Chapter 83: Celebration
It was the opposite of what Ayra thought. Because as soon as the young boys had opened their mouths to sing, it was chaos.
They were completely off key. None of them could possibly carry a tone at all. They all sang in the worst ways possible, their voices sounding worse each passing minute.
Ayra was speechless. Struggling to hold in her laughter, she simply sat there staring at them in disbelief. The boys were just trying their best to keep the music going but their tones were off.
The instruments weren’t helping matters at all. Rai was looking back from time to time, trying to keep them in check with his eyes. But it wasn’t helping.
It kept getting worse and Ayra couldn’t help but smile.
It got too bad that they abruptly came to a stop as Rai turned and stared at them. "You all can’t sing at all."
"You too. Aren’t you the leader? We’re doing what you taught us," another said.
"I didn’t teach you that," he defended.
They kept bickering and forgot that they were supposed to be singing while Ayra sat there staring at them in disbelief. She was holding back the growing laughter.
Soon, Commander Lynn came to send them off from their performance as Rai turned and stared at Ayra. "We’ll perform again later! We are not ready!" He said as they all stepped off stage, still arguing.
The next was a ceremonial of all of them handing in their gifts. And in return, each group would have their leader or someone carry the cub and lift her while they gave their blessings.
Ayra sat there with the cub in her arms. Smiling as she watched the beastmen approach one by one.
Some warriors arrived with heavy pork meat. Placing it before her as they stared at the cub.
"We hope you eat a lot!" They chorused as Ayra slowly nodded. She guessed these beastmen were bent on feeding her till she was fat and healthy!
After, one of them carried the cub gently in his arms. As he carried the cub, Ayra could visibly see the fear in his hands. His hands were almost shaky as he struggled to hold onto the cub.
"Careful! Don’t scare the baby!"
"Easy!"
"Let me see the cub too."
Ayra smiled as she watched these beastmen who were supposed to be wild getting all curious and goofy around her and the cub.
They lifted the cub while they placed their blessings. And after that, they moved to the next set of warriors. All bringing forth their gifts while lifting the cub and handing their blessings.
It had gotten to the turn of the young beastmen. They came in groups, happily and enthusiastically bringing forth what they believed Ayra and the cub would most definitely like.
Rai, Kan and his group had come with butterflies in a can, a lot of flowers, pretty stones and pebbles and some rare pretty feathers they had picked up.
They brought it to Ayra as Rai stepped in front with a smile. "Little Ally will love the pebbles this time! They’re fresh!"
Ayra smiled with a nod. "Thanks."
"Can I carry her?" Rai stretched out his hands enthusiastically.
Kan came forward as well, stretching his hands. "No, let me carry!"
"No, I want to." And so the bickering proceeded again on who would carry the cub to lift it. The beastmen shook their heads while staring at them while some smiled.
Commander Lynn approached and took the cub. He stood before Ayra as he lifted the cub himself.
The young beastmen frowned with a pout as they folded their arms.
"You’re not even young again," Rai said as Commander Lynn cast him a cold glare.
"Doing or not?" He asked.
The young beastmen passed down their blessings as Ayra smiled. Her eyes met with Commander Lynn who was standing before her. She smiled while stared at him, and she couldn’t help but catch the flush through his face. He immediately almost looked away while keeping it cool.
Ayra couldn’t help but wonder if he was getting shy about it or what.
The next group of teens kept arriving until they had gotten to the elders. They arrived with their usual gifting pattern.
The elders had made more animal carvings for toys. "We made more for the little one to play with."
Ayra smiled. "I see.. wouldn’t they be too much for the little one? Can she play with all of them?" Ayra asked with a smile.
An elder told the fox, "I told you we’re making too many animal carvings."
But the elderly fox insisted, "It’s just right. We’re also making for the future cubs that the female will bring forth for us!"
"..."
Ayra was speechless as she stared. She didn’t know if she was to smile but she did anyway.
"Yes yes," the elders agreed.
"She will bring forth more fun."
"Ten even," one said.
"Or fifty more cubs for us!" Another agreed as they all nodded in agreement.
But Ayra stared at these elders speechless. She simply had no words to the amount they were expressing before her.
Fifty? Was she making an army?!
They brought soft fur clothing and blankets for both the mother and cub.
"We were free so we made all these for the female. More warm clothing for the female and cub!" One said.
"Don’t worry female. We’ll make all the clothing for you in our tribe! And we’ll make use of high quality materials for making the clothing and blankets for you and the cubs!"
Ayra smiled as she caught the plural "cubs" they had used at the end. She smiled as she stared at the clothing they had brought forth. It really was high quality that she couldn’t help but smile in appreciation.
"They’re so beautiful... Thanks a lot," she smiled as she stared up at them. She guessed she doesn’t have to wait for her system to decide it’s time to change clothing.
The elders nodded happily and proudly after seeing that the female loved their gifts.