Names, Needs, and New Systems
The air smelled of damp earth and roasted roots as the sun stretched its fingers across the Black Market Tribe. Morning light filtered through the thatched roof above Kaoshi's head as she opened her eyes. The cubs were still tangled in sleep, but Jinling was already gone, likely out on patrol.
She stretched, stepped outside, and found Dohz and Grahn where she had left them the evening before: sitting side-by-side in the shade of the outer wall, watching two tribe children race sticks along the ground.
Dohz looked up first. "Good... morning."
Kaoshi blinked. It wasn't perfect. But it was clear.
She smiled. "Good morning, Dohz. Grahn."
The older of the two nodded, his rough voice lower. "Good... morn... ing."
A small but genuine warmth bloomed in her chest.
---
Basic Steps into the Tribe
Grahn and Dohz had learned greetings, food names, and a handful of verbs. Their vocabulary was still threadbare, but their understanding had surged.
Kaoshi had given them work. Simple things: stacking kindling, hauling water, repairing baskets under her supervision. That work brought eyes. Curious. Wary. Some hostile.
A few of the older beastmen avoided them. Others, especially children, were less cautious.
That morning, Chaoang walked over to Dohz with his usual composure, holding a leather-wrapped bundle. "Meat."
Dohz blinked. "Mee... t?"
"Meat," Chaoang confirmed. "Eat."
Dohz smiled, revealing sharp teeth that made the younger child behind him flinch.
But Chaoang didn't move. "You strong. But slow talk."
"Try... fast talk," Dohz said, tongue catching on the words.
Chaoang shrugged. "Keep trying."
---
Grahn, meanwhile, drew attention for another reason. His tall, broad form and weathered features reminded some tribe members of old warrior legends. He spoke little, but when he did, his words were measured and slow, as if testing each one like a stone in his palm.
That afternoon, Hong Xi crossed paths with him at the well.
"Water," Grahn said, offering a heavy bucket.
Hong Xi eyed him. "You understand what you carry?"
Grahn considered, then nodded. "Help."
Hong Xi didn't respond immediately. Then gave a curt nod in return and walked away.
Kaoshi, watching from afar, exhaled quietly. That was more acceptance than she'd expected this early.
---
Chow Chow's Patience
Later that day, Chow Chow pulled Dohz aside with a grin.
She set down a small collection of healing herbs and gestured. "These: burn. These: grind. This one... no touch. Sick."
Dohz furrowed his brow. "Sick... bad?"
"Yes," she said, drawing a simple frown into the dirt.
Dohz nodded. Then pointed at her. "You... good."
Chow Chow flushed slightly, then cleared her throat. "I'm smart. But don't eat these. Or smart turns into sick."
He mimicked her: "Smart... to sick." Then looked proud of himself.
She couldn't help but giggle. "Close enough."
---
The System Mall Unlocks
That night, with the cubs sleeping soundly and the fire crackling low, Kaoshi opened her mind to the system's interface.
The System Mall had finally shifted from a dull gray to a faintly glowing silver. Her current point total was still modest, but that wasn't what drew her breath short.
The layout of the mall was intuitive — like a silent catalog written in her thoughts. It sorted itself automatically by need and context.
Categories:
Utility Tools
Medical & Alchemy
Cooking & Preservation
Construction Enhancements
Lifestyle Upgrades
Highlighted Items (within point range):
Stone Mold Press (30 pts) – Shapes stones into bowls, plates, or storage vessels faster.
Bone-Thread Needle Set (20 pts) – Stronger than anything currently available in the tribe.
Mini Firestarter Orb (25 pts) – Creates a long-lasting, safe heat source for cooking or warmth.
Preservation Salts (40 pts) – Extends shelf life of meat and plants by days or weeks.
Basic Cooking Spices (50 pts) – A mix of salt, mild spice, and sweetness; transforms bland food.
She didn't buy anything yet — not out of doubt, but out of calculation. Kaoshi was practical. With her cubs safe and the tribe watching her every move, she needed to maximize every decision.
But it was the Fusion Preview System that truly intrigued her.
---
The Fusion Preview System
The interface of the Fusion Preview didn't offer actions — just possibilities. Visuals shimmered like dreams behind fogged glass.
Fusion Inputs:
Select two existing items or skills
View possible synergies
Locked until activation conditions are met
Sample Fusion Paths Displayed:
🧪 Healing salve + black loose mushroom = Nerve Numb Paste (temporary pain relief; risky if misused)
🔥 Firestarter Orb + Stone Mold = Kiln Catalyst (portable heating tool for small ceramics)
🍽️ Red fruit + emperor fruit (roasted) = Stamina Ration Pack (mild energy recovery food)
These weren't recipes — not exactly. More like... clues.
Kaoshi's breath slowed. This wasn't just a tool. This was a direction. A way to elevate her place in this world — if she played it right.
---
Community Ripples
By the third day of Dohz and Grahn's integration, small but steady patterns had emerged.
Dohz helped with firewood, laughing every time he dropped something — and doing better the next.
Grahn worked in silence, fixing fences or sharpening tools under someone's direction.
When Kaoshi wasn't around, Jinling sometimes watched over them, more out of protection than trust.
Chao Lie didn't say much. But one evening, he offered Grahn a carved wooden bead — not spoken, just placed in his hand, then walked away.
Grahn turned it over slowly. "Gift?"
Kaoshi nodded. "Yes."
He nodded back. "Good."
---
Only the Beginning
As the chapter of quiet integration drew to a close, Kaoshi felt the tension ease slightly. Dohz was now able to greet passing beastmen. Grahn had helped secure the southern gate.
There were still whispers. Still wary glances. Still doubt.
But there was also curiosity.
And for Kaoshi, that was enough — for now.
Later that night, as the fire dimmed and her system window faded from view, she whispered a single thought only the system could hear:
"Show me how far I can go."
And somewhere deep within the interface… something pulsed.
---
The next few days passed in a quiet rhythm, and though Kaoshi remained vigilant, she allowed Dohz and Grahn more time to navigate the tribe on their own. The growing web of basic interactions they engaged in was clumsy but unmistakable.
Names were the most repeated words in the tribe.
Grahn learned to point at his chest and say, "Grahn." He would do it when others passed by, even if they ignored him. Dohz was less direct. He'd wait for others to say it first, then repeat it with his large, earnest grin: "Dohz."
The children of the tribe were the first to test this repetition game. They circled around them one morning near the central well, mimicking names and gestures like a game of echo.
"Grahn," one would say.
"Grahn," he'd repeat.
"Dohz!" said another.
"Dohz!" came the quick reply.
"Water?"
"Water."
"Stone?"
"Stone."
"Tail?"
"Tail," Dohz said—and the kids all burst out laughing.
Grahn smiled faintly at the commotion, then slowly lifted his hand and said, "Sun."
They quieted. Then one of the older kids nodded and pointed upward. "Sun."
The game shifted. Now it wasn't just imitation. It was connection.
---
Simple Tasks, Simple Praise
Jinling had taken to giving Dohz small jobs around the storage hut—stacking firewood, moving stones, clearing paths.
"Move," Jinling said, pointing. "Here."
"Here," Dohz repeated, struggling slightly with the pronunciation.
"Good."
That simple word—good—had become the new prize.
The first time he earned it from Jinling, Dohz's eyes lit up. He tried not to show it, but Kaoshi saw the way he stood straighter afterward.
Grahn didn't seem to chase approval, but he received it anyway. When Linmu found him reinforcing a portion of the fencing near the west watchpost, he gave a low grunt of acknowledgment.
"Not bad."
"Not... bad," Grahn repeated.
Linmu nodded. "Yes."
That was all. No fanfare. No affection. But Grahn returned to that spot the next morning and fixed the next section of fence—unasked.
---
Social Slips and Missteps
Not all interactions went smoothly.
When Mi Lie saw Dohz crouched outside her house, chewing on a skewer of roasted root, she wrinkled her nose and muttered something about "outsiders lounging where they don't belong."
Dohz stood, confused. "Root?"
She didn't reply. Just brushed past him.
Later, Kaoshi gently told him, "Some people aren't ready to talk yet."
Dohz nodded. "Not... ready. Okay."
It didn't seem to bother him, but the next day, he didn't sit there again.
Grahn had a different misstep when he walked too close to a pile of weapons being oiled near the training grounds. A young warrior, startled, stood and snapped, "Back off!"
Grahn stopped immediately and lifted both palms. "Sorry. Not touch."
The warrior eyed him for a moment, then relaxed. "Good. Just... stay back from these."
"Okay," Grahn replied.
Later that evening, Kaoshi saw him standing near the training field, just watching.
He wasn't trying to intrude again. Just trying to understand.
---
Objects and Ownership
One of the most confusing aspects for Grahn and Dohz had been ownership.
When Chao Lie offered Dohz a small scrap of hide to wipe his hands, Dohz tried to give it back. "Not... mine."
Chao Lie tilted his head. "Gift."
"Gift?" Dohz repeated.
"Gift," Chao Lie confirmed. "You keep."
Dohz stared at the rag like it was a gold nugget.
Later, he handed it to Chow Chow with a toothy smile. "Gift."
She took it and raised an eyebrow. "That's the wipe cloth I gave you. You're giving it back?"
"Gift," he insisted proudly.
She laughed. "Thanks, I guess."
Grahn had a similar moment when he helped carry in some dried herbs and was handed a small square of roasted fruit as thanks. He looked at it like it might be ceremonial.
"Eat," said the elderly beastwoman who'd given it to him.
He nodded solemnly and took a bite, chewing with great care.
"Good," he said.
She chuckled and patted his elbow.
---
Animal Forms and Innocence
Beastmen often shifted partially when working or playing. Grahn and Dohz, lacking those instincts, seemed confused at first.
When Chaoang shifted his ears mid-sprint during a race with some other boys, Dohz tilted his head. "Fox?"
"Fox ears," Chaoang said, proud.
"Me not... fox," Dohz said, patting his flat skull.
"Right. You're...?"
Dohz thought. Then made a roaring noise and opened his mouth wide.
"Bear?" Chaoang guessed.
Dohz shook his head.
Then, without warning, he crouched low and mimicked a clawing motion, his hands digging through the dirt.
Grahn approached, said nothing, and made the same motion—then rumbled, "Ground claw."
They didn't say their original tribe or type. But the children nodded like they understood.
Later, Chow Chow whispered to her mother, "I think they used to dig underground."
Kaoshi nodded thoughtfully. "Possibly."
Whatever they were, it had left them strong—but disoriented in this world.
---
The Market and Manners
The final superficial hurdle came during a small internal trade gathering in the center of the village. Kaoshi was showing a group of women how to braid thick reeds into soft-bottom baskets. Dohz hovered nearby, mimicking the motions awkwardly.
A few passing traders from within the tribe laid out tanned leathers and woven straps for barter. Grahn approached and touched one of the straps gently.
The merchant tensed.
"No trade," he said flatly.
Grahn stepped back. "See. Only see."
The merchant blinked, caught off guard. "Oh. Well... then look."
Grahn nodded, not speaking again.
Kaoshi caught the exchange and smiled faintly.
That same merchant gave Grahn a strap two days later. "You're quiet. I like quiet."
Grahn bowed slightly, then whispered, "Gift?"
"No," the merchant said. "Trade."
Grahn reached into the small leather pouch Kaoshi had helped him make and pulled out a polished white stone. The merchant took it, rolled it in his hand, and nodded.
"Fair."
That was the moment Grahn understood what "trade" meant.
And from that day, he wore that strap around his wrist.
---
The First Names Shared
On the sixth evening, as the last light vanished behind the trees, Dohz was helping stack firewood when Mielan approached with two extra bundles.
She handed one to him. "Help?"
He grinned. "Help. Yes."
They walked side by side toward the storage shed. She watched him curiously.
"You speak better now."
"Better... now," he agreed.
"What's your real name? Not what we call you—but your name, from before."
Dohz hesitated. Then shrugged. "Dohz... always Dohz."
She nodded. "Okay."
He looked at her. "You... name?"
"Mielan."
He smiled. "Mee-lan. Pretty."
She blinked, surprised, then laughed softly. "Thanks."
That was it. No promises. No tension.
Just names, finally exchanged as equals.
---
By the end of the seventh day, both Grahn and Dohz had learned to say thanks, to refuse politely, and to laugh at themselves when they made a mistake.
It wasn't deep.
But it was real.
And for Kaoshi, who had seen enough battles for a lifetime, the quiet building of basic trust was a kind of victory in itself.