Before Tu Xiaotao could even open her mouth to explain what the beast mating season was, panic suddenly burst through the tribe like a fire catching dry grass.
A male came running from the outer path so fast that dust flew around his ankles and his breathing sounded like he had outrun death itself.
His chest was bare and he wore only a rough hide beast skirt around his hips, and the moment people saw his wild eyes and the way his tail was tucked low behind him, the entire mood of the tribe changed.
The females stopped what they were doing, the males straightened, cubs were immediately pulled closer by their mothers, and even the old beastwomen who had been sorting roots and gossiping with slow lazy faces now looked up sharply.
"There is a wild snake beastman in the area!" the male shouted, and because he was already frightened, his words came out louder and worse than they should have.
