"You just did," he replied, his voice devoid of humor. He was still learning the concept of jokes.
"What do you like about me? I mean, why did you choose me, out of all the females you could’ve taken?"
"You don’t scream in fear, don’t cry...and you have a soothing aura...You don’t look like you would bite my tongue off, either." He glanced at me, his expression saying, ’Unlike her.’ "You are also the only female... who has ever talked to me without trying to run away or kill me."
Well, that was a low bar to clear.
"So...I’m your first choice because I’m not terrified of you?"
"Yes. But I also like your hair...and your eyes. And your scent. It’s unique."
Nivi was falling for his simple yet honest compliments. She was changing him, and he was opening up to her.
Great. Perfect time to sneak away. I had enough of playing the third wheel in this weird love triangle. I slowed down my pace, letting the distance grow between us.
He was carrying my backpack on his shoulder, and he’d definitely notice if I tried to take it back. But I had my machetes, and a survival bracelet with a compass, flint, and some fishing line. I could live without the rest of the stuff in the bag.
"Why did you stop?" Kurus asked, looking over his shoulder at me.
"I was thinking of looking for another mate, maybe one who’s not so picky with his females. Know any?"
"I have chosen, and it’s Nivi." His eyes narrowed. "And if you try to find another mate, I will kill him."
I gave Nivi a look that said, ’Are you really crushing on this guy?’
’He is a work in progress. Be patient with him,’ she mouthed back.
"I hate indecisive males. He can’t even choose which female to stick with," I said, loud enough for Kurus to hear, "Pathetic. No wonder his species is dying out."
Kurus hissed and fastened his pace, leaving me behind. "You can follow if you want, or die alone in the jungle."
He dangled my backpack from his hand, taunting me. The idiot.
I chuckled and shook my head, turning to the right, where the compass was pointing. I had a destination in mind, and it wasn’t with them.
"You’re just going to leave me here?" Nivi asked. She looked torn between following Kurus and staying with me.
"You are not a child, Nivi. You can make your own decisions," I said, giving her a reassuring smile. "And you can always find me if you need me."
I turned away from her worried expression and walked into the dense vegetation, my machetes slicing through the vines and branches that blocked my path.
I could hear Nivi’s voice calling after me, but it soon faded away, replaced by thousands of hissing sounds that were coming from all directions.
Snakes of all sizes and colors were looking at me, their forked tongues flicking in and out. Some of them were as thick as my thigh, others as small as my finger. But all of them were deadly.
"Your daddy must have taught you to stay away from strangers, right?"
They didn’t reply, but they didn’t attack either. They just watched me, their unblinking eyes following my every move. Someone sent them to keep an eye on me.
"Tch, so much for privacy."
How I despised controlling men. They always had to have the last word, even if it meant using others to do their dirty work.
I pierced one of the largest snakes with my machete, its blood splattering on the leaves. I cut it up and tossed the pieces, searching for any core it might have had.
Nothing.
The village really seemed to be my only option for healing my wounds. I didn’t know any of the plants around here, so gathering herbs was out of the question.
I put the snake meat in a leaf and wrapped it up, tying it with a vine. I’d cook it before Kurus, and make sure I savor each bite.
The snakes followed me, some slithering on the ground, others hanging from the trees. Leading me back to their master. Only royal ranked beastmen could control lower ranked ones of the same species.
Low, middle, high, royal, and apex. That was how the beastman hierarchy worked, and could be distinguished by a feature on their bodies. Their skin would protrude a certain pattern, like a birthmark, but with a crystal texture, which also served as an accessory.
Kurus had a red diamond shape on his palms and feet, four of them in total, making him a royal ranked snake beastman.
He was one of the strongest beasts in the area, which made my confidence in my ability to survive in this world go up.
"You are back," Kurus said, as I stepped out of the jungle and into the clearing where he and Nivi had made a camp for the night.
I ignored him and went to the pile of wood he had gathered. I skewered the snake meat and placed it over the flames, watching the fat sizzle and pop.
"..." Nivi gulped at the sight of the butchered snake. "You didn’t..."
Kurus just sat there, his face blank as he watched me cook his subjects.