Chapter 3

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The white-furred Shuo, having transformed into human form, was thoroughly scrutinized by the tribe members gathered at the foot of the mountain. A crowd surrounded the pale, tender cub—touching, poking, and pinching—until Shuo retreated behind Bai Yun, refusing to come out. Only then did they reluctantly withdraw their hands.

After a moment, Shuo changed into a clean piece of animal hide and wore simple shoes made from scraps of animal skin. Animal hides were precious resources in the tribe; most members did not wear shoes, but Bai Yun, worried about his cub’s feet getting hurt, had specially made a pair for him.

Despite having shoes, Shuo didn’t dare wander about and instead found a stone to sit on in a corner, waiting as Bai Yun went to collect food. Beside him followed his little shadow, Bai Le, who had been frightened by Shuo’s being pushed down the mountain earlier. It had taken a long time to soothe him, and he was still hiccupping from crying.

Rubbing his younger brother’s head, Shuo glanced once more down at the situation below the mountain. Though he had claimed hunger as an excuse to mask his low spirits on the way back, he was indeed hungry. Transforming into human form consumed much energy, and he urgently needed to replenish it.

Food brought back by the tribe each day was pooled together and distributed only when all members had returned. Hunting and gathering teams received their rations first, followed by the elders and cubs. The later one received food, the less was left. But priorities mattered; everyone knew that a newly transformed cub needed more food, so Cai Lin from the Feather Tribe, who was sorting food, allowed Bai Yun to collect his share early.

“Bai Yun, your cub is so adorable in human form,” Cai Lin complimented, eyeing the cub who was sneaking glances their way. Most cubs in the tribe were rambunctious and dirty, whether in feathered or human form, but Bai Yun’s cub was clean and paler than the others, making one inexplicably want to pinch him.

Moved by the cub’s cuteness, Cai Lin gave her share to Bai Yun. “Cub needs to eat more.” Many in the tribe knew Bai Yun’s cub, who had not transformed until now, liked fresh fruits. Sometimes Bai Yun would trade other foods for fruits.

Bai Yun didn’t hesitate. “Alright, I’ll bring you some roasted meat later.” Cai Lin had injured her leg during a hunt and could only work at the foot of the mountain, receiving less meat. Before her injury, she and Bai Yun were on the same gathering team and often exchanged food.

Cai Lin waved it off. “No need, I have enough. Just a few fruits. Let the cub eat more,” she said, handing over the food.

It was the second month of the growing season. Plants had just passed the sprouting phase; few were flowering or fruiting, and only a small number of short-cycle plants bore fruit. The gathering team’s haul was not much—mostly leafy greens. Like fruits, leafy greens were part of the Feather Tribe’s diet but had a faint bitterness and were less tasty. Their advantage was abundance throughout the territory and continuous availability until the season ended.

Bai Yun collected fruits and leafy vegetables for the whole family, washed the fruits, and gave one each to Wu Yan and Bai Le. The rest were placed before Shuo, while the leafy greens were set aside.

Seeing the fruit, Shuo’s hunger grew stronger. But before eating, he handed one to his foster mother. “Thank you, A-mu. You eat too.” Bai Yun had just returned and surely hadn’t eaten.

“I’m not hungry yet. Shuo, eat yourself,” Bai Yun replied, stroking the cub’s head. She knew his preferences well—his favorite were the colorful fruits; he disliked roasted meat and leafy greens. With fruits scarce, she wouldn’t compete with him.

Only nine fruits had been gathered for the whole family, so Bai Yun planned to explore further tomorrow. She picked up the leafy greens. “I’ll wash these. Don’t wander off,” she warned, mainly addressing Shuo, who was new to human form and could easily get lost if he strayed far.

Shuo obediently nodded.

Wu Yan, looking at the fruit in his hand, recalled what other cubs had said. He handed his fruit to Shuo. “I don’t like fruit. You eat it. I’ll wait for the hunting team to bring meat.”

Upon hearing this, Shuo decided to share half of his meat ration with Wu Yan.

Bai Le glanced between Wu Yan and his brother, feeling a bit jealous as if his brother was being taken away. Yet, recalling his own mistakes that day, he held back tears and quietly moved closer to Shuo, offering the fruit he held. “Brother, eat mine.”

Shuo was nearly pushed off his stone seat, startled. “Le, have you gotten stronger?” He had felt something odd about being pushed out of the nest today, and now, feeling his silly brother’s strength again, he understood why.

Cub fights in the nest were common; many fell out each year, usually sliding off the nest’s edge and not far away. Some even hung in trees waiting for their parents to rescue them. But Shuo had been shoved clean off. Although the gust of wind had played a part, Bai Le’s initial shove was undeniably the main cause.

When he fell, Shuo was too nervous to think much, and later, caught up in the joy of transforming, he hadn’t considered the strangeness until Bai Le’s shove made it clear. Bai Le was not even up to Shuo’s shoulder yet, and though Shuo was slightly shorter than Wu Yan, he was well within healthy standards. Nearly being shoved off the stone proved Bai Le’s strength was abnormal.

“What?” Bai Le looked puzzled, holding his fruit closer and pushing it forward again. “Brother, eat mine, eat mine.”

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Seeing Bai Le’s little dirty hand nearly shoved into his mouth, Shuo had no choice but to set aside thoughts about his brother’s increased strength and took the fruit. Bai Le, influenced by others at home, loved pushing fruit toward Shuo and was especially bossy—he insisted the first bite be from the fruit he gave.

Shuo peeled the skin and bit into the fruit. The flesh was tart and sweet, crisp and juicy, instantly soothing his hungry palate. Without pause, he peeled the next one and continued.

This fruit was similar to grapes from his past life. The skin was thin and easy to peel, but unlike grapes growing in bunches on vines, these grew individually on trees, resembling cherry apples in appearance and taste—a hybrid of grape and cherry. About the size of a walnut, they gradually turned red from the top down as they ripened. The larger the red area, the riper the fruit. They were called Redcap Fruit.

In the early growing season, Redcap Fruit was Shuo’s staple. He knew exactly where to peel for the least effort. Previously, he had used his beak and two claws to eat them. Now, with hands and past experience eating grapes, it was much easier.

Wu Yan watched as Shuo skillfully peeled and ate the fruit in just two bites each, leaving only the skin and core. In no time, Shuo had devoured five or six, a hint of astonishment flickering across his normally calm face.

Bai Yun, returning after washing the leafy greens, was unsurprised by how quickly her cub ate fruit. Seeing he had eaten only a few and half remained, she asked, “Shuo, why aren’t you eating more? Want me to peel it for you?”

Shuo hurriedly protected the remaining fruit. “No, A-mu, I want to save these for curing meat.” The redness at the top indicated ripeness. The ones he ate were fully ripe; the rest were just beginning to mature—edible but more sour and less sweet. He intended to use them for curing meat.

“Curing meat?” Bai Yun was unfamiliar with the term.

Shuo nodded, explaining, “Mash the Redcap Fruit and mix it with meat. It makes the roasted meat taste better.”

Bai Yun understood, though she didn’t know why her cub wanted to do that. But the fact that he wanted to eat meat was good news. Among the three cubs, she worried most about the one who disliked meat. Refusing meat meant growing weaker. Now, hearing he wanted to mix fruit with meat, she agreed without hesitation. No matter the fuss, as long as he ate meat, it was fine.

Shuo breathed a sigh of relief; Bai Yun’s consent made things easier.

“A-mu, I want to use the pot and stone slab, and also wooden bowls and stone knives,” Shuo spoke again. Most tribe resources were communal, allocated by the chief. But some tools, made individually or traded with saved meat, belonged to individuals. Their family had plenty of tools but all were up the mountain. With his short limbs, Shuo could climb but lugging stone pots and slabs was impossible, so he had to ask Bai Yun for help.

“Alright, I’ll get them,” Bai Yun agreed. She stood to leave but cautioned, “The hunting team will be back soon. Don’t wander off.” She worried her obedient, adorable cub might get accidentally bumped by one of the oblivious Feather Tribe members.

“Okay, I know, A-mu. I’ll stay right here.” Shuo promised again, though he suspected Bai Le was the only one likely to roam.

Bai Yun wasn’t worried about her youngest cub. Growing up with bumps and bruises was different from those who stayed in the nest. In human form, Shuo was not weaker than others; some cubs were even less healthy. But whenever she saw him, she unconsciously recalled his feathered form—a tiny bundle no bigger than a palm—and couldn’t help but worry more.

Just as Bai Yun left, a six- or seven-year-old child peeked out from a nearby pile of branches. Upon seeing Shuo, the child’s eyes widened in shock before turning and fleeing in another direction, face pale and terrified as if witnessing something dreadful.

Shuo was focused on the remaining Redcap Fruit. Bai Le was trying to call him to watch others light a fire, and Wu Yan was lost in thought. No one noticed the child’s brief appearance and departure.

The fleeing child ran straight to one of the cub gathering spots and, after searching, spotted Bai Su’s figure. The child shouted loudly, “Bai Su, bad news! Your A-mu is going to raise another cub!”

Bai Su, picking fruit in a tree, was utterly confused.

Bai Su returned to the tribe and immediately saw Wu Yan talking with Bai Yun.

“A-mu is going to raise Wu Yan?” Bai Su thought for a moment, puzzled. Some adults in the tribe occasionally raised other cubs, but usually those without parents or whose parents couldn’t provide. Wu Yan had no A-mu but had a strong A-fu like theirs and was well-fed. Why would A-mu suddenly want to raise Wu Yan?

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Still puzzled by A-mu’s behavior, Bai Su stepped forward to investigate—and then froze.

Across from A-mu, between his youngest brother and Wu Yan, sat an unfamiliar cub—the same one who had spoken to A-mu earlier. Wu Yan had been blocking this cub, causing Bai Su to mistakenly think A-mu was talking to Wu Yan.

Bai Su looked closely at this cub, whom he had never seen but felt vaguely familiar. The cub resembled his little brother, then his A-fu, and even more so, A-mu.

Suddenly, a possibility flashed in his mind. He refocused, scrutinizing the cub’s features and apparent age. His eyes lit up immediately.

…

The hunting teams returned late today, only arriving as dusk fell, but all wore smiles because each had a successful catch.

The largest haul came from the last team, who chased a Moo-Moo beast far away. The hunt took a long time, and the large prey caused the delay, but the results made it worthwhile.

The tribe’s rule was to wait for all hunters to return before distributing food, out of respect for those out seeking food. Until the last team was safe, no one knew if they had caught anything or faced danger. Only then did the tribe cheer for the day’s bounty.

Besides the large Moo-Moo beast, the hunters also caught a Mee-Mee beast and several Ko-Ko birds.

Dead prey had to be distributed the same day to prevent spoilage. Even as darkness fell, everyone stayed busy, washing and cutting meat by the river in preparation for rationing.

From afar, Shuo glimpsed the Moo-Moo beast, which resembled a cow; the Mee-Mee beast looked like a large goat but much bigger—about 200 to 300 pounds. The Moo-Moo beast appeared to weigh about a ton.

Ko-Ko birds were slightly smaller than ostriches, lacking their long legs and necks, with short wings. These flightless birds were relatively easy prey for the Feather Tribe.

The last team to return was led by Bai Xun. As a hunter, Bai Xun did not participate in dividing the meat; elders and near-adults, who were forbidden to hunt outside, handled that task and distributed the food.

Covered in blood scent, Bai Xun washed quickly in the river and returned to find his eldest and youngest sons. He picked up the two cubs, placing one on each shoulder. Then, noticing a cub he had never seen before still sitting in the corner, he was stunned. “Su, where did you find this cub?”

Bai Su was speechless.

Shuo was speechless.

Just as Shuo was about to speak, Bai Xun sized him up and told Bai Su, “I have to say, this cub looks a lot like your A-mu. If it weren’t for the age difference, I’d suspect she secretly hatched a fourth cub.”

Looking at his father babbling to himself, Shuo was momentarily at a loss for words.