The scorching midday sun was beating down relentlessly on the Blue Feather village, at last one of the Blue Feather villagers had remembered something about Lala.
—I haven't seen the female Lalabel today, maybe the healer Lao knows something about her," he said calmly.
Then the villager gave him directions to where the Lao healer lived, -a dirt path that led to the northern part of the village.
As Tarish walked into the quiet, remote northern part, where the Lao healer lived. His footsteps echoed in the silence, interrupted only by the murmur of the breeze through the leaves of the trees. Finally, he sighted the healer's two-story tree house, where Lao was busy cleaning and drying herbs in the sun.
Tarish's mind was in a mess, there were more questions than answers, a sense of anticipation and nervousness was taking over him. Would Lalabel be there? Did Lao know where she was?
Arriving, he found Lao busy cleaning and putting some herbs out to dry in the sun. Tarish approached cautiously, feeling the weight of the weariness of the journey and the sweltering heat of the day beginning to take its toll on his body. Before he could say a word, however, a sudden dizziness made him stagger and finally faint, falling to the ground with a weak sigh.
The Lao healer, alerted by the noise, turned quickly and hurried to where the two-striped male lay. With quick but careful gestures, he examined him and noticed signs of fatigue and dehydration, concerned about the condition of the stranger who had fallen in front of his house.
Without wasting time, he called his nearest neighbor in the village. -Ryo! Ryo, please come quickly!" called Lao in an urgent voice, requesting his help to lift the stranger and carry him to a cool and safe place.
Together, Lao and Ryo managed to carry Tarish to the healer's house, where they laid him down on a bed of straw and began applying wet cloths to his forehead to reduce his fever. Meanwhile, Lao prepared an infusion of medicinal herbs to help restore Tarish's strength and rehydrate him.
Meanwhile, Tarish lay unconscious, trapped in a deep sleep filled with blurry images of Lalabel. In the depths of his subconscious, a burning desire urged him to wake up and continue his search, but his exhausted body refused to obey.
POV Liam
After lunch and enjoying a well-deserved rest in the middle of our trek through the jungle, the radiant sun and fresh air filled us with renewed energy. With each step, the lush greenery enveloped us, and the bustling songs of wildlife accompanied us on our journey.
As the expedition leader, my attention was always focused on ensuring Lalabel's well-being. I watched her expression, alert for any signs of fatigue or discomfort on her face as we moved through the intricate labyrinth of the jungle. My beloved Lalabel concealed her scent under her panther form, allowing us to move unnoticed, indicating that we were enjoying every moment of this adventure.
The winding path led us through stunning landscapes, where crystal-clear waterfalls cascaded over rocks, and giant trees soared majestically towards the sky. The fresh, earthy aroma of the jungle permeated the air, filling us with a sense of connection to the surrounding nature.
As we progressed, I shared knowledge about the jungle with Lalabel and the other males, engaging in lively conversations and creating memories we would treasure forever. Among us, our spirits strengthened, driving us to move forward, facing each challenge with determination and optimism.
()()())()
As the hours passed and the sun began to set behind the horizon, we decided to take a break under the comforting shade of a large tree. The atmosphere was imbued with a sense of peace and serenity, and we sat together, sharing laughter and conversations while savoring the present moment.
Suddenly, an emergency mission appeared:
You are being surrounded by wild males. Let your companions handle them.
You must not interfere.
Reward: Experience, Skill for your companions, and two white crystals.
I stored my belongings back in the dimensional space, and touching my necklace, I wished to transform into a panther. There was no time to lose. Using my feline claws, I climbed the large tree, seeking protection and comfort.
From my position high in the tree, I watched with a mix of concern and determination as my husbands faced the wild men. Although the system's warning clearly stated that I should not intervene, I couldn't help but feel the urgency to protect my own.
Yang, Noir, Teru, and Liam demonstrated their combat skills, exchanging blows with the savages with a dexterity that filled me with pride. However, I knew that the situation could become dangerous at any moment. My heart pounded, hoping that things wouldn't get out of control.
POV Teru
The atmosphere was charged with tension and adrenaline. The air vibrated with the sounds of punches and the growls of the wild men, creating a frantic and dangerous environment. The forest around us seemed to come alive, with the shadows of the trees dancing among the filtered light through the leaves.
While Yang and Liam stood firm in the center of the combat, bravely facing the savages, I sought an opportunity to help without disobeying the system's orders. I watched closely, my heart pounding in my chest, looking for the precise moment to act.
When I saw a wild male charge towards Liam, I knew it was my chance. With trembling but determined hands, I drew my bow and aimed with precision. I felt the tension in the string as my fingers gripped the bow, and then I released the arrow with a barely audible whisper.
The world seemed to stop for a moment as the arrow soared through the air, its trajectory marked by a bright arc against the dark backdrop of the forest. My heart pounded, waiting for the impact. And when the arrow struck its target with a dull thud, a sigh of relief escaped my lips.
The three-striped wild male was pierced in a vital spot by the arrow, ending his life. Seeing their companion fall lifeless to the ground, the other wild men decided to transform into their beast forms, revealing a three-striped tiger.
()()()()()()
POV Yang
The atmosphere was charged with tension and danger, as if the very forest were holding its breath at the confrontation unfolding. When the wild male transformed into an imposing tiger, the air filled with the guttural sound of its growls and the whistle of its claws slicing through the air. My senses sharpened as I dodged its ferocious attacks, my mind calculating each movement with the precision of a veteran.
I took a few steps back, feeling the power flow through me as I transformed into a white wolf. The change was swift, my muscles contracting and my fur bristling, ready to face my enemy with the ferocity of my kind.
A howl escaped my throat, resonating into the night like an echo of defiance. The tiger seemed momentarily bewildered by the sound, its movements pausing in an instant of paralysis. I seized that small window of opportunity to launch a quick attack, my sharp claws seeking its flesh with determination.
The impact was accurate, but not deep enough to completely stop the tiger. I felt the clash of its body against mine, the heat of its breath on my face as we fought in a frenzy of motion and brute force.
The air was thick with the smell of damp earth and sweat, as the dense forest vegetation surrounded us, a silent witness to our struggle for survival. The air vibrated with the energy of battle, each move calculated and each strategy executed with millimetric precision.
With Noir and Teru at my side, we coordinated our attacks against the wild tiger. While they focused on its hind legs, I lunged forward, my claws ready to tear its flesh in a frontal assault.
"Now!" I shouted, my voice resonating in the forest clearing as we launched toward our target.
The tiger roared with fury as it fought to defend itself from our coordinated attacks. I felt the strike of its claws against my fur, but I did not waver. With determination and ferocity, we continued pressing, each of us seeking weaknesses in its defense.
Finally, after what felt like hours of endless struggle, I found my opportunity. With a swift move, I launched a deadly attack to the side of its neck, aiming for a vital point to end the battle once and for all.
The tiger fell to the ground with a dull thud, its lifeless body marking the end of our confrontation. A feeling of relief and satisfaction flooded my being as I observed the result of our victory.
It was then that I noticed a change, a flash of light in my vision. I looked at my chest and saw the new mark that had appeared on my skin, a symbol that I had become a Tetramark. With a mix of pride and determination, I now had more power to protect my Lalabel.
—"Wow... That was amazing," I exclaimed, with a radiant smile as I approached to hug him warmly. —"I'm so proud of you."
At that moment, the system notifications appeared before my eyes to claim the rewards.
The system rewarded my husband Yang with a title, and all my husbands who bear my mark with a skill called One for All.
—This also served as a meta reminder that I needed to mate with Liam as soon as possible.
With a subtle and graceful feline leap, I landed on the ground and then returned to my human form. "I'm so proud of you," I repeated, approaching to give him a loving hug.
I admired the new mark that adorned Yang's body, a tangible proof of his bravery and skill in battle. A warm pride filled my chest as I saw how he had successfully overcome the challenge, strengthening our bond as a couple and as a family.
His eyes sparkled with satisfaction as he returned my embrace, and the warmth of his presence comforted me more than anything else in the world.
After so much effort, it was time to relax and enjoy a well-deserved dinner together. We sat around the campfire, sharing laughter and conversations as we savored the delicious grill we had prepared together.
When it was finally time to rest, Noir offered to stay awake and keep watch while the rest of us settled into a restful sleep. I snuggled up next to Yang, feeling the warmth of his body and the peace his presence radiated.
With hearts pounding with excitement, we ventured deeper and deeper into the jungle, determined to uncover its hidden secrets. Among the dense vegetation, we finally spotted the steps that descended into a mysterious cavern, where the ancient ruin we so longed to explore lay. My eyes lit up with the anticipation of the unknown as we approached the edge of the staircase carved into the rock.
The atmosphere in the jungle was electric, charged with a sense of mystery and adventure. The whisper of leaves and the creaking of branches surrounded us as we delved into the unknown. The air was humid and heavy, filled with the earthy smell of the soil and the sweet fragrance of wildflowers.
Upon reaching the steps, a sense of awe and reverence washed over me as I beheld the magnificence of the ancient structure before me. The stones worn by time and the vines climbing the walls spoke of a history lost in time, waiting to be discovered once more.
My heart pounded in my chest, imagining what we might find in that ancient ruin, as we took the first steps downward, feeling the thrill of adventure bubbling inside me. But Liam's warning echoed in my ears, reminding me of the importance of caution in such an ancient and perilous place.
"Be careful," Liam said, his voice resonating with seriousness as we descended the steps. "Some steps might give way."
I nodded with determination, grateful for his warning as we advanced cautiously, examining each step before taking the next. The darkness of the cavern loomed over us, whispering ancient secrets as we ventured deeper and deeper inside.
With each step we took, I felt a mixture of excitement and fear growing within me. The darkness seemed to pulse around us, filling me with a sense of anticipation for what we would find at the heart of the cavern. But there was also a slight tremor of fear, the sensation of the unknown lurking in the shadows.
()()()()()
Ruined Temple / Penitence Chamber
—"Ah, what is this I'm hearing? What an interesting turn of events."
—"Well, well, it seems we have visitors. Isn't it exciting? Whatever their motive, they are here now, getting closer to my prison, and that gives me a unique opportunity," said a malicious and calculating voice.
()()()()()
At the bottom of the cavern, we found ourselves in front of an ancient temple, whose walls were adorned with mysterious symbols and enigmatic carvings. The atmosphere inside the temple was dense and steeped in history, and a sense of reverence enveloped us as we explored its intricate walls.
The symbols carved into the stone seemed to tell an ancient story, one that had been forgotten over time. I observed the intricate patterns and abstract shapes with fascination, wondering what meaning they could hold and what secrets they might reveal about the beasts that once inhabited this sacred place.
At that moment, a message from the system appeared: ERROR!... Ability required to read.
With careful steps, we entered the main hall of the temple, where light filtered through small cracks in the ceiling, illuminating the space with a soft golden glow. The hall was wide and spacious, with carved pillars rising toward the sky like silent guardians of a forgotten past.
I turned to my husbands, my curiosity palpable in the air as I asked if they had ever seen these symbols before. Noir and the others took a moment to reflect, their minds diving into the depths of their inherited memory before responding.
—"These symbols," Noir said slowly, his eyes shining with a glimmer of recognition, "belong to the language of the First City of the Beasts. It was an ancient civilization that worshiped the moon and revered the Goddess."
—"For some reason, the knowledge of that language is blurry," Yang mentioned to explain to Lalabel.
At that moment, a message from the system appeared:
Hint: The beasts have forgotten their origin; it's time to uncover the legend of the Goddess.
A second system message appeared:
Mission
Find the soul trapped in this Temple, but be careful; its intentions are not always good.
Objective: Get it to cooperate with you.
If the mission fails, your favorability with this soul will decrease by 1000 points.
I accepted the mission with determination, remembering the last ability the system had given me. Let's put it to use. There was a high risk, but it was necessary to take the chance. I closed my eyes.
()()()()()
You have used the Ability: Soul Detection.
In my mind, I could see the temple in the form of a 3D map. This vision was madness, only possible with the system. I scanned every space and every wall of the hall until I found another chamber behind one of the walls. Inside that chamber, there was a statue with a green flame inside it.
I asked my husbands to examine and touch the symbols on the wall. After a few minutes, Liam found a mechanism that slid half of the wall to one side, allowing us to enter the second chamber.
()()()()()
—"Who are you, and what brings you to this place?" murmured a voice filled with mystery and malice, the words carrying an underlying threat.
—"I am Lalabel, and these are my husbands, Noir, Teru, Yang, and Liam," I responded with determination and gentleness.
—"Are you the guardian of this place?" Noir asked firmly.
—"Yes, I am the Guardian of this place!" I plan to seduce these intruders with false promises, tempting them to fall into my trap like flies caught in a spider's web.
Lalabel and her husbands exchanged nervous glances, aware they were treading on dangerous ground. But their thirst for knowledge drove them not to retreat.
—"We are willing to do anything," declared Noir with determination.
—"Our desire to learn is important, and we are prepared to pay whatever price you demand," added Yang.
—"We wish to learn the ancient language of the First City of the Beasts," Lalabel expressed her and her husbands' willingness.
I smiled maliciously, knowing I had these visitors exactly where I wanted them. "Very well," I said, my voice resonating with authority. "But knowledge comes at a price, and it will not be cheap." My flame flickered as I outlined my demands, each word a carefully crafted trap.
In exchange for teaching them the ancient language, I demanded they free me from this statue. They must find and bring the black pearl from the peninsula of the Triton tribe and the red pearl from the first descendant of the Ara Macao tribe. Once they brought me these items, I would teach them the ancient language.
This female and her males listened to my demands attentively, aware that the price I asked was high and risky. The black pearl from the Triton tribe's peninsula and the red pearl from the first descendant of the Ara Macao tribe are objects of great value and power, difficult to obtain even under the best circumstances. But for them, the promise of learning the ancient language of the beasts was too tempting to refuse.
They deliberated over the magnitude of the task ahead. I, Soren, waited silently in my stone statue, weaving my plans and machinations in the shadows. The game was afoot, and the fate of all involved hung by a thin, fragile thread.