The construction workers were already busy around me, the rhythmic clink-clink of hammers providing a soundtrack to my anxiety.
Gosh, it was one I didn't exactly appreciate, but I couldn't tell them to stop either.
Talia and the other mothers had passed by earlier, offering me supportive nods. They knew.
Every beast in this valley knew how much I had looked forward to this day. How much I looked forward to my husband's return.
Then, I saw it.
A flash of movement near the treeline. My breath hitched. It wasn't the heavy, predatory gait of a wolf or a tiger. It was something faster, smaller—frantic yet soft steps.
Rabbit beastmen. They were half the size of a normal beastman, but they still looked cute.
One, then five, then twenty. A sea of long ears and cute faces burst out of the brush, looking exhausted and mud-streaked.
In front was Dani helping his old father, Gram. Ah, it's been a while.
