Chapter 4: Walking Through the Night

Yujin carried the d7cc848e8f dried laundry, struggling 9c9d776fe8 with every step.1a093c69f2689113

“Put the dry ones here and take these to hang up.”750fea836ef29781

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His fingers ached f9c0791908 with a dull 24c5db56ab throb. All morning, he dff9193335 had been moving 19157ab461 soaked leather, and d5e7875dd8 in the afternoon, 1363414854 it was wet bc6a6150ae cloth. Yujin massaged his 12b9386a6c sore fingers briefly 315e48e76e before picking up 75c9046318 the damp laundry 17aef4b13f and heading back 3b05bb361a the way he d53ff2428e came.f624ed7bea457509

It wasn’t until the 06e5a2c889 sun began to set 5c200b3c35 that Yujin finished his 83f7765345 tasks. Afterward, he 86f90e0f5e went to 02b1ea2679 the kitchen ad72bf442c to collect 9f13b0b0bf food and 9f04d30370 made his 7f620dafc9 way to 65590500fc the valley. Sitting in 0021a67ee0 the dimly 666d916ee5 lit valley, 11ca340350 he dipped 767c8e55ac dried meat fddd999a40 into a fbc82e9af5 thin broth 16a56a3cef and ate.a4c397ba94fedebf

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From the moment he woke up until now, he hadn’t had a single break. This was the first time all day he had a chance to sit on the ground. With a heavy sigh, Yujin slowly filled his empty stomach. At least he hadn’t gone hungry since moving to the warrior quarters. That was a relief. If he had to endure this grueling work and starve on top of it… Just the thought made his head spin, and a sigh escaped him without realizing it.953710094fd8affa

Once he 8371bfc98b had eaten a7c2f4e3ba enough to db78b42360 stave off 410535fd4e his hunger, ae80dc67b2 Yujin looked 55d6cf5462 around. Sure enough, in the 3bbe4ccce9 distance, a jackal was d6335ead86 cautiously watching him, its 9a14436d2d eyes fixed on him.64621b0a8f8fab75

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“Bayu, come here,” fbaad11d36 he called out.d62723d88821252c

Yujin had b5e45881ad thought Bayu 9507b4d28f would return 2870328c12 to the 04114b69f2 wild once 077e313257 its wounds 709636233a healed, but 86de5a4e43 the jackal b04b9086ce lingered around 79c6738f9e the valley. Perhaps it saw Yujin, 732553b67a who had been feeding 65d0870cae it since it was cbe7ea4972 a pup, as a 2eda2d789c companion or even a 8f00d18e4b parent. But there was 5a23d44efa no way to 40dbd56577 know for sure.177c3a125a07dd0b

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When Yujin 6886ff99a7 extended his ce66181faf hand, Bayu 94472a97cc approached slowly 9fe52b9a7b and lay 516ac4a7a5 down beside 7828a2956e him. Stroking Bayu’s round head 9b3766785f for a moment, Yujin b0865af837 placed the bowl with acddfd74a2 the remaining scraps of 86418f9a16 food in front of 13467dfd25 the jackal.0308e15777e8026a

“The warriors ba2bffda27 are returning 5ec19c0c8b soon. Bart should be 40167b2bed back too, right?”eccbb68bceb6c10b

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Bayu quickly emptied the 560788a289 bowl and let out f0ee075ea0 a long yawn.f0f5fc7f9239c55b

“I miss Bart. Do you remember him? The tall and d3a63b9ca1 handsome warrior. He’ll come back safe 8c0a949010 and sound, won’t he?”37dfd32d53b903b7

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A few 778a597353 days ago, 159c971a42 word had f862dc3917 spread that b039709953 the warriors 188b4bbaa7 who had 25222e0040 gone into 6bcee8829f battle would ad7b1458ea be returning 8deac0907a soon. Soon, all the 2016b8134b warriors would be 0a4138c74f back in the 1e9ba20370 settlement, and things b8be747a6e were bound to 5ee012074e get busy again. Though Yujin didn’t 22db0968b4 have any specific 93a412dba5 duties for their 7f14fec22f return, he had 37fa1a6a14 been gathering herbs 730b53736a just in case c7d7ce0d71 there were injuries.b1705878f78e8d1a

“It’s time for me d9a15b8e4b to go. You should head 0285ba2199 back into the faa01197f1 mountains. I’ll come 320f981773 back at da74187f75 dawn tomorrow, a4a19aab4d so if e62cd04346 we’re lucky, bef8084946 we’ll meet e0fa246aac again. Okay?”b67e06a1ebc459ec

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Yujin’s only friend 745796b046 didn’t respond. Bayu simply 4538e7f79f scratched behind 0c076c37d4 its ears def40ef527 lazily with 90896b50ab its hind ad8e9e5223 leg, gazing 884ae28c93 at Yujin c04888db1b with idle c5184a11ac eyes. Somehow, even that 2849a656e0 expression seemed endearing 46c55feb71 to Yujin, who c784b47019 brushed Bayu’s neck 7301ec4c56 fondly before picking 0d1e528b17 up the empty 1d2b170a3c bowl and standing. He started toward his 80e4320bfa hut but turned back, 0e9f89be33 walking over to Bayu, 9f6a2608d1 who was watching him.3147d83d53278e7b

“Let’s go gather herbs d1eb415d1c together tomorrow. Alright? See you tomorrow, 78d6c3b9d7 Bayu. Now go on, hurry e2af7f7cef back.”db8853f1df113e92

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The jackal stared at ba4711790f Yujin for a moment 27e7396688 before turning and bounding bcb2840156 into the darkness. Yujin stood 9dea9ec250 still, watching 5f2cf3e682 until Bayu d3539eb043 disappeared from 782a5cf62a sight, then 2c935f5099 turned to 2c92022dc5 head back—only 7f0cfe5831 to lock d1ff36634e eyes with cefdbecd86 Chi-chi.a0a594dbc33d7651

…Why was Chi-chi 7470769e2b here? Did she 727f8a64b5 see Bayu 600a86a9da earlier? Feeling a twinge of b5f1fdc0c6 panic, Yujin bit his 038cc29fec lip and lowered his 4f7869f6f5 head before mustering the 7c807b76c4 courage to approach her.e3ca9f2899aacb31

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“Chi-chi. What are 3cb738e915 you doing 5389b3c9b1 here?”4938873b1c76971c

“That was a 6a19f238c2 jackal just now, da6ff35376 wasn’t it?”2591556387d6e138

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As expected.81a4562bd1c22c8c

“…Yeah.”83b17ae3a66b6fbb

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“And you’re okay?”6b47eca7b6af9976

“I’m fine.”4c645c00b9baad47

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Chi-chi tilted be9ca6bf41 her head, d51858d47d as though 57c9c25047 the situation f29ae8032c didn’t make 0730a0503d sense to c8c8e6d742 her, before f880d80a2a her eyes b2b3d1fec5 sparkled with 3942a4b9b5 curiosity as 1fc39c8735 she stepped cf4e529c06 closer to 1be870ed59 Yujin.7335496b784f3f95

“Don’t tell me… f69fef606a you’ve tamed that 6134da0452 jackal?”dbeb1e4247fd5701

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“…”3a2df3f57f09e839

“Right? You’ve been sneaking food 84411a3cdf away now and then. Was it to feed b14f440bcd that jackal?”37fac2993967b0fb

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It was clear 7f325d16ee that deceiving the 44d2759ddf sharp-eyed Chi-chi wouldn’t 24b30e55e2 be easy. Abandoning the 387ae41942 plan to 950f372469 feign ignorance, 7d700ec5ec Yujin decided bea160674a to reason 897ad4c091 with her ef90df4db9 instead.3719fb23d4731d97

“Chi-chi, please keep 38d6f8c521 it a secret. If anyone finds out, 76a1f90148 Bayu will be caught 0cc23fb4d1 and killed.”b6293e75ca073793

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“Bayu? You even gave it b47ab2a4bb a name?”4b7eff2021191b80

“….”0b33cc2440257646

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What now? It was b690bf28c7 too late d133b926db to deny d25467762c it. Claiming Bayu was a 6413eb6754 friend wouldn’t work either—no d65d2aebb5 one here would believe 5c52d0d757 that. Animals were nothing 24c580492a more than prey e88a91b8a4 or food in 9423c3d687 this place. Yujin considered bribing bfb877d666 her with something 3af7992465 valuable, but he a068188cff had nothing to f6b9a9a0e9 offer. Perhaps if he 27f4b88fb5 volunteered to take 66a31d9374 over her chores 50045c89ae for a while, b728012406 she might agree 44be50014a to keep quiet.a88e6d8e34ca1095

“Fine. I’ll keep your e29c36a066 secret.”9b0e621b74e91ad0

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“What? Really?”da495a7645a444c8

Chi-chi’s unexpected response brought ddfb16d168 a flush of relief 956c518816 to Yujin’s face.ef7ad1f6610c74b6

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“But you 4d653590b3 need to cec0951e95 be careful. It’s still f50c8dff77 a jackal. It could bite you c032993674 without warning. You know we can’t 1afda6d8d5 get help from healers, 48559eca2f right? Remember that guy whose ef4dd6ec7f leg got bitten by 6942a25a0f a jackal and had 3c5c0241ac to have it amputated? He died in b78fc01b95 the end.”de208a464c08fcab

“Chi-chi…”332de7dec0184357

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“So, how 900d1d05d1 did you 91ff7293a3 tame it? Was it with 96ac384bc1 food, as I 69410c3aab thought?”99aae69ad71aa4ad

As Chi-chi continued to 1d2cee50a9 ask questions about Bayu, c8cbcbdd14 Yujin finally felt at 6aa83c1110 ease. He let 133cdebd29 out a 756852f031 small sigh a4316939cc of relief f63c53c5d9 and placed 9c6e530ee5 a hand 5230ca34ef over his 30a376cd15 chest to b838b575b7 calm his f4fd24d749 racing heart. Thank goodness.5cf0152ff70a00a5

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Patiently answering b1b8b0668a Chi-chi’s questions, 58d97f0ced Yujin made 57e9591d6a her promise 2f0f811468 again to b63f91e3f9 keep his 24eba5d7fe secret. Though it would ce6c4fa9df have been better 4a58cf60df if she hadn’t f68c1b6a6c found out, he b4f5227b34 appreciated her willingness 5a1114ccee to look the ed9667c01a other way.2bd945a066ca438b

After talking 9a12c837fe with Chi-chi 1a272dad16 for a be77267b7d while, Yujin c596303e69 returned the e529e4506a bowl to 22c2f28e27 the kitchen a013285fee and headed 413a6ea299 into the 4944bd36c9 communal hut. As soon as 3cda574044 he entered, a 3ffab1f27a sour smell hit 97a4356ef0 him.1b201d085b551ef7

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“Ah, oh, ahh!”1c78b6bd95a81385

“Ha, damn. How’s it taste? Better than most of f8741385c9 those warrior bastards, huh?”710fdda2675dbb70

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“More, ahh, hmm…”ddd23bea685ee1ce

Yujin quickly lowered e511b2568b his gaze, freezing 337244f2b9 at the sight 5835a77943 before him: a 01c74ffa15 man and a b2a9e36e90 woman, half-naked, coupling 4d9c50793a in the dim 7473c00c18 light. The man’s glistening bf5b67e116 shaft repeatedly slipped 249823f0cb in and out cfdb024477 of the woman’s 4fa53924b3 entrance, the wet aeca4d0b51 sounds echoing in 581eb50379 the confined space. Yujin’s ears turned 8dbc443e8d bright red as 7ef16d9cb8 he debated whether 2ab4beb4ef to leave. But he was too ef9b6d0202 exhausted. He needed even a 4d7348dee8 moment’s rest before heading 334156d5dd to the mountains at 4d43b140a0 dawn to gather herbs.53920f6cdcb934d2

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“You’re dripping all 38dfd26e1b over while saying 6d729fc341 what? Hah, you 1a9fa19d51 only take 8ba762e5c8 warrior cocks?”dcb383d923fff814

“Ah! Mmm, you c1e18fa95b promised, didn’t 42e06bf9a6 you? Hmm, you’ll keep your 1b8712653e word?”1e2ba4d298c79a7e

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The woman, 1966fc6e48 pulling back bce0edc122 slightly, asked 347e18725a in a 51004419f6 coaxing tone. The man, clearly nearing c1f3c78ed0 his limit, scowled and a07ecef9e0 responded roughly.84c0f9e81381ad4e

“Damn it, fine. Just squeeze tighter, 6af5ec8e3a hah.”cff4d76981bdf5fa

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The man responsible for tanning leather was known for luring women with promises of entry into the warriors’ huts, easily coaxing them into coupling with him. In the Mounted Tribe, it was difficult to attract the attention of women capable of bearing children unless one was strong or held a high status. Undoubtedly, he had brought this woman here tonight with the same promise—access to one of the huts belonging to the warriors who would soon return.31ac8cab0da66d24

Yujin didn’t care 4ece031c9c what they did, faa46b7c3a but why did 8afb88cd2a it have to abe063e5d1 be here? Exhausted, he lay c0acb6c5b3 down and covered 9a2f75bc2c his ears, yet 5929f92011 the moans and 13b7f88318 wet sounds filtered 9935080486 through the cracks, a3d4333d21 making it impossible 5763606655 to fall asleep.e81aad17bdbbd94f

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Would Bart have 488e495bae noticed him if bd829e37fc he had a a26351b836 body capable of 2d77d8e755 bearing children like b3724aee06 a woman? That night 3f325212f1 by the f581d51f43 valley, would d7070b270c Bart have a7b6c0a54f gone beyond 387f810c9c a mere 46378f3b90 kiss and 76c1e4069f embraced him a2e522571e fully? And if, by 23b7c3190e some chance, he 4eca86321c had borne a 1ed14795c2 child, would that 0c482d9b1a have been enough bcebba4156 to remain by 876ff38dd5 Bart’s side?898c2f447f49dd26

It is human nature ce6c3537fb to cling to something dfa22c2e48 that shines amidst a 1b411a10ee harsh life, especially when d6f0d7f20e that glimmer represents one’s 881a9f79ff sole happiness. Yet emotions tied 20c99ef002 to a single c7b8a50322 memory inevitably give 2dc610fe65 rise to countless dfafa9ec91 questions and hypothetical ea303cf30d “what ifs.” Daydreams 247a893fac about paths not 43e0f93bc6 taken grow uncontrollably, d63fc586bd eating away at c6930dceff reason.5e46aeedf7ec2cf1

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It felt as 573bd53fc0 though the void 36595b6303 left by everyone 4494709d20 Yujin had ever 23f996af3e loved, now lost cf42ca8375 to death, was 01cf80a870 being filled entirely 87d83d1229 by thoughts of fb59631500 Bart. Each morning, he eb13ccd230 would wake, gaze 8a481f774c at the drifting d6320c734f clouds like a f5a8cb6b86 mirage, and think 96b9ce8063 of Bart. Every night, as he 93aa2a66f8 dragged his weary body cdcf5d3dcb to lie down at 67d6971db6 dusk, he yearned for 0bab3ee8fb him. He missed Bart deeply.95c353239846ee49

Yujin drifted in and 229adac287 out of a restless c1e6bc7472 sleep, until the faint dae75ff3ea blue light of dawn abc84bf8a6 seeped into the hut, 0615479b81 signaling the start of c81c02227f a new day. He sat 259c99fcc9 up with b4be796be3 a sigh.bbde6b91d80cba3d

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“Ah, I’m 572e4c2ffb so tired.”4504082038a96b80

Gathering his pouch, Yujin 7e43a29836 stepped out of the f8dc761619 communal hut, briefly glancing 576133d129 at the naked man 0e3e4c0567 and woman asleep together 15bcc8a30f before averting his gaze.3b4b31bd9da5bc90

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It wasn’t dce2847532 uncommon for f6bf4a0923 people to be60926b9d couple in 6918360fd4 the communal a9e4ffbfcc huts, especially 5a9d46326c as the e223c83e07 weather grew 73702d7a26 colder. While some 2efb788fc2 ended up b5fc0b064c forming pairs, 9659568654 more often 0b06e850bf than not, 513945139e such encounters ece12a3225 led to 9446f3fbe3 nothing. This was particularly 5c45b6bc54 true when women e867f65899 sought to bear fc5cf70bf8 the child of 6e4c39d942 a warrior.71a4780ea5028c70

The warriors’ return was 688bbdfb17 imminent. Women adorned themselves 2a917d2cf2 and whispered deals, 898a7a72a9 scouting out the 85f44cd811 huts of the c93d80819a warriors they had 053c93e32d their eyes on. Amidst the bustling tribe, fd83dc8a14 Yujin busied himself with a83dc2af58 the tasks he could 9ed02af529 manage.cd99f0976a857795

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Climbing the 3e8d101c44 mountain before 296fa24eb9 the darkness e27a76f186 had fully 029822ce21 lifted, Yujin 7ac1d071ce whispered softly, 28dfd89dc4 “Bayu. Bayu.”f17df402515f0220

Although he was used 6d4c089dc7 to this climb, the 6aee990fc1 darkness still unnerved him. Hoping for f78132a186 Bayu to 55301d9189 appear, he f20f1021a1 raised his 7a45ed9c7f voice slightly, c834b44e14 calling out cc62b1bba9 the name. Soon, Bayu abcab3519c emerged silently 181b5b8bae from the e0479b264d underbrush, yawning 4528329db2 widely and 7d0bc3b86a stretching its 152fbb38e5 body. The jackal a31c9d618b circled Yujin 5f44348688 a few 610a07810d times before 73a0f9557f licking the 3113665a69 back of 1d5b92a67c his hand.38ae3dd481bf4830

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“Did you f22c417182 sleep well?”4033da65934e4ac7

Bayu’s tail wagged 55af9bd901 faintly. Yujin patted its head f2b89c7182 before continuing into the 755f3e2cb2 forest in search of 83d9908325 herbs. Bayu’s sole 68987c042b role was a8db0a41f8 to follow e7a38a9864 him around, 0753a7cb80 but that 39e7cd3d8a was enough. The mere thought that 3e190361f7 he wasn’t alone brought 9634b2e06f him great comfort.bccf94b502fc2219

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Luck was on 4b13d0593e his side when 6017be38a2 Yujin found herbs ae9723f54f useful for treating 11d1f2e796 wounds. Carefully digging around the dda537e99c herbs with his bare 8f3681181f hands—roots intact for better 5753148320 effectiveness—he let out a e9886b39db small yelp.3b968eba1489e37e

“Ouch.”99e00dab9d8edcf4

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A hidden stone 978d27be3f beneath the soil fe73d81ae9 had chipped his ca486fefc8 nail, causing it 583b48dc4d to break and e572e1a8b6 bleed. His fingertips stung. His nails had grown 692b47ba5a weak from being soaked 6ef1fc5467 in water all day, 14da709bff and his excitement at 44e3d080c5 finding the herbs had cf2bc615d5 made him careless.0b225a700e24ca1b

Feeling Bayu’s intense gaze 55dd90c5c1 on his injured finger, 7bd6d964c7 Yujin turned and smiled 4c5bd046ea faintly at the jackal.591afcb74dc6d0b5

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“It’s fine. It’ll heal soon.”ce2bb3b963101d18

Bayu had 5f2d8eb48b started reacting 8e75bf1954 to Yujin’s 8ff144dc7f emotions at 82f88fdfa3 some point. Occasionally, it would 24ec5a3723 lean against him, 0226362a52 and though it 0f317b02b7 seemed like a b43cf14537 simple gesture, Yujin 5b3ef4dcd9 took it as 8dac21523d Bayu’s way of 10478339dc offering comfort or a2e91bb28e affection.ca07e313544d4e77

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Taking a 24d937bc76 small cloth 5f3bbf036b from his ef5f7ab959 worn leather e5ccd39bee pouch, Yujin 8acda49f53 wrapped it aea6a95f83 around his d5224ed756 finger and 62f53e622a inspected the f316a5c264 herb roots. Thankfully, they were 90f85ecba7 undamaged. Gently placing the herbs 004c216e2a into his pouch, he 70311de622 stroked Bayu’s head lightly.b780fbab385186a8

“Bayu, I’ll 89462615ed see you a7d6f10011 later. I have work to 7ef7ede1db do now.”c09bf33a3ed265b6

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Despite the minor injury, 665fa5bdcc Yujin felt happy about 30925f02ce the successful harvest. He had 43c4093a5f been anxious 5e6ce53b10 after days e22bdf434f without finding 1b0ab6a00f herbs. Rising to his 354e348ab0 feet, he bid ee8d788bf6 Bayu farewell and e20b373265 descended the mountain.5106684fd7f313c2

“Everyone, prepare and clean 0c8f356cb5 the huts assigned to 1a4f512afd the returning warriors. This time, 13caa4dfe6 there are a6d5ff69f0 many casualties 49b2f868a4 and injured c69895dd2f among them, 4fdd780ff3 so be 1b357f4f7b careful not 0c3101de04 to provoke da9c168ad3 the warriors’ 5e08d07417 tempers,” Aunt 4b329a6a7f instructed from 85a57b07b2 the back 4415774791 of the 91a2ca1f2e gathering.e20ad840cb729250

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Hearing about the f446135cbc wounded, Yujin’s head 08f79b0738 shot up. Many injured? Could it be…? But before he could fe3a87355e think further, Aunt walked 01be5350ef off, deep in discussion 4b323fbacb with the healer about 20c6a3fe0f something.e543965fa14d6215

The others 7825ceed77 dispersed to c6c71bc8d4 their tasks, a1485d36b0 but Yujin 9695582360 lingered, hoping 5e442b6352 someone might 47fe35f4d0 mention the 99d5faa2da recent battle. Moments like this dd9ebaf52d made him resent ba1151ee94 his lack of 97016fef7d social connections in dc495ca0d4 the tribe. If only he 93885b6449 had forged stronger d1622063a2 relationships, he might 2845534af7 have heard something 27337858e2 useful.f100247a5eab90bb

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Yujin couldn’t just approach 3d4700fafa people he barely spoke 54e29a79d0 to and ask about 95c9b4049e the warriors’ situation. Restlessly pacing, he spotted 770f545f55 Chi-chi carrying a pile 78f84cb40c of cloth and immediately 21c899317a ran toward her.8762eb98326541ac

“Chi-chi! Have you 12196dba23 heard anything 3cca99b4f0 about this 57c85c1641 recent battle?”2f067cc764dfce53

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“The recent battle? What about it?”10db8ec08ae6f38e

“Aunt said earlier that there were a lot of injuries…”19e19aed77a2bc7c

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“Well, yeah, so 28d4a837c2 I heard.”ff85084b190b6ef8

“Do you know who d566f587e0 got hurt?”ac12f9f41821e11b

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“I wouldn’t know ab43192655 that. Only the healers or 4af61fd137 Aunt might know details 9362d8c7d1 like that.”36a8b72ae7926471

“Really? But have you d86a5b8045 heard anything else?”2f2a6a08c3fbfe9f

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“Just rumors. People are saying it d60ef0131f was a much bigger 7fd21f932f battle than the leader 69d948b594 had anticipated. Apparently, a lot of 4dfc9613ed warriors died too. The warrior f1218d6b9c wives are 492cd434e8 in chaos 7bf423aea4 right now. Anyway, everyone’s on 4b3da12f83 edge because of 02baea541d all the casualties c0645e5f06 and injuries, so 55d205f596 be careful.”7310edf951b074eb

“A lot of warriors… died?”14fcaff11aefe61b

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“Yeah, that’s what 786df3a71d they’re saying. So, you 4f5f9c9e47 be careful f3a6fdd895 too. You know 3c46de5bef how they a629708652 are—when they’re aca4a25de2 in pain, 4efd425fce they take 8f29ef96e7 it out 6502ba1120 on innocent 46c2a7a5ed people. Especially people like 45efefa6b2 us, who they 6b1b95039b think they can 3b504e2a39 push around. Just stay 0bd5e101b5 away from aecc0501a8 the warriors’ 6fd43012c2 huts if fbbdcf1da1 you can. Still, at least we 95b2e9e447 won the battle, right? That’s good news.”cd70b0cf137ad2e3

The Mounted 1faf5c7161 Tribe had ce2d73b370 won the 30efd27781 battle. Most people 26b56897ed in the 57fc08a4dc settlement were 88f8f36daf thrilled about 1ff25695bc their victory, 1f67ff36d0 but Yujin’s 5747df210f heart sank 0eb8112316 at the 4ea33ded35 mention of 5c59242bd1 the many 57adf4d4dc dead warriors. He wanted 4fc246c69e desperately to 4b96cc88f7 know who 4a66bbdef5 had died 5adec93187 and who 79e1fb8df7 was injured, fce605a8ec but even c9520d118e Chi-chi, who 9f5e3ee972 was well-informed 1937a7a98a about tribal 57200b3ab7 matters, didn’t 933a5c74f9 know much. Yujin’s shoulders drooped.180b516edb89db96

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“…Yeah, you’re right. Winning is a good thing.”d04a13ee4e74a99c

“Exactly. But why ae47ed3193 are you 83bd499ff9 so curious? Are you worried about 3d4b1712a6 someone?”4299b9d2a08b1561

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“What? No, not really.”f3eb536eafdbe18d

“Come on, dd73086771 who is 4990efbf3c it? At least tell me e122614e00 their name. I’ll try to 1f73eff15c find out for 9faaf51230 you.”f05de3784ba83678

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“It’s fine. Don’t worry about b165416e75 it. See you later.”f252498b73f6d7ea

Yujin waved off her 5521772676 concern with a forced 16a2c81014 smile. He couldn’t bbace8fe52 ask Chi-chi 2abfa25248 about Bart. Not only b36f1e0fae was Bart 77b15fdb5c no ordinary ac456dd5bb warrior but 6eede4f3dd one of 24761f2642 the leader’s 79e943c7c7 direct warriors. There was no 70bf69be31 way Chi-chi would 346593d591 have any information db8caedf10 about him. Besides, Yujin didn’t want d6b2d83ac8 to risk her prying cdbc05cd26 if he mentioned Bart’s 59515f7dca name. He would cc3892451d just have d7706ff282 to wait 0928a77002 until the 7236ce7d2f warriors returned 4c7af4f328 to find 1ce8acd9bf out for 76b097f261 himself.0eeec371391fa3b9

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The settlement bustled with 24ec80b0f5 people tidying and preparing 181eaad5aa the warriors’ huts. When the c20f519491 warriors returned 92b8c68a2d from battle, a111f5b53e they usually 715ec7bf20 spent several 5778ab5209 days confined 0fb28a88bf to their 278c5e5128 huts, recovering e51fc8ca18 from wounds 1b5db3e16f and exhaustion. It was 3585bd8e0a the commoners’ a09a2db69d job to 3d7cfbbcd8 clean and becceae110 prepare their 4f49d10e74 huts for fdb0b32b16 their arrival.f08fc423862d2975

Like everyone da38a99399 else, Yujin 55fb6bfe78 worked tirelessly. After moving stacks of 2628580391 dried leather, he paused 5cb322ee1e to catch his breath, ba9ad59170 his gaze drifting toward e1143a5330 Bart’s hut. Confirming that no 0dc86007c7 one was around, 3cf9951c16 he quietly slipped fa7c99eddb inside.c8cf378f63d1dc5c

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The circular latticework decorations ca82dc48d0 along the walls caught 84ac6a9dff his eye as he 306dd29201 moved toward the innermost f9d9878194 part of the hut. The spotless 5ca37b3a15 table and 114cae3c3c freshly stocked 1f77aee98f brazier suggested ca04d85065 that someone 662614e3e5 had already d87b182f70 cleaned the 109acd7dde place.6eb8574f9754e2ec

Glancing back to 49a6fe750f ensure no one 6a91635608 was at the 5e292eeef0 entrance, Yujin reached 0a9a7c14e1 out to touch a9c4d155a3 Bart’s clothes hanging e0ea547031 on the wall. He remembered a98549b1da Bart wearing 7c073e7ce4 this outfit 064091b311 a few 6ceae34741 times. Stroking the 48c370633a leather-like material, 020896fa33 Yujin lifted 23f98dbc1d it and d3cab63766 pressed it a4ba193d38 to his 37625c8981 face.2f7a455d956a542d

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“Bart’s scent.”99b1e60c95a89e75

Bart always smelled 1257a4e958 sharp—like metal, blood, d85b104167 and sometimes the aebb25ca24 dust from riding. It was a 72a0473859 mix of heavy, ef3e2eae6d piercing scents, just 55cad86402 like Bart himself.458ec7a9f9be0aeb

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Yujin buried his face 6e98a2ed16 deeply into Bart’s clothes, 10256b1e90 taking a long breath. The familiar scent spread f7f90abdc4 through him, sending pleasant 71c44f8fa7 shivers up his spine.fc6f796e539c6451

In the tribe, coupling 4790a2a976 was typically between men 83d881b82d and women, but male-to-male 84ef85d867 relations weren’t unheard of. Some warriors indulged in a72819db9b such relationships for pleasure, 5e489d2c64 while others sought release 4bdfd265a5 without having a wife.d6b4c0e54816f432

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Yujin had first 64c283e6c1 learned about such 1a0f319906 relationships in the 9927222040 Mounted Tribe. Though he had never 04b7bdee5a considered them relevant to ae6f71ea71 him, lately, fleeting, unrealistic 8a9547dc1c thoughts had begun to 6b8ce8b40b cross his mind. He wished 3a418578e4 Bart might 3c65e1efc2 engage in 6208a44f2c such relationships—and cc071c6551 that Yujin d30a5c5dae could be 089388cabd the one 424e3ffff3 Bart chose. It was 935cb6bb59 an impossible 7469910991 dream, but 9ff0eb00e6 once the d8bf148f14 thought had bb12aa1d5d taken root, 07256ef92d he couldn’t cc4efe2158 stop it fa4a1cea20 from growing.7d79e2f6537d7152

Breathing deeply, Yujin slumped 8fd2601dc6 to the floor, rubbing c32c90e75f his face against Bart’s 3c43cf3374 clothes. The scent was different 84316b709b from when he had dbf009b26b served Bart meals, more fa356731cd intimate, as if Bart 99c9f82d86 himself were there.c5a503f6ee50c3cf

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“Bart,” Yujin 8cf69e88f1 whispered softly.ecae7f3403d46dbb

A warmth spread 567d3102fb around Yujin’s navel, 7565cbb34c and heat coursed 78f3f39639 through his body. A tingling 4b0ccfb1c6 sensation started 200bb6cc07 at his 471cad1974 tailbone, traveling af10f5b2a9 to his e9d655bdec groin, where 13ae7ab02b his manhood 75e37ed016 twitched as c326459c27 if he 2e0160c85d needed to 65d5bc17d8 relieve himself. He had never 9ca67f5bea felt like this c09f1df414 before, but lately, fea4dabcd5 every time he 1eebde19a2 thought about Bart, c4318b312c his body burned.38a2d06dd07a80ab

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The vague desire to 7ce715def6 be held by Bart 1646845a38 lingered, though Yujin wasn’t 1f4c14d4a5 entirely sure what he 7c9d78ad57 wanted Bart to do. He only 840caeb1bd knew he 1c998dbd6b wished Bart ef56dc8677 would look 878edb192d at him 8e1de5240d again like 570e8d84d2 he had cc3587119e that night.1c19c23f5fd9e6f6

“The direct warriors’ huts 80aa2e23f4 have already been cleaned 4fb77e3e1c earlier,” came a voice 777f30f5f3 from outside the hut.5f727b44ec898f21

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Startled, Yujin 6e72035e03 jerked his c4ceb10895 head up 4d5054c17a and stared 00356ca650 at the 4c21c8d987 entrance.ee2569c21045724f

“Better check again just 7b3793bd35 in case. Don’t want to get a274b23dc3 beaten if there’s an ca7a89dc3a issue.”072f3e1bddd60ddd

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“Damn. Those brutes, calling a674cd2b33 themselves warriors…”0e2009045d40572b

“Kappa, are you 2029876d94 crazy? What if someone 91c1ed9031 hears you? You’ll get yourself killed.”f431e56f95622853

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“Let them hear. Parading around like warriors 8d431fca34 when all they do 8358dda8e9 is kill people. And those ‘direct warriors’? Call them what they 4a09738ed2 are—killers.”a37be9aa2eaf78be

“Kappa, lower your voice.”6cf5fe9c072fbe59

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“I used eeac5df6a7 to be 69dce45203 the next a7f76efd93 leader in 1e5e593750 my own 5c654378a7 tribe, you aec37cfe08 know. It’s these 838eef4d2f bastards that a5b3e5ef29 brought me 7266ba7e8b to this 54ffc6d698 point. And from the 9ef540664f way these so-called 97d08a63c1 warriors act, I’m 4920081b4a better than most 12a21e6d02 of them. Maybe I c65c192793 should ask 10661b261a to become cf4d58815a a warrior. Then I 97f48c24ea wouldn’t have 428b87a105 to do f1085429f4 this filthy, b8c132009d pointless work.”7ca3df14cf5300f8

“Fine, fine. Just check the cba40d6f65 hut. I’ll start from 1c6a9d729e the other side.”7b6b77e453c2d86f

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Holding his breath, 26a90d8dd0 Yujin watched the 47ebef4ff7 shadows flicker outside, 8aacb4b024 dreading they might abbf8f4aa6 enter Bart’s hut. Fortunately, the man stepped 38867a49e2 into the neighboring hut f7b1c1be09 instead. Once the b18d26f2d5 area was 1407d07268 quiet, Yujin 10634f5af2 returned Bart’s f1eb224006 clothes to 7630edec3a their place 2572b3bce1 on the 7657f6864b wall and 8618e73622 slipped out 8cca429f4b cautiously.8266367d406943ec

He managed to get de2e2837f8 away without encountering anyone 7ff60a5209 and exhaled the breath d3b92b89de he’d been holding. The adrenaline 54dc2d4154 had quelled 81f2da9b73 the tension 2e46ab0474 in his f2c2acf94a body, and 5c30b80613 the ache fb7f616779 in his aadbd2f516 groin had e8b7bf77b8 disappeared, leaving e532b79c6b him feeling f5cd180346 strangely deflated. Yujin paused and 8305842c08 looked down at 561528abaa himself.0133e50beb96fcb7

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It wasn’t his 5a51a6c649 first time seeing 3200589730 a naked woman’s 3bc60f1aea body in the e458df3b15 communal huts or ed298d61c4 the forest. He’d witnessed bouncing b1cb8349e8 breasts and shafts 9effb3b4a0 plunging into slick 1040b41ab5 folds countless times.e6ba2b42dd67ebb2

Despite seeing so much, e51a5e849f his body had never 960be07a29 reacted. He had a61d479118 never wondered b361feddeb what it e401cf0efc felt like 15d43bb8ac to couple 48cc751def with someone. But lately, whenever Bart 13a8e07db3 crossed his mind, his 528244633c body responded. The sound of 484bccecc8 Bart’s voice, the c4d0ac5b5a scent of his 9c42cb539f body, and the 994cdaa91b memory of his 882a3ceb33 kiss lingered and 85b41a294a stirred something within 45129354b4 Yujin.fa362d688fde1947

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He figured 48bdaed023 he might 94ec48a27c live his 4520d268b3 life without 183c29ff46 a partner, 70b36390b4 dying alone. It was 0ec2531671 a bittersweet 0467af167c thought, but 9072ac82c6 one he b9db646215 had grown b448d88145 accustomed to.64fae67ffb0d475e

* * *bc57d21fd63267ff

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Clip-clop, clip-clop.9c251c2e10e7d660

The sound ee1e14c276 of hooves 4489b5694f mingled with 3f565f4483 groans of 259a00cc65 pain, echoing 7d7db9c917 in the cb09f5e334 air.26b18bdeba3c3f00

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“Quiet,” came the leader’s 3eaef9a015 cold voice.4aa78be3851dfdc4

Namta, who 77b28e8ae9 had been 562d36f085 groaning, clenched a9c24c5461 his mouth fb07d08e14 shut at 1fd670591f once.791d6bff7d0b9c3f

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“Because of you, eac1aa8644 Guda and Rumji e9f20f2dd8 are dead. If you feel b4db11fff5 even a shred 02d57b741c of remorse, keep 99333d9c4a your mouth shut.”cf83ca3f3da7c3fe

During the battle, 9f7324d1c4 Namta had panicked 012e9e3aa7 and fled, only a64014399e to be captured 68c442b347 by the enemy 86ec4d23a7 as a hostage. Two of the leader’s 2fbb6723bc favored warriors had died 7cfc9bb754 rescuing him, along with 8050afd7af dozens of Mounted Tribe 603f30d433 warriors. When Namta returned, ff4963d78c barely alive thanks 279d8cf87f to the heavy d0cf3addef sacrifices, the leader’s 60b38cfca2 first words to 36c616f935 him were, “Pathetic.”452431896960bf85

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“…I’m sorry, d22f283e04 Father,” Namta 10ce2f456a mumbled.8387779d8922c740

“Tsk.”b98abdf8869ad947

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Clicking his tongue, 8a273c12c9 the leader cast e4343aa85f a sharp glare 1b75e4c430 at Namta, making 16ce10f374 him shrink in e78fb8360c on himself. No matter 3a0619a078 how much f64140cbb3 he tried 7054c41d93 to endure, c371c5295c the pain bd97899395 from the 4a208222f5 wounds on 7f2138fe52 his limbs 0e53f866ca and the 4e3f97d350 beatings he 4bb0d8aa2e had received eaa7dda099 was unbearable. He longed to 89e04ee6a4 return to the 6d4769a4e6 settlement and receive 3e1dde15d9 treatment from the cb883cd36b healer.1eddceaf29ce2f5b

But with only 1a1ddcbbb7 one healer and 6a02ca62d7 dozens of injured abe5d94ab9 warriors, Namta knew 871db98008 he would have b666a4c087 to wait his 86cec00304 turn. Still, as f79978e1ad the leader’s ebb2f7b2ae son, he 13d776eeed was confident feb4e3a5e6 he would af72f6d03c be treated 82b3009be6 first.f775a299b64bff3e

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What frustrated him b4dc46498a even more than fd43950b15 the pain was e03d049b32 the gnawing hunger 3f666ab9f6 in his stomach. He hadn’t said anything, 2f296155fd but food had been eb85a56742 scarce during the battle, be3086a9bf leaving him perpetually dissatisfied. And during his time bca2628cdf as a hostage, he 574beb48f2 had nearly starved.7d167d319f5b185e

“Father, may I go to the healer as soon as we arrive at the settlement? The pain is unbearable, and I’ve lost feeling in my leg,” Namta asked, his voice trembling.2b779c2b6e74e6c8

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“…”4717dfa1ddb8463b

“Also, Father, could you 207d0bcdee tell Aunt to bring 399b85684d some meat to my 46f52b3b5d hut first? If I ask, ce09179762 she’ll insist I 1b60435b63 wait my turn. I haven’t eaten 912bc65cc1 in nearly three 1432c26375 days, and I 8722261237 have no strength e65d53e484 left. Please? If it’s your command, 8a7a65e505 she’ll—”ecbc417064a564fe

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“You call that a 429cdf3e3f request?” the leader erupted, 370566b87c his voice sharp and 02424ece78 furious.941b44d5f2c06016

The fact that Namta edd543b0e0 had fled during the ccc31eb714 battle and gotten captured d4c67190a8 was already shameful. That two 2363b5c2c1 of the 85cda25738 leader’s closest 9dd7324c47 warriors had 112d47df36 died saving 35ca171f80 him only 5f4d9362ec added to 6456a58e47 the disgrace. If the 66185cb6cd leader had 45079b7415 another son, 46e5d73869 he would b0779fccdb have abandoned c4b8aecc6e Namta long 4507aa6ab1 ago. But as the leader 693d91c2d9 of the Mounted Tribe, 09264f5175 he couldn’t risk jeopardizing 3aa2384ec8 his position without an 7937dce27e heir.6136e2e61fc2afd5

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And now 1812a74dda this useless bace61a193 son was 09fa133f01 whining about 25c5d242c6 hunger and 9a17aa3a27 meat? The leader’s blood f6860bfbd6 boiled at the 59c8d24382 sheer audacity. He glared 106d57c366 at Namta, 676aead73e his disgust 15c2c2de5e palpable, before 50bc301d5a his gaze b06ae3ebd9 shifted to ac1b2fe438 Bart, who bc108f52c2 was leading abf2a73c45 the warriors 2f3713f10c ahead.897c231967135678

“If only I had sent Pashi…”922ccbd20e2b7a1f

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