Beauty's Beasts
Chapter 73 - 71

Chapter 73: Chapter 71

The group walked into the courtyard as they looked around. The place was spacious and the air was fresh. It was a nice and welcoming. The purple haired merman looked at Sydney’s back as she disappeared into the house and was tempted to follow after her.

However, when he was a few feet close to the front lawn, he sensed killing intent and halted in his steps. He looked over and saw a beastman that was glaring hard at him. He scoffed and stopped charging forward.

Caden who was returning from the back of the house halted in his steps when saw a group of mermen entering his territory so leisurely. He gritted his teeth and a murderous glint flashed in his eyes. "Who are you?!" he asked scanning through them one after the other. The group also scanned through him. He was a sixth rank beastman but he was obviously young! There’s no way he was older than twenty years but how come he had ranked up so fast?! It was shocking!

"We were invited in by the female of this place." Purple hair replied. He was a seven rank merman.

Sydney who was in the house heard Caden ask harshly and feared for an unnecessary scuffle happening hence she rushed back outside. "Caden...it’s alright I invited them in!" she patted his back to calm him down but Caden didn’t stop glaring. He felt his ears ring. What? Invite them in?!

"There’s no reason for them to enter our female’s house! Only we, her males have that right!" he said eyes directed at the group. He could understand Sydney not knowing this unspoken rule but he couldn’t accept these intruders acting stupid like they had no idea about it!

"But...I let them in!" Sydney couldn’t understand Caden’s harsh sudden temperament.

"Why? " he asked with a frown.

Ash who had been silent came over to help the agitated little boy who was having a hard time reasoning "He’s right Sydney...they can’t." He also had a limit to things he’d allow. "Sydney’s brother...please talk to your people from the courtyard. They have the space at the lake if they wish to stay a little longer!" Ash said to Scott who nodded.

The mermen didn’t take it to heart. Those were rules they didn’t wish to break despite having wanted to enter and be in the space of such a beautiful female. Not even them would allow some beastmen to enter their female’s chambers. It was a violation of male’s honour.

"Fine..I’ll leave those matters to you for handling." Sydney gave up and went inside. Caden wrapped a hand over her waist and dragged her inside. He was still disoriented with the fact that Sydney was leaving for her home. He didn’t wish for his last moments with her to be infested with smelly fish.

....

Titan finalised with his episode at midday and shifted back into his human form after healing. He wrapped his skin skirt around his waist and walked back to the city. He didn’t habe much hope but a thing in him hoped she’d still be there at home waiting for him with a smile.

The snake chief ran into him along the way and requested to walk Titan back home. Not many knew that Sydney planned to leave which contributed to Titan’s sour mood.

My lord...is something bothering you? You know we are ready to do anything for you..just tell us what!" He said trying to cajole the Lord into a better mood.

What is it that you want?" Titan asked bitterly. He really wasn’t in the mood to entertain anyone. He was planning on returning to the forest right after Sydney left. She was the reason he came to this place in the first place.

"My lord..a group of snake beastmen from all over have gathered and were hoping to have a word with you." he said.

"Have a word with me?" Titan almost sneered but held himself. His troubles were his own There was no need for him to let it out on others.

"Yes. With you our lord in the city of beasts, we qualify to establish a clan castle and we wanted to know where you’d like the castle to be construed." the poor guy said with joy glimmering in his eyes. It had been so long that what was once a dream was coming true. He and the other snake beastmen were so delighted that they could cry. They were dying to get to work and also go invite other tribes men to come to the city.

"That won’t be necessary?" Titan said and stalked off.

"Eh? what do you mean my lord?!" The snake chief asked.

"Can you stop nagging me? I said there’s no need because I’m leaving the city of beasts. Stop getting your hopes high. It’s useless!" he hissed angrily and stormed off leaving cracks in the ground after his every step.

The snake chief was left lost. He didn’t understand the lord’s temper just now. Why?!

Sydney walked with her brother right behind her as she showed him around the city of Beasts. She was clad in a skin skirt and back show top that was kept together with strings that were tied in a criss cross manner at her back leaving most of her smooth and spotless back open.

Ken who was most unreasonable sheilded her back with his broad chest away from the eyes of others. "Why did you dress up like this anyway? Who made this cloth?!" he rumbled on.

Shawn was the one who made this outfit and had received tremendous praises from Sydney who loved it alot.

Scott was busy enjoying the attention he was receiving thanks to his sister. Every where they went by, many males of different species would stop what they were doing and look at his sister like she was some prize to be won.

"You know you shouldn’t be following me around like this!" Sydney complained a little. She had only suggested showing her brother around and the others also decided to tag along. When she said she was fine, they became mute and still followed after her.

"Humph...who knows when you’ll change your mind and want to leave all of a sudden?" Ken asked with an eye roll. He didn’t want to go through what he underwent last night. He almost went feral with just the mere thought of her leaving.

"I thought we were done with this topic!" Sydney turned around sharply and flared at Ken.

"What do you think your doing?!" Ken hissed and rushed to stand behind Sydney to keep her back from other males. "Do that one more time and I’ll take off my skirt and cover you up!" he threatened to take off his skirt and walk around naked and didn’t mind her being angry at bringing up topics she had prohibited.

Sydney turned blue from anger and frustration. She stormed off leaving everyone behind her. As she took a corner, she saw Titan stomping against the ground like he desired to crack it open. She smiled on seeing him and called out his name drawing his attention.

For a moment, Titan felt like he was facing illusions but seeing her run to him with a smile, he smiled along and all his negative emotions dispitated. He also hurried his steps but came to a halt. "Are you here to say good bye?!" he asked and didn’t get into close contact with her. Why was she still here?! Didn’t she intend to leave?

Sydney was at first a bit sad that he had halted in his steps but graced him with a smile. "I’m not leaving." She said softly. "You guys didn’t let me finish talking to my brother properly. He was just worried about me and didn’t mean to take me away." she explained.

"Is that it?" he asked in disbelief as he took in her reassuring smile. Is that why my heart kept telling me to come back to you last night. "I’m sorry fory behaviour. It just hurt so much knowing I won’t get to see you again. It was very unbearable!"

"I understand! I’m also sorry for making you feel that way." Sydney said and stepped forward. "So you are not angry anymore?" she asked gingerly and Titan nodded his head. "Then we’ve made up?" she asked.

"Yes we have." he agreed.

"Does that mean we can hug now?" Sydney asked as she spread her arms out wide. She wanted to hug her big baby!

Titan moved closer and let himself fall in her embrace. It hadn’t been long since he got to feel such warmth. Snatching it from him all of a sudden was like pulling out his heart.

Scott and the others caught up to Sydney and found that she had tamed Titan pretty well as he was in her embrace acting all spoilt. He had the most reaction to Sydney leaving and Scott was expecting to be the toughest to handle but he was no different from an abandoned puppy.

The city tour didn’t take long and they returned home with the kill for the day. Everything had been set back to how it was supposed to be and nothing was out of place. Once at home, everyone went back to their daily chores religiously and Sydney went to talk to her brother who asked to speak with her.

Why the serious face all of a sudden?" Sydney asked as she sat in a stone chair.

I said we would talk about it today, right?" he asked as he walked over to the window to over look the city.

Yeah...

I came to this place through a cave in the mermaid island but that pathway disappeared like it never existed when I tried to go back." he said and Sydney looked on silently.

So you mean to say that the cave is like some dimensional gate?" she asked.

Yes. The Merking told me that it isn’t the first time something like that has happened. However, the frequency at which it happens had been three to five years. When he told me that, I knew there was no way out but to wait... however, he also said that there are other caves scattered around the beast Continent with the same function. He told me he has no idea where those pathways lead as not many have been so daring to go through." he said and sighed. "I had wanted to find you if you even existed in this world and go back to the mer-island to wait out. Three years isn’t a long time as long as it can honestly say off."

You are right." Sydney agreed. Three years wasn’t long as long as it could pay off. So what do you plan to do in the meantime?" Sydney asked. For a workaholic like her brother, she knew he wouldn’t wait out three to five years doing nothing and he also wouldn’t stay here.

Scott sat back and a contemplating look hovered on his face. His sharp facial features seemed sharper and silence ensued in the room.

.....

Ash had come up to call Sydney to her meal when he overheard them talk about the cave pathways. He froze with a look of dread and his hand clenched into a fist. A fleeting image passed through his mind causing him a slight headache. Was there always another cave? How come he didn’t know about it?!

He was a cub when he went out to play with his younger brother who was born as a white panther. In the panther clan, one was either born a white or black spotted panther and he had been the only black cub in his litter.

However, depsite belonging to the same clan and even being born to the same parents, the black and white panthers were treated differently. The difference was like day and night!

White panthers were highly treasured because of the unique abilities they possessed and just like the others, his brother whom he was closest to had a unique ability of opening pathways to different places. One bright morning, he followed his brother who was so happy to share with him a beautiful place has had found. Little Ash couldn’t wait and sprinted off to catch up with his brother. They reached a cave entrance that looked really creepy. It made little Ash rethink his decision but seeing his brother being brave and expectant, he decided to do the same and that day, they walked into the cave.

They walked for a while till all that was left was darkness in the cave but before fear could clamp his young heart, he heard the sound of laughter at the end of the tunnel. Tje laughter was the sweetest melody he had ever heard in his young life, he wanted to see whoafe such sweet laughter.

Fascinating, right?!" Little white asked as he ran over. "I made a friend." he boasted andafe a run for it when the initially small light turned bigger and brighter to reveal another world.

Little white bravely sprinted out of the cave and ran through the thick and lash shrubs. He came to a halt and lowered himself to observe the surroundings. The owner of the voice was a young girl with flame red hair and dazzling eyes. She had a few teeth missing from her mouth and was with an elder woman by her side. The lady spoke something and the girl nodded obediently before the lady left.

Seeing that the elder had left, little white, ce out from hiding and jumped on the small girl making her squeal happily! Seeing her friend, she was so happy that she carried the white ’cat’ and snuggled it in her arms. Little white spent the whole day playing completely forgetting his brother.

Little Ash stayed on the side lines amd watched with desire to go and join them but wasn’t brave enough. He stayed in the shadows and watched. He heard them talk and eat and despite his own stomach growling in hunger, he didn’t have the heart to leave.

The elders in the clan learnt of little White’s talent awakening and he was taken away in seclusion for a while.

Little Ash kept visiting the cave day in, day out and he could see the little girl wait every single day. He couldn’t bare to see hersamd and not laugh anymore. One day, he dared himself and put himself in a spot where he could be seen. The lonely girl who had been missing little white grew attached with the shy black ’cat’. She feare that he too would get lost and carried him back home.

What begun as a simple fill in for his brother grew more and more and days turned to weeks which later became months. Little Ash didn’t go back home for months and with time, his real nature of not being a cat was revealed. He made a run for it to save his life and with him, came two cattle that he dragged along after learning that Sydney loved milk alot!

What had seemed like mere months in Sydney’s world was years in the beast world. When Ash returned, he found that little white had grown alot and their intimate relationship was broken. Little white blamed Ash for stealing from him his friend but when Ash explained his reasons for the impulsive act, he was branded as a betrayer.

Little white tried to reopen the cave pathway but it led to another world, so different from the one Sydney was in. Little white, in his frenzy to look for his friend, he created multiple pathways but all didn’t lead to Sydney’s world. This further soured the relationship between the brothers.

His reckless acts however brought danger to the beast world. A portal was opened and the beast Continent was invaded by vicious beings that wrecked the beast world. The black panthers gave their all in this fight and thousands of them sacrificed their lives to save the beast Continent. During that time however, the white panthers vanished from the face of the beast world.

Ash along with his mother and father who were also black panthers led the war until its end cleansing this place back to its original state. Little White came to find Ash after the war and said to Ash. "You still owe me for stealing from me. This much that you’ve lost is nothing!"

Ash plunged in despair as he went from cave to cave in the beast world looking for an exit from this nightmare that didn’t seem to end. The blood of his kind haunted him to a point of madness. He longed to go to Sydney and find comfort in her but even after hundreds of years looking and looking...he never found her.

...