Chapter 72: Better Option
Ayra had stretched herself out, ready to go and take a bath. She couldn’t remember the last time she had a nice bath, so she knew she needed it to clean up.
While she tucked the cub in properly, Rai and his peers made their way into the house.
"Morning!" Rai excitedly called out as he walked in to keep the pile of flowers he had picked up that day. "I freshly got these. Although there were some bees around fighting for it with me, but don’t worry, I was stronger." He smiled as he dropped the bouquet on the side.
"..."
Ayra stared, blinking as she said, "At this rate I might as well open a garden in my room," she said as she watched the others approach the cub.
"Wow, did her tail grow a bit?"
"I think so too. And her hands and legs also increased a bit!" Kan gasped as they stared in admiration of the little one.
Ayra didn’t notice much but she wouldn’t be too surprised if the cub grew a bit. Because after all, this world was unpredictable and based on what the system had told her, she wouldn’t be surprised if cubs grew faster.
While they admired the cub, Ayra saw it as an opportunity to go and take her bath. She turned to the enthusiastic youth.
"Hey, would you like to look after the little one while I go wash up real quick?" She asked with a smile.
"..."
The kids paused and stared at each other and then stared at Ayra. There was shock on their faces.
At first, Ayra got confused wondering why they stared at her like that. But then Kan asked.
"Are you asking us to look after her??" Kan asked as she slowly nodded.
"Yes. Just for a short while. Okay?" She smiled.
They instantly got anxious as they stared at the little one.
"Oh! Sure! We will make sure we look after her real well!"
"Yes! We’ll not move an inch at all and neither shall we blink! We will keep staring at her until you come back!"
"Thank you for trusting us! We’ll take care of Ally well!" Rai said. They all burst out on top of their voice pledging how cautious they’d be.
Ayra simply smiled with a nod as she said, "Oh okay.. thanks a lot." She patted Rai by the head as she said, "And.. be careful okay?"
The enthusiastic youth nodded profusely as they watched Ayra step out of the house with another piece of clothing she was to change into.
With Ayra gone, the boys all turned to the cub in unison. Their big eyes rested on Ally who was awake and staring at them.
"What do we do now?"
"Stare at her."
"Oh."
"What then?"
"I don’t know."
"Can I carry her?" Kan asked.
"No!" Rai refused. "Don’t carry her. What if you drop her?"
"But I’ll be careful," Kan insisted.
"Still a no."
A few minutes later. They still sat around, staring back at the cub as though the two were in some staring contest or something.
"Can I carry her now?" Kan asked.
"No," Rai was firm.
---
As soon as Ayra stepped out of her house, she caught sight of the endless gifts lining up just outside her entrance.
Fruits, shiny stones, flowers, pretty feathers. She took a moment as she paused and stared at them for a while. "Quite generous I see," she smiled as she looked up to meet the gaze of the guards on her.
Five leopard beastmen were standing at the entrance keeping guard as instructed by the dragon lord. As soon as they saw her, they stood alert, staring at her.
"Where are you going?"
"Are you not going to sleep in more?"
"You should take some rest..."
They all said as Ayra raised an eyebrow. Was she under house arrest or what?
"Don’t worry. I’m fine.. I just want to go get some bath," she explained.
The leopards stared at each other and then stared at her. "Is it safe?"
"..."
Ayra didn’t know what to say. "Ah.. yes.. it should be...?"
"Maybe you should wait for the Fox Lord to arrive before you take your bath," one said.
"Yes. Because the waters might be a dangerous place for you. So maybe you should...." Another wanted to recommend.
"No. Don’t worry, I’m okay," she smiled as she made her way off, as though she was running away.
"But.."
She heard them call from behind but she had already gone a distance, praying that these crazy men wouldn’t come running after her.
She was literally going to take a bath! Not go fight in a contaminated zone or something.
Ayra was soon free and she made her way through the tribe. But that didn’t stop the tribe members from all pausing to stare at her.
"It’s the female..."
Ayra was moving through the pathways as everyone paused what they were doing to stare at her.
The warriors who were training had paused and turned to look in her direction, the youths who were playing their ball games had also stopped and stared at her. The elders as well stared.
"It’s the female. Is she already out?"
"Why is she out?"
"Shouldn’t she be resting inside?"
Ayra flashed a smile in their direction and casually waved at them. To her surprise, they all smiled and waved back at her.
She turned as she continued moving, hoping to not get caught by any of them. But she guessed that was impossible because as she moved further away from the sight of these beastmen staring at her, she saw three boys standing before her.
Three zebra beastmen staring curiously at her. Three young boys with black and white zebra ears and striped black and white animal skin clothing as well.
Ayra paused as she blinked at them. "Hello...?"
The three of them looked like triplets. At least that was what Ayra deduced as they smiled at her at the same time.
"Hello!" The three of them expressed happily at the same time!
"Where are you going?"
Ayra hesitated as she looked around. "Eh, to take a bath?"
The three of them stared at each other and then stared up at her again. "Let’s take you there! We know a better stream!"