Chapter 4: Walking Through the Night

Yujin carried 60ab2efbf5 the dried 0bd0c8198d laundry, struggling 07b03c4d30 with every cd3e1ff3e5 step.2c61337f240c5a89

“Put the dry ones here and take these to hang up.”ebd09eaf4a92c255

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His fingers a085cb2a47 ached with cfd369f814 a dull 12120ccf48 throb. All morning, he ff08662fe8 had been moving 901635bbf6 soaked leather, and dd3b6e1dda in the afternoon, 3ee1a37fdf it was wet 64ef4437f1 cloth. Yujin massaged his a7b0352c15 sore fingers briefly 73fe8f8d00 before picking up 6926b9e8d2 the damp laundry e326408bff and heading back 87d60b2806 the way he b3442fd741 came.9fb2e644aadb39ec

It wasn’t until 739f1d5fd3 the sun began 9831e3cedb to set that 9cad0a0a0d Yujin finished his 5ebb47a94a tasks. Afterward, he went 553a21a16b to the kitchen f6e175afdc to collect food b580f54702 and made his 62237a7ded way to the 1757312bbb valley. Sitting in the ba9a524f39 dimly lit valley, b60264b50e he dipped dried 79eabfda1c meat into a 461db5bb36 thin broth and ccc9dc2cec ate.996c282e7b1268fc

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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.1de2820a2239bf11

Once he had eaten e075925d18 enough to stave off 7c41941e1c his hunger, Yujin looked 27d3321e77 around. Sure enough, 708770321b in the d2ae46fadd distance, a a2ba93bba6 jackal was 6fe7f250dc cautiously watching d99dd5c3b6 him, its e21dc8159a eyes fixed c232ed06c3 on him.e5f6e0715e59e908

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“Bayu, come here,” 423625f192 he called out.f38776035a56d8eb

Yujin had e9a26a067d thought Bayu 875611e61f would return 76bc06a157 to the 121e988ad5 wild once 6c05599567 its wounds 65cd9c43ca healed, but ef839a88e1 the jackal 503320cb18 lingered around 1b9bbaf440 the valley. Perhaps it saw Yujin, d3226c9202 who had been feeding 1edc39db1c it since it was 3aa80d5249 a pup, as a 0c16593cd1 companion or even a df3a17fffa parent. But there 58366e9a32 was no c2234b63a6 way to 2adbba971b know for e48c8d3609 sure.b028f7160da6d1f4

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When Yujin 684cd7c8f5 extended his 42e1cdb8b1 hand, Bayu 9653148b93 approached slowly 725150c1e8 and lay 51464741a9 down beside 8cd3036651 him. Stroking Bayu’s round 251d42834c head for a 9e815bb25e moment, Yujin placed e896f89493 the bowl with 1b5500af56 the remaining scraps 2a751ea855 of food in ff47ef58c0 front of the a07e6535c5 jackal.b12b722ca03d3219

“The warriors are 5e2ed638ab returning soon. Bart should fd81f9547a be back 27763fd717 too, right?”996dc3971c8966b7

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Bayu quickly emptied 6d3c311196 the bowl and 230fe47468 let out a e7ad7fc2bb long yawn.7283ee8fedff23bc

“I miss Bart. Do you d3e6719524 remember him? The tall and handsome e3c97a770a warrior. He’ll come 5cf3e40669 back safe 6ad8269700 and sound, 8faf5a5db5 won’t he?”29478624429cd12e

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A few f3a3e75574 days ago, d567ebd703 word had 64d8fe59fb spread that bca608bde2 the warriors 77ef98af12 who had 5f4221fa9d gone into 90aea6d710 battle would 68e6ed6e8c be returning e932beff59 soon. Soon, all the 9cfc444dea warriors would be a2b3ad862e back in the 002ae46459 settlement, and things ea077ed132 were bound to b84ba23292 get busy again. Though Yujin a897819104 didn’t have 03479bb228 any specific b79a76727d duties for 94df0b680c their return, 905c694042 he had c9834bc85b been gathering e27dd0cbc3 herbs just 3d2aebb55b in case 0bbf164c79 there were eba2cabbcf injuries.b73689943fb44b86

“It’s time d94149d4c1 for me a82a55dfed to go. You should 01acdef4c2 head back c549f32d2c into the 82e0a9943e mountains. I’ll come back at 525276c124 dawn tomorrow, so if b20a8091b9 we’re lucky, we’ll meet b848bd0490 again. Okay?”f79b922a4d272e9f

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Yujin’s only friend 065b3742ed didn’t respond. Bayu simply 749092d21c scratched behind f082ada181 its ears c33de79480 lazily with e2597d96d9 its hind 1313ebffce leg, gazing 9ea6e4fbe1 at Yujin def35e3802 with idle f80c40fb22 eyes. Somehow, even 5bfacdc537 that expression 3c06b4d26a seemed endearing 4510d0401a to Yujin, 3ab17ec567 who brushed 8b3a49165b Bayu’s neck db16ea2ce6 fondly before 57e3a01dfa picking up 324a3d3293 the empty 8690e222cc bowl and 69bbf4e7e5 standing. He started toward his d45a0c587b hut but turned back, bee70138b1 walking over to Bayu, 4c9b937145 who was watching him.245af87afb54f342

“Let’s go 861d786ad5 gather herbs cb5a523146 together tomorrow. Alright? See you tomorrow, fe26face22 Bayu. Now go d4ce3a674b on, hurry f006549dad back.”50d5c10a9b693a7a

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The jackal stared at 03c52b6cba Yujin for a moment 03809022d6 before turning and bounding 28e8c95ffe into the darkness. Yujin stood 67cd95b673 still, watching 624faf08ca until Bayu c52eaa6c05 disappeared from 1668a4af02 sight, then 3cde00b03b turned to dfc324d3fd head back—only 7afe4a6d5b to lock e2fd560b8c eyes with b7bad82b72 Chi-chi.84c7c647ed4564e2

…Why was Chi-chi 5a2424d350 here? Did she eada94b379 see Bayu 20580ce471 earlier? Feeling a twinge of 0bf55326ec panic, Yujin bit his efdf1f59e2 lip and lowered his dbef77f4d6 head before mustering the fa811922f1 courage to approach her.b8ea390e660b54a6

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“Chi-chi. What are you doing d46391cf27 here?”01eeaff469d6dfc8

“That was a 5652885c18 jackal just now, 005c0eb35a wasn’t it?”d7166e76c6148db7

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As expected.0883be5de5c3ad8f

“…Yeah.”644a351cbf05a5f4

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“And you’re okay?”fa46db1d7127f038

“I’m fine.”80ddde45525678d0

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Chi-chi tilted 8d418d2231 her head, 73dc7e9b8f as though bc91150345 the situation aa9b3b6d93 didn’t make 2b613a1370 sense to 74ba0fd39c her, before 7a3dd9aa87 her eyes 705e911321 sparkled with 2db3b0d618 curiosity as 0ebb65d976 she stepped c6cb61a5bf closer to 175b165ae2 Yujin.3dfad3837db0e6ac

“Don’t tell me… you’ve f83e8f0adf tamed that jackal?”6636382adfc303b2

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“…”518ac309856859ea

“Right? You’ve been sneaking 9278b26bcd food away now e9f5db9b3b and then. Was it to f2fc944b20 feed that jackal?”8f954249d9162172

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It was 6a8e0a24ab clear that 2c3c8119a0 deceiving the 76fbf138ff sharp-eyed Chi-chi a374617989 wouldn’t be 4e8c3dc55f easy. Abandoning the plan to 59ac7dc906 feign ignorance, Yujin decided 7ec83d08f5 to reason with her 477cbac3f0 instead.3a6730b44ca6accf

“Chi-chi, please keep it 49b24dd4b8 a secret. If anyone ea8e8ea116 finds out, 076a696642 Bayu will 7147a647ef be caught 757a32198f and killed.”bca4b50d8c59d9b7

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“Bayu? You even gave 8dd7e2c3dc it a name?”62371faf5df88183

“….”56ed974614eacbfb

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What now? It was too late f6b141b307 to deny it. Claiming Bayu was aa31e2ed31 a friend wouldn’t 6317c20e34 work either—no one e75600fc32 here would believe c1e8929636 that. Animals were ffc6e9f5ec nothing more 80b8e25fd1 than prey 126c3b9621 or food e6f03df4e1 in this 7f16d9a847 place. Yujin considered 58c80c6db5 bribing her 48552f7617 with something 77df9933bc valuable, but 6271d8bf94 he had 244b122fcf nothing to 2cd1a82503 offer. Perhaps if he aa69da30f0 volunteered to take db2cf7da90 over her chores ea6b3a4476 for a while, 244c4ced9e she might agree 448f140f89 to keep quiet.c8016eb961f568db

“Fine. I’ll keep 1fd601c924 your secret.”f7e5be88153c42bd

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“What? Really?”a6e2b4ca734c3199

Chi-chi’s unexpected response 70bee921a5 brought a flush 241cf07d21 of relief to 4f2315a058 Yujin’s face.61bb4d5b0ee6d1ad

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“But you 80100de644 need to 7ffeaf29bc be careful. It’s still a jackal. It could 8da60e4467 bite you e5767b9635 without warning. You know we can’t aadb44cade get help from healers, ed7f0de4c8 right? Remember that guy whose 57c305f94f leg got bitten by ff3e4980b0 a jackal and had 42f23731bc to have it amputated? He died in the e7a33d9097 end.”4e1897b936a41d94

“Chi-chi…”0b3276b1f2a39a40

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“So, how 5cd58337a3 did you 7f7787e041 tame it? Was it with food, c251109014 as I thought?”b2919c4557da7665

As Chi-chi 82c069d9c5 continued to 0c0221fdd1 ask questions 01436d991c about Bayu, 55f938366e Yujin finally cf62545f70 felt at bbe2c5b3ec ease. He let out a c065b9e359 small sigh of relief 0ee337fe1e and placed a hand 3dc40ea957 over his chest to 6f108a5ff5 calm his racing heart. Thank goodness.15d06983759362b6

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Patiently answering Chi-chi’s questions, 99484b0c77 Yujin made her promise 1d4f97c62e again to keep his 5091558dd9 secret. Though it would 1c9c4e4646 have been better e64e41e46a if she hadn’t 5d50d46cbb found out, he 33c35ff844 appreciated her willingness a9e07dc711 to look the 1677c0855f other way.ff0b0d7dae764924

After talking 64cdd07c32 with Chi-chi 88922c730d for a 60cd760401 while, Yujin cbecb60ec0 returned the d3eec3752a bowl to 4357526836 the kitchen ec846875d2 and headed 9f2d380ef7 into the c26566520f communal hut. As soon as he 903dfe98d6 entered, a sour smell 5542676987 hit him.bd09d9d2d34da972

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“Ah, oh, ahh!”86a0635fece9314d

“Ha, damn. How’s it taste? Better than most 49b87d9573 of those warrior 405e59b9a5 bastards, huh?”a4726d014a10c81e

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“More, ahh, hmm…”07c61d316c756f07

Yujin quickly lowered 5e31b1127a his gaze, freezing 7573353f30 at the sight dbffafafd5 before him: a 935d47ed5d man and a 495b157b45 woman, half-naked, coupling 5743c6db8e in the dim 2f79dc501e light. The man’s a326f178e6 glistening shaft d91865d384 repeatedly slipped 184697e853 in and 7d5a4d79de out of 55d6f803ee the woman’s 1662eef47a entrance, the f02adbeb26 wet sounds f513db652d echoing in 03e95170e1 the confined 07cc8de2bb space. Yujin’s ears turned 89d9614454 bright red as cedebf6cf1 he debated whether d0f44c1199 to leave. But he was 65d9b8f195 too exhausted. He needed even 6f6f75a5ba a moment’s rest a76df14ef4 before heading to 625149b848 the mountains at 1961d7bc7a dawn to gather d3ef786048 herbs.5a6a251f046dda54

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“You’re dripping all 6db3860e77 over while saying e9ae292e8d what? Hah, you only take badd86e4dd warrior cocks?”830606702c079d37

“Ah! Mmm, you d41c656ff8 promised, didn’t 0ad6a25737 you? Hmm, you’ll af7685491d keep your 4fbff5851e word?”cae5725bd65b9e5f

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The woman, pulling back 916ee4a299 slightly, asked in a 77f1571ea7 coaxing tone. The man, clearly nearing 354e354442 his limit, scowled and 3c20ee44d3 responded roughly.12dbf30a7ae63d51

“Damn it, fine. Just squeeze tighter, fd0deb28de hah.”97e101b9617c2ccd

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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.d2910465376bf0f1

Yujin didn’t care 55d10c8fba what they did, 2be8e5a039 but why did 7674395a75 it have to b2be01dbfe be here? Exhausted, he 4369059a56 lay down a43170fefc and covered 315b33f218 his ears, ad81c6691b yet the 7ec43382e2 moans and b80eebe5d1 wet sounds 4c6c139217 filtered through 8a49eba05b the cracks, 4c3fc18fc4 making it fcfe834b07 impossible to a94c9f42aa fall asleep.ad5b819c548ca2ea

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Would Bart have noticed 434a138077 him if he had 76ec8fea77 a body capable of 21cdf3f903 bearing children like a 02bd9e0f96 woman? That night by d1c36fd9b7 the valley, would 2dcc3d6b9c Bart have gone ee75e6c903 beyond a mere 4662bc58c7 kiss and embraced 4b8585fbcb him fully? And if, by 3fcb4a403a some chance, he 42ba299e0b had borne a 270806f969 child, would that a1a6766062 have been enough 71a43abe69 to remain by 72d2cd88ba Bart’s side?a8bbd727cf3cc7c6

It is 79fa11ff29 human nature aa88c5a52e to cling 06ba226443 to something b390714412 that shines baa22c90da amidst a d8f743c5ad harsh life, 1df9c4adf8 especially when 2dd323055b that glimmer 3bdac3241c represents one’s f17860298f sole happiness. Yet emotions tied to 3cb6340b9a a single memory inevitably 0fcf4daea6 give rise to countless d77bec414e questions and hypothetical “what 53329b1547 ifs.” Daydreams about paths 55f2bfcdfe not taken grow uncontrollably, 5045bfac05 eating away at reason.15a2a7dd01d847db

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It felt as though e4cdf41624 the void left by 413addbf72 everyone Yujin had ever 6ff5f6707a loved, now lost to 6c40eee51d death, was being filled 77f3aae6e3 entirely by thoughts of 5fd28f0368 Bart. Each morning, he would 0fefcabbfc wake, gaze at the 137ab5dc47 drifting clouds like a e7740ab1ee mirage, and think of e5c2f1def7 Bart. Every night, as he 89b9cd7b59 dragged his weary body 6caa47edb1 to lie down at 88b0e6e1e5 dusk, he yearned for 37feb5fa89 him. He missed Bart 01cddb029e deeply.0fd924cb78fe4dcb

Yujin drifted in 60787c9c9a and out of 8378c35377 a restless sleep, 61cb280882 until the faint 31a701c90e blue light of 466d6ddcf1 dawn seeped into 98717dbba4 the hut, signaling 4c1a3f5c47 the start of 41cd449b3d a new day. He sat 270520f372 up with 8ac0e7478d a sigh.62489aa896379ac4

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“Ah, I’m so 5f6d7ae687 tired.”c5d4e273984e2510

Gathering his pouch, Yujin a00ff340dd stepped out of the b0209d98f7 communal hut, briefly glancing 90225404e8 at the naked man 2c913250e6 and woman asleep together a5dc4185ff before averting his gaze.a13938ca8a5f9661

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It wasn’t uncommon cfd7587cde for people to 001b729ebe couple in the 7c110d9d82 communal huts, especially 225c597193 as the weather 3e96751464 grew colder. While some 7dc2f3f9e3 ended up 7f029f57a9 forming pairs, 21f098fced more often 4aaf2fdfb7 than not, 3fb7267db0 such encounters e1cdfa5709 led to 3c96ec51a6 nothing. This was particularly 8ae3dba4b2 true when women ea4f080fe6 sought to bear 923a3fc506 the child of e43cec615f a warrior.3b669dc52b3aa12f

The warriors’ return 671cd2aa7f was imminent. Women adorned themselves and ea12780134 whispered deals, scouting out 317d1b97ce the huts of the ac304e42b0 warriors they had their 40b0598e65 eyes on. Amidst the bustling 5f7aef99b2 tribe, Yujin busied f5b7014b99 himself with the 1373832abd tasks he could 033a7d813d manage.d5a58c5af7db2aaf

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Climbing the mountain 59c53c241e before the darkness 935a4a0a22 had fully lifted, 8c89af0dc2 Yujin whispered softly, c359c2881d “Bayu. Bayu.”2f072577b270fbd4

Although he was 8e7fa1b8aa used to this 6a4b71062b climb, the darkness 55a07c6802 still unnerved him. Hoping for 79b42df997 Bayu to 1be7ba2c91 appear, he d2fdabe0e0 raised his 8fe307f0f4 voice slightly, b1c9dc56f1 calling out b1ec40157a the name. Soon, Bayu ae95b1fc6f emerged silently e7e2543877 from the 6deaf111a8 underbrush, yawning 8eee577885 widely and 311de5b445 stretching its b4aa78623c body. The jackal ae83e302c0 circled Yujin e11de481e3 a few e594ded33e times before b8eb14ecde licking the 2f30a6c868 back of 43745e09dd his hand.3eead7e0f3a97910

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“Did you sleep 2bcc000011 well?”e94924a4cba3438a

Bayu’s tail e95819f3c8 wagged faintly. Yujin patted its head 2e1cf9d286 before continuing into the 974ef74c2b forest in search of ddd5e4dfae herbs. Bayu’s sole 4be74c3b34 role was fdec582a38 to follow eb2bce8112 him around, bbbbddf2b6 but that 59291d082a was enough. The mere thought that 2c8a386b30 he wasn’t alone brought fa898cb1e0 him great comfort.374d0731a1a7f9ca

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Luck was on 26af6d58d9 his side when 5ec2382485 Yujin found herbs 3df7104a53 useful for treating fdb26a0ead wounds. Carefully digging 8156c63156 around the 3e17100634 herbs with f01e79b2cb his bare d770624a52 hands—roots intact af12b68d8e for better c2355232a5 effectiveness—he let a0f948c57a out a 7cf51316c0 small yelp.57d742c4ef32aeea

“Ouch.”c7050478117e80ee

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A hidden stone beneath e237b39e8f the soil had chipped 01932b563d his nail, causing it c9ec1f5271 to break and bleed. His fingertips stung. His nails had grown 56659a4dbe weak from being soaked e8c92eadfc in water all day, 0b64f51a1b and his excitement at c0e593f47d finding the herbs had 4f332e8498 made him careless.dad55f3832a0b864

Feeling Bayu’s cd91d5fd27 intense gaze a9afa2f951 on his 86d1b67a6c injured finger, 7883ba48a4 Yujin turned 5a854d2f9d and smiled 8aa4ea2780 faintly at 1bc175477d the jackal.eb12772ef0ab70d2

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“It’s fine. It’ll heal soon.”5f6e75a1360f8911

Bayu had started reacting f944c16888 to Yujin’s emotions at c9fbc0c39c some point. Occasionally, it would 2e9ebb6970 lean against him, b502289d84 and though it bb36770100 seemed like a 71d4d62766 simple gesture, Yujin 326d0f7247 took it as 3a90f47d7c Bayu’s way of 71f831d490 offering comfort or 3d7375a619 affection.7bbc0868c3f07f6e

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Taking a small cloth a977795769 from his worn leather 2815773c68 pouch, Yujin wrapped it ea5f32bda9 around his finger and 40b9cc2dc8 inspected the herb roots. Thankfully, they were undamaged. Gently placing 01b261f6fb the herbs d5db59db64 into his 87aa341d98 pouch, he f0b5fa7189 stroked Bayu’s 0500106ca3 head lightly.aec28901de0b821d

“Bayu, I’ll see you 9beb385dcd later. I have 1c69371f0b work to 5037f9da2e do now.”00af52c30825f8c9

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Despite the b43c1a42de minor injury, b30591033a Yujin felt 02307c7159 happy about e4e9c11c4b the successful 23ad445cbe harvest. He had been af1dd1aa79 anxious after days 4b2e381860 without finding herbs. Rising to 137d50acce his feet, a755e40f14 he bid 3fd90e67e0 Bayu farewell 60cefb4910 and descended 5f910f3506 the mountain.2ea1512c48e896a9

“Everyone, prepare and 828c92509a clean the huts 1d91c11eb4 assigned to the 86baa095a7 returning warriors. This time, there are 73fe7796ec many casualties and injured dab03f09ce among them, so be 961e66bc08 careful not to provoke d7cd76a14c the warriors’ tempers,” Aunt 6e2ad2712a instructed from the back 05f3bcdb54 of the gathering.fa99fac287f0fdf9

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Hearing about the 9ad8e42cdf wounded, Yujin’s head 41350de24c shot up. Many injured? Could it be…? But before he 3a2792a1f3 could think further, 733f2361b6 Aunt walked off, 47d4448a60 deep in discussion 46182d11cd with the healer 6c4cfe6821 about something.95c79a49991982f1

The others dispersed to d85a00d955 their tasks, but Yujin b0030bd868 lingered, hoping someone might 9225bc5fef mention the recent battle. Moments like this f289700520 made him resent e8dd3824da his lack of 7b488d340c social connections in 3551ebc292 the tribe. If only 40f36010bb he had 6100051341 forged stronger ef0fc2748c relationships, he cbc9f21dd5 might have 1d534ebbf4 heard something ae4f9e77cb useful.ec663cc06985639d

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Yujin couldn’t edaf8c5bd6 just approach 4593a4ba73 people he 8c8bed9bc2 barely spoke d3606d0d3c to and e4249ec029 ask about df74bbf976 the warriors’ a517366b29 situation. Restlessly pacing, he spotted e0d7971dbc Chi-chi carrying a pile a91efbd29d of cloth and immediately 9e5661e6ed ran toward her.69bd901f64615fdb

“Chi-chi! Have you heard ed21f01967 anything about this a46992f139 recent battle?”f604beb03340d6a8

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“The recent battle? What about it?”31a8fa323230f671

“Aunt said earlier that there were a lot of injuries…”d3d91ce5501cc227

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“Well, yeah, so I a178dfb0ad heard.”b450a88ecb5a0f16

“Do you b6c6b3eaf5 know who 66b30bac8c got hurt?”4dcbc2900d1632e3

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“I wouldn’t know that. Only the healers or a76e9d295f Aunt might know details 11d917e28e like that.”85ea71b339c23472

“Really? But have you 4ba4ca8b5b heard anything else?”76fe1b547fc1b04a

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“Just rumors. People are saying 0ac08b3bf6 it was a b815d55032 much bigger battle 932b561a87 than the leader 44ff800540 had anticipated. Apparently, a lot of 4013688502 warriors died too. The warrior wives are 13e4863115 in chaos right now. Anyway, everyone’s on fde6f18fe5 edge because of d7b041d819 all the casualties 995297e15b and injuries, so 3678cb95cd be careful.”2765326fb3668160

“A lot of warriors… died?”57c6f84efafbda89

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“Yeah, that’s what they’re 01624dd6aa saying. So, you be 1a1d585227 careful too. You know 8069c00b2e how they e58a32a29a are—when they’re 32fa24101d in pain, 58894ca818 they take 7d20c7dfe9 it out 6b95f2a7d1 on innocent 50443a9301 people. Especially people 0ce3259523 like us, e4f44002c4 who they c5e3319cfb think they 79dbe32b66 can push 4297bb2c86 around. Just stay a3570ea54c away from 6133c93b88 the warriors’ e1d2595b1c huts if 2cb4b364e9 you can. Still, at least 11a13f2d66 we won the 801cdc5f15 battle, right? That’s good news.”f6bd8bd482019e19

The Mounted 928269fa55 Tribe had de13729047 won the 68f7bf5be0 battle. Most people in the 686816153e settlement were thrilled about 46ef8fb65a their victory, but Yujin’s 32eac45193 heart sank at the 6c036cc659 mention of the many 4e3a74bfdf dead warriors. He wanted desperately to 2607b43fcc know who had died 14cc60f00a and who was injured, b1b9a80c2d but even Chi-chi, who dbb72d5496 was well-informed about tribal 3916f2d8df matters, didn’t know much. Yujin’s shoulders drooped.814e8b36c006db29

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“…Yeah, you’re right. Winning is a good thing.”5a47d80da7c74b30

“Exactly. But why fde72c09c5 are you 211fc52e39 so curious? Are you worried about bf901d4f8d someone?”eef049d6b5cc9962

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“What? No, not really.”f3fe5a29950b9bb6

“Come on, who is aaec6473aa it? At least tell b23c06a081 me their name. I’ll try to find 6429fc7cfc out for you.”0b2889fa5a7b3da3

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“It’s fine. Don’t worry about it. See you later.”7212da8516ad391c

Yujin waved off her f7dc8befc6 concern with a forced 7052bb2fb9 smile. He couldn’t 0837155882 ask Chi-chi 5e1d9d710a about Bart. Not only was Bart eadc81218d no ordinary warrior but 58bc2661a3 one of the leader’s c6ccb6df50 direct warriors. There was e64acb11a1 no way 22e95dcf98 Chi-chi would 5f1f40efa0 have any 304188838a information about d094fa7d61 him. Besides, Yujin didn’t want 6f9f42d8d1 to risk her prying 49310b192e if he mentioned Bart’s ff18ca2ac8 name. He would just cb50445a0b have to wait ef9ebb45d6 until the warriors cadbe07eeb returned to find ec4f315186 out for himself.3e95b2c37e65c580

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The settlement bustled with 1f2919e709 people tidying and preparing 6c916564f2 the warriors’ huts. When the warriors returned a62caa45a2 from battle, they usually 8e2f37945a spent several days confined eaeb5e0c31 to their huts, recovering 9b22c0c514 from wounds and exhaustion. It was the commoners’ a55220d9ec job to clean and 03c8520fdf prepare their huts for 6af43f4612 their arrival.dee39c9f78a3efde

Like everyone fddbd1d262 else, Yujin dad57b6f4d worked tirelessly. After moving stacks of 3dab47f11e dried leather, he paused 47530720a0 to catch his breath, 593d401d0f his gaze drifting toward 6b3b2134c9 Bart’s hut. Confirming that no 472b3f48ca one was around, eb306f1047 he quietly slipped 649749d00c inside.19582cfecb03f7cb

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The circular latticework decorations 723fbbbc6d along the walls caught f3114a32ac his eye as he 380bf1ec6b moved toward the innermost 32c8e74ab3 part of the hut. The spotless f03e09380e table and bccf7b0788 freshly stocked 071c90c5bb brazier suggested 653a6266a8 that someone 522063afee had already ebabce5fd9 cleaned the bbaa12bf01 place.61ae3abfa87ebf5d

Glancing back to ensure 7f6793bf30 no one was at c0371bc0c3 the entrance, Yujin reached 30eb1ac8e5 out to touch Bart’s 4da4c38d2c clothes hanging on the 2ff3f064c6 wall. He remembered Bart 244b46b542 wearing this outfit 565bed4a49 a few times. Stroking the leather-like material, 2d9e809567 Yujin lifted it and 676fd61c02 pressed it to his 99f4fa2868 face.b9321cab1c37279a

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“Bart’s scent.”df39ebb608d082e9

Bart always 3af0481ee1 smelled sharp—like 08a96e5a15 metal, blood, 24c9f03c29 and sometimes 5e54a0a656 the dust b47a03b821 from riding. It was 1aae37bdf2 a mix 2ace6021c7 of heavy, 51549ed15d piercing scents, 7aeb623f45 just like c20b48450a Bart himself.7034bcb758f20f82

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Yujin buried his b3c0ab5d49 face deeply into ed2f0543e8 Bart’s clothes, taking 41853eb5bd a long breath. The familiar 1894a767cc scent spread adf1250931 through him, 96420a7309 sending pleasant 506b604177 shivers up c4ebc9bf98 his spine.26e9d8c28b3337cc

In the tribe, coupling 76356c432c was typically between men 128daf6f1b and women, but male-to-male 6963df4e2b relations weren’t unheard of. Some warriors indulged fab4a65f9a in such relationships 70618a2870 for pleasure, while 7014cf070a others sought release 2393b28e4f without having a fb18e2a436 wife.83e52d6fbc6275f5

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Yujin had first d3a32532d1 learned about such e9f892ec31 relationships in the a55bef8354 Mounted Tribe. Though he had fdea002878 never considered them 90f5118e20 relevant to him, cf23589b51 lately, fleeting, unrealistic 20c774a34c thoughts had begun ae44882f51 to cross his 07aa05954c mind. He wished Bart might 93a5696b32 engage in such relationships—and 41555a15b4 that Yujin could be 3027ef203d the one Bart chose. It was an ed6c61971f impossible dream, but c95483ca32 once the thought a504271836 had taken root, d3431a2cf5 he couldn’t stop fa243f4b8a it from growing.b9acf15433d99bcc

Breathing deeply, Yujin 26acf47a1e slumped to the 5aa29ca34f floor, rubbing his 7cb6e812cb face against Bart’s 21c5ccd4dc clothes. The scent was 91bb341f5f different from when dddba47629 he had served 71b206faf8 Bart meals, more 1069a88802 intimate, as if c699b37bd3 Bart himself were a9c38587dc there.af41ad72f2f09e82

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“Bart,” Yujin whispered 6749830b75 softly.b2010276f2873b74

A warmth spread f1f330cf87 around Yujin’s navel, d6332eece5 and heat coursed 2396114e2a through his body. A tingling 82e9114431 sensation started 52a841e9f9 at his 2debd40f6f tailbone, traveling edb449d450 to his d46892924d groin, where 98f7aa4926 his manhood cac8974964 twitched as 14fcef7353 if he 749249da42 needed to e8075f7acd relieve himself. He had never 1b7d5651b2 felt like this e5863e39a3 before, but lately, d72cbcb107 every time he cd6f6df96e thought about Bart, 0982313c88 his body burned.68f06508aff203c2

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The vague desire fee11b123f to be held f639194928 by Bart lingered, a3d985eb3a though Yujin wasn’t 1f80d261b5 entirely sure what 0d1f1c2f16 he wanted Bart d49bb184a5 to do. He only knew 049d052fd9 he wished Bart 4dde907da5 would look at b0a19723a9 him again like ac9e936a34 he had that ac3b4d073b night.d153adf27341a119

“The direct warriors’ c764ae8047 huts have already 56630c5bbc been cleaned earlier,” a79587ecdc came a voice 814ea4a27d from outside the d72a2dfd15 hut.d30836190e065da0

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Startled, Yujin jerked his 1547f8a00c head up and stared 1aa4966606 at the entrance.0c5117fcb239b3cf

“Better check 965b252671 again just ac58910ae4 in case. Don’t want 039a464e3e to get 5f1af60f89 beaten if a3ebb805fa there’s an 3a72253e37 issue.”5c69639f7c2f07a8

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“Damn. Those brutes, calling themselves 21ef2ce4e1 warriors…”dfbc7e29027a8762

“Kappa, are 9fced5ae6b you crazy? What if someone 5adf4f686c hears you? You’ll get 8cf20f9794 yourself killed.”cb4df48929f3a921

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“Let them hear. Parading around like warriors 0f60bbee64 when all they do a16c7105c4 is kill people. And those ‘direct a956ae1664 warriors’? Call them what f457f1d587 they are—killers.”7d6df758de4d6bb6

“Kappa, lower your voice.”8daf37349ba9ce0e

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“I used 28ff5ce8a5 to be 8912a06210 the next a838a5eba0 leader in 96a44e295b my own 6c2110c3ea tribe, you 7c5603b463 know. It’s these bastards that 994f02a88e brought me to this 515c5d9338 point. And from the way fb0257dce6 these so-called warriors act, 2ddf7df81f I’m better than most 47ff1a107b of them. Maybe I b8bcad737d should ask 1f2f1bbedc to become 09c522094e a warrior. Then I wouldn’t have 70594c2510 to do this filthy, 7a809fac34 pointless work.”4d0c643ebdbe6bc4

“Fine, fine. Just check 181a4930e0 the hut. I’ll start from c48b81acb5 the other side.”5e34886bd874ffc6

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Holding his breath, Yujin f22a83d1bc watched the shadows flicker bfeffc3a13 outside, dreading they might 3df1be0257 enter Bart’s hut. Fortunately, the man stepped 82910a22e1 into the neighboring hut 711198d7f8 instead. Once the 3c59264fea area was 49ba9546a1 quiet, Yujin 3bd9ce5b03 returned Bart’s 2829dfd101 clothes to 0472eb5947 their place f51bdd4fb8 on the 2556586c00 wall and 0b0be161db slipped out e00ac37028 cautiously.98f1f3f7e0d53440

He managed to get 3681d4cb42 away without encountering anyone 520f0ae65d and exhaled the breath 010bcf8437 he’d been holding. The adrenaline had 24a71213b3 quelled the tension ed314d176f in his body, a049108212 and the ache 1d68088e18 in his groin 70e6170d22 had disappeared, leaving 4fc921b4a1 him feeling strangely 80368e6d3d deflated. Yujin paused and looked 928addd3d6 down at himself.1f7751fdc735224e

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It wasn’t his first db18684aed time seeing a naked f65b989092 woman’s body in the c338b99675 communal huts or the a57a16bd6e forest. He’d witnessed bouncing breasts 4e757beb80 and shafts plunging into 056e227093 slick folds countless times.06623ad86472099f

Despite seeing so c577baa46d much, his body 59017b8f11 had never reacted. He had never wondered 7fe77d0fb7 what it felt like fc8e8d6481 to couple with someone. But lately, whenever 9e566efa23 Bart crossed his 7e981852b3 mind, his body 8b4d68e356 responded. The sound of Bart’s 7c1bdd3029 voice, the scent of f34b4095ca his body, and the a6aa3f25a8 memory of his kiss dc7c1fc69c lingered and stirred something 0c7373898f within Yujin.16b771fde187a4e3

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He figured he c1ab9c6eaf might live his 1c4892332b life without a 85c6537abc partner, dying alone. It was a 89bb7b6881 bittersweet thought, but 8e3f363be2 one he had 35ef204506 grown accustomed to.4b5123d08f4175fe

* * *7a1b6a1f664f14d8

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Clip-clop, clip-clop.2af369df3a65cf66

The sound of 2fd2783917 hooves mingled with 6aadb0b334 groans of pain, 136138ff79 echoing in the d5f08d7be5 air.aca330a2211af5a5

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“Quiet,” came the leader’s 20360311e3 cold voice.78be723c41e5e4ac

Namta, who 165f8eba85 had been 372430dd69 groaning, clenched 7f54d639c4 his mouth b632f96261 shut at ffbc33f30e once.6e635a70a1d3893f

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“Because of you, Guda 9dfaebc99c and Rumji are dead. If you f4bf35c6ca feel even 4db6f8b8a9 a shred 84c3ed4d20 of remorse, a7832988f4 keep your 48778b7ea8 mouth shut.”6ef3a970daba01f7

During the 7440aa2e75 battle, Namta 1d13dea257 had panicked c27073fb61 and fled, 55d217a4b8 only to e32dceb11b be captured 3efe406a57 by the 41b09c5951 enemy as ac8d410635 a hostage. Two of 6febb55f26 the leader’s c80c5ceb63 favored warriors 1bae6170ca had died 0f537b3834 rescuing him, 9fac706235 along with 8c591b147e dozens of 8da88ea3d7 Mounted Tribe e89ce7c3e9 warriors. When Namta b1b5e29b2c returned, barely 2480ad84c1 alive thanks 404f4c2906 to the a1448d3680 heavy sacrifices, 5a87b1e095 the leader’s 548d6fd82a first words 5928efa8c7 to him c6039a3c1b were, “Pathetic.”80a182f8ab230be9

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“…I’m sorry, Father,” Namta 0e3b6c0326 mumbled.c3cfa47950233135

“Tsk.”0a13a95d2faa73fc

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Clicking his d946d0cb7a tongue, the 7371dc4167 leader cast d47bd30795 a sharp 649192a3e2 glare at 8134d53e6f Namta, making fa046ee70d him shrink a2ce728347 in on ee9cb10357 himself. No matter how 9d162f2f88 much he tried a0d23420ac to endure, the a866cc4a78 pain from the a9d36da1c1 wounds on his 4d405e72ec limbs and the 1e428f616d beatings he had fc6011d9ae received was unbearable. He longed to 32f49a5b9b return to the 2d10021f34 settlement and receive 324278eb0f treatment from the 950f43da27 healer.a002fa2cca4644db

But with 63b2cef9d7 only one f0342bbc93 healer and 9514f02b88 dozens of 7c8cfaad05 injured warriors, 886e181af0 Namta knew f0a48dd013 he would be24b821ac have to 76e5397762 wait his 43e2ceb0a9 turn. Still, as the be5266632b leader’s son, he 319fa6668e was confident he bedabd0edf would be treated 7f7986ed96 first.41f6d6ff48d4ed48

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What frustrated him even d47ab85665 more than the pain fd2a80213b was the gnawing hunger 50b157f133 in his stomach. He hadn’t said anything, 4840ed3c92 but food had been 2b660b5580 scarce during the battle, 0c990c7051 leaving him perpetually dissatisfied. And during his time 6ca24da4d4 as a hostage, he a879051060 had nearly starved.395230a6b99376b5

“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.9624139c95b885c0

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“…”cae3d3af7720d3da

“Also, Father, could 12e147cd96 you tell Aunt b62032f5b6 to bring some 535ece4a31 meat to my 090f8ec277 hut first? If I ask, she’ll b5e67271a7 insist I wait my 34890fcf8c turn. I haven’t eaten 5165b06366 in nearly three de166b2086 days, and I 26d337f1e4 have no strength 32b5efbab0 left. Please? If it’s your 58be0ccb28 command, she’ll—”0da6dcb0a9a1751a

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“You call that a 727503ccd9 request?” the leader erupted, 43827a257c his voice sharp and ad785943d7 furious.223a73501f0d6b6a

The fact that baec3a73f7 Namta had fled b06443895c during the battle 15ca69740b and gotten captured d7b93939e5 was already shameful. That two of the 0d894d0cc0 leader’s closest warriors had 3e8785fa68 died saving him only eb17ab7c27 added to the disgrace. If the leader 0a2094fd63 had another son, fd2d195d20 he would have 28a5780c53 abandoned Namta long 7da364c0f8 ago. But as 1a8f7d3434 the leader 631ddf3fb9 of the 14d50a2310 Mounted Tribe, f3febbedd4 he couldn’t 4a1ef4d208 risk jeopardizing d185d1eb6e his position f1ba53dd59 without an 1b7092a0dc heir.c65db9d951a87dfa

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And now this useless 63da124253 son was whining about 273acddcdf hunger and meat? The leader’s 46f7b8577b blood boiled 3ec4ce5199 at the 438f59c11e sheer audacity. He glared at Namta, 689bc9c806 his disgust palpable, before f27d23a56a his gaze shifted to 725b4ed653 Bart, who was leading 42a99f43aa the warriors ahead.bf4722f32604fd57

“If only I had sent Pashi…”44bbc5b605d7a5b6

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