dognovel Chapter 206 Where Did Their Older Orcs Go?
Chapter 206 Where Did Their Older Orcs Go?
Tian Tian said, “We black and white bears like to farm. We will grow whatever we want to eat here. Moreover, the fields are open, so if any wandering beastmen want to attack us, they can see us at a glance. This is also our tribe’s second line of defense. Our tribesmen all live on the mountain. Adult single beastmen live at the foot of the mountain, cubs and elders live on the mountainside, and the females live on the mountaintop.”
Linni nodded in approval: "Your tribesmen are really clever. This way, they won't have to worry about wandering orcs stealing females."
Yao looked down at Lin Ni and said, "Xiao Ni, you've walked for so long, are you tired?"
Lin Ni was really tired, and before she could even speak, Tian Tian said, "Lin, why don't you sit on my back?"
Lin Ni glanced at the five little black and white bears and red pandas around Tian Tian. They were very lively, running around in front and behind him. He was also holding one of the smaller ones. So she said, "No need, you can look after your brothers."
Yao picked up Lin Ni with one hand. He was a little disappointed that he couldn't cuddle with Lin Ni anymore, but he really wanted to keep an eye on the little ones. He smiled and said, "Let's go."
They quickened their pace and had only taken a few steps when people from the Bear Beast Tribe came up to greet them: "Tiantian, you've brought your brothers out to play again?", "Tiantian, where did this beautiful and adorable little female come from?", "Tiantian, is this your new mate?"...
Tian Tian didn't answer, but just smiled and greeted everyone: "Hello, Uncle!" "Hello, Brother!"
Yan watched as Tiantian greeted everyone and said to Linni, "Lin, they have so many names for each other, more than you taught them."
Linni nodded; the bear-beast tribe gave her a very familiar feeling.
They walked across the paddy fields and then across the dry land, where wheat, sorghum, vegetables, beans and all sorts of other crops were grown. After crossing the dry land, they reached the living area of the Bear Beast Tribe.
Tian Tian told Lin Ni and the others that this area was the settlement of the Black and White Bear clan, so most of the inhabitants were single Black and White Bear beastmen. The area was filled with stone houses, crudely built than Lin Ni's house in the Tiger Beast tribe. The roofs were lower in the front and higher in the back, constructed from large stones. Although rough, they were very sturdy. These rows of stone houses really did look a bit like a large communal dormitory from some period of Chinese history. Since single beastmen lived here, could this be considered a single-person dormitory?
Looking up the mountain, you can see many houses scattered among the terraced fields. There are stone houses, wooden houses, and bamboo houses. Some of these houses are more exquisitely built, and some even have windows at the door. These must be the places where the elderly beastmen and the cubs live.
Back in the single dormitory area, Tian Tian's younger brothers all ran off, seemingly heading back to their own places halfway up the mountain. Only the little black and white bear that Tian Tian was holding remained obediently in his arms, though it was too small to run away. Tian Tian said the little black and white bear was born to his mother last year, and there was another female sibling. The female animals in the tribe were very precious, raised by their mothers on the mountaintop, and then educated by the older females of the tribe until they reached adulthood at the age of three.
The land in the Bear Beast Tribe is cultivated by everyone together, the prey is hunted by hunting teams, and the cubs are raised by the tribe as a whole. Linni thinks the Bear Beast Tribe should be considered a large collective economy.
But Linnie suddenly thought of a point she had previously overlooked: "Older females?"
Tian Tian nodded: "Yes! Once they can no longer reproduce, they are considered old. At this point, they won't look for new partners anymore, so they help manage the young females in the tribe. Older males manage younger males, isn't that how it is?"
Linni belatedly looked at Yao and Yan: "We've visited so many tribes, and apart from seeing two elderly beastmen, Yi and Ling, in the Tiger Beast Tribe, we haven't seen any elderly beastmen in any other tribes. Where have all the elderly beastmen gone?"
Yan lowered his eyes and said, "They don't live to old age. The males die in one dangerous hunt after another. At this time, the females without mates are supported by their grown offspring. However, this depends on how powerful their offspring are and what attitude their offspring's mate has. So most females commit suicide after their mates die."
Lin Ni... So, there's such a cruel side to the Beastman Continent that she can't see? That's why the Bear Beast Tribe is really good; they have children who are cared for and the elderly who are supported. There are advantages to a large-scale collective economy!
By this time, Tian Tian had led Lin Ni back to his place—it was indeed a single dormitory. Inside, there was only one room; on the left was a sleeping area, and on the right was a bamboo shelf containing bamboo shoots, dried fruit, dried meat, and other food items, but that was it. Lin Ni asked, "Is this your home?"
Tian Tian nodded and said, "Lin, this is where I live. You can rest here for a while. I'll go make you some food." Tian Tian held her youngest brother in her left arm and unconsciously twirled the fur on his back with her right finger. "In our tribe, before the cubs mate, everything belongs to their mother. They only hunt for precious prey to court a female they like. Although my place is rather simple, there will be more in the future."
Lin Ni nodded. She didn't mean to look down on him. The important thing was whether he was willing to come with her.
"Then wait a moment." Tian Tian put the little black and white bear in Lin Ni's arms and went out. He first chased away all the orcs who had secretly come to watch from outside before leaving.
Yao put Lin Ni down, held her in his arms, and asked, "Are you hungry?"
Yesterday I only ate shellfish once, and this morning I had two peaches, but it's still not as good as a proper meal. So Linni nodded: "Mm."