The Game Heroine's Cannon Fodder Leopard Cub - Chapter 11

“Yi’an… Yi’an…”

Voices seemed to echo in her ears, sometimes near, sometimes distant.

Yi’an felt her mind shrouded in layers of fog, as if coated in thick paste, making it impossible to see clearly.

Several figures stood vaguely ahead, waving indistinctly at her. Their lips moved as if speaking, but she couldn’t hear their words, let alone make out their faces.

Who’s calling me? Who are these people?

She tried to take a step, but her legs felt like lead, too heavy to lift.

The more she strained, the denser the surrounding fog became, gradually swallowing her vision.

The path ahead stretched endlessly like a winding river, its distant end marked by the faint murmur of flowing water, as if beckoning her forward.

When she turned to look back, she saw only an unfamiliar, boundless road.

The entire world was an endless expanse of darkness and fog, devoid of direction or destination, much like the night sky she used to see on her late-night commutes home after working overtime on Cisse Continent.

…Cisse Continent?

“Little Leopard… Little Leopard…”

The calls grew louder, approaching from the distance. She paused, bewildered.

Who is Little Leopard?

Suddenly, a sharp pain pierced through her spine and into her mind, shattering the surrounding fog.

The pain struck violently, instantly distorting her vision. The sound of rushing water vanished, replaced by chaotic, piercing cries. Before she could even try to orient herself, the world began to spin.

Everything around her seemed to expand endlessly while her own body shrank.

“Little Leopard, it’s me!”

Amidst the chaotic fragments of memory, the pieces suddenly clicked into place. Yi’an’s consciousness snapped into sharp focus.

With a soft howl, she groggily regained her senses.

The pain was no illusion; it was sharper and more intense than before.

She couldn’t help but whimper softly, her limbs twitching as she tried to move. But she found herself bound tightly, her fur feeling suffocated beneath layers of wrappings.

“Hold still, Little Leopard,” a weary yet gentle voice soothed, gradually calming her struggles. “These bandages are uncomfortable, I know, but you have multiple fractures. We need to keep you immobilized.”

Yi’an slowly opened her eyes, her vision gradually clearing. She saw Nora’s scarred face and a tall, unfamiliar woman standing beside her. The woman had dark skin, a sturdy build, and muscular arms, her brow radiating both compassion and unwavering resolve.

Are we… still alive? Where are we?

“We’re in Oasis Town,” Nora explained. “Chief Jiqi of the Thistle Clan saved us.”

Nora reached out with her own bandaged hand and gently stroked Yi’an’s head, her touch incredibly tender.

Yi’an tried to focus on Nora’s injuries, but the pain from her teeth radiated to her eye sockets, blurring her vision. She struggled to focus, but the world swam back into a haze, leaving her staring blankly at Nora.

Noticing Yi’an’s condition, Nora’s expression shifted slightly, her voice tinged with anxiety. “Chief Jiqi, Little Leopard doesn’t seem to be doing well…”

The dark-skinned woman, Chief Jiqi of the Green Clan, immediately crouched down and gently pried open Yi’an’s eyelids with her long, calloused fingers, carefully examining her pupils.

“She’s lost two teeth and has multiple wounds,” Jiqi said, her tone calm and reassuring. “The pain has triggered her instinctive self-preservation mode. It’s just a natural physiological response in young animals—nothing too serious.”

Nora’s tense shoulders relaxed slightly at these words, but her voice still carried concern. “How long will it take for her to recover?”

Jiqi stood up, a faint smile playing on her lips. “Little Leopard will bounce back quickly,” she said confidently. “You’ll see her running around in a couple of days.”

She paused, stroking her chin thoughtfully. “However… her little teeth will probably take a long time to heal.”

That night, a cool breeze swept through the tranquil Oasis Town, carrying the distinctive chill of the desert night.

After Yi’an fell into a deep sleep, Nora gently draped a cloak over her shoulders and quietly slipped out of the house.

Arriving at Ji Qi’s residence, Nora paused, raised her hand, and hesitantly knocked three times.

Knock, knock, knock—

“Come in,” a clear voice called from within, indicating she wasn’t asleep.

Nora pushed the door open, its hinges creaking softly. In the flickering candlelight, she saw Ji Qi sitting at the table, the esteemed tribal chief casually leaning back in her chair.

“I’ve been expecting you. Please, sit,” Ji Qi gestured to the chair opposite her.

Nora was slightly surprised. Did she know I was coming? The thought flashed through her mind, but she didn’t voice it. Instead, she obediently sat down across from Ji Qi, her gaze fixed on the face of her mother’s old friend.

Ji Qi casually loosened her high ponytail, letting her thick, raven-black hair cascade down like a waterfall. In the firelight, her face no longer held the stern authority of daylight, replaced by a gentle, serene aura.

“Your heart must be filled with questions,” Ji Qi said, a knowing smile playing at the corners of her lips.

Nora nodded, her mind swirling with questions. Why had their journey been so fraught with danger? Was the rumored resurrection of Baal true? Why was Yi’an’s origins so shrouded in mystery? And why had she never met her father, not even seen a portrait of him? And then there was Ji Qi, how had she found and rescued them in the vast, sandstorm-swept desert?

Nora opened her mouth to speak, but didn’t know where to begin.

“I can’t tell you much…” Ji Qi said slowly. “But I must warn you: the situation in Morong is indeed perilous and complex. Only you and Little Leopard can go.”

“Two… people?” Nora’s sharp ears caught the unusual phrasing. She looked up, her brow furrowing slightly.

Ji Qi blinked, a faint smile playing on her lips. “It’s just a peculiar way of speaking. Legend has it that we are descendants of the Great Cat, so subconsciously, I often conflate our people with the great felines.”

Nora paused, momentarily taken aback, before realizing she had been overly sensitive. She let out a soft breath. “…I see.”

She murmured her response, though her heart still stirred with unease.

“You’ll understand everything else later,” Ji Qi said quickly, rising to her feet and moving to Nora’s side. She gently patted Nora’s shoulder, her gaze deep and earnest. “For now, the injured need to rest. All your other questions will be answered in time.”

Looking up at Ji Qi’s resolute expression, Nora realized that no matter how much she asked, she wouldn’t get the answers she sought. A wave of disappointment washed over her.

Ji Qi’s heart fluttered slightly. Nora’s youthful yet determined face gradually overlapped with someone from her distant memories, the familiar contours stirring a moment of disorientation. Her hand slowly rose, her fingertips hovering near Nora’s cheek, yet she hesitated to touch her.

Nora tilted her head, a hint of confusion in her eyes. Ji Qi gazed at her for a moment before finally withdrawing her hand. Instead, she gently ruffled Nora’s hair, the gesture carrying a restrained tenderness.

“Good girl, go back now,” Ji Qi’s voice suddenly deepened. “Little Leopard should be waking up soon.”

As Nora’s footsteps faded and the door closed softly behind her, Ji Qi sat alone before the flickering candlelight, staring blankly at the swaying flame.

The fire crackled softly, the sound unusually distinct in the quiet night.

The corners of her lips turned down slightly, revealing a trace of bitterness she couldn’t quite conceal.

“She really is just like you, Xia La.”

Ji Qi = Kitchi, derived from a Native American language, symbolizing strength and courage.

Yi’an, also spelled Ian, originates from Scottish Gaelic. Ian means “God’s gracious gift,” representing luck and blessings.

Nora, a nickname for Eleanor, comes from Old English, signifying radiance and brilliance.

Charlotte, nicknamed Charla, is of French origin, the feminine form of Charles, symbolizing freedom.

Sophia, nicknamed Feia, derives from Greek, meaning wisdom.