The Ugly Duckling Of The Tiger Tribe-Chapter 118: Why don’t we go tree climbing?

Once that was done and I had gotten over my shame, Damar dropped his chin on my shoulder, nudging at me as he groaned.

"Ari," I know what they were after.

"Wife, don’t you think it’s been too long?"

"Yeah, I know. I’m counting." I said. "But it’s not time yet."

They whined in disappointment and I sighed, stroking their hair to calm them down.

A week without sex and they were whining like lost puppies.

The love bites they left all over me had faded too. Though, they don’t relent on getting handsy at night, kissing me, touching me, and even going as far as fingering me.

But it stopped there. I forbade them from going any further or putting their dicks inside me.

They were dissatisfied, and horny, but accepted their punishment with closed lips, simply waiting for the day I’d agree to finally do it.

To be honest, it wasn’t just because of a punishment.

I wanted to monitor my own body.

I had a sensitive body, which craved their touch more than it should. But more than that, I had a depraved mind.

In order to be able to distinguish between a sex obsession and an actually Estrus, I needed to give my body space.

Taruna said that after getting marked, it takes a few days before I experience a forced Estrus.

It’s my body asking to be bred as soon as it recognizes a mate.

But I haven’t gone through that forced Estrus.

I did wonder if it was because of the heat that I acted so depraved, but nope, my mind is naturally corrupt, and the Estrus had nothing to do with it.

So now, I am anticipating the coming of my Estrus.

"What should we do today?" Damar asked.

"Why don’t we go tree climbing?" Fenric suggested. "Arinya’s so good at it that I feel less like a male, haha." He laughed and I laughed too.

"Well, I am craving some fruits," I said. "We’ll climb the tallest trees we can find today."

This is how we spend our time when I am not sewing.

We go for walks, have a nice chat on the way, and do all sorts of things that can be considered fun.

They don’t treat me too much like a fragile female, trying to restrict me from doing dangerous things, and instead, enjoyed that I could do the things other females couldn’t.

I climbed trees quite well, thanks to my great reflexes, and I’m also good at running. Who knew?

As for hunting, since I wasn’t too familiar with taking a life—even though Arinya’s body did it often—I had to start from scratch.

My first task was to catch those God-forsaken rats, and I succeeded.

I overcame my dear or those rodents.

And then I went for bigger rodents.

Squirrels.

It’s amazing how they’ve not yet gone extinct after that last hunt, haha.

"When we get back, I need to work on the top I’m sewing," I said to them.

I had seen my new skirt and was working on the top.

It was going to be a bra top, and a jacket to keep out the cold.

Why didn’t I just make a normal top, you ask?

Well, I’m just worried that I won’t get to keep it on often in an attempt to ’share’ heat with my husbands.

Once they try something like that, I believe just the jacket is enough or an obstacle.

’Ill still make a regular top though. I’m doing so well that I’m almost impressed with myself.’ at the thought of that, I patted my own shoulder. ’Ibe done well. I’m so proud.’

I chuckled.

"What’s funny, Arinya?" Fenric asked and I shook my head.

"Oh, nothing. Let’s just go." I said but just then, one of the snow tigers approached us.

"Um," he stood there stiffly, his eyes not daring to leave the soil.

"What is it?"

"The chief has called for you," he said and I tilted my head.

It’s normal to assume it’s the snow tiger chief but... 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

"Which one?"

"Both of them."

The only reason they would go as far as sending someone to call for me was because of the meat.

"I guess we’ll have to put off tree climbing for today."

"It’s fine, Arinya," Fenric said. "I’ll go keep the bowls and get you fruits myself. Damar will go with you to the chiefs."

"That..."

I was going to say there was no need but he had already bolted away before I could protest.

It was as if he already knew I would protest and to avoid listening to it, he made his move first.

"It’s fine," Damer said, placing a hand on my shoulder. "The cub knows what he’s doing. Let’s go first. I’ll make sure no one touches you."

I doubt anyone in their right mind would dare touch me with you around.

I smiled a little awkwardly.

"Then, let’s go."

I dipped my hand in the salted meat, and it felt a bit sticky. And it was already giving off a slight smell.

I guess the reason they called for me was that they had already begun to notice the smell.

This was the seventh day.

I guess six days was the limit.

I did not put too much salt because then, they would have to soak it in water for a long time before they could eat it, since it would be too salty.

And during the winter, the lakes would be all dried up, so it’s impossible to secure water safely, bringing about another problem.

So right now, the meat that is salted like this— they can scrape off the salt, and then set it above a fire to make it more cooked than raw.

The salt isn’t too much, so it’ll taste just as good as my grilled barbecue, though not better, since a lot of factors need to be considered.

Factors like how long they can roast it without burning the outside and leaving the inside undone.

"There you have it," I said, turning to them. "It stays up to six days, and then it starts getting bad from the seventh. But if you want it to stay longer than that, a lot more salt is required."

And a place without bugs too.

Factors that affected the preservation were that even if the hut was cool, it had bugs that would sometimes dig into the meat, festering it and inviting more bacteria.

I’m glad I asked Harok to make another pot. A bigger wooden pot than the stone pot he made for cooking. It also came with a lid.

That way, I can store meat inside without worrying that they would be visited by bugs. That is, if the wood doesn’t invite termites first.

I’ll just have to trust his work.

If it was that easy for termites to evade the wood he works on, then all the huts would’ve come crashing down before long.

I dusted my hand, ready to leave after hearing their fascinated remarks, especially Chair Kasa who always had something positive to say.

But then my father walked up to me.

"Arinya, I was curious," Rakan said. "Where did you learn this?"