Chapter 157: Mission Accomplished.
Sunnie didn’t waste any further time. She explained the situation to them and then said, "So we would need your help locating where the reward is kept."
As she explained, the chipmunks conferred among themselves. They discussed for some time and then reached a conclusion.
"Her meal was better, so it clearly produced false results," one said.
"Exactly. I agree with this."
"Yes. So let’s help them!"
After they had discussed and agreed, they turned to Sunnie and the rest as the leader announced firmly, "Okay. We’ll help you since we know where they keep it."
Sunnie instantly smiled. "Thanks a lot. I appreciate it."
---
Their plan was simple and scandalous. Since they had been robbed of what was rightfully theirs, they would take it by force.
And so they planned on stealing the reward of crops promised to the winner and then replacing it with something else—something useless.
The chipmunks led the way. Sunnie and her team sneaked around that night through the tribe, making their way to the storeroom.
It was dark, and most people were busy celebrating with others. The fire was lit, instruments were being played, and everyone danced and sang. It was a bustling moment, but gladly a distraction while Sunnie did her thing.
Sunnie and her husbands sneaked past the few people moving on the streets that night and made their way to the storeroom, which wasn’t even heavily guarded.
The few guards there had drunk some wine and gotten drunk. They sat on the floor as Sunnie and the rest made their way into the storeroom.
There it sat—three big bags of crops and everything they would need to plant for a successful farming season. It was epic.
They didn’t waste time. Her husbands replaced the three huge bags with similar-looking bags filled with weeds and dead leaves. They made sure the replacements were as big as the ones they were stealing. Afterwards, they grabbed the three big bags of crops and pulled them away.
Soon, they were out of the scene and closed the door behind them. The guards were still asleep, drunk. By the time they woke up, they would continue guarding without knowing they were just watching over weeds and dead leaves.
After Sunnie and the rest had gotten everything they needed, they immediately made their way off. They were heading out of the tribe since there was nothing left for them there. They had already gotten the crops they needed; now they would ditch this place before they were caught.
While they headed back to their wooden house, they saw Azure and Maren, who they had come looking for.
Azure looked a mess—dirty and drenched in water. He always looked like that whenever he went to bathe Maren. And Maren was always shining with a smile afterward, as if she knew what she had done.
"Mama!" Maren called happily as she saw Sunnie and the rest approaching. Azure also stared, confused.
They approached and immediately said, "Let’s go."
They didn’t give them much time to think about what was happening. Azure didn’t bother; he could already guess that they were done with the task, seeing the big bags. So he carried Maren firmly in his arms while they took off.
---
That night, they all made their way out of the boar tribe without hope of ever returning there again.
They felt free as they left, trekking their way back. Hopefully by daybreak, they would arrive at their home in the evil forest.
Sunnie’s husbands took turns carrying the bags while they moved without complaints. Sunnie and her husbands also took turns carrying Maren, who had soon fallen asleep as they trekked through the path.
"I can’t believe the female actually came up with such a plan," Eris smiled as he stared at Sunnie, impressed. "I would never have thought that the female would have the mind to do such a thing. I’m impressed."
Sunnie smiled back at him as she said, "Desperate times call for desperate measures. They stole our glory, so they should have seen this coming, I suppose."
Eris smiled, staring at her in admiration. He hadn’t brought himself to admit it, but he couldn’t help but admire this version of Sunnie more—the bold and wild version of Sunnie who was unpredictable and daring.
He wondered if it was just admiration. Someone like him was open enough to understand when it was more than that. So to some extent, he agreed with himself that he was growing to like Sunnie more. This version of Sunnie was definitely the version he would wholeheartedly accept as his mate.
The version he would like to make cubs with without thinking twice. She was growing on him, and he could see them getting closer with time.
All his life, Eris had been the playboy who casually talked about love and mating with females and flirted with many. He had experience in these matters, even though he hadn’t actually done anything with any female yet and hadn’t fallen deeply in love with anyone.
But at that moment, he couldn’t help but wonder if Sunnie could actually be the one who would make him experience all these things firsthand.
---
The celebration at the boar tribe came to an end late that night. They had ate, sang, danced and had fun late until the night before they were all exhausted and everyone retired to sleep.
The next morning, they had all gotten up, gotten ready for the day and gathered before the tribe leader’s home to hear his last words.
He would thank everyone for coming, encourage them to return next year for the next contest, and hand out the reward to the winner while congratulating them for a job well done.
While they were listening to the tribe leader’s final speech, some of them noticed that Sunnie and her team weren’t around.
They looked around to make sure, but they didn’t see any sign of them. Immediately, someone brought everyone’s attention to that fact.