Surviving Zombies Was Easier Than Raising Beast Cubs

Chapter 154: Chapter 154: Oh my God

Later that afternoon, Swanly finally escaped.

Not far.

She simply needed to walk without hearing the word Mama screamed every eight breaths. She was way too stressed already.

She moved through the growing rows.

Ironwood smelled different now.

Fresh soil.

Green leaves.

Drying meat.

Smoke.

Food.

Life.

Then she noticed Nerin.

He was crouched beside a patch of newly turned earth.

His silver deer ears flicked before he looked up.

"Swanly."

She stopped.

"What are you doing?"

His entire body immediately became suspicious.

"Nothing."

Swanly looked down.

There were plants everywhere.

Young fruit shoots.

Small bushes.

Several newly planted trees.

And along one protected row were moonbell plants.

Soft blue leaves trembled beneath the shade.

Swanly’s eyes widened.

"You grew those?"

Nerin touched one carefully.

"I am trying."

"The pregnancy herb?"

He nodded.

"There were roots left on some of the plants Druun brought back. I thought they might grow again."

Swanly crouched beside him.

"They actually helped."

"I know."

She looked at him.

Nerin froze.

"How?"

His ears turned pink.

"You stopped rubbing your stomach after you took them."

Swanly stared.

He had noticed that?

Then she looked around again.

Red fruits.

Sweet yellow berries.

The little dark-purple fruit she always picked first from the food baskets.

Even the tart green ones she had once told Tilla she liked.

"Nerin."

He suddenly became fascinated by the soil.

"Why are all my favorite fruits here?"

Silence.

"Nerin."

His ears became redder.

"I..."

He swallowed.

"I thought you might want them."

Her expression softened.

"You made this for me?"

"It is small."

"Nerin."

"And some may not grow."

"Nerin."

He finally looked at her.

"Yes."

A tiny smile escaped her.

"That’s really sweet."

His heart nearly stopped.

She had no idea.

Absolutely no idea.

Nerin quickly bent toward a small woven basket beside him.

"I also..."

His fingers fumbled.

He pulled out a ripe red fruit.

"I picked this two days ago."

Swanly blinked.

"Two days?"

"I wasn’t sure how to give it to you."

He looked painfully embarrassed now.

"So I kept it."

Swanly took it.

Their fingers barely brushed.

Nerin almost dropped dead.

"Thank you."

She smiled.

That was it.

Two words.

A smile.

Nerin’s heart began beating so violently he was genuinely concerned she might hear it.

Swanly bit into the fruit.

Sweet juice burst across her tongue.

"Mmm."

Nerin stopped breathing.

A thin line of juice escaped the corner of her mouth.

Ran slowly toward her lower lip.

Swanly caught it with her tongue.

Nerin’s innocent green eyes fixed there.

His mind betrayed him.

Violently.

For one horrible second, he imagined reaching over.

Catching that drop with his thumb.

Her lips parting against it.

Or worse.

Leaning in himself.

Tasting the sweetness directly from her mouth.

Nerin’s entire face ignited.

He jerked his gaze away.

What is wrong with me?

Swanly took another bite.

"It’s really good."

His ears were burning.

"Good."

"You’re red."

"I am not."

"You absolutely are."

"Sun."

Swanly looked upward.

They were standing in shade.

Nerin wanted the earth to open.

Immediately.

She laughed softly.

His heart got worse.

Then Swanly looked over the garden again.

"You don’t have to do all this for me."

Nerin’s smile faded slightly.

"I like being useful."

Something about the way he said it made Swanly look at him again.

Not I like gardening.

Not I wanted to.

Useful.

"You do that a lot."

He blinked.

"What?"

"Try to earn your place by doing things for people."

His eyes dropped.

Swanly understood more than he wanted her to.

Nerin rubbed his thumb against his palm.

"If I can help, then..."

He stopped.

"Then?"

His voice became quiet.

"People have a reason to want me around."

That killed her smile.

"Nerin."

He looked embarrassed immediately.

"It does not matter."

"It does."

She sat beside him.

"You are allowed to keep things for yourself too."

He froze.

"You don’t have to give away everything good just to prove you’re worth having around."

His throat tightened.

Swanly continued simply:

"You’re allowed to just exist."

Nerin stared at her.

No one had ever said that to him.

Not like that.

Not without asking what he could offer afterward.

His broken antler suddenly seemed heavier.

Swanly held up the half-eaten fruit.

"And if you grow something you love, eat it."

His lips twitched.

"Even if you like it?"

"Especially then."

"But if there is only one?"

"We split it."

He looked at her.

Something painfully soft entered his face.

"Half?"

"Half."

His heart was utterly finished.

Then a growl came from behind them.

Nerin went rigid.

Swanly turned.

Kael stood several steps away.

His golden eyes were not on Swanly.

They were on Nerin.

More specifically...

On Nerin staring at Swanly.

Then Kael’s gaze dropped to the bitten fruit in her hand.

Then her damp lower lip.

Then back to Nerin.

Nerin realized death had arrived.

"Oh."

Swanly frowned.

"What?"

Nerin stood too quickly.

"Nothing."

Another presence appeared behind Kael.

Soren.

His silver gaze moved toward Kael.

Then followed Kael’s stare.

Then found Nerin.

Then Swanly.

Then the fruit.

Then Nerin again.

Nerin’s face went pale.

So now Soren was staring at Kael...

Who was staring at Nerin...

Who had been staring at Swanly.

Excellent.

Nerin slowly stepped backward.

"I should..."

Kael’s eyes narrowed.

"Yes."

"I have..."

Nerin looked around desperately.

"Plants."

Soren stared.

"You have been standing beside plants the entire time."

"Yes."

"Then why must you suddenly leave?"

Nerin swallowed.

"Other plants."

Swanly covered her mouth.

Kael walked forward.

His arm slid firmly around Swanly’s waist.

"Come."

She blinked.

"Where?"

"Away."

"Kael."

"You are tired."

"I was sitting."

"You should sit somewhere else."

Nerin looked like he might actually pray.

Swanly stared at Kael.

Then Soren.

Then Nerin.

"Oh my God."

Kael pulled her gently against his side.

Soren looked at the garden.

"Did he grow all of this for you?"

Nerin’s soul left his body.

Swanly answered before he could.

"Yes."

Soren stared at him.

Nerin smiled weakly.

"For the settlement."

Swanly frowned.

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