By the time they returned to the village, the sun was already dipping low behind the forest canopy.
The winding dirt path that led to Rhaëlya's cave glowed gold, and the scent of woodsmoke curled lazily in the breeze.
Her cave was tucked against a rocky outcrop at the edge of the village, not so modest but cozy, shaped into livable rooms by hand and claw over seasons of effort. She didn't pay it much attention when she moved in, but it was actually pretty big.
The mouth was veiled with a thick hide curtain, painted with symbols of protection and ownership. One of which glowed faintly, a snake winding through a ring of snowflakes.
Carmen stopped in front of it and grinned. "Home sweet home."
Crypt scowled. "You're not invited."
"Too late," she said brightly, stepping inside without hesitation.
Rhaëlya sighed, too tired to argue. "Let her be. She's not trying to kill us anymore."
"Yet." Orion muttered.
"Don't jinx it."
Inside, Carmen had already picked a corner of the cave and was laying out her things. A few satchels, a weapon belt, some weird scorpion-shaped hair clips roughly made from wood, and a tiny clay idol of what looked like a three-eyed beast with five thin tails.
She gave it a little kiss and set it on a makeshift shelf she made from a patch of wet dirt she found.
"I'm very spiritual," she explained.
Rhaëlya arched an eyebrow, she didn't know that beastmen had religions as well.
Crypt groaned and disappeared deeper into the cave. "I'll make soup. Or poison. Haven't decided."
Rhaëlya dropped onto her bed of layered furs, letting the tension of the day melt away.
She didn't even flinch when Carmen curled up beside her like it was the most natural thing in the world.
"Don't get used to this." Rhaëlya murmured.
"Oh, I already have." Carmen whispered, smiling against her shoulder.
The next morning, the rhythm shifted.
"Crypt," Rhaëlya said over a breakfast of roasted root vegetables and fried meat, "go get some supplies from the villagers. We need wood and hide for insulation. This cave won't survive the winter like this."
He nodded, already gathering his things. "And the new bedding materials?"
"Ask for woven bark sheets. They're lighter than fur but just as warm."
"I'll make it happen." He leaned down, brushed a kiss against her temple, and vanished out the door with his usual quiet grace.
"Carmen," Rhaëlya added, without looking up, "go to the neighboring village and get salt. They'll trade for energy crystals."
Carmen pouted. "You're sending me away already?"
"You want to court me? Bring me seasoning. Impress me with flavor."
That seemed to satisfy her.
She perked up, saluted dramatically, and was gone in a flash of red hair and ambition.
"You know," Orion hummed "you could've sent her into a volcano, and she would've thanked you."
"She'll be back before nightfall." Rhaëlya replied.
"And probably with flowers." Orion continued.
Later that day, Rhaëlya and Azrakai moved through the forest with quiet ease, baskets in hand.
She crouched to gather wild tubers near a streambed. Azrakai was a few paces away, shaking the rain drops from a cluster of late berries.
The forest was crisp, the silence companionable.
"You're quiet." Rhaëlya said without looking up.
Azrakai chuckled softly. "I'm trying to give you peace. You've earned some."
She glanced up at him. "You're not mad about Carmen?"
"I don't get mad." he said, meeting her eyes. "Jealous, maybe. But you haven't accepted me yet, and I do not have any power to stop you from accepting any mates."
Rhaëlya blinked. Not knowing what to say, she knew that it was better to ask them for their opinions before accepting anyone, but Carmen wasn't expected.
"You have a lot of chaos around you. I want to be your calm."
"Smooth."Orion whispered.
She smiled despite herself. "You're doing a good job then."
They walked a little closer after that. And the silence that followed felt warmer than before.
When they reached the cave, neither Crypt nor Carmen have returned yet.
So Rhaëlya just asked Azrakai to come back later for dinner. He didn't want to leave bit he couldn't argue with her. And with them being in a village, he didn't have to stay guard either.
Thus, he left. Though he planned on coming back shortly.
Rhaëlya entered her new stone house and set down what she had gathered until now.
She then mumbled something under her breath before summoning the screen, "I know you've been watching. Why are you so quiet now?"
[...Didn't feel like talking. You didn't need my intervention either.]
"No I did. Beastmen have religions? I mean, I know about the Moon Goddess and the god of the beastmen, but I didn't think that they'd actually have statuettes?" She replied, slightly upset.
[The beastworld has a lot of gods and religions, actually. To make it more simple, the beastworld kinda follows something similar to ancient Egypt and Greece. They believe and follow multiple gods.]
[Though, they do not follow or worship them to the same degree. For example, Carmen has a statuette of the god of abundance, Rhiishim. And Crypt follows the god of Snakes, also known as the god of envy and greed, Rhaasham.
Rhaasham and Rhiishim are twin gods, yet people rarely follow both simultaneously. And you didn't see Crypt having a statuette, right?]
"...well no but now I'm curious about the gods of this world!" Rhaëlya replied, truly intrigued.
Though she always preferred science to make beliefs, she was also interested in religion. Not just one, but everyone that she knew of.
From Christianity to Satanism and Paganism. Without forgetting Islam, Bhuddism and Polytheism of all kinds. She read their books, sacred or not, of each one of them.
She, personally, was more on the pagans's side but that was just her opinion. She also agreed with Islam, the only problem with it is that there were some Muslims who missused their religion, and used it as an excuse to be horrible people.
And then there were those who confused religion and tradition. Though all of this was also an issue in christianism and it's branches.
Still, since she was forced to choose a religion, she chose one in which not only she agreed with some of their beliefs and rituals, but also, where people of the same religion would leave her alone.
So she chose Paganism. She could've also chosen Bhuddism, but knowing what her life at the academy would be like, she felt like it'd be disrespectful to the religion.
Still, she was curious about the religions of beastmen and how they dealt with it.
"Ariel! If you talk at least speak- sorry, type clearly!" Orion squeaked in her head.
[...fine.]
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/!\ The author (me) and the main character's views don't align!! The author is atheist and respects all religions! If you find what I wrote offensive in any way, please let me know so that I can rectify it.