The next morning rose quiet and silver, the snow outside gleaming like crushed diamonds under the early sun. The den, warm and lively, woke slowly—first the cubs' soft yawns, then Kael's grumbling stretch, and finally Silas's low hum as he checked the tools they'd need for the second day of bathroom construction.
Evan emerged last, hair tousled, robe slipping from one shoulder, blinking like a sleepy kitten.
Kael turned just in time to see Silas's smug grin.
"Rough night?" Silas asked innocently, tone dripping with implication.
Evan turned bright red on the spot.
Kael choked on air.
The cubs, oblivious, popped their heads out of the fur pile.
"Why is Papa smiling like that?"
"Why is Mama's face so red?"
Evan clapped his hands together. "Breakfast time!"
It was the quickest subject change in Beastman history.
.....
Breakfast ended quickly, mostly because Kael kept trying to eat in silence while Silas smirked at him over the steaming broth, feeling proud. Evan pretended not to notice, though every now and then he accidentally-on-purpose kicked Silas' foot under the table.
When they stepped out into the crisp, bright morning with cold wind , the half-finished bathroom chamber waited like a proud stone skeleton.
"Alright," Evan said, rubbing his palms together. "Day two. Today we finish shaping the chamber and carving the bath pit."
Silas nodded. "I will handle the upper wall reinforcement."
Kael rolled his shoulders. "I'll finish digging the corner pit."
The cubs raised their hands.
"And what about us?"
"We can help!"
Evan smiled. "You two will gather smooth stones for the drainage line and for decorating the bathroom ."
This instantly made them puff up with pride.
"Yes! We're big now!"
"Very big!"
Kael's eye twitched as one cub proudly carried a oversized stone by himself , almost dropping it on his own leg.
Silas silently took the stone away, handed the cub a stick, and said, "Carry this instead."
The cub glowed with pride. The stick had never felt more important.
.....
Carving, Digging, Complaints
Silas climbed easily to the elevated chamber and began shaping the upper stone wall, muscles shifting like coiled ropes beneath his skin. Evan watched for a moment, admiring the precision of each stroke.
Kael, meanwhile, was knee-deep in the pit.
"You're awfully slow today," Silas called down mildly.
Kael glared. "Not everyone spent last night… resting as peacefully as you."
Evan coughed violently.
Silas's grin could have melted snow.
The cubs blinked up at Kael.
"What happened last night?"
"Uncle Kael, are you sick?"
Kael looked away. "Yes . Deeply."
Evan, red-faced, ordered the cubs to stack stones in a neat line to distract them.
The sound of stones, scraping, and the cubs shouting "LOOK, WE FOUND A ROUND ONE!" filled the air.
....
Evan the Supervisor
Evan moved between Silas and Kael, correcting angles, pointing out cracks, tapping stones, and occasionally dusting snow off their shoulders.
"Silas, this part needs smoothing—otherwise water will pool there."
Silas obediently shaved the stone finer.
Kael, sweating, wiped his brow. "And mine?"
Evan eyed Kael's work.
"…The pit is slightly crooked."
Kael stared at it in betrayal. "It was straight last night."
Silas hummed, voice warm with victory. "Perhaps it suffered emotional damage from your loneliness."
Kael nearly threw a stone at him.
The cubs giggled loudly.
"Uncle Kael is lonely!"
"Uncle Kael needs cuddles!"
In pure survival instinct, Kael scooped one cub up and said, "I will cuddle this instead."
The cub shrieked with laughter and hugged his head like a hat.
Even Evan had to lean against the wall to laugh.
.....
Lunch Break
At midday, Evan called them all back inside.
Silas came first, tail brushing against Evan as he passed—possessive without saying a word.
Kael followed, muttering darkly, "I swear I'll move out. I'll live in a tree."
The cubs trotted in behind him chatting and laughing.
Lunch was warm broth, roasted meat, and steamed snow cabbage. The cubs ate noisily. Silas ate calmly but kept glancing at Evan with a lingering softness that made Evan's ears warm.
Kael ate as if trying to drown out memories of the night before.
When Milo suddenly asked, "Papa, why was Mama making weird sounds last night? Is she hurt?" Kael nearly died.
Evan threw a spoon at Silas.
Silas only caught it mid-air and smiled smugly.
.....
After lunch, everyone returned to work.
Silas carved the elevated bath pit, shaping smooth curves as Evan directed the depth and placement. Kael finished the drainage groove, straightening it with surprising precision.
The cubs triumphantly delivered more "perfect stones," which were really just rocks shaped like potatoes, hearts, lopsided circles, and something that suspiciously looked like Silas's head.
Evan praised them anyway.
The sun slowly dipped lower, the shadows stretching longer over the snow.
By late afternoon, the chamber walls shone with clean lines. The bath pit was fully carved—deep, wide, elegant in a rough, handmade way. The drainage hole was formed, ready to lead water down and out.
Evan stood back, breath fogging in the cold.
"It's beautiful."
Silas stepped down beside him. "You designed it."
Kael, coated in dust and dignity barely intact, sighed. "We're building treasure in the wild. Truly, fate is mocking me."
The cubs proudly shoutout.
"We also helped!"
Kael softened. "Yes, yes. You two were the best workers here."
The cubs cheered, climbing him like a tree.
Evan laughed. Silas chuckled. Kael suffered.
...
When they finally returned to the cave, darkness had settled outside, and the air was sharp with winter bite.
The cubs collapsed beside the fire within seconds.
Kael wrapped himself in furs, muttering something about "sleeping early to avoid trauma."
Evan and Silas exchanged a look—soft, warm, and full of unspoken teasing.
Silas murmured, "Today was loud."
Evan snorted. "Better than last night?"
Silas's answering smile made Evan swat his arm and rush to tend the cubs and then took them to their(cubs) sleeping chamber.
Kael groaned from across the cave.
"I can hear you two. Please let me sleep in peace tonight."
But he already knew peace was not coming.
.....