The Ugly Duckling Of The Tiger Tribe

Chapter 368: One crisis at a time, Arinya

Gram looked genuinely touched. The tension in his old shoulders bled away, replaced by a quiet wonder as he watched the Sheep tribe—creatures that, while not predators, were still much larger than his own kin—treat them with such gentleness.

The ’handshaking’ had broken the ice better than a thousand speeches could have.

As the two tribes began to mingle and head toward the shaded groves of Oakhaven, I felt a familiar cool weight settle against my side.

Damar was still there, the tip of his tail occasionally brushing against my calf as we watched the procession. Where did he even learn this habit from?

It reminded me of Thalor, who would never let go of my ankle.

Ah, Thalor. If Damar notices Thalor’s mark right now, how will he react? Certainly not happy, that’s for sure.

Damar was remarkably quiet, even for him, his gaze flitting between the rabbits and the sheep.

"They are safe here, Ari. Just like you wanted," he murmured, his voice thick with a mix of exhaustion and pride. "With them, the farming you want can begin."

"Yes, once they’re well rested. Maybe in a week, I’ll discuss it with them," I said, leaning on him.

I looked at Lyra and then poked her chubby cheek. Cute.

"Ari," Damar called again, and I lifted my head. "I spent the whole journey wondering if I was leading them to their deaths. If there was a danger ahead that I had not accounted for and would not be able to protect them." He confessed softly. "But we made it. I did my best, and my best definitely paid off. Did I... do well?"

My heart did a little soft skip, looking at the eyes that were waiting to be praised.

I watched the vulnerable flicker in those sharp emerald eyes. It was so easy to forget that behind the lethal, silver-scaled hunter was a man who just wanted to know he’d made his partner proud.

Right now is the time to say the lines I had spent hours preparing just for this moment. For the moment where it’s just him and me.

"Damar," I called softly.

I leaned up on my tiptoes, straining just enough to press a lingering kiss against his cool chin—the only part of his face I could reach without dragging him down to my level.

"You did well. You did great, Damar. You brought them home, and you brought yourself back to me. Now... you can finally rest in my arms."

He let out a breath he seemed to have been holding for two months, his shoulders finally dropping as he leaned into my touch. Lyra, apparently deciding her father’s face was the best pillow in the world, let out a tiny, soft snore against his neck.

"Come on," I whispered, tugging at his hand. "Let’s get you settled. The palace is almost ready, but for tonight, our tent is still our sanctuary. I think Noah and Fenric are already starting the fire for the feast outside."

He looked at our hands locked, and his pale face held a pink, bright flush as he smiled.

"Yes, Ari," he squeezed my hand tight. "I’m... home,"

Those words touched my heart. Yeah, he was home, and unless it’s a family adventuring trip, we were never leaving these walls.

As we walked back toward the main hub of the village, I looked around at the mini great wall.

In maybe a month or two, we should be at half of its level. And while it’s under construction, everyone will be on high alert, so we don’t get ambushed while busy.

One crisis at a time, Arinya, I told myself.

In the center of the village, the atmosphere was electric. The hunt had been successful, and the scent of roasting meat was beginning to drift through the air.

I spotted Noah near one of the large fire pits, laughing as he regaled his returned warriors with some exaggerated tale of his ’royal’ duties.

Then, my eyes drifted toward the side, near one of the newer storage huts. Talia was leaning against a wooden post, her dark hair windblown, watching Solin with a look that was definitely not just ’sister-in-lawly’ curiosity.

Solin was still holding Raiden, looking down at the baby with a soft expression as they went around doing this and that, but every now and then, her gaze would flick back to Talia, knowing she was staring.

Hm, the chemistry really is simmering. I wonder what it’ll explode.

It was a classic Yin and Yang standoff.

The flirtatious black wolf and the stoic now tiger. I couldn’t help but chuckle under my breath.

Good luck, Fenric, I thought. But then again, I feel Fenric will be relieved knowing Solin won’t be looking for me every time since Talia will keep her occupied.

Ah, it reminds me of the time he practically bundled me up and ran away just so Solin wouldn’t talk to me, because he knew his sister’s interest.

I chuckled even more.

"What is funny?" Damar asked, his eyes following my gaze.

"Oh, just... the new family dynamics," I said, squeezing his hand. "It’s been a busy two months, Damar. We have a lot to catch up on. And I don’t just mean the new structure."

I can’t wait to tell him I’ve found a way to mark him, I thought, but then paused, realizing it all had to do with Thalor.

Will he... reject the marking because it’s Thalor’s method?

He won’t, right? Right?

I felt a little uneasy at heart just thinking about Damar’s particular hostility towards Thalor.

We reached our tent, and the familiar scent of home wrapped around us.

"I will put her down," Damar whispered, carefully sliding Lyra onto the soft furs where her siblings were already starting to stir.

I stood by the entrance, watching him. The way he moved, the way he looked at our children—it felt like the missing piece of the puzzle had finally clicked into place.

But as he turned back to me, his eyes traveled down to my boots, and I saw his nostrils flare slightly.

He was a serpent. He could smell anything, and of course, he could smell the sea. He could smell him on the furs.

"Ari," Damar said, his voice dropping into that low, dangerous tone that sounded almost threatening. "There is a scent in this tent. A cold scent that does not belong to the land."