Transmigrated to Raise Panther Cubs novel Chapter 259

Chapter 259 Smoke and Trade at the Tribe Gate

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46 Pearls

Ever since that day, thunder and lightning had unsettled Zachary. A flash across the sky or a crack of thunder overhead was enough to make his body tense before he could steady himself.

Even so, if he had to choose all over again, he knew he would still come to this world.

Matthew pulled a sweet potato from the fire. The peeled away the blackened skin, wrapped the hot flesh in a leaf, and placed it in Zachary’s hands.

The sweet, roasted fragrance soon filled the cave. In the damp chill after the rain, that bit of warmth made the whole place feel less gloomy.

After eating, Zachary felt sleepy again.

Matthew shifted into his panther form and lay down with his back facing the cave entrance. Then he nudged Zachary lightly, telling him to rest against his belly.

Zachary wrapped himself in Matthew’s coat and curled close to him. Warm fur pressed against one side of him, soft beast hide covered the other, and before long, sleep pulled him under again

Rain fell throughout the entire night. Near dawn, it finally weakened a little, yet the sky outside remained gray and heavy, as if more rain could fall at any moment.

Zachary sat by the fire, holding a stuffed flatbread over the heat and turning it from side to side. “Are we heading back to the tribe today?”

Matthew replied, “We will leave after the rain stops.”

That wait lasted until the following day.

When Zachary woke again, his throat felt rough, and his nose was blocked. He could tell he was probably catching a cold. Since he did not want Matthew to worry, he tried not to mention it. Unfortunately, the change in his voice gave him away.

Matthew set down the firewood he had brought in, wiped his hands on his clothes, and came to his side. His fingers touched Zachary’s cheek. “Are you feeling sick?”

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Zachary pulled his clothes closer around himself. “No.”

Matthew placed a hand on his forehead. Only after making sure he did not have a fever did the tight line between his brows ease.

He stepped to the cave entrance and looked out at the misty gray sky. A moment later, he came back and put out the fire. “We are going back now.”

Zachary looked up. “Right now?”

“Yeah. Now.” Matthew took off his outer clothes and wrapped them around Zachary.

The forest after the rain was soaked through. Leaves dripped everywhere, and the wind that slipped between the trees felt sharp and cold.

11:16 am

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Chapter 259 Smoke and Trade at the Tribe Gate

45 Pearls

Zachary buried most of his face beneath Matthew’s clothes. Only his icy–blue eyes remained visible as he clung tightly to the panther’s back.

Thankfully, the rain did not start again on the way.

After being exposed to the wind for too long, Zachary covered his mouth and coughed several times.

The black panther stopped at once and turned his head. His golden eyes were filled with worry.

Zachary patted him gently. “I am fine. The wind just caught in my throat.”

Matthew slowed after that. Even while running, he tried to keep every movement smooth and steady.

By sunset, Zachary had started dozing in Matthew’s arms. He only woke when Matthew fed him some grilled meat and made him drink some water. Once he finished, he closed his eyes again and tucked himself back into Matthew’s clothes.

A cold took away most of his strength. During the rest of the trip, he either lay weakly across Matthew’s back with half–closed eyes or let Matthew carry him without complaint.

When they finally returned to the tribe, the rain had stopped completely.

Bright sunlight poured over the ground. Zachary rested in the warmth and stroked the panther’s black fur, warmed by the sun. Only then did a little strength return to him.

“Zachary!”

A familiar voice rang out from ahead.

A tall therian stopped in front of them.

Zachary blinked in surprise. “Hubert? Why are you here?”

Hubert showed his two tiger canines in a bright grin. “I…”

“We came to trade.” Horace noticed the cold look in Matthew’s eyes and the pale fangs showing between

r the panther’s jaws. Before Hubert could say anything reckless, he cut in first.

“Oh.” Only then did Zachary notice the crowd outside the Black Panther Tribe.

Therians from several tribes had gathered near the entrance. There were so many of them that the road was almost blocked.

Matthew swept Hubert with a chilly sideways glance and walked past without slowing down. He clearly had no intention of giving Hubert another chance to talk to Zachary.

Horace raised his hand and waved his broad palm in front of Hubert’s face, warning him without needing a word

Hubert looked deeply wronged. “Horace, can you trust me at least once?”

Horace’s face stayed expressionless. “No.”

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11:16 am Pp

Chapter 259–moke and Trade at the Tribe Gate

*5 Pearis

His voice turned colder. “If your mouth ruins this trade, you can leave after we are done.

“You like freedom, right? Then I will give you enough freedom. You can run naked through the mountains for as long as you want. No one will stop you.”

Hubert drooped. “Horace, why do you always speak to me like that?”

Horace gave him a look of fake surprise. “So you actually understand how words feel.”

Hubert had nothing to say to that.

Within the tribe, the newly carved caves were already in use. Clay vessels, woven goods, candles, and other trade items filled the storage spaces, while more were placed outside for visitors to look through. Beneath the large canopy, travelers sat down to rest.

The entrance had completely changed.

It no longer looked like a quiet tribal path. It looked like a busy open–air market, mixed with a roadside stop for travelers. Voices overlapped, people moved back and forth, and the whole place was loud with life.

Kyle and Daniel stood among the visitors, explaining the goods and bargaining with different tribes. They were clearly busy, yet they handled it with surprising confidence.

Nearby, someone had even set up a food stall.

Meat skewers roasted over open flames, dripping fat into the fire. Each hiss sent up the scent of chili and cumin, rich enough to make anyone hungry.

Large pots lined the side, with chicken pieces sizzling in one, savory poultry stew bubbling in another, pepper–braised hare simmering, and strips of smoked meat shining with oil.

There were cold drinks too.

Bowls of chilled fruit tea were arranged in a neat row, sweet and refreshing in the sun. For travelers, who had spent day and night on the road, that alone was tempting enough to make them stop.

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