Aaron's arrival drew the attention of everyone in Joyfort.
Two adult men with animal ears immediately charged forward with harpoons raised. "Baizi, watch out!"
"Baizi, get over here!"
"Outsiders! Outsiders are here!"
"Quick, tell the village chief! Hurry!!!"
The entire village descended into chaos. People rushed about in panic, spreading the news. Several villagers climbed the wooden walls and aimed crude bone arrows and harpoons at Aaron and his companions, calling Baizi's name over and over, urging her to come back.
"Dad! Mom!" Baizi hurried toward the town on the lake, raced up the steps laid with wooden planks and straw, and threw herself into her parents' arms.
A vicious slap answered her.
Smack!
"You idiot! Why did you come back?!" The older woman, dressed in a simple linen skirt, with long purple hair and a pair of fleshy legs, slapped her daughter so hard that Baizi landed on her backside. "Going out to play was bad enough, but you brought outsiders back with you? Have you lost your mind?! Baizi, you'll destroy the town! You'll destroy us all!"
"But, but!" Baizi clutched her cheek. Anger brought signs of lycanthropy to the girl's face, her fangs and whiskers rapidly lengthening. Faced with her mother's accusations, she felt both hurt and furious, and tears quickly filled her eyes.
"Don't blame her!" Aaron strode forward. His imposing bearing and otherworldly appearance alone were enough for the Child of Chaos to soften the villagers' hostility.
"Don't come any closer!" Baizi's father showed more pronounced signs of lycanthropy. Body hair spilled uncontrollably from his sleeves and collar, and the wolf-like whiskers on his face were longer. He drew his hunting bow to its full extent and planted a bone arrow two meters in front of Aaron. "Outsider, this is your final warning... Aaaah!"
Aaron's