the tribe

Ren woke slowly.

This time the exhaustion was still there, but it wasn’t as overwhelming as before.

Soft morning light filtered through the woven leaves of the hut roof.

For a moment he simply lay still, listening.

Outside, faint sounds drifted into the hut.

Voices.

Footsteps.

The crackling of a fire.

It sounded like an entire village was awake.

Beside him, the baby shifted slightly inside the fur blanket.

Tiny fox ears twitched before settling again.

Ren let out a quiet breath.

“Still here…”

Before he could think too much about everything that had happened, the entrance flap lifted.

Terry walked inside carrying a wooden bowl that smelled strongly of herbs.

“You’re awake again,” the healer said with a pleased smile.

Ren pushed himself slightly upright, wincing at the dull ache in his abdomen.

“…Good morning.”

Terry placed the bowl beside him.

“You should eat. Your body is still weak after giving birth.”

Ren accepted the bowl carefully.

The warm herbal soup smelled strange but comforting.

As he ate slowly, Terry watched him for a moment before speaking again.

“Do you remember anything yet?”

Ren shook his head.

“No.”

Terry sighed quietly but didn’t seem surprised.

“Well… until your memories return, you should at least understand where you are.”

Ren looked at him.

Terry leaned back slightly on the stool beside the bed.

“This world belongs to beastmen.”

Ren listened quietly.

“Every person in this world has a beast form,” Terry continued. “Foxes, wolves, bears, lions… many kinds.”

“In our human form we keep some traits, like ears and tails. But during hunts or battles we can fully transform into our beasts.”

Ren instinctively reached up and touched his own head.

His fingers brushed against soft fur.

Fox ears.

The strange sensation still felt unreal.

Terry continued explaining.

“Beastmen also have secondary genders.”

“Alpha, Beta, Omega… and the rarest of all, Enigma.”

Ren looked up slightly.

“Omega… is what I am?”

Terry nodded.

“Yes. Omegas are rare and precious because they are the only ones who can carry children.”

Ren glanced toward the sleeping baby beside him.

“…I see.”

Just as Terry was about to continue, a sudden whispering sound came from outside the hut.

“Is he awake?”

“Really? The new omega?”

“Let me see!”

Terry immediately frowned.

“Those nosy people…”

Before he could stop them, the hut flap suddenly opened.

Several curious faces peeked inside.

A young fox-eared man grinned widely.

“So he’s really awake!”

Behind him stood a large bear beastman with crossed arms.

“I heard the healer saved both the omega and the child.”

Another smaller beastman leaned forward excitedly.

“And they say the baby also has fox ears!”

Ren blinked in surprise as several strangers stared at him openly.

One of them whispered loudly.

“He’s so pale… he looks fragile.”

Another nodded.

“Omegas are always delicate.”

Terry rubbed his forehead with a sigh.

“Out. All of you.”

“But healer—”

“Out.”

Grumbling quietly, the tribe members slowly backed away from the entrance.

Before leaving, the fox-eared man waved cheerfully.

“Welcome to our tribe, omega!”

The hut flap finally closed again.

Silence returned.

Terry let out a long breath.

“…Curious idiots.”

Ren couldn’t help smiling faintly.

“So… that’s the tribe.”

Terry nodded.

“Yes.”

Then he looked at Ren more seriously.

“This is Stone River Tribe.”

“And for now…”

He glanced at the sleeping baby.

“…this is your home.”

Ren looked down at the child again.

The tiny fox ears twitched softly.

For a moment, the strange new world didn’t feel quite as distant anymore.

TO BE CONTINUED

(⁠๑⁠˙⁠❥⁠˙⁠๑⁠)(⁠●⁠’⁠3⁠)⁠♡⁠(⁠ε⁠`⁠●⁠)(⁠っ⁠˘⁠з⁠(⁠˘⁠⌣⁠˘⁠ ⁠)

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