Chapter 77: Chapter 77: The Cubs Finally Had Names 2
Three tiny black panther cubs climbed into her lap, onto her blanket, against her chest, around her arms. Too many elbows. Too many tails. Too much warmth.
Swanly held them all anyway.
Soren moved one step inside.
"I can suggest names."
Swanly looked at him.
"You?"
"Yes."
The cubs turned toward him.
Soren lifted his chin.
"For the eldest, Black Fang."
Swanly’s face went blank.
"For the second, Silent Venom."
The second cub blinked.
"For the smallest..."
Soren looked at the baby currently chewing Swanly’s sleeve.
"Rot-Crusher."
Swanly stared at him.
Raku slowly lowered his head.
The cave became silent.
Then Swanly said, "Absolutely not."
Soren frowned.
"They are strong names."
"They sound like three villains who would rob travelers in a dead forest."
The eldest cub looked slightly interested.
Swanly covered his ears.
"No."
Soren’s tail tip flicked.
"Black Fang is suitable."
"His teeth are smaller than corn seeds."
"They will grow."
"Silent Venom? He is a panther cub, not your apprentice."
The second cub touched his mouth.
"Nilo venom?"
"No venom," Swanly said immediately.
The smallest raised his hand.
"Rot-Crusher!"
Swanly grabbed his little hand.
"No crushing rot. No biting rot. No touching rot. No naming yourself Rot-Crusher."
Soren crossed his arms.
"You asked for names."
"I asked myself."
Raku finally muttered, "Rot-Crusher is bad."
Soren looked at him.
Raku looked away.
Swanly pointed toward the entrance.
"You are banned from naming children."
Soren’s eyes narrowed.
"That is harsh."
"You tried to name my baby Rot-Crusher."
The smallest whispered, "Miko like Rot-Crusher."
"You do not even have the name Miko yet."
He gasped.
"Tell fast."
Swanly hugged them closer.
She looked at the eldest first.
He sat straight even while clutching her sleeve, his tiny black ears up, his little shoulders squared as though he could carry the entire cave if she asked.
"You are brave," she said. "You always try to stand in front of your brothers. Even when your legs are shaking, you still act like a little guard."
The eldest’s eyes grew shiny.
Swanly touched his forehead.
"Your name is Kairo."
"Kairo," he repeated carefully.
His golden eyes brightened.
"Kairo," he said again, louder.
The second cub leaned forward, breathing fast despite his quiet face.
Swanly turned to him.
"You notice everything. You think before you move. You hide when you must, but you are not weak. You are clever. You are careful. You are quiet because your head is always working."
The second cub’s fingers tightened around the blanket.
Swanly smiled.
"Your name is Nilo."
"Nilo."
His voice was soft.
Then his lips trembled.
"I have name."
"Yes, baby. You have a name."
Nilo pressed both hands to his chest.
"Nilo."
The smallest bounced so hard he nearly knocked his brothers over.
"Me! Me! Mama, me!"
Swanly caught his tiny shoulders.
"You."
He went still, eyes shining.
"You are trouble."
Kael’s voice came from the entrance.
"That is true."
All three cubs turned.
"Papa!"
Kael stood there with a strip of dried meat in one hand, his black ears lifted and his dark golden eyes fixed on Swanly and the cubs.
He had heard.
Of course he had heard.
Beastmen and their dangerous ears.
Swanly’s face softened.
She looked back at the smallest.
"You are sweet, clingy, loud, happy and always licking things you should not lick."
The smallest grinned proudly.
Swanly touched his nose.
"Your name is Miko."
"Miko!"
He threw both hands up.
"Miko! Miko! Miko!"
Kairo hugged Swanly’s waist.
"Nilo has name."
Nilo nodded, eyes wet.
"Kairo has name."
Miko grabbed Swanly’s cheeks.
"Mama gave names!"
Then he licked her nose.
Swanly closed her eyes.
"Miko."
He froze.
She opened one eye.
"What did Mama say?"
"No licking."
"And what did you just do?"
Miko’s ears flattened.
"Forgot."
Kael walked closer.
His gaze moved over the three cubs.
"Kairo," he said quietly.
The eldest straightened.
"Nilo."
The second looked up.
"Miko."
The smallest smiled so hard his whole face nearly became round.
Kael crouched in front of them.
For a moment, the huge black panther male said nothing.
His eyes had gone bright.
Swanly saw his throat move.
These were his cubs.
His sons.
The babies he had loved even when their mother rejected them.
And now they finally had names.
Kael reached out and placed one large hand over all three tiny heads.
"My sons."
The cubs pushed into his palm.
Swanly’s heart melted into useless soup.
Soren watched from the side.
His face remained calm, but his tail had stopped moving.
Kairo looked at him proudly.
"Kairo not Black Fang."
Nilo said softly, "Nilo not Silent Venom."
Miko puffed his cheeks.
"Miko maybe Rot-Crusher later."
Swanly snapped her fingers.
"No."
Miko giggled.
Kael’s mouth twitched.
Swanly looked up at him.
"You are smiling."
"I am not."
"You are."
"I am pleased."
"That is smiling with pride hiding behind it."
Kael looked away.
His ears turned slightly red.
Soren’s gaze moved from Kael’s ears to Swanly’s face.
"Panthers are strange."
Swanly pointed at him.
"You wanted to name a child Rot-Crusher."
Raku nodded.
"She wins."
Then Miko looked up.
"When Mama carry new baby?"
The warm soup in Swanly’s heart froze into cold stone.
She blinked.
"What?"
Kairo nodded seriously.
"Other cubs have little siblings."
Nilo added, "Papa wants."
Kael’s hand stopped.
Swanly slowly turned toward him.
Kael’s face changed.
"I did not say that."
Miko pointed at him.
"Papa looks at Mama stomach."
Kael’s ears went back.
Soren’s brows lifted.
"Does he?"
Kael’s eyes darkened.
"Soren."
The snake looked innocent.
A terrible sight.
Swanly’s face heated.
"Kairo. Nilo. Miko. Listen to Mama very carefully."
Three cubs stared at her.
"We are not ordering another baby like dried meat."
Kairo frowned.
"Why?"
Because this is the apocalypse and Mama is not turning into a walking baby basket while infected monsters are chewing trees outside.
She did not say that.
She smiled sweetly.
"Because Mama already has three little monsters."
Miko hugged her neck.
"Miko not monster."
"You licked my nose."
"Small monster."
Nilo raised one finger.
"If baby comes, we guard baby."
Kairo nodded.
"We teach baby fight."
Miko shouted, "Teach lick!"
"No one is teaching a baby to lick."
Soren tilted his head.
"Another child would increase family strength."
Swanly stared at him.
"Do not join them."
"I only stated a fact."
"You stated nonsense."
Kael finally spoke, voice low.
"No one will force you."
The cave softened at once.
Swanly looked at him.
His golden eyes were serious.
"If you never want another cub, we will not have one."
Her teasing expression faded.
Kael reached out and brushed his knuckles gently against Kairo’s hair, then Nilo’s, then Miko’s.
"These three are already more than I once believed I would be allowed to keep."
Swanly’s throat tightened again.
Miko, completely unable to endure emotional moments, leaned over and tried to lick Kael’s wrist.
Swanly grabbed his face.
"Miko."
His little mouth was squished again.
"Forgot."
Everyone laughed.
Even Soren made the smallest sound through his nose.
Swanly immediately looked at him.
"Was that a laugh?"
"No."
Raku said, "It was."
Soren’s tail moved toward him.
Raku stepped back.
"I heard nothing."
Before Swanly could tease either of them, shouting exploded outside.
A male roared.
A female screamed.
Raku immediately rushed outside.
Something crashed hard enough to shake dust from the cave roof.
Swanly’s smile vanished.
Kael stood immediately.
The cubs’ ears shot up.
From outside, Raku’s voice thundered.
"Stop fighting before I break both of you!"
Then Raku froze.
He looked at the cave entrance.
Everyone looked at him.
The real Raku was standing inside.
Outside, another crash followed.
A Riverbone guard shouted, "Raku! Come here!"
Raku’s face darkened.
"I leave for one breath."
Then Selka’s sharp voice sliced through the morning.
"Do not touch what belongs to me!"
Swanly slowly closed her eyes.
Of course.
One peaceful morning.
That was apparently too expensive.
She handed two cubs to Kael and lifted Miko down.
"Stay here."
Kairo puffed up.
"But Mama fight?"
"Mama is going to see who decided to be stupid before breakfast."
Miko raised his fist.
"Miko come bite."
"No biting."
"Kick?"
"No kicking."
He thought about it.
"Watch?"
Swanly sighed.
"Behind Papa."
Three cubs cheered softly as if they had won a war.
Kael’s claws slid out.
Soren’s eyes turned cold.
Raku gripped his stone weapon and strode out first.
Swanly followed.
Outside, Riverbone was already gathering.
And in the middle of the outer camp, Nerin stood with blood at the corner of his mouth while Selka’s hand was still raised.
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