After the swim in the river, we returned to the cabin for lunch. When I was alone in the room for a moment, I opened the window of the system. And I accepted the reward, I now had a knife in my hands. It will be quite useful. Suddenly a new warning message appeared:
Your fragrant scent attracted to you, new males, may become valuable allies or ruthless enemies.
For now I will stay at home and leave in two nights, - "I don't want to get involved with any dangerous males, since I arrived in the village I haven't seen any wandering or wild males around, that must be why Yang and Noir are constantly watching during the day, while Orus and Tarish at night.
— "I don't like to go out in the daytime some of the reasons, are the constant courtship attempts of various males, I must admit that since I accepted Yang, the males have stopped hanging around the hut. I prefer to go out at night, the village is so calm and quiet that I can move freely at night.
—"It's almost time for me to have my period, I feel a little scared for that time, maybe things will get better after I unite with Noir and have my conjugal mark, I can devote myself to investigate the cause of the problem of low female birth rate in this world."
()()()
In the kitchen Noir is in charge of preparing lalabel's meal. As the aroma of steak permeated the air inside the hut. I was concentrating on the task, following the precise instructions that Lalabel, my female, had given me to season the steak with the aromatic herbs.
—I have decided to mate with Lalabel at the next full moon, Yang, do you think Lalabel will accept? -Noir asked, breaking the silence that had settled between us.
Yang, I nodded with a smile, trying to dispel any doubts I might harbor.
—If she accepts, I will go to the swamps to hunt the Dinolarus to bring her a green crystal and a beautiful skin to make her a ceremonial dress.
Beastmen had an ancient tradition of mating for the first time with their mate on a full moon. They were still doing it but had forgotten the origin of that custom.
We should also ask Orus to use his powers of premonition, Yang suggested.
()()()()()
We were having lunch, when Noir interrupted the silence and said, "I would like to continue the tradition of mating on a full moon. It is a custom that has been followed for thousands of years.
Yang went on to explain, the full moon was used to bless the first union of the female with a male mate. That night the male offers her a ceremonial dress of his own making and other mating offerings ranging from food to green crystals of life.
—"well on that date my period is coming up, maybe if we do it and take some steps, I'll be able to do it without getting pregnant."
—"I didn't want to go against custom, I'll have to take the risk." -I would like to, smiling gently.
()()()()
Although I didn't manage to see the female, I had found the place where she had last been. I knelt down next to the tree she had been in and sniffed her urine and fluids, closing my eyes as I inhaled the scent that still lingered on the bark. Captivated by the essence of her being, I decided to stay in the forest.
Despite the threatening presence of three predatory males who were intent on the female, my instincts were screaming at me not to give up. I knew it would not be easy to approach her, but in my heart burned the determination to seek an opportunity to show her that I could offer something unique and special.
Noir and Yang embrace Lalabel affectionately, she kisses each of them goodbye, - Lalabel don't go out in our absence, and don't open the door to any male. - Noir warned her, they closed the door and left in the direction of Orus' house.
Inside the hut, Lalabel was in the gloom, lying on her rustic bed made of animal skins. The wood creaked slightly with every movement, and the faint glow of an oil lamp painted dancing shadows on the walls.
Lalabel was immersed in her thoughts, reviewing the information she had so far about the mission. The whispers of the wind through the leaves and the occasional rustle of distant branches filtered through the cracks in the hut, creating a natural melody that accompanied Lalabel's thoughts. She closed her eyes for a moment, sinking into the calm of the surrounding forest, allowing the serenity of the environment to envelop her like a silent embrace.
However, the absence of her companions, Noir and Yang, was evident. The hut, though cozy, seemed larger and emptier without their presence. The echo of their laughter and conversations was absent, creating a lonely space that Ella tried to fill with the constant hum of her thoughts.
()()()
Yang and Noir go to Orus' house.
Noir tells her that he plans to mate with lalabel on the first night of the full moon. - He comments to Orus
Yang asks him if he can use his premonition ability.
Orus pacing back and forth, and after thinking about it for a few seconds, said, -it is very difficult to control that ability, -I may get to see a lot of things or I may not get to see anything.
—I am worried that lalabel, has a malicious partner and will try something against the other partners,- he mentioned his concern for the future that awaits him.
— If so I will try, but I need you to bring me the following," Orus whispered in Noir and Yang's ear what to bring to him, right after mating.
Both males nodded, in a form of approval it was all about keeping lala safe.
()()()() night ()()()
Lalabel waited patiently for midnight, when the veil of darkness enveloped every corner.
Silently, Lalabel slipped through the half-open window and descended to the ground with the grace of a nocturnal predator. The shadows of the paths became her refuge, and the panther moved deftly, her dark fur melding with the blackness of the night.
In the gloom of the forest, under the flickering light of the crescent moon, a majestic reddish-furred buck deer moved deeper into the dark grove. He had found a cave, sheltered in the undergrowth, close enough to the village where the intoxicating fragrance of a female had lured him.
Near midnight, when the stillness of the forest became almost tangible, the red deer emerged from the trees and walked very cautiously towards the river. The gentle murmur of the water mingled with the rustle of the leaves and created a natural symphony in the night.
With gentle movements, the deer bent down to drink water from the stream. The reflection of the moon in the water gave it an almost mystical image. However, in the midst of the quiet, a furtive presence crept into the shadows.
A female panther, stealthy and predatory, watched the deer from the brush. Her eyes, flashes of green in the darkness, were fixed on the majestic figure of the deer. With calculated movements, the panther approached, every muscle in her body vibrating with anticipation, - "Maybe this buck was warning me about the system, he doesn't seem to be a danger buck, mmm let's see he's about one meter sixty-two centimeters tall", - lalabel's curious thoughts.
The female panther, her green eyes full of curiosity, advanced slowly toward the reddish deer. Something in her instinct told her that this deer was different, special somehow. She approached cautiously, trying not to disturb the calm of the night, and extended her muzzle toward the deer to sniff it.
The deer, sensing the panther's approach, flinched and its survival instincts kicked in immediately. Without a second thought, it leapt forward a couple of times, speeding away from the panther. The earth shook slightly with each leap, and the panther, surprised by the deer's sudden reaction, stopped in its tracks.
The deer, wide-eyed and breathing heavily, watched the panther from the newly gained distance. Although the panther showed no hostile intentions, the deer maintained an instinctive wariness. However, the panther showed no signs of aggression; instead, its gaze seemed to be filled with curiosity and wonder.
Understanding that the panther had no intention of attacking, the deer decided to take advantage of the situation to distance itself even further. With grace and agility, it moved deeper into the forest, using the trees for cover as it moved away from the panther. A game of cat and mouse unfolded in the nighttime gloom, with the deer looking to take advantage of the race.
The panther, far from wanting to hurt the deer, was simply following its trail curiously. Since his arrival in the forest, he had not seen a deer, and the presence of this reddish buck piqued his interest. With agile movements, the panther continued to follow the deer at a safe distance, maintaining a sort of dance in which both animals respected each other.
The deer, exhausted and with little strength, was cornered at the edge of a cave entrance. The black panther, moving with agility and dexterity, made an accurate leap and knocked the deer to the ground. In that instant, the majestic reddish buck was at the panther's mercy, his eyes reflecting fear and resignation.
The deer trembled like a sheet of paper shaken by the wind, anticipating the outcome of this nocturnal encounter. The buck closed his eyes and waited for the worst possible outcome, "only the regret of not having found a mate crossing his mind".
The panther Lalabel, being on top of the deer's body, instead of showing aggression, begins to sniff his body, the male opens his eyes in surprise. The panther's curiosity turned into desire, she knew that in this world she had to use her intelligence with a mixture of wild instinct.
With slow movements, the panther ran his muzzle along the deer's fur, from the neck to the tail. The panther's gaze rested on the deer's face, and at that moment, something unexpected happened. The panther's eyes, once sparkling and alert, softened, revealing a hint of affection. It was as if it had recognized something special in the deer.
The deer trembled like a sheet of paper shaken by the wind, anticipating the outcome of this nocturnal encounter. The buck closed his eyes and waited for the worst possible outcome, "only the regret of not having found a mate crossing his mind".
The panther Lalabel, being on top of the deer's body, instead of showing aggression, begins to sniff his body, the male opens his eyes in surprise. The panther's curiosity turned into desire, she knew that in this world she had to use her intelligence with a mixture of wild instinct.
With slow movements, the panther ran his muzzle along the deer's fur, from the neck to the tail. The panther's gaze rested on the deer's face, and at that moment, something unexpected happened. The panther's eyes, once sparkling and alert, softened, revealing a hint of affection. It was as if it had recognized something special in the deer.
In a surprising gesture, the panther bent down and gently licked the deer's face. The rough contact of the panther's tongue met the deer's skin, creating a meaningful bond between the two beasts. The deer, initially tense, gradually relaxed as it sensed that the panther posed no immediate threat.
It was a unique moment when two seemingly opposite creatures connected in a special way, one reddish and one black, sharing an unusual moment of connection amidst the darkness of the forest. The panther retreats on top of the deer's body. I see it transform into a handsome, young man in his early twenties, with a fair, white complexion, short hair, soft reddish hair and green eyes.
At that moment the panther wishes to return to her human form, she appears transformed into human being crouching down, showing her beautiful female figure to the male. Lalabel, still holding the male's gaze, spoke in a soft and melodious voice, — "Hello, my name is Lalabel, what are you doing in this forest?
— I'm Teru, I have traveled far and wide, exploring forests and distant lands, in search of my destined mate. In the life of males, we are often taught through inherited memory that we can mate with a female simply for the instinct to leave offspring. But I was looking for something more, something deeper and more special.
They decided to go together into the cave that the deer had found for shelter. The entrance to the den was adorned with the dancing shadows of the leaves and the flickering light of the moon.
Inside the cave, the atmosphere was cozy and quiet. The faint light filtering through revealed the textures of the stones and roots that formed the natural abode. Selene and Elio sat in the soft gloom, sharing stories of their lives and experiences in the forest.
Lalabel listened intently, her green eyes reflecting the moonlight as Teru continued her tale. - Throughout my travels, I have seen a few females, but none of them awakened in me the connection I longed for. As my journey continued, I felt that my destiny was tied to something more special, to a connection that transcended conventional expectations.
Teru holds lalabel's gaze intently. -Until I came to this forest and it came to my senses the fragrant scent of a female permeated the forest air, awakening my deepest instincts. I felt my heart beat with a new intensity, as if each beat was a sign of hope, indicating that I could finally find my fated mate in this corner of the forest.
—Teru, when I saw you change form I discovered that you are a Beta female, that's why I couldn't identify your scent, Beta and Alpha females have different scents when they are human and when they are in beast form.
—Lalabel interrupts for a moment and asks: —"Tell me everything you know about alpha and beta females?
Teru thinks for a moment and then says; -In the Rubi City there is an Alpha Female and in the Emerald City there is a beta female. The last time I was in those cities each of those females had ten males as mates. Those Females are heavily guarded, some males consider her as valuable as a green crystal. If I remember anything else I will tell you.
Teru moves closer to lalabel's face, cupping her chin. — At last my search is over, at that instant the male deposits a tender kiss on lalabel's forehead. - I'm so glad I found you.
()()()
A male snake was on his way to adulthood, he had been a silent witness in that encounter between the deer and the panther. The scent of that female was the most intoxicating and seductive aroma he had ever smelled in his life. This snake seemed bewitched by the fragrance left behind by the female.