My Wild Beast-Chapter 85: Loner Beast (1)

Yoa stared off at the waterfall in the cave, embracing the sound of Nova’s heart thumping steadily and calming his own, as the sound of hushed thunderous water washed over him. He wondered where he would be right now if not for Atia and Aiyana. That trial had been about accepting who he could become if he let it.

There was light and dark in all of them. It wasn’t the presence of one of the other that mattered, but how they faced the tests, whether shaped by the island or caught in Solkara’s burning threads of fate. Who would rise and who would fall—that was what defined them.

Nova’s breathing evened out as fatigue claimed her. It had been a long day, and the shock of discovering Vulcan had also been a Marked Child, on the same path as him to become Yiska, guardian of the Tayun, wore off, her questions settling.

Yoa didn’t know if Vulcan’s corruption had already begun when he went through their trials or after when he failed. Ayumi hadn’t been born yet. So, his fate had always been proven that he had a higher calling than others—whether that was to be the next guardian or leader of Silver Feather. Until recently.

Raking his fingers through his mostly tamed locks now, Yoa scowled as he tried to shake off the image of the man who had laid claim to what wasn’t his. Nova stirred from the low rumble in his chest, then he calmed his thoughts and stroked her hair back, and she settled into him again. His precious Serakai, how he ached for her the longer he knew about their bond, and refraining from doing anything until they were both physically and mentally able to.

Yoa’s thoughts drifted back to the days of his trials. One dance of the sun and moon had passed between the trial with the mirror beast and the next. He’d not long turned thirteen. In that short time, he’d become more of a loner from the rest of the Oncari, including Atia and Aiyana, who still couldn’t quite fathom what he was going through.

That didn’t stop them from trying though. Every chance they could get away with it, his friends dragged him away from his studies or training so that he could still mess around like the halforms they were. If not for them, then he would probably be just as stern and stoic as his father.

A fond smile curled at his lips from the memories.

"Psst!"

Something hit him, rousing him from sleep.

Yoa’s head snapped up, eyes bright and searching. He’d been resting after the rigorous training regime Raokan had put him on.

"Atia?" Yoa whispered, creeping down the tree in his human form, limbs extending as he gripped at the branches, acting like a cat in human form, searching for his friend. His hair was pulled back into a knot, though a few strands slipped free, framing his face. At the ends of two for those loose strands, hung small, carved stones—his own handmade adornments.

"Swear you’re more beast than boy these days!" Atia hissed from the side.

Yoa turned his head and leapt, landing on his friend using the giant leaves to hide him.

"Oomph!"

"Why have you disturbed my slumber?" Yoa asked, cocking his head to the side, ignoring Atia struggling beneath him.

"Because you’re acting like a boring old man!" Aiyana tossed another pebble at Yoa’s head, appearing from Atia’s side.

Yoa ducked, avoiding the pebble then blinked back at her in shock. Aiyana stood, balancing on a thin branch and placed her hands on her hips. Her hair was braided back with golden beads adorning the ends of it. She was already tall for a girl and was the same height as them, which annoyed them to no end.

"Am not!" Yoa argued with a huff.

"Will you get off me?!" Atia complained, still stuck beneath Yoa.

"Make me." Yoa grinned down at him. "You wanted my attention, now you have it."

"Ugh. Boys," Aiyana flipped her hair over her shoulder then leapt at Yoa, tackling him off Atia. They both fell from the tree.

Yoa shifted so he landed on his feet while Aiyana screamed in excitement. Atia peered over the edge of the branch and scowled, hating to be left out but not wishing to take that plunge. He effortless jumped down from branch to branch, flipping and landing gracefully beside them.

The black jaguar paced in front of them. Atia and Aiyana shared a look. "Everything okay there, brother?" Atia asked, lips curling to one side, half-joking and half-concerned.

A low growl rumbled from young Yoa before he managed to shift back into his human form. "My beast has been... acting up lately," he grumbled, rubbing the back of his neck, looking older than his thirteen sun and moon dances. "Look, guys. I’ll catch you another time. I need to figure out why I’m struggling to keep my beast under control and get some rest-"

"Oh no you don’t!" Aiyana grabbed Yoa’s arm in both of her hands, trying and failing to drag him back. She leaned backwards, putting all her weight into it but the boy wouldn’t budge.

Yoa arched an eyebrow at her. "What are you doing?"

"Trying to kidnap our cranky, loner friend from his stupid training!" Aiyana spat, huffing and puffing with one of her little tantrums.

It was cute when she was six. Now it was annoying. Actually, he was sure it was annoying then as well.

"Come have some fun with us." Atia put his hands on Yoa’s shoulders, eyes imploring with him. "Even Aiyana breaks more rules than you."

"Hey!" Aiyana complained behind Yoa.

"What? It’s true. You hate being left out," Atia shrugged.

Aiyana narrowed her eyes then stuck her tongue out at him, released Yoa and turned away. "Fine. You boys do whatever you want. If you need me.. I’ll be playing with the jellyfish."

"Wait... Jellyfish?" Yoa’s head whipped back, ignoring Aiyana’s little bratty moment.

"Duh. If you weren’t such a loner, you’d know it’s the season for the crabs and jellyfish." Aiyana smirked, eyes glittering as she looked between the boys like she’d already won.

Atia and Yoa looked at each other.

"Last one there has to hang out with the pink dolphins for a week!" Atia shouted, already shifting mid-stride into his jaguar form with a burst of energy.

Yoa barked a laugh and launched after him, feet pounding across the sand before his form shimmered, fur overtaking skin.

Aiyana shrieked with laughter, already halfway down the beach, weaving between driftwood and palm trunks.

The jungle echoed with their playful roars, including Yoa’s, who rarely had a chance to act his age.