Werebeast Gongs CH 133 Their Own Home
They traveled southward. To the north lay towering, snow-capped mountains stretching endlessly. Vast, primordial forests remained untouched, wild and uninhabited. Between the trees, rivers and streams wound like ribbons, and lakes gleamed like polished mirrors. Animals—some familiar, some unknown—leaped and ran or ambled leisurely by the water. Some broad-leaved trees had already begun to show autumn hues, painting the landscape in vibrant colors. Further south, they passed deep gorges and rushing rivers, crossed expansive highland meadows, and entered yet more vast stretches of jungle, though the trees here remained deeply, richly green.
Having been in this world for four years, this was the first time Lei Jin felt the desire to truly appreciate the place where he would spend the rest of his life.
As they chatted, a sudden commotion erupted from the dense woods ahead. A large flock of enormous, brilliantly colored birds took flight, their trailing tail feathers over a meter long, shimmering dazzlingly in the setting sun.
"What are those? They look stunning," Lei Jin said, deftly plucking a few tail feathers as the birds swept past them.
Xiya flew closer. The wind was too strong, so he had to raise his voice, "Those are Five-Colored Brocade Pheasants. Pretty to look at, but their meat is sour and tough, not good to eat at all. Though I’ve heard long ago, tribal chiefs used to wear the topmost plume from their tails as a headdress."
Lei Jin couldn’t quite imagine An Bu strutting around with a giant bird feather on his head. But given his severe injuries, stepping down was probably inevitable anyway.
"Speaking of which, how exactly did the Chief get injured?" Lei Jin only knew it happened three years ago, not the specifics.
"During a tribal hunt by the water, they were ambushed by a pack of Heavyclaw Beasts. Several warriors were killed instantly. As Chief, An Bu couldn’t retreat first. He covered everyone’s escape, but his wings, never fully healed from a past injury, couldn’t dodge in time. A beast tore a deep gash across his chest. He was barely clinging to life when they brought him back to the tribe. Thank the heavens Tian Qi was there." An Bu had been unconscious upon return. By the time he finally woke, Zhu Xi had already made the firm decision to leave. Xiya had heard this from Roger, so it was likely true. The deeper complexities between the older generation weren’t for them to pry into. If Roger ever truly accepted An Bu again, they wouldn’t oppose it—though Roger’s attitude showed no signs of softening.
"If you become Chief someday and face danger, will you have to lead from the front too?" Lei Jin’s concern was personal.
"Of course," Xiya replied without hesitation.
"Seems it’s the same everywhere," Lei Jin murmured to himself. Whether in the modern world or here, being the leader was tough. Protecting the tribe was a chief’s duty, after all.
"No caves nearby, but there’s a hill ahead. At least it’ll block the wind tonight. Shall we rest there?" Moya suggested. Though dusk was still some ways off, they weren’t in a hurry. Reunited after three years apart, they were savoring the journey, leisurely gathering autumn bounty. The forests were abundant this season; they’d already collected bags full of plump hazelnuts, pine nuts, various wild mushrooms, and thick black wood ear fungus. Wild grapes, oranges, strawberries, sour plums, and unnamed berries were everywhere, too plentiful to pick.
"Mingya, scout ahead first," Moya said, diving down. Mingya had been on many hunting trips by now and knew well that even the calmest-looking wilderness, especially deep mountains and dense forests, hid constant dangers. Complacency was deadly.
"Be careful," Xiya called out, worried about Mingya’s impulsiveness, and followed him down.
By the time Moya and Lei Jin landed, the other two had already checked the perimeter and returned with some game. Food in the wild wasn’t fancy: venison and mushrooms stewed in thick bamboo tubes, and pheasants stuffed with dried fruits, which turned out surprisingly delicious. Hot water after the meal and fresh fruit for dessert—this was already quite luxurious. Thinking back to that winter four years ago, surviving on melted snow and cold meat… it was incomparable.
"What are you thinking about, Lei Jin?" Mingya sidled up, resting his head automatically on Lei Jin’s shoulder.
"That winter when I left," Lei Jin replied, relaxing his shoulder to make Mingya more comfortable.
"Mingya won’t let you leave this time," Mingya said, remembering being abandoned. His face scrunched up unhappily, and he immediately wrapped his arms tightly around Lei Jin.
"Little dummy," Lei Jin chuckled, not pulling away despite the slight awkwardness. He tugged Mingya’s ear and whispered conspiratorially, "How about we hold the bonding ceremony as soon as we get back to the tribe?"
"You mean with us…?" Mingya lifted his head from Lei Jin’s shoulder, his large, bright eyes wide with disbelief. Since returning from the forbidden land, his brothers had asked Lei Jin countless times, but he’d always refused. Now Lei Jin was suggesting it himself?
Lei Jin covered his mouth, winking. "This is a secret just for Mingya. Don’t tell anyone." The other two could find out later.
"Mingya understands. Mingya will keep the secret!" Mingya nodded earnestly, though his round eyes were already sparkling with irrepressible joy.
"Then call me 'husband' first," Lei Jin coaxed, a sly glint in his eye.
"Husband!" The adorable boy complied readily, utterly clueless about the term’s implications.
Thrilled, Lei Jin planted several loud kisses on Mingya’s forehead. Xiya and Moya, busy with tasks nearby, exchanged bewildered glances, wondering what secrets the two were giggling about with their heads together.
The journey was smooth and uneventful. The skies over the forbidden land remained shrouded in thick fog. After over three years, the entrance near the passageway was overgrown with weeds, but Lei Jin still remembered the map from back then. Finding it wasn’t too troublesome. The crystal vein was hard; without proper tools, mining was difficult. But the collapsed debris from years ago provided plenty to gather. To avoid accidents, Mingya stayed guarding the entrance while Xiya, Moya, and Lei Jin ventured into the tunnel. By the faint white glow of the crystals, they filled five or six large hide sacks. Even then, they hadn’t reached the wall sealing the Door of Reincarnation.
Upon emerging, they encountered a dozen or so Feather tribespeople gathering herbs in the nearby swamps, their neck baskets filled with fresh green wormwood.
As Lei Jin listened to Moya recount events from years past, they even found a lone slipper half-buried in the grass, though it was now rotted beyond recognition.
"Um… are you the Leopard Tribe’s black-haired uncle?" A slightly childish voice piped up nearby.
Lei Jin turned to see a boy of about eight or nine. He had flaxen hair, bright sapphire-blue eyes, and features that were pleasant, if not yet handsome. His little face was set in a serious, almost imposing expression.
"Are you talking to me?" Lei Jin didn’t recall seeing this child before.
"For you." The boy stared intently at Lei Jin, seeming to confirm something, then unceremoniously dumped the armful of wormwood he was carrying into Lei Jin’s hands before turning to run.
Lei Jin was baffled.
The boy stopped after two steps, hesitated for a long moment, then blurted out, "My name is Chaoyu. I like the little black-haired one in your family."
Lei Jin raised an eyebrow, amused.
"I’ll become the greatest healer on the continent!" The boy declared fiercely, clenching his fists, then vanished into the crowd of Feather tribespeople.
"The Feather Tribe excels in medicine. Their greatest healer is usually also their chief," Moya added beside him.
"Whoever he is, wanting to marry my son? Bold kid. But when did he even see Grapes?" Lei Jin frowned, trying to recall. He’d clearly seen Lei Jin before too. Maybe at the Leopard Tribe market three years ago?
"Don’t overthink it. Our Grapes is still young. This is way too early. And he’s just a child; his words can’t be taken seriously," Moya reassured him, squeezing his shoulder.
"Somehow, that kid reminded me of you, though," Lei Jin pinched Moya’s cheek playfully. "When I first came to your house, you gave me the cold shoulder every day." His tone turned teasingly flirtatious. "Come on, give your husband a smile."
Moya smiled wordlessly. He couldn’t very well admit he’d been shy back then. That would earn him endless mockery from Lei Jin.
This wasn’t a pleasant place. They had no desire to linger. Packing the crystals, they prepared to leave soon after. Each carried two sacks of crystals – nothing for werebeasts. After so many experiences, even someone as thick-skinned as Lei Jin found himself pondering: the Forbidden Land, the Temple, the Door of Reincarnation, the giant stone pillars and patterns in the tribe… who had built these mysterious things? Chunji seemed to know much but remained tight-lipped.
Later, deep in the forest, they skirted around a fierce fight between a group of Bear Tribe and Wolf Tribe members, wanting no trouble. The four were thoroughly enjoying themselves, their wanderlust unstoppable. Lei Jin proposed visiting the Wolf and Bear Tribe settlements.
The Wolf Tribe chief was indeed Qinghe now. He welcomed them warmly, acknowledging that his rise to leadership owed much to Lei Jin’s behind-the-scenes advice.
"When did you do all this? We had no idea," Xiya asked as they prepared to leave the Wolf Tribe after three days and head to the Bear Tribe.
"Just discussed it during the tribal market," Lei Jin replied. Brute strength he might lack, but strategy? These relatively straightforward werebeasts were no match for him.
They set off in the morning and finally crossed the snowy mountains just before nightfall. Snow swirled fiercely on the peaks, while heat and torrential rain battered the foothills. The stark contrast was brutal. By the time they found the entrance to the Bear Tribe settlement, it was well past midnight.
Patrolling werebeasts spotted them and reported to the chief. Le Ping arrived to lead them to his house. After baths and changing clothes, they barely slept before dawn began to break.
Lei Jin awoke to the gentle sound of waves lapping. Xiya and Moya were gone. Only Mingya remained, perched by the bed, his head nodding as he dozed.
"Come up here and sleep, Mingya," Lei Jin murmured, stroking his hair.
Mingya, bleary-eyed and half-asleep, clambered onto the bed and rolled snugly into Lei Jin’s arms, quickly falling asleep again.
Once Mingya was sound asleep, Lei Jin carefully extricated his pinned arm and got up, bare feet meeting the cool bamboo floor. The room had two doors: the south-facing one they’d entered last night, and a west-facing one where the sound of waves came from.
"Holy shit, living the life!" Lei Jin couldn't suppress a low exclamation of surprise. Le Ping’s house was built high. Stepping out the west door led to a wide terrace extending towards the sea. Comfortable-looking rattan chairs and tables were scattered casually. Flowerbeds filled with blooming purple cluster-flowers adorned the corners, vibrant against the backdrop. Below the terrace stretched the calm, azure sea. A flock of white seabirds swooped in, jostling each other and chattering noisily.
"Pretty female! Look here! Watch me do a flip!"
"Look how cute I can be!"
"Look at me…!"
"Look at me…!"
"Idiots! He can’t understand you!" The largest bird flapped its wings authoritatively, landing a peck on each head, instantly silencing the chaos.
It then folded its wings and strutted confidently onto the terrace railing before Lei Jin. "I’m their boss. Pretty female, are you new here?"
"Boss, he can’t understand you!" the flock chorused in protest.
"Of course I know that! I was just engaging in routine flirtation!" the boss retorted, flustered, before diving back to peck at them. Amidst squawks and flapping wings, the noisy group gradually flew away.
Lei Jin burst out laughing. He’d noticed birds in this world loved to gossip and were incredibly chatty. Back home, he’d often overheard crows exchanging news with the swallows nesting under the eaves, complete with commentary: how terrible someone’s dinner looked, which werebeast got rejected in bed again, who had bad character for talking behind backs… the topics were endless, covering everything.
Meeting Le Ping’s family formally, Lei Jin generously gifted a sack of crystals. In the werebeast world, sparkling gems meant wealth. His gesture successfully won the favor of Le Ping’s entire household. Le Ping, in his forties, had two werebeast sons slightly older than Xiya, who shared one mate and had moved out. Le Ping explained this house was built long ago by his papa’s design.
"I was very young then. I only have a vague memory of his face. Granddad said Dad and Papa left, saying they were going traveling, and never came back," Le Ping said, his gaze lingering on Lei Jin, perhaps hoping to see some hint.
Lei Jin debated whether to relay Tian Qi’s words. Near the Door of Reincarnation, he’d found a relatively intact skeleton. If Tian Qi was right—that one person’s departure required another’s life—then those bones likely belonged to Le Ping’s dad.
"Granddad said Dad and Papa were deeply in love. I always hoped they’d gone to papa’s tribe and just couldn’t return yet," Le Ping continued. "I know the eastern tribes fairly well. None have dark-haired, dark-eyed females like you. Are you from the Western Continent?"
"Western Continent?" This was the first Lei Jin had heard of it.
"The land across the sea. The Merfolk in the ocean told me there’s a continent to the west with six tribes, just like the Eastern Continent has Tiger, Leopard, Wolf, Bear, Feather, and Merfolk tribes."
Lei Jin shook his head. "No, I’ve never been there." He decided against mentioning Le Ping’s parents. It wouldn’t change anything, and it was better to let Le Ping keep his hopeful memories.
Le Ping’s disappointment was palpable, but after so many years, he was used to it. He quickly rallied. "Since it’s your first time in Bear Territory, let me show you around."
Lei Jin was eager. Knowing the deep-seated enmity between the Leopard and Bear Tribes, exploring safely required a Bear Tribe guide—of course it was even better if it was the chief himself.
The Bear Tribe settlement spread along the mountain slopes down to the sea. Houses had white stone walls and grey-black roofs and streets—subdued colors, but softened by abundant green plants climbing the walls. Le Ping explained the grey-black material was coral traded from the Sirens, the white stone came from nearby mountains.
By afternoon, the tide rose, flooding the lower streets. People paddled hollowed-log canoes, hawking goods along the waterways.
"Deer leg for your flour!" someone called from a house window, and a canoe promptly paddled over.
Mingya’s eyes were wide with fascination. "So fun!" he kept saying, tugging Lei Jin’s hand.
As they walked, Lei Jin noticed younger werebeast often glared at them—more specifically, at Xiya and the others. But older werebeasts were quite friendly towards Lei Jin, some even stopping to chat.
"They all remember my papa. He was only here less than a year but did so much for the tribe. Everyone loved him," Le Ping said, pride evident in his voice.
They spent five or six pleasant days in Bear Territory, eating, drinking, and exploring. They even met the Sirens—dark-skinned and not particularly handsome, unlike the Merfolk, but with enchanting voices. Their tears, Le Ping mentioned, fell as pearls.
But Lei Jin wasn’t just sightseeing. Visiting the Wolf Tribe was to gauge Qinghe’s stance. Honestly, Qinghe seemed more reckless than cunning, certainly no match for Yu Qi’s intellect. But Yu Qi’s betrayal, ambushing allies and wounding Moya and the others, was despicable.
Coming to Bear Territory was to see their bronze smelting and, ideally, trade for some bronze and iron. When Lei Jin broached the subject, Le Ping hesitated for days before finally agreeing to take Lei Jin alone to the bronze workshop to pick a few items. Xiya and the others were not permitted.
Lei Jin understood tribal secrets. He didn’t push, leaving his partners behind.
The Bear Tribe’s bronze workshop was deep in the mountains. Many nearby rocks showed peacock-blue streaks. Le Ping explained these were copper-bearing. The workshop was vast, with intricate divisions of labor. The primary fuel was charcoal.
Finished products were few, mostly small items. Lei Jin traded half a sack of crystals for three well-balanced knives. Noticing someone vigorously blowing into a thick tube at a furnace, he asked curiously.
"Air makes the fire burn hotter, forging better bronze faster."
"Isn’t that exhausting?" Blowing constantly by mouth.
"Nothing else works," Le Ping admitted helplessly.
"You could make something like bellows," Lei Jin suggested with a mysterious smile.
He’d seen hand-pumped bellows as a child, though he couldn’t build one. But the principle of a foot-pump—pull for air in, push for air out—he understood.
Le Ping was instantly excited. He promised Lei Jin could take back his crystals and pick more items if he could devise a solution. Lei Jin’s condition: the Bear Tribe must sell bronze and iron to the Leopard Tribe. He heavily implied future collaborations, though privately he knew he was out of ideas—this was pure luck. He figured Roger might know more anyway.
The device wasn’t hard: three wooden hoops, two boards sealing the ends, covered tightly with hide. The leather bladder idea worked perfectly. Le Ping readily agreed to Lei Jin’s terms.
"What was the real purpose of all this traveling?" Moya asked later. He could usually guess Lei Jin’s motives, but this time he was baffled. Was dragging them all over really just for fun? He doubted it.
"A wedding gift for you three," Lei Jin replied, nipping Moya’s lip with a smile. He closed his eyes, hiding the dangerous glint within. With tribes potentially balanced precariously, conflict could erupt anytime. His wives were up to him to protect. So, alliances where possible; where not, change the leadership. As for bronze and iron? Future weapons. Even if he had to trick them out now, he would.
Lei Jin knew he might not be a good man. He might never love them equally. But he was trying, seriously, for each of them. Surely that was enough?
"That year, Moya and I could only hide crouched in the grass over there," Xiya pointed to some tall reeds across the river. They’d pointed out countless such spots along the way.
Lei Jin listened but offered no comment. He knew exactly what Xiya was hinting at.
After Xiya rambled on fruitlessly, getting no reaction, he changed tactics. "How about grilled fish for lunch today?"
Lei Jin stretched lazily in the shade, finally deigning to lift an eyelid. "I thought you guys didn’t much like fish?" The day was unusually hot and stifling. Xiya had predicted heavy rain, so they’d stopped mid-morning. They were by the same river where he and Mingya had grilled fish years ago.
"But I like it when you make it," Xiya laid on the charm thickly.
"You wouldn’t be trying to make up for missing out back then, when you were hiding in the bushes, would you?" Lei Jin teased. He knew werebeasts generally disliked aquatic food. Only because of him and Roger did their family eat it occasionally. Most tribespeople only ate fish during spring shortages, preferring meat otherwise.
Xiya choked slightly. That was precisely it. Retracing their steps felt dreamlike—that wary female from years ago was now truly their mate, bearer of their three adorable cubs. Only the tantalizing memory of grilled fish from that day still haunted him. He wanted to taste it.
"Alright," Lei Jin agreed. Grilling fish wasn’t hard. Indulging them once wouldn’t hurt.
"Must add purple fruit!" Xiya pressed his advantage.
Lei Jin nodded. So that’s what the berries were called. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a flash of barely suppressed smile in Moya’s wide, dark green eyes. Ah, so more than one was craving it.
Ingredients were easy to find. The fish cooked quickly. Lei Jin grilled while the other three ate heartily. Lei Jin’s mouth wasn’t idle either, constantly fed bites. The scene mirrored the past—same people, same place—only their hearts were different now.
The oppressive heat, combined with the hot meal, left Lei Jin drenched in sweat. He left the cleanup to them. Shedding clothes as he walked, he headed eagerly for the river, desperate for a cooling swim. In his haste, he missed the three pairs of eyes burning with hunger behind him.
They hadn’t exactly been celibate on the journey; it wasn’t starvation driving them. But this place held unique meaning—the first time they’d held their mate, even if they hadn’t gone all the way then. Today, they intended to fulfill that old wish.
"Stop messing around, you guys!" Lei Jin had just finished bathing and was about to rinse his clothes when he saw the trio approaching. He knew trouble was brewing.
Xiya sidled up with a cheeky grin, suddenly grabbing Lei Jin and pulling him down to straddle his lap.
"Looking for another beating?" Lei Jin threatened, hands gripping Xiya’s neck, half-tempted to squeeze. He always started the trouble!
Unfazed by the empty threat, Xiya simply grinned wider, guiding Lei Jin’s hand down to his own arousal. "Let’s do it. All four of us together."
As soon as he said this, Lei Jin pushed with his arms and wanted to jump up immediately. Even if he had done it several times in the wild already, it was not under the scorching sun, nor in such an open place.
And a foursome? "Dream on, you." Lei Jin struggled a few times but failed to break free. Instead, Xiya's rough animal leather hide pants rubbed against the sensitive part behind him, causing it to tingle.
"Really don't want to do it?" Moya's warm breath brushed the back of his neck, and his fingertips slipped into the gap between his cheeks to rub deeply and shallowly at the entrance.
"You bastards." Lei Jin widened his eyes and cursed them fiercely, wondering if he had given them the impression of a pushover. Whenever it came to such a thing, no one would listen to what he said. Even if they must do it, they could at least move to a more private place because what if someone passed by here? He wasn't interested in putting on a public show.
"We'll move to another place in a while." Xiya agreed.
"Move now." Lei Jin did not give in.
"En, okay." Xiya winked, answered absentmindedly, and loosened his pants.
Moya chuckled and said, "Don't worry, we’ll pay attention to the surrounding movements." Then, pinching Lei Jin's chin, he turned his head to kiss him.
"Mmph... mmph..." How could Lei Jin not understand what they were up to? It was obvious that they were going to do it here, but his erection had already been grabbed by Xiya and rubbed together against his own hardness, and the pleasure was soul-stirring. The fear of being discovered at any time in the wild only increased the sensitivity of his body.
Mingya had already changed into his beast form, lying behind Lei Jin, hooking his waist with his paws and slightly lifting his buttocks. A tongue with small barbs began to lick in without hesitation, moistening, scratching, and thrusting.
"Ngh..." Lei Jin let out a hum from behind his teeth, and his body was instantly drained of strength. He could only fall limp in Xiya's arms.
Mingya's uncontrollable desire burned even more because of Lei Jin's unintentional moan, and he raised his own hips, eager to thrust in. Luckily, Moya reached out and pressed his shoulders in time. Mingya's haze of desire immediately cleared, and he changed into human form. Bending down, he draped against Lei Jin's back, his hands rubbing and pulling those firm buttocks apart, before pressing against the small opening in the middle, and burying it in one stroke. Lei Jin felt his body invaded by a thick hardness, and his fingers on Xiya's shoulders tightened unconsciously.
"So good, Lei Jin..." Mingya panted brokenly in his ear.
Lei Jin gritted his teeth and kept silent, his eyes unconsciously looking around.
"We're here." Moya turned his head, pried open his lips, and drove straight in.
The body that wanted to dodge would always fall into someone's arms, and there were three pairs of hands that kept wandering and caressing him. There was always someone moving inside him. When a stream of liquid heat exploded against his inner walls, and the warmth left, his body didn't even get the chance to feel empty for long. Soon another person thrust in again. Unlike Mingya's random thrusting, Moya stayed in his body for a while, and when he got used to it, he would then move faster and faster. Lei Jin half-knelt and half-lay on his front, twisting his waist and hips, meeting the fierce rhythm behind him, while his leaking member left ambiguous white traces on Xiya's lower abdomen.
Finally, it was Xiya. He might have been waiting too long, because as soon as he came in, his foot left Lei Jin breathless.
"Too fast..." Lei Jin opened his mouth and panted, his brows furrowed. His long legs wrapped around Xiya's waist, tightening and tightening, signaling him to slow down.
The four were so immersed in their lovemaking no one noticed when the sun had disappeared, dark clouds gathering, until heavy rain poured down unexpectedly.
Even so, they kissed and entangled madly in the rain, with thunder and lightning, heavy rain and fog as their backdrop. Lei Jin had given up his initial insistence and was only loyal to the most primitive feelings in his body. He completely opened himself and welcomed their entry at every turn. The heat of their hardness combined with the cold of the rain slipped into his body on every thrust.
Lei Jin's consciousness was still clear, so he knew that it was Xiya who carried him into the cave to take shelter from the rain, but even for this brief walk he kept a hold of his hips and continued pistoning in and out all the way. In the cave, Moya pressed him against the wall and had another round with him. When Mingya entered from behind again, Lei Jin's arms and legs were still entangled around Moya, having yet to slip off.
Even for Lei Jin, having lived over thirty years old, this was a first to experience such wild abandon. Waking the next day, aside from the usual soreness in his back and legs, he felt surprisingly fine. Still, they rested an extra day. After two months on the road, one more day didn’t matter.
Four years ago, Lei Jin arrived in this strange world, lost and desperate to find a way back.
Four years later, he’d chosen to stay for these three. Now, he just wanted to bring his wives home.
They were close to the tribe now. After two months of wandering, lingering a little longer was no issue.
The tribe hadn’t changed much in three years. Since Roger had returned with the children, people weren’t surprised to see Lei Jin. Many familiar faces came specifically to visit.
The house buzzed with activity for several days. Lei Jin took the opportunity to announce his plan to build their own house. With the farming slack season, many were happy to help, especially Qi Luo and Jia He, who already knew Lei Jin had promised them one child for co-parenting.
The crystals Lei Jin brought back were meant for making glass and mirrors. Extravagant? Perhaps. But comfort was worth it. Money could be earned again later.
The site was chosen, not far from the old house. Plans were quickly drawn up, and construction began. If all went well, the house could be finished before winter.
"Daddy, what are you doing?" Grapes clung to Lei Jin’s back as he bent to lift a stone. The child always seized any chance to stick to him; Lei Jin was used to the weight by now.
"Building our home."
"Daddy, where was your home before?"
"This is the first," Lei Jin replied. He’d once dreamed of having a wife and children by thirty. He was a few years late, but finally, he was building a home of his own.
"Oh," Grapes tilted his head, only half-understanding, but agreeing nonetheless.