Chapter 104: A Gift Carved by Hand
Kael walked smoothly beside Nuan in his massive silver-grey wolf form as the small group made their way back to the camp.
It feels so good to be in my wolf form after such a long time, Kael’s deep voice echoed gratefully through the telepathic link.
"Yeah? I’m genuinely happy for you! Believe me, I know exactly what you mean!" Nuan replied, her shoes crunched against the dirt as she walked with a light, refreshed step.
She glanced down at his thick, silver fur, a curious thought popping into her head. "By the way, Kael... I heard you flat-out rejected the offer from Zuri and Amara to take the Red Root earlier. So, what exactly brought about this sudden change of heart?"
Beside them, Zuri, Amara, Tala, and Lyra all subtly shifted their eyes toward Kael while walking, eagerly and curiously waiting to hear his answer.
I want to protect you! Kael answered instantly, his telepathic voice firm, absolute, and completely devoid of his usual stubborn pride.
"I see..." Nuan murmured, a wry smile spreading across her lips. "Well, you’ll only have to protect me for just a few more weeks, Kael. I have to hit the road soon. I’ll make sure to give everyone some handmade clay bowls or something before I go... uhm, maybe in the next 60 days or so, I’ll be leaving after that! Welp, protect me well until then!" she teased, fully expecting his ears to drop and his face to go into a massive, dramatic sulk.
But instead of throwing a tantrum, Kael
just nodded his massive wolf head happily. I will, he replied smoothly through the link.
Internally, his predatory mind was practically smirking. Nuan doesn’t know I am going to come right along with her on this journey! Kael thought, his tail giving a subtle, victorious swish in the tall grass.
Nuan looked at his smiling wolf face in absolute, utter confusion. Wow... is that what the kids today call ’character development’? Who fixed his settings?
Before she could question it further, the trees cleared and they finally reached the main camp.
Nuan quickly marched over to the flat rocks, laying out the damp clothes and socks she had washed in the river to dry under the midday sun, before carefully placing her damp clay pottery beside them.
"Okay, Amara and Zuri," Nuan said, turning around and dusting her hands off as she looked up at the two giants. "Tell me, what is it that you would like me to give you as a proper thank-you gift? I will forge or craft it with my own hands!"
"No, Witch Aestra, we cannot possibly ask for anything more," Zuri rumbled softly, her trunk swaying. "The blessing of the Red Root that you gave to our clan so many generations ago is more than enough!"
I see... Nuan murmured internally, tapping her chin. But I really want to give them something. I hate owing anyone favors... and these two saved my life.
Suddenly, a brilliant spark ignited in her brain. Oh, right!
"Uhm, Kael! Bring me the finest, sturdiest piece of dry wood you can find!" Nuan ordered, pointing toward the forest.
Kael nodded happily, immediately trotting off into the treeline to scan for the perfect fallen branch.
Zuri and Amara looked at each other, their big brows furrowing, before looking back down at the tiny furless girl. "Witch... we do eat plants and leaves, but we definitely do not consume dry wood," Amara noted, sounding deeply concerned for Nuan’s memory.
"Haha! No, no, no worries, it’s not for eating!" Nuan giggled, waving her hands. "I’ll be crafting something beautiful out of it as a reminder of our meeting!"
Both sisters looked down at Nuan, then glanced around the busy clearing.
The rest of the Silver-Grey pack was casually going about their own business.
Down in the dirt, Koda and the younger pups were aggressively chasing each other, yipping and circling around, fearlessly running right between the elephants’ colossal, pillar-like legs.
Amara and Zuri looked up toward the high den rock, catching Selka’s eye as the older wolf watched them with a calm, knowing expression.
The two giants gave each other a silent, mutual nod. Then, with a smooth, heavy motion, both of the eight-foot titans slowly collapsed their legs and lay completely flat on their sides in the warm dirt.
Nuan stared at them, her jaw dropping slightly as the two massive tanks casually settled into the dust like giant, relaxed grey boulders.
The entire pack instantly turned their heads, a collective, stunned silence washing over the camp at the sight of two massive plains giants laying flat on the ground. Selka simply smiled warmly from the top of her den rock, her tail swaying gently.
Nuan violently gulped. Holy crap... for elephants to lay down on their sides is the highest level of vulnerability and trust they can ever show to anyone! They never, ever lay down unless they feel one hundred percent safe and certain that no threats are near.
Her intrusive thoughts instantly won the battle in her brain. Nuan slowly scooted closer to their massive faces, her eyes sparkling. "Um... can I pet your heads? Please?"
Zuri didn’t even hesitate. She lazily lifted her long trunk up above her head, gently wrapped the tip around Nuan’s small hand, and softly guided it down, resting it right against the thick, coarse skin of her forehead.
"Whoaaa!!!" Nuan gasped softly. She immediately began affectionately patting and caressing Zuri’s giant face, her inner child screaming with joy. I have always wanted to do this!
She glanced over at Amara lying right beside her. The sterner sister gave one slow, slow blink of approval.
Smiling brightly, Nuan reached out her other hand, gently stroking Amara’s massive temple. Ahhh, this is so cool!
Every single wolf in the pack stood frozen, staring in reverent awe at the sight of their tiny witch casually petting two colossal land giants like they were oversized pets.
Koda and the younger pups, who had been wrestling nearby, suddenly came sprinting over.
Without a shred of fear, they dove straight into the open spaces, curling up into a big, chaotic furball as they happily laid themselves right against the two giants’ massive, warm tummies, tucked securely between their four massive legs.
"Whoa... their heartbeat is so loud!" Koda muttered, pressing his ear tightly against Zuri’s thick belly.
Zuri turned her large eye down toward the little wolf pup, her voice a soft, amused rumble. "Is it bothering your ears, little one?"
"No! It’s very fun to listen to!" Koda chirped, closing his eyes as the heavy rhythm echoed through his chest. "Thump-dhup... thump-dhup... it feels like a steady pat on the back."
Within minutes, the heavy, rhythmic thumping of the giants’ hearts acted like a perfect lullaby.
The small bundle of wild wolf pups calmly fell fast asleep, completely safe under the protective shadow of the two giant sisters.
After some time, Kael trotted back into the clearing, easily handling a massive, heavy log of dry wood balanced right over his newly healed shoulder.
Nuan looked up from the elephants, her eyes instantly widening as she scrambled to her feet. "You total idiot! Why on earth are you already putting massive stress on your just-healed shoulder?!" Nuan snapped, rushing over to help him guide the heavy log down to the dirt.
Kael just stared down at her with a goofy, mesmerized expression, his golden eyes locked onto her flexed, athletic biceps as she worked to help him lower the weight.
The moment the wood hit the ground with a heavy thud, Nuan delivered a quick, disciplinary smack right to the back of his head. "Idiot!!!"
But Kael didn’t care. He just let out a soft chuckle, unbothered by the swat. "Dry wood piece," he said simply, gesturing to the perfect log.
"Yeah, I can clearly see that, Einstein," Nuan hissed, though she dusted her hands off with a faint smile. "Good work, but seriously, take some help next time if you’re going to haul a whole tree trunk back to camp."
She stretched her back, looking around the peaceful clearing. "Well, then. Since the elders are resting, the giant sisters are napping, and the hunters are out on the borders, no one bother me. Let me craft!"
Nuan sat cross-legged right in the dirt, pulling out her forged steel knife and a sharp-edged scraping stone. Alright, blue buddy. Activate the craftsmanship hand ability.
Ding!
[ Tsk... I am still deeply mad at you, Host. ]
Oh, come on, cheer up, buddy! I promise I’ll make something pretty for you to store in the system data repository someday, okay? Nuan bargained mentally with an internal grin.
[ If you truly want to make me happy, Host, then just officially accept your Mate, settle down, and give me a bunch of wild wolf pups to monitor! ]
Gross, creepy! Why on earth do you even want grandkids?! Keep the data strictly professional!
[ HOST! ]
Okay, okay, sorry, sorry! Now stop sulking and activate the damn ability.
Ding!
[ Activating Skill: Craftsmanship Hand ]
[ Timer Initiated: 01:59:58 ]
Good buddy. That’s my favorite blue buddy! Nuan thought happily.
As the familiar, steadying warmth of the passive system skill flooded her hands, Nuan dove straight into the hard work.
Her movements became blindingly precise.
She slammed the blade into the log, expertly cutting away the rough outer bark, chipping off the jagged edges, and carving deep, intentional grooves into the rich, dry wood.
Kael silently sat down right beside her, shifting his massive silver-grey form into a comfortable crouch.
He kept his golden eyes glued to her hands, completely fascinated by the smooth, rhythmic shaving of the wood and the total focus on her face.
The midday sun beat down warmly over the camp.
The elders slept deeply inside the cool shadows of the cave, the two giant elephant sisters let out soft, rhythmic rumbles as the wolf pups remained curled like tiny furballs against their warm tummies, and the breeze blew gently through the sky.
Everything felt profoundly calm, peaceful, and perfect.
Kael took a deep breath, taking in the scent of his home, his pack, and the earth.
A quiet, heavy wave of realization washed over his beast mind. Very soon, he would be leaving all of this behind—abandoning his territory, his comfort, and his safety—to step into a vast, wild world without knowing where the journey would end.
But as he looked at the furless girl carving beside him, he knew he didn’t care where the path led, as long as he was running right behind her.