The Ugly Duckling Of The Tiger Tribe-Chapter 102: It was hunger

I don’t think there’s anyone who ever forced or rather, coaxed me into resting in my past life as Stephanie.

Hm, since there was no one who looked after me, I guess it was only fair that no one noticed how hard I was pushing myself.

Hello, wallflower here. No one’s going to look at the wallflower growing on the walls and say, ’Ah, you grew all over the place. You should stop for now and continue some other time.’

It’s not done that way.

As someone who had never been noticed, my efforts only ended up choking me as I faced the bitter reality that I was born into.

So now, habit Damar stroked my hair gently, insisting that I rest, my heart just can’t help but feel so much joy and warmth.

Even the real Arinya would’ve felt it. The immense care and love this beastman had for her, for me.

Anyway, giving into the gentle strokes and the gentle beat of Damar’s heart, as well as the coolness of his body—very important on a hot day like this—I slept.

I closed my eyes for just a few seconds, as he advised and the next moment, I was fast asleep.

I must’ve been very exhausted.

Physically? No, but mentally and emotionally, yes. Very much so.

I finally got to breathe a sigh of relief after numerous years of living in oppression and with depression.

But before that sigh of relief escaped my lips, a jungle of wild emotions grew in my heart, thick and tall, suffocating me and trapping me so I wouldn’t be able to find my way out.

And that jungle gave me a struggle that would’ve normally taken me all my life to face, but thanks to the ones by my side, the ones who spoke up on my behalf and cleared paths for me, I was able to scale through it.

A little tear drop slid from my eye in my sleep but just as it was about to fall, Damar caught it.

He looked at the teardrop and then licked it.

Whatever he had in his mind, I did not know but he definitely did not like the idea of me shedding tears when it was not tears of pleasure or tears of joy.

I doubt anyone would be comfortable with the one they cared about shedding tears in their sleep.

Damar held me tight, his tail coiled underneath us and acting like a cushion for me while my head rested on his chest.

In my sleep, I heard him whisper,

"Don’t worry, Ari. I’m right here."

It was comforting and soothing, just the words I wanted to hear.

No long speech, and no grand promises, just... I’m right here.

By the time Fenric got back, he found me sleeping, and I don’t know what they both decided on, but Fenric began moving front and back, like he was on a mission.

The situation felt blurry to me, because each time I woke up to the sound of their voices, I would see Fenric’s back leaving the cave and then Damar stroking my hair, as if knowing I was waking up and luring me back into sleep.

He succeeded each time and before I knew it, it was dark. A quick rest turned into something else. And do you know what woke me up finally? It was hunger.

My stomach was completely empty; it was a miracle that I was able to stay without food.

Maybe it was because I was a beast? Or maybe it was thanks to Arinya’s changed body system that had been starved so many times, causing her to sometimes forget she has to eat.

I clutched my stomach and moaned, mumbling lightly,

"Hungry,"

"Arinya, are you awake?" I heard Fenric’s voice and opened my eyes.

It’s dark.

That was the first thing I thought of when I opened my eyes but God bless my night vision as a beast.

I saw Fenric sitting before me and behind me, still holding me was Damar.

But it seemed like he was asleep.

His eyes were closed and... Ah, his eyelashes were quite long. I don’t know if to say he has a pretty face or a handsome face at this point but I’m glad I can see his sleeping face.

I heard snakes can adapt to anyplace, that’s why they are wanderers.

Well, I’m just glad that it seems he has no problem sleeping after changing places.

Then, my nose caught on to the rich smell of salt. It wriggled a bit and then I asked in a silent voice, not wanting to wake Damar

"Fenric, why do I smell so much salt?"

"Ah, that’s because I used the method you introduced for the meat we have." He said, and I looked at the stacked meat in the corner.

He had rubbed all of them with salt, planning to preserve them that way.

I was surprised.

We hadn’t even confirmed the experiment yet and he was already doing it with all of our food supply. Does he trust me that much?

Does he not worry that it might not work?

As if reading the expression on my face, Fenric laughed and then inched closer,

"Arinya has no reason to lie." He said and I nearly gasped, but my lips only parted, no words coming out. "And plus, you’re so smart that I believe the things you say will work out just as you say they will."

"Do... Do you not worry I might make a mistake?" I asked, my heart thumping with a conflicted feeling. "What if all the meat goes to waste cause we can’t eat it anymore?"

"What does it matter?" He shrugged his shoulders. "I trust you." Those words... "And even if they go to waste then that’s that. We can just catch more later. What’s important is that you tried your best for the good of not just you but everyone else. Your efforts, I can see them clearly enough for me not to blame you for your failures, so cheer up." He smiled. "I won’t let anyone blame you for anything."

Tears welled up in my eyes. This kind of recognition... Why didn’t I get it sooner?

Why... Was it only coming now?

I wanted to cry, but I sucked the tears back in and smiled instead.

"Thank you, Fenric," I said, trying to seem as cheerful as I could. "Thank you for saying that."

Fenric looked at me, a small smile on his lips and then he nodded.

"Nice," he reached his hand for me and patted my head. "Now, shall we get started?"

I paused and then looked at him, curious.

"Get started with what?"