37 When an Aloof Fox Surrendered Its Heart Part 2 (1/2)

As she lazed around, she remembered about her pets. Kuro would almost always climb up to snuggle with her at least, Hana suddenly realized the cave was empty.

[Aik? The kids are gone?] Even Shiro went out. She was a bit downhearted with this fact. She thought her pets will stay beside her and ease her unhappiness.

She walked to her usual spot with a heavy heart and lay down upon the campfire.

[It's time I message Mak(1).] She took a deep breath and try to instill some courage in her heart.

She swiped open her smartphone and checked from the contact list. True with her speculation, Arash must've asked her mom to install the LINE chatting app. Her mom's contact appeared in the list.

She started typing with apprehension.

[Hope she won't be too worried and angry T.T.]

...

”Snake, take it slow. I want to help too.” Shiro growled to the black snake. It knew the wretched snake purposely increased its pace to leave it behind as it limped hurriedly. The OKU (2) needed to exert itself a little harder to catch up. The snake shot from tree to tree leisurely in a rapid pace while eyeing its new 'comrade-in-arms' unhappily from the corner of its eyes. The forest had become dimmer as the sun was getting lower.

”Come on! It's not like I want mom to cuddle me! It's annoying to me too!” Shiro complained sheepishly with a blush. However, since it was so bushy, it was hard to notice.

”You better shut up! Be grateful mom accepted you, you ungrateful wretch!” Kuro shot back with a snarl. The fox was really rubbing salt on its wounds. If not for its big body, perfect for carrying things, it would've left it long ago.

Shiro sighed defeatedly. True, it did enjoy their mom's touch (only slightly as it tried to convince itself repeatedly). It gave it a weird belonging sensation it never felt before. However, it would never admit to anyone, including itself.

They moved towards the bamboo grove beside the Crystal-veined stream Hana used to score the previous grandpa bamboo. It only took around three minutes for them. Hana was indeed too slow. Kuro had tolerated her because it just loved staying close to her. It's like strolling through a garden leisurely. It brought immense joy to Kuro. That was why it didn't mind at all.

”Have you checked how much do we need?” Shiro limped around the bamboo groves. There were several clusters. It didn't know how to choose, and how many.

”Shut up. Let me check.” Kuro had stopped moving and danced in a trance. After a few second, both of its black eyes turned crystal-crimson red, just like the core on its forehead.

It took a peek through Hana's eyes with all seriousness. The aunty was busy flipping through the pages and comparing the picture she drew with the written message on the flat black rectangular thingy. However, it couldn't make any sense with the drawing. Did it need to count the vertical sticks? How about the horizontal sticks? Kuro was getting a headache. The sticks were so many!

”From the small drawing, I could see...” It abruptly stopped its train of thoughts. Is that what I think it is?

”See what?!” Shiro was getting a bit impatient with Kuro. It had waited for Kuro to continue but it seemed distracted with something. Shiro turned at its back to see what was catching Kuro's attention so much until it ignored this handsome fox just like that.

[What was that? Isn't that a type of Primordial Spiritual Herb?!!]

Kuro immediately shot into the bamboo groves! [I must catch it before it gets away!]

The tiny spirit herb flashed and disappeared. It reappeared again ten steps away as it flashed again, leaving a green glow as its shadow. Kuro kept on pouncing at the fast moving spiritual herb again and again but to no avail. [It was so damn fast! How sneaky!] How did it not realize the presence of a spiritual herb in its own territory?

Kuro didn't turn into its real size because it didn't want to destroy the trees and the beautiful riverbank with shallow stream. It knew Hana loved this location and frequented it every single day. She would suddenly bend down and picked random vegetation and stones before playing with them to her heart's content. The nests of fowls in the bushes by the stream could also provide a steady flow of eggs for its mommy. The most important thing was, these things had the potential to turn into delicious food by its mommy's hand!

A good thirty meters later, Shiro was done waiting!

It let loose a cleaving wind attack in the direction of the fleeing spiritual herb with a swipe of its claw.

”Zeeeeessssss!” A flash of a single wind blade passed by the slippery teleporting spiritual herb.

Every single bamboo tree in the attack path including the spiritual herb was cleanly cut into two. Kuro was four steps behind the mischievous herb. It dissipated the attack by launching a few of its erected diamond-hard black scale.

Shiro turned silent. Its 'brother' was actually way stronger than itself. It now understood if the snake wanted it dead, it would've died ten times over. Its desire to show off a little had been dampened just like that. With this, the establishment of hierarchy was confirmed amongst them, even without words. Shiro sighed in its heart. It vowed to cultivate more diligently to overcome its new 'brother' to establish dominance later.

The two 'brothers' looked at the dead spiritual herb.