The Ugly Duckling Of The Tiger Tribe

Chapter 350: The second day was the teething scare

Thalor’s fingers were incredibly gentle, but he was terrified. He touched Raiden’s skin as if it were made of thin glass. Every time the baby moved a toe, Thalor flinched.

"He is so soft," Thalor whispered, his violet eyes full of wonder. "His skin... it has no protection. No scales, no thick fur. How do you land-dwellers survive childhood?"

"Well, we probably just manage," I said, patting his hand. "After all, there’s no way we’d have memories of this moment once we’re fully grown, right?"

He nodded, and I watched as he meticulously did the diaper. Ah, he was a natural and got it done on his first try.

"Wow, Thalor, you look like you’d make a great nanny," I was already thinking of all the crazy tasks I’d have him do in Damar’s absence, haha.

"Is it my turn now?" Fenric asked and looked at Lyra. She was looking at him with a mean pout on her lips.

Ah, she was going to make things difficult for him, wasn’t she?

And sure enough, she showed him what it meant when the ’princess’ does not authorize touching her royal bum.

I laughed, seeing the mess Fenric had made.

"Better luck next time," I said, patting his slumped shoulders. "Believe me, it’s not you. You did a great job, but Lyra can be..."

"I’ll try this time," Noah said, his wrinkled nose finally easing.

But just as Fenric had failed, the great king of the West Way failed as well.

I clutched my belly and laughed, kicking my legs into the air while Noah trembled in shame.

He couldn’t diaper a baby. The great king needed more lessons.

Maybe if the other pups he was looking after at the nursery used this same diaper system, he’d have been a natural at it, but they didn’t wear diapers anymore. They were all quite old enough to know when to go to the bush to poop.

In any case, it wasn’t his fault now either.

Lyra was just... picky.

The little princess began to crawl.

My eyes widened as I watched her roll onto her knees and look towards Thalor.

Ah, ah, that’s right. Lyra really had a thing for Thalor. If she wasn’t looking at her daddy, she was looking at Thalor.

She just liked the pristine beauty of the serpent and the merman.

"Ah, it seems she wants you to diaper her, Thalor," I said, and both Fenric and Noah shot him a ’why is it you?’ kind of glare.

Thalor was a little overwhelmed, but he took the opportunity anyway.

He liked Lyra. And he always wanted to hold her, but Damar never let him. Not after knowing he was trying to be a part of our family.

He held Lyra, his hands smoothing over her hair, and Lyra actually let him pet her. A warm smile touched his lips, and he diapered her. She gave no resistance at all.

It was golden.

"Alright, so Thalor will be in charge of Lyra from now on. Any objections?" They gave neither, and so, the day ended with no more surprises.

Ah, until the next day, that is.

By the second day, the ’Teething Scare’ hit.

Raiden started it. He was sitting in Fenric’s lap, being unusually fussy. Suddenly, he grabbed Fenric’s thumb and chomped down with everything his little gums had.

"Ow! Arinya, look!" Fenric shouted, lifting the baby. "He’s biting! Does he have teeth? Is he shifting again?"

My heart jumped into my throat. What?! Already? I quickly crawled over and stuck my finger in Raiden’s mouth, feeling around.

"It’s too soon," I muttered to myself. "It’s way too soon for teeth."

The gums were smooth and pink, but Raiden was drooling like a leaky faucet. I looked at his red eyes—so much like his father’s—and he just gave me a gummy, wet grin.

"No teeth," I sighed, leaning my head against Fenric’s shoulder. "He’s just exploring. But gosh, my heart nearly stopped. I thought he was going to start growling next."

I heard the teething period was another war in itself, and I was not ready for that war.

"He’s a tiger," Fenric said, his pride returning as he tucked the baby against his chest. "He’s probably just practicing his grip."

"He’s a baby," I corrected him, though I smiled. "But who knows? He might already be practicing how to rip things to shred like his father,"

Fenric gave a proud snort, and I laughed.

Noah, holding his daughter, shook his head.

"How can you be so self-centered?"

"Ah, did you just throw one of your traits at me, King?" Fenric retorted quite calmly that one wouldn’t know it was a taunt. "Because it sounded like it,"

I palmed my face. Gosh, they shouldn’t go at it like this. Please, don’t.

And they didn’t. It was peaceful once again, but by the third day, the tent was a wreck.

There were piles of wool napkins waiting to be washed, half-eaten bowls of mashed fruit, and the constant sound of babbling.

I was exhausted. My hair was a mess, and I’m pretty sure I had a milk stain on my shoulder that had been there since yesterday. I need a bath.

But as I watched Fenric sleeping on his back and Raiden sleeping on his chest, Noah lying on his back with Phina standing on his stomach—his hands steadying her tiny, wobbling legs—I realized I wouldn’t trade this disaster for any quiet palace in the world.

Thalor was lying by my side, and next to him, closer to me, was Lyra, sitting with her back pressed against my body, her silver hair catching the light. She wasn’t playing; she was just watching the chaos with those emerald eyes, and I swear I saw her shake her head in disdain. She looked so much like Damar that it hurt, but when she reached out and grabbed my pinky finger, her grip was all her own.

"We’re a mess," I whispered to the room.

"We’re a pack," Noah corrected from the floor, as Phina proceeded to pull a lock of his black hair. "A very, very loud pack."

I laughed. These past three days... It was chaotic, but it was fun nevertheless.

And then, the next day, the work began again. It was time to show my babies to the West Way, while making sure we built the most magnificent palace this beast world had ever seen.

Let’s get to work.