The Ugly Duckling Of The Tiger Tribe-Chapter 64: Has Damar gotten back to the lake yet?

Damar didn’t say anything and simply turned away.

Somehow, that felt kinder.

If he spoke, I knew I would try to stretch the conversation. I would ask him to stay just a little longer. And he... he would hate leaving even more. But that was dangerous.

Dangerous because we were so close to the tribe, and he could get spotted at any moment.

So I let him go.

I watched his back grow smaller until the forest swallowed him whole, then let out a slow breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.

My fingers sank into Fenric’s lush fur.

"Let’s go," I murmured.

Fenric moved.

His steps were slow and deliberate, each padded footfall sinking lightly into the earth.

Despite his size, there was nothing clumsy about him. His body flowed forward with the grace of a born predator, tail swaying calmly behind him, white-and-black fur catching the sunlight like polished silver.

He was a majestic tiger.

One that regular females couldn’t handle, no less.

Should I be thankful that his beast form was so scary that it chased away the females and thus allowing me to be blessed with this talented man?

Yes, yes I should.

There was one thing I was worried about, though.

And that is that the blood from the squirrels, the ones hanging on both sides of Fenric’s waist, would stain his beautiful white fur.

Once he turns back to his human form, it should be fine but I hate the idea of having to see his soft and comfortable dirty.

Fenric gave a soft growl, as if announcing that we had gotten closer to the tribe and I nodded.

"Yeah, I see it." I see the fortress. "Let’s go in."

As we crossed into the tribe’s fortress, everything seemed to pause with our presses.

Conversations died mid-sentence, heads turned, mouths fell open and eyes widened in fear.

Yeah, probably their first time seeing such a mighty tiger.

My father should have a similar form, but it’s not like every day the chief turns into his beast form and roams the land.

While some froze where they stood, others instinctively stepped back.

The females, especially, shrank away, clutching baskets of cubs closer to their chests as hushed whispers rippled through the air, hiding behind the males that accompanied them.

"A beast—"

"Isn’t that a snow tiger?"

"Why is it here?"

"Who is it?"

"Wait, is that... Arinya?"

I felt their stares crawl over my skin, sharp with fear and disbelief.

But I didn’t look at them. If they can’t have the sense to realize that the snow tiger I was currently riding was my spouse, whom I was galavanting with this morning while having multiple love bites around my neck, then they were more fools than I gave them credit for being.

I sat tall on Fenric’s back, my hands resting comfortably in his fur, eyes fixed ahead.

Their whispers, their gasps, their unease—it all faded into noise as one thought crossed my mind.

’Has Damar gotten back to the lake yet?’

My thoughts were filled with Damar, hoping he got back safely.

We passed through the heart of the tribe like that–me proudly riding the back of my spouse–until we got to my cave.

...

"You move the knife like this, and then you pull—gently, not too hard."

Fenric was teaching me how to skin the squirrels. He had a calm voice and looked so focused as he demonstrated the motion with ease. The blade slid cleanly, the pelt separating from the flesh like it had been glued with water.

With the way he did it, it looked like a piece of cake.

But I knew better.

This wasn’t easy at all, Fenric was simply a professional.

I watched closely, memorizing every movement, the angle of the knife, the pressure he applied. There was no hesitation in him, no wasted motion.

It made me wonder if I would ruin the pelt with too much thinking and hesitation.

I probably would, that’s why he kept saying...

"Just slide the knife once and cleanly. It’ll get the pelt faster than you think."

So, hesitation will definitely ruin the pelt. But there’s gotta be a safer way for a beginner like me to do it.

I fear rushing would ruin the pelt more, because I’m bound to make a mistake.

The knife Fenric was using stole my attention at one point.

Know how knives in this era are made of stones and rocks so they are very crude. I remember struggling a lot trying to cut a vine with it while sewing with Taruna.

It’s given that the skinning should be hard as well... That is, if we were using the knives created in our tribe.

The one he was using was so much different. So much sharper.

The stone was chipped smooth and sharp, and the handle was wrapped neatly with fibers to give it a grip.

He said he made it himself.

"You made this?" I asked.

Fenric nodded. "Mm. I make my own tools. That’s one merit if you want to become a mighty beast warrior."

I clapped, cheering him on and his nose shot up in the air in pride.

That skill alone made my respect for him deepen.

Not only was he strong enough to hunt and protect, but he was also skilled enough to create what he needed with his own hands anytime, anywhere.

With someone like Fenric around, we wouldn’t have to worry about many things at all ok our journey around the world.

"Now, enough of that." He said and guided my hands, his warm fingers steadying mine. "Try it," he said softly.

I did, following his instructions carefully, and when the skin peeled away without tearing, his eyes lit up.

"You see? You’re doing well. It’s that easy."

I smiled, feeling a strange sense of comfort bloom in my chest.

"It’s because you’re such a great teacher," I said but he shook his head, grinning from ear to ear.

"It’s because Arinya is just that incredible."

I blushed.

"I guess I am."

No need to be humble.

He laughed and my heart warmed up even more.

This feeling...

Maybe this was what it meant to build something together; learning, working, relying on each other in quiet moments like this.

And for now... that was enough.

I stood up and his eyes followed me.

Now that I’ve gotten the basis down, I should get to the rest.

"Fenric, can I leave you here to skin more of the squirrels? I need to go somewhere real quick."