Harvey took Muir away from the battlefield. "Are you alright?" he asked, looking at Muir's bloodied cloak. "Were you stung by that scorpion?"

Muir coughed and spat out black blood.

"Curtis! He's poisoned! Kill that thing quick! Don't let it get away!" The only way to find an antidote was to use the animal's scales.

"Easy for you to say!" Curtis grumbled, battling the scorpion with renewed ferocity.

Suddenly, Curtis caught a familiar scent in the wind. His heart sank. "Rhea! Run away!" he yelled, panic rising in his chest. Harvey's eyes widened as he saw Rhea approaching.

The scorpion beastman noticed her and sneered. "A female? Today is my lucky day..."

Before Curtis or Harvey could react, the scorpion launched itself towards Rhea, its tail poised to strike. Curtis and Harvey both shouted, "Rhea, get out of here!"

Curtis felt his blood run cold as the scorpion closed in on her. He watched, helpless, as the scene unfolded.

To their utter astonishment, Rhea sidestepped the scorpion's attack with a fluid motion, grabbing its tail and yanking it hard, throwing the beastman against a tree so hard the tree snapped in half.

Curtis's and Harvey's jaws dropped as they witnessed her strength.

What the fuck was that??

Did she just throw a giant scorpion like it was a rabbit?

"So this is who you guys are fighting, the audacity to attack at dinner time," Rhea muttered, grabbing the scorpion's arm and twisting it until a satisfying crack echoed through the trees. The scorpion howled in pain.

Curtis and Harvey were speechless, a chill running down their spines as they watched her break its arms. Within moments, the once-mighty scorpion lay on the ground, groaning in defeat.

Rhea stood over it, smiling beautifully. "Stay down, or I will actually kill you," she warned.

She noticed the odd silence of the forest and turned to the men staring at her. "You guys didn't come back for dinner," she said with a casual shrug.

Is that all she had to say!?

"What-" The darn scorpion stung her while her back was turned.

"Rhea!"

Shit.

.

"Rhea... Wake up."

Harvey's voice finally broke through, and she opened her eyes feeling weak all over. She was hot and cold, her breathing was irregular, and she couldn't even speak.

He brought a drink to her mouth with a leaf, which she drank.

She saw Curtis standing over Harvey with a worried expression on his face.

"Sorry, I got careless," was the first thing she said when she could speak. Her voice was hoarse.

She looked at Curtis, and she knew immediately he was going to scold her.

As she prepared herself for a scolding, she felt his skin against hers. He hugged her tightly like she would disappear from his sight. 

"You were too brash! What were you thinking!"

He said, his voice revealing his fears. 

"You got yourself poisoned! If Harvey wasn't here, you would have just died! Never do that again!" His voice was actually trembling. He had seen her lose consciousness, and his heart almost stopped working. Was this the kind of emotional labour that came with having a female? He didn't like it. She stroked his long red hair.

"I'm sorry, I won't do it again," Rhea said, attempting to please her case. She should have just killed the damn scorpion immediately.

"Rhea, this isn't funny." Even Harvey was serious. "If I wasn't here, you would've died, like, end of life, no breathing - dead."

"I get it; I promise I will be careful next time," she apologised sincerely. 

"It's okay; I'm still here. I won't die that easily."

"Um... Thank you for saving me. I am Muir..."

The other poisoned beastman had recovered way faster than her and was bowing to thank her.

"I'm glad you're safe. Where are you from? Do you need help getting back?" she asked.

"No, I cannot impose anymore. I will head back by myself. Thank you very much again."

"At least eat something before leaving."

"No, it's fine..."

"I insist."

Muir gave in and sat to have breakfast with them.

Curtis helped her sit up, and then she noticed something in the corner tied up.

"Wait... Is that..."

The thing looked up at her with fear in its eyes.

A fucking bug.

She definitely should have squashed it.

"Why is it still alive?" she asked coldly.

Harvey looked guilty. "I didn't know if you wanted us to kill it, so I asked Curtis to keep it alive..."

He was kind. She took a deep breath. She wouldn't kill it for Harvey's sake.

"Harvey, you are so kind. It doesn't deserve your mercy at all." She turned to the other outsider. "Are you from a nearby tribe, Muir?"

"Ah, yes. I'm from the beast city."

"Oh! I remember Curtis mentioning it. What's it like there?" Rhea asked, excited.

"It's where all sorts of beasts gather. There aren't any ferals there, though."

What a weird way to say, 'don't bring your big red snake with you'.

"But you saved my life. I am willing to become your mate." He added.

Curtis declined immediately, his face stern. "No."

Harvey intervened. "It would be good to have a 3-mark beast here. They are powerful."

Rhea shook her head. "That's a ridiculous way to pay us back. Just help us out if we're in trouble."

Muir was shocked but smiled, respecting her wishes. It was a ridiculous way to pay someone back, wasn't it?

.

Rhea watched him fly back home and wondered what life would have been like if she was born with wings. 

Rhea looked at the scorpion. She was curious to see who raised him. 

"Where are you from?" she asked, her voice cold.

The scorpion hesitated, then stammered, "Th-the Black Wind Valley. My tribe... they're there."

Curtis's eyes narrowed. "Black Wind Valley, huh? Figures."

Rhea stood, feeling her strength returning. "Alright, let's pay a visit to Black Wind Valley. I want to see what kind of place produces scum like you."

The scorpion whimpered, but he knew better than to protest.

"Not so fast." Curtis picked her up like she was a paperweight. "You need to rest first, we can deal with the scorpion after." 

She found herself back in bed, a felt animal skin blanket over her. She was manhandled so fast and efficiently, it was kinda hot. 

"Now, go to sleep." 

Now her face felt hot, she couldn't help but notice Curtis was built like a Greek god. 

Curtis paused and sniffed. "That smell..." 

Rhea got up immediately and said, "I-I need a bath!" She ran through to the back of the cave where the pond was. 

Harvey looked at Curtis; he was clueless, but he had no intention of helping him out. 

. 

"This is so was so embarrassing." She muttered as she dipped into the water to cool off. She tried to clear her mind but too no avail. All she could think of was abs. What happened to not being interested in mating? Now why was she so feral? 

She was afraid if Curtis came too close to her, she would just eat him whole. 

"Fuck ovulation; I cannot get pregnant right now. God.. Buddha Allah.. please." 

"Rhea are you ok?"

Curtis followed her in worry; truly, he didn't need to; he really didn't have to. 

"I'm fine." She said weakly. He got in the water, his tail wrapping around her naked body. 

She was going crazy and he didn't even know. 

He straddled her against the edge of the pool, he looked down to see her chest rise and fall quite heavily. Her chest was rather full, he poked it innocently out of curiosity. 

"Curtis.. what are you doing.." 

The sound that escaped her lips was surprisingly pleasant. 

"Does it hurt?" He whispered in her ear, she felt her core tremble. Her brain short circuited, is this what was gonna happen? She was gonna fuck a snake?

He looked down at her lips and felt they must taste good considering they looked plump. 

"Curtis, move your tail a bit..

"Like this?" He asked, confused, moving his take a bit. 

She gasped, arching her back. 

"Are you ok? Are you in pain?" He asked, worried. His voice was like an aphrodisiac, she wanted more.

"Ah, I'll feel better, just move your tail like that again.." What the fuck was she saying. 

"Like this?" His voice was lower, it seemed like he caught on. She moaned, her hips moving in the water. 

His hand reached down to where his tail was. His eyes never leaving hers. 

She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer to her face and he complied. 

'Dear diary, 

I think I lost my goddamn mind.

I fucked a snake. '

A/N: I definitely fell in love with a reader. Commenting on all the chapters: Just marry me, thank you. 

Also, Parker's dad is really hot; why is he so hot?? Mufasa?