Three Years Later
A child with snow-like delicate features sat atop a black panther, slowly walking along a valley path.
The child frowned, scanning the surroundings with his small hands gripping the panther’s fur. "Lore, let’s not look for Brother anymore. They’re mean, they never let me play with them."
The panther lazily stretched. "Then where do you want to go?"
Tired from sitting, the child slumped against the panther’s back, rubbing his snow-white cheek against the soft fur.
"Mother is gone too…"
The panther stopped and turned his head, silver-gray eyes glimmering like stars.
"I smell Father. Let’s go ask him."
With that, the panther quickened his pace toward a crowd ahead.
The valley had grown lively recently, with many newcomers, mostly unknown orcs seeking a home and winged fox tribesmen willing to follow Hunter.
Not long ago, some of Hunter’s tribesmen had accidentally wandered into the valley. At the time, Hunter and Lore were out training, so they didn’t get the news in time. This led to a clash between the winged foxes and the valley’s residents.
When Hunter returned, he realized they were his own people.
Seeing Hunter as the valley’s leader, the winged foxes were proud. After admiring the beautiful environment and comfortable houses, they decided to stay.
However, these pretty winged foxes were harder to get along with than other tribes. But Hunter had a temper, after they caused trouble, he gave them a stern scolding, and they quickly behaved.
Most of Hunter’s tribesmen knew his temper well. He was ruthless. If they angered him, they’d be lucky to escape with their lives.
With so many newcomers, Hunter discussed with Su Yi and decided to have the later arrivals settle outside the valley. Su Yi suggested building a walled enclosure, similar to a city wall, around an area slightly smaller than the valley.
Though it sounded like a massive project, it wasn’t too difficult for the orcs, given their strength and ability to shift into beast forms.
Originally, Tang Yu was in charge, but after showing signs of pregnancy, Su Yi took over.
Hunter was discussing security improvements with the orcs when he saw his son Lore approaching with little Suno.
Hunter put away the blueprint and waved the others off before crouching to pick up Suno.
By now, Hunter had fully accepted Suno as his future son-in-law and doted on him endlessly.
"Why aren’t you playing with Eli and the others?"
Suno blinked his big eyes. He liked this handsome uncle very much. "They won’t play with me. I want to find Mother."
Hunter smiled gently, his ruby-like eyes were warm. "Your mother is busy. How about I take you to play with someone else?"
Su Yi was busy, overseeing the construction of new homes and helping Mino treat injured unknown orcs.
These unknown orcs were pitiful yet fortunate. Countless others like them across the continent died young, unable to survive in the wild. Many starved, were eaten by beasts, or poisoned. Those who survived, their bodies bore old and new scars.
Today, Su Yi encountered a female who had been taken by wandering orcs and later abandoned. What shocked him was that the female had a one-year-old child with him, born in the wilderness.
Su Yi couldn’t imagine how he had managed it. Even with many people around, Su Yi himself had nearly died giving birth to Suno.
The female was emaciated, skin stretched over bones. When the orcs brought him back, he had no clothes, clutching his child with skeletal arms. The child resembled him, he was malnourished like a famine victim.
Heartbroken, Su Yi added space-water to their medicine and gave them extra food.
Since they were both fragile females, they were taken into the valley for care, temporarily staying with Old Taylor, who had plenty of room.
By the time Su Yi returned home, another day had passed.
There, he found Sinoer lecturing Eli.
"As an older brother, it’s your responsibility to care for your sibling."
"But Suno is too weak. I’m afraid he’ll get hurt if I take him along," Eli argued. At seven, he was no longer the soft little boy he used to be. Orc children matured faster, Eli looked more like an eleven- or twelve-year-old.
Sinoer’s expression darkened, and Eli knew he was in trouble. Sinoer was usually gentle, but when he got angry, not even Su Yi could save him.
Just as Eli was scrambling for a way to appease him, Su Yi walked in.
"Mother!"
Suno, sitting on the bed, slid down and toddled happily toward Su Yi.
Su Yi crouched, catching Suno in his arms and lifting him up.
"What’s going on?" Su Yi asked, glancing between them. Sinoer’s icy expression softened slightly.
Eli quickly said, "Mother, it’s my fault. I didn’t take care of my brother. I left him alone."
Su Yi looked at Sinoer, who remained silent, instead gently taking Suno from him.
Su Yi sat on the bed. "Your mistake isn’t not playing with Suno, it’s avoiding responsibility. You think taking care of a female is troublesome, right?"
Eli glanced at Suno and nodded helplessly. That was exactly why Sinoer was angry.
"Alright, apologize to your brother."
After Eli apologized, Suno who was not fully understanding, forgave him like a little adult.
"It’s okay. Lore will take care of me."
Su Yi paused, then laughed wryly at Sinoer. "When did our baby get stolen by Lore?"
Sinoer’s expression darkened further.
In the following days, Eli stayed close to Sunk. Eli’s beast form was a white snake with hard scales.
But Suno who was still small, tired easily from walking.
Sitting on Eli’s back was uncomfortable for his little bottom, so he ended up riding Lore again, leisurely strolling through the valley, but now they were trailed by Eli and his friends.
