Beastmen: She Tames the Land-Chapter 68: The weariness of the journey

The memory of the valley of flowers lingered in everyone’s mind.

The pack had retreated to the cave they had previously left. The world they thought they knew looked so different now that they were experiencing it. Staying in the tribe, they knew exactly what they needed to do and where to go or where to avoid.

Now, on this journey, they have learned new things. They have also found that the world was not kind to the weak. The world they thought they knew was something completely unrecognizable. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Visha sat there looking at the gloomy people sitting on the cave floor. She knew what they must be thinking.

She wasn’t a native of this place, so to her everything was new and dangerous. Even having the system was something she never imagined. She was out of her depth in every way. But just as the world is dangerous for her. She realized that, for them, they thought the world was safer than it actually was.

Visha started talking, not to anyone in particular. She wanted to voice her thoughts and give them a choice as to whether to continue the journey.

"Everyone is tired from the journey. I am too. It has never been easy to leave the place you’ve known all your lives to move to something completely new. Especially with a destination that is unknown. But remember this- we aren’t looking for a place to rest our heads. We’re looking for a home."

Her voice softened, still firm and strong, but she spoke with more warmth.

"The world isn’t what we expected. It is harsher, more dangerous. There are shadows in places we never expected. But I want you to remember, you are not alone. The leaders, myself and each of you, together we are a pack."

Her fingers made lines on the ground. She didn’t look up to see the people she was addressing. She continued.

"Setbacks are normal. They are part of the path. But I hope setbacks won’t define us. We should be resilient. Don’t let the obstacles we face now keep us from believing in tomorrow. We should keep searching for home, because I know it’s out there."

She stopped talking.

Standing up from the place she sat, she went over to the nest she shared with Uri and Xeno.

She closed her eyes. She didn’t expect anyone to come to her. As long as they can process her words, then tomorrow, she should see a rejuvenated set of people.

The silent pack followed Visha with their gazes. They heard everything she said, and it resonated. They exchanged looks, understanding dawning on their faces.

"She’s right. We might be tired, but we shouldn’t give up," Cato said.

Willa smiled, "She has always been right. We were cast out by the Tiger tribe, but she helped us. She became a priestess for us. We shouldn’t waver in our dedication."

Uri and Xeno stand to the side, looking at their family. The people who decided to follow them. They knew Visha was a large part of the reason. And they were proud to have such a mate.

A person who can rally people to her side.

"This is a setback. I will admit that. None of us thought this was what the world was like outside. We never thought that there would be so much danger. But I think we are all the stronger for it. I, for one, know that I am," Uri spoke, his voice firm and full of conviction.

He lifted his arm. The one where his lower arm and hand were missing. "None of you would have followed someone like me if it hadn’t been for the priestess. As a leader, I have tried my best, but I know that she is the one keeping us all together."

Xeno spoke, his voice sounding almost carefree. "I know what kind of leader I am. I will do whatever it takes to make sure everyone is safe. But let’s be honest, Uri is more of a leader than I am."

He flung his shoulder around Uri’s arm. "I will try my best to be the leader you all need. But everything said so far is true. I never expected so much danger, but I also know I wouldn’t learn half the things I know now if it hadn’t been for the priestess."

Xeno turned to Krag and Chi, "You know we don’t trust you. But she does, and I will use that as a guarantee for you. After what happened today, you two are the ones who seem to have lost your souls." He chuckled. "I guess you didn’t expect to be caught by the flower because you either had something that should stop it, or you thought you were stronger. Now you’ve learned a truth. You are either a part of the pack, or you aren’t."

Krag and Chi were surprised that Xeno directly spoke to them like this.

It is true. They couldn’t understand why they were affected. It shouldn’t have happened. It is also true that they never saw themselves as members of their pack. It wasn’t their place to be such a thing.

"I will not make promises I cannot keep. I have said that I will help. I will not become your enemy. But there will be a day when we need to leave. We cannot stay forever," Krag answered Xeno directly.

"I never asked you to stay forever. I asked you to treat us like a pack. Don’t keep yourself so closed off," Xeno replied.

"If we are going to be a pack. We need to truly think about it. Are we willing to continue on this journey together? Do we really believe we can find a home? We need to work together. We need to take things one step at a time. Dangerous as it is, we should still see it through together." This was the final thing Uri would say for the night.

Uri stood in front of the people he considered a pack. Placing his fist over his chest, he did a small bow before going to Visha’s side.

"Think about it. Continue the journey and find our home, or stop right where we are?" Xeno did a small salute before walking away.