Mei Hu huddled in the shadows of the stone palace, clutching the "blanket" around her shoulders like it was a shroud of shame. She hated the texture of it, soft, warm, and smelling faintly of the lavender herbs Xin Yi had insisted everyone use for "aromatherapy."
"Aromatherapy," Mei Hu spat, the word tasting like poison. "Disgusting."
She had known Hei Yan since they were cubs. She was the fastest female in the Shadow Claw tribe, the most lethal, and the most deserving of the Alpha's side. In her mind, they were destined to produce the strongest cubs the forest had ever seen. And then she appeared. A hairless, weak, "Scent Goddess" who couldn't even track a wounded rabbit if it tripped over her feet.
But Mei Hu was patient. She knew the Great Mating Festival was only three days away.
According to tribal law, if an Alpha hadn't marked a female by the festival, any challenger could claim a spot in the trial. She just had to prove that Xin Yi was a liability.
"He'll see," she whispered, watching the palace entrance. "He'll see that a pale-skinned doll can't handle a Panther's life."
She tried to approach Hei Yan three times that afternoon. Each time, he treated her like a particularly annoying flea.
"Hei Yan, darling," she purred, slinking up to him while he was sharpening a spear. "Your 'Goddess' is still asleep. She's so fragile. Don't you want a female who can actually stand up without breaking a bone?"
Hei Yan didn't even look at her. "I want a female who doesn't throw my guests into trees, Mei Hu. Go away."
"But the Great Dragon! I'm telling you, she's a—"
"If I hear about the Dragon one more time," Hei Yan growled, the vibration shaking the ground, "I will personally see if you can fly from the top of the Great Cliff."
Mei Hu retreated, fuming. They were isolating her. They were protecting that thing. But she wouldn't relent. She would just wait for the girl to wake up and show everyone how pathetic she truly was.
Inside the palace, the atmosphere was much less "Alpha Male" and much more "Panicked Nursing Home."
Xin Yi's eyes snapped open.
"Oww.…mother of.….everything..." She groaned, clutching her side. Every time she breathed, it felt like a tiny, angry construction crew was using a jackhammer on her ribcage.
[DING! (◕‿◕✿)]
The System screen popped up right in her face, glowing a cheerful, blinding yellow.
[GOOD MORNING, SLEEPING BEAUTY! ☆]
[Current Status: Slightly Cracked, Mostly Grumpy.]
[Time remaining until the Great Mating Festival: 2 Days, 14 Hours.]
[Note: You have survived a Panther attack! Congratulations! You didn't die! (Which is great for me, because I don't have a backup Host.)]
"Shut up, you bucket of bolts," Xin Yi wheezed. "Where is she? Where's the panther bitch?"
[Which one? The one currently flirting with your Panther boyfriend outside, or the one you're going to turn into a rug once your 'Instant Healing' buff finishes in five minutes?]
Xin Yi blinked. "Instant healing?"
[Yup! Since you actually stood up for yourself and threw a punch, I've unlocked the 'Adrenaline Rush' recovery. Your ribs are currently knitting back together like a grandma on a caffeine high. On your feet, Host! Dignity waits for no one!]
Xin Yi felt a strange, warm tingling in her chest. The sharp, stabbing pain faded into a dull ache, then vanished entirely. She sat up, her eyes narrowing as she remembered Mei Hu's smug face and the word "whore."
"Two days until I have to choose a husband?" Xin Yi muttered, swinging her legs over the bed. "I don't have time for a jealous cat. I have a reputation to protect."
She marched out of the room.
Outside, the tribe was in the middle of a massive feast. Hei Yan had ordered the slaughter of three giant boars to celebrate the fact that Xin Yi was breathing. The smell of roasted meat and salt filled the air.
When Xin Yi stepped out of the palace, the clearing went silent.
"Xin Yi!"
Hei Yan and Feng Huang both dropped what they were doing and sprinted toward her. Hei Yan reached her first, his hands hovering over her waist.
"You should be resting! Your bones—"
"My bones are fine, Hei Yan," Xin Yi said, her voice loud and clear. She looked past them, spotting Mei Hu sitting near the fire, looking like she had just sucked a lemon.
Mei Hu stood up, her eyes widening. "You.…..you should be bedridden for weeks! I hit you with full strength!"
"You hit like a kitten with a cold," Xin Yi snapped.
The tribe gasped. Mao-Mao stopped chewing his meat.
Mei Hu's face twisted. "You think you're so tough? You're a curse! You're a beacon for the Great White Dragon! I saw the traveler! He said—"
"The only thing you saw was the back of my hand!" Xin Yi yelled.
[DING! (╬ Ò﹏Ó)]
[COMBAT MODE ACTIVATED! ☆]
[Host, I've calculated her weak points! Aim for the nose! It's the source of her smugness!]
Xin Yi lunged.