Chapter 286: What are you going to do? Cry to your parents?

Chapter 286: Chapter 286: What are you going to do? Cry to your parents?

Ironwood’s rebuilding began with a very unfortunate discovery.

The settlement had far too many things that needed fixing.

And far too few people who wanted to sleep.

By the third morning, Tovan had become a walking pile of construction plans.

The beaver builder carried wooden drawings beneath one arm, a measuring rope around his waist, and a piece of charcoal behind his ear.

He looked at Swanly.

Then at the new plans spread across the table.

Then back at Swanly.

"Lady Swanly."

"Yes?"

"Do you want us to rebuild Ironwood..."

He lifted one drawing.

"Or create an entirely new settlement on top of the old one?"

Swanly smiled.

"Whichever one makes my children less likely to get eaten."

Tovan stared.

Then sighed.

"Wonderful."

Soren stood beside the main map, assigning teams to the damaged boundary sections.

Raku would oversee the patrol routes and guard posts.

Mora would supervise the heavy lifting, especially the thick beams needed to reinforce the raised shelters.

Kael would organize the protected evacuation paths.

Nerin would work with Tovan to create new warning markers that couldn’t be moved without leaving visible evidence.

And Swanly?

Swanly was supposed to rest.

Supposed to.

Unfortunately, nobody could stop her from giving orders while sitting comfortably beneath a shaded roof.

"Move that medical shelter farther from the water channel," she said, pointing toward the map.

Tovan looked down.

"Why?"

"Because if that channel becomes contaminated, I don’t want sick people sleeping directly beside it."

Nahla, who had come to inspect the designs, nodded.

"Finally. A sensible female."

Swanly smiled proudly.

Then Nahla lifted her stick.

"And that sensible female should be in bed."

Swanly’s smile vanished.

"Oh, come on!"

Kael laughed.

Soren didn’t even look up.

"Nahla is correct."

Swanly glared at both males.

"I am being oppressed in my own home."

Miko, sitting beside a basket of polished stones, immediately raised his head.

"MAMA! WHAT’S OPPRESSED?"

Swanly opened her mouth.

Then glanced toward Soren.

He was watching her.

She cleared her throat.

"It means Papa keeps being bossy."

Miko gasped.

Then turned toward Soren.

"PAPA! STOP OPPRESSING MAMA!"

Tovan dropped his charcoal.

Kael bent forward laughing.

Soren slowly raised his head.

His silver eyes settled on Swanly.

She immediately looked away.

"Beautiful weather we’re having."

The children had their own very important jobs.

They were helping Nerin sort the newly carved markers.

Green for safe routes.

Red for dangerous passages.

Blue for water.

Yellow for places where someone should ring an alarm.

Kairo took this responsibility seriously.

Nilo checked each symbol before handing it over.

Miko stacked them into a tower.

Nerin looked at the tower.

Then at Miko.

"Little one, those are supposed to be sorted."

"They are."

"By color."

Miko nodded.

"Yes."

Nerin looked at the tower.

Green.

Red.

Yellow.

Blue.

Green.

Red.

"Miko..."

The youngest cub smiled.

"Pretty colors."

Nearby, Lumi giggled.

Her long white rabbit ears bounced as she leaned forward to inspect the wooden pieces.

"Can I help?"

Kairo immediately handed her the green ones.

"Here."

Lumi smiled.

"Thank you."

Miko watched.

Then looked at Nilo.

"Why does Kairo always give Lumi the nice things?"

Kairo’s ears shot upright.

"I DON’T!"

Miko pointed.

"You gave her the pretty ones."

"They’re all pretty!"

"Then give me yours!"

Nilo covered his face.

Lumi blushed.

Nerin looked toward the sky.

Somewhere, the ancestors were probably laughing.

The argument ended when a slightly older goat boy approached with two companions.

He had been helping carry small bundles of rope for the builders.

He stopped beside Lumi.

Then looked at her ears.

"Why are you here?"

Lumi blinked.

"I’m helping."

The boy snorted.

"Rabbits are useless when things get dangerous. You’ll just run away."

Lumi’s smile disappeared.

Kairo slowly stood.

"Don’t say that."

The goat boy looked at him.

"What?"

"Lumi helped during the training."

"So?"

Kairo’s black ears flattened.

"So she’s useful."

The older boy laughed.

"She’s just a scared little rabbit."

Miko’s head turned.

Nilo immediately caught his arm.

"Miko."

"What?"

"Don’t."

Miko looked toward Lumi.

Her ears had lowered.

She was staring at the ground.

His little face changed.

Then he looked toward the goat boy.

"Hey."

The older boy looked down.

"What?"

"Do you have a problem with rabbits?"

The boy snorted.

"What’s it to you?"

Miko pointed toward Lumi.

"She’s our friend."

"So?"

Miko considered that.

Then smiled.

"Then you’re stupid."

Kairo immediately grabbed his shoulder.

"Miko!"

Nilo sighed.

"We talked about this."

Miko crossed his arms.

"He started it!"

The older boy laughed.

"Little panthers think they’re so special."

Kairo frowned.

"Just leave her alone."

"Or what?"

Nilo stepped beside his brothers.

"We’re asking you nicely."

The goat boy looked down at all three.

Then smirked.

"What are you going to do? Cry to your parents?"

Miko’s eyes widened.

He turned toward Kairo.

Then Nilo.

"See?"

Kairo’s tail slowly moved.

Nilo looked at Lumi.

Her eyes were beginning to fill.

He sighed.

Then stepped forward.

"No."

The goat boy blinked.

Nilo pointed toward a nearby stack of marker boards.

"If you’re so much more useful than us, why haven’t you finished carrying those?"

The older boy’s expression changed.

"What?"

Kairo looked toward the boards.

Then nodded seriously.

"Yeah. You’ve been talking for ages."

Miko’s eyes brightened.

"LAZY!"

The goat boy went red.

"I’m not lazy!"

Nilo tilted his head.

"Then why are the boards still there?"

Kairo added, "Lumi finished sorting hers."

Miko spread both arms.

"AND SHE DIDN’T EVEN HAVE TO INSULT ANYBODY!"

Nerin coughed.

Once.

Very suspiciously.

The older boy looked from one triplet to another.

Then toward Lumi.

Her ears had lifted slightly.

He opened his mouth.

Miko immediately pointed at him.

"Careful. Your work is getting lonely."

The nearby children burst out laughing.

The older boy’s face turned crimson.

"YOU LITTLE..."

"What’s happening here?"

Kael’s voice interrupted.

All three triplets froze.

The older goat boy turned.

"Lord Kael! They..."

Kael looked at the unfinished boards.

Then Lumi’s wet eyes.

Then his sons.

"Kairo?"

The eldest triplet lowered his head.

"He was being mean to Lumi."

Kael’s golden eyes moved toward the goat boy.

"Is that true?"

The boy hesitated.

Nerin quietly explained what had happened.

Kael listened.

Then looked toward his sons.

"You were right to defend your friend."

Miko immediately smiled.

"But insulting people isn’t how you settle every argument."

His smile vanished.

Kael continued.

"And you three are not in charge of punishing anyone."

Kairo nodded.

Nilo nodded.

Miko sighed.

"Fine."

Kael looked toward the goat boy.

"You will apologize to Lumi."

The boy lowered his head.

Then muttered, "Sorry."

Kael’s eyes narrowed.

"Properly."

The goat boy straightened.

"I’m sorry, Lumi."

Lumi nodded shyly.

Kael pointed toward the unfinished boards.

"And finish the work you were assigned."

The boy hurried away.

Miko watched him.

Then whispered:

"Lazy."

Kael looked down.

"Miko."

The youngest immediately smiled.

"Love you, Papa."

Kael closed his eyes.

He was beginning to understand why Swanly always had headaches.