Suddenly, the panther stopped dead in its tracks, its ears perked up and its eyes narrowed with attention. It had detected several scents, the sign that some medicinal plants were nearby. His tail wagged excitedly as he moved toward the source of the scent.
Among the underbrush and fallen leaves, the panther discovered the first plant he was looking for. His eyes sparkled with satisfaction, and with precise movements of his paws, he carefully extracted the necessary leaves and roots. With the medicinal plants in her paws, the panther returned to her human form with the help of the necklace. —I've got some mint and not far away there is also some good grass. She took a handful of mint leaves and walked a few meters ahead and took a handful of good grass leaves.
Lalabel, returning with the plants and leaving them on top of the skins, transformed back into a panther, began to sniff the fresh forest air. Each deep inhale revealed to her a mixture of scents, — "this faint aroma has to be basil", for the excitement of finding a new plant she ran and went much farther than she thought and farther away. —Here is the basil".
()()()
Deep in the forest, under the shade of the tall trees, Noir moved gracefully among the branches and fallen leaves. His gaze constantly rested on Lalabel, the female who was accompanying him on this gathering excursion.
Noir, on the other hand, moved his hands with determination as he picked the ripe fruits. His eyes, dark blue, kept following Lalabel's every move. Every gesture, every facial expression, was registered in his mind as if it were a score he was trying to decipher.
Deep in his heart, Noir felt a nagging agitation. He had no desire to be linked to a selfish and heartless woman, but the attraction he felt towards Lalabel was pushing him to decipher the mystery that shrouded her personality. As he picked the pears and berries, the words echoed in his mind, —"You are the most beautiful woman I have ever known." —Lalabel come to breakfast! -I shouted enthusiastically.
()()()()
She felt she was being called, and to be on the safe side, she transformed herself again. Suddenly, something in the atmosphere changed. A vibration, almost imperceptible, resonated in my being. It was Noir, a cry on the wind that carried with it her call. My senses immediately sharpened, and without a second thought, I decided to take advantage of my keen feline hearing.
In the blink of an eye, the panther replaced the woman. My muscles contracted and stretched in a natural way, my essence transforming into the agile and stealthy beast. With a swoop of fate, I raised my pointed ears, ready to catch any sound that might escape human ears.
Once a static forest, it came alive around me. The whispers of the wind through the leaves became a harmonious murmur, the rustle of branches under invisible paws filled the air. Everything resonated in my feline mind with a clarity that made me feel in communion with nature.
It was then that I heard it, a distant but distinct call. Noir's cry, it was an echo through the trees urging me to return. I tilted my head, my piercing gaze fixed in the direction of the sound. There was no time to waste. With subtle movements, I moved toward the source of that call.
In the distance I could already see Noir, standing in the shadows of the vegetation. His eyes, dark blue, met mine and in a silent gesture, I knew that something important required my attention.
My powerful muscles contracted with each stride. The panther moved deftly through the intertwined forest, agile as a shadow in the night. The wind caressed my fur as I moved forward, carrying with it the echo of rustling leaves and the throbbing of my wild heart.
As I arrived I placed my soles at Noir's feet, his expression a mixture of gratitude and affection. I immediately took my female form and sat down on the ground, my breath hitching after running all that distance. -Mental note: I must make a bag that I can use while transformed into a beast.
—I have already spoken to Yang about your situation, and he has agreed to receive you. Yang and I are three-striped beasts, in this village is composed of different types of beasts, such as: wolves, tigers, bears, eagles, a caracal and an owl. In the village there are about one hundred and fifty males and thirty females.
—If the males approach you to court you, reject them harshly, so that you don't raise false hopes in them! - Noir warned him.
—I'm curious about the caracal and the owl," Lalabel kept her composure so as not to arouse suspicion. -She continued to eat her sweet and juicy fruits. -I'll be careful," she nodded subtly. Curiosity was driving her, especially towards the enigmatic caracal and the wise owl of the village. The thought of learning to hunt in her beast form, especially from a nocturnal beast, filled her with excitement.
—Yang will give you a hut and take care of you until you decide to mate with me or another male! -Noir declared, getting up and wrapping the fruits and plants collected in the forest in a makeshift bag made of dried skins. She took off her skirt and transformed herself into a huge eagle.
—From the information Noir is giving me, the male's system is the same as the beauty and beasts, so I have to assume that the females will also have the markings of their males somewhere on their body," she said. - Seeing Noir transform into an eagle she lifted Noir's skirt off the ground, gathered it together with the rest of the things and climbed onto Noir's back to take flight. Lalabel's hands clung to the eagle's feathers, and her body leaned slightly forward, as if ready to embrace the wind that would carry her back to the village that would be her home.
The eagle, with a mighty flap of wings, soared into the air. Lalabel held on tightly, feeling the wind caress her face and play with the strands of her hair. As they gained altitude, the village appeared in the distance.
The flight was majestic, and Lalabel let out a laugh of awe and joy. The eagle circled and glided through the sky, carrying her back home with grace and power.
As they descended toward the village, she prepared to land. The eagle descended gently, landing gracefully on the ground. Lalabel stepped gracefully down from the bird's back, her eyes shining with the realization that her journey had come to an end.