Wanderlust Beastkin, Beauty and the Beastkin-Chapter 14: Camping at Starwood Shade

As dusk began to settle in, we veered off the main path and ventured onto a nearly concealed trail winding through the woods. The men remained silent and alert, carefully maneuvering the palanquin that carried Elara and me inside. I had discreetly asked Elara to turn away while I changed into fresh underwear and pants, putting on a pad, slipping into my cozy blue pajama bottoms and a matching tank top, topped off with my snug black jacket. It might be lightweight, but it certainly kept the chill at bay. I pulled out the blanket and shared it with Elara who was in awe of it.

I shared some insights about my belongings with Elara, and she was genuinely fascinated by the tribe I hailed from. While she was impressed, it didn’t entirely catch her off guard; after all, mer-beastkin are renowned for their creativity and quirky inventions. They trade some of their clever creations with the land beastkin, but they always keep the best treasures close to their hearts.

The palanquin came to a halt, and we were instructed to stay put for a moment. Curiosity got the better of me, and I peeked through the curtain. We had arrived at a quaint log cabin nestled beside a pond that shimmered with an abundance of natural mana, twinkling like a million stars in the night sky. It was simply enchanting. The cabin had that rustic charm reminiscent of a hunting lodge or a storage shed, but it paled in comparison to the grand structures I was accustomed to. Next to the cabin, I noticed an enclosed area with a door, and I squinted, intrigued about what secrets it might hold.

The guys were gathered around a massive, transparent rock, their hands shimmering in a rainbow of colors as they all touched it together. Kai’s hand radiated a cool blue, Milo’s glowed a vibrant green, and the wolf guy’s hands sparkled in a bright yellow.

"What are they doing?" I said.

"They’re powering up that mana stone to team up and create a mana barrier. These barriers keep out creatures and males who aren’t tough enough to break through. Normally, Kia could whip one up on his own and it would do the trick, but this time, things might be a bit different."

The stone swiftly transformed from a crystal clear hue to a vibrant spectrum of red, orange, yellow, green, and blue, finally resting on a captivating shade nestled between blue and indigo. Next, they picked up another stone, which shifted to a softer, lighter tone. The following stone turned a rich blue, while the last one radiated a gentle sky blue.

"Why are they all different colors?"

"Charging up those stones really drains their mana, and they definitely don’t have an infinite stash. It’ll take some time for them to get their mana back, but thank goodness that pond is packed with top-notch mana. I’m super excited to dive in; it’s going to do wonders for my cultivation and boost my magic. I can hardly wait! These ponds are rare gems and are usually guarded by some serious clans. We’re really lucky that Milo has access to one of these!"

The guys dashed to various corners of the area, all plopping down the stones simultaneously. In an instant, the air shimmered, and a subtle blue hue washed over everything.

"You females can get out of the palanquin now."

"Awesome! I really need to hit the litter box; I’ve been holding it forever!" she exclaimed, sprinting out and racing toward the enclosure next to the cabin. She flung the door open and hurried inside, shutting it tight behind her.

Isn’t that just a turn of phrase? Surely, they can’t be serious about a litter box for everyone, can they?

A few moments later, Elara emerged from the enclosure. "You know, it’s surprisingly lovely in there."

Milo wore a pleased expression. "I make sure to scoop it out often and put in fresh sand."

Absolutely not! I strolled over to the enclosure and took a peek inside. Lo and behold, there it was—a massive sandbox, complete with a wooden scoop tucked away in the corner and a charming little bucket. This is a total disaster; I long for my modern plumbing! I’m not some pampered feline, you know!

"Are you also needing to use the litter box?" Milo asked softly.

"Is there really nothing more? I’m not exactly a fan of using a litter box."

Milo appeared quite distressed, feeling he hadn’t provided what his potential future mate wanted. "Um... do you often use waste seats?"

"Waste seats?"

"Like what we have at home in Duarte Village," said Kai.

"Well, it’s not quite that, but what I’m familiar with is definitely more in line with that than what we have here," I said.

Milo paused for a moment, considering. "If you’d like, I can craft something for you. Just let me know what you’re envisioning. It might not turn out exactly as you imagine, but I’ll do my best to make it similar to what you’re familiar with. Just be sure to describe it in detail, or I might struggle to get it right for you."

I pondered for a moment and then shared my thoughts on a camping toilet and sink I stumbled upon while browsing online, with some adjustments.

His body radiated a soft green hue as he appeared to gaze blankly into the distance, and then he blinked. "I’m afraid I don’t have the necessary materials in my inventory to make the sink work, but I could create a stone, metal, or wooden version of what you refer to as a camping toilet."

I thought about it for a bit and decided that he should whip up a metal camping toilet for me.

His hands shimmered with a vibrant green light, and suddenly, a metal camping toilet materialized before me as if conjured from thin air. It featured a sturdy base with a bucket inside, I pictured the bucket having a hole in the bottom and a flap that you could press with your foot against the floor that would block water or release it, I also pictured a long tube attached to the bottom that went down and curved over, as well as a hole at the top of the back of the toilet bowl, complete with a lid and a handle. A toilet seat gracefully lowered over the bucket, and there was a lid that could be raised or lowered at will. To the side, a toilet paper holder completed the setup. I took some creative liberties with my description but it was what I wanted.

I then described the look of one of those pop-up enclosures but much larger, and he crafted one from wood—no roof, just a curtain for a door.

Overwhelmed with excitement, I leaped up, clapping my hands before wrapping him in a warm hug. "You’re amazing! Honestly, the other females here must be out of their minds not to seek out a talented crafting beastkin like you! Their loss is my gain!"

Milo’s cheeks turned a deep shade of red, and his fox ears perked up while his fluffy tail swayed with joy. "I’ll be yours for as long as you want me," he murmured softly.

"So convenient!"

Milo gazed up at me with his large, shimmering violet eyes filled with tears, and I couldn’t help but think how utterly adorable he was!

"If other females realized just how amazing you are, they’d be lining up to steal you from me, but you can’t let them."

He looked up at me with his enchanting lavender eyes, beneath his thick eyelashes, "I won’t let them."

Kai seemed a touch downcast, so I flashed him a warm smile. "Would you mind helping me out by moving these over next to the litter box? I could really use a strong male like you to handle these heavy items. Could you also please excavate a trench for the metal pipe connected to the base of this toilet? It needs to extend out toward the woods on the left side."

Kai’s ears perked up and a smile appeared on his face. "I’ll get right on it, Love." He easily lifted the enclosure as if it were made of paper and carried it and the toilet over beside the litterbox and fixed it up for me. I strolled over to the toilet paper holder, fished a roll out of my bag, and placed it neatly on the holder. Elara joined me in this little mission.

Zelig exclaimed, "I can dig a trench! I’m a pro at it!" as his brown tail wagged with enthusiasm. In a flash of yellow light, he transformed into his impressive large brown wolf form. Without waiting for any instructions, he eagerly began to dig a trench, and no one seemed inclined to intervene.

Fidel strolled by, juggling bags brimming with all sorts of goodies that the group had packed for their adventure. He couldn’t help but chuckle at his younger brother’s lively antics as he made his way into the cabin.

Elara eyed Milo’s creation with a thoughtful expression. "You know, I never thought about how handy it is to have a crafter beastkin mate. I might just stroll through a market one of these days and see if I can spot a high-aura crafter male like you did."

"Right! Having Milo around is such a delight. It makes me curious about all the other things he could whip up for me. Let’s explore the market together!"

Kai said, "It’s great to have a crafter in the family, but let’s not overlook the need for more strong males among us," as he installed the toilet into the enclosure.

"Sure, sure," I replied, my voice dripping with disinterest. Honestly, muscle-bound jocks had never been my type, so this felt like a leap into the unknown. I definitely wasn’t looking for some Neanderthal to call my partner.

"We need it for our unit safety," he insisted, sounding more like a petulant child than a partner. It was amusing to hear him nag about wanting more men around; I mean, who knew he had such a whiny side? And yet, I couldn’t help but think that having him around wouldn’t be so bad. How intriguing.

Coming Next Time: Beware Mermaid Magic