Beauty's Beasts
Chapter 148: Hot on their tail.

Chapter 148: Hot on their tail.

They hadn’t run for even a day and they could hear the group hot on their tails!

This is not a good feeling!!!" Ken cried out. His front limb had been hurt and now that he had been exerting it to push forward, it had begun to get really uncomfortable! He was in pain!

Ray also kept up with them but he was already panting heavily! There was a burning sensation in his chest. Seems like his engine had blew up and if this went on, he’d definitely have to hitch a ride!!!

How embarrassing!!!

*

"Circle them and lead them to the beast eating plants!" The leader of the panthers passed his command and his clansmen went into different directions to circle them. "Keep pushing them, they are injured and won’t be able to persist for long! Remember, once you have the female we’ll retreat."

*

Night fell and they were still being chased.

Sydney burried her fingers in Caden’s feathers not to tight to pluck them out but enough to keep herself from falling. They were alretin the second quarter of the night and the air was biting cold a vast contrast from the scorching hot day.

Bare with me Sydney!" Caden begged as he kept his eyes out and wideon the situation below and where he was flying off to.

"I can’t keep up!!" Ken admitted defeat, he would loose his paw at this rate! He dreaded becoming useless!

Ray was the same, they had been running all day and it was now night, under normal circumstances, they’d have been able to persist but the dry season left them thirsting for a drink since they had been sparing most of it for Sydney. Ash who was taking the lead turned to look at the two, their condition was really not promising. "Ray ride on me with Ken." He said urgently.

I can help with one." Shawn suggested. He couldn’t bare to see Ash bare the burden on his own.

You are still injured. Preserve your energy for yourself. We’ll try to loose them and find a cave to rest." Ash instructed and without wasting time, Ray forewent his embarrassment and hitched a ride on Ash. Ken also had no choice and immediately shifted into his human form. He took his skirt and tied it securely around his waist before jumping on Ash’s back.

They proceeded with their journey!

Shit!!!" Ash cursed seeing their front path had been blocked, he took a sharp turn deflecting rushing into them!

No don’t!!" Ray cried out. "They must be leading us into a trap!! Let’s keep this route!"

Ash turned to his original route and charged towards the panthers blocking his way fearlessly. Ray had gotten a breather and seeing that they neared the enemy, he jumped off Ash’s back and sped off like a rocket.

He sent those beasts flying with his punches clearing the way for Ash before jumping back onto his back.

Wow!!!!" Ken was in awe! You’ve gotta teach me that in the future!!!" He was in praises for Ray.

Thanks!" Ash spoke and proceeded to sprint like mad, completely disregarding the weights of the two men he had on his back.

It’s nothing!" Ray was used to them working in a sync so....

They’ve not taken them route to the beast eating plants...what do we do!!?" The beaten panthers cried out to their leader who found them in a sorry state.

The leader’s eyes glinted dangerously in the dark as he looked at the direction Ash had taken. "Spread the news to other clans amd let’s also move out, we will go back follow along and see just how strong this group is. They dare to covet our spirit core and even mate with her!" He seethed angrily. "They are really brazen!!"

Yes leader! Those beastmen have indeed crossed the line! The spirit clan will show them who the true masters of thos world are!"

Those beasts!!! They are really hellbent on ending us!!!" Ken cursed as he looked back seeing a few tens of Panthers after them.

*

Spirit forest.

Titan stayed on the peripheral of the spirit Beasts forest for a few days learning and understanding this part of the forest better. He had made a few friends here and there.

Many were mainly attracted to his unique colour that wasn’t an everyday sight, it was considered rare!!

You aren’t as bad as I thought!" The red spotted snake smiled as he slithered along to bring Titan into the middle region.

You are the same." Titan laughed seeing the small guy twitch in anger.

Hmph! I’ll ignore your remarks. Anyway, it’s a month’s journey to get into middle region. Along the way, you are going to see things unique to only to the spirit forest! I believe you’ll be left speechless! There are alot of beauties too.. hehehehe!" The snake laughed sneakily.

Why do I feel like you intend to sell me off?" Titan asked jokingly.

Not to sell you off! You’ll naturally be kidnapped!" The red spotted snake said truthfully.

And you are taking me to a place like that?!" Titan asked with a glare that wasn’t one.

Is ity fault you want to venture deep into the forest?" The red spotted snake asked innocently slithering as fast as a bullet to avoid almost getting smacked to death.

How do I stop that?" Titan asked helplessly.

It’s useless. Be it your aura, your colour and even your beauty, they are things you can’t hide so your ending is definitely not going to be any different."

Didn’t you tell me that the spirit forest is on harmony, thorough and thorough?!"

I did and it is...but that’s all on the surface."

What do you mean?!" Titan asked with interest.

Well, I once heard from the big guys, that the core suddenly disappeared!" The small.snake spoke mysteriously.

The core? What is that?" Titan asked.

"The core, they say is the heart of this forest, the breathe that howls with the winds, the rays that shine with sun and the chill that comes with the moon!"

What does it look like?" Titan asked. If he could have such a thing, he’d definitely gift it to Sydney even at the expense of making the whole spirit forest his enemy.

I do not know! What would a small thing like me know! I told you, I also only learnt of it when the big guys were talking! I risked my life for it, I tell you! If they discovered me, I’d be dead!!"

Titan looked at red and rolled his eyes. If they are indeed big guys, then it only meant that they noticed him but ignored him. What was with his exaggeration of risking like and what not!!

So yes, back to the main point, before, the spirit forest was not divided into sections, it was one whole big family. But then, one day, the forest fell into chaos and beasts starting killing each other, the pure air of the spirit forest was covered in a thick scent of blood! Many lives were lost and many had no idea why they felt that sudden urge to kill eachother. It was only after careful investigation that they learnt that the core of the forest had vanished. Not entirely, it was more like someone broke it and only a piece was what was left behind! And hence, over the years, many powerful clans have been sending out scouts to look for the other pieces beyond the spirit forest."

How do they know how it looks like of only a piece remains? Couldn’t they mistaken it for some crystal?" Titan was puzzled.

Heh! The spirit forest core is like..how do I put it, eh! When a male finds a female they like, they don’t need to have their eyes to know it’s her right?!" He asked and Titan agreed! Even without his eyes, there’s no way he’d mistake Sydney for anyone else. Now that’s the same for the spirit core. Spirit beasts naturally know."

What of beastmen?" Titan asked in passing.

They also do but not the same way spirit Beasts do. We have a more sensitive attraction to the spirit core! Jeez! It’s easy, we are spirit beasts but you are beastmen! Isn’t the difference as clear as day!? Talking to you is tiring you know! Now I’m hungry!!"

Titan rolled his eyes and slithered off to hunt food. This small guy ate alot!

However his words were indeed true, Titan’s colour was too eye catching. He had wanted to do something about it and change into his blue colour by withdrawing his poison but realised he couldn’t even use his poison.

Naturally, he was at a disadvantage, it was like a lion without its mane and claws or roar!.

He could only rely on his colossal size and brute strength.

As he slithered to find ’acceptable prey’ to hunt, all the other beasts that saw him would stop what they are doing and ogle at him.

"I did not know there was such a snake in the outer region!"

"He must be a newbie! Look at how careful he is!!!" Another commented.

"Tsk...he better not leave the outer regions! Those females from the inner regions won’t hesitate to shred him to pieces!!!"

"With his colossal size, I think they’ll have to think twice. For him to grow out this big, he isn’t easy!!!" Another shook their head.

I think so too!"