Chapter 31: The beast man in the river
The water was getting warmer. It did not take Ming Tao long to realise he had stayed there for hours. Those cubs really did not come back. Ming Tao got out of the water. It seemed like he had to head back to the pride in the old-fashioned way, with unsown leaves blocking his male parts from the world.
Standing by the river, Ming Tao’s eyes raked the nearby plants and trees looking for foliages big enough to secure between his legs. It would be even better if he saw a vine. He could make a proper skirt till he reached the pride. He made his way forward in the open space by the riverbank, heading to trees aligned further back from river when he heard voices. He frowned. It better be those cubs, he thought. His brows twitched when he heard another voice. He dived right back into the water without hesitation. The voice belonged to the one person he did not want to see. Mira Yang.
What was that demon doing here? And why now? He looked the least presentable.
Ming Tao panicked. From the sound of clashing voices resounding in the environment, he could tell she had company. Children company. He was not ashamed of being naked with Mira, she was his wife after all but not in front of multiple lion kids.
Ahhh. Why was the universe against him today?
"Here. Here. Here and here. Do not wander around aimlessly and alone. You are safer in a group." Mira’s voice echoed. She was getting closer. Maybe if he got out and hid, he would be able to sneak away from them till he entered the pride but those damn trees were too far away.
Wait. He was a cheetah.
Ming Tao jumped out of the water. The first thing he saw was Mira’s back to him along with the heads of several lion cubs poking out of grasses and leaves. They were closer to the river than he thought.
On second thought, he would just wait it out here. He dived back in.
"Always remember lions, do not follow suspicious people’s orders. Even if it is from a member of the pride. Take Patricia for example. She almost harmed one of you." Mira said. After having a nice sleep, she decided to be active today and the first thing that was safe and active enough was lecturing the lion cubs. These children lacked sense till they reached a certain age and she needed to change that.
[Mighty cheetah Ming Tao is hiding in the river, host.]
Mira turned. Huh? Really? Hiding from her? Mira noticed the bubbling of the river water. A wicked thought came to mind. First, he ignored her and now he is hiding from her, too bad they are stuck together for life because as far as this world goes, he is her husband. He belonged to her. And she will remind him of it.
"We could explore further but why don’t we take some time to rest and play? There is a lot of empty space here and a river to take a swim in." Mira smirked. It was either Ming Tao came out now to meet her or deal with several lion babies whom she had wrapped around her thumb.
[Great job, host! Being evil does fit you.]
Mira’s expression was smug. Thank you, system, all in a day’s work of tapping into her inner Mira, the evil one.
The lion cubs rejoiced, bouncing around. These babies were energetic. Way too energetic. It reminded her why she preferred female children to males. Back on Earth, Mira had done a lot of babysitting duty for her relatives in her spare time as a teenager and her little cousins showed her hell. The girls would either plaster her face with permanent markers while she slept or want to do pretend make over or dress up, but the boys? They climbed trees and cushions and dining tables. They raced everywhere and destroyed everything. Mira hated babysitting duty back on Earth so much that she began to charge money for her time but now she was going to be a mother so whether she liked it or not, despite her preference, she would have to bond with children.
"Take your clothes off do you want to have a swim, and do not play in the water for too long. Stay in the shallow sides too." Mira ordered. Lions hated water, that much she knew but if they indeed played too roughly and fell in, these instructions were needed.
Mira walked to a tree and sat. She noticed fruits fallen on the ground. They looked ripe and fresh. All the better for her!
She called for a cub. He came. "Help me pick up these fruits and single out the peeled or rotten ones and rinse them for me, please." The cub looked overjoyed to be sent on an errand. He nodded and began picking.
This was new. Since when did children enjoy errands?
[Since meat became involved.]
Mira laughed. These children were being good for a reward, that was funny. Mira stared ahead, keeping a close eye on the cubs. With the one she called heading for the river, Ming Tao would have to come out because she had all day and a man cannot hold his breath forever.
A cry made Mira’s heart skip a beat and the cub she sent to wash the fruits screamed. "A man is in the river and he’s not from the pride!" The baby yelled.
That was it? I thought all clans mingled and were frequent with each other?
The other cubs gathered around rushing to the river.
"And he’s naked too!"
Mira’s attention sprung to life. Did she just hear ’naked’? Like not a single thing on, just slim abs and bare chested bliss with a very edible worthy sword between the legs all in the open? She wanted to see that.
No wonder he hid. Mira pushed her body up with a grunt. Standing became a lot of work since the baby bump showed. She headed for the river. By now, Ming Tao’s head was in sight as he tried to get the cubs to settle down, an attempt he failed miserably at. Maybe she should help him.
"I am a friend." Ming Tao said, still trying to convince.
"Intruder!" A cub yelled. "Quick grab rocks and stone him!!"
On second thought, she may just wait and see how this plays out. Call it payback.