Beauty and the Beasts

The beastmen who went out to hunt transformed into their human forms and bit the throat of the prey in their hands, before drinking the blood completely. They then brought the prey to the waterhole, where they opened their stomachs and skinned them clean.

All of a sudden, the waterhole was fully surrounded by beastmen, and the water within was drenched with the color of blood.

Bluepool hurriedly dodged, yet he wasn’t able to avoid being stained by the blood. He said furiously, “Go elsewhere to wash, this place belongs to me.”

“We handle our prey here every year,” answered one of them. Other beastmen voiced their agreements.

“The blood and internal organs will wake up the fishes in the water and feed them. If we don’t do this, the fish might come out later.”

Bluepool was so furious that his face was clouded by a dark expression. Seeing that the bubbles had disappeared, Bai Qingqing hurriedly said, “Quickly bring the bubbles up. My babies have sunk.”

Shaking his fishtail, Bluepool took a look at the faint red water before holding his breath and sinking downwards with a disdainful expression.

Very soon, three bubbles floated to the water surface.

“Roar!”

The leopard cubs’ muffled voices rang out. They showed no signs of fear but instead looked extremely excited as they ran about in the bubble maniacally, causing the bubbles to spin like a yo-yo.

Bai Qingqing’s plans to scare them had fallen flat.

Bluepool tossed the bubbles onto the shore, then came out as well. He shook off the bloodied water from his hair and tail with disdain.

The bubbles didn’t burst when they landed on the ground. Like hamsters playing with a ball, the cubs ran amok.

“Hey!” Bai Qingqing was both tickled and anxious as she gazed at the balls rolling haphazardly around the bonfire. “Babies! Hurry up and stop, be careful of the fire!”

She had just finished her sentence when Eldest, the fastest, accidentally bumped into the fire. With a “plop” sound, the bubble burst.

He continued running a bit more before he realized that the bubble had vanished. He instantly turned his head to search for it, looking like a toddler who had just lost his beloved toy.

Roar! Roar! Roar!

Second ran to Eldest’s side gleefully, twisting his body to show off his bubble.

“Ooh!” Eldest flashed his teeth, before pouncing at his brother with a roar.

Piak! Second’s bubble burst too.

Second froze in his tracks as he stared at Eldest. He was just about to pounce at him when, from his peripheral vision, he saw a light blue bubble spinning.

Third was still playing leisurely by the side. Looking at the world through the bubble, the objects nearby had enlarged in size, making him all the more fascinated.

As though sensing malicious gazes upon him, Third halted in his bubble, then turned his little leopard head around.

Second and Eldest exchanged looks, then ground their claws wickedly and sprinted towards their little brother with a howl.

Howl!

Third turned around and fled. Catching sight of his mother not far away, he quickly ran towards her.

Meow meow~ Third purred softly as he ran towards his mommy.

Bai Qingqing bent over and lifted the bubble, heaving a sigh of relief. “Finally caught you.”

Before Third could catch his breath, his ears detected the subtle sound of the bubble bursting. Then, before he knew it, he found himself surrounded by nothing but air as he tumbled to the ground.

Bubbles would turn dry after leaving the water. And when Bai Qingqing held it up, Third’s weight would sink to the depths of the bubble. Unable to resist his weight, the bubble hence burst.

“Third, are you alright?” Bai Qingqing instantly squatted down and caressed her cub.

Ignoring his own body, Third nervously gazed around, and when he realized his bubble was gone, he let out an aggrieved purr.

Just then, Eldest and Second came running over and swung their tails happily.

Bai Qingqing couldn’t help but laugh. She flicked a finger against her cub’s tiny black nose and said, “Mischievous.”

“Qingqing, come over here. Our meat is being roasted.” From the side came Parker’s voice.