Mommy Wolf: Raise A Cub, Claimed By His Beast Daddy-Chapter 126: A Faerie Conquering The Summit (II)
Once she had identified all the trees sturdy enough to bear her weight, Sisi mapped a path for her travel to the peak of the summit in her mind.
She focused all of her mental strength, linking the trees together one by one until the route reached the summit. In response to her will, the trees began to move as if they were all Sisi’s soldiers.
Vestor and Grishaw gasped simultaneously as the trees trembled and moved. One branch stretched toward another, then another, until they intertwined—forming a long, taut rope that spiraled around the entire summit and reached the tallest tree beside the cave where Kael and Jojo lived.
Grishaw was stunned. Sisi’s control over plants was truly one of a kind. If she was a witch, then she would be among the most powerful, because the trees weren’t merely being forced to obey. They moved as if of their own accord.
It was as though they shared a hive mind, like worker bees responding to their queen.
Grishaw had witnessed—and experienced—her power before, during the blizzard chase, when a vine had lashed out of nowhere and slapped him so hard that he got a concussion. He was a hardened military general, but the moment he almost became one with the tree had been so terrifying that he screamed at the top of his lungs.
This, however, was the first time Vestor had ever witnessed Sisi’s power. His heart nearly stopped when he saw the trees moving in unison.
"A witch..." he murmured.
It was the most logical explanation. Only two beings could command plants so completely: faeries and witches. And Sisi was clearly not a faerie.
Thus, doubt crept into Vestor’s mind.
’What if she used witchcraft to make herself so beautiful? If she could control an entire summit of trees, then charming a little prince—or even the Beast King—would be trivial,’ he suspected. ’What if that’s not even her real face? I heard some witches can steal faces...’
Scenarios spiraled through his thoughts, none of them portraying Sisi in a good light.
After all, who ever viewed a witch—a naturally evil creature—as anything but dangerous?
Sisi, of course, knew exactly what Vestor, Grishaw, and perhaps any other witnesses were thinking. She wasn’t even sure if she truly was a witch, as she had never performed dark rituals in her life.
But if that was the only answer they could find, then so be it.
She had never lived to be admired. She lived to survive and be useful .
Ignoring the others, she tightened her hold on Jojo. "Hang on tight, Jojo."
"Un! I’m ready, Sisi!"
Sisi smiled at the little wolf and raised her free hand.
A branch slowly descended and wrapped gently around her wrist. It lifted her into the air and flung her toward the next tree. Another branch caught her just in time and sent her onward.
Tree after tree passed them along, carrying her steadily toward the summit without a single injury.
Vestor and Grishaw watched in awe.
"That’s... ingenious," Vestor muttered. "Is she really a witch?"
"There’s no other explanation," Grishaw replied. "I nearly got swallowed by a tree once. But if you’re wondering whether she’s charmed the King. The answer is no."
"How can you be sure?" Vestor asked. "She’s powerful... and our King is the finest specimen among beastmen. Strong, handsome, capable of siring countless powerful offspring if he wants to."
Grishaw sighed.
"It’s just my gut feeling. When we first met her, there was nothing but anger and hatred in the King’s eyes. And besides..." He glanced upward at the figure swinging from tree to tree. "I don’t think she wants him."
"Why not?"
"Because her heart," Grishaw said quietly, "is only for the little prince."
"Weee!"
"Wuuu!"
"Waaaaah!"
Jojo squealed with delight each time they soared through the air before another branch caught them. For once, he forgot his fear and simply enjoyed being with Sisi.
Just as he’d always known, she could make even the worst situation feel fun, making him feel at ease even if they were in constant danger in the Roc Forest.
He looked up at her, ears flapping wildly in the wind. "Sisi, you’re awesomeeee!"
Sisi smiled, though she didn’t relax.
Jojo’s wounds were terrible to look at, and still needed treatment. She planned to treat him once she checked on Kael.
When they finally reached the summit, Sisi paused, shaking her head to clear the dizziness from the constant swinging.
Then she heard it.
A grunt from inside the cave, followed by a scream.
"No—urrgh! Don’t—don’t take her! Aaargh! ARRRGHHH!"
Sisi’s heart skipped a beat. The scream was filled with raw agony, as if he were enduring unbearable pain.
Jojo shifted back into his beastman form and tugged at her sleeve, dragging her toward the cave. All his excitement vanished, replaced by sheer terror as he was once again reminded of his father’s condition.
"Sisi, please save Daddy... He—he’s still having a nightmare..."
Sisi swallowed hard and rushed inside with him.
Kael was currently in his beast form, just as Jojo said, but his eyes were still tightly shut. His face was twisted in pain, teeth gnashing as his body thrashed against the stone repeatedly.
From just one look, Sisi knew the nightmare he had was severe and wouldn’t end soon.
But what made Sisi step back was not his movements.
It was his tears.
Because they weren’t clear, they were blood.
From the corners of his eyes, thick red tears streamed down, staining the ground beneath him. Judging by the amount pooled there, he had been crying blood for some time.
Jojo froze, his face draining of color as he retreated to Sisi’s side. "S-Sisi... Daddy... he—"
"I know," Sisi said softly, stroking his head, though her hand trembled. "Calm down, Jojo, I’ll do something about it."
She didn’t know why, but the sight of Kael like this made her chest ache violently.
As if her own heart were bleeding alongside his.
