The Ugly Duckling Of The Tiger Tribe-Chapter 273: Arinya’s trait...

After the traitors had been thoroughly ’convinced’ to crawl back to their master with Noah’s message–well, just the ones that survived–we found a relatively dry spot under a sprawling willow tree a few hundred yards from the riverbank.

I sat down on a smooth stone, sighing as I pushed aside my tunic to let the cubs latch on. My breasts were already starting to feel that familiar, heavy throb again. Being a walking buffet for three growing predators was a full-time job, even in the middle of a political coup.

"There you go, you little gluttons. Suck up." I whispered, wincing slightly as Raiden latched on with more enthusiasm than necessary.

Guess they were already so hungry but the adrenaline from the battle just now, didn’t let them yelp.

So now, my breast has to suffer.

While they drank their fill, I pulled a strip of dried meat jerky from my pouch and started gnawing on it. It was tough, salty, and exactly what I needed to keep my brain from turning into mush.

I leaned my head back against the willow trunk, watching the way the sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dancing shadows on the ground.

Still, did I agree to be queen on a whim, or was it a carefully thought out decision. I did say I’d retire once the fire died down but is that even easy?

’Huff. Queen, huh?’ I thought, a bitter-sweet smile tugging at my lips. I’d gone from a lonely girl in a world that didn’t want me, didn’t even see me, to a tiger-mom in a world of beastmen, and now I was apparently going to be the sovereign of a kingdom on the brink of a race war. Nice. I should turn this into a novel when I get the chance, haha.

I looked down at the tiny heads of my babies. Phina’s ears flicked as she drank, and Lyra’s little snake-tail was curled tight around my wrist, patiently waiting for her turn.

A fierce, cold determination suddenly settled in my chest. This troublesome elder, called Garrow, and his ’predator rights’ can go straight to hell. If anyone thinks they’re turning my sweet journey into a bloodbath and a dangerous playground for my cubs, then they’re going to meet their maker early.

A few feet away, the mood was considerably more somber. Fenric and Damar were standing by the water’s edge, their backs to me, facing Noah.

"You’re taking her into a hornet’s nest, Noah," Fenric grunted, his arms crossed over his massive chest. His ruby eyes were fixed on Noah accusatory. "The border was one thing. But a war in the heart of your kingdom? That’s where the real snakes live. No offense, Damar."

Damar didn’t even acknowledge the jab. His emerald eyes were cold, darting toward me and the cubs before snapping back to Noah.

"He is right. You heard that hyena. They won’t stop until they get rid of you and to do that, they’ll want to get a hold of your weakness. Ari is your weakness, which means it’s dangerous for her to be here. I do not like the scent of the air here. It smells of blood and rot."

Noah leaned against a tree, rubbing the back of his neck. He looked older than he did an hour ago. He must have thought a lot after we dealt with the traitors. This was his kingdom we were talking about, the very one he tried to run away from.

The peace he craved for had vanished as soon as he found it.

"I know," he said softly. "I hate it. I had a feeling something like this would happen when I kept refusing to enslave the sheep tribe, but I wasn’t sure and didn’t think it would blow up to this extent. It’s my fault for putting her in harm’s way."

He glanced over at me, catching my eye for a second. He saw me gnawing on my jerky while nursing three cubs, looking like a tired but dangerous goddess, and a small, shaky laugh escaped him.

"And besides," Noah added, his voice regaining a bit of its playful edge, "Have you met her? If I tried to leave her behind now, she’d probably track me down just to kick my ass for excluding her. She’s the one who just declared herself Queen and told a bunch of armed assassins to bow. She doesn’t just get involved; she takes over. If I could leave her in the cave where it was safe, I would. But it’s not what she wants. More than anything, that little tiger wants to be free, move around and have no restrictions. There was no way to tie her down just because I feared for her safety."

Noah laughed, a genuine, albeit nervous sound. Fenric cracked a small, reluctant grin, clearly picturing me taking on a council of elders with my needle and bowls.

I assumed Noah blamed himself for putting me in harm’s way. He didn’t plan to stay away the entire winter, but he did, that gave Garrow enough time to pot a rebellion.

But while they let out small laughs, Damar didn’t laugh.

He stayed perfectly still, his tail, he refused to put away in case of an emergency, twitching rhythmically behind him.

"It isn’t a joke, Noah," Damar said, his voice a low, vibrating hiss. "She is strong, yes. But she is one. They are many, and they are surely cruel if they speak of enslavement. I will not lose her to your ’politics’." He hissed. "If a single hair on her head is harmed because of your crown, I will tear the West-Way down myself."

The silence that followed was heavy. Noah’s smile faded, replaced by a grim nod.

"I know, Damar. I won’t let it happen. I promise on the blood flowing through my veins."

"I do not need such promises. Just make sure it doesn’t happen." He turned away from them and Noah watched Damar’s back.

"I’ll definitely make sure it doesn’t happen," He muttered to himself with a firm expression on his face.

I finished my jerky and tucked the cubs back into their basket, feeling the weight of their gaze on me. I didn’t need to hear every word of their conversation to know what they were talking about.

"Hey! Are we sitting here all day or are we going to go show this Garrow guy why he should’ve stayed in retirement?" I called out, standing up and dusting off my trousers.

Noah looked at me, his eyes shining with that mixture of love and ’oh boy, here we go.’

"Coming, Ms. trouble!" he shouted back, and the vein on my forehead twisted in an irk.

"I heard that!"

He laughed, and I kicked him from behind, but he dodged, scurrying ahead.

"How dare you dodge?! Get back here you overgrown wolf!"

"Oh my, I’m so scared."

Sure, the path before us didn’t have lilies or roses, but it’s not that bad either. We can just step on the thorns and stones and kick off the obstacles. I don’t believe there’s anything too hard for me to solve.

Afterall, I’m a 21st century transmigrator who survived the winter without proper housing and heating equipment. I even did it while pregnant. Hmph, nothing can stop me.