Chapter 98: A feast before the journey.

This night, the residents of the Beast valley were gathered for a feast. The suggestion had come from Malia, after Hunter shared that he and Zyra were going a trip. It was just after Zyra named Crispus and Malia as the temporary caretakers of the shelter in their absence.

As she expected, Malia’s eyes had lit up with an idea that made half the room instantly regret being there: the get to know each other better dinner.

A collective groan had rippled through the crowd. The men had looked like they would rather fight a stone-tiger barehanded than sit through a mandatory dinner talking about their forgotten dreams. Even Scotty had looked like he suddenly wanted to go missing.

But Malia wasn’t having any of it. She had laughed and said, "Oh, wipe those sour looks off your faces! We are all living under the same roof now. We need to get to know each other, so we don’t accidentally stab one another in the hallway. Knowing each other’s preferences means less clashing in our daily lives. We are getting along, and that is final!"

And just like that, she had taken control of the situation, started the fires, commanded the kitchen and gone to war. When she spoke in her commanding tone, even the beasts of the valley paid attention. It wasn’t that she was forceful, but she was convincing.

They didn’t just cook for the humans; they prepared different meals that the beasts would anticipate. While they worked, Zyra had played ’it’ with her beasts. It was her way of bonding with the beasts.

The game was still going currently, as food was laid out around a large table in the courtyard. Squirrel was it, at the moment. With a flick of its bushy tail, it lunged after the ducks, through the yard, while they quacked indignantly and flapped out of reach. Spice slithered slyly, hiding under the table, circling to tip Squirrel. Zyra cheered, dodging between the beasts and humans, until Squirrel finally tapped a duck’s wing.

Other beasts reacted with delight. The duck squawked and sat down with a plop refusing to chase them.

Hunter blew a whistle and the game to a stop.

"If you still want to play, raise your hand." He told them. "If not, every beast should move to the pavilion for dinner."

Hardly had he finished when they scattered out of the yard, as if they were afraid their food would be stolen. Meanwhile, the dining table was stocked richly. The courtyard filled with the rich, savory aroma of roasted wild meat, steamed rice, stir-fried greens, and lots of alcoholic drinks.

The environment was thick with laughter. The men were rough around the edges, covered in scars here and there, but they were fundamentally humble guys.

Most importantly, they treated the women of the valley with absolute respect. Malia was keeping a sharp eye on them while wielding a giant wooden stirring ladle like a club. They didn’t cause any chaos and cleared dinner faster than they inhaled.

Over by the bon fire, Big Vince was taking a serious roasting from his own friends.

"Come on, Vince! The divine maiden is half your size!" one man yelled, tossing a meat bone at him. "Ask for a rematch!"

Scotty scoffed, "Then you go fight in his place."

Vince, whose big frame usually terrified others, just ripped off a huge piece of bread and shook his head. He looked over at Zyra with genuine awe. "Man, shut up. You guys didn’t feel her grip. She might look small, but she’s mighty. Her energy is like a tidal wave. I know when I’m beat, and I like my ribs unbroken, no thanks."

Hearing this, Yanxi puffed out her chest proudly, her chin tilting up. "Of course she is mighty! She is the true Divine Soul Maiden of our generation! Her talent reaches the heavens!"

The atmosphere shifted instantly. The men, moved by Vince’s admission and Yanxi’s fierce pride, looked at Zyra. One by one, they set down their drinks, stood up, and thumped their fists against their chests, bowing low in a traditional martial artist’s pledge.

"We pledge our strength and loyalty to the Divine Soul Maiden!" they shouted in unison, their voices echoing through the valley.

Zyra laughed lightly. "Guys come one enough of that. I am not the Divine Soul Maiden. Let us enjoy our food."

Laughter and loud conversation continued. Hunter sat a few feet away on a wooden crate, completely ignoring the men and their loyalty pledge. He watched the whole spectacle with a lazy smirk as he tossed back his fourth beer of the night.

Zyra noticed his silence and decision to sit away from them. She excused herself from the happy people, walked over to him, and hopped up onto the crate right next to his. "So, what do you think about them and their pledge of loyalty?"

Hunter took a slow sip, his eyes tracking the men who were now happily returning to their food, some were dancing. "I know all these guys. They’re good people. Reliable in a fight." He turned his head to look at her, his smirk fading into a dry, knowing grin. "But Achilles is going to have a big aneurysm when he finds out that half of his crew is loyal to you now. He hates sharing his toys."

Zyra chuckled, swinging her legs. Then she looked sideways at him, her eyes turning serious under the firelight. "And what about you, Hunter?"

Hunter raised a brow, pulling the beer bottle away from his lips. "What about me?"

"Do I have your loyalty?" she asked softly.

Hunter didn’t hesitate. He didn’t thump his chest or make a grand, dramatic speech like the others. He just gave her a solid, unwavering nod. "For five years, Zyra. You’ll have my loyalty. No matter what kind of trouble you’ll walk me into."

He finished the rest of his beer in one big gulp and stood up, dusting off his trousers. He clapped his hands together, capturing the attention of everyone.

"Alright, listen up, meatheads!" Hunter shouted, his voice cutting through the noise. "Everyone leaving with us tomorrow needs to pack it up and get to bed. Anyone that needs to hunt should do so tonight because we will lock down the shelter when we leave. No one will be able to go in or out unless Zyra activates the locks and opens the gates. It can be done even while we are away. We are moving out early in the morning, and I’m not dragging anyone’s groggy behind through danger so rest up."

The crowd chuckled, but they began to clear out.

Hunter turned back to Zyra. He offered her a hand, helping her up off the crate with an easy, protective gentleness. He walked her across the quiet courtyard, escorting her all the way to her bedroom door in the house.

"Good night, Zyra," he said, stepping back.

Zyra gave him a single, tired nod. "Good night, Hunter."

She stepped inside and began to push the door closed. But before the latch could click, a solid leather boot blocked the frame. Zyra blinked, looking up.

Hunter was leaning against the doorpost, looking down at her with a soft, unreadable expression. "Leave it open," he murmured, his voice low.

Zyra stared at him for a second, the warmth of the community dinner still lingering in her chest. She let go of the handle, nodded, and smiled softly. "Okay." The main doors were closed, and it was just them inside. What did she have to fear anyway?