Said Miles was already useless?
He alone defeated ten of the tribe's top warriors, and people called him useless?
Maya felt completely fooled. Her anger and shame exploded inside her.
The title of the tribe's strongest warrior was supposed to belong to her.
Now she had lost everything, both pride and face. She couldn't handle it. She covered her face with both hands and ran away crying.
But today she had tried to hurt Star and Moon. Did Tanya plan to let her just run off like that?
Impossible.
Tanya used her wood power. Right as Maya passed by, she caused wild grass to grow and suddenly wrap around Maya's ankles.
Maya never expected this. They walked this road every day, and it was always smooth and safe. But suddenly her feet got tangled. She lost her balance and fell flat on the ground like a dog eating dirt.
The fall was heavy. Her thin fur skirt didn't protect her. Her palms, arms, elbows, and knees all got scraped. The pain hit hard. Her eyes and nose burned, and her tears poured out.
"Ouch, that must hurt."
Tanya squatted down beside her, picked a piece of grass, and said calmly,
"Did I not already tell you? Without my permission, don't step into my place again. If you do, I'll break his legs."
"You thought I was just saying empty words?"
Maya was crying hard, but when she heard that, her shame and anger boiled again. She also realized she looked weak lying there, so she forced herself up through the pain.
"Tanya. What are you so proud of? Even if you have Miles, even if he's the top warrior, as long as he's with those cursed children, he'll never return to the tribe center."
"I forgot. You were kicked out of Little River Village. Even if he's the best warrior, he's lost his right to return. What are you proud of? He ended up like this because of you all."
A slap hit her face.
Tanya didn't hesitate. She raised her hand and struck. Then she grabbed Maya's leg and twisted hard. There was a loud cracking sound. Maya's calf bone broke on the spot.
Maya let out a sharp scream but passed out from the pain before it finished.
Miles immediately stepped to Tanya's side, ready to protect her in case any of the males reacted violently.
Star and Moon hugged each other tightly. That looked so painful.
The ten warriors that Miles had defeated were stunned. Then they all looked at Tanya, their eyes filled with shock, confusion, and fear. After a while, they picked Maya up and ran to find the healer.
From then on, everyone who saw it remembered one thing clearly. Tanya was someone you must not mess with.
She might be a woman, but she was too fierce.
Maya, who had fainted, wasn't going to remember this any time soon.
"Let's go."
Miles gently held Tanya around the waist. She quickly stepped ahead to put distance between them.
The faster she walked, the faster he followed. The distance stayed the same, but he no longer touched her.
"You were too impulsive just now," Tanya said with a small cough.
Miles asked, "What?"
At the same time, he gently tapped Moon's head, telling the kids to go ahead first.
Star and Moon smiled and ran off hand in hand. "Sister, we're going back to cook the meat."
Tanya frowned. Why were these kids always running like that? Were they scared someone would take their meat?
But she wasn't afraid of being alone with a man. She had always been strong.
She said, "It was me who provoked Maya. Their challenge should've been against me."
"In our Beast Continent, unless all the males are dead, no one lets a female fight."
Tanya frowned again and tried to reply, but Miles spoke first. "In that situation, I was the only one who could do it."
He turned his head and looked at her directly.
His intense gaze made her uncomfortable.
Tanya looked away. Her heart felt troubled. They had just met. How had he already developed feelings like that?
Did she do something that made him misunderstand?
She didn't know that love in this primitive world was very simple. If someone liked you, they believed you belonged to them. Doubting, hesitating, cheating were things only bad people did, and those were rare.
She began thinking deeply and didn't say anything. Since she didn't reject him, Miles felt relieved. He clenched his fist slightly and let out a quiet breath.
Even he had been nervous during that moment. What if she said no? What would he have done?
Luckily, she didn't.
When they returned home, Star and Moon had already started cooking.
When they saw Tanya come in, both looked embarrassed and whispered,
"Sister, sorry. We didn't watch the fire well."
The fire in the kiln had already gone out.
"It's okay. The timing's just right. Go get two strong sticks. Let's open the kiln."
Tanya let go of her thoughts for now. As someone used to leading during the end times, she didn't care about small mistakes. Survival was already tiring. There was no time for silly worries.
People might say she was too carefree.
During the whole pottery-making process, Tanya followed the instructions from the book called Pottery Making Guide. Even though it was her first try, the results were really good. Only a few bowls near the edge of the kiln cracked because the heat wasn't even.
Seeing all the newly made pots and bowls, the two kids were excited and amazed. They stared at them for a long time, not wanting to move.
Miles also thought it was incredible. He looked at Tanya with admiration and pride.
"Tanya, you're amazing."
This time, Star didn't try to hide. She proudly added, "Yes! Sister is the best! Better than the healers in the tribe center."
Miles smiled but quickly said in a low voice, "Don't say that again."
Star stuck out her tongue. "We know. We won't say it anymore."
In the tribe, the healers were sacred. No one could insult them.
Tanya noticed his reaction and thought of Shaman Leon. She asked,
"Are there many healers in the tribe? Does every village have one?"
Miles shook his head.
"No. Not just anyone can become a healer. You need talent, and the approval of the old healer. The Upper Hill Tribe and the Dark Cloud Tribe each have only one healer. Only our Central Village has two."
Tanya asked, "Why is that?"
"Shaman Leon and Shaman Rise are brothers. They studied together under the old healer. When they finished learning, Shaman Rise stayed at the tribe center, and Shaman Leon chose to come to Little River Village."