The next day, a chilly breeze blew in the mountains, where a layer of frost had formed over the ground. The weeds that were still green yesterday had turned yellowish-green, making crisp sounds when one stepped upon them.
Seasons were vague over here and didn’t necessarily happen at precise timing. This chilly wind was an indication that the cold season was about to arrive.
Bai Qingqing, who had just come to this village, didn’t even have a good piece of winter clothing. Curtis decided to head out of the village to hunt while he still had the energy.
Bai Qingqing walked outside in a jacket made from coarse animal skin, feeling chilly as the wind squirmed inside of her clothes.
As the wind was too strong, Parker had difficulty starting a fire. Seeing her shivering in the cold wind, he instantly got to his feet and said, “I’ll carry you up. It’s too windy out here.”
Bai Qingqing placed her hands beside her mouth as she exhaled white air. She said as she trembled, “No need for that. I’m going to visit Molly.”
Parker didn’t insist since Molly didn’t live too far away. Hence, Bai Qingqing left with her little cubs in tow.
“Tribal head!”
Bai Qingqing shouted under the tree hole, her voice sounding muffled and choppy amid the cold breeze. “Molly!”
Very quickly, a tiger head stuck out from the second story. After casting a glance at Bai Qingqing, that head went back in, and after a muffled roar, Molly was lowered from upstairs.
Bai Qingqing instantly looked towards her neck. If the tribal head discovered her wound, Bluepool would be in trouble.
Thankfully, due to the cold weather today, Molly was wearing a furry coat that covered her neck.
“Bai Qingqing.” Molly looked listless with reddened eyes. “Is something the matter?”
Bai Qingqing pulled Molly to one side and whispered, “I’m here to see you. Is your neck alright?”
“Hurts.” At the mention of this, Molly started sobbing right away.
Bai Qingqing hurriedly asked, “Did your father see this?”
“Don’t worry, I hid it from him.” Molly touched her neck which was giving off a dull pain as she sat down on the grass. “I suddenly feel that I shouldn’t have canceled my spousal relationship with that male.”
“Why?” Bai Qingqing cast her a baffled look. Though, her heart had returned to its original position. “What has this got to do with that male?”
“This is the first time I’m so infatuated with a male. It was only after he hurt me that I understood the fanatical feelings one experiences when in love.” Molly picked up a tree branch and started doodling randomly on the ground, tears slipping onto the cold and hard earth beneath.
“The current me is like that male who mated with me against my will back then. While I’m fine, that male is doomed for life.”
“I’m glad you know.” Bai Qingqing glanced at her, before picking up a tree branch to play with out of boredom. “Since you’ve formed a spousal relationship, you can’t easily cancel it. But I don’t feel that you did wrong in that incident. If you had accepted him, many males would emulate him if word got out, especially those males who didn’t have a chance of getting a spouse. If that happened, the females would be placed in a perilous situation.”
Molly’s eyes widened.
“So stop thinking about that matter. It’s all in the past now.”
“Mm.” Molly nodded her head vigorously. She glanced at the leopard cubs surrounding her and said, “I should be going into heat next year. I’ll find a strong male as a mate then and give birth to a litter of tiger cubs!”
Bai Qingqing, who was a little embarrassed by the topic, asked testingly, “You’re not pursuing Bluepool anymore?”
Molly’s body trembled, and she quickly said, “Not anymore. I don’t want him even if he pursues me now. He’s too scary.”
Since there was no possibility between the two of them, Bai Qingqing reckoned that she would go to apologize to Bluepool, and this matter would be over.
Bai Qingqing got to her feet and said, “I’m going to the waterhole. You wanna come with me?”
Molly shook her head so hard that the baby fat on her cheeks quivered. “No way am I ever going back to that place again.”