Chapter 3 - a Happy small Family

It was late afternoon when the scent of smoke and human sweat reached Zesh's nose.

In that instant, Zesh froze. His fur bristling at the sight of wooden huts and dirt roads came into view through the trees. Just now did he noticed his sorrounding, it was dark mist filled woods no more, but more like outskirts of a sparse jungle.

A human settlement.

Zesh's instincts screamed at him to turn back, to run as far as he could from the creatures that had slaughtered his father.

But Ayin's labored breaths against his back reminded him that he had no choice.

He crept closer, keeping to the shadows. The settlement was small, no more than a cluster of ramshackle buildings surrounded by crude fences. Humans moved about, their laughter and chatter foreign and harsh to his ears.

he thought, his teeth bared.

Before he could decide, a small voice startled him.

"Oh!"

Radagon whipped around, baring his fangs, only to find himself face-to-face with a human child.

The boy couldn't have been more than ten, his wide brown eyes filled with a mixture of curiosity and fear. He had a round face, smudged with dirt, and clutched a bundle of firewood in his small arms.

"Are you…" The boy hesitated, his gaze shifting to Ayin. "Is she okay?"

Living close to the wild, the boy obviously know that not all of animals are simple creature. And just from a glance at this pair of beast, he knew that Ayin and Zesh from magical beast faction.

Zesh growled low in his throat, stepping protectively in front of his sister.

The boy flinched but didn't run.

"Telepathy?" He scratched his ears in surprised, "Truly magical beast then?"

but Zesh cut his own word instantly.

He remembered what his parents once said about being the last of their kind. And he knew they it was something that shouldn't spoken out loud. Thanks God though, he's now black, contrast in color with his should be colored fur. Ayin stayed almost the same, but the wounds, blood and dirt covered her identity as well.

The boy dropped the firewood and took a cautious step forward. "She's hurt. Let me help her!"

Zesh's eyes narrowed, his telepathic voice cold.

The boy tilted his head, his brow furrowing. "I don't know what you're talking about, but she looks really sick. I can bring her to my mom. She knows how to fix people."

Zesh took a step back, his claws digging into the dirt.

The boy's face fell. "But… she's dying. Don't you care about her?"

Zesh's heart wrenched at the words.

He turned to look at Ayin, her small form draped across his back like a fragile shadow. She stirred faintly, a pained whimper escaping her lips.

Her voice was so faint, so weak, it barely reached him.

The boy stepped forward again, his small hands outstretched. "Please. I promise I won't hurt her. I just want to help."

Zesh's mind raced, his anger and fear battling with the desperate need to save his sister. Finally, he lowered his head.

The boy nodded quickly, his face pale but determined. "I won't. I swear."

The boy led them to a small hut on the edge of the settlement. Zesh's every muscle was taut as he followed, his eyes darting to the humans who stared at them with curious eyes.

"Stay back!" the boy shouted at the onlookers. "They're not wild beast!"

Zesh's lip twitched but said nothing. Inside the hut, a woman with a weathered face and kind eyes gasped at the sight of them.

"Nakan, what—" she began, but the boy interrupted.

"Mom, she's hurt! You have to help her!"

"Her?" she surprised, "A magical beasts?"

The woman hesitated, her gaze flickering between the strange, dirty-furred beasts and her son. Finally, she sighed and gestured to a mat in the corner.

"Lay her down," she said softly.

Zesh placed Ayin on the mat, his body coiled like a spring. The woman knelt beside her, her hands trembling slightly as she examined the young beast.

"She's burning up," she murmured, her voice filled with concern. "Nak, fetch water. And my medicine pouch."

The boy nodded and hurried out the door.

Zesh watched the woman's every move, his eyes glinting with suspicion.

Hearing the threatening voice reverberating in her brain, she revealed surprised expression.

After all it was indeed rare for magical beasts to have telepathy. Most of them would have the ability to spoke in human tongue or something similar, while telepathy was something high-end, basically only minorities of magical beast race had it.

The woman shook her head, her expression firm. "I'm not going to hurt her. You're her big brother, aren't you? I can see your similarities."

Zesh didn't respond, his silence as sharp as a blade.

If it had been said by their parents, he'll be very happy. But to hear it from their parents killer's kind?

Nakan returned with the supplies, and his mother set to work, cleaning Ayini's wounds and applying a foul-smelling salve to her fevered skin.

Ranni stirred, her eyes fluttering open. She looked around weakly, her gaze landing on the woman.

Zesh leaned close to her, his voice low.

Ayin's eyes widened, but instead of fear, he saw something else—gratitude.

The boy piped up, smiling nervously. "I told you we'd help."

Ayin turned her head toward him, her voice soft.

The boy beamed. "You're welcome! My name's Nakan and my beautiful mother is Clara!"

"Oh? When did you learn sweet talking?" Clara chuckled.

Zesh's stomach twisted at the sight of his sister trusting them so easily. He looked away, his mind a storm of conflicting emotions.

That night, Ayin slept peacefully for the first time in weeks. The mother and her son kept their distance, allowing the siblings some space. Zesh sat by the window, staring out at the flickering lights of the settlement.

he muttered bitterly.

Zesh stirred, her voice weak but clear.

He turned to her, his eyes narrowing.

She glanced toward the door, where faint voices of the boy and his mother could be heard.

Radagon's claws dug into the wooden floor.

Ayin sighed, her voice tinged with sorrow.

Zesh didn't reply. He stared into the darkness, her words pressing on his heart.

But they couldn't be blamed.

After all, they're still kids. Even though the hatred is real, so did with the help they received. Zesh's heart may be frozen, but Ayin always had soft nature. So it's only natural that she'll feel that way despite what happened. Not to mention, this is could be said to be their first interaction with humans.

Zesh spoke calmly as he closed his eyes as well.

And so they slept, Ayin especially fall deep in a dream.

"Guys, are you still awake?" Suddenly, Clara hesitant voice entered the room.

In the next instant, Zesh jolted awake.

But he didn't even make a sound as he had ferocious expression, ready to take whatever the humans would show, He sneered inwardly, claw ready.

But nothing happened.

Still, with his perked ear, he could hear faint whispers..

"Yeah, they're sleeping mom! It's okay if we do it!"

"But… they're beast, they have good ears…"

"It's okay! I will lock the door tightly! And they're look so tired! They must be sleeping deeply right now!"

"But…"

"Come on, mom, as long as you didn't make too much sweet noises like usual…"

"And whose fault was that?!"

Came faint, flirty and sticky chuckles.

<…>

Zesh didn't know what to say, but he's hoping that this is was not what he's thinking.

But then, following a click sound of the door locked, a muffled tone drifted through the thin walls—a sound that made him both freeze. It was low at first, almost indiscernible, but it grew louder, unmistakable.

<…..>

Zesh almost frozen in place.

If the first few seconds could be a mistake in his ears, what about the ten minutes next?

<...…Should I stop and just get some sleep?>

After all he was no pervert, why would he insistent on eavesdropping this particular family activity? But he can't do that, what if it was actually a trap?

Just as he complained, her sister's eyes opened.

She asked, clutching the blanket.

Zesh furrowed his brows, the sound was clear in his ear—strange, rhythmic, and accompanied by two hot, sticky and flirty voice.

Ayin asked,

Zesh hesitated before nodding.

Another voice cut through the quiet.

Younger, male.

Ayin's eyes widened.

Zesh said flatly.

Ayin whispered, shaking her head as though trying to dispel the thought.

The noises continued, the cadence unmistakable now.

Ayin's face flushed with both embarrassment and fear as she clamped her hands over her ears.

Her voice was desperate, pleading for another explanation.

Zesh snapped, though his voice was still hushed. He rarely raised his voice at her, but the tension was too much to bear.

she muttered, barely able to voice her thoughts.

Zesh cut her off, his voice flat.

There was silence all around, or at least they hoped so. But even after an hour later, the voice was still there.

Ayin started, then hesitated, her cheeks flushing. Her voice faltered, as if she was still trying to convince herself that what they'd heard wasn't what she thought.

From the darkness, Zesh's scarlet eyes looked at his sister with an expression that was a mix of confusion and something darker.

Lan replied quickly, her tone shaky.

Zesh's his eyes wide with something close to disbelief.

Zesh scoffed, his voice heavy with disgust.

Ayin lowered her head, staring at the floor.

She could feel her brother's disgust and his stand for their family's teaching, but something in her chest twisted. She didn't understand it, not fully, but there was a part of her that didn't feel as certain as Zesh.

Her voice was so soft now it was barely a whisper.

. Zesh replied curtly.

Ayin couldn't be blamed for thought so.

After all, if we take example from our world, then they would be a monks. And not converted but born. Living all their lives secluded in a temple, but then, religion crisis caused the temple to burn. With nothing in their possession, all they could do was run, travel, from one place to another, trying to survive. Until eventually they ended up in the big city where people selling their body for food to survive as well. Such sight obviously challenged their beliefs and teaching.

At this point, Zesh growled deeply.

Ayin wanted to agree with her brother.

She knew she should agree with him, but it didn't feel that simple.

Ayin said, more to herself than to Zesh, her voice small.

Zesh stayed quiet.

she repeated, her voice quivering with the confusion she could no longer contain.

Quietly, Ayin made her resolve.

Zesh's scarlet eyes glinted with complex feelings.