Becoming A Beast Goddess

Talk - " "

Think - [ ]

System - ()

Author thought - [[ ]]

Action - * *

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"Oh, my precious egg, how have you been?" Though her voice came out as a soft, metallic growl, Erina carefully cradled the egg in her claws and brought it close to her eyes, inspecting it for any signs of damage. Rotating it gently, she found nothing wrong. Through her connection with the egg, she felt a faint but steady heartbeat, bringing her immense relief and joy. Her Indominus Rex was growing well, only a couple more days and she'll soon see it hunting down prey.

However, a pang of doubt lingered in her mind. Why had the system entrusted these people with the care of her precious egg? She couldn't shake her unease but focused on ensuring the egg was secure. With utmost care, she placed it back into a carriage lined with hay, adjusting it to make sure it wouldn't shift around. Satisfied, she lay beside it, her protective instincts keeping her vigilant. 

Wait… her instincts? For some reason, an overwhelming urge planted itself within her... an urge to protect her egg and keep everyone away. It was strange, almost primal, and she couldn't explain it. Even when Olena sat beside her, she felt the same urge, though it was notably weaker.

But when a random cat child wandered too close to the carriage where her egg rested, her body reacted instinctively. A loud, guttural growl escaped her throat, startling the boy so badly that he bolted away, tears streaming down his face. She watched him flee, a pang of guilt brushed her, but the instinct to guard her egg remained. She, of course, can put the egg back into her [Hatchery] but if she did, the quest would fail, and she did not want to lose out on another egg. 

Though there was nothing she could really do about her urges, other than try her best in self-control, she settled down a bit and finally took in her surroundings. 

They were in a clearing surrounded by tents of varying sizes, forming a makeshift camp. People moved about the area, mostly demi-humans, but now and then, she caught glimpses of elves or dwarves trying to keep out of her line of sight. Nearly everyone seemed determined not to attract her attention. Whenever her gaze fell upon someone, they would shiver and hastily scurry away, clearly intimidated by her mere presence and gaze.

But one old man didn't shy away. Unlike the others, he boldly walked up to her, his movements slow but deliberate, and knelt before her. Erina felt another growl rising in her throat, but she managed to suppress it as the old tiger man carefully set his cane aside and met her gaze with a calm gaze.

"Once again, I'd like to thank you, my lady, for saving my people," he said, his voice steady and filled with genuine gratitude. "Without your intervention, most of us wouldn't be here today. So, thank you… for everything, and for trusting us to care for your precious egg."

With a respectful bow, Nulez stood back up, leaning on his cane for support. He slowly reached behind him and retrieved a small leather bag strapped to his back.

"I noticed you brought a girl with you," he continued, his tone soft and calm, looking at Olena. "Judging by her torn clothes and exhausted expression, I can only assume you've been through quite an ordeal to save her and bring her here. In this bag, I've packed some clothes and food for her. But... would it be all right if I spoke with her?"

Though Erina wasn't entirely sure why Nulez wanted to speak with Olena, she gave a slight nod of approval. There didn't seem to be any harm in it.

Olena, however, felt a wave of nervousness wash over her. In her experience, demi-humans were often treated as slaves in their territory, viewed not as people but as little more than animals. She didn't personally share that view, but it left her uncertain about how the people here might treat her, a human.

"Don't worry, my child. You're not the only human here," Nulez said gently, his voice warm and reassuring. "Two of the doctors here are human as well, so no one will harm you… especially with her by your side."

Noticing Olena's nervousness, he continued, holding out the bag. "I wasn't sure of your size, but these are some extra clothes made by our seamstresses. There's also some dried meat and fruit in the bag if you're hungry."

Nulez spoke with a calming tone, understanding her unease. Most of his people, himself included, had once been slaves, enduring unimaginable hardships before managing to escape their human owners. He had been forced to work in unstable mines, where cave-ins were an almost daily occurrence. Many of his friends had perished, whether from starvation or crushed beneath falling rocks. 

But that never stopped Nulez from moving forward, determined to plan an escape. Thankfully, he succeeded, though the victory was bittersweet. Out of his 30 companions, only three managed to escape with him. The rest were hunted down, dragged back to the mines, and hanged at the cave's entrance as a grim warning to others who dared try to escape. 

Yet Nulez continued to push forward, determined to guide the people who placed their trust in him toward a place they could finally call home… even if it cost him his life. He knew his years were limited, with perhaps eight good ones left in him, but the people around him still had futures worth fighting for.

Without the aid of certain human villages they passed along the way, they never would have made it this far. Supplies from these villages had kept them going, but even that wasn't enough to guarantee their survival. They were relentlessly hunted, always on the brink of destruction. Just days ago, they had barely managed to fend off an attack that could have wiped them out completely.

But now, there was hope. If he could convince their savior to stay with them, they would finally have something more than just fleeting luck, they would have a protector. Whether it was just his instincts warning of the danger from this black creature in front of him or his guts trying to convince him of staying with it, he'll do his best to take care of the egg and the human girl it brought. 

"Fix yourself up for now and rest. You'll be safe here. If you want to join us, explore around, or need anything else, just head to that black tent over there, that's where I'm staying" Nulez said, pointing toward his tent. After ensuring she had everything she needed, he turned and walked back to his tent, his mind already focused on the tasks he needed to complete before he got his tribe moving again.

Olena remained silent the entire time. Though she was still nervous about being surrounded by so many unfamiliar faces, the man's reassuring words had eased her anxiety slightly. Opening the bag, she pulled out some clothes and began looking around for a place to change.

Noticing her intentions immediately, Erina shifted into action. Without a word, she circled herself protectively around Olena, her large form acting as a shield to ensure no prying eyes could see her exposed body.

And though the simple brown dress was tight around her chest and hips, some simple tearing could fix that.

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And thanks for reading 

Comment on any mistakes or changes I should make.

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