tells Cai what happened these past few days, starting with him going berserk again. Then they realize that Tang Tang can marry both of them and decide to start living together, up until they inform their mother and father about their plan last night.
Hou told him everything except for those explicit moments, and then at the end, he raised his hand and showed Cai the bracelet on his wrist. "Tang Tang gave this last night to us."
From start to finish, Cai listens attentively. He knew best what Hou had gone through, and now that everything seems fine, he feels genuine happiness for him. "You will marry the person you love, and even your relationship with your brother is improving. That's perfect! I'm really happy for you."
"That's the problem. It is perfect."
Cai frowned. Hou's words made him puzzled. "What do you mean?"
"It is so perfect that I feel like I am dreaming or, like you've said, hallucinating. I am scared that anytime I might wake up in this dream and Tang Tang will be nowhere to be found, that all of this happiness I am feeling now is just an illusion," Hou said as he became saddened by his own thoughts. "A world without Tang Tang is a nightmare."
"Tsk. If Tang Tang knows what you were thinking, what do you think he will feel?" Cai now understands why Hou got angry earlier when he asked if he was hallucinating. It is because the man is worried that he really is.
"That's why I don't want to tell this to Tang Tang, but he also said that if there is a problem, we should always talk about it." Hou is still thinking about what he should do when Cai suddenly punch him on the arm.
"Urgh!" Because of the surprise attack, Hou almost lost his balance, then he felt a dull pain in his arm. "What's your problem?"
"Are you awake now?" Cai asked.
Hou wanted to argue, but then realized what Cai meant. "If you're not awake yet, I can still give you another punch."
When Hou didn't answer, Cai continued. "Based on your story, Tang Tang is doing his best to make the two of you happy, but here you are thinking negative things. Instead of doing that, why don't you just focus on the things in front of you, like the reason why you are here?"
"That's right!" Hou exclaimed, feeling enlightened. "Tang Tang said that we need to build a house where the three of us can live together."
"What is a house?" Cai asked.
Hou repeated to Cai how Tang Tang described the house. "It is like a tent, but much bigger and more spacious. It is made of bricks, a man-made stone. It can also protect us from winter."
'It is also the first step in building our home,' Hou unconsciously smiled remembering what Tang Tang said last night.
Cai nudged the beast, which was lost again in his thoughts. "I see. Another big contribution to the tribe. Count me in. Tell me how I can help you guys."
As the two were talking, the whole tribe started gossiping and making a bet on who Tang Tang would marry between the twins. Some bet on Hou, some on Xue, and some people with great insight bet on both.
While Tang Tang, the main character of the gossip, is still sleeping soundly.