Chapter 307: The Big Bad Scaredy-Fox
"I will tell you everything you want to know," Vex bargained smoothly, his orange eyes narrowing. "If the cub actually survives the birth."
Ren frowned, her hands dropping from her hips. "How in the world am I supposed to guarantee that?!"
Vex smirked, "Well, you can see visions, can’t you? Just look into the future and magically find the answer."
"It doesn’t work like that!" she argued frantically waving her hands. "My visions aren’t intentional! I can’t just forcefully summon a prophecy on command like a magical Google search!"
"I am sure the solution will co to you in your ti of need," Vex purred.
"Vex, be reasonable!" Ren continued to argue, stepping closer to the towering Fox Shaman. "I need to know all the details! I need a dical history! I need to know the symptoms she displayed before you knocked her out with a giant leaf!"
"I have already told you what is necessary for you to know," Vex countered firmly. "She is pregnant. The cub is feral. You should stop arguing with
and simply tell
exactly how you will cure the cub."
Ren crossed her arms under her breasts, glaring up at him with pure, unadulterated rage. "Oh, so you want to gatekeep vital information? Fine! I’m gatekeeping, too. My thods are highly classified."
Vex stared at her defiant, puffed-up posture for a brief second before a low chuckle rumbled deep in his chest. "Fine," he agreed smoothly, his orange eyes sparkling with dark amusent. "As long as the cub lives, I honestly do not care about your "secretive" process."
Vex turned away. He walked over to the wooden platter Ren had materialized earlier. Unfortunately, thanks to the damp, freezing air of the swamp, the spicy garlic-butter crab and crispy lotus root chips had already gone completely cold and a bit saggy. The rich, red butter had congealed into an unappetizing, thick orange paste over the shells.
Vex picked up a cold crab claw and turned toward the unconscious tigress. He reached out with his free hand, preparing to peel the Somnus-Weave Ivy leaf off Vara’s face to wake her up.
"Wait! Stop!" Ren hissed, lunging forward.
She quickly snatched the fur blanket and pulled it securely back up to Vara’s chin, firmly tucking the shivering tigress in.
"What are you doing?!" Ren scolded the Shaman in a harsh whisper. "Are you trying to assassinate her?! Spicy, seasoned, hard food like cold crab shells is the last thing a severely malnourished, sick pregnant woman needs!"
Vex paused, holding the cold crab claw awkwardly in the air. "She needs to eat to keep her strength up."
"She needs sothing packed with easily digestible nutrients!" Ren lectured. "Sothing warm, soothing, and very gentle on her ravaged stomach. She is actively losing all her strength and vitality, so we need to specifically target improving those! A warm, hearty al like that should naturally calm the feral cub down as well."
Ren had so fresh vegetables in her inventory, but she had no at.
’System, open the shop. Show
the protein aisle,’ Ren demanded internally.
Ding!
[System: Apologies, Host. The System Shop strictly sells basic tools, seasonings, and raw crafting materials. It absolutely does not sell fresh at or animal products.]
Ren sighed. She looked out the cave opening toward the dark, sprawling, moonlit swamp waters. It would be impossible to catch any birds or ducks in the dead of night.
"Maybe fish?" Ren muttered to herself, her eyes lighting up as she rapidly brainstord. "Yes! A rich, reduced bone-broth fish soup. Boiled down with starchy tubers until it’s thick and milky, packed with natural collagen and proteins..."
She turned to Vex, pointing her finger at him like a commanding general. "I need fish. Go out there and get
so fish. Preferably the really thick, aty ones."
Vex slowly lowered the cold crab claw, raising an eyebrow at her. "And exactly how am I supposed to get them?" he asked dryly. "It is the dead of night, little rose. The swamp waters are infested with nocturnal apex predators, and most are venomous."
Ren let out a loud, mocking jeer, resting her hands on her hips. "Wow, I didn’t know you could be afraid. I thought you were a big bad fox."
"I am a big bad fox," he stated smoothly. "But I am a big bad fox who really really enjoys being alive."
He tapped his chin thoughtfully, his gaze shifting to the stolen wooden boat tied to the rocks. "I suggest that we go out onto the water together."
"Absolutely not," Ren instantly refused, shaking her head vigorously. "I am the chef here. I need to stay right here, set up a fire, and get started on prepping the vegetables for the cooking."
"We have all night," Vex purred, taking a step toward her.
"We literally do not!" Ren panicked, taking a step back. "Syris is currently waiting for
in his nest!"
"Then it will be significantly faster if we both go," Vex concluded flawlessly.
Before Ren could even formulate another excuse, Vex’s hand shot out and gripped her arm. With effortless strength, he violently pulled her toward the cave opening.
"Hey! Let go of !" Ren shrieked, her feet slipping on the damp stone.
Vex didn’t stop. He practically lifted her off the ground and unceremoniously pushed her right over the edge of the rocks.
Ren tumbled forward, landing with a highly undignified, heavy thud directly onto the hard wooden planks of the wooden boat. The small vessel rocked violently on the dark, murky water, threatening to capsize under her sudden weight.
Ren scrambled up to her knees, her green eyes blazing with pure fury as she gripped the wooden edges of the boat. Her brilliant mind instantly deduced his treacherous logic. Of course, she figured out what he was really up to.
"You bastard!" Ren frowned fiercely, pointing an accusing finger up at the smiling Shaman. "You don’t want my help fishing! You only want
to go out there with you so that if we get attacked by a swamp monster, you have a convenient, bite-sized sacrifice to throw at it while you escape!"
Vex casually jumped from the cave ledge, landing flawlessly into the small wooden boat right across from her. The vessel barely even shifted under his practiced grace. He calmly reached over and untied the thick marsh vine securing them to the rock.
"You see, little rose?" Vex smiled, his orange eyes sparkling with deep affection as the boat began to slowly drift out onto the terrifying, pitch-black swamp water. "No one knows
quite like you do."
Ren scoffed loudly. She crossed her arms over her chest, glaring daggers at his smug, handso face.
"I swear to God, Vex," Ren threatened, her voice a deadly, serious hiss over the croaking of the swamp frogs. "If I die out here tonight, you will never know peace. I will haunt you forever."
Vex smirked. He reached down, picking up the wooden board to row the boat.
"I’d love that, actually," Vex purred.
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