Nuan roasted a prime cut of meat for Kael and herself, then threw a few more finely diced pieces into the wooden bowl of bubbling water to make another batch of broth. Apparently, the stubborn Alpha had developed a massive craving for her soup and refused to start his day without it.

While Nuan was sitting peacefully by the crackling fire pit, a pair of sharp footsteps crunched on the dirt behind her. She looked over her shoulder to see Lyra and Tala approaching.

Nuan slowly turned around on her rock to face them completely, looking up at their unreadable expressions.

"Witch..." Lyra spoke up, her voice surprisingly quiet.

"Yes?" Nuan answered, her eyes locking onto them, perfectly prepared for whatever petty bullshit they were about to pull.

"We wanted to apologize to you for our accusations the other day," Tala said, her tail wiggling slowly behind her like a dog trying to look innocent.

"Oh, is that so? Then by all means, do apologize," Nuan said with a thick wave of mockery in her voice. She brought a hand up to cup her ear, tilting her head. "Go ahead. I’m listening."

Lyra and Tala glanced at each other, their jaws tightening slightly before they spoke in unison. "We are sorry."

"Uh-huh? Just words? Three little words?" Nuan asked, casually gesturing with her wooden tongs toward the roasting meat and her carved bowls. "Well, the others in the pack actually gave me useful resources to make up for their bad behavior."

"Oh, ah... we wanted to give you something as well, but everyone else already gave you all the wood and meat," Lyra said, shifting her weight.

"Yes, we wanted to bring you something really special..." Tala added.

"Then bring me some high-quality animal skins," Nuan said, flipping the sizzling meat over the fire before locking her gaze back onto them with a sharp smile. "I’m planning to sew my own clothes, so how about you two go find me some nice, thick hides?"

The two beastwomen stared at her, and then a tiny, wicked smirk flashed at the corners of their lips, which they quickly tried to hide under a mask of perfect compliance.

"Oh, we will be happy to be of help to you," Lyra said smoothly.

"We will bring some very good skin to you soon!" Tala promised. They turned on their heels and marched away into the camp.

Nuan stared at their retreating backs and let out a heavy sigh. Yeah, they are definitely plotting something stupid. Welp, we’ll see what happens. Let them try.

.

.

.

(Next Day)

Nuan had just finished a grueling two-hour carving session, using her Craftsman’s Hand ability to shape several thick, flat wooden needles.

Let’s hope these needles hold up long enough for me to successfully sew some proper bras and panties, she thought, rubbing her aching wrists. I can’t risk going completely naked beneath these loose, drafty animal loincloths anymore.

She stored the wooden needles in her system inventory and looked down at her clothes, which were covered in sticky sawdust and making her itch like crazy.

"Koda!" Nuan called out.

The young wolf was busy roughhousing with the other pups, but his ears instantly perked up at her voice. He came rushing over to her rock, panting happily. "To the river?" he asked.

Going down to the riverbank had become their fixed everyday routine over the last few days, and even Kael had become more understanding about it, no longer thrashing around in a jealous fit whenever she went to wash up.

"Yeah," Nuan said, dusting the fresh wood shavings off her cargo pants. "Let’s go."

Koda shifted into his wolf form with a quick puff of silver smoke, dropping low so Nuan could carefully climb onto his back.

Taking the weight off her recovering ankle, she held onto his thick fur as he bounded out of the camp, carrying her down the familiar trail toward the rushing water.

After reaching the riverbank, Nuan slid down from Koda’s broad back. She quickly changed into a simple loincloth, preparing for a much-needed wash.

With a shimmer of light, Koda shifted into his human form, instantly plunging into the cool river water with playful enthusiasm. Nuan smiled faintly, walking down to the water’s edge.

Nuan carefully scrubbed her cargo pants and shirt in the cool river water, wringing them out before laying them flat across a sun-baked boulder to dry. The midday sun was hot, making the water look incredibly inviting, but she couldn’t risk ruining her recovery.

Pulling her newly carved wooden mug from her system inventory, she scooped up the water and took a careful, refreshing bath right there on the bank.

She poured the water precisely over her shoulders and torso, ensuring not a single stray drop reached the thick layer of Whiteclaw herb leaves wrapped around her bad ankle.

Once she finished washing up, she leaned back against a rock and stared up at the vast blue sky. It had been more than nine days now. She hadn’t spotted a single flash of dark feathers or seen Aerin soaring anywhere above since that day he had flown off without a word.

Did it really hurt his feelings that badly? Nuan thought, a small pang of pity twisting in her chest.

"Grrrrr..."

A low, vibrating growl from the middle of the river instantly snapped her out of her thoughts.

Koda had stopped splashing around. He stood knee-deep in the rushing current, his human shoulders tense and his eyes locked tightly on the opposite bank.

Nuan followed his gaze. Right at the edge of the thick treeline across the water, the bushes parted, and the massive, stocky frame of Bramor the bear beastman stepped out into the open sunlight.

Bramor blinked his heavy eyes, looking first at the growling Koda, then crossing his thick arms as his gaze landed on Nuan standing by the riverbank.

Koda didn’t take his eyes off the giant bear beastman as he slowly swam back toward Nuan’s side, his feet finding the shallow mud.

Nuan didn’t hesitate—she willed her newly carved bow and a sharp arrow straight out of her system inventory, locking the notch to the string just in case, though she kept the tip pointed safely at the ground.

"Bramor!" Nuan called out across the rushing water, her voice clear. "Do you know where Aerin is? Like... is he still around this territory?"

Bramor stared at the weapon in her hands, then tilted his heavy head, looking genuinely surprised by the question.

"Do you not know?" Bramor rumbled back, his deep voice carrying over the sound of the river.