Wanderlust Beastkin, Beauty and the Beastkin

Perla’s Perspective

"I noticed you had a bit of a rough night, but don’t worry, a little food can work wonders! I brought you something healthy." He gestured dramatically with his sharp black nail, and my heart dropped as I caught sight of what lay before me. A delicate cocoon spun from silken spider threads, eerily shaped like a tiny person, with a tuft of vibrant red hair peeking out. Oh no, he didn’t just bring me a snack... he brought me a person to feast on!

I found myself swallowing hard, desperately trying to keep my stomach in check as I extended a trembling hand toward the beastkin’s eyes. Thank goodness they still radiated warmth. The spider beastkin regarded his captive with an air of smug satisfaction, and I could practically hear the gears turning in his head, ready to launch into a lengthy debate about the supposed benefits of cannibalism if I dared to ask for her release. What a lunatic! The urge to scream at him bubbled up inside me, but I knew that would only waste precious time and achieve nothing. So, I sprang to my feet and dashed over to that intriguing blue rock I had spotted earlier, quickly breaking off a piece and stashing another in my pocket for good measure.

I hurried back, my heart racing, and without uttering a single word to him, I meticulously began to slice away the webbing that clung to her face. Her skin had a faint blue hue, and without a moment to lose, I leaned in and blew air into her lungs, all while the spider beastkin watched on, his expression a mix of confusion and curiosity.

The girl with the fiery red hair inhaled sharply, a cough escaping her lips as her baby blue eyes fluttered open, revealing a look of utter bewilderment. As she blinked a few times, the reality of her surroundings began to sink in, and her eyes grew wide with panic.

"Oh no, oh no, oh no!" she murmured, her voice trembling with dread, tears spilling down her cheeks. In a frantic attempt to escape, she struggled against the cocoon that held her captive, but her body remained firmly bound, leaving her feeling utterly helpless.

"I see, I apologize, I didn’t realize how fresh you prefer your food. Had I known I would have made sure to be more careful while catching our dinner."

The moment those words slipped out, the little captured girl let out a shriek that pierced the air, and honestly, it was the last thing I needed right after jolting awake from a nightmare. My nerves were already frayed, and this was just adding fuel to the fire.

"Enough! No one is having beastkin for lunch today! I swear, if you don’t zip it, I’ll have Mr. Fangs over there seal your lips with his sticky web, and that’ll be the end of it!"

Her eyes went wide as she darted her gaze between me and him, and just like that, she clamped her mouth shut.

With a relieved sigh, I stretched my back, feeling a satisfying pop echo through the silence. Thank goodness she finally stopped that dreadful screaming.

"Aren’t you feeling a bit peckish? The Squirrel Beastkin make a delightful stew, and I was planning to whip some up just for you. It’ll help you regain your strength, so you can lay those precious eggs."

"I have no interest in eating beastkin."

"I see. It looks like I’ll have to eliminate her. She’s aware of my hideout now, and if she brings a crowd, my sanctuary won’t be secure anymore."

"Why resort to such drastic measures? I would much prefer to have a lovely servant to assist me in this space. It would be incredibly helpful to have someone around who can lend a hand with my eggs and ensure they receive the mana they need."

"You’re right, I can’t deny that. No need to fret about her slipping away. Fine, keep her as your little servant. I’ll head out for another hunt."

"Could you please bring back an animal this time? I have to admit, beastkin just aren’t my thing," I called out to him as he strolled away, his back turned to me. With a sigh, I shifted my focus to the squirrel girl, swiftly slicing through the remaining strands of web that clung to her. She sprang to her feet, her little hands working frantically to remove the last bits of sticky webbing, her body trembling slightly as if the chill of the moment had seeped into her bones.

"Are...are you a spider-beastkin too?"

"Ugh, absolutely not! Spiders give me the creeps. We really ought to investigate what he meant by us not being able to escape, don’t you think?" I said this as I stood up, brushing off the dust from my clothes, trying to shake off the unsettling feeling.

"Thank you so much for saving me! I’m Tonya, a red squirrel beastkin," she whispered, her voice sweet like candy. She was a bit shorter than me, with her bright red hair tumbling in fluffy curls down to her mid-back, perfectly framing her big, baby-blue eyes that sparkled with thick red lashes. Her figure was curvy, with a slim waist and an hourglass shape, and her adorable face was a lovely mix of beauty and cuteness, especially with her plump red lips. She wore simple brown leather clothes—a snug tube-top, a flirty mini skirt, and basic leather shoes—along with the cutest little squirrel ears on her head and a big, fluffy red squirrel tail that danced playfully behind her. Standing next to her made me feel so...plain.

"It’s nice to meet you, I’m Perla." I kept my beastkin identity under wraps, not wanting to reveal that little tidbit to this monstrous spider. Honestly, the thought of admitting I’ve transformed into a mermaid feels utterly bizarre, and I’d rather keep that to myself for now.

"Here, let me help you," I said, gesturing for her to turn around.

"You’ve got a bit more webbing tangled in your hair." She complied quickly, and I carefully removed the last remnants of the sticky strands.

"Th-thank you," she said, her voice trembling slightly, as if a chill had run down her spine.

Curiosity piqued, I asked, "What led you to be ensnared by a spider beastkin?"

"I could ask you the same thing, though it doesn’t appear that you were intended to be on the menu," Tonya said.

I exhaled deeply, a heavy weight settling in my chest. "It was such a colossal misunderstanding that led to his sister’s tragic passing, and now he’s asking me to have his eggs," I confessed, a wave of nausea washing over me just uttering those words.

"I think I’d prefer to be eaten," Tanya said, her voice trembling. "At least then I wouldn’t know what’s happening if I was already unconscious."

"Yeah," I said in a whisper that sounded terrified while remembering my messed up dream.

"Help me gather those remaining shards of blue stone for me, will you? Once we’ve got them all, we really ought to make our escape and figure out what he meant by not being able to leave while he’s away."

I’m quite familiar with the exit since he graciously gave me a little tour just yesterday. After that delightful little jaunt, he insisted I needed some rest, and then, without so much as a warning, he bit me! Can you believe it? I lost consciousness and slept for the night, but thankfully, the route out is still etched in my mind.

He had this peculiar way of twisting me around in odd directions, leading me in circles to throw me off, but now that I’ve got my compass perk, it’s all a moot point. No matter how many times he tried to double back, I’m laser-focused on the exit, and that’s all that matters.

As I made my way toward the exit I had marked, a wave of relief washed over me. No more fretting about getting lost just because he decided to play games with my sense of direction!

"So, what kind of magic do you possess?" I asked, genuinely curious.

She gazed at me, her eyes wide with surprise, and then a soft blush crept across her cheeks. With a little shrug, she said, "I’m a red aura beastkin, and I don’t have any magic. Most of the girls in my clan don’t either, only a few of the males do." She paused, her voice a bit quieter. "Actually, it’s pretty rare for small rodent-type beastkin to have magic at all. I guess that’s why we lay so many eggs; we’re not really expected to have a high survival rate." She shrugged again, trying to act nonchalant, but I could see a flicker of sadness in her eyes. It made sense; she must have lost some dear ones before.

"This isn’t the first time I’ve heard of strong beastkin feeding Beastkin Squirrel Stew to their expectant females, they just usually don’t tell their female what it is they’re being fed because they would find it disturbing. The hunting males just force the squirrel beastkin to change into their beast form before they cook them. We happen to be high in mana content."

"That’s horrendous!"

"You don’t have to tell me that," said Tanya.

"So what brings you out here?"

"I needed to collect food. My clan doesn’t make us join the snatching ritual or force us to make a starting male, so I had to scavenge for my own food since I don’t have a male and am too old to stay with my parents."

"I understand," and I can’t help but feel a twinge of discomfort at the thought of ensuring my future daughter’s safety in such a ruthless world. It’s a necessary concern, yet it sends shivers down my spine just to contemplate it.

Surely, there must be a balance somewhere—a sweet spot that allows women to embrace their independence and make choices that resonate with their hearts, all while ensuring they are safe and well-fed. It’s a conundrum I need to ponder deeply, especially since I wouldn’t want any future daughter of mine to grapple with such daunting issues.

Then, my mind wandered to my beloved Oliver. What if I were to have some adorable little chipmunk daughters someday? The mere thought sends a chill through me—wouldn’t they be at risk? It’s terrifying to think that there are even beastkin out there who might see female chipmunks as a meal! How utterly horrifying!

Coming Next Time: Why They Can’t Leave