Arc 2: Doctor Camel Hump Valley

Luca already knew she was good at cooking and shooting. But to make a smelly fish edible enough to be complemented by 'Zayn'? It's been only a day since he met her and he was already mesmerized. In a selfish attempt to keep her real face to himself, he was carving a basin at the lakeside when he saw her fishing. 

The pain that panged in his heart when she tapped on Zayn’s nose- 

Then she started walking in the opposite direction. 

It’s about to get dark. All alone, where’s she ...is she going to my hut? Oh, her clothes! 

Luca rushed to the hut breathless and pretended to prepare medicine to appear as natural possible. He was a leopard after all. Stripes or not, speed was his attribute.

However, minutes passed with no sign of her. 

Why so late? Was she not headed this way? 

His disappointment was short lived. 

Her gentle voice called out to him from outside, “Luca, you home?” 

He was expecting her honey like smell to gush at him but- what’s so fishy? 

“I caught a fish. Would you like to try?” 

She's so... 

Ash placed the cleaned fish in a bowl and begun to remove the bones one by one. 

L: “Leave it I can eat it just fine.” 

A: “Don’t act stubborn. You know the bones can hurt ones throat.” 

He felt embarrassed and happy at the same time. Embarrassed being fed by a female, happy ‘because’ he was being fed. by. a. female! A female who is ‘not’ his mate, looked too pretty, was too skillful, smelled too sweet for him.

Is it because he’s paid with food and stays indoors most of the time that his skintone is lighter compared to others? It’s easier to catch his blush. He’s so cute. The more she fed the redder he got. So her initial plan to just leave him be was cancelled.

When he refused to open his mouth she’d tap his nose, making him squeal inside. 

This, and the addicting flavor of fish mixed with her natural sweet scent washed away the pain gripping his heart faster than it had started. Why’s she doing all the work again? She was generous enough to let me have it raw! Is she not disgusted? It’s clean and all but it still has the stench. Maybe she- 

“Ew, I stink.” -or not.

A: “Good day, doc. I’ll return to the lake for a fresh bath.” 

L: “Wait! I-I carved a basin today. Your fever will worsen if you bath in cold lake water. I have dry mud and some water on the stove.” Before she could try to respond, he rushed to gather everything. 

Being born weak, Luca never ran this fast in life, carried this heavy of things. His muscles were tearing apart as he lifted the water filled basin. Still it was better than her flashing herself to the whole village. “I’ll close the door and guard outside. Take your time.”

He said that, but calm was the last emotion to grace his mind.

Since he came of age he never felt a thing for feminine bodies. As a doctor he had to watch and touch many females, even help give birth. After 25 years of living, he was conviced he was immune to them, but this one ape... 

He could only sigh and analyse what was up with his own body... and sigh again.

***

As nights bettered with the cozy nest and blanket Zayn built for Ash, she begun to frequent the forest at breaks of dawn. It was a convenient time and spot to train after all. 

And at night, Luca would walk her home and insist she baths at his place, babbling something about lukewarm water being good for health. 

Free warm water and relief of the stress of drowning?

She was easily convinced.

Once again the lean figure of the cute leopard fell face first on the ground as she passed by the tree. 

“Is there something under your skirt or are you that happy to see me?” Teasing the poor guy was turning into a bad habit. “Is this you indirectly saying my visits are ‘hard’ on you?” 

L: ”Mo-morning! It’s because it’s morning!” 

Lies.

He was dazedly staring at how her dark eyes glimmer under the sun when she asked, “You know that thing which won’t break no matter how much you stretch it but you can tear it apart if you cut straight through?” 

What?! No way she meant - 

She pointed at the edges of her bow, “I need something like that to tie here and use it like...” and made a pulling gesture. 

Oh. That is what is... 

Luca almost sighed, “I know this thing. Follow m-” 

Ash casually jumping on his back wasn't helping his dazed state. 

“Are these raspberries?" Rang in his ears was her cherry chirps, "They grow on such big trees? Eh? Why is... are them barks made of some creepy shaman’s hair?” With meticulous handling the bark was moist and bendable. Its hair like texture was able to be peeled and put apart. “Oh! Let’s separate the strands and twist them into a rope! It’s so perfect, Doc. Thank you!” 

Why’s she complaining if it’s perfect? 

Seldom, he questioned his hearing when with her. 

Right as she told, they were to do only on task. Pull and seperate.

He did so, carefully following every twist of her wrists only to realize how thin they were compared to his. 

Thin was her jaw too, that now dripped of sweat in the scorching midsummer heat, travelling down her chin into the cut of her top and her collarbone that looked disturbingly similar to her bow. 

How starnge. The sight did not brew digust.

Her brows furrowed in concentration and her angular cut hair hung loose highlighted the diamond shape of her face. Busy looking, he kept missing pace and delayed the process a little. Still she managed to tie the complicated knots around her bow’s edges just fine.  

Ash took an arrow to test. Adjusting to the weight of the bow was such a struggle, she wondered if she'd been neglecting her strength training after coming to this world. 

Aiming at random and missing most, at the end Luca’s curious green eyes became her motivation. 

The vivid emralds are so much like Chat Noir* 

Luca, on the other hand, couldn’t focus on anything than her body language. Rather than the art of seduction as per every female's mastery, she had such an dignified, self-suffecient air about her, he couldn't help but be drawn. For the peace of his mind, he kept plucking fruits he was familiar with. They weren’t poisonous but rather good for stamina. 

And he offered them to her.

However, when her fingers were discovered to have been butchered by the strings, her ears almost fell off from his scoldings. Leaving her on the nearest path to Zayn’s, he dissapeared. Too tired to walk by the time she reached Luca’s slumber tree, she climbed up to lean on the trunk and unknowingly drifted off. 

The last thing she knew was a fragrant wet feeling cover her fingers. 

Luca... 

It had to be him. 

Poor QingQing. What a sweetheart she was missing out on.

Later, a wave of murmurs awoke her, only to have her find the branch under her rumbling like: 

Purr~ 

Purr? 

It’s so sof- crap! Am I on Luca’s back? 

My life be damned, he’s purring! 

When did I- do I sleep walk or smth?! 

Murmurs from beneath begun to sound clearer. 

“Did the aloof doctor finally fall for a female?” 

They gossiping... 

“They look good together. Look, she’s even wearing matching leopard hide” 

Sheesh! Are these people talking about us? Someone tell them this is the wrong ship.

“(Scram! Can’t you see my dearest is sleeping?)” 

Luca was a weak male. But being a doctor earned him respect. From his beast form, Ash however, only heard low growling that sounded like a lo-fi version of Tom ‘n Jerry’s intro, lulling her back to sleep.

Evening. Bath-time.

As Luca heard a strangely melodious voice, he popped his head just enough through the door to ask: “You called?” There was Ash, mostly hidden by the arch of her tub, dragging a lump of mud over one of her slender arms as she chuckled. “Just singing. Don't mind me.” 

"Is that... um... really just a melody or are you saying something? I can't really comprehe-"

"I can speak clearly in beastman language is that's what you want."

"Oh no. I can't possibly burden you with-"

The moon's as if lit on fire,

The sun's as if it dimmed.

The sky's as I look at it is a melting bar of cream~

As her voice pitched higher- stringing a wordless melody along, Luca was left stunned. 

Was something like that always possible?

I'm standing here as stiff I can, yet the earth shifts itself,

I hold my heart to it's best beats, yet breaths hitch itselves~

Is it how love feels like to them?

I wonder-

Is it how love feels like to be in?

Is this about that HIM? Though it's unlikely for a female to WAIT, how could that expression of feelings all be... 

Luca wondered if he'd be too delusional to picture himself the expressor in this tale.

(No... 

The sun is what still burns, moon is still dim.

This dream is but pain

I may never meet you again...)

His chest squeezed. The words were so sweet yet... it sounded like the wait was a burden on her. 

He so wished to comfort her in his warmth. But he knew he had not the right. Not yet.

After all, she did profess consideration of other males later on and never actually push him away... 

That’s enough. I can wait. I won't give up so easy. 

When I become your mate, 'if' I ever do, I’ll give you my all. 

Every day. 

Every moment. 

You deserve so much, but not pain...

Never pain...

***

“Xiao Bai, let’s collect animal skins.” 

QingQing frowningly pointed at Ash then herself. 

“How will WE do that? You plan to hunt again? Jiejie, that’s dangerous!” 

“Ignore her. I bet she plans to beg or steal? This tone of Zayn always elicited the same phrase in both humans’ heart: This damned leopard! 

Ash shook her head as she stepped on the yard before his hut and yelled at the top of her lungs, "To the beastman who brings me an animal hide each, I’ll show how to extract oil and ‘stir-fry’.” Then she turned around and winked at Zayn, leaving him dumbfounded.

Q: “Woo~ are we in business now? I can share a few recipes too. But can you really extract oil?” 

I do. Thanks to you. 

Honestly speaking, Ash has complicated feelings towards this girl. She’s the protagonist. Wherever she goes, danger will be like a shadow. Ash’s only wish was to steal Kaywin and become the protagonist of her own story as any ordinary family around here. On the other hand, she’s the reason Ash knows what she knows to survive in this world. She’s also the only other ‘human’, a sweet one at that. Helping her cope with this life was only fair, and prevent her from walking headfirst into danger like she did in the novel. Ash couldn’t even blame her for her silly actions, as she was 100 times more aesthetically stupid at that age. 

For now I’ll save her from getting kidnapped by that snake. This child, she’s scared of reptiles! Why should she go through the terrifying process of falling for him?

A: “Btw, aren’t you a Chinese high schooler, how are you so good at English?” 

They spoke mandarin in the novel. The reason Fl managed to blend in. 

Q: “I honestly have no idea. When I dropped in this world I suddenly... And I saw everyone speak it, so... Wasn't it the same for you? 

Huh? Did the author alter reality to help with their own mother tongue? Or did it change due to my interference? 

Not sure, Ash decided to go with the truth, “Not exactly. English has always been my favored language of speech. A rule of my household was to speak it when we’re together in order to help us with our grades. I got too used to it and am speaking out of habit.”

***

A: “Do you come here every dawn to photosynthesize or to see me?” 

There he goes blushing again. 

L: “To accompany you actually. You... don’t have a guardian...” 

Umm, wow. Will I ever be able to pay him back? This is... 

A: “So, you're saying I’m not strong enough to carry my own? You belittling me, doctor?” 

L: “Oh, no, no! Not- I-I-“ look at how cutely he panics, hehe. 

Everyday, Ash could only wonder why the novel called him strict. He was such a marshmallow! 

A: ”I’m joking. Relax. On a better note, you know how to fight? .”

L: “I... can handle 2-3 wild beasts in my beast form. Why?” 

A: "I was wondering if we could become training partners. Why don't you come and try to catch my punches." 

***

Camel Hump was a fun place. Sometimes Ash traded recipes for animal skin. She warned them against experimenting with ingredients. They did so in the novel and got sick. Still someone mixed too much red chilies, another used a random wild leaf- couldn’t bear the bitterness and upset their stomach.

She also made dresses with animal skin and traded for meat and fruits. She was born with an appetite bigger than the amount served in her household, even to males. Restricted all her life, her new found freedom and the food freshness here was too tempting to pass. 

Also, training made her hungrier and tired. Luca’s slumber tree became her favorite spot to nap and sew sitting on.

The villagers begun to favor the girls by now; trying to follow what they introduce. Eve and Eudora were the most frequent visitors, though the latter came only to pester for her 'promised strong males'. 

“Do you have a habit of falling down each time you wake up? It’s been 10 days!” 

Teasing him was also too fun. They practiced defense, simple offensive techniques and ran around the whole village competing against each other. It helped that he wasn’t too fast, probably because he had no stripes. He was still a leopard.

Training in the wild, she'd often get injured. He’d treat her; scolding and forbidding from training the next day. Only then would his strict description match him. But that couldn’t make her comply. “If you don’t let me walk then run laps yourself. I’ll practice leopard-riding archery.” She was even getting better at it.

Sometimes other males joined them, paying with firewood. Some even stepped up to ask permission to pursue Ash, only to be rejected hearing- “I won’t accept males weaker than 3 stripes.” 

Zayn with 2 strips being the strongest proved that these villagers mostly had no stripes. Beastmen loved too easily and were too persistent. If she didn’t set boundaries, thousands would be all over her in no time; Ash had no choice but be harsh from the start not knowing she was also hurting her dear training partner.

With the matter of mating, Zayn and QingQing seemed to have a fight going on. The atmosphere always felt gloomy when Ash was home. In the novel, this was when QingQing went out for fresh air and starts stirring trouble.

To avoid that I need to cheer them up. 

So Ash proposed Zayn an outing. 

“Let’s pick some flower and decorate your hut. If that’s to her liking she might warm up to you.” 

To QingQing she said, “I heard Eve just gave birth to a litter. You'll love to play with them.”

Making sure both turned visibly cheerful, Ash headed to Luca’s. She had to treat her wound from a thorn piercing in her foot. 

As expected she was only allowed to train on Luca’s back that afternoon. Then she was to wash up and rest or Luca will stop making her energy drinks after every sessions. 

Ugh! he’s good at threats. I can’t miss that sweet delicacy! 

They were still deep into the forest when the sun turned orange. Luca felt like pulling a stunt and ran through the woods harsher than ever. But before they could reach his hut, he tumbled on a patch of slippery mud and...