Song Xu, an eighteen-year-old high school student from Xihai Huating, finds herself transmigrated into the body of a young squirrel beastman named Song on a forest continent. The original Song had just come of age and was captured by the fierce beast tribe, a dominant group of large feline beastmen who raid smaller tribes to expand their population. Taken from her small tribe of thirty members, Song Xu joins a caravan of over a hundred captives, mostly females from various small woodland tribes, being transported to the fierce beast tribe's territory. The captives are malnourished and exhausted, surviving on foraged shoots and insects while the captors feast on roasted meat.
During a rest stop, a lion beastman named Shiyou notices Song Xu’s agility and beauty. He attempts to claim her, but Song Xu, unwilling to accept her fate, fakes a seizure to deter him. When the ruse fails to hold, she seizes the opportunity during the night to escape into the dense forest. Shiyou pursues her, driven by pride and the novelty of a captive daring to flee. Song Xu uses her new squirrel abilities to leap through the canopy, eventually leading the lion into the territory of Wu Mu, a half-snake beastman who has been expelled from his tribe for failing to fully transform. Wu Mu, now largely feral and residing in a stone cave, drives Shiyou away with a menacing hiss, causing the lion to retreat.
Song Xu takes refuge in Wu Mu’s cave, initially fearing for her life. However, Wu Mu, whose sanity is fading due to prolonged isolation and beastification, does not attack her. Instead, he seems intrigued by her presence, which reminds him of his childhood in the tribe. Song Xu, displaying remarkable adaptability and a modern mindset, begins to settle into her new reality. She explores the forest, learning to identify edible plants, mushrooms, and fruits. She discovers a wetland where she can bathe and hunt for small fish and bird eggs. Her survival instincts are sharpened by her knowledge of basic biology and her previous life as a student.
Over time, Song Xu and Wu Mu develop an unusual coexistence. She cleans his cave, lines his sleeping area with dried moss, and attempts to communicate with him. Wu Mu, though slow to respond, begins to show signs of recognition, occasionally repeating words like "fire" and "dance." Song Xu starts a fire using flint stones found in Wu Mu’s belongings, bringing warmth and light to the cave. This act triggers memories of tribal celebrations for Wu Mu, softening his demeanor. He allows her to stay close, and during thunderstorms, she hides under his tail for protection, further bonding them.
The narrative shifts as Song Xu witnesses Wu Mu’s hunting prowess. He transforms into his full snake form to capture large prey, such as wild oxen and black panthers. During one hunt, a black panther targets Song Xu, but Wu Mu intervenes, saving her life. This event marks a turning point in their relationship, as Song Xu begins to see Wu Mu not just as a dangerous predator but as a protector. She cares for him during his next shedding, a vulnerable period for snakes, using warm water and wet moss to help him remove his old skin. Her gentle treatment contrasts with the fear and disgust he has experienced from other beastmen.
As Song Xu adapts to her life in the forest, she continues to explore her surroundings, digging a tree hole for her own shelter but often returning to the stone cave. She experiments with cooking, seasoning her food with salt crystals found in Wu Mu’s belongings. Her lively personality gradually influences Wu Mu, who becomes less reclusive and more responsive to her presence. The story highlights the stark contrast between the brutal society of the beast tribes and the quiet, developing bond between the transmigrated human and the exiled half-beastman. Song Xu’s journey is one of survival, adaptation, and the unexpected formation of a connection in a hostile world.
