Exiled Villainess: They Threw Me Out, Now Every Beastman Wants Me
Chapter 11: Leave the Shiftless One Behind

Chapter 11: Leave the Shiftless One Behind

The wind started to pick up, rustling the leaves with an edge of urgency.

Yet, the beasts still remained seated. But a lot of them were cautious now.

Until thunder cracked so loud that several beast-folk flinched.

The very next moment, Tera experienced the fastest weather shift in her life.

One moment, the air was still and oppressive, the next it was howling through the clearing like something alive and hungry.

Leaves suddenly started ripping from branches. The central fire guttered violently, sparks flying in every direction before the flames snuffed out entirely with an angry hiss.

The beast-folk finally started moving.

"Grab the meat!"

"The furs—"

"Get the cubs!"

Within minutes, the sky opened up, and rain hammered down on them.

One of the stick shacks collapsed immediately. The beast-folk inside scrambled out, shielding their faces from the rain. A second shack followed a minute later, its dried-grass roof ripping clean off and flying into the trees.

Tera watched the chaos unfold for approximately three seconds before she realized no one was actually doing anything useful. They were running in circles, clutching food and furs to their chests, while the wind screamed louder.

She had told them. She had literally told them this was going to happen, and they had laughed at her.

’Senses not as dull as mine, huh?’

"Hey!" she shouted, but her voice was swallowed by the wind. A wolf beast nearly trampled her, his arms full of dripping meat. A cub was crying somewhere.

Someone’s hastily built shack made of sticks and dried grass simply crumpled up like a thrashed piñata.

Tera grabbed the nearest beast. The young floppy-eared male who had been turning the spit earlier. "Where is the highest ground near here?"

He stared at her with wide, panicked eyes. "What?"

"High ground! Hills! Rocks! Anything that isn’t this death trap!"

"I—I don’t—"

Another gust of wind slammed through the clearing. Another shack collapsed.

Tera made a decision.

"EVERYONE LISTEN TO ME!"

Her voice cracked on the last word, but she didn’t care. To her surprise, almost all of them stopped what they were doing to look at her.

"You need to reinforce that remaining shelter!" She pointed at the largest and sturdiest looking one she could see. "Stack those rocks over there along the bottom to hold it down, and use those hides from the collapsed ones to wrap around it! DO IT NOW!"

They stared at her like she had grown a second head.

"Why would we listen to you?!"

"SHUT YOUR MOUTH AND GET TO WORK OR DIE!"

[(⊙_⊙)]

They were rendered speechless by Tera’s harsh words.

Even in the pouring rain, nobody still moved, and this made Tera want to scream. Why were they behaving like imbeciles?!

Tera was about to turn away and fend for herself when one of the older beast men grunted and started dragging rocks towards the shack still standing. He didn’t say anything to Tera. He didn’t look at her. He just started doing what she had said.

Two others followed. Then a few more.

[Due to Xavi’s influence, Dow clan members are reluctantly following your commands]

[Influence +1!]

Tera didn’t have time to appreciate the stats. The rain was getting heavier, and she noticed the floor had gotten muddy, with mud starting to slide into the holes. The beasts were quickly pulling out soaked supplies and piling them near the shacks.

"More rocks here! Tie those hides to the top beam! No, not like that—QUICKLY!"

Tera was soaked, shivering, and shouting orders at beast-men who could crush her with one hand. Most of them looked like they wanted to. But they did what she said, because the shack she directed them to was holding up while the others weren’t.

One beast man was moving slowly, and Tera ripped the rope from his grip to stiffly tie it in place.

By the time they had reinforced the shack, the rain was coming down even harder.

Everyone rushed inside.

[Host has successfully reinforced a structure using available materials!]

[This system praises Host’s proactive thinking]

[(ᵕ—ᴗ—)]

[Construction +1!]

[Bonus gift: 5 nipples have been granted to Host for initiative action!]

Tera pushed through the beast folk cramped inside, squeezing into a corner and shivering while the rain hammered the hide roof above them.

It even surprised her that the structure still held a little well. But they needed to come up with another solution.

This shack would not hold on for long.

’System. Scan the surrounding area for shelter. Caves, rock formations, anything elevated.’

[ಡ ͜ ʖ ಡ]

[At least give me the honour of granting you the task first?]

"Shut up and do your work!" Tera gritted out with a seething hiss while a few beasts turned around to look at her.

"Is she... talking to the wall?"

"I told you this one was mad."

"But her plan worked—"

"A broken branch is useful once a day..."

Tera rolled her eyes and glared at the system.

[Scanning...]

[Two locations detected]

[Location 1: Elevated rocky hill formation detected approximately 1,500 meters northeast]

[Multiple cavern openings suitable for temporary shelter]

[Elevation sufficient to avoid flood risk]

[Location 2: Dense tree cluster approximately 800 meters southeast. Minimal flood protection but elevated root systems]

[This system recommends the first location!]

[ᕙ(⇀‸↼‶)ᕗ]

Tera looked at the beast-folk around her. Some were muttering about moving, debating amongst themselves.

"There are rocky hills to the northeast," Tera called out. "Is anyone familiar with that terrain? We should move there now before this storm gets worse."

"We know that place." One of them nodded. "We were already thinking of going there."

"Good. Let’s go there now."

They shared glances with each other and looked back at Tera.

Then they huddled away to discuss amongst themselves.

"Let us leave the shiftless one behind."

Tera’s mouth hung open in shock.