Surviving Zombies Was Easier Than Raising Beast Cubs

Chapter 84: Chapter 84: Did you just take food out of my mouth?

"If you want die, go die!"

Swanly’s eyes widened.

Miko continued furiously.

"We carry Mama away. Papa carry food. Snake can stay."

Soren’s brow rose.

Kairo nodded.

"We take Mama."

Nilo added, "And Tilla. And mink friend."

Miko thought hard.

"And meat."

The tribe stared.

Swanly grabbed all three by the backs of their little clothes and pulled them behind her.

"Nope. Behind Mama."

"But they are wrong," Kairo protested.

"I know."

"Can bite?"

"No."

"Kick?" Miko asked.

"No."

Miko crossed his tiny arms.

"Always no."

Raku’s hard face finally cracked.

He walked closer to Soren and bent slightly.

"I think you are supposed to be on our side."

Soren looked at him.

"I am listening."

"You made everything worse for her."

"I am aware."

Raku stared.

Then after a beat, "I will be quiet."

Swanly looked around at the doubtful faces.

Fine.

They wanted proof.

She would give them proof.

"Fine," she said. "I will prove it."

She turned before anyone could answer and walked away.

Kael gathered the cubs.

Tilla followed with her mink cub.

Nahla struck the nearest former elder’s ankle with her medicine stick on her way past.

He yelped.

"What was that for?"

"My hand slipped."

It had not.

***

Night settled over Riverbone.

Kael took Kairo, Nilo and Miko to wash the dirt from their hands, feet and faces before sleeping in their new hollow.

Swanly remained near the family cave, pacing so hard that her tail nearly swept the ground clean.

Soren appeared at the entrance.

She glared at him.

"You."

He entered alone.

"Me."

"Why did you do that?"

"Do what?"

"Do not act stupid. It does not suit your irritating face."

He leaned against the wall.

"If I ordered them to leave tonight, people would die."

"They would obey you."

"That is the problem."

Swanly stopped pacing.

Soren continued.

"Frightened people obey quickly and regret it slowly. If we leave without enough food, scouts, medicine, water and a destination, the first deaths will turn into panic."

"We can prepare."

"Then prove we must."

"You already know this place is unsafe."

"I suspect it."

"The infected keep finding this place."

"And so far, they keep dying outside it."

Swanly wanted to scream.

Soren’s voice remained calm.

"Some elders are already waiting for you to fail. Garran wants frightened people to look toward him. Maela hides insults inside concern. Two refugees outside smiled when the gathering turned against you."

Swanly’s anger paused.

"You saw that?"

"I saw everyone."

His silver eyes sharpened.

"Today showed me who supports Riverbone, who follows power and who will betray me the moment they believe I am weak."

Swanly stared at him.

So he had not been sitting there looking beautiful and useless.

He had been studying them.

Every twitch.

Every whisper.

Every traitorous little smile.

Annoying snake.

Smart, annoying snake.

She reached into her storage space and pulled out a strip of dried fruit.

"I still hate you."

"I know."

She bit one end and paced again.

"You could have warned me."

"You would have argued."

"I am arguing now."

"Yes."

Swanly spoke around the fruit hanging between her lips.

"You made me look like a fool in front of everyone."

Soren’s eyes dropped to her mouth.

"You did that yourself when you threatened to carry more than one hundred people into the forest without a route."

She spun toward him.

"I did not say I would carry them. I said I would take my family and..."

Soren moved.

One moment, he stood several steps away.

The next, his face was directly before hers.

His cold fingers touched beneath her chin.

Swanly froze.

His silver eyes held hers.

Then he leaned down.

His mouth brushed hers.

Barely.

Just enough for heat to explode through her entire face.

His teeth caught the dried fruit between her lips.

He pulled it away slowly.

The strip slid free.

Soren straightened and calmly began chewing.

Swanly forgot every word she knew.

The cave became too warm.

Her lips tingled where his had touched them.

Her fox ears stood so high they nearly hurt.

Soren swallowed.

Swanly finally found her voice.

"Did you just take food out of my mouth?"

"You were not using it."

Her hand flew toward his face.

His tail snapped around her wrist.

It caught her before her palm reached him.

Swanly struggled.

"Release me."

"No."

"You shameless thief!"

"You still have more."

"That is not the point!"

His tail drew her arm gently downward.

Swanly stepped closer without meaning to.

Now only a breath separated them.

Soren looked down at her flushed face.

His voice lowered.

"You become careless when you are angry."

Her heart slammed against her ribs.

"You become unbearable when you breathe."

"Then stop standing close enough to feel it."

Swanly opened her mouth.

A growl erupted behind them.

Kael stood at the entrance.

Water still darkened parts of his black hair from washing the cubs.

Kairo and Miko peeked around his legs.

Nilo was not with them.

Kael’s dark golden eyes dropped to Soren’s tail around Swanly’s wrist.

Then to the small distance between their mouths.

His entire body changed.

Claws slid free.

His shoulders lowered.

"Release my female."

Soren did not move.

Swanly’s stomach dropped.

Kael was powerful.

Soren was stronger.

And both males possessed the emotional control of collapsing mountains whenever she stood between them.

Soren’s tail loosened.

Kael crossed the cave in one step and pulled Swanly behind him.

His arm locked around her waist.

He bared his teeth at Soren.

The snake’s silver eyes became cold.

Miko pointed.

"Snake stole Mama food."

Kairo gasped.

"Thief."

Swanly grabbed Kael’s arm before he could pounce.

"Kael."

"He touched you."

"He stole dried fruit."

"With his mouth."

"Yes, I noticed."

Kael’s growl deepened.

Swanly pressed both hands against his chest.

"Do not fight him."

His eyes cut down to her.

"You defend him?"

"I am defending you from being crushed into the wall."

Soren’s brow lifted.

That was the wrong reaction.

Kael moved.

Swanly wrapped herself around his arm.

"No!"

Miko raised both fists.

"Papa fight!"

"No one is fighting!"

Kairo looked disappointed.

Soren’s tail slid behind him.

"I have finished speaking."

Kael stared at him.

"You should have finished before touching her."

Soren looked at Swanly’s lips once more.

Then turned and left.

Kael saw the glance.

His growl followed the snake through the entrance.

Swanly covered her face.

One day.

She wanted one day without a male measuring another male’s grave.

Inside the new cub sleeping hollow, Nilo sat alone on his fur.

He had gone ahead to arrange the sleeping places while his brothers followed his father.

The hollow was quiet.

Warm.

Too warm.

Nilo’s little ears twitched.

A faint breath of hot air brushed across his ankle.

He looked down.

Near the rear wall, beneath a hanging root, a thin crack split the stone floor.

Warm air flowed through it again.

Nilo leaned closer.

Something existed beneath their sleeping cave.

Something hollow.

His golden eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

Maybe he should explore it.