Veyra was so cunning that the mistakes she made intentionally and accidentally were skillfully pinned on me.
And to top it up, everyone believed what this two-faced liar said just because she didn't seem 'capable' of making such mistakes.
Arinya was punished every time without being heard just because of this vixen.
I could strangle her right here to avenge Arinya but it's not time yet. I need to serve back the meal I was forced to eat, the same way.
"What are you talking about?" Ashren asked. "Are you trying to blame Arinya right now for your mistakes?" He asked and I wondered how much stupidity he had left in that head of his.
"You're something else," Zevak said. "You can't go blaming Veyra for your past mistakes? What? You think we'd suddenly punish her over a few words you said?"
"Exactly!" I snapped, taking them back.
I shoved my fingers through my hair, sweeping them back, and looking at them ecstatically with my sharp canines on display.
"If you can't punish her based on mere words from me, why do you punish me based on mere words she says? Isn't that plain bias?" I asked and turned to my father. "Do you see what I mean now, chief? How is it that you listen to only one beast's side of the story and not listen to the other beast's side? And how is it that you go ahead and hold a trial based on one beast's words, not caring if the other beast is innocent? Is that you being a fair chief or a father playing favorites?"
My father went speechless, his gaze to the ground, and from the corner of my eyes, I could see Veyra trembling.
Yeah, when you come across someone smarter than your ass, you end up getting outsmarted with your own words.
That's exactly how you treated Arinya and that's how I'm going to treat you from now on.
"I've said all I can say for now," I said. "I'm not asking to become your most beloved daughter, all I ask is that you become fair. If this continues, you'll lose the trust of the other folks in the tribe."
"Who are you to say that?" Ashren asked and I turned to him.
"His daughter." I snapped at them. "And unlike someone who only knows how to use people," my gaze swept past Veyra and landed back on our father. "...I care about the tribe more."
"I've heard you." Rakan finally spoke. "It seems I've been short-sighted. You've opened my eyes to see my shortcomings and my wrongdoings."
At least you're not like the rest.
"I will make sure to mend my ways and right my wrongs." He said and suddenly bowed his head, something I did not expect.
"Father, what are you...?"
He raised his hand to silence them.
"So I ask you, my daughter, for the wrong I've committed to you, I ask that you forgive me and keep showing me my wrongdoings."
I was stunned.
This... Wasn't what I expected to happen, but to think the chief would bow his head to me?
He was probably bowing as a father and not as a chief.
"I have failed you as a father and a chief."
I guess he is bowing as a chief.
I was short of words for a bit, but then glanced at Veyra, whose body was trembling.
Ah, I definitely won this round. Seeing her livid expression was making me so excited.
Things were going too fast, the turnaround and the apology, but I guess that's the charm of being a learned person who can even talk their way out of an accusation.
These beasts with primal instinct and knowledge don't even hold a candle to where I am, huhu.
"It's fine," I said. "As long as you promise to lead with fairness from now on, it should be fine."
"Father, this..." Zevak wanted to speak, but Father raised his hand to silence him once again.
He looked at me and was about to say something when my stomach growled.
Ah, it sounded like a baby roar. So I have a cub in my belly by chance?
"You must be hungry," Rakan said. "It doesn't look like you'll be able to hunt on time today."
I shook my head, faintly embarrassed by the sound I made. When should be a good time to tell him that I won't be hunting from now on?
Rakan suddenly laughed, which took me aback. It was a thundering hearty laugh, coming from the chief.
"It's the first time I'm seeing my daughter shy."
Shy? Who's shy?
"Are you so shy that you can't ask meat from your father?" He asked and I darted my eyes away.
Well, my initial plan was to come ask for meat, so I don't think so.
"I have some meat I caught the other day. Would you like some?"
I quickly nodded.
At this point, I was starving. Even if you give me rocks, I just might eat them without any complaints. But he's not going to give me rocks, right?
I followed Rakan into his cave. It was very spacious and had leather skin of animals he had caught hanging on all sides of the wall.
You could say he was quite the hunter.
Even his bed was made of animal hide.
There were two rocks at the side, probably what he used to entertain visitors, but aside from that... It looked like he had another 'door' at the side, using an animal hide as a curtain.
It was smart for their kind of reasoning.
It was some sort of storage where he kept his stuff, including meat and the like, but... What about his spouse, I mean, Arinya's mother?
Do they not live together again? Or was it because he was the chief that he had to live alone in his cave, and only go to her when he needed his mate?
I can't tell, and I don't want to ask either.
The reason will probably come to me with Arinya's memory. She must know why they live separately.
Luckily, Rakan did not give me rocks and instead gave me dried meat.
I looked at the dried meat.
It looked like it had been smoked over a fire for a while, but it wasn't fragrant or anything. It was just there. In fact, it looked like meat that had simply been roasted.
I should be grateful that they at least have fire, right?
I'll ask for the details later, but first, let's eat.
I was about to dig my teeth into the meat when I paused.
Wait, what if it's poisoned?
I rolled my eyes to look at Rakan smiling at me.
It couldn't be that he was going to secretly poison me for undermining his authority, could it?
I don't think the chief is that kind of person but... Is this safe?
I gulped and decided to go for the safest method.
I stretched the lump of meat towards him and said,
"Here, father. I want you to have the first bite."
If he insists on refusing it, it's poisoned, and if he eats it without any hesitation, then I can eat it safely.