My Panther Mate & Our Little Cub novel Chapter 9

"That fruit belongs to you," Elias and Quincy replied naturally. "You picked it."

Zachary shook his head immediately. "We picked it together. We should split it."

During their conversation, several sub-therians glanced at the long pole lying on the ground. After a moment of hesitation, they stepped forward.

"Zachary... could you teach us how to make that tool?"

"We'll give you some of the fruit as payment."

Zachary nodded without hesitation. These sub-therians had left him with a good impression so far. He now lived among them in the same tribe, which meant cooperation mattered.

In a primitive world like this, survival depended heavily on living in groups. Helping one another could reduce danger for everyone.

Following Zachary's instructions, the group scattered to collect vines and branches. Soon they gathered around him in a tight circle, watching his hands closely.

"Zachary, you're really clever."

"Yeah. You turned a few branches into such a useful tool."

The sub-therians quickly learned. Soon, several had completed their own versions. After excitedly thanking Zachary, they hurried up nearby trees to test them.

Once the teaching ended, Zachary also climbed another tree. However, after a short while, his arms and neck started to burn with fatigue.

Elias noticed right away. He quickly climbed the trunk without effort and took the tool from Zachary's hand. "Stay on the ground. I'll handle the picking."

"Be careful." Zachary had no desire to act tough. Elias clearly navigated through the trees more skillfully. He nodded in agreement. "Come down if you get tired. We'll switch."

Working together, the three of them soon gathered a large pile of bright red fruit.

Corey watched the scene with increasing irritation.

Praise aimed at Zachary grated on his nerves. He scowled as he tossed the fruits into his beast-hide bag.

"What's so impressive about fruit?" His voice carried clear contempt. "You can't live on fruit forever. People still starve."

Aloysius tried to ease the tension. "Zachary gave us a useful tool. That helps the entire tribe. Your Alpha will probably appreciate it too."

…

As the beast-hide bags became heavy, the group set the filled ones down on the ground. The therians accompanying them remained to guard these bags. With patrols nearby, the group felt fairly secure.

The sub-therians spread out again among the trees, searching for more edible plants.

The sun rose high in the sky, and after working for half the day, Zachary finally felt exhausted. He looked at Quincy and Elias and asked, "Aren't you two going to take a break?"

Quincy gazed toward the distant mountain ridges. "The forest becomes dangerous after dark. Whenever we come out gathering, we push ourselves while we still have daylight."

"You still need to eat." Zachary rubbed his stomach. Since arriving here, he hadn't enjoyed a proper meal. His cooking was decent, but the lack of seasonings made everything taste bland compared to modern food.

Life had changed overnight from comfort to hardship, and he still struggled to adjust.

Zachary took an apple from a beast-hide bag, sat on the grass, and bit into it deeply. The position of the sun indicated it was late afternoon. Hunger wracked his stomach, making it painfully empty.

Two large apples vanished quickly. His strength gradually came back. After brushing grass off his clothes, Zachary got up again.

Not far away, the other sub-therians continued digging wild greens from the ground.

Elias gave him a look that practically screamed, You're only realizing that now?

Zachary fell silent. Wonderful. A love triangle on top of everything else.

"Who knew what you were like back then?" Elias studied him carefully. "You're also quite attractive. A kind smile from you could probably win over half the therians. However, once they saw your true personality, they started to feel sorry for Matthew."

Zachary had no response to that.

Elias continued explaining, "Your Alpha brought your family to join this tribe. The chief arranged your pairing with Matthew."

His voice dropped lower. "In this world, sub-therians can bear children. That ability is rare. Besides, Matthew's Alpha died saving the chief during an accident. The chief has been trying to repay that debt ever since."

Zachary hesitated before asking another question, "Does Matthew actually like me?"

Elias paused. "Err..."

He hadn't known before, and he still didn't know now.

The uncertainty hung awkwardly in the air.

Zachary coughed lightly, embarrassed. "Understood."

Quincy tried to reassure him, "Matthew is a responsible therian. Once he sees the way you are now, he'll treat you better. He'll eventually grow fond of you."

"Really?" Zachary sounded far from convinced.

Corey's hostile glare lingered from not far away, which sparked his curiosity again. "Did Corey end up with the shaman?"

Elias shook his head. "The shaman prefers living alone."

"Single by choice?" Zachary sighed. "That's bold. Honestly, pretty ahead of the times."