There was a little commotion afterwards, but no one disturbed me. Maybe it was because my father, the chief, was personally escorting me back to my cage.
His expression was firm, but I could see something like regret in his eyes.
He stopped at the entrance of my cave and then said,
"I feel like I have done something terrible to my daughter."
Terrible is an understatement.
You shut her mouth from speaking. And when she does speak, you cover up your ears so you don't hear.
You have no idea how much you've made your daughter suffer.
"I don't know how many times you've been wrongly accused but I can guess that it's been a lot for your firm heart to finally shatter and bring forth tears." He said and then hugged me. "I will apologize for my wrongdoings, as well as those of your brothers. I am glad I realized this before it was too late."
My heart clenched tightly and I closed my eyes.
It's already too late.
Arinya is gone.
These words should've been said to her but... She's no longer here.
Still, I believe that wherever she is, she has felt the sincerity and is glad that her voice— well, my voice—has been heard for the first time.
"Get some rest."
"Alright, father," I said and then walked in.
I thought I would finally get to rest comfortably after all that commotion, but what I saw left me dismayed.
This cave literally had nothing.
There was a reason why it was a 'cave.' but what was this?
There was no bed and only a raggedy straw mat spread on the floor. There was a long wooden pole, rough like a beach cut directly from a tree, hanging on the corner of the cave. It was where Arinya spread her other pair of short skin-skirt and a bra top.
This room... It's not a room at all. It's a suffering chamber, I'll tell you that.
This age is so primal. I'll need to do something about it eventually because I can't help feeling dissatisfied when I look at the condition of the cave.
I bet Veyra had better things in her cave when she was still single. I'm the outcast who doesn't even get leather to sleep on.
This sucks.
And then, to highlight my disappointment, my stomach growled.
I was hungry.
Oh man, this is the worst.
Arinya was supposed to have spare meat somewhere around here, right? I mean, she always went out hunting so where did all that meat go?
As soon as I wondered this, a memory came to me. The memory of Arinya giving Veyra the game she caught just because she said she wanted it and her brother thought it would be too fickle for Arinya not to give.
"You always hunt so just give it to her. You'll catch more later. Veyra can't hunt."
I gnashed my teeth.
Weren't they the ones who said hunting was for males? Then why were they snatching a female's hard-earned hunt and handing it over to someone who had multiple males that could catch rabbits for her?
I felt frustrated.
That was the reason why Arinya stopped carrying meat back home and simply ate outside before coming in. She lived such a lonely life.
"Ugh, my head."
I sat down on the straw mat on the floor, and then grimaced.
There is no way I can sleep comfortably on something that could poke my skin and leave holes.
Or so I thought.
The moment I dropped my head as I sat down on the straw mat to test it out, I was gone to dreamland in a second. It was probably due to exhaustion.
But other than that, this body was already very comfortable with a straw mat. Ah, lucky me. I won't suffer on the first night.
The next morning, I woke up to the sounds of birds chirping, laughing, and a buzzing atmosphere outside.
They weren't close by, but... Super hearing of a beastman. Nice, right?
I sat up and placed my hand on my stomach.
I was still hungry.
Arinya usually went to catch her own meat to eat since she didn't like it when people stared at her while she ate.
But I don't know how to hunt. And I don't want to go through the trouble either.
I'm a female, for crying out loud.
They should treat me gently too.
I got up, determined to get meat from others and not get it by myself.
I've never hunted a rabbit in my life and even if I have the bodily instinct of Arinya, I doubt I would have the heart to strike a bunny dead with my own hands.
Ugh.
I walked out of the cave, the bright morning sun bathing down on me.
It was warm.
But as I walked further into the tribe, eyes fell on me.
They whispered, not loudly but I could hear everything with my own ears.
They were talking about what happened during the trial the previous night, but I did not look at anyone.
I wasn't a criminal, so why should I hide my face?
I was headed for the chief, my father's cave.
I was sure he would have some meat to spare but as I approached, I found him standing outside with my brothers and Veyra standing in front of him.
What are they doing? Are they talking about me?
I hid in the side to listen to what they were talking about.
"Is it true, father?" Veyra asked, with her gentle voice full of life, unlike how she sounded the previous night.
It sure looked like she was dying but would you look at that? She somehow survived.
"Is brother Kaelor coming back today?" She asked and my eyes perked even more attentively. "And..." She blushed. "He's coming with the folks from the Crysthorn tribe?"
The Crysthorn tribe? I know them. Aren't they the snow tiger tribe I mentioned in my novel?
"Yes, that's right," Rakan answered. "They've been traveling for days and are going to arrive soon. So, we must prepare to welcome them."