Transmigrated to Raise Panther Cubs novel Chapter 8

Zachary climbed the tree somewhat awkwardly. His arms wrapped around the trunk while his feet searched for stable footholds against the bark. Each movement carried him only a little higher.

When he reached halfway up, he lifted his head and saw Quincy and Elias already settled comfortably among the upper branches.

Quincy stood balanced on a thick fork of the trunk and glanced down. Confusion appeared when he noticed Zachary lagging. "Zachary, what's wrong?"

Members of the Black Panther Tribe were excellent climbers. Both therians and sub-therians moved through trees with ease.

Elias had already chosen a stable branch and begun picking fruit when the noise below caught his attention. He leaned forward and looked down toward Zachary.

The memory of Zachary falling into the river crossed his mind. Concern flickered in his voice. "Zachary, are you still recovering?"

Quincy immediately realized his mistake. Guilt flashed across his face as he spoke quickly, "You should stop climbing. I'll pick some fruit for you."

Elias nodded. "Quincy and I can share. Just go down."

"I'm fine." Zachary tipped his head upward and gave them a quick smile. "I just haven't climbed in a long time."

His arms tightened around the trunk again as he continued upward. "I'll be there soon."

Elias and Quincy shifted slightly, deliberately leaving space on a sturdy branch loaded with fruit. Zachary felt a small warmth at the gesture. Perhaps muscle memory had returned, because he reached the branch much faster than before.

Apple trees with fruit had fewer leaves. Pale gray branches stretched outward, dotted with clusters of pink apples.

A sweet fragrance filled the air.

Zachary swallowed unconsciously. Compared with the bitter wild greens they gathered earlier, this fruit looked far more appealing.

Once he found his balance, Zachary gripped the trunk with one hand and began plucking apples with the other, dropping them into his beast-hide bag.

No one spoke, and everyone focused on their work. The sub-therians quickly stripped almost all the fruit within reach.

Climbing was easy for them. However, the highest branches looked thin and fragile. Those limbs couldn't support their weight. Apples near the top seemed larger and brighter, their red skins glossy in the sunlight. No one dared climb that high because a fall from there would end badly.

One by one, the sub-therians slung their beast-hide bags over their shoulders and climbed down.

Zachary remained in the tree. His gaze lingered on the untouched fruit above. Back in the cave, a thick slab of white fat waited to be cooked. Leaving these apples behind felt wasteful.

"Not coming down?" Quincy tapped his shoulder lightly.

Elias followed Zachary's gaze upward. "Usually, only the winged gather those. They have wings, so falling isn't as dangerous."

The group had traveled a great distance and climbed multiple trees. Sub-therians lacked therians' stamina, and everyone was now tired. They sat in a loose circle on the ground, eating fruit and resting.

Zachary looked around the tree trunk. Vines clung tightly to the bark while broken branches scattered across the ground.

A memory surfaced.

His grandfather once built simple fruit-picking tools during trips into the hills.

An idea formed instantly.

Zachary stepped toward the trunk and pulled hard on the vines.

Quincy and Elias approached with puzzled expressions. "Zachary, what are you doing?"

"I want to make a tool for the fruit higher up," he explained.

The resting sub-therians noticed the growing pile and walked over to it. Curiosity spread through the group.

"Quincy, what's that tool?"

"It reaches the fruit way up there."

"That's amazing."

"I've never seen something so clever."

Elias stacked apples into a neat pile and straightened with pride. "Zachary made it."

The small crowd fell quiet again.

…

Above them, Zachary continued harvesting while fruits dropped steadily to the ground.

Fruit like this could be stored for a long time, and no one could guarantee they would come across another tree this loaded.

When the branches were finally cleared, he lowered the tool before climbing down himself. His arms were sore, and his neck was stiff from looking up for so long.

He gently rubbed his shoulders as he stretched.

Most of the apples ended up in his beast-hide bag as Elias and Quincy packed them in.

Zachary frowned slightly, confusion written on his face. "Why are you giving all of these to me?"