My Beastly Fertility System Chapter 23: Quiet Plans Beneath the Firelight

Claire lowered her voice.

"It seems he set the number of prey so high on purpose. He wants Gavin to retreat."

Normally, when two beastfolk bonded, there wasn't any hunting tribute required. Even as the chief's daughter, one animal would have been more than enough.

Yet Hazel demanded twenty deer.

And they had to be delivered within two days.

Even Zane usually caught only three deer in a full day of hunting.

Deer were far too alert and fast to catch easily.

Zane nodded and pondered briefly before bending to murmur something into Claire's ear.

Her eyes brightened with amusement and she nodded.

Zane waved to a young beastfolk nearby.

Moments later, the child ran back toward the clan.

Ahead, the confrontation remained tense.

A rogue remained a rogue.

Gavin clung stubbornly to the fact that he and Fiona were already bonded, leaving Hazel with little room to maneuver.

Hazel was clearly pressuring him, almost forcing him to withdraw.

"If you refuse my condition, Gavin, then leave the clan."

If so many people hadn't been watching, Hazel would've thrown him out instead of pretending to stay calm.

Suddenly, a shrill cry cut through the air.

"Oh Beast God, look down! This unjust chief is pushing our family to ruin! Where is the fairness?"

Gavin looked up in surprise.

"Mother!"

His mother, Elena Marrow, shot him a confident glance before collapsing dramatically at Hazel's feet, rolling and wailing in protest.

"This is tyranny! Hazel's bullying a widow and her son! You all see this. Does such a chief deserve her title? Beast God, punish her!"

Her loud sobbing gave Hazel a pounding headache.

Elena had always been notorious for tantrums, threats, and outrageous scenes since her youth. She was impossible to reason with.

Who had summoned her?

In the crowd, Zane quietly handed a piece of meat to the messenger child.

The little beastfolk walked off happily.

Claire clapped softly in delight. Let the villains exhaust one another.

There wasn't any need to keep watching.

She tugged Zane away.

Back at their cave, Claire stared at the pile of game outside and once again felt astonished by Zane's skill.

"Zane, you must be exhausted. Thank you for working so hard."

Though clearly tired, Zane still sliced the meat neatly.

"In the past, we ate what we could and left the rest untreated. It spoiled in a few days. Even with the cold season near, the air is still warm. Meat cannot last."

He gestured toward a large portion.

"These must be given to Hazel. She says they are shared supplies for winter distribution."

"Is that so?"

Claire's tone carried doubt.

Every winter, many froze or starved, yet Hazel's family always stayed well-fed and wrapped in thick hides. It seemed they thrived on the clan's hard work.

After hearing Claire's reasoning, Zane slowly understood.

"How did I never think of that?"

It wasn't that he lacked intelligence. Beastfolk were simply straightforward and unaccustomed to suspicion.

They followed Hazel's words without question.

"So what do we do with the meat? Do we still turn it in?"

Zane looked to Claire for guidance. Whatever she decided, he would follow.

Claire hesitated.

"Everyone saw your catch today. If we keep it, they will gossip. We must hand this batch over. But next time, hide part of it outside the clan. I found a cave today."

They agreed that in the future, food that stored well would mostly be concealed in that cool cavern.

"Also, I met someone from the bird clan today, an eagle male."

Claire recounted the day's events eagerly.

She described roasting fish, confronting Fiona, and even helping her gain a sixth mate. Zane embraced her with quiet affection.

As he held her, a trace of worry flickered in his heart.

"If you go out gathering again, tell me. I'll go with you."

Hazel had removed Claire from the gathering team. Without a partner's protection, she couldn't stay inside the clan forever. Zane would have to guard her himself.

That meant hunting even harder.

While he reflected on this, Claire prepared the evening meal.

She took out the sweet potatoes she had dug up, washed them carefully, and placed them into the fire. Meat simmered steadily in the pot.

Noticing the salt powder was nearly gone, she sprinkled only a few grains into the stew and saved the rest.