33 Cubs...

The children saw Bai approaching as a challenge.

The little girls stuck their tongue's out at him and the little boys acted as cute as they could.

The vein on Bai's forehead started bulging.

But since they were young cubs, there was nothing he could do about it.

Giving an exasperated sigh he dropped his prey near and sat beside Kazumi of course not before glaring at the young ones.

"Kazumi are you hungry? See I caught a big one!"

"I am quite famished, Bai is it okay if we share with these cubs? Look they're so cute"

Bai was weak to Kazumi's pleading eyes. In the end, he gave a nod.

Bai was going to use his claws to tear through the meat when Kazumi stepped beside him and poking his shoulder " Bai isn't it a little too tough to cut it with your claws?"

His ears drooped "Are you saying my claws aren't sharp enough" To beastkin, it was essential to have sharp fangs and claws to protect their families and themselves.

Kazumi saw Bai's reaction and knew she had not explained herself correctly. She stretched out her hand and patted his head, playfully pulling his ears. Bai's face turned beat red, even the young cubs covered their red little faces with their hands.

After making sure Bai's damped mood was gone she told him "what I said was not meant to doubt your claws, it's just that where I'm from we use these" She retrieved a blade from her soul space, leaving the cubs in a state of shock "It's as sharp as claws and it makes it easier, want to try it ?"

Bai was reluctant to do so, Kazumi didn't press further she knew that different beings have their points of pride and customs

It took Bai around two hours to completely butcher and clean the deer 🦌. The cubs were busy with Kazumi playing and asking her to Pat their heads.

The older of the little girls pulled Kazumi's dress shyly "Can you make my hair like hers?!" The little girl's eyes were pleading ' These kids know how to find your weak points faster than you'd expect'

Kazumi smiled at the little girl, making the latter's heart flutter. "Come and sit here, I'll make you a different style, that way you both can be beautiful without copying each other"

The Girl cub sat on her lap; her cat-like-ears were twitching cutely. Kazumi had a very relaxed smile on her face.

Bai with the help of the other cubs ignited a fire. The white wolf cub was in charge of lighting it "Ignus" a small unstable flame was lit on the tips of his fingers, he directed it to the branches.

Having successfully done his job he went and sat beside Kazumi.

Kazumi made a French braid for the little girl; Bai had already made skewers with the deer meat.

Hours went by and evening came the little cubs were tired. Their mother beast came for them and thanked Kazumi for playing with her cubs "You should have cubs" with that the female left leaving Bai and Kazumi alone.

After Kazumi and Bai had gone into the cottage, he had noticed that she didn't talk after the remark made by the female.

'Does she not want cubs? Or is it that she does not want mine' This thought made his heartache, he wanted cubs. Having cub meant that she loved and favored him.

Kazumi, as usual, made her way to the back of the mountain where the small lake was. She plucked her feather after chanting and through it in.

"Cubs huh… sigh it is not that I do not wish for them rather I am deeply afraid of not being able to protect them"

The lake was surrounded by various trees and plants, this was one of the atmospheres fairies enjoyed most adding the fact that every time Kazumi cast a healing array nature in the area grew green and lush.

The fairies heard her remark and couldn't help but sadden a bit, some sat on her hair making funny expressions others brought her flowers and left them on her head.

Kazumi stretched out her hand and a wind fairy sat on it hugging Kazumi's thumb to secure herself.

"Green outfit, I guess you are a wind fairy?" the little fairy nodded " I see" Kazumi used her index finger to rub the little fairy's head making it say "fuaw"

The other fairies saw this and rushed to Kazumi demanding to be patted, a smile bloomed in her face while she played with the little creatures.

After an hour, she came out of the water and had initiated her chant to dry herself when a wind and fire fairies made warm air for her. Kazumi thanked them and walked back towards Bai

Bai caught the sight of the fairies stuck to Kazumi's side, he smiled knowingly.