Clumsy Beast, Keep Your Paws Off novel Chapter 220

Chapter 220: Chapter 220: The Young Rabbit Leader’s Burden

Inside the temporary settlement prepared for them, the rabbit tribe finally began to huddle together, trying to shake off the damp cold that had clung to their fur and skin for days.

The tree houses the fox tribe offered them were simple but solid.

Inside one dim tree house, the rabbit tribe leader, Tu Yelang, sat against the wooden wall, his back straight but his eyes heavy with exhaustion he didn’t dare show.

He was still a young beastman... merely 19 years old. Far too young to be carrying the weight of an entire tribe.

His hands were still trembling slightly from the cold, but his mind was elsewhere entirely; it was replaying the moment that had changed everything.

His father’s last stand.

The rain had just begun then, heavy and merciless, and the ferocious sky bees had swarmed out of their nests in frenzied waves. Their stingers could pierce fur, flesh, and even bone. Their venom could weaken limbs within minutes.

Tu Yelang’s father, Tu Ganglie, already frail from sickness, had stepped forward anyway.

"Yelang... take your sister. Take everyone... from here and find a safe place."

"B-but Father...!"

"Don’t make me repeat myself!"

He remembered the way his father’s voice shook with dread. The way his wide rabbit ears trembled, yet he still stood tall, blocking the bees with the elders who volunteered to die with him.

Tu Yelang swallowed now, pressing a hand over his eyes.

He shouldn’t cry... not when he had to be a leader... even if he wasn’t old enough yet.

Even if half the tribe still saw him as a child.

Even if sometimes he felt like he was still that same boy who used to hide behind his father’s legs.

A soft voice brought him back.

"Leader Yelang... the others are settled."

He looked up to see Tu Feixian, one of the older rabbit warriors, carrying a small bundle of wet leaves to burn.

Yelang nodded. "Good. Make sure the cubs are near the fire. They’re too cold."

Feixian nodded and went out again.

Yelang left his tree house to go and see the situations of others. Females leaned against the walls, trembling softly, their clothes still drying. Little cubs rubbed their faces sleepily. Some warriors were wringing water out of their fur.

And in one of the tree houses, his sister... Tu Ruyan, the second pregnant female of their tribe, was leaning weakly against the tree wall.

Her face was pale, her lips slightly blue. Her belly was small, and the rain had been unforgiving to her weak body.

He immediately went to her, crouching beside her. "Ruyan, are you okay? Does your stomach hurt? Are you cold? Do you need water? Should I call the witch doctor?"

She rolled her eyes weakly. "Gege... breathe. You’re asking too many questions."

He blinked, then stumbled over his words. "I... I’m just worried."

"I know." She smiled faintly. "But you don’t need to. I’m fine. That fox tribe female... Miss Su... she helped me earlier. I feel a lot better."

Tu Yelang swallowed. "Su Qinglan..."

Even thinking her name made his heart skitter like a frightened rabbit.

Ruyan noticed instantly.

Her smile turned sly. "Ah? So that’s the beauty who made your ears stand straight earlier?"

His face flushed bright red. "R-Ruyan! Don’t talk nonsense!"

"I saw you staring at her."

"I wasn’t... I just... she... she is beautiful, yes, but she’s surrounded by three beastmen who could snap me in half with one hand!"

Ruyan giggled softly, then winced as a cold shiver ran through her body.

Immediately Yelang grabbed the thin blanket around her shoulders and wrapped her tighter. "See? You’re still cold. I’m not leaving until..."

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