"What's all the noise about?"
The Giant Grey Wolf woke up, stretching lazily as he looked at the crowd.
"He won!" voices shouted from every side, all pointing at me with their snouts, claws, or paws.
The wolf's eyes widened. He stared at the Ape in the mud, then back at me. "Him?" he asked, sounding surprised, maybe even a little amused.
He stepped closer, his gaze landing on the Ape again. Seeing the Ape lying there, broken and helpless, face splattered with mud and clutching his groin in pain was all the proof he needed.
"Well, I didn't see this coming," the wolf said, shaking his head. "The winner of this… trial is…" He paused, frowning as he looked at me. "What are you even called? Furless bone monkey?"
A wave of laughter spread through the beasts. The Giant Grey Wolf squinted at me, waiting for a reaction, but I just stared back with a blank innocent look.
The wolf sighed. "Fine," he said, louder this time. "The winner is…"
Before he could finish, I raised my hand.
"What now?" the Giant Grey Wolf asked, annoyed.
"I'm not the winner," I said. "I gave up earlier. I already yielded."
The wolf blinked. "What?"
"I told the Ape I yield," I said again. "I surrendered. He won."
The crowd went silent. Even the wind seemed to stop.
"What did he say?" someone whispered.
"Is he serious?" another asked.
The wolf tilted his head, staring at me. "You're serious?"
"Yes," I nodded. "I'm not the winner."
The wolf looked at the Ape, who was still stuck in the mud, too weak to stand.
"If you yielded," the wolf said slowly, "then how is he more beaten than you? You don't even have a scratch. And why did everyone here point to you as the winner?"
I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. "I yielded because he took my brother hostage. But when he didn't stop and hurt my brother anyway, I… well, I made sure he couldn't do it again."
A murmur of admiration rippled through the crowd. Even the Giant Grey Wolf's expression softened for a moment. But then his annoyance returned.
"If you yielded," the wolf growled, "then you are not the winner."
The Ape, who had been trying to bury his shame in the mud, suddenly perked up, a flicker of hope lighting his eyes.
"And this pathetic excuse for a fighter," the wolf roared, gesturing at the Ape with a snap of his paw, "broke the rules of the duel! He dishonored this trial, disrespected its authority, and violated the sacred order. He is also not the winner!"
The wolf's voice shook the ground. Gasps rippled through the crowd.
I stood still, keeping my face blank. His anger didn't fool me. I may look like feeble little critters but you are a child in front of me with your childish schemes you Giant Grey Wolf.
"This trial is over," the wolf barked. "No winners!"
With that, he leaped into the air and disappeared.
The crowd broke into whispers.
"Is he stupid?" someone asked.
"Who gives up seven days of meat for that?" another said.
They kept talking, but I didn't care. Let them.
As the sun went for west, everyone returned to their resting places.
I headed back to mine, a deep cave with walls full of fossilized bones from giant beasts. It was perfect—no creature dared to come near. Even my brother and that cowardly pig girl had trembled when I first brought them here. But I forced them to stay, and now they'd gotten used to it.
At the end of the cave, I saw the pig girl lying on her grass bed. My brother was lying on her back, still unconscious, with a dried streak of blood at the corner of his jaw.
The sight of that blood made my anger flare up again. I should've made that Ape suffer more for this. But I clenched my fists and kept myself calm.
The pig girl didn't even flinch when I walked closer. This fat bacon has no sense of danger, no alertness—just lying there like a lump. As I stepped nearer, I noticed a slight tremble in her snout.
So, she's awake? Acting dumb, huh? I smirked but didn't call her out.
I crouched down to check on my brother, but the cave was too dark to see clearly. His breathing was steady, but his jaw looked stiff. He wouldn't be able to chew or bite for a while.
Winter was coming, and I couldn't afford to leave him like this. I'd have to use another one of my hidden cards. As much as I hated it, I needed to, for my brother's sake and in preparation for winter.
I grabbed the bucket and my backpack, ready to head out for water and herbs.
Just as I turned to leave, I heard a faint whimper.
It wasn't my brother. It was her.
I rolled my eyes. This pig girl was always so needy and annoying. One day, I swear, I'll roast her for dinner.
"What now?" I snapped, glaring at her.
Her snout twitched frantically, and she opened her eyes. She didn't speak, but her wide, tearful gaze made her look pitiful.
"Shut up," I barked. "I'm not leaving. I need to get herbs and water to treat him."
She relaxed a little at my words, though her snout still twitched nervously.
"Keep him safe and warm," I said, my tone sharp. She gave a small nod, finally calming down because of my harsh reaction.
As I left the cave, I shook my head. What kind of weird relationship is this?
I didn't need to search for supplies. I already knew where everything was. Within five minutes, I'd gathered all the herbs, berries, wild vegetables, and thick wild potato roots I needed. My backpack was full as I knelt by a small mountain stream to fill my bucket.
"If you're going to attack, just do it already," I said loudly, without even looking up.