Getting Up at Night

In the afternoon, as they were collecting materials, the sky was overcast and a wind began to blow.

This strong wind feels different from other winds.

Jian Mo looked up, and Qing Kuo beside him also looked up, squinting as he gazed into the distance. "Winter is coming."

Jian Mo: "Now?"

Qing Kuo sniffed the air and nodded. "It should snow tonight."

As he spoke, Qing Kuo stood up and shouted to everyone, "Everyone, hurry up, let's go back early today and pack up—"

They quickly returned to their tribe, and the other gathering or hunting teams also returned.

Everyone is tidying up the things piled up outside, preparing for the upcoming winter.

Jian Mo got busy, laying down a thick layer of dry grass for the Flying-Winged Beast and sealing most of the windows of the shed where the Pack-Pack Beast was located with tree bark to prevent the cold wind from blowing in.

The female Pack-Pack Beast's belly was huge and hard; she should be giving birth soon.

That evening, Wu Jiong brought out new animal skin rugs and quilts for Jian Mo, and also gave him some animal skin coats.

When Jian Mo finished washing up and lay down in bed, she still felt a little cold.

The wind howled, blowing directly through the cracks in the stones and windows, swirling inside the house.

This was the first time he had realized that the stone house was drafty, and that his feet, though under the covers, were taking a long time to warm up.

Jian Mo tossed and turned in bed.

Wu Jiong, who was sleeping in another corner on the second floor, asked, "Can't sleep? Are you cold?"

Jian Mo was embarrassed to say she was cold, "It's alright, I'm just not used to the change of seasons, I might not be able to fall asleep for a while."

Wu Jiong: "Do you want me to turn back into my beast form? It'll be warmer if you sleep on me."

Jian Mo quickly refused, "No, no, no, not for now."

Wu Jiong: "Just tell me if you need it."

In the darkness, silence spread.

Jian Mo tried to start a conversation. "Your beast form is so big, even when you transform back, you're still lying on the second floor?"

Wu Jiong: "Yes, the house is very sturdy. I've slept in it for several winters in my animal form."

Jian Mo felt a little amazed. "Because the beast form is warm?"

Wu Jiong: "More or less."

The two chatted, Jian Mo slowly drifted off to sleep, not even realizing when she was completely asleep.

The next day, he was woken up by Wu Jiong in his warm bed.

Jian Mo stared blankly at Wu Jiong speaking above her head, unable to come to her senses for a moment.

Until Wu Jiong mentioned the key phrase. "... The Pack-Pack Beast is about to give birth."

Jian Mo jumped up, startled. "Now?"

Wu Jiong: "The water broke quite a while ago."

Jian Mo threw off the animal-skin blanket. "I'll go take a look!"

Chapter 20 Getting Up at Night

Jian Mo ran outside and discovered it was snowing.

The fresh snow covered the earth, turning the world into a vast expanse of white. Walking on it felt wonderful, with a satisfying crunching sound underfoot.

The light is a bit too bright.

Jian Mo's pupils couldn't change with the light like the local orcs or sub-orcs.

He could only turn his head away, avoiding the large expanse of white, and hurried inside to see the Pack-Pack Beast.

The Pack-Pack Beast were indeed timid. The female was nestled to one side, preparing to give birth, while the male was also huddled to the other, trembling, seemingly terrified by the birth.

After checking on the two Pack-Pack Beasts, Jian Mo, somewhat exasperated, called to Wu Jiong, "Could you help me take the male to another place to keep it? Otherwise, it'll get scared again when the female cries out."

Wu Jiong nodded and came over to lead the male beast. "I'll take it inside first."

Jian Mo: "Okay."

The mother's water had broken, and the flowing amniotic fluid was clear and appeared uncontaminated.

Its condition was also good; although it was breathing heavily and its stomach was twitching occasionally, its vital signs were stable.

As a fairly experienced veterinarian, Jian Mo did nothing more than stand by and watch over him.

Animals only need human assistance when they are experiencing dystocia (difficult labor). When they are in relatively good condition, it is best not to disturb them.

After Wu Jiong led the male Pack-Pack Beast into the house and tied it up, he came over again and asked, "Is there anything else I can help you with?"

Jian Mo: "Could you see if you can light a fire? It's quite cold, and I'm worried the little Pack-Pack Beast will get cold when it's first born."

Wu Jiong agreed, "I'll go right away."

Wu Jiong not only started a fire, but also brought over a pile of dry grass.

With hay lining its back, the Pack-Pack Beast no longer needs to give birth on the cold ground.

Jian Mo was busy today, Wu Jiong took the initiative to cook for her.

After eating a few bites, the two continued to guard the Pack-Pack Beast.

Not long after breakfast, the Pack-Pack Beast began to give birth.

The little animal was about the size of a newborn puppy, pink all over with a layer of translucent fur, and was squealing softly with its eyes closed.

This was probably not the first time the mother Pack-Pack Beast had given birth. After the baby was born, she carried it to her mouth and licked the slime off its body.

Jian Mo breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that it could handle it.

Even if he were to intervene, given the current shortage of medicine, there's not much he could actually do.

One by one, the baby animals were born.

The mother gave birth to six cubs, all of similar size, none particularly strong nor particularly weak.

To Jian Mo's surprise, after the mother animal licked her cubs clean, she nursed them. Once they had eaten enough, she carried them on her back.

The mother animal's body temperature provided a good heat source for the cubs.

After checking and confirming that everything was alright, Jian Mo came out of the animal pen.

Wu Jiong greeted him, "How was it?"

Jian Mo: "There's no problem. If nothing unexpected happens, the little Pack-Pack Beast should all survive."

After answering, Jian Mo about the Flying-Winged Beast: "Have you fed the Flying-Winged Beast? It's so cold, how is it doing?"

The Flying-Winged Beast were too big, so they didn't build Flying-Winged Beast for the time being and let Flying-Winged Beast live under the trees instead.