The Ugly Duckling Of The Tiger Tribe-Chapter 184: What are we doing now, Arinya?

Even with the oath, I still couldn’t be at ease. The rats may do something else and the rabbits will suffer.

So, to avoid that, it’s better to give them space.

Robi nodded and said,

"I understand. We shall live without having to come in contact with the Mouselings." He said and I looked at the grain on the troller.

I leaned in and whispered in his ear,

"I know you know how the grain is grown. Since there’s this much, tell the Gram I asked him to create a grain farm once winter is over. It will benefit you in the long run."

He blinked and I smiled at him.

"Stay safe, okay?" He nodded.

We stood there for a while, watching as they returned.

I made Fenric escort them until they were gone several miles with no mice following from behind.

Then, he came back, running in his beast form with his skirt on his mouth. His massive form scared the rats but he changed into his human form.

"Alright, I think we can leave now."

We had a bag of grain, added to our load, so we were finally getting out of this tunnel.

We reached the exit at the Eastern Gate—a massive stone slab that ground upward to reveal a blinding rectangle of light.

I stepped out first, squinting as the fresh, clean air of the surface hit my face. I took a deep, lung-filling breath, washing away the scent of damp clay and mouse musk.

I turned back one last time to look into the dark tunnel. The mice were so on guard against me, but I didn’t care, haha.

"Pleasure doing business with you," I called out, my voice bright and mocking until I was out of sight.

The sun was already beginning its slow descent, painting the sky in bruised purples and deep, fiery oranges. I paused for a moment on the ridge, looking back over the ledge we had just climbed.

The Great Eastern Plain looked like a sea of literal gold, the setting sun catching the tops of the grain stalks and turning the entire world below into a shimmering, glowing treasure. It was still so breathtakingly pretty—a peaceful mask hiding the twitching, greedy city beneath its surface.

I turned my back on it, the golden hue reflected in my eyes.

"What are we doing now, Arinya?" Fenric asked.

"I know it’s getting late but let’s keep moving," I said, my voice firm. "I don’t want to be anywhere near this territory when the moon hits its peak. I want at least five miles of solid rock between me and that rat-queen’s nest."

Fenric and Damar nodded. They sensed the lingering residue of my fury, and they were more than happy to put the Warren-City behind them.

We walked until the gold of the fields faded into the dark, cool shadows of the mountain base. The air grew thinner, smelling of wet slate and pine needles, but I didn’t feel tired.

The success of today—starting from the soap, the victory over the matriarch, and the acquisition of grain—was still humming in my veins.

I looked at the heavy bag of grain slung over Fenric’s shoulder and then at the heavy pleaded jige hanging on Damar’s back. A thought occurred to me, a culinary luxury I hadn’t tasted since I arrived in this wild world.

I smiled, a genuine, bright expression that drew both their gazes toward me.

"I’m in a very good mood today," I announced, my words reaching both their ears like a soft melody. "So, tonight, we’re going to have something special. We’re going to eat rice and meat."

Fenric’s ears perked up instantly. "Rice? You mean the little white stones from the bag?"

"They aren’t stones, Fenric," I laughed, reached out to pat the grain bag. "They’re soft and sweet if you cook them right. And with a bit of salt... It’s going to be the best thing you’ve ever tasted." That is if he’s a fan of it.

Damar tilted his head, intrigued by the change in my tone.

"Can I say it’s a feast to celebrate your victory over the earth-vermin?"

"Ah! A feast to celebrate being back under the stars," I corrected him. "But yes, a feast nonetheless!"

I was happy.

Things were moving sweetly, and things were moving in a rhythm I was happily dancing to.

But... Hm, I don’t know how to explain this but... I feel my craving for the rice increases the more I think about it. It’s normal, right? Right?

Well, I’ll just say it’s normal.

And so, I put no thought into it. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

We walked for a while until we were miles away, darkness had dawned thickly on us and we found a sheltered cove nestled between two massive boulders that blocked the wind.

It was also close to a stream so it was good.

As Fenric started the fire and Damar began preparing the meat he caught, I took the pot out of the luggage and some water from the stream. I carefully measured out the grain, my heart feeling lighter with every step of the process.

It’s been so long... So long that I felt human, and now I’m owning that feeling again. How exciting.

The smell of the woodsmoke mingled with the cooking rice—a starchy, comforting scent that felt like home. As the meat began to sizzle, I sat between my two husbands, watching the sparks fly up toward the first few stars.

"Bon appetit," I announced.

As soon as the food was ready and well served in three bowls, I watched Damar and Fenric look at the steaming bowl with tilted heads.

They were confused as to how they were going to eat it.

We had spoons, but I doubt they’ll be able to eat it hot.

"Let’s leave it to cool down first," I said, smiling at them.

"Is this really good, Ari?" Damar asked and I nodded.

"For me, it’s good. But I don’t know what you guys will think of it so it’s best to try it first."

They nodded and we patiently waited for the food to cool down, with me salivating most of the time. I can manage hot food but it wouldn’t be nice to eat before them.

"Gah, I think it’s cool down enough," I said, picking up the bowl. "Now, look at how I do it and do exactly what I do."

They nodded, picking up their bowls and spoons.

I hungrily dug into my plate, making sure to carry a piece of meat on the spoon with the rice. I blew softly on it, my eyes lingering on the rich whiteness and as soon as it entered my mouth, I was reminded by that rich taste.

It tasted good. Even better with the meat.

"Hm, try it," I said and they did. They blew on it and then ate it. Thanks to getting used to hot meat, they were able to eat hot rice.

They seemed to enjoy it too and dug in hungrily.

I was glad they liked it.

That night went well, and then the next day, I made the same thing, rice and meat.

They happily looked forward to it, and Fenric even said he was going to go back and get more grain because once the ones we stocked was finished, it would be too disappointing.

I simply laughed it off.

That morning, as soon as the rice touched my tongue, my stomach lurched, an overwhelming sense of nausea rising in my throat.

I gagged, the bowl crashing to the ground as I clutched my stomach.

The noise caught their attention immediately, both of them snapping their heads up.

I rose to my feet and rushed toward a tree, barely making it before I vomited.

The nausea was relentless—no matter how desperately I tried to swallow it down, it wouldn’t ease.

Just... What is going on?