I Was The Only Omega In The Beast World-Chapter 60: CP: Tribe Chief’s Announcement

Next day dawn at a nearby cave, they woke to the sound of distant thunder—except it wasn’t thunder.

"What is that?" Alex asked, sitting up carefully in the nest.

Leo was already at the window, ears pricked forward. "Drums. Bear drums. They’re announcing something."

[CULTURAL NOTE: Bears use drum signals to communicate across their mountain territory. That particular rhythm means: ’Gathering at the main den. Important announcement.’]

"Can you understand drum language?" Alex asked the system.

[I contain multitudes, remember? Also yes. I downloaded ’Basic Bear Communication Protocol’ while you were sleeping. You’re welcome!]

"Sometimes you’re actually useful," Alex admitted.

[SOMETIMES?! I am a TREASURE!]

They packed quickly, ate a rushed breakfast of dried fruit and nuts, and set out as the sun crested the mountains.

[Oh! Right. Let me check the drum pattern more carefully...]

[*listening intently*]

[Okay so the rhythm is: BOOM-boom-BOOM-boom-boom-BOOM-BOOM]

[Which translates roughly to: "Chief speaks. All gather. Urgent matter. Presence required."]

[So basically—Granite is making some kind of major announcement and wants the whole tribe present. Could be anything from declaring war to announcing a festival to...]

The system paused dramatically.

[...to finally choosing a mate. OH NO.]

" what happened?" Naga asked sharply, picking up on Alex’s suddenly tense expression.

"System thinks the announcement might be about Granite choosing a mate," Alex said.

"Good," Leo said firmly. "Then he’ll be occupied with someone else and won’t look twice at you."

[OR—hear me out—he’s about to announce he’s GIVING UP on finding a mate, which would make the tribe even MORE anxious about succession, which means they’ll be even LESS likely to part with their sacred artifact because they need all the divine help they can get...]

"That’s... actually a valid concern," Alex admitted.

They reached the boundary markers twenty minutes later—massive stones carved with bear symbols, each one taller than Naga at full height. The markers formed a clear line across the mountain path, impossible to miss.

And standing beside them, arms crossed and looking thoroughly unimpressed, was a bear.

Not in full beast form—that would have been the size of a small house—but in the humanoid form that beastmen used for close interaction. Still massive, though.

Easily seven and a half feet tall, with shoulders broad enough to block the path completely. Dark brown fur covered his arms and legs, and his hair was the same rich brown, pulled back in a thick braid. Dark eyes assessed them with the kind of casual wariness that came from being very, very confident in one’s ability to win any fight.

"Travelers," he said, voice a deep rumble. "State your business."

"We seek audience with Chief Granite," Alex said, stepping forward. "We come bearing gifts and a proposal."

The bear’s eyes dropped to Alex’s swollen belly, then flicked to Naga and Leo flanking him protectively.

"Apex predators traveling with a bearer," he observed. "Unusual. What kind of proposal?"

"A trade," Alex said carefully. "We have something valuable to offer. We hope to negotiate for something equally valuable in return."

"Hmm." The bear studied them for a long moment.

"You picked an interesting day to arrive. Chief’s about to make an announcement. Whole tribe’s gathering."

"We heard the drums," Leo said.

"Then you know to wait." The bear gestured to a cleared area near the markers. "Stay here. I’ll inform the chief you’ve arrived. If he grants audience after the announcement, someone will fetch you."

"Thank you," Alex said.

The bear nodded—then paused, nostrils flaring slightly as he scented the air.

"You carry crystal sugar syrup," he said, and for the first time, something like interest flickered in his amber eyes.

"We do," Naga confirmed. "Three jars. A gift for the chief."

"Three jars." The bear’s expression softened almost imperceptibly. "That’s... generous. The chief will appreciate that. We haven’t had crystal sugar syrup since before hibernation."

[BINGO! The honey was the right call!]

"What’s your name?" Alex asked.

"Boulder," the bear said. "Second to Chief Granite. Guardian of the eastern approach." He looked at Alex directly. "And yours?"

"Alex. This is Naga and Leo. My mates."

" Alex? Huh? Quite the weird name for a female. But anyway_" Boulder’s eyebrows rose slightly—probably at the casual way Alex claimed two apex predators—but he just nodded.

"Welcome to bear territory, Alex. Wait here. Someone will come."

" Did he also just called me.... female? "

[ Hahaha.... You are wearing the most baggiest clothes with a potted belly and to top it all off... you got pretty face so, of course he’s gonna assume you’re a female. Hahaha...]

System rolled over and laughed with its tiny mouth open.

" Shut up. "

Boulder lumbered off toward the mountain, moving with deceptive speed for someone his size.

"Well," Leo said once he was out of earshot. "That went better than expected."

"He didn’t threaten us or question our right to be here,"

Naga agreed. "That’s progress."

[Boulder seems nice! Professional. Respectful. Not immediately trying to marry you!]

"The bar is so low it’s underground," Alex muttered.

[HEY, I’m just saying—two territories down and you’ve already collected one ’I’ll wait for you’ declaration and on your way to one marriage proposal. I’m setting realistic expectations here!]

They settled in to wait—Alex sitting on a flat stone, Naga coiled beside him, Leo pacing restlessly and tracking every sound from deeper in the territory.

The drums had stopped, which meant the gathering was probably underway.

"What do you think he’s announcing?" Alex asked.

"Could be anything," Leo said. "Leadership decision, territory expansion, new hunting grounds..."

"Or he’s finally giving up on finding a mate and declaring a successor through trial by combat," Naga suggested darkly.

[That’s ALSO possible! Bears love a good strength competition!]

They didn’t have to wait long.

Twenty minutes later, a young bear came bounding down the path—lighter brown fur, maybe in his late teens in human terms, with an eager expression and boundless energy.

"You’re the travelers!" he said excitedly.

"With the crystal sugar syrup! Boulder said you were here and Chief said to bring you right away because the announcement’s over and he wants to meet you!"

[ENTHUSIASM! I like this kid!]

"What was the announcement?" Alex asked as they gathered their things.

The young bear’s expression flickered—excitement mixing with something like concern.

"Chief Granite declared he’s giving the tribe one more season to find him a suitable mate," he said.

"If no one acceptable appears by autumn, he’ll choose a successor from the warriors and step down."

Leo and Naga both looked at Alex.

Alex looked at the sky like it might provide answers.

[CALLED IT! Succession crisis incoming!]