Arc 2: The Camel Hump Valley

Luca’s hut had two sections, one medical, one personal. While she had sewed and arranged the serving of food in his personal room, the cooking had to be done on his medicine brewing stove, or rather, an arrangement of 4 stones. 

It wasn't like she was invading his privacy. Nothing but a nest of grass rested in there. 

Who’s she to summon me wherever she wishes! If only QingQing didn’t smile like that... That dummy; did she bewitch my female? Why’s she always so eager to spend time with- 

“Zayn, come over here. I have something to show you.” 

The words he thought he was screaming inwardly was actually being audibly mumbled by his mouth. 

This dumb female! You think I’ll leave my QingQing alone with another male- 

“Doc, help me serve.” 

Okay, maybe not that dumb, but dumb nonetheless. 

And from the looks of it, he didn't even know.

On the other hand- Why’s she so careless? Calling a male alone in a room, even if it’s Zayn... Ahem, I’m joining merely out of curiosity. -Luca's thoughts were too transparent. 

A: “In for a deal?” 

Z: “I’m not interested in any of your dumb deals!” 

A: “Eh? I guess you're also not interested in what I added to my meat last night then?” 

Z: “...what’s the deal?” 

Luca could only try to believe his own eyes. She really tamed him?!

While the young doctor was busy handling himself againgst the series of shock he was receiving from her since dawn, Ash began to draw straight and crescent lines on his floor made of dried mud. As he had no idea what those lines symbolized, Luca focused on listening. 

A: “I need wood for the body, stone for the head, it’s called an arrow. For the bow, it’ll be all wood and this big.” 

Z: “Do you take me for a fool? You want me to work so much without even a taste first?” 

A: “I was going to, j*rk. Here, you can sniff out the herbs from the medical hut.” 

Z: “Medicinal... herbs?” 

Despite skeptism, 1 sip changed his face from doubtful to surprise, then immediately, to something blissful. 

A: “Careful, it’s hot!”

 Before he knew it he was downing a 2nd bowl. 

To get ‘Zayn’ to act like that... is it really that delicious? 

Being served right after, Luca didn’t have to wonder long.

Q: “Is this... bird broth? You’re so awesome, jiejie! Where did you get tomato, garlic and ginger?” 

A: “Just around. But, what's on your face, darling?”

 QingQing blushed a faint flush of color as her fingers touched the scatered freckles over her otherwise blemish free cheeks. “This is my eyeliner, an attempt to be ugly. Zayn approved, so...” 

These damned Chinese authors! Freckles are not ugly spots!  Sheesh. 

Still, Ash played along, “Good thinking. Males around here are too persistent. Let me cover my face too. Then we’ll head out to socialize with females here.” 

Taking note of the grey maxi dress Ash had on, QingQing couldn't help but call her back in urgency. “At least change in a native wear! They’ll think we’re aliens!”

As mentioned in the novel, all men in sight were drop dead gorgeous. As carnivorous beastmen, they all had a fierce aura and were more or less muscular. Ash used to call the author a lookist for calling female beastmen ‘extremely ugly’ because of their flat nose and chubby belly, but looking at them now... Mon deiu, who forced you to create such creatures? They weren’t ugly per se, just lazy and wore wrong choice of fashion. It’s just... They all looked like 50-60 year old-soggy aunties with young faces. If they were to tighten their muscles and wear clothes and accessories that complement their features, they’d be …better. 

She was struggling to think positively.

A: “The tattoos on those ladies are called spousal marks. They appear when women mate with a new man. With it comes a part of his strength. It should be used only in emergengy as it can easily suck out your natural energy.” 

Thus instead, she focused on introducing more of this world to the future fl. 

Because both leopards were following close behind, Ash had to whisper.

“Are you the females Zayn brought?” The brunette in bob speaking had a soft gaze and calm aura. 

The first lady to talk to QingQing… 

“Hello Eve. I’m Ash, this is Bai QingQing. I’ve heard a lot about the villagers from doctor here.” 

The girl blushed, confused, “Still… you got my name right?” 

A: “That sweet face can belong to no other. I made a soup as token of acquaintance. You want some?”

Look at the girl blushing. She... knows how to sweet talk her way, huh? Knowing how the boys had gobbled up everything back in the hut, QingQing surprisedly wondered where Ash had brought that much out from. 

Meanwhile, Ash kept flustering every female in the vicinity, proof that she's done her homework before coming out here. The compliments and scent of the dish drifted so far, even males were crowding over. It became so much that both Zayn and Luca had to join in to tackle them.

"Are you new here?" 

"Do you have kids?" 

"Any other males?" 

“Are you of age?” 

It wasn't long before QingQing became overwhelmed from just their word choices. Contrarily, as someone who read about the culture of these people, Ash expected as much. 

A: “I’m 19, she’s 16. What do you think?” 

“Which clan are you from?” 

She consoled QingQing with her gaze while waving her hand as if it was nothing. 

A: “We’re both apes.”

That was the closest clan to humanity around here.

All of a sudden-

“Step aside, step aside.” 

“What’s this odd smell of meat and medicine?” 

“Is someone sick?” 

Ash turned towards the 3 most popular females of the village, forcibly making their way towards her, guarded by a dozen males, probably their mates. 

“Zayn, where did you bring these uglies from? Ugh! Their faces are black with spots.” said Eudora, the belle of the village. She was after Zayn for his formidability and was about to insult QingQing out of jealousy, as described in the novel. Seeing her nose that was as flat as if been ironed down to the bone structure, almost looking like the  charecters from 'The crude', Ash couldn't help but sigh at the author. 

If she’s is the belle, I can become the queen just by revealing my face!

So she put her hands on her cheeks and squealed in inflatedly. “Omo, omo, Eudora? I heard you were a beauty, but they were so wrong!” 

Eudora’s face darkened as offensive intents from her admirers filled the air. 

"You da-"

“You’re a goddess! I can’t stop staring!” 

"Right. As you should." Her smug expression returned. But the atmosphere turned for worse as she addressed Zayn, “I’m in heat now. Agree. We can have a litter of ours too.” 

How could her males not feel struck to their hearts?

Z: “I appeciate your offer, Dora. But I've chosen my mate. Congra-” 

A loud slap resounded in the air.

"You proud lil' brat! Do you take me for a joke?!"

Seeing things escalate where it shouldn't, Ash jumped in, “This 2 stripped jerk! Unacceptable! I’m heading to the city as soon. Let me bring you 3 striped males! With that face, you should be the one abandoning him, who’s rejecting you using a sorry excuse who isn’t even his mate yet!”

Just when the jealous men, who were previously glaring at Zayn and Zayn himself turned their red gazes on Ash, a strange scent of blood penetrated the air. 

Then there was a happy squeal. 

“Take that, dummy! Hahaha... my female’s in heat! Now we’ll become mates while you keep being alone!” 

Sigh. Couldn’t even tackle the situation as I wanted. Nice timing fl.

Zayn picked QingQing up, scoffing at Ash, “You old unwanted female. For all I know you might never to go into heat given how sickly you are.” 

Did I really just hear the same insults as Eudora from the novel threw at Bai, from... Zayn? That fu- 

“So what? A male doesn’t like his solely female for her ability to bear children!” Luca, who had had enough of Zayn, chided him.  

“Humph! Do what you want. I need to tend to my female,” he ran off, laughing like a fool.

L: “Ash, don’t let his words hurt you. You're still a child. And even if you never bear children, I’ll still like you.” 

To the man who was standing up for her with such misleading words despite his feelings for the fl, Ash was grateful. “Thanks, doc. But child? I'm 19. I do go into heat and already have a male in mind. I just don’t plan on considering anyone before him.” 

Nine... Oh! I-I- she- 

Dejection and hope swirling on his face went unnoticed by Ash as she begun advancing towards Zayn’s hut, "...so don’t worry too much. I’ll come for my clothes later.”

***

“I do appreciate what you do for me, but Zayn, you are too mean to her.” 

Seeing his female take an outsider’s side, anger added authority to Zayn’s tone, “You, QingQing, are too kind for your own good! Wha-”

“You’re right.” the familiar voice startled both, “it’s because she’s so kind that a jerk like you is still hovering over.” 

In a flash, Zayn had Ash flat against the wall, his arms trapping her from both side, twitching veins visible to naked eye, “How dare you call my QingQing a sorry excuse!” 

However, at the face of his about wrath, Ash was calm. 

“I was helping her out.” 

"You think I’m a fool?" 

“Eudora proposing to you in front of her while calling her ugly was bearable but me sacrificing my dignity just to shut her up is itching you?” 

“What?! B-but I-”

“Stop it, Zayn! She signaled me in advance!” Watching them banter in a kabedon was too much like a mellow-drama kiss scene for QingQing to digest, “She was actually trying to get Eudora away from you.” 

Hearing that, he slowly stepped away, sparing Ash the lead of their conversation: “If you’re any grateful, do hasten in making the things I asked. I can take care here. I’m a female too.” 

With a hung head, he then left.

Q: “Heat? Mate? Children? Jiejie, I’m confused.” 

Finally alone, Ash made herself comfortable. 

A: “Soon, Zayn will start pushing you to mate with him. Listen carefully, Bai. Period in our world is called heat here. Unlike us, they start bleeding at 15 and continue to once a year. Only if their fertility is good do they give birth at the end of it, which is worrisome for their below average population. Males here are quite pitiful. They’re forced to not only share their wife; they don’t get to mate even once every year. Now do you get Zayn’s desperation?”

Q: “But-” 

A: “Let me finish. Us humans can have sex or get pregnant anytime, but they don’t know that. Even if you tell Zayn, he won’t believe you and continue to pester, he may even force you.” 

Blood drained out of QingQing’s face. 

A: “You need to use tactics. Despite acting like a jerk, he has a good heart. You’re special to him.” 

Blush~ That brought some blood back to her face. 

“If you want to have se*, you may. If not, you have 2 options. First, promise to mate with him when you’re ready. Until then, you’ll be only his and never run away. If that doesn’t work or you don’t want him as a mate at all, second, threaten to cut off the spousal relation if he forces you. FYI cutting off spousal relation means to stab the flesh containing the tattoo.”

Q: “O jiejie, you practically saved my life once again.” 

Ash put some distance inside the hug QingQing just jumped into for the sake of conversing. 

A: “One last thing.” 

Q: “There’s more?” 

A: “Beware of poisonous plants, wild beasts, ferals, mermen and the rootless- beastmen who had their spousal relation cut off. They tend to rape females, abduct them and beat them up. Some also have a heart cold enough to eat them up.” Her words sent multiple lines of shivers down QingQing's back. “Never roam around unguarded, touch or bring home objects of unknown origin.”

That is how she got her feral mate in the novel. I have to warn her against it.

***

Zayn was almost done when he sensed the pollen scented person approaching. 

“I know, we don’t have a good relationship, but for Bai’s sake, can we start over?” Ash held her palm out in a gesture of truce. However, Zayn kept shaping the wood, totally ignoring her. 

This reminded her of Kaywin, when she had asked for a promise of lifelong partnership. Kitten was so sweet at accepting my hand. And this jerk?

“...Nevermind. Thanks for fulfilling your side of the deal. You’re a good craftsman.” She had never seen real arrows, nevertheless they looked just like the ones in the movies. It was because of the novel that she was confident about Zayn’s exceptional craftsmanship.

A: “Since I’m satisfied by the result, I’ll let you in a secret. Her favorite food is fish.” Zayn literally dropped his things as he stared her down with owl-eyes. 

Z: “Are you joking? Fish is inedible!” 

A: “Is not. Make me a nest and blanket, I’ll show you how to turn fish edible. Deal?” 

He sighed in defeat, “That much is easy.” 

A: “First thing first, she detests hunger yet can’t eat much. Offer her small portions of 3-4 meals throughout the day, even if she’s in heat. Don’t you see how skinny she is?” In the novel Bai was left starving with only one meal a day, causing her period to turn irregular. I don’t want that to happen again.

Zayn wanted to refute but the dummy had too much of a good relation with his female to not know her likes and dislikes. So they made their way to the village lake in order to catch fish. Feline males actually liked fish. But their scaly skin and pungent scent tended to disgust females. Even if one eats it, they did so in secret and always rinsed their mouth with mud so they don’t get caught. 

If this dummy is pranking me, I swear... 

In the summer afternoon, many females were still at the lakeside; bathing or just enjoying the cool breeze. Everyone paused at the sight of Ash, some curious to what the stick in her hand was, some wondering why she was searching for an empty spot. The lack of movement influenced fishes to near the surface, helping Ash target a big one as it was easy to capture them moving.

Per Kitten’s instruction, if I choose a moving object, I need to aim at the spot where I guess my target to reach by the time my weapon hits it. Many eyes are watching, I can’t afford to miss. Holding the arrow like a spear, Ash put more strength than usual and successfully stabbed a fish in 3 attempts. She could hear the clicking melody of jaws hitting the ground as she used the arrow’s head to remove the scales, cut it open its and clean the bones and impurities. 

Dividing it in 4, Ash shoved one in Zayn’s open mouth, enjoying how his owl-eyes morphed into hearts as he stuffed the remaining parts in himself. She could also hear a few murmurs and pleas. 

“Catch one for me, go.” 

”Should we roast it? My female will kill me if I bring it raw.” 

”Is it because she’s an ape that she has such skills?”

...and what not.

“Roast it with salt, boil it like I did with the birds or stir fry it with leafs and condiments.” Ash spoke loud enough so everyone near would hear. She had done this in public with an intention. 

Z: “How do I stir fry?” 

Smirking, she tapped the tip of his nose lightly. 

A: “That’s a lesson for another time, leopard.”