Surviving Zombies Was Easier Than Raising Beast Cubs

Chapter 90: Chapter 91: She is angry with you

Soren smiled.

It held no warmth.

"They may remain."

The man paled.

"Alone."

That ended the argument.

People scattered.

Orders flew through Riverbone.

Families rushed toward their caves.

Hunters checked weapons.

Mothers gathered food, hides, and water containers.

Raku began shouting at guards.

Nahla struck two males who tried to carry medicine without washing their hands.

Swanly remained where she was, holding her cubs.

Kairo’s small hand touched her cheek.

"Mama angry."

"Yes."

Nilo pressed closer.

"At us?"

"Yes."

All three cubs shrank.

Swanly immediately tightened her arms around them.

"And at everyone else."

Miko sniffed.

"Mama still love?"

Her face crumpled.

She kissed his forehead.

"Unfortunately, more than my own peace."

Miko relaxed.

Kairo looked toward the dispersing tribe.

"Mama win?"

Swanly stared at him.

"This was not a game."

His ears lowered.

"No."

"We almost lost you."

Kairo pressed his face against her shoulder.

"Sorry."

Soren approached.

Swanly looked up at him.

"I am not speaking to you."

He stopped.

"I did not speak."

"You were about to."

"I was going to tell you the tribe needs a destination."

"That counts."

She stood with Miko in her arms while Kael gathered Kairo and Nilo.

Then she walked past Soren.

His tail moved aside for her.

His eyes followed her every step.

Raku approached him carefully.

"She is angry with you."

"I noticed."

"Will you apologize?"

Soren looked at him.

"For ordering the migration she demanded?"

Raku considered this.

"No. Perhaps remain quiet."

"A rare intelligent suggestion."

Behind them, Miko looked over Swanly’s shoulder and whispered loudly, "Snake in trouble."

Soren heard him.

His eye twitched.

⸻

Riverbone accepted the truth before midday.

The settlement was compromised.

The underground entrances were sealed with stone, clay, and layers of roots, but no one pretended the repairs would last forever.

Something large had already travelled beneath them.

Something else might return.

Inside the family cave, Swanly finally set the cubs down.

"Stay where I can see you."

Three heads nodded.

Tavi sat with them because Tilla refused to let him out of sight either.

The four cubs were placed on one fur mat.

Tilla sat directly beside it.

Kael stood at the entrance.

No cub was escaping without crossing three furious adults.

The system appeared inside Swanly’s vision.

{Emergency migration conditions confirmed.}

{Multiple tasks activated.}

{Task: Prepare preserved food and clean water for the journey.}

{Task: Choose scouts capable of identifying infected routes, stable ground, water sources, and hostile territories.}

{Task: Select a possible destination.}

Swanly rubbed her aching forehead.

A destination.

Right.

Leaving Riverbone was only the beginning.

Where would they go?

Three glowing symbols appeared before her.

{Three possible settlement locations detected.}

{Basic information is free. Complete routes, danger markings, water sources, and terrain maps must be purchased separately.}

Swanly stared at the first symbol.

{Location One: Willowbank Hollow}

{Distance: Near.}

{Travel difficulty: Low.}

{Estimated journey: Two to three days with cubs and wounded tribe members.}

{Advantages: Fresh stream, soft farming soil, small caves, light forest, easy hunting.}

{Disadvantages: Located along the same underground water system as Riverbone. Infection may eventually spread into the stream or surrounding forest. Limited stone and defensive ground.}

{Detailed map cost: 80 points.}

Swanly frowned.

Easy to reach.

Easy to settle.

Easy for the infection to find later.

The second symbol brightened.

{Location Two: Ironwood Basin}

{Distance: Moderate.}

{Travel difficulty: High.}

{Estimated journey: Seven to ten days, depending on weather and injuries.}

{Advantages: Large freshwater spring, thick building timber, clay, stone, medicinal plants, fruit trees, game trails, open farming ground, and a defensible ridge surrounding most of the basin. Small deposits of iron-bearing stone detected.}

{Disadvantages: Journey includes a narrow ravine, unstable woodland, and one area with concentrated infected activity. Several large territorial beasts may live near the basin.}

{Detailed map cost: 200 points.}

Swanly’s gaze lingered.

Wood for shelters.

Stone for walls.

Clay for storage.

Medicinal plants.

Fruit.

Game.

Fresh water that did not run beneath the Rot Nest.

Land large enough for Riverbone and any survivors they found later.

Dangerous.

But possible.

Then the third symbol appeared.

It was way larger than the others.

Golden light surrounded a distant valley hidden behind black mountains.

{Location Three: Crownforge Sanctuary}

{Distance: Extreme.}

{Travel difficulty: Severe.}

{Estimated journey: Unknown.}

{Advantages: Multiple freshwater springs, rivers, rich farmland, ancient hardwood forests, deep caves, natural stone walls, salt deposits, abundant game, medicinal plants, coal, iron, copper, and traces of rarer metal. Large enough to support several tribes permanently.}

{Additional structures detected beneath the mountains. Origin unknown.}

Swanly’s heart began beating faster.

It was not merely somewhere to hide.

It could become a city.

A true home.

Then the disadvantages appeared.

{Disadvantages: Route crosses infected territory, deep marshland, two mountain passes, and the hunting grounds of unidentified ancient beings. Powerful life signals already occupy the sanctuary. Survival probability cannot currently be calculated.}

{Detailed map cost: 1,200 points.}

Swanly stared at the final warning.

{Purchasing a map does not remove the creatures currently living there.}

Of course it did not.

{Please choose wisely, host. The cheapest road may not remain safe. The richest land may kill everyone before they reach it.}

Crownforge remained inside Swanly’s mind.

Multiple rivers.

Metals.

Natural walls.

Unknown structures beneath the mountains.

Powerful beings already occupying it.

Not now.

Riverbone would never survive that journey in its current state.

But perhaps one day.

When the cubs were older.

When the tribe was stronger.

When she had enough power to reach it and enough weapons to keep it.

For now, she looked at Ironwood Basin.

Not too close.

Not impossibly far.

Enough resources to build properly.

Enough danger that they would need preparation, scouts, and discipline.

"This one."

{Purchase detailed map of Ironwood Basin for 200 points?}

Swanly hesitated.

Her current balance was only 214 points.

Buying it would leave her nearly empty again.

Then Miko shifted on the fur mat and winced because of his wrapped foot.

Swanly selected the map.

{Purchase complete.}

{Current balance: 14 points.}

A detailed path unfolded across her vision.

Swanly closed her eyes.

She had found them a possible home.

She had also become poor again.

Again.

The system was truly committed to keeping her humble.

⸻

She found Soren near the sealed passage.

Raku had already stationed guards around it.

Soren stood with one hand against the stone, feeling the faint movement beneath the ground.

"I found somewhere," Swanly said.

He turned.

She explained Willowbank Hollow first.

Then Ironwood Basin.

She did not mention Crownforge Sanctuary.

There was no reason to place an impossible dream inside everyone’s head.

Soren listened without interrupting.

When she finished, he asked, "Which one?"

"Ironwood Basin."

"Why?"

"Willowbank is close, but it shares the same underground water system as Riverbone. The rot may reach it later."

"And Ironwood?"

"Farther. More dangerous. Better water, stronger defensive ground, timber, clay, stone, medicine, fruit, game, and metal-bearing rock."

Soren studied her.

"You have a route?"

"My magic showed me one."

He did not question it.

He did not demand proof.

He simply nodded.

"I believe you."

Swanly stared at him.

"What?"

"I said I believe you."

"You usually argue first."

"You nearly struck an elder into the next season. I am choosing survival."

She narrowed her eyes.

His mouth moved slightly.

Not quite a smile.

"You should present the destination," she said.

"Why?"

"Because you are Riverbone’s leader."

"You selected it."

"And the former elders already think I am trying to steal the tribe."

"They think many stupid things."

"Yes, and I am tired of hearing them."

Swanly folded her arms.

"You speak. You give them the choices. I will not stand there while they accuse me of taking control."

Soren’s gaze moved over her face.

"You are taking control."