Chapter 4: Walking Through the Night

Yujin carried 488fbb467c the dried 0b8c72867f laundry, struggling c2c1bca05e with every ee0a67cb0f step.e48f175d3d98ec1e

“Put the dry ones here and take these to hang up.”3a2e78af37e4b9eb

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His fingers ached with c73222ac47 a dull throb. All morning, 6075d82580 he had b284e3535c been moving 435fd563bb soaked leather, e3b91328f1 and in 3765282c91 the afternoon, 7e3c50177a it was 55e9cb85f3 wet cloth. Yujin massaged his sore b052935b9e fingers briefly before picking 90b1901020 up the damp laundry df361def07 and heading back the a6de5996e7 way he came.6c80d6b724f88314

It wasn’t 27721451f7 until the a2cac2bd05 sun began b0bb6abb56 to set 872a05fd1a that Yujin 0e383d1ada finished his cdfb66914b tasks. Afterward, he a1d6c10f99 went to 5fa4f75ec1 the kitchen fc4e56ace6 to collect de0a3100e8 food and 566562eaf6 made his 0ee1a5a8f7 way to 58acafd168 the valley. Sitting in 2bb905ece4 the dimly 3ff0af0bdb lit valley, afcc050b3a he dipped 076d3a1d0d dried meat 9ac47d3b4e into a cb278407bd thin broth ad10f15158 and ate.0d8a4da36a0c9f3c

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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.01bca2636aa56c81

Once he had eaten 286887e16c enough to stave off afdf1bbd32 his hunger, Yujin looked 402e33acb2 around. Sure enough, 57594c86c2 in the 7d1ff03245 distance, a e450a93254 jackal was ccf8518ae6 cautiously watching c852af78e7 him, its eb186a5330 eyes fixed de4b94629a on him.de6697b0d2b24573

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“Bayu, come here,” he 0c6cc19416 called out.ff2666d25f44fd55

Yujin had thought Bayu c6915b948d would return to the c54183c4ae wild once its wounds 870d909d4b healed, but the jackal d440d2f501 lingered around the valley. Perhaps it saw d7441d921e Yujin, who had fbffe4a85c been feeding it a22f28bfdf since it was bcfd46dc25 a pup, as 7a44fdd645 a companion or 93f7c6a61d even a parent. But there was 3b216133f5 no way to 184b0b3df7 know for sure.f6c30c0c2eb5671e

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When Yujin extended his 638068b5f0 hand, Bayu approached slowly d092330182 and lay down beside 0895b4ca4f him. Stroking Bayu’s round 85f5b05910 head for a 17d035445a moment, Yujin placed 2a9131b976 the bowl with 916cb1590e the remaining scraps d5b1fd5769 of food in 0764ae3f0f front of the f3dd71fc44 jackal.ca9e44f4f88e59b3

“The warriors are returning 8e7fd10b4f soon. Bart should aeabfc88de be back 5f6ad25a6c too, right?”bcf4cfe49f311c5c

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Bayu quickly 9f376af76b emptied the db486b30ab bowl and ea0dfb0dc6 let out 0296a0db54 a long 3d19d0d68a yawn.4c41364dbef90ab9

“I miss Bart. Do you 1a70084400 remember him? The tall and 6d9636dada handsome warrior. He’ll come back 056d638302 safe and sound, 237f12c6c8 won’t he?”835ffe94c02681d2

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A few days ago, 0ae984ad09 word had spread that 099f99427d the warriors who had a8bc77c7c2 gone into battle would 2e51a950d6 be returning soon. Soon, all 10c972ac20 the warriors d8e6008e7f would be 17aa43e781 back in 0c22e01f9a the settlement, 7ccdb454cd and things 94f3c1c503 were bound 7cc511bf6b to get 3d69d869d0 busy again. Though Yujin d88413fcfc didn’t have 4632cfd88b any specific ad46986d3d duties for bb4afc01e8 their return, 4248555e79 he had 2ed7521521 been gathering 66ddb1488c herbs just 55291aa512 in case c62cf65a75 there were 147537c153 injuries.4361c6b6084d0509

“It’s time for me 870f081411 to go. You should 70381e193b head back 5d55055296 into the 886c983ce8 mountains. I’ll come back at 22dcb76d69 dawn tomorrow, so if 951ce6a4b8 we’re lucky, we’ll meet 0f06a3c0c9 again. Okay?”c39b3a5d1526260c

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Yujin’s only 2dda0ed746 friend didn’t 159e8aeb71 respond. Bayu simply scratched behind ab9728e3b6 its ears lazily with 384b8ac9b3 its hind leg, gazing cab94a1247 at Yujin with idle 393f1446a3 eyes. Somehow, even that 3cc931d464 expression seemed endearing 97a7a79ee4 to Yujin, who 8dc918b9c5 brushed Bayu’s neck 81bc1c9602 fondly before picking b70bac0359 up the empty 4cf02c37de bowl and standing. He started affe3f168f toward his 22730b14a8 hut but 5baa06982b turned back, fcba2da822 walking over 9ba446398c to Bayu, e315e0dd73 who was 5934b31914 watching him.b63f196731bd8793

“Let’s go gather herbs 5e869b5521 together tomorrow. Alright? See you tomorrow, Bayu. Now go e67979d05e on, hurry 675df27864 back.”42b594f6cf638c6a

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The jackal stared 3c32faa21b at Yujin for 59793b2370 a moment before e9bd9acc77 turning and bounding 27e60a1954 into the darkness. Yujin stood still, ae4f592f0e watching until Bayu 81b7883de9 disappeared from sight, 1da87e0974 then turned to 3e64602c42 head back—only to c82cfd78fd lock eyes with 34200356a3 Chi-chi.5d27d2a47174428e

…Why was 0186d062ec Chi-chi here? Did she see 235841c83b Bayu earlier? Feeling a twinge of b0da6d7af2 panic, Yujin bit his a241685fe2 lip and lowered his bc6eb00897 head before mustering the 0897e5dfc2 courage to approach her.2e5acba47c479e83

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“Chi-chi. What are c826ef6f52 you doing 5cd5e31f30 here?”adc71abce663c670

“That was a jackal c3cc2b7b52 just now, wasn’t it?”7d0fa087c6fd4558

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As expected.8d17c58ee05aefd9

“…Yeah.”84222f6cda3820a8

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“And you’re okay?”43bd645e685af269

“I’m fine.”fe2ea7db9b58bf2f

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Chi-chi tilted 6e6ab62209 her head, d6d6e35f01 as though 91734aa8c7 the situation a5333972da didn’t make 5b1e9eafad sense to 16de60d612 her, before 86bd6c439c her eyes 03407b66eb sparkled with 2e99a3bf07 curiosity as d63a18a99d she stepped 88726535a1 closer to cfe186fea4 Yujin.7e7054792bc00c78

“Don’t tell me… aae0058b29 you’ve tamed that 75c39c9bb5 jackal?”ea6ac41557b99e05

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“…”86f18b5dff8e1363

“Right? You’ve been 5b04de2019 sneaking food 434d4a7dc9 away now 9d896ec89b and then. Was it to feed 1c925db86c that jackal?”6c6b790d91660bb6

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It was clear 8301b6ba6a that deceiving the 513007521d sharp-eyed Chi-chi wouldn’t eafa314127 be easy. Abandoning the plan 42a083dd69 to feign ignorance, c8cfa2f16b Yujin decided to b0011ba257 reason with her 1aafacc854 instead.37916d74388c3716

“Chi-chi, please 86bcefc1a4 keep it 6de3c1de2e a secret. If anyone finds out, 4572c6edb9 Bayu will be caught 7346f1f2d3 and killed.”3ca5a9c14f43c9f2

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“Bayu? You even gave 2b8e68b8b1 it a name?”ca192473b1572b9f

“….”aeab0b7c04376b53

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What now? It was e9887355cb too late 3794e49a0b to deny 24039c29aa it. Claiming Bayu was 939961c4a3 a friend wouldn’t b8d43acdcc work either—no one 6046c9161c here would believe 971ca71973 that. Animals were nothing more d173d42cd7 than prey or food 0b1f3a958b in this place. Yujin considered bribing her 067a3cbfed with something valuable, but ea395d358d he had nothing to c5aa965983 offer. Perhaps if 314d1aa9eb he volunteered 05dddef7f3 to take afbb42297a over her 822293809c chores for 1d08da6459 a while, db55430c57 she might 66c47d1811 agree to 14fd3a2dbc keep quiet.bea1f8b7cdb22f85

“Fine. I’ll keep ff4d95ca30 your secret.”7a5a119d317ba3b4

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“What? Really?”6e99398ab4490f8e

Chi-chi’s unexpected 5b73e72c16 response brought 665549b80d a flush e0150e7f28 of relief 1ea3ba6df2 to Yujin’s 0a1b12738f face.ed389bdb9c58712b

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“But you need to f4fc57cfd6 be careful. It’s still d55eccb3d0 a jackal. It could bite c0e54a6aee you without warning. You know ee5e37baf2 we can’t 1f3e4a3a8a get help e33f622f65 from healers, 1662c4c62b right? Remember that c67fb499d9 guy whose 4c66936b45 leg got 64f9cf045d bitten by b2ac76b46c a jackal b57af10fdb and had 1baca7723f to have c2fdeb2fb3 it amputated? He died b79ee5e88b in the 2c260c9fc3 end.”28cb58a43fb24c7b

“Chi-chi…”0f1fb7b37f2a1526

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“So, how 1fff351b55 did you 8df9627f30 tame it? Was it with f0766dbd4e food, as I 1695d46bf3 thought?”a4e14264f2a69a63

As Chi-chi c017ce401e continued to 4a70625a6f ask questions ab7ee3d959 about Bayu, c190d553f2 Yujin finally 61a0007207 felt at ef4465b058 ease. He let 0380337ff9 out a 2fd568d9dd small sigh 03a8c67fea of relief 307a24afc4 and placed d05e874992 a hand 6359e0a09e over his 7e85e4fe91 chest to 301d27adfe calm his 483af420f2 racing heart. Thank goodness.8f3cca79a1000149

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Patiently answering Chi-chi’s 8c6d3dd119 questions, Yujin made b3f203c5c5 her promise again bc8de7bc72 to keep his 6a90daa12c secret. Though it 8ae92982ef would have 3a98bb9dbf been better cd9481a09a if she dc703c3094 hadn’t found 578efbed02 out, he c96a5f6b7d appreciated her 83fe5297c7 willingness to df2a8f5963 look the c906bab522 other way.da4143db6d3e1bf6

After talking with Chi-chi 5d618cac8a for a while, Yujin bcdb05d6b5 returned the bowl to 023ad7a2ed the kitchen and headed d42bcc292f into the communal hut. As soon as he 40ab310897 entered, a sour smell db75d9e61f hit him.166461fe05034500

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“Ah, oh, ahh!”afecb9ddede73040

“Ha, damn. How’s it taste? Better than most of 6f7cbb9980 those warrior bastards, huh?”a1f55df382ca492f

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“More, ahh, hmm…”bd60d66bd52511f5

Yujin quickly lowered his 5c2b8fdbdf gaze, freezing at the a0f0878a02 sight before him: a 327e9f1b05 man and a woman, 26da0d1db5 half-naked, coupling in the c4d81e367d dim light. The man’s glistening shaft 4540ff97cb repeatedly slipped in and 014ce3bf79 out of the woman’s 095c9e7fd1 entrance, the wet sounds f736580dad echoing in the confined 719da25982 space. Yujin’s ears turned c98e037ada bright red as 182faa7568 he debated whether 63d25e19b1 to leave. But he was too 47b7eeabc0 exhausted. He needed even 8356ad721f a moment’s rest 1c7bbf355b before heading to 6ebf19ca51 the mountains at a5651490a4 dawn to gather 6c9de2ff7d herbs.b3fcb3bf29bb95de

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“You’re dripping all over 4bffdd3361 while saying what? Hah, you only 6ac794470d take warrior cocks?”925b242b628f607d

“Ah! Mmm, you promised, didn’t 37374ad50c you? Hmm, you’ll 20175e23f6 keep your cd839f9f12 word?”52593e879bd6ff2b

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The woman, pulling 8dcf70e953 back slightly, asked a606ac8b44 in a coaxing 9b2dbde7e8 tone. The man, fe980fdafd clearly nearing 2508df8954 his limit, e5d9641111 scowled and c04202dd8b responded roughly.3a9346475774729c

“Damn it, fine. Just squeeze tighter, hah.”a704c0a83d74edd7

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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.05826ec984c2ba13

Yujin didn’t ac2905716c care what c39f5c120d they did, e8f773ea39 but why 2da8b536b3 did it fb96366629 have to a37948bae1 be here? Exhausted, he lay 25a4cbc254 down and covered 1e7f66f460 his ears, yet 200442bb89 the moans and e194c2966a wet sounds filtered 3a1003b91c through the cracks, 0bfb1bd4e9 making it impossible 9c62e42fb8 to fall asleep.898bf55231dcc59a

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Would Bart have noticed a30271c7e6 him if he had d07b4ef341 a body capable of 5003770b59 bearing children like a 1b9c5ab5bd woman? That night e295b6470e by the 539f99892f valley, would 86784bd5ac Bart have 48a1e6889c gone beyond 64158efc34 a mere 5654721e94 kiss and 6c83d87be8 embraced him a5ed428113 fully? And if, d14269d061 by some 971b8ced74 chance, he c4f58f6deb had borne 2c46660a80 a child, 9119e8072b would that 1a7da04b2c have been 2b83434b4e enough to 586c835dce remain by 2e65dd2a3a Bart’s side?252fa9660a35364f

It is 785ad00339 human nature 5c9a72764c to cling 950b27c178 to something 4026065389 that shines eab38d7bf9 amidst a 19307b30d4 harsh life, 832e95fa92 especially when f09c4c5ce9 that glimmer fe2d246f5c represents one’s 424fa0b9c1 sole happiness. Yet emotions bcc9cb46b9 tied to 9f1e0ecb76 a single dac2ebdd92 memory inevitably 53e3ed0389 give rise 0ffb20bd1a to countless 8a38215748 questions and 9fe6a70efd hypothetical “what 250e6bf7b5 ifs.” Daydreams 97e2ea7b06 about paths 39e1a64b94 not taken dd58c3b739 grow uncontrollably, c432cc4a9e eating away fe69703f2e at reason.bb7d4b24606fd3a2

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It felt as though 846f337798 the void left by 139a430879 everyone Yujin had ever e6c2399222 loved, now lost to 684713a137 death, was being filled f8fbdff311 entirely by thoughts of 99d143410b Bart. Each morning, he 2d42dade26 would wake, gaze b91b97aa80 at the drifting 5b60649412 clouds like a 0b0ee540be mirage, and think 3e985da7f4 of Bart. Every night, as he 2943d0d739 dragged his weary body df46eb0574 to lie down at 0e9ba32ab4 dusk, he yearned for 3b8f0883bc him. He missed Bart 6563d46e11 deeply.38e166ee91c3cb6c

Yujin drifted in and 29d415b6db out of a restless 709c9c1592 sleep, until the faint dfefb2a672 blue light of dawn e6dc1f26d4 seeped into the hut, ffbe88b93a signaling the start of e8f3f603c0 a new day. He sat 5f7533ffc3 up with 35a8cd1a7d a sigh.ba5274066eefa5d6

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“Ah, I’m 66ab682aba so tired.”5a703c0ea8bf2a25

Gathering his 58848defa0 pouch, Yujin e8c5b9d599 stepped out a03c1ba743 of the 3ee83144db communal hut, 0a6cec04d8 briefly glancing dc9bb5b152 at the 6359c9bd30 naked man 20377d7de0 and woman 5575223280 asleep together 541266ac45 before averting cece0f1bd6 his gaze.0f28bf94afec9f9c

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It wasn’t uncommon for 2244bfd49b people to couple in a9c4da96dc the communal huts, especially dece6170d2 as the weather grew 1e71ab889f colder. While some ended 440599168f up forming pairs, 513d7c344e more often than 2b516b369d not, such encounters b8fb9f14ac led to nothing. This was 15d53426d8 particularly true ff839a1f51 when women c49e803587 sought to 8f3b290180 bear the 312d4fe152 child of 1b0a39ff60 a warrior.9a9f7c3b8c1e8742

The warriors’ a5cfc438d3 return was dc2750114d imminent. Women adorned themselves 7fd240a85d and whispered deals, 7e16e03e20 scouting out the 093f92fe59 huts of the 4a664cd449 warriors they had bca1276642 their eyes on. Amidst the bddef91738 bustling tribe, 45edae6874 Yujin busied e55954b96d himself with d628494ec7 the tasks e848b01fd9 he could 1b43d20996 manage.ef1874517385c9d3

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Climbing the a6ee9c101f mountain before 029d41621a the darkness 80b564936b had fully 6365fffe20 lifted, Yujin e0afe92452 whispered softly, b714a92c7d “Bayu. Bayu.”36e00f200cb1c1cf

Although he was 794405d969 used to this 1d04d0d004 climb, the darkness 6512d6ab47 still unnerved him. Hoping for Bayu f980cc16fe to appear, he 8dfbe1adfd raised his voice 6e2aafa06d slightly, calling out a3fa3c8037 the name. Soon, Bayu emerged 094c339e56 silently from the 480638b210 underbrush, yawning widely 0ba44a1328 and stretching its ff2e7730e1 body. The jackal circled Yujin b379e16e9e a few times before 49856c3247 licking the back of fded02cc68 his hand.3a25b3000879ec0b

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“Did you 4c4600ba4d sleep well?”711262f619ca616e

Bayu’s tail wagged faintly. Yujin patted its head 9ccc5d4167 before continuing into the bee21d8204 forest in search of cc71d365c1 herbs. Bayu’s sole ad72fc5a7e role was 160aa32a2c to follow a850c879e9 him around, 5f0451694c but that 9aa548870e was enough. The mere d509445631 thought that 404dfeef92 he wasn’t cc63f3dd00 alone brought 5196818625 him great dc510f92d3 comfort.9ffa4dd850ceaf3d

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Luck was on his 7b56f900e1 side when Yujin found eda254580b herbs useful for treating bab569adb4 wounds. Carefully digging c5d86ef02a around the a03b0456da herbs with b3d4be84e9 his bare 9d9d5bac53 hands—roots intact 64ce313dca for better 21b6244767 effectiveness—he let 4e305afded out a 8d10e82545 small yelp.64f70cd8fbe953b6

“Ouch.”062558b5f917c16e

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A hidden stone beneath 88e50c558b the soil had chipped a1d1035417 his nail, causing it dd59516a82 to break and bleed. His fingertips stung. His nails 66f5b9063a had grown d9e09d8a1e weak from c5b346f230 being soaked 3eaadf98ef in water 751f7a0c58 all day, 36a1ec9b5d and his e89e2e0915 excitement at 3609ca809c finding the af8b4e8531 herbs had 7f45c65018 made him a847344441 careless.00a57331ffb673e3

Feeling Bayu’s intense ed1590e8a1 gaze on his a981c6cbd7 injured finger, Yujin c48c7ee37f turned and smiled e56844b336 faintly at the b70a7287b2 jackal.0fdeb4fd25568238

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“It’s fine. It’ll heal soon.”217af473e3258ce0

Bayu had 503149e0d1 started reacting 526fb5e9d0 to Yujin’s 91ebf4a2c5 emotions at 3e977fac82 some point. Occasionally, it would 7040f07995 lean against him, 120f84865c and though it feb145fffb seemed like a 62781747f5 simple gesture, Yujin 0080307c66 took it as 6581f33fd7 Bayu’s way of 619f9dca17 offering comfort or ca86bee30c affection.62e89f40c5e8fa4a

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Taking a small cloth 9003caa1f4 from his worn leather 2295287a48 pouch, Yujin wrapped it e22b132a47 around his finger and a235dab15e inspected the herb roots. Thankfully, they were 9a6502c732 undamaged. Gently placing 64b884f35a the herbs d3e1f5fdc9 into his 7df03715a0 pouch, he 3b6338d6b5 stroked Bayu’s b640e904ea head lightly.4355c2acf928942f

“Bayu, I’ll see bb09426750 you later. I have work eb3d4b7426 to do now.”614dc0364e71ad61

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Despite the minor injury, 847b892d5d Yujin felt happy about ff80c69825 the successful harvest. He had been anxious f09c92f6ca after days without finding 57abae4322 herbs. Rising to his feet, c82eac89a1 he bid Bayu farewell 3ee9f14ca4 and descended the mountain.1917f1e2df1f5999

“Everyone, prepare and 1ed8fc8438 clean the huts 7dcf0cd320 assigned to the 92d0196b7f returning warriors. This time, there 832135b752 are many casualties 4851b4e3c7 and injured among 8413c637a7 them, so be 49f95d298a careful not to 99b99a67c3 provoke the warriors’ e82c931eba tempers,” Aunt instructed 457149e783 from the back eb85953220 of the gathering.36582a0c194177e7

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Hearing about the e4550f6fab wounded, Yujin’s head 7580a170ad shot up. Many injured? Could it be…? But before he d0be895b4c could think further, b3ae09fc35 Aunt walked off, e156205ee2 deep in discussion 9b1cf11117 with the healer c28669ed7f about something.e6d3a179b028ce1c

The others dispersed to bd006b759f their tasks, but Yujin ddbce07be5 lingered, hoping someone might b73d21ade4 mention the recent battle. Moments like 8f4eaf5f58 this made 7e670e58c0 him resent 2d680131c4 his lack bd0af4dfc6 of social ba67c3272c connections in ba078715b9 the tribe. If only 2ef54ca6f2 he had 81c103534b forged stronger 05e812f431 relationships, he 5a5d4494f1 might have d510ae9896 heard something 27993a8e9f useful.374fe4c56aa348f3

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Yujin couldn’t ca7800e9bb just approach 2bdfc00367 people he d0477a4717 barely spoke 949b001525 to and d674cba79e ask about 7c629f3e6a the warriors’ bee10e7142 situation. Restlessly pacing, he 0ee7aa7fc5 spotted Chi-chi carrying 417ac19f99 a pile of 689110e473 cloth and immediately 652f300f69 ran toward her.dddbdc909e96854a

“Chi-chi! Have you heard 46eb90f96b anything about this 5e00c2a1a5 recent battle?”1a69a270ba1501e0

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“The recent battle? What about it?”91f07bd9605287b9

“Aunt said earlier that there were a lot of injuries…”7c80ec4ae939dd70

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“Well, yeah, so 164479a8cd I heard.”d9f5ee02511b6e02

“Do you 373484685f know who 5e8b2896ed got hurt?”2a05985e79ee8a7e

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“I wouldn’t d1f285f5fe know that. Only the 006885c865 healers or e7b58ab753 Aunt might 1d5daaf383 know details 9f344e861f like that.”cd7ed7d1fde68f5f

“Really? But have you heard c17a030b40 anything else?”0d9915df9de691d6

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“Just rumors. People are saying 78cd223b6d it was a 2d7d602cd9 much bigger battle a12fbad8d0 than the leader c5cee6a3bb had anticipated. Apparently, a cc40aef651 lot of 0125e74fbd warriors died a0dd121477 too. The warrior wives e76b5b77eb are in chaos ecbee205b5 right now. Anyway, everyone’s on 0b696e1184 edge because of 6e1a192fc5 all the casualties 4a30611e72 and injuries, so d86bc04195 be careful.”d978085666d4b4a8

“A lot of warriors… died?”4a28e8768f5691bb

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“Yeah, that’s what 1ddca962d9 they’re saying. So, you be careful 05dd122949 too. You know 768bc3d69f how they 575d458574 are—when they’re add4cf463f in pain, 9763ec2e7d they take fdae4f8e39 it out 90f484cdc0 on innocent 99c5e9f721 people. Especially people like us, 4a268033d1 who they think they 96d560c85b can push around. Just stay away a617f2b55d from the warriors’ 0facedd1e7 huts if you 777a4d9123 can. Still, at least we 3f1f5a5dba won the battle, right? That’s good news.”f1ea66582ef37f1c

The Mounted Tribe 68cd5340b8 had won the 658b98606a battle. Most people in the 8e8c861a11 settlement were thrilled about 4477b89772 their victory, but Yujin’s f69c54d9ca heart sank at the 20c82ab0cf mention of the many c672a1007e dead warriors. He wanted desperately 0bd28b9351 to know who 71454e41fa had died and 49dddaf37a who was injured, 7a6bdd3996 but even Chi-chi, 71fab0f69d who was well-informed 8ed1f7c132 about tribal matters, 86974d9936 didn’t know much. Yujin’s shoulders drooped.574ed146a837d47d

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“…Yeah, you’re right. Winning is a good thing.”ee3623078bcc5e49

“Exactly. But why are you 5c28042c7b so curious? Are you worried about c884448915 someone?”62fbe9a452484c7f

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“What? No, not really.”3e6ffed52bede101

“Come on, f72b6b10ab who is ec4dd6d215 it? At least tell me a8af4838b9 their name. I’ll try 1a83dc3670 to find 61841ca8b4 out for 62b6c75f19 you.”c60ebdb81ea208ed

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“It’s fine. Don’t worry 59923fb666 about it. See you later.”bfd02222a491785a

Yujin waved off 439fbfad62 her concern with 02288f7f08 a forced smile. He couldn’t ask b45c687a48 Chi-chi about Bart. Not only was Bart 6f52d74300 no ordinary warrior but 8974436cf7 one of the leader’s 2f87ddf636 direct warriors. There was no way 30f06b0b53 Chi-chi would have any d4b195e01f information about him. Besides, Yujin didn’t want ada19fc000 to risk her prying 02292081c2 if he mentioned Bart’s 928d513624 name. He would just bf3514b8df have to wait 34b8ad227c until the warriors 5aaf075394 returned to find 30694d49b0 out for himself.81d57f019d2d9c11

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The settlement 6f49cfb995 bustled with 135310ee55 people tidying bda7ea51e2 and preparing 693effd591 the warriors’ b8d678a9a5 huts. When the warriors returned 6b89c68c24 from battle, they usually d2e9203cf7 spent several days confined 724d58fbe3 to their huts, recovering b6097891e0 from wounds and exhaustion. It was 4b370db56e the commoners’ f66ed1c47a job to 4762ffff2b clean and 65fe7a478b prepare their cce60aae38 huts for 69dcf5015e their arrival.1e031d812fc049d6

Like everyone else, Yujin ec6bceaf8a worked tirelessly. After moving d71eb8e47c stacks of 3e8c8661e2 dried leather, e34b485d68 he paused 2f3d8cccb6 to catch efdebc4183 his breath, b6520a9eb9 his gaze d26458665f drifting toward 39407b2fad Bart’s hut. Confirming that no 5422f94efa one was around, 53db690bd9 he quietly slipped 56883feb58 inside.7da4fe3a0bd3454c

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The circular latticework e973f510e9 decorations along the d883ff20eb walls caught his ae4b5054b6 eye as he fe63b30d62 moved toward the bb05dc25c3 innermost part of 82e40a1535 the hut. The spotless table 9eb068b187 and freshly stocked 5d5d723893 brazier suggested that 5b7b914850 someone had already d8258bc627 cleaned the place.d680aada14ac9eaa

Glancing back 05a599bfae to ensure 02d3f4456b no one b496814bc9 was at ab9c5a93b2 the entrance, d62762d58e Yujin reached 12cc0577db out to 451f0c22c3 touch Bart’s 95a92e4745 clothes hanging bf7346f1d0 on the 91bd75b470 wall. He remembered 341d59a2dc Bart wearing 83048c0ac8 this outfit f6fba8e997 a few 8898e75538 times. Stroking the 95dc558ba8 leather-like material, 96f78de772 Yujin lifted d7879c6b00 it and a2af3b8383 pressed it f5522bcc35 to his fd3e9eaaac face.6048ba37a395fd82

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“Bart’s scent.”fbab1a5f2a66ec1a

Bart always smelled 58624e5d7b sharp—like metal, blood, d71769a37d and sometimes the d33d8547e9 dust from riding. It was a d6435ef9e7 mix of heavy, 55acc9e80a piercing scents, just 4582eaed66 like Bart himself.13cdf80bd69b83a3

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Yujin buried his 6b501e8b16 face deeply into 168c5cfc65 Bart’s clothes, taking ca3639408d a long breath. The familiar scent b3451e1e10 spread through him, e293617ff3 sending pleasant shivers e2c3726039 up his spine.a441fbe3c497cde4

In the tribe, coupling d426d80865 was typically between men 8245dd2d45 and women, but male-to-male 0517177f1a relations weren’t unheard of. Some warriors 47ed7e53fc indulged in 23ab0434b1 such relationships 9ea32b77ac for pleasure, 65daf1d69e while others f05c15a359 sought release 8341ba94d9 without having 9cc86172bc a wife.1d5c16554af61d9a

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Yujin had ff520f6d67 first learned fe153ebf20 about such e07535e157 relationships in 5b6737ed02 the Mounted 886c2b955f Tribe. Though he 3994580aa7 had never 5b1843b4be considered them 5cd80f5d85 relevant to b883790e24 him, lately, 0a34f19f5a fleeting, unrealistic 4edff412b6 thoughts had 01e6131905 begun to afdd9baa99 cross his 442eb936bc mind. He wished Bart might 3f1a2ab66a engage in such relationships—and f035ca99ac that Yujin could be e89a90f47c the one Bart chose. It was an d8462d1a4d impossible dream, but 41b4090635 once the thought afe2491ff0 had taken root, dd24b36ea2 he couldn’t stop d4df5b4fb1 it from growing.5441776aee6ae955

Breathing deeply, 6abcaad340 Yujin slumped 9876b20113 to the a7f6abd391 floor, rubbing 7437bbee74 his face 90c756382b against Bart’s 3bcf8749e6 clothes. The scent was different f30f3a93a3 from when he had 1391a6749b served Bart meals, more 823e741978 intimate, as if Bart 527f0f6f80 himself were there.5106f67f8d54955d

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“Bart,” Yujin eb645aad59 whispered softly.1354a9defca8793d

A warmth d23ba6244b spread around 48f514d351 Yujin’s navel, d4078376b6 and heat a7eae985b8 coursed through 6bfe6f39f4 his body. A tingling sensation started d7b145ea9a at his tailbone, traveling 683afc6572 to his groin, where bb06d0891d his manhood twitched as 125d19da6d if he needed to a4f1ec8db5 relieve himself. He had never felt 6fa14f8191 like this before, but 2377342364 lately, every time he c2482d56db thought about Bart, his 4381ab8cec body burned.018e5d6bc57d9d5d

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The vague desire aef774026b to be held 974d4d0aa4 by Bart lingered, c674618ff1 though Yujin wasn’t cc1bd727bc entirely sure what 1454265725 he wanted Bart 034e58053d to do. He only knew he 5e06ee6e5e wished Bart would look ff25d5524a at him again like 8f3a10a075 he had that night.91aef3ccac80aa7a

“The direct warriors’ huts b353a985bb have already been cleaned 9116c7085e earlier,” came a voice f1c350a354 from outside the hut.0c4fc8e52cde9dfd

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Startled, Yujin jerked 8c9150c8ac his head up 646a7e1f50 and stared at 57c03ad936 the entrance.2509ddb2a1b9ba71

“Better check again f8dfbf0050 just in case. Don’t want to get 0ea6dec998 beaten if there’s an 537fa63407 issue.”d90c17b7c4f59fb4

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“Damn. Those brutes, calling themselves b3475a3501 warriors…”3192a797fd698157

“Kappa, are dec8d090cf you crazy? What if someone 09d482deff hears you? You’ll get yourself killed.”bfbe3c2d177c4316

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“Let them hear. Parading around like 6703bf8c90 warriors when all 2c15061246 they do is 665ec7b5b1 kill people. And those ‘direct 72fa214789 warriors’? Call them what they 611d6552f5 are—killers.”282d1877bb39f066

“Kappa, lower your 12f5996f1e voice.”a9d9f1bef11a9759

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“I used 50a8e6bd33 to be 6c3182536f the next 2c4c2ca44b leader in 83e6c76cac my own 2a71def3fd tribe, you a902c522f8 know. It’s these bastards that 7a905eba99 brought me to this b5c9bda183 point. And from the way 6d6ab9e566 these so-called warriors act, f013ee4dfb I’m better than most 9c47538ab3 of them. Maybe I should edc0ee5b46 ask to become 6713b91c48 a warrior. Then I 15e23ec4fa wouldn’t have 4dd91f3a14 to do 1b98038d17 this filthy, 115bbfb4fb pointless work.”98fe6111728de7e1

“Fine, fine. Just check b39c8381f9 the hut. I’ll start 92ce622396 from the 051d213413 other side.”22b7edd5951e1195

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Holding his breath, e937fd00c8 Yujin watched the 4c74fc1318 shadows flicker outside, c8aaa81947 dreading they might 5cdbe7f7a9 enter Bart’s hut. Fortunately, the man c4fa2f49e5 stepped into the b36dd19bf9 neighboring hut instead. Once the area 00f15b3ef0 was quiet, Yujin 9e4473571b returned Bart’s clothes 271de6edab to their place 010207cb86 on the wall 856a231f62 and slipped out 4581dc92d4 cautiously.785b886fafdc94fa

He managed to get 451d910a98 away without encountering anyone 4e4c52db56 and exhaled the breath eb9f4c11ce he’d been holding. The adrenaline had quelled 2bb57fd8c0 the tension in his 4e2b3b3c50 body, and the ache e16f91eddd in his groin had 7d2a129966 disappeared, leaving him feeling 9e7ec82ce7 strangely deflated. Yujin paused and de7e64ee65 looked down at 81bf3a8587 himself.97944fcf61460be0

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It wasn’t his first 22453b2f19 time seeing a naked d8576caeca woman’s body in the dbc23ef68a communal huts or the 90db42fb2f forest. He’d witnessed bouncing breasts b74014d4a9 and shafts plunging into 31b76e0e87 slick folds countless times.5e8266ce9a8f98ac

Despite seeing so much, c59e3baaa2 his body had never 2d4a36dfb4 reacted. He had 31bae409bf never wondered b4c0e4b00e what it 2ae3d7ddbd felt like 4f2e36dec2 to couple 63ccb24279 with someone. But lately, whenever Bart c0c9029d42 crossed his mind, his 1c01568f0c body responded. The sound of Bart’s 3d72e61c3e voice, the scent of d8e2204769 his body, and the e0129f4058 memory of his kiss 191c18977e lingered and stirred something adb81bf20f within Yujin.3eb829fc6e6ff158

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He figured he c1b2b33b5c might live his f625e0788c life without a 13d5302057 partner, dying alone. It was a d3fd85fd8f bittersweet thought, but 8b51f25156 one he had 8abdfde806 grown accustomed to.b10ead636ed5bca8

* * *14d22a181e35dd07

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Clip-clop, clip-clop.ba9b3319282aff59

The sound of hooves 66bbe43a8c mingled with groans of 2540591fe4 pain, echoing in the 49f1860742 air.330d27c6f0514cb0

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“Quiet,” came 58450ef915 the leader’s d4ed78252f cold voice.da55d7bfee15bd9e

Namta, who 2f42f1ff58 had been f09afdcfa8 groaning, clenched 3c070a1c81 his mouth 32ecca90de shut at 4c2d7a025a once.b595579afd80067d

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“Because of 512d79734c you, Guda 4313350d6b and Rumji 425f45b4a5 are dead. If you feel d414bf4dbd even a shred 6f15766f3d of remorse, keep 52b5f1eeef your mouth shut.”cc240f632f95bcc3

During the battle, Namta e3c265530e had panicked and fled, cd29c45da0 only to be captured b4eae5653a by the enemy as f246e1be64 a hostage. Two of c8c59e9f25 the leader’s 2364992afa favored warriors fbedfaf36c had died 5d8376c419 rescuing him, 90588490bd along with 648ddb740e dozens of 83894e2701 Mounted Tribe f0b1112209 warriors. When Namta returned, c5569c0cda barely alive thanks 841d184632 to the heavy b92f166e5e sacrifices, the leader’s e079e3caad first words to da9ad3a122 him were, “Pathetic.”ded4668d45e90e0d

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“…I’m sorry, Father,” 07839185c7 Namta mumbled.157941fee6652e27

“Tsk.”de5bc60ac58826cb

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Clicking his 8ba91d5e22 tongue, the 23bf94c007 leader cast 416b0946b4 a sharp 02f77c264a glare at 01445b4713 Namta, making a7e4e4c8e5 him shrink 7bd189d5df in on 25c2b3f0ec himself. No matter how much c181d3274f he tried to endure, 49cd00210f the pain from the ff6ae59390 wounds on his limbs eab466fe5e and the beatings he 1af1d137f2 had received was unbearable. He longed 041e5e5f7e to return d0812125f8 to the 3ab6c95469 settlement and 06a99dee48 receive treatment e7d21ccc13 from the db4efcc5ae healer.967a0fa64c2d0c42

But with only one a81419a830 healer and dozens of 3c138bc879 injured warriors, Namta knew 855598846a he would have to 9516b0a2ab wait his turn. Still, as the 697972a9f5 leader’s son, he 3d10086f16 was confident he 065021a381 would be treated 895b25f443 first.9ccbfdcb82dc8c85

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What frustrated 67e14765a8 him even 5f271c8a28 more than 7d4a6a275a the pain 05722a6931 was the 639cfe5320 gnawing hunger 6b428822c7 in his 25388a92b9 stomach. He hadn’t said anything, 1c3b797bfe but food had been 0de06351b8 scarce during the battle, fd97add069 leaving him perpetually dissatisfied. And during his 1067660e34 time as a 10576c3c56 hostage, he had 44f6314dca nearly starved.054dfe79d39d4930

“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.f2e190e6618fdfe5

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“…”43921ed78eb4f465

“Also, Father, 52fac823b2 could you db8de4c512 tell Aunt 36dca06b52 to bring 72f49c79de some meat d74c2b9c08 to my b542aa71cf hut first? If I ask, 9afbdca243 she’ll insist I 8f15bf55c3 wait my turn. I haven’t eaten b6195ae2fb in nearly three bcc938b844 days, and I db3f3005ec have no strength 7dd25f50f5 left. Please? If it’s your command, c6c7ce62c8 she’ll—”177cc4886bb323f4

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“You call that f167b043b3 a request?” the 62e43452cf leader erupted, his 6e481c5652 voice sharp and ce43fc5908 furious.dfb56055a20ff544

The fact that Namta 1bc80b3868 had fled during the c5a20f2aba battle and gotten captured 65a0db72ee was already shameful. That two e975f0a6bf of the 39c76d2f33 leader’s closest 2495b374fa warriors had 071ae08c53 died saving ed1a552e3b him only 63ba32f781 added to 70b57a9a58 the disgrace. If the leader had e3dadb4271 another son, he would 7a0a12e6f9 have abandoned Namta long 63fbf0a018 ago. But as the leader 0935434b26 of the Mounted Tribe, 1c2a3a43d8 he couldn’t risk jeopardizing 63d1218964 his position without an d4aba454a4 heir.7618333591bd9176

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And now 95456ca5eb this useless 0329290a03 son was 38879cfb1c whining about 260f8a0fec hunger and a1e06b1e71 meat? The leader’s blood fa69a5d155 boiled at the f4137ab304 sheer audacity. He glared dcf307e24e at Namta, 19781df36c his disgust 2766fbeda5 palpable, before 7d5bd70d6e his gaze 63839377ff shifted to b930356fde Bart, who 0efee5b971 was leading d619c711aa the warriors 2508e03cb9 ahead.9b1b142d76a8f91b

“If only I had sent Pashi…”0eb977b30037d550

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