Surviving Zombies Was Easier Than Raising Beast Cubs

Chapter 35: Chapter 35: {Host may consider building proper washing tools, water storage, bathing space, and basic shelter upgrades.}

The smallest, who had no loyalty except to food, hugged his own bowl and shouted, ”Mama soup best!”

The eldest nodded fiercely. ”Best!”

The second whispered, ”Warm.”

Swanly’s doubt vanished.

Exactly.

That was the correct table review.

She turned away from Soren at once and went back to her little family.

Soren watched her sit beside Kael.

Watched the cubs crowd around her.

Watched the smallest lean his soupy chin on her leg until she complained and wiped him.

Watched Kael take a careful bite, then glance at Swanly with a quiet softness that made Soren want to drag him out by the throat.

Soren exhaled slowly.

He could take her.

He could wrap his tail around her right now and pull her to his side.

He could remind every person in this cave that she wore his scale.

He could make the panther watch.

His tail shifted.

Then he stopped.

Not tonight.

Tonight, she would sleep near the panther and the cubs.

Not because Soren was kind.

Because she had chosen food, medicine, and softness after fear. Because she had looked at the hungry tribe and shared meat. Because she had made the cubs laugh after they cried. Because if he pushed now, she would hate him with every breath, and Soren needed more than her hatred.

He needed her willing enough to walk into the Rot Nest.

So he stayed silent.

For now.

That night, Riverbone did not sleep easily.

The smell of Swanly’s soup drifted long after the fire died low. People whispered outside shelters. Cubs asked if the snow fox female would cook again. Hungry males pretended they did not care. Females wondered if she had really given medicine to Tilla’s cub.

Raku sat near the cave entrance with his stone-headed weapon across his knees.

His stomach growled again.

He glared into the dark as if the night had insulted him.

Inside the cave, Swanly curled beside Kael and the cubs because she refused to sleep near Soren no matter how cold his stare got.

Kael shifted in the night.

His human shape gave way to black fur, heavy muscle, and warm breath. He became the huge black panther again, careful even in sleep to curve his body around Swanly and the cubs without pressing his injured side too hard.

Swanly, half asleep, felt warmth.

So much warmth.

Soft fur under her cheek.

A huge body around her.

The steady rise and fall of breathing.

She sighed and snuggled closer without opening her eyes.

”Warm,” she muttered. ”So fluffy.”

Kael’s golden eyes opened.

He looked down at her with raw, aching tenderness. His heart settled despite the pain in his ribs. This female who had once hated him was now cuddling into him like he was safety itself. His low, quiet purr started in his chest, vibrating gently against her.

Swanly had one arm wrapped around his neck, her face buried in his fur, her white tail tangled with his black one. The cubs were tucked between his front legs and her stomach, sleeping in a messy pile of paws and ears.

His heart settled.

The pain in his ribs was still there, but softer now.

This was enough for tonight.

Across the cave, Soren watched from the shadows. His expression stayed bored. His eyes stayed cold. But his tail tip scraped hard against the stone, once. The sound of her soft, sleepy praise for the panther made something ugly and possessive coil tight in his gut.

In the morning, Swanly woke with her face full of fur.

For three blissful seconds, she thought she had found the greatest pillow in the universe.

Then the pillow breathed.

Her eyes opened.

Two golden animal eyes stared back at her.

”Ah!” Swanly screamed.

The cubs jumped awake.

Kael’s ears flicked.

Swanly scrambled backward, tripped over the smallest, grabbed him before he rolled, and then realized.

Panther.

Kael.

Her mate.

Her very large, very handsome, very naked-when-human mate currently in animal form.

Heat rushed up her face.

”Oh my God,” she whispered. ”I cuddled you like a blanket.”

Kael only stared at her, golden eyes soft and amused in that terrifyingly large panther face. Then, with terrible calm, he leaned forward and licked her cheek in one long, slow, deliberate drag.

The rough, warm tongue covered half her face, leaving a wet trail and a lingering scent that screamed mine.

Swanly froze.

The lick was huge.

Warm.

Wet.

Slightly rough.

It dragged across half her face and nearly took her soul with it.

The cubs gasped with delight.

Kael’s purr deepened, low and satisfied, as if marking her properly after a night of holding her.

The smallest looked betrayed that Papa had stolen his job.

Swanly stared.

Then laughter burst out of her.

”Kael!”

She rubbed her cheek quickly. ”That hurt, you giant cat.”

Kael’s ears flattened at once.

His whole body went still.

Swanly noticed the change immediately.

Her cheek was red, and he saw it.

The playful warmth vanished from his eyes and panic slipped in. He had not meant to hurt her. He had forgotten how soft her skin was compared to beast fur. He had forgotten because, for one moment, he had only been happy.

Swanly’s heart pinched.

She reached out and tapped his nose gently.

”I am fine. I said it hurt, not that I died.”

Kael still looked guilty.

Kael still looked guilty, ears low. Swanly’s heart pinched harder. She leaned forward and pressed her forehead against his big furry one, rubbing gently.

”You’re warm and I like it. Stop looking like you killed me.”

Kael’s ears slowly perked. He licked her jaw this time — softer, apologetic.

Swanly laughed again and let him, her fingers sinking into the thick fur at his neck. The moment felt intimate, private, even with the cubs watching.

The smallest waddled over, climbed onto Swanly’s lap, and licked the other cheek.

Swanly closed her eyes.

”Of course. Family activity.”

The eldest and second looked tempted.

”Do not,” she said without opening her eyes.

They stopped.

Barely.

Soon, Swanly sat up properly and smelled herself.

Then wished she had not.

”Oh no.”

Kael shifted back to human form near the cave wall, careful to keep the fur skin around his waist. His ribs were already better than last night because beastmen healed fast, but not enough for Swanly to stop glaring at him every time he moved.

”What is wrong?” he asked.

”I need to wash.”

The cubs looked at her.

The smallest sniffed her arm.

Swanly snatched it back. ”Do not confirm it.”

He blinked innocently.

”I have not had a real bath since I got here,” she said, horrified by her own life. ”I have been running, bleeding, cooking, treating wounds, and being kidnapped by snake law. I need water. Soap. Privacy. Maybe a new soul.”

Soren’s voice came from the cave entrance.

”There is a stream.”

Swanly turned.

Of course he was there.

Of course he had entered silently like a pale nightmare with good hair.

”A stream,” she repeated.

”Yes.”

”No bath?”

Soren stared at her.

”No.”

”No bucket? Bowl? Water thing? Anything?”

They looked at her with confusion.

Kael answered quietly, ”There are water gourds.”

Swanly looked at him with hope.

”How big?”

Kael held his hands apart.

Small.

Swanly’s hope fell over and died.

”You expect me to wash with a small fruit shell?”

The cubs watched her with deep concern, as if Mama’s suffering was becoming educational.

A small golden light popped near her shoulder.

The system appeared, stretching like it had slept beautifully after stealing snacks and avoiding consequences.

{Host may consider building proper washing tools, water storage, bathing space, and basic shelter upgrades.}

Swanly slowly turned her head.

The system smiled brightly.

{Civilization begins with inconvenience.}