After a long, high-speed journey through the dense woods, Kael finally slowed down his pace, coming to a halt right before a massive, open plain.

Nuan’s eyes went completely wide. Spread out before her was a bustling market filled with crude tent shops, where all types of different beastmen were roaming around. Sellers were shouting and roaring at the top of their lungs to attract buyers to their stalls.

"Now I get why they call it the Roaring Crossroads," Nuan murmured, her inner city-girl thoroughly overwhelmed by the chaotic noise.

As Kael slowly stepped onto the open land, his silver fur fluffed up instinctively. His massive three-hundred-pound body suddenly looked even bigger and more imposing.

He walked like a literal king entering his territory, his golden eyes narrowing into sharp vertical pupils as he scanned the crowd.

The moment they approached the market, the chaotic noise dipped. Dozens of eyes snapped directly toward them.

The traders and shoppers stared in absolute shock at the sight of a furless, skinny female wearing weird, tight clothes, casually riding on the back of the Silver Grey Wolf Clan’s Alpha.

But it wasn’t just Nuan drawing attention. Everyone was staring at Kael—specifically, the fresh, angry scar running down his face. A massive wave of whispering erupted across the market tents.

"It’s true!"

"Look at that scar on his face!"

"He survived fighting a tiger leader and came back alive..."

"Of course he did. Look at him."

"There was a rumor he fought against the Tiger Clan..."

"He got that scar from the tiger he killed!"

Nuan gasped quietly on his back. So that tiger whose neck Kael was ripping into actually died after they escaped? she thought, looking at him with a new level of respect.

As Kael marched forward, the crowd of beastmen quickly parted ways, creating a wide path for them. But the murmurs didn’t stop.

"Look at that furless female!"

"The Tiger Clan leader got a massive burn mark on his face because of her..."

"She is the Red Evil Commander!"

Nuan let out a heavy, internal sigh. Great. Looks like I’ve either made the worst or the best first reputation in this world. There is no middle ground with these people.

Kael stopped directly in front of a large, colorful tent shop. He lowered his massive body onto all fours, allowing Nuan to slide carefully off his back.

With a soft puff of smoke, he fluidly transformed back into his towering human beastman form. He immediately grabbed Nuan’s hand, pulling her close as they walked into the tent.

Inside, sitting behind a stone slab table, was a vendor with yellowish-orange fox ears and a bushy tail. The moment they entered, a sharp, cunning smile spread across the fox’s face.

"Welcome, Alpha of the Silver Grey Clan!" the fox vendor crooned, his voice dripping with smooth charm. "How can I help a great warrior like you today?"

Kael stared down at the fox with cold, predatory eyes, but the vendor didn’t even flinch. Instead, he looked right back into Kael’s eyes, his tail swaying lazily. "What are you looking for, big brother?"

"I am no brother of yours," Kael growled, his upper lip curling.

The fox just smiled, completely unbothered. "We have similar canine ancestors, brother... well, it doesn’t really matter. Are you looking for a gift?" he asked, his amber eyes glancing curiously at Nuan.

"No!" Kael barked.

"Something for your mate here, then?" the fox asked smoothly.

"Yes... show me a good, warm blanket," Kael ordered, puffing out his chest.

"Ah, I see! Blankets for the pretty, furless female!" the fox said, his eyes scanning Nuan again as she wandered over to the display, touching a few fabrics to check the quality.

SLAM!

Kael slammed his fist onto the stone table, the rock cracking slightly. The fox immediately raised his hands in mock surrender, laughing softly. "Just looking at her measurements to show you the correct length of blanket, brother. No offense intended!"

The fox reached behind his tent and pulled out a stack of soft, fluffy blankets, placing them carefully on the stone slab before them. "Take a look at these. They are very warm and incredibly soft! Perfect for the delicate, furless skin of your mate."

Nuan picked up a beautiful blue one, checking the texture. "Wow, so soft! And super fluffy," she said happily, rubbing the edge of the fabric against her cheek. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

"Splendid eyes you have, lady!" the fox praised, rubbing his hands together. "That is the absolute best material. It keeps you warm and feels very soft, specifically woven so it won’t feel itchy against the bare skin of the Sphynx cat flock."

The moment Kael heard the word cat, his ears stood pointy and sharp. He reached over, snatched the blue blanket right out of Nuan’s hand, and threw it forcefully back at the fox’s face.

"Oi! What are you doing, Kael?!" Nuan hissed, glaring at him.

Kael ignored her, glaring daggers at the vendor. "Don’t give me anything that is meant for the cat flock!"

The fox caught the blanket, a mischievous smile tugging at the corner of his mouth as his tail swayed behind him. "Ah, how rude of me! Forgive me. Let me show you something that is definitely not for cats, and will be more than lengthy enough for your mate."

He tossed the cat blankets aside and pulled out a different set, laying them out before them.

Kael reached out and touched the fabric. It was incredibly lightweight. He leaned down and took a deep sniff. "...Smells weak."

The fox rubbed his hands together, his smile widening. "Because it’s thoroughly washed, brother!"

Nuan grabbed the blanket, sniffing it herself. It felt incredibly soft and amazingly light in her hands. "Oh, wow. I could easily sleep wrapped up in this like a human burrito."

The fox smiled warmly. "Try it on, lady!"

Nuan nodded happily, wrapping the large fabric tightly around her torso. "Hahh!!" She instantly started kicking her good foot on the ground with that sudden, pure happiness people only get when they wrap themselves in a perfectly cozy blanket.

"You like it, lady?" the fox asked.

"Mmm, it’s really good. Perfect length and everything," she murmured, snuggling into the warmth.

"Yes! It is custom-made for the Babirusa flock. It definitely will be a perfect size for you compared to those tiny Sphynx cat blankets."

Kael’s face instantly darkened. "You are giving us blankets made for the pig flock?! Blankets made for those filthy, mud-rotting trash?!" Kael snapped, aggressively ripping the blanket right off Nuan’s body!

"What are you doing, Kael?! What is your problem?!" Nuan snapped back, trying to grab it. "It’s literally perfect!"

But the fox just smiled the way a hunter smiles after spotting a rabbit that had willingly walked straight into a trap.

"Oh lady, brother is absolutely right!" the fox said, smoothly changing his tune. "How could I show the mate of the Silver Grey Alpha blankets made for such filthy pigs?! Truly, a terrible mistake on my part!"

He snatched the blanket away from Kael. "Let me show you something that actually speaks of royalty, power, and dominance—just like you, Alpha brother."

The fox threw the pig blankets aside and reached deep into his inventory stash, pulling out a monstrously big, incredibly fluffy, heavy-looking blanket. He laid it out with a flourish. "Here, please see this."

Kael let out a low growl, not touching the fabric just yet. He narrowed his eyes. "Who are these blankets made for?"

"Oh, brother, this is made for the royal, all-mighty, powerful rulers of the plains—the elephant clans! It is the perfect caliber for someone as special as your mate, Alpha brother."

Kael instantly puffed out his chest, completely sold on the marketing. "I’m taking this!"

"KAEL!!!" Nuan yelled, looking back and forth between the giant mountain of fabric and the proud wolf-man. "Who do you think I am?! I told you I wanted to be a burrito, not buried alive! This thing is way too big!"

"It is heavy, it is big, and it is very warm," Kael stated firmly, completely ignoring her protests. "It is good for your meek, furless body!"

"Should I prepare this one for you then?" the fox asked smoothly. He hid a massive grin behind his hand, his amber eyes gleaming with pure amusement as he watched the Alpha willingly walk right into his high-priced trap.