Chapter 123: The Gathering And The Traitor!
Cael prepared the meal quickly. He made roasted meat and some warm soup to give Sorin energy for his journey.
Sorin ate everything that was put in front of him, consuming the food quickly before standing up.
"I’ll be back tomorrow with his response," Sorin promised, his voice confident. "Whether my friend likes it or not, I’ll bring back an answer for you, Neve."
Neve had begged him not to force the poor fox to accept the job. But he had understood that sometimes difficult decisions needed to be made. Still, he could not help but wonder what the fox tribe always requested in exchange for doing their work.
After Sorin left through the cave entrance, spreading his massive wings and taking off into the night sky, things settled down.
.
.
Neve sat in the main cave area with Popi and Kelly, trying to relax despite everything that was happening.
"What are you thinking about?" Popi asked, placing a wooden plate of fresh fruits in front of him.
The fruits looked colorful and appetizing. Neve picked one up and studied it, even though he had no idea what kind of fruit it was.
Kelly, who was lying face up on the floor, made a guess.
"Maybe Ryker or... Sorin?" Kelly suggested, trying to read Neve’s distant expression.
"Neither," Neve said, grabbing the fruit and staring at it. He did not even know what kind of fruit it was, yet he was eating it anyway. His tastes had become strange since the pregnancy. "I’m thinking about the fox tribe."
Popi raised an eyebrow.
"What about them?" she asked casually.
"What do you think they are going to request in exchange for helping us?" Neve asked. "What do they usually ask for when people hire them to do dangerous jobs?"
Popi scratched her face, thinking back to stories she had heard.
"Uh, my father told me he once hired them to kill a noble rival who was interested in my mother before they got together," Popi said. "They asked for twenty five crystals in exchange for the job."
"WHAT?!" Kelly and Neve chorused together, their voices rising in shock.
Neve’s eyes went wide.
"Even though I don’t know how the currency in this world works, isn’t that a lot?" Neve asked. "And are we even supposed to listen to that information about your family? That sounds like a secret."
Popi waved her hand dismissively.
"It’s fine," she said. "My father will never find out I told someone our secret. Besides, he’s been going from tribes to tribes with my mother. It’s been years since I met him. I wonder where he is presently."
Neve smiled at the thought of Popi’s parents traveling together.
"Father, huh?" he asked softly, touching his own stomach gently.
He was thinking about his cubs. Thinking about what it would mean to be a father. Thinking about the responsibility that was coming his way.
"You’re going to be a mother, Neve," Popi corrected him gently.
Neve’s grip on the fruit tightened suddenly as he glared at Popi.
The reminder that he was going to be a mother stung. It reminded him of how different his body was. How different his existence had become in this world.
Popi looked away, sensing Neve’s discomfort with the statement.
"Have you found out how long you have till you give birth?" Popi asked, changing the subject.
"Uh... Less than three months," Neve shrugged, still trying to process the timeline.
Three months. That was barely any time at all. His body was growing faster than human pregnancy should allow.
"Mmm," Popi said thoughtfully. "Then, how do you think you can fulfill that mission of 200 litters? It’s impossible. Females are only allowed to give birth once in a year due to the..."
Popi started explaining something complex about the female reproductive cycle in this world.
Neve listened to her explanation even though he did not understand most of what she was saying. But he could understand the basic concept. Females in this world went through something similar to menstruation once a year and heat happened immediately after that, making their fertility rate high.
It was something that happened once a year.
Once a year.
"I doubt that’s the same thing with my body," Neve said, looking uncertain.
He turned toward the system that was hovering in his vision.
"Right?" he asked the system directly.
{Positive! Host will be able to give birth as long as there are no life growing inside him}
The notification confirmed what Neve had suspected. His body was different. His reproductive cycle was different from the natural females of this world.
"So I’m just a breeding machine!" Neve frowned at the system notification, clearly frustrated by what it implied.
The system remained silent, not bothering to respond to his frustration.
Neve tried a different approach.
"Would you give me more time?" he asked the system. "Five years feels so short for 200 litters. Can I get an extension?"
{Increase level to get more information}
The system refused to give him any additional help until he leveled up further.
"Fuck you!" Neve frowned at the system and turned to Popi and Kelly who were both staring at him like he had lost his mind.
They were clearly confused about who he was talking to.
"I can chat with the system," he pointed out to them. "It helps me with information and missions. That’s who I was talking to."
They immediately wore an understanding ’oh’ look on their faces.
Popi’s expression became more serious.
"If you’re able to get pregnant more than once or twice a year, Neve, a lot of people would try to kidnap you and use you as a breeding tool," Popi said, her voice carrying warning. "Especially during this time where a lot of tribes are losing their members to the snow and the cold. People are desperate for new life. For new cubs. For new members to rebuild their populations."
She paused, letting the gravity of the situation sink in.
"So you must keep this secret," Popi said firmly. "You must not tell anyone about your ability to conceive multiple times a year. It could put you in danger."
Neve nodded slowly, understanding the implications.
He had not even thought about how his unique biology could make him a target. How his value as a breeding mate could make him valuable to enemies. How people might want to capture him for that specific purpose.
"You should go to bed before Cael returns," Neve said, stretching his hand and yawning.
"Don’t worry, I’m strong enough to remain all through the evening," Neve said, hugging his knees and pressing them against his chest. "And you two will keep me company."
Suddenly, someone burst in from the cave entrance.
The arrival was sudden and unexpected.
"A gathering has been called," the stranger announced loudly.
Popi frowned as she stood up immediately. She had not even sensed this person’s presence. He had arrived completely unnoticed.
"This bastard! Who are you?" Popi asked, her hand going to a defensive position. She secretly wondered how long this person had been listening to their conversation. Especially the parts about Neve and his unique ability.
Neve turned to look at the newcomer with confusion.
"What meeting?" Neve asked. "What gathering is being called?"
The man’s expression was cold and emotionless.
"Turned out a traitor was found in the leopard tribe," the messenger said. "The chief has called for a gathering for everyone to watch the punishment being given out to the traitor. It’s going to be public. Everyone must attend."
Neve felt a chill run down his spine at those words.
A traitor.
A public punishment.
Those words could mean many things.
"Who...who is this traitor?" Neve asked urgently, his mind immediately jumping to possibilities. Was it Doris? Had she been caught trying to steal Soren’s weapon? Was she about to be executed in front of everyone?
The man’s expression shifted into something that looked almost like satisfaction. He grinned, a expression that was predatory and cruel.
"You’ll find out once you get there," he said mysteriously.
He turned and left immediately without another word, disappearing into the night as quickly as he had appeared.