A girl is walking through the forest sluggishly Meirin to be exact, huffing from exhaustion she's been walking nonstop for hours, breathing becoming increasingly harder from how thin the air feels and how her ribs feel like they're digging into her lungs, a stinging pang of pain shooting out through her, making Meirin let out a pained groan.
She hasn't even been here a day and she's already fed up with this world, with having to constantly swat away bugs that are attracted to her sugar cookie perfume, to the isolation…not used to being so alone with her fame she's usually surrounded by people constantly, whether it's fans, friends, her manager or her bodyguards there's always somebody with her.
"How much longer? My body's killing me! This is almost as bad as the time I had to perform in heels for 5 hours…." Meirin says practically gasping out her words, tears gathering in her eyes as she nibbles at her bottom lip when she sees the system screen infront of her.
[oh stop being a baby there's a village up ahead, there's one suitable male up ahead in the settlement and he's unmated so hurry along now.]
Meirins face softens into relief and through gritted teeth she picks up her pace to a run, Meirin's breath comes in ragged gasps as her legs pump furiously, each stride jarring her exhausted muscles. The dense forest blurs around her, the trees bending slightly in the wind as if watching her struggle. The air is thick with the scent of pine and damp earth, but she barely notices, her focus narrowing to the distant village she can just make out through the breaks in the trees. Her heart hammers in her chest, a relentless rhythm pushing her forward despite the sharp sting in her sides and the heaviness settling in her limbs. The crunch of leaves beneath her boots is drowned by the rushing sound of her own pulse, every step a battle against her body's plea for rest.
Careful to make sure her clothes don't snag on the underbrush still worrying about her appearance even in the state she's in, but she forces herself to push through. Each breath feels like a weight pressing against her ribs, yet she wills herself onward, desperate for the safety that only the village can offer. The world around her seems to grow darker, the shadows of the forest creeping closer, but still, she runs—stumbling, gasping, her body screaming for relief, but determined to reach that distant flicker of fire light on the horizon visible through the countless trees.
Forcing herself to push through reminding Meirin of her trainee days when she would push herself to the brink until she ended up in the hospital with an IV drip attached to her arm, back when she had to practically kill herself for even a shred of recognition that's how she knows….She can make it.
Relief washing over her when she reaches the two men stationed at the front of the village, the tears finally releasing as they drip down her round cheeks as she comes to a stop hunching over with her hands on her knees while the two large beastmen panic seeing a strange disheveled female, and hurriedly call others to come and help, one of the guards quickly approaching her and gently grabbing meirin to try to support her up.
"Female are you alright? Was a feral chasing you? Where's your mates you shouldn't be alone out there it's dangerous for you" at his words Meirin looks up at him almost grimacing in disgust visibly at a male touching her especially with him looking this her eyes reluctantly took in his appearance.
His face was rugged, with square, masculine features that seemed carved from stone. Short, curly brown hair framed his face, and a beard, thick and unkempt, dotted his jawline. Ew..facial hair is so gross…..ugh I hate men so much…. she thought, recoiling inwardly at the sight. His body was massive, towering over her, muscles bulging, and clearly he notices her disgust as he distances him self slightly from Meirin a soft apology leaving his lips.
"Yes I'm fine—my mates died we were attacked by a…feral so I just started running as far as I could to reach the nearest village.." Meirin says softly making her voice quiver, her wet eyes and disheveled appearance selling her story even more, a group of males approaches the sound of their footsteps against the forest floor causing Meirin to turn her head towards the source, a soft gasp leaving her lips as her eyes zero in on the beastmen at the forefront of the group who has a pink heart icon above his head and a number 40% …Must be his favorability…
Meirin watches as the male that was first supporting her talks to the beastmen with a heart icon above his head, explaining the story that she gave him with the two males glancing back at Meirin every now and again as a few other beast men lead her into the village.
…hmm…so pretty….
Meirin lost in her own thoughts about her capture target's appearance hums to herself in approval, he was so beautiful with long raven black hair past his shoulders the ends curled out like feathers on a birds neck, his bangs framing his feminine bird like face, slanted downturned eyes, and a gorgeous roman nose.
With a smile, she sits down on a stone-carved slab at the center of the village, in the gathering area. Several other women, looking wild and unkempt, are already seated on similar slabs around a fire. They wore primitive clothing, some women having animal ears and tails, others with faces that blend into animal-like features, or with small feathers running along their arms. Among them are just two other women who appear entirely human. The air is thick with the smell of smoke, the crackling of the fire mixing with the low murmur of conversation, eyes flickering to Meirin every now and again.
While Meirin calmly rests her leg crossed over the other, her elbow propped up on her knee with her chin cupped in her hand as she stares at the screen infront of her eyes ignoring the people around her not even noticing the two males that stepped infront of her, one her capture target his hands grasped behind his back his head slightly lower and a shorter older cat like male infront of him holding a staff.
[taske complete! ]
[Reward:
[1.access to stats 3. Instant shin ramen ]
[2. 10 skill points. Spicy bone broth flavor]
Decideding to explore everything layer when she's alone Meirin closes the system window, her eyes gliding upwards in a languid manner setting her sights on the males infront of her finally and ignoring the weird looks she's getting for her appearance, nervously Meirin starts playing with her hair, twirling it around her long nail while watching the old male beastmen begin to speak.
"I've been informed of your situation I'm chief tallow, you're in luck we have quite a few single males for you that should be suitable enough for you to take your pick of…" he pauses before continuing his words, as Meirin quirks a brow at him pursing her lips.
Seriously? Like I lied but if someone else was in my situation they'd just expect her to just mingle with a bunch of guys immediately after her mates just died?….yeeesh—
"Though I do have to ask from what tribe do you hail from? Your appearance is quite…unique especially for e female it's strange for them to have such long talons are you perhaps from a bird tribe??" At chief tallow's question Meirin stills before relaxing, her pierced tongue darting out to lick at her pink lips before pulling them into a practiced cute smile, making sure her dimple show as she lets out a giggle while nodding.
[Say you're a Roseate Spoonbill]
And not a second later Meirin speaks, "ah yes how'd you guess? I'm a Roseate Spoonbill and thank you I pride myself on my long ah—talons…" responding to tallows questions, licking at her lips again eyes flickering to behind the village chief to her capture target, bringing her long nail to her lips tapping them slightly before pointing at him before continuing her words.
"Him…. I like that beastmen right there behind you, since I'm still grieving over the loss of my…mates, i don't think I'm ready emotionally yet to take more than one…. You understand right?" She hums out, the chief stiffening at Meirin's words and turning his head to look behind him at the bird like beastmen who has a surprised expression on his face, head tilting up eyes locking on Meirin's, the chief just as surprising chokes up a bit on his words.
"You mean Seraph? Ah—I guess that makes sense as he's also a bird beastmen as you've might've noticed…..are you sure about only one male?" At chief tallows response Meirin nods barely paying any attention to him her eyes trained on the male now known as Seraph and the changed number percentage above his head.
+10 favorability ~
[50%]
A smile grows on Meirin's face cheering internally as she nods her head a couple of more times turning her attention back on chief tallow, putting a sorrowful expression on her face as she stands up from the stone slab her hair bouncing as she hops to her feet, necklaces jingling.
"Yeah I'm sure I only want one mate…so how does this work how do I court seraph…? Cause it—uhh..works differently in my tribe.." Meirin responds her voice soft and sickly sweet, pausing at times when she tries to make up a convincing lie to cover up for her lack of knowledge about the dating etiquette in this world, tilting her head as she thinks for a moment…bird…?….they like shiny stuff right?.. perking up she her fingers hooking around the chain taking off one of her long dangly necklace's pulling it up and off from around her neck, walking up to Seraph and handing it to him.
Seraph's eyes widen, pupils dilating when he sets his eyes on the piece of jewelry in his pale hand, the thin but strong silver chain going through thin circular turquoise crystal stones with slight marbling, holding it up to the sun his eyes widen as if mesmerized.
Sunlight shining through the stone's beautifully, his lips part a soft gasp leaving his lips with his face flushing softly, The blush dusted his skin, softening his sharp features.
His eyes widened, a shy, mesmerized expression taking over as he gazed at the light, lips quivering slightly, unsure whether to speak.
+5
+5
[+10]
[60% favorability]
…..soo he likes the aquamarine necklace I guess…
Meirin let's out a giggle her hand coming up to her mouth to cover it as she breaks into an open toothed smile as she admires Seraphs reaction to her gift, her eyes drifting towards the village chief quirking her brow before she hears a deep smooth raspy voice.
"Mmm…it's so shiny—I've never seen anything like this before….what is it? Is it really for me?" Seraph asks softly lowering his hand softly grasping the long dangly necklace to his chest, pursing his lips as he shyly gazes at Meirin before lowering his gaze to the necklace once more his bangs covering his delicate angular face.
"Ah- it's called aquamarine it's a…crystal native to my tribe we use them for courtship so yes it's yours.." Meirin responding softly to Seraph hiding her smile behind her hand as she looks up watching him put it on over his head, his hands fixing his hair before turning to her while clasping his hands together and looking down glancing up at her every now and again as the chief speaks up.
[+5]
[65%]
…guess that means he accepts my courtship…that was kinda easy…
"Ah forgive Seraph he's shy… it's one of the reasons he's still unmated even though he's a 4 stripe beastmen, usually females like the bulkier males as you can see although he's tall and strong, he's even the strongest male in the village but because of his race his appearance is on the delicate looking side…..as is his temperament…." chief tallow says coughing slightly into his hand awkwardly before everting his gaze from Meirin.
"Now although usually it's the male that would start courting, you should probably move into his hut, Seraph will show you the way.." he continues before walking off leaning on his wooden staff leaving Meirin and Seraph alone together at the village's gathering area.