Honestly, the thought of going inside with the bear-like beastman made me uneasy, but I hardened my resolve and went in.
I doubt he would still be in the tribe if he were the type who did all sorts of malicious things to his guests.
As I walked in, my worry eased as I saw that his hut didn't serve as just the place he rested but his workshop as well.
There were rocks and wood all over and then I saw what looked like a knife, but it was made of rocks. It was crude but it was better than nothing.
He sat down on the floor and then offered me a rock to sit on.
"Thank you," I said.
"Now, tell me about these things."
I began to explain to him how I planned to use the stone pots with fire, so they would be durable enough not to crack under heat, and how I would put water in the plates, so the wood shouldn't leak after it's made.
I explained intricately, even mentioning spoons. I had to draw it all with charcoal on the wall, so he would not forget the details until he nodded and said,
"This is a challenge," I thought it would be difficult but then he began to laugh. His laughter echoes heavily, and I felt like the roof above our heads could fall at any moment, but it didn't. "Lucky for you, I love a challenge."
I felt relieved. That meant he would do it.
"Can you do it?" I asked.
"I don't know yet, but if I set my mind to it, I'm sure I can make something. Come back again tomorrow. I should be done with the rough work."
I felt elated. This meant I could get plates and pots. It was great.
"Then," I stood to my feet. "I'll leave it to you."
I left Harok's place in excitement but just as I walked out, I paused.
Didn't the old healer say Harok had been creating things before she even came to life? Then... I glanced back... Doesn't that mean he's quite old?
But he didn't even have a single wrinkle.
He's definitely not a tiger, I can tell that much. And my suspicion is that he's a bear beastman. Then, do bears live for that long?
He must be a brown bear.
"Now, let's look for Taruna."
I met Taruna. She was young, but not very young, seeing that she had a few wrinkles around her eyes.
And aside from that, it looked like I had disturbed her at the wrong time because when I entered her hut, I found a bunch of tiger cubs rolling on the floor and one in her arms, sucking on her breast.
The sight took me aback. I didn't think I'd come across such a scene. And more so... Such cute tiger cubs.
They were adorable, and I felt the urge to touch them but I thought it was rude and only kept my eyes on them.
Not until one of them but my tail.
I hissed, like a cat, and looked back to see it still had its mouth on my tail.
As if controlling an extra limb, I raised my tail to look this mischievous cub in the eyes, but I couldn't even get mad at it because it had such adorable eyes.
"Please don't be offended. That one's a bit tricky." Taruna said, looking a bit troubled but I shook my head.
"It's fine. I couldn't get mad if I wanted to." I said, holding the cub and it finally freed my poor tail. "It's adorable."
It's soft yellow fur, those big beefy eyes, and even the way its small nose twitched. This view was completely priceless.
Just looking at it made me want to get one of my own.
But then I paused... What did I just think about? Get one of my own? As in... Her pregnant?
The thought hadn't crossed my mind before but yes... I'll eventually have to give birth to a cub of my own, since I'll be having a large harem of handsome beastmen.
"You said you wanted me to teach you how to sew?" Taruna asked as she placed down one cub and picked up another to feed them.
She must have a lot of milk. How can she feed so many at the same time?
She suddenly noticed me staring and laughed.
"You must wonder how I do it, since you haven't had a cub of your own." She said and I snapped.
Oh, drat. I was rudely staring.
"Well, t-that's..."
"It's fine. All young females wonder the same thing." She said. "You must be at the age where you've had your first estrus, right?"
"I... I guess."
She's talking about periods, right? Arinya should've seen her period by now... I just can't recall.
"Then, your spouse must be eager to get a cub as well."
Ah... I paused. The moment I heard that, I came to a realization.
Here in the far north of the tribe, news doesn't go around often. And because of that, they don't know that I, Arinya, have been an outcast, a troublemaker, and a criminal for all my years living.
She looks at me and smiles so warmly, but I can't even bring myself to tell her that I don't have a spouse or suitors, for that matter.
Here in the primitive era, looks don't matter, they say, so even a ugly female can get tons of mate fawning after her, but if it were an era where looks held as much ground as everything else, she'd not even try to assume that I already have a spouse.
"Anyway," I dismissed the topic with a smile. "Can you teach me? When you're not busy, of course. I know it's quite a hassle to do so while taking care of the cubs."
"No, it's fine." She said. "I can even start right now. But... Why didn't you ask your mother to teach you? I'm sure she's just as good."
Ah, I don't even know what my mother looks like, to be honest.
I smiled faintly and said,
"Mother is quite busy," I said.
Maybe something happened, but since they were out far North, they had no idea of this news.
"Then, it's not a problem. I'll teach you. What do you want to learn first?"
She was so nice, so warm... The kind of response a mother would give. Maybe it was because she was a mother of her own but... She was so good at making me feel soft at heart.