Chapter 249: Too Risky To Move.

Chapter 249: 249: Too Risky To Move.

Ayra stared through her hand, watching as the green energy merged into her body and slowly settled in. She looked up at the Queen Snake and smiled.

"Thanks..."

"Don’t mention it at all," the Queen Snake replied. "As long as it can keep you safe, it doesn’t matter."

Ayra smiled back as the others stood there watching. They were impressed that the Queen Snake would give her something as precious as this. It also made them realize just how grateful the tribe truly was to Ayra for all her assistance.

---

Ayra was ready to leave with the others. The Queen Snake and some of the other snakes led them out of the tribe, guiding them toward the forest path they would take back.

"Take that path, and you’ll soon be on your way back to your tribe. It’s shorter," the Queen Snake said when they arrived.

"Thanks a lot. We appreciate it." Ayra nodded with a smile as they exchanged their goodbyes.

"I’d like to come and see the little snake when she grows! And I’d also like to come and see more little babies in the future!" Ally happily expressed.

The Queen Snake smiled as she stared down at Ally. "Feel free to visit whenever you’re free. Our home is open to all of you..."

"Yay!" Ally smiled, making Ayra shake her head with a smile.

"Thanks. Wishing you the best," Ayra said.

"Same to you. Wishing you safety as well," the Queen Snake replied.

With that, the group turned and headed back toward their tribe while Ayra and the others began making their way along the forest path.

They were soon on their way home, walking through the path together as they made their journey back.

Ayra walked ahead with Ally by her side when Lord Ash spoke from behind.

"How do you feel?" he inquired, his arms folded as he observed her from behind.

"I’m fine. Don’t worry." Ayra smiled as she turned to look at Lord Ash, only to see the rest of them staring at her as well.

Her mates, along with Nyx, were watching her closely from behind, and it was clear they were worried about her.

"Are you sure you can walk?" Lord Vale raised an eyebrow.

"What if your leg hurts from walking too much?" Commander Lynn added. "The journey isn’t short, after all..."

Lord Zark nodded firmly. "True. Walking can really be hard for you..."

"..." Ayra blinked as she stared at them. She guessed they had been thinking about this all along.

"Oh... Don’t worry. I can really walk. I probably need some exercise." She smiled. "I’ll certainly let you know when I’m exhausted..."

"No." Lord Vale shook his head. "It’s not good for your health at all. You shouldn’t walk."

Lord Ash nodded as he added, "Exercise is strictly forbidden for now."

"You’re still my cub. You’re not too safe to walk around like that. You need all the rest you can get," Commander Lynn instructed firmly, his arms folded.

"..." Ayra smiled as she tilted her head at them. "Oh, is that so...? Then what do you recommend I do?"

They stared at each other with their arms folded until Commander Lynn stepped forward.

"I will carry you. Since you shouldn’t walk, I’ll be the one to carry you until we get back," Commander Lynn stated firmly. "Besides, it’s also for our cub..."

"I should carry you too," Lord Ash insisted. "You’ll get some rest that way. So let me carry you while you rest throughout the trip."

Lord Vale tilted his head. "I think it’d be easy for me to carry her while she rests..."

"No. She won’t be comfortable with that. I am the best option," Lord Ash insisted. "I have a lot of furs she can sleep on, so it’ll help her rest and sleep better on the way."

"Me too." Commander Lynn stared at Ayra. "You once said my furs are warm and comfortable, so I believe they’ll be a better place for you to sleep and rest."

"..."

Silence fell as Ally and Nyx exchanged awkward stares before looking at Ayra, who felt the same way. But she simply smiled.

She couldn’t believe they were bickering again over who would get to carry her.

Lord Zark cleared his throat. "I’m the best option. I can fly, and my body is warm, so I can carry her faster and better." ℴ

As soon as he said that, they all stared at him.

"Flying isn’t too good for her. And you don’t have furs to keep her comfortable," Lord Ash argued.

"Doesn’t matter," Lord Zark insisted.

And so, they continued their mini-bickering and debate over who would be best suited to carry Ayra back.

Nyx watched in silence with both arms folded. From his expression, it was clear that this wasn’t his first time witnessing something like this. He had clearly seen them bicker like this plenty of times before.

With a sigh, Nyx casually offered a solution.

"Instead of fighting over who gets to take her back, why don’t we all share the responsibility?" Nyx said.

Everyone paused and stared at him.

Nyx continued, "We get to carry her for a period of time, and then another person takes over. Just like that. I mean, sharing is a thing..." He raised an eyebrow.

There was silence as Ayra’s mates stared at one another before slowly nodding.

"Oh, that makes sense..." Lord Ash said.

"True, it does," Commander Lynn slowly agreed.

Lord Zark shrugged. "I guess we can do that..."

And with that, they finally agreed.

Ayra smiled as she shook her head. Ally leaned close to her with a grin.

"They’re fighting to carry you, Mama..."

Ayra smiled back at the little one. "Interesting, isn’t it?"

Ally nodded in agreement. "They’ll have to carry the two of us then. My legs are aching." She giggled.

Ayra smiled. "For sure."

Then Lord Vale turned to Nyx and raised an eyebrow.

"You said ’we’... Does that mean you also plan on carrying her too?"