The inky cloak of night had settled, draping itself over the makeshift clearing like a velvet shroud. A towering bonfire, a chaotic symphony of crackling wood and leaping flames, had been coaxed into existence, casting a flickering, orange glow upon the scene. The beastmen,  were in the throes of merriment. They swayed and stomped in a loose, rhythmic dance, their guttural laughter and joyous howls echoing through the trees. It was, dare I say, a picturesque scene of  bliss. Even the feast, a gruesome display of roasted meats and unknown vegetables, was proceeding with an unnerving tranquility. One might even say, dare I say, it was...peaceful. Absolutely, utterly and undeniably peaceful. Like a goddamn pastoral scene, but with more…fangs.

XiShi and HaoYue, perched beside each other like a couple of well-behaved pigeons at a park, basked in the surprisingly pleasant warmth radiating off the blazing pyre. The ambient temperature, a welcomed contrast to the usual damp chill of the woods, seemed to be doing wonders for their social interactions. Various furry suitors were, in a most uncouth manner, attempting to woo the ladies with gifts of half-eaten rodents and awkward displays of strength―you know, the usual.

"It would've been so much more fun if XueLing and FengXiu had sauntered back today," XiShi remarked, her tone dripping with the subtle sarcasm that only a truly bored individual can muster. "Don't you think?"

HaoYue, bless his heart, merely hummed in response, a sound that managed to convey both ambivalence and a distinct lack of enthusiasm. It was the auditory equivalent of a shrug.

Oh, it certainly would have been more fun, he didn't say, but thought with the conviction of a thousand dramatic sighs. More fun like having a root canal and a colonoscopy at the same time.

And, yes indeed, it was all going sooooo peacefully. You could almost hear the birds chirping…if there were any birds brave enough to be anywhere near this gathering. It was the kind of peaceful that makes you suspicious. Like the calm before the storm, or the uncomfortable silence before a bad joke.

Then, as if summoned by the sheer force of XiShi's inner monologue, a frantic voice sliced through the night from the surrounding woods, shattering the illusion of serenity ......

"We've been ambushed!" the voice shrieked, high-pitched and desperate.

Well, that's just bloody typical, isn't it? It's never a peaceful bonfire with these lot, is it. Never.

Fuck , she didn't read this in the novel.....