The Ugly Duckling Of The Tiger Tribe-Chapter 146: Life must be sweeter on that side

I reached out, my palm flat against Damar’s side. The scales were smooth and cool, like polished marble, but I could feel the ripple of immense power just beneath the surface.

There’s a reason why it’s so hard that it can carve rocks.

Fenric was unusually quiet. He looked at Damar’s massive form with a newfound respect—his ruby eyes wide as he took in the sheer scale of the silver serpent.

I wonder if big animals look at bigger animals and say, "You’re the boss now." Just because they’re bigger.

Hm, if it’s the law of the jungle, I don’t think so. Wild animals like tigers, lions, and leopards aren’t cowards, even if their opponent happens to be ten times their size.

They would rather overpower the opponent with numbers than foolishly take it on by themselves and lose. It’s not a cowardly move, it’s called tactical. Even animals know that.

Those animals have that much pride that they can’t afford to lose.

But what I’m seeing in Fenric’s eyes right now is indeed respect.

"Up you go," Fenric murmured behind me.

He didn’t wait for me to struggle. He stepped in close, his large hands gripping my waist with effortless strength, and hoisted me upward as if I weighed nothing at all. I scrambled onto the thick, muscular curve of

Damar’s neck, settling into the groove just behind his head. Once I was secure, Fenric moved with a sudden, agile grace, hopping on behind me. Even with the heavy pack on his back, he balanced himself perfectly, his weight settling firmly as he braced his legs against the iridescent scales.

Before we got too far from the shore, I leaned forward, my palm flat against the cool, marble-smooth surface of Damar’s side.

"Damar," I whispered, feeling the ripple of power beneath my hand. "I hope it’s not too much for you." I was worried that our weight, combined with the load on Fenric’s back, would be an inconvenience, especially with how much he was already doing for us.

He let out a soft, vibrating huff and shook his head—a silent, powerful reassurance that he could carry us forever if he had to.

Then, he started moving.

There was a soft, rhythmic rip as his massive chest sliced through the water’s surface. He kept his upper body arched high out of the water, a silver tower of muscle that ensured the lake never even touched our feet.

I leaned my head back against Fenric’s chest, my fingers digging into the ridges of the scales as the shore began to recede. I loved the view from up here; it felt like we were flying over the dark glass of the water. The cool lake breeze whipped past us, carrying the scent of fresh rain and wild, open spaces. It was exhilarating, a freedom I had only ever dreamed of.

But more than the view, I loved the males who were by my side even now. One carrying me through the depths, and the other holding me steady from behind to make sure I don’t fall by... ’accident’.

As we glided further into the center of the lake, the thick, suffocating fog began to clear. It thinned out in wisps, revealing the far shore with startling clarity under the emerging moon.

The trees on this side were taller, their leaves a vibrant, deep emerald even in the twilight.

’Life must be sweeter on that side.’ 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

The thought ran through my mind all of a sudden after taking in the sight of the lush pasture.

When Damar finally touched the silt of the new bank, I felt a surge of adrenaline. I slid down his side, my boots hitting the soft, unfamiliar earth of a new territory.

Damar began to shift back, the silver coils shrinking and twisting until he stood before me in his human form, breathless and shimmering with lake water. I didn’t wait for him to speak. I threw my arms around his neck, my heart hammering with a joy I hadn’t felt in years.

"We’re out," I breathed against his wet skin, hugging him as I shared this moment of relief. "Damar, we’re finally out."

I looked back at the lake, the other end that was barely visible, words not able to describe how amazing I felt as tears gathered in my eyes.

I was finally away from that side, and officially on the other side of the world.

"Are you okay, Arinya?" Fenric asked, catching the tremor in my voice and I nodded.

"Never felt better."

I turned away from the water, wiping the stray tears from my eyes before they could track through the dried green paste on my cheeks.

Fenric hopped down first and then reached for my waist as Damar lowered his body to help me get down easily.

"Tch, you didn’t lower yourself when I was getting down." He said but Damar’s eyes grinned, as if mocking him.

Fenric reached for my waist and then carried me off Damar’s back.

"How did you enjoy the ride?" He asked and I smiled.

"It was great."

"Better than when you ride me?" He asked and my brain paused for a second.

What kind of riding could he mean?

With that grin on his lips, I’d think he was referring to something perverted, but then what if he’s just asking about me riding his beast form?

Gosh, he can be so confusing with his expressions like that.

My eyes went blank and I said,

"Don’t start."

He laughed.

Fenric scanned the treeline, his nostrils flaring in the air, making sure there wasn’t anyone nearby trying to ambush us.

The air here was thick with the scent of damp moss, sweet pine, and something... Ancient?

I can’t put my finger into it but the ground seems a bit... Untainted.

And the greenery around was just so fresh that it almost looked like they were purposely being persevered.

’Even when winter is approaching?’ I wondered but could never figure it out.

"The ground is different," Damar noted, looking down at where his bare feet sank into the rich, dark soil.

He looked back at me, his silver hair plastered to his forehead.

"It’s better," I said, my voice finally finding its strength. I reached for his face and slid his hair behind his ear, smiling at him. "Signs of a better beginning, I guess."

He blushed, turning his face away.

Haha, he’s shy. How cute.

We didn’t move immediately. We stood there for a long moment, a small circle of three on the edge of a vast, unknown world. The towering trees seemed to lean in, whispering in a language I didn’t yet understand, but it didn’t feel like a threat. It felt like an invitation.

Fenric finally broke the silence, adjusting the heavy pack on his shoulders with a grunt.

"We should find a spot we can sleep in before the moon gets any higher." He said, adjusting the carrier on his back. "And also find food."

"Yeah."

We started walking, moving deeper into the emerald shadows. Every step felt like a victory. The grass was tall and soft, cushioning our footfalls, and the further we went, the more the silence of the lake was replaced by the nighttime chorus of the forest—the chirp of strange insects and the distant, melodic call of birds I’d never heard before.

I reached out, catching Fenric’s hand with my left and Damar’s with my right. I led them forward, my heart finally beating with a rhythm that wasn’t dictated by fear.

’Life must be sweeter on this side.’

This time, I had said it to myself as a hope.