I Become the Baby Tiger in a Beast Taming World Chapter 2: Hungry Like a Tiger

Raw at. YUCK!

What is this even? What is this pile of raw, red at in front of ? That can’t be good. I do like a Wagyu beef tartare when I can get it, but just raw at?

I utter a "mrrp" in indignation.

My beast tar girl shakes her head, baffled. "This is what tigers eat. Aren’t you hungry?"

Fla broil it, then I’ll be hungry.

Although my stomach has been growling too much to appreciate my surroundings, I do sll a fire nearby. I pant and growl, jerking my head in the direction of a roaring fire inside of what seems to be the girl’s ho. No grownups around. Does she live by herself? Why? Why would a child just live by herself? Maybe she’s an orphan?

I can hardly ask, though, can I?

And I can’t ask for my food to be cooked. Tigers don’t do that. Raw at it is. My body is probably designed for it.

I open my mouth and take a bite. My human side wants to spit it out, but my tiger cub self absolutely can’t get enough! The flavor. The atiness. Keala even seasoned it with sothing I’ve never tasted.

"That’s it," Kaline says, excited.

I let out a little "mrrrp" with my mouth full. Beggars can’t be choosers. Besides, my parents taught not to be rude when soone gives you sothing and you’re a guest. Unless you have a food allergy, which I don’t.

While I eat, I try to rember what I know about the ga. I played it casually, for fun. I didn’t pay a lot of attention to the details. Playing it gave a brain break.

In Tanglewood, beast taming is the na of the ga. In the ga lore, a thousand years ago, the place was originally overrun with beasts, making like hard for the humans and other races such as elves, phoenixes, dragons, fairies, dwarves, trolls, goblins, and gnos. So, everyone got together and made a beast-taming pact.

Beast tars are like sports stars or celebrities here. Sothing to aspire to. That would explain why a preteen girl decided to claim the first tiger she saw.

I’m missing a whole chunk of backstory, though. Must be the heart attack, dying, disorientation, and waking up as a tiger. I’ll rember soon, I hope.

Kaline just sits beside while I eat. "I added sothing," she says.

Hmmm?

What could she add?

I sniff the piles of raw at and see a digital display once I do.

[Luck Potion Added. Increases Luck.]

Well, I can use all the luck I can get!

With a little growl of contentnt, I devour my dinner until I feel like my stomach is going to balloon. Why did I eat so much?

I rub up against her and let out a little purr of gratitude.

"You liked it."

My heart just lts at her words. How can I feel so complete and fulfilled, making her happy? I didn’t even seek my fiancé’s approval this much. Maybe that was part of the problem. It’s appalling to realize that I may be a better animal than I ever was a human.

"I’m so happy. Now that you’re fed, we can really do so incredible things!"

Her enthusiasm bubbles up, and makes feel light. This bond is unbelievable. I experience everything along with her.

"Mrrrp?"

That’s all I can offer in the way of conversation or questions. I also feel certain urges, and I rush off for a little privacy in the bathroom, which consists of a yard outside her yurt. When I’m ready, I head back to her yurt, but sothing catches my attention big ti.

I didn’t notice it before, but the shadow of a majestic villa covers the hut. It sprawls out on the edge of an equatorial vine jungle like so wealthy person’s rainforest retreat in Brazil back ho. I guess I have to stop thinking of Earth as ho. And what is this villa?

Who are these three people striding out of the villa, looking like the British royals? They’re all giants. When they spy , they stop dead and scrutinize .

"Unclaid beast," a deep-voiced man says. "Very young. A goodly prospect, is he not? You can take him on, Vedette."

I give a mighty growl, the mightiest I can muster. Don’t these people know I belong to Kaline?

Backing away, I rotate my body and flee across the grass toward the yurt.

"Now you scared Blaze!"

Kaline is visibly outraged, her feet in what look like Uggs moving rapidly to carry her to my side. She kneels beside and places her hand on my head.

[Tranquility Charm In Effect.]

Instantly, my whole body relaxes, and I put my head on my paws, lying down in the grass.

Vedette, one of the females, tries to coax . "Co on, Blaze."

Co on? Nothing doing, lady! I belong to whover I say I belong to. And I belong to Kaline. Finders keepers. Sucks to be you.

A full-throated growl bursts from my throat, and I snap my jaws at Vedette, who reminds entirely too much of my ex-fiancee.

"He’s mine, Big Sister," Kaline says in a defiant voice.

"You’re only a child," Vedette counters.

Hello? Parental-type man? Soone needs to stick up for Kaline here. My parents would have told Vedette that if she wants a beast, go find her own. Go work for what you want. I hope Mr. Rich Guy does the sa.

He surprises by proclaiming, "Ten is typically too young to be a beast tar, but not unheard of. I can see that there does appear to be a bond between Kaline and Blaze. However, the bond needs to be tested."

Kaline stomps her foot, exhibiting ten-year-old behavior for the first ti. "No fair!"

"Entirely fair," Vedette says with a superior big sister air. "Rules are rules. Do we go to the Testing Arena, Father?"

Testing Arena. That’s one of the minigas in the video ga. AKA the animal battlegrounds.

I let out another full-throated growl, but this one cos out like a battle cry. Let’s bring it on!