Martha woke up to a dull rumble of thunder. Outside, the dark clouds hung low, and occasional flashes of lightning in the distance made it seem as if the sky itself was brewing something.

  She blinked groggily, her head still dizzy and heavy, her throat dry as if sand had scraped across it. Beneath her was a cold, hard stone slab, but at least her body was covered by a soft layer of animal hide, giving her some sense of security.

  She tried to move her hand, attempting to wrap the hide more tightly around herself. A faint chill crept over her chest, as if she had just been pulled out of water. The moment she moved, familiar voices called out beside her: "Sister, you're awake!"

  It was Alec's voice, tinged with surprise and unmistakable joy. Martha forced her eyes open, and her vision gradually cleared.

  Three younger brothers stood before her, their faces lined up side by side, each beaming brightly.

  She struggled to lift her arm, and her consciousness slowly returned. Then suddenly, she realized something was wrong with her clothes and quickly looked down.

  Beneath the animal hide, it seemed she was wearing new fabric. Instinctively, she tightened the hide around her, her cheeks flushing with a rosy hue.

  But as she looked down, she instantly froze.

  "My legs?" Her voice trembled, as if doubting she was dreaming.

  She suddenly sat up, the movement far stronger than she expected—hardly like someone who had been bedridden for over a month.

  Her eyes widened as she stared fixedly at her legs. The legs that had once been twisted, swollen, and blackened—seemingly ruined—were now straight and slender, with no swelling or scars.

  Even the skin tone had returned to normal, with a subtle glow. Tears welled up and streamed down her cheeks, dripping onto the animal hide.

  "The chief healed you, really!" Dorian shouted excitedly, pride filling his voice.

  "Yeah, sister, you don't know how scared we were last night!" Samuel nodded repeatedly.

  "We thought you wouldn't wake up."

  "Try standing up!" Alec was the most excited, already reaching out to support her.

  Martha was dazed as the three brothers helped her sit up slowly on the stone bed. She felt her feet touch the ground—a familiar yet long-lost sensation that made her nose sting.

  The cold stone beneath was so real that she almost feared it was a hallucination.

  She tried to push away their support and slowly stood upright, inch by inch. Though her legs were a bit weak, it was only from long inactivity—not pain from wounds.

  There was no sharp pain, no stabbing spasms, no collapse from weakness.

  She was standing. Truly standing on her own two feet. In that moment, time seemed to freeze.

  A faint smile lifted the corners of Martha's mouth, tears continuing to flow uncontrollably. She looked down at her legs again and again, confirming over and over, unable to believe the miracle before her eyes.

  The three brothers gathered around excitedly like children, wiping tears and laughing loudly.

  "This is amazing! Sister, you're really healed!" Samuel was nearly jumping for joy.

  "Now we don't have to worry about you being stuck inside anymore!" Alec laughed and sniffled, treating this as the greatest victory.

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  The four siblings cried and laughed together inside the stone hut, as if reunited after surviving a great storm. They hugged tightly, as if nothing could ever separate them again.

  But Martha couldn't hold out for long. Her body was still weak, and soon she sat down, panting.

  She still couldn't quite believe it, touching her legs—her toes moved, her knees bent—and every sense told her this was no dream.

  Suddenly, a soft knock came from the door. Alec quickly went to open it. Standing outside was a rabbitfolk girl, Angelica, whom he had seen last night. She carried a clay pot and greeted them with a gentle smile.

  "Good morning, I brought you something." Angelica held up the pot cheerfully.

  "What's this?"

  "Bone broth. The chief told our Rurik to make it. He said since your injuries were severe, drinking this would help you recover."

  Hearing this, a warm feeling surged in Martha's heart. She remembered the rabbitfolk girl had helped clean her last night, and now she came bearing broth. Her eyes reddened again.

  "Thank you, truly." She said softly.

  "You need to eat more now to restore your body," Angelica stepped forward, handing over the pot with a smiling face. "When I saw your legs last night, I didn't dare believe they could recover this well."

  Martha looked down at her perfectly restored legs again, tears welling once more. She hugged the pot, feeling its warmth, and her stomach growled uncontrollably.

  "Looks like you're starving too. Drink up!" Angelica chuckled.

  Martha was truly hungry. When Angelica handed her the bone broth, she didn't hesitate at all and immediately lifted the jar, gulping it down in large mouthfuls.

  The bone broth gave off a rich aroma, steaming hot and warm as it touched her lips and went down, nourishing her from within. She no longer held back, drinking heartily until almost half the jar was empty.

  Angelica watched her with a satisfied smile. As a rabbitfolk with a cheerful personality, she loved seeing others comfortable and at ease.

  "How's the taste? Not bad, right?" Angelica asked with a smile.

  Martha nodded, a faint smile curling at the corner of her lips.

  "I'll tell you, the leader personally taught Rurik how to make this broth. He said it's especially good for injured legs, and that's why it tastes so good."

  Angelica's small mouth moved animatedly, her voice filled with genuine pride.

  Listening to her, Martha's eyes lit up with curiosity, and she couldn't help but ask, "Is the werewolf leader really that amazing? How did he heal my leg?"

  Angelica thought for a moment, her smile tinged with admiration. "It was Liliana who helped wake you up. She worked all night and finally healed both your legs."

  Martha fell silent, recalling that night's events. She knew how hard her brothers and the werewolf leader had worked—and she knew if it weren't for them, she might not have survived.

  "That night was very late. They didn't even let your brothers carry you back," Angelica continued, "The leader made you stay in the new house, and he took the exhausted Liliana with him to your place to crash for the night."

  Hearing this, Martha felt both touched and worried about the two young people.

  On the way, Liliana was so tired she fell asleep right on Draven's back. They had planned to put her in Martha's stone house, but since the door panel hadn't been brought back, they had no choice but to stay in Dorian and his brothers' stone house together.

  Draven remembered placing Liliana down to sleep beside him, but at some point, she had ended up dozing off on top of him.

  When Draven tried to move Liliana off, she suddenly slapped his face with a backhand.

  Draven's face twitched as he gasped, and finally Liliana crawled off him.

  Liliana drooled in her sleep, soaking a large patch on his chest, which he begrudgingly wiped off. The noise woke her up, and she rubbed her eyes, pouting with a clearly disgruntled expression.

  Draven affectionately pinched Liliana's cheek and said, "Time to get up~"

  But Liliana was far from cooperative—she immediately flopped back into his arms, acting spoiled and clingy.

  Draven played along with her antics for a while, then patted her on the bottom and said it was time to go. "Not feeling like earning money today?"

  At the mention of work, Liliana instantly perked up, looking more alert than even the leader. But it was still raining, and it was broad daylight.

  Afterward, Draven and Liliana fetched water from the corner of the stone house and cleaned up a bit.

  Draven helped Liliana put on a raincoat, and she happily hopped and skipped, purposely stepping into puddles and splashing water everywhere.

  As they walked toward Rurik's stone house, Draven couldn't help teasing, "You know, those selene city demi-humans are used to relieving themselves anywhere. Those puddles you're stepping in? They're not puddles—they're cesspools."

  No sooner had he spoken than Liliana loudly protested, her shout echoing in the rain. Their laughter and playful scolding mixed into a chorus as they chased and teased each other all the way to Rurik's doorstep.

  Rurik opened the door and anxiously asked, "What's the plan for dealing with Bronan?"

  Draven replied coldly, "None of your business!"

  He had no intention of letting Rurik get involved. "Mind your own affairs. I have my own arrangements."

  Rurik's position in Selene City was not to be underestimated. He was intended to be a long-term resident inside the city. Too much conflict would be detrimental to the situation.

  Besides, the other deerfolk companions had all been healed. Now it was time to deal with Bronan.