Wanderlust Beastkin, Beauty and the Beastkin-Chapter 81: Duarte Village Falls

Elara’s Perspective

Fire was everywhere, a blazing river of flames as I hoisted the adorable little golden-eared dog man over my shoulder, clutching him firmly by the rear with one hand while unleashing a torrent of orange fire from the other like a fiery waterfall. The whole area was ablaze, yet the warmth enveloped me in a cozy embrace that posed no threat whatsoever. The smoke danced around me, swirling away as I strolled through it. Flames flickered across the ground and filled the doorways, but they parted for me like a red carpet.

Before long, the yellow dog male I was carrying had drifted off into dreamland, softly whistling as he snored. He must either be one of those beastkin who can snooze through anything, or he’s utterly exhausted after flirting with death. I’m really hoping it’s the latter because I’m keen on getting to know this guy once all this chaos settles down, and it wouldn’t be ideal if he’s the type to doze off at the drop of a hat. I know it sounds a bit odd to think about chasing after a guy right after meeting him; however, considering he’s only the second male I’ve ever felt drawn to, I’m not about to let this chance slip away without at least trying to connect with him. I can’t remain mate-less forever, as this whole ordeal has made abundantly clear.

It’s such a pity I wasn’t born male. But then again, I wouldn’t have crossed paths with Beck if I hadn’t been, and Beck is pretty amazing. So, if things pan out with Beck, maybe all of this will have been worth it.

So if they both decide to accept me, then I’d have two males. That’s good enough, right? Probably not, but it’s good enough to exclude me from any further snatching rituals. And honestly, that’s good enough for the time being. Plus, Perla mentioned I could chill with her, so I should be fairly safe once I return to her. Also, I’m kind of a total badass with this massive fire mana rock. I mean, I’m in the process of rescuing this guy right now.

I dashed through the other building as quickly as I could, scavenging and searching for any beastkin left behind. I thought about just doing a quick flame walk-by, but I was concerned there might be people chained up inside or something. I wouldn’t put it past these monsters. My worries were justified because in the third house, the fifth house, the seventh house, and the tenth house, I found beastkin who were either heavily injured or chained up. Twelve females were hurt and bound, along with two more males in chains. I unleashed my intensified fire to burn through the weak points in the chains and set everyone free. There was one who hesitated to leave, terrified that their master would be furious and kill them. I couldn’t persuade them to escape on their own, so I faced a tough choice: leave them to burn or knock them out and take them against their will. With a cringe, I opted for the latter. So, with two individuals slung over my back in my wine-red and white wolf form, I sprinted away with flames roaring behind me. I stopped shooting fire and dashed off to the smaller ten houses beyond the larger ones, dropping the two males off hidden among some trees. Meanwhile, the ten larger houses erupted into chaos as one of the workers began banging a loud gong while the guests attempted to return to the houses, only to be blocked by the security gates.

Amidst all the chaos, there was a certain male who ran over to the tenth house. He was someone Elara could never shake off, especially after that haunting moment in the pergola when she first stepped onto the grounds, a scene that replayed in her nightmares like a broken record. He was busy shooting water from his palm, trying to douse the flames, when out of nowhere, the agony hit him—his back sliced open by the massive claws of a deep red and white wolf. His shocked screams were abruptly silenced as that same wolf crushed his throat and dragged him behind the house. With his voice snuffed out, she took care of business, severing a certain part that he loved dearly before slowly finishing him off. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

If anyone had witnessed that horror, they would have been horrified, or so she believed. So, she made sure to keep it secret. Afterward, she was left reeling from her actions, stunned that she could harbor such deep-seated hatred. She ensured he was so charred by the flames that no one would ever figure out how he met his end.

She had no intention of letting that dark secret slip. As she walked away from the burnt remains, Elara felt a mix of emptiness and relief—her tormentor was gone, and she was free from his grasp forever. Yet, she was conflicted, grappling with the fact that she was capable of such brutality, mourning the loss of her former self. The carefree trust and joy she once had were now cinders along with that corpse, replaced by a hardened, jaded version of who she used to be.

As she sprinted in her wolf form, her claws were stained with drying blood, and tears streamed down her cheeks.

Becks Perspective

I stood by, waiting for the visitors to attempt to push past the guards in their rush to reach the burning houses, before I swiftly approached the captives. Clad in a deep blue robe with a hood and a matching face covering that was sheer enough for me to see through yet concealed my identity, I ensured my horn was well concealed as I approached the chained women. Uncertain of how much time I had, I made my way to Skye first, who lay asleep, curled up in the grass. As I drew nearer, I observed bear claw marks on her left upper thigh. Red gashes marred her leg, her blood smeared across her skin, and various parts of her body were swollen, beginning to develop dark purple and black bruises.

"Who are you? What do you want? Please, please don’t come any closer! Our master will be furious if you get too near," whimpered the little dark brown fox girl, her long curly hair framing her frightened golden eyes. She had been seen earlier walking on a leash with the bear beastkin.

"Please, I beg you, just go away! Master will hurt us if he finds out we’re talking to another male. We’re not even allowed to glance at another male! Please, just leave us alone! We’re going to get into so much trouble," pleaded the tanned girl, her short pixie cut black hair and large feathery black wings trembling as her bright amber eyes darted around nervously.

I halted my approach for a brief moment, glancing towards the disturbance to ensure that no one was still focused on them. Then, I released an invisible barrier bubble, encasing the four of us within it. The two girls gasped audibly as I let a portion of my aura flow out, allowing tendrils of dark blue energy to escape for a fleeting moment before drawing them back in.

"I am here to rescue Skye, and if you permit me, I am also willing to save the two of you. If you are agreeable, I can take you both back to your homes, should you have a place in mind?"

The two girls exchanged glances. The winged girl looked at the fox girl with a pleading expression, and a silent conversation transpired between them for a brief moment before the fox girl sighed and turned her gaze towards me.

"We sincerely value your kind offer, and if you could escort us to Hidden Peak Village, we would be extremely grateful. My name is Yumi, and this is my friend Raven. She was taken from the woods near her village, which lies to the east of this place. I have no other place to turn, so if they permit it, I would like to stay in her village."

"They will permit it; there are not many others apart from the flying beastkin, considering our location and our efforts to stay concealed. However, I am confident that my village has been searching for me and will gladly welcome you," Raven stated.

"The future can hold off for now; right now, we must hastily leave this place, or our subsequent plans may lose their significance," Beck remarked.

I swiftly knelt before the chains, revealing my concealed white pointed claws that I seldom show, and I deftly swiped my claws across the chains. The fortified and enchanted chains parted effortlessly as the girls watched in astonishment, their expressions a mix of shock and admiration.

"Do you... have a mate?" Yumi asked, her cheeks turning a lovely shade of pink as she gazed at Beck.

Beck felt a rush of warmth as the thought of Elara danced in his mind. "I... don’t have anyone at the moment, but there is someone who has caught my eye." Yumi’s ears drooped for just a heartbeat, but then her spirits lifted, and her fluffy black tail with a white tip began to wag excitedly.

"If that’s the case, then I haven’t missed my chance to claim you for myself," she exclaimed, flashing Beck a bright, toothy smile. Her golden eyes sparkled with a fierce, eager glint as she gazed into his eyes and playfully licked her lips.

Coming Next Time: Miasma and Shadows