Surviving Zombies Was Easier Than Raising Beast Cubs

Chapter 162: Chapter 162: Why is everyone attacking me today?

The whisper came through the crack again.

"Selka?"

Selka did not answer immediately.

Her entire body went still.

One hand moved protectively over her stomach.

The cave was dark except for the weak firelight slipping through the wooden bars at the entrance.

Her guard stood outside.

Close.

Too close.

Selka glanced toward him.

He was facing away.

Then she approached the rear crack.

Slowly.

Silently.

"Who are you?"

A pause.

Then a male voice.

"Brea said you would listen."

Selka’s eyes sharpened.

Brea.

So she had been right.

Weeks ago, Selka had started noticing things.

Tiny changes.

Tracks that vanished too quickly.

Broken branches outside the western path.

Brea disappearing slightly longer than necessary during work.

Selka had not been able to investigate herself.

So she had used Brea.

Watch.

Listen.

Find out whether anyone else was near Ironwood.

And apparently the stupid hyena had actually succeeded.

Selka crouched beside the crack.

"You are not from Ironwood."

"No."

"Which tribe?"

"That does not matter yet."

Selka’s eyes narrowed.

"Then leave."

The male laughed quietly.

"You are imprisoned and still arrogant."

Selka’s claws slid out.

"Imprisoned does not mean desperate."

That was a lie.

She was very fucking desperate.

But they did not need to know that.

The voice lowered.

"We can free you."

Selka stopped.

There.

The words she had been waiting months to hear.

Still, she did not smile.

"What do you want?"

"Help us enter."

Selka’s amusement died.

"You cannot?"

"The gate is guarded."

Of course.

Soren had turned Ironwood into a fortress.

Guards rotated constantly.

Hunters traveled in groups.

The walls were watched day and night.

And after the Veskari appeared, the settlement had become even more paranoid.

Selka leaned closer.

"And if I help?"

"You walk free."

"With my cub?"

"Yes."

"With protection?"

A pause.

Selka’s voice went cold.

"If I leave these walls pregnant and alone, freedom means nothing."

"We will protect you."

Now she smiled.

"What do you know about Ironwood?"

"Enough to know it is rich."

"You know nothing."

Silence.

Selka leaned against the stone.

"They have food."

The male did not respond.

"A lot of food."

Still nothing.

"Stored meat. Fruit. roots. Crops."

The breathing outside changed.

Selka smiled wider.

"They have females."

That got him.

"How many?"

"Enough."

A second voice whispered something farther outside.

More than one.

Good.

Selka continued.

"They have warriors from more than one tribe."

"Who leads?"

"Soren."

"The white snake?"

Selka’s jaw tightened.

"Yes."

A pause.

"We heard he was dead."

"He is very much alive."

Silence again.

Selka almost enjoyed that.

"And stronger than before."

"What else?"

Selka’s eyes gleamed.

"A giant."

The voices outside stopped.

"What?"

"A giant creature lives inside Ironwood."

"You lie."

"I wish."

Selka rubbed her stomach.

"He can move stones twenty males struggle to push."

Nothing.

"And there is another ancient being."

The voice lowered.

"What kind?"

Selka smiled.

"A Root-Eyed Mother."

A curse came from outside.

Now she had their full attention.

"And then a female."

"Who?"

"Swanly"

Selka’s smile vanished.

Even hearing the name irritated her.

"She has strange treasures."

"What treasures?"

"Weapons I have never seen."

Her claws scraped the stone.

"Things appear from nowhere when she wants them."

A long silence.

Greed had entered the air.

Selka could practically smell it.

The male finally whispered:

"You will find a way to open Ironwood."

Selka’s eyes narrowed.

"And then?"

"We keep our promise."

"Freedom."

"Yes."

Selka sat back.

Her hand moved over her stomach.

Swanly had everything.

Mates.

Children.

Protection.

Food.

Power.

People who listened when she spoke.

And now an entire settlement treated her like something precious.

Selka smiled.

"Fine."

The darkness outside shifted.

"Find your way inside."

Her nails pressed lightly against her stomach.

"And Swanly?"

Selka’s eyes became cold.

"She is about to meet her end."

...

The next morning, Swanly nearly caused every male around her to lose his mind.

It started with a basket.

One fucking basket.

"I can carry it."

"No."

Swanly stared at Kael.

"It contains rope."

"No."

"Kael."

"No."

She looked at Soren.

He did not even bother answering.

His expression already said no.

Swanly’s ears flattened.

"I am pregnant. I am not dying."

Nahla walked past carrying herbs.

"You may accomplish both if you remain stupid."

Swanly stared.

"Why is everyone attacking me today?"

"Because you deserve it."

Nahla kept walking.

Traitor.

Swanly looked at the basket.

Then at both males.

Then waited.

Kael was called toward the hunting racks.

Soren left to speak with Raku.

Perfect.

Swanly picked up the basket.

It was not even heavy.

Mostly rope, stakes and a few stone weights used for the new defensive traps.

She carried it toward the outer training ground.

See?

Fine.

Absolutely fine.

Then the alarm horn sounded.

Swanly froze.

One blast.

Then another.

INFECTED.

Her body moved before her brain finished thinking.

The basket hit the ground.

She ran.

"Swanly!"

Someone shouted behind her.

Too late.

Hunters were racing toward the gate.

Three males were dragging another beastman between them.

Behind them came something huge.

A horned infected beast.

Half its face was rotted away.

Black saliva flew from its jaws.

One eye hung uselessly.

The other was fixed on the hunters.

"CLOSE THE GATE!"

Raku roared.

The hunters dove through.

The infected slammed into the outer stakes.

CRACK!

Wood exploded.

Swanly climbed the wall.

"Swanly!"

Kael’s roar this time.

She ignored it.

Bow.

Arrow.

Draw.

Release.

THUNK!

The arrow buried itself near the creature’s eye.

It screamed.

The sound shook the wall.

"Drop the upper trap!"

Tovan shouted.

The rope jammed.

Fuck.

Swanly saw it.

One knot had twisted around the beam.

She moved toward it.

Kael reached the bottom of the wall.

"SWANLY, STOP!"

"I can fix it!"

"You are pregnant!"

"I KNOW!"

The infected rammed the stakes again.

CRACK!

Swanly grabbed the rope.

Pulled.

Nothing.

Again.

Her arms strained.

Her stomach tightened.

Again.

"Swanly!"

She pulled harder.

The knot snapped loose.

The massive sharpened trunk dropped.

BOOM!

It crashed directly across the infected creature’s neck.

The beast screamed.

Warriors rushed forward.

Raku drove a spear down.

Kael transformed halfway up the wall.

Then Swanly felt it.

A sharp pain.

Low.

Deep.

Her breath vanished.

Her hand flew to her stomach.

"Oh."

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