I don’t think there’s anyone who ever forced or rather, coaxed into resting in my past life as Stephanie.
Hm, since there was no one who looked after , I guess it was only fair that no one noticed how hard I was pushing myself.
Hello, wallflower here. No one’s going to look at the wallflower growing on the walls and say, ’Ah, you grew all over the place. You should stop for now and continue so other ti.’
It’s not done that way.
As soone who had never been noticed, my efforts only ended up choking as I faced the bitter reality that I was born into.
So now, habit Damar stroked my hair gently, insisting that I rest, my heart just can’t help but feel so much joy and warmth.
Even the real Arinya would’ve felt it. The imnse care and love this beastman had for her, for .
Anyway, giving into the gentle strokes and the gentle beat of Damar’s heart, as well as the coolness of his body—very important on a hot day like this—I slept.
I closed my eyes for just a few seconds, as he advised and the next mont, I was fast asleep.
I must’ve been very exhausted.
Physically? No, but ntally and emotionally, yes. Very much so.
I finally got to breathe a sigh of relief after nurous years of living in oppression and with depression.
But before that sigh of relief escaped my lips, a jungle of wild emotions grew in my heart, thick and tall, suffocating and trapping so I wouldn’t be able to find my way out.
And that jungle gave a struggle that would’ve normally taken all my life to face, but thanks to the ones by my side, the ones who spoke up on my behalf and cleared paths for , I was able to scale through it.
A little tear drop slid from my eye in my sleep but just as it was about to fall, Damar caught it.
He looked at the teardrop and then licked it.
Whatever he had in his mind, I did not know but he definitely did not like the idea of shedding tears when it was not tears of pleasure or tears of joy.
I doubt anyone would be comfortable with the one they cared about shedding tears in their sleep.
Damar held tight, his tail coiled underneath us and acting like a cushion for while my head rested on his chest.
In my sleep, I heard him whisper,
"Don’t worry, Ari. I’m right here."
It was comforting and soothing, just the words I wanted to hear.
No long speech, and no grand promises, just... I’m right here.
By the ti Fenric got back, he found sleeping, and I don’t know what they both decided on, but Fenric began moving front and back, like he was on a mission.
The situation felt blurry to , because each ti I woke up to the sound of their voices, I would see Fenric’s back leaving the cave and then Damar stroking my hair, as if knowing I was waking up and luring back into sleep.
He succeeded each ti and before I knew it, it was dark. A quick rest turned into sothing else. And do you know what woke up finally? It was hunger.
My stomach was completely empty; it was a miracle that I was able to stay without food.
Maybe it was because I was a beast? Or maybe it was thanks to Arinya’s changed body system that had been starved so many tis, causing her to sotis forget she has to eat.
I clutched my stomach and moaned, mumbling lightly,
"Hungry,"
"Arinya, are you awake?" I heard Fenric’s voice and opened my eyes.
It’s dark.
That was the first thing I thought of when I opened my eyes but God bless my night vision as a beast.
I saw Fenric sitting before and behind , still holding was Damar.
But it seed like he was asleep.
His eyes were closed and... Ah, his eyelashes were quite long. I don’t know if to say he has a pretty face or a handso face at this point but I’m glad I can see his sleeping face.
I heard snakes can adapt to anyplace, that’s why they are wanderers.
Well, I’m just glad that it seems he has no problem sleeping after changing places.
Then, my nose caught on to the rich sll of salt. It wriggled a bit and then I asked in a silent voice, not wanting to wake Damar
"Fenric, why do I sll so much salt?"
"Ah, that’s because I used the thod you introduced for the at we have." He said, and I looked at the stacked at in the corner.
He had rubbed all of them with salt, planning to preserve them that way.
I was surprised.
We hadn’t even confird the experint yet and he was already doing it with all of our food supply. Does he trust that much?
Does he not worry that it might not work?
As if reading the expression on my face, Fenric laughed and then inched closer,
"Arinya has no reason to lie." He said and I nearly gasped, but my lips only parted, no words coming out. "And plus, you’re so smart that I believe the things you say will work out just as you say they will."
"Do... Do you not worry I might make a mistake?" I asked, my heart thumping with a conflicted feeling. "What if all the at goes to waste cause we can’t eat it anymore?"
"What does it matter?" He shrugged his shoulders. "I trust you." Those words... "And even if they go to waste then that’s that. We can just catch more later. What’s important is that you tried your best for the good of not just you but everyone else. Your efforts, I can see them clearly enough for not to bla you for your failures, so cheer up." He smiled. "I won’t let anyone bla you for anything."
Tears welled up in my eyes. This kind of recognition... Why didn’t I get it sooner?
Why... Was it only coming now?
I wanted to cry, but I sucked the tears back in and smiled instead.
"Thank you, Fenric," I said, trying to seem as cheerful as I could. "Thank you for saying that."
Fenric looked at , a small smile on his lips and then he nodded.
"Nice," he reached his hand for and patted my head. "Now, shall we get started?"
I paused and then looked at him, curious.
"Get started with what?"
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