Over the next several days, Kael dedicated himself to gathering the necessary materials for the house. He collected wood, burned it into ashes, and then dampened and molded these ashes into balls. He heated these balls until they turned red-hot. He also gathered snail shells and seashells, heating them until they softened and began to crumble. These were then ground into dust and stored for later use. He collected ample amounts of sand and clay and located a spot rich in sticky grass. The last step in his preparations was carving rocks into the desired shapes.
Throughout this period of hard work, Kael took regular breaks to catch prey and assist Ava with meal preparation. Meanwhile, Ava spent most of her time in the tree house, taking care of George. Thankfully, George's health showed noticeable improvement; the swelling in his joint had reduced significantly, and he could move the leg freely. He was now able to stand on that leg, although the one that had been broken still required more time to heal. Ava helped George by massaging his legs and joints to prevent stiffness in the healed areas.
The days dragged on slowly and felt extremely boring. Ava had limited opportunities to go outside and do anything while Kael was busy working on the house. Her only outings were to bathe in the morning, after which she was stuck in the tree house with George, only coming out to roast meat for meals. If Ava found it tedious, she could only imagine how George felt, having been unable to leave the tree house since his injury.
Confined to the tree home, Ava had plenty of time to delve into the memories of the real Ava and learn about the world she had been transmigrated into. This world, known as the Beastworld, had its own unique rhythm and structure. On the Orc Continent, a year was divided into three distinct seasons: the rainy season lasting three months, the scorching season spanning five months, and the winter season covering four months. Ava had arrived during the scorching season, a time when forest prey was abundant and fruits were just beginning to ripen.
The most prosperous place in the Beastworld was the Dragon King City, ruled by the formidable Dragon King. Under his reign were five major tribes: the Wolf, Leopard, Tiger, Eagle, and Ape clans. The Ape clan, known for their intelligence, commanded respect, while the other clans relied on their fighting prowess. Above all, the Dragon clan reigned supreme, with their powers far exceeding those of other beastmen. The Dragon King City was a place of safety and wealth, so much so that even colossal mammoths and stray beastmen dared not venture close, fearing the dragons' might. The city was the source of most goods, including clothing, armor, metal weapons, and pottery, though these were expensive and required a treacherous journey, crossing a river infested with piranhas and water lizards (crocodiles), the process involved in making these products is a tightly guard secret at it serves to elevate the clans status.
Ava recalled that the Real Ava's father, Leader of the Gold Sun Tribe and the fox chief, Ethan's father, were trying to copy the Dragon king City, to create a beast city by Joining the two tribes via marriage. This alliance was meant to bring prosperity, but betrayal lurked within her family.. She recalled her step sister, Isabella and her betrayal, of how even Ethan that she barely knew connived with her sister to betray and kill her. How she was surrounded by stray beastmen seeking to violate, her escaping and falling from a Clif, it seems like this was how the real Ava died before she took possession of this body and awoke to find beast men who wanted to confirm her death. She wondered what happened to the tribe given that Ethan was working with the strays and whether her sister took her place by Ethan's side, after much deliberation she decided to leave all these in the past, what matters now is to live a quiet and peaceful lazy life with the one she love or the ones she loved. Thinking back on the matter of mates perhaps she should take George and Kael as her mates, since joining the tree tribe no male has ever caught her eyes yet, sure they were all quite handsome but she didn't feel close to anyone, Ava decided that when the time was right, she would mate with both George and Kale, they were both nice beastmen, also as a female to survive in this world, one would need strong males by their side, that is the number one rule of survival for females in this world, besides she didn't want to be like all these women who will string men along and keep receiving gifts and favor from them but when it comes to intimacy they would draw a line, more over the concept of being a slut doesn't exist in this world, that's right now more hesitating when the time is right she would mate with George and Kael, and this was how her mind wandered from thoughts to thoughts in an attempt to alleviate boredom
Ava wished Omar would visit, providing her with someone to talk to. With no movies to watch or books to read, she was left with little else to do but sleep. She lay beside George, feeling the warmth and softness of his fur, and drifted back to sleep for what felt like the hundredth time under George's watchful gaze.
George wanted to lick her as a sign of affection but remembered the last time he did, Ava hadn't liked it due to the roughness of his tongue. Instead, he snuggled his head close to Ava's body and closed his eyes.
In the meantime, Kael worked tirelessly, Each step in his process required patience and precision, especially when it came to shaping the rocks. The ash balls he made and the crushed shells would be used as key components in the cement mixture, they would add strength to the building material.
As the days passed, Ava's anticipation for the new house grew, but so did her restlessness. She found herself longing for a change of scenery and some activity to break the monotony of her current routine. Despite the boredom, she remained optimistic, knowing that Kael's hard work would eventually lead to the freedom and space she desired.
George's recovery provided some relief from the monotony. His improving condition was a positive sign, and Ava took pride in the care she provided him. The massages she gave him helped keep his muscles flexible, ensuring that he would regain full mobility once he was completely healed.
Ava often daydreamed about what life would be like once the house was built. She imagined a space where she could come and go or roamed about as she pleased, host friends, and enjoy her freedom. The thought of having a place to call her own filled her with hope and excitement, fueling her patience during this waiting period.
Kael, on the other hand, felt a sense of purpose and satisfaction in his work. The physical labor was challenging, but he found joy in the progress he made each day.
With each step of progress Kale made on the house, he drew increasing attention from the tribespeople. They often passed by, feigning disinterest, but their curiosity about the construction was clear. As the structure began to take shape, more and more people would stop to watch for a few moments before continuing on their way. Some even ventured closer, pretending to inspect the nearby trees or plants, while stealing glances at the work Kale was doing. It became evident that the project was stirring intrigue and interest within the community, though few were bold enough to openly express it.
As the days went on, Kale began to recognize some of the faces. There was a group of cubs who would sneak closer than the others, growling and purring among themselves. They were captivated by the transformation of raw materials into something new and purposeful. Occasionally, Kale would turn to look at them, which would send them scattering, only to return later with renewed curiosity. At first, Kale found the attention slightly unnerving, unsure of how the tribe's people would react to his project. But as time passed, he realized that their interest was not hostile. They were intrigued by the innovation and creativity that displayed, something they hadn't seen before. This realization brought him a sense of connection to the community, even though no words were exchanged. Despite the unspoken interest from the tribespeople, Kale remained focused on his work. He dedicated each day to refining the house's structure, carefully carving the rocks into the right shapes and meticulously assembling the different materials he had gathered. The vision he had for this new home became clearer with each passing day, motivating him to keep pushing forward. The attention from the tribespeople grew, and some of the bolder individuals began to approach Kale directly, People like Amon and Oma.
One day, Shaman Lazur and Tribe leader Morris came over while Kale was taking a break. The Shaman gestured towards the house, clearly curious about its purpose.
"Young man, your one of Ava's suitors right, would you mind telling us what this strange thing is" Shama Lazur said
Tribe Leader Morris followed up "we are just curious and just want to make sure it is not something that will harm the tribe."
Kale did his best to explain through gestures and drawings in the dirt. The men nodded, seemingly understanding that this seemed to be a new type of den or cave, they offered a smile before returning to their respective homes. This small interaction broke the ice, and soon more tribespeople began to engage with Kale. They would come to watch him work, sometimes offering silent assistance by handing him tools or materials. These small gestures of camaraderie encouraged Kale, and he began to feel like a part of the community.