[CHAPTER 6.1: THE HUMAN AND THE PANTHER]
Could this be the end of her...? No, no... She doesn't want to die here! Not in this stupid world of beastmen!
"Lord Gaharu! News from the border, Satria and his troops had successfully captured the Moro's general!"
Sora stepped in to report to Gaharu the news. As he watched Bella who was struggling to free herself from the torture, his heart ached for her. Sora clenched his hands into tight fists, feeling his own claws pierced into his palms. What did Lady Bella do that she had to be treated that way? However, no one in the Ra tribe dares to question the lord or even dares to talk back at him. Sora chose not to anger his lord. 
When Gaharu heard the news, he pulled Bella by her hair and let her head out of the water. She coughed out water from her throat and nostrils. 
"Consider yourself lucky, female. Go back to your chamber and I shall see you again in a few days. Behave." Gaharu let out a low growl next to her ear. He then let go of his grip on Bella's hair and stood up. He walked out without looking back anymore. Seeing Bella without nothing on, Sora only lowered his head as he too, headed out following Gaharu. He wanted to say something to her, but he couldn't. It wasn't his place to say or do anything.
Bella was still coughing. She pushed herself up as her hand reached over to the silk clothes that had fallen into the water when Gaharu tried to drown her just now.
"Motherfucker..." She cursed, "I hope you rot in hell!!"
No, I hope you die very soon! 
*****
The whole army camps were burnt down. Carcasses of the Ra armies could be seen all over the place. Satria, the first officer in charge of the Ra army camp in the east, was badly wounded. He did not expect that capturing the Moro's general was all a set up. Before he knew it, he was stabbed from behind and all his troops outside the camp were slaughtered-- by that one beast.
Satria used all what's left of his strength to push his body forward as his hand tried to reach for the sword on the cold ground. Before his hand could even touch the sword, a foot stomped on his hand and immediately broke his bones. He was already in so much pain yet not a single groan escape his mouth. 
"You did not actually think that you could take me in so easily, did you? Foolish tiger." An airy cold voice spoke. 
Hearing that, Satria gazed up. Satria was so angry but he couldn't say a word. He coughed out blood and his eyes could only glare hatefully at the pale beastman in black leather armor, wearing a black leather mask covering his mouth and nose. The Moro general had his sword pointed down at Satria's face. Satria could not move. The Moro's blades are poisonous. All it need is one cut, and the poison can paralyze a beast in just seconds. Satria had been stabbed several times and lost a lot of blood. He no longer had the strength to even stand up.
"Leave him," Another cold and airy voice sounded, "Let him live to tell this to Gaharu."
"Yes, Lord Tayen." The masked beastman bowed his head to someone who was standing not far. Satria's eyes were starting to blur, he could not see clearly who it was. But that name...
"Young cub, tell your lord that unless he wishes to be the only tiger left, he better not cross the border. This is Moro's territory." Tayen, a pale looking handsome man with long straight hair that reaches his waist, crouched down as he directed those words to Satria.
"My venom alone can kill a hundred of you tigers. So do not even think of trying to conquer my territory."
*****
"Suria, where is Sora?"
Bella noticed that Sora was nowhere to be seen. Normally he would show up every time she comes out of her chamber. But she couldn't find him today.
"General Sora had left the palace with Lord Gaharu yesterday evening, my lady." Suria replied to Bella.
"I see..." Bella sighed in disappointment.
"Never mind, I'll just wander around on my own."
Since Sora was no longer around, it's probably a good chance for her to look for a way to escape the palace without anyone's notice. Bella wandered around a path that she never took before, wondering where that path would lead her. The more she walked, the brighter the path became. She started to think that she had probably found her way out. She then reached a cave room that was very spacious and there was a wide hole on the cave wall, like a window, just like the one in her chamber.
"Is this the other side of the palace?" She mumbled alone. She glanced around the spacious cave room decorated in white clothes and white ornaments. When Bella turned around, Abnaki stood there behind her, holding something covered with white cloth in his hands. His eyes were wide as he stared at Bella, who suddenly entered his room. But he didn't say anything.
Bella stared back at the dark skinned beastman in white robe, also confused.
"Abnaki, right? I'm sorry, I was wandering around and I guess I got lost."
Abnaki took a step backwards when Bella stepped forward to talk to him. He clearly disliked her and was uncomfortable having her there, but he didn't say a word. He placed the thing he was carrying in his hands onto one of the altars there before turning back at Bella.
"My lady," he said, "you should not wander around by yourself. If you need anything, you can just ask the servants to get it for you."
"So, is this your room or something?" Bella asked.
"Yes, my lady, so you should not be here. Let me show you your way back. If you ever need me, you can always find me at the shrine." Abnaki said again, gesturing Bella to walk out with him.
"But, I don't know where the shrine is."
"I shall walk you there and then walk you back to your chamber."
Abnaki was as tall as Sora, his muscular body was visible even under that white robe he was wearing. Petite Bella was having trouble catching up with his steps so she ended up running behind him. When Abnaki noticed this, he slowed down.
Bella let out a smile behind him. Even though he seemed to dislike her since the first time they met, he did not show any disrespect or prejudice towards her. He spoke with manners although his voice sounded cold and emotionless. 
But every time she almost catched up with his pace, he would take a huge step forward so that there would be a distance between them. It was as if he did not want her to get too close to him.
"Auch!"
The animal skin boots that she was wearing were quite big for her size, and the cave floor was rough and uneven. So when she walked too fast, Bella accidentally stumbled over a small rock and hurt her knee when she fell.
"My lady, are you hurt?" Abnaki immediately came over to check on her.
"It's nothing, it's just a scratch..."
Abnaki placed his hand above Bella's bleeding knee and in just seconds, the bleeding stopped. The opened cut clamped close and just like that, her knee was healed.
"What..." Bella's jaw dropped open. Her mind recalled the scene where Gaharu and Garuda were fighting each other by the river bank on her first day in the beastmen world. Does this mean that the beastmen have superpowers??
"It is a healer's ability, my lady. All panthers are born with the ability of healing and some, necromancer's ability." As if could already guess what she was going to ask, Abnaki explained about the situation.
"I see... So, do other clans have superpowers too?"
"Su... You mean special abilities? Well, eagles and foxes have special abilities. That is why their clans were annihilated."
"But, I've seen fire coming out of Gaharu's hands... Is that a special ability of his?"
"We are not allowed to question Lord Gaharu's ability."
Gosh, this world is a lot more confusing than I thought.
These beastmen may seem like archaic humans, living in caves and such, but they also seem to be quite advanced and skilled in tool making, judging from their attire and the weapons they have. They have already developed the ability to make blades, swords, spears, and arrows. They even know war strategies and dictatorships. They developed innovative technology such as fabric and silk making, although some of them still wear animal skin. Some even use pigments to decorate their bodies and faces. And then they have special abilities and all? Just what the hell?
Bella sighed long. She should have taken an archeology course or historiography instead of a graphic design course. Everything she had learned in college was now completely useless. Just how in the world can she possibly survive here in this goddamned world of beastmen? She shook her head at her own silly thoughts.
Or perhaps she should just see it this way-- this world is entirely different from the world she came from.
"...My lady?" Seeing Bella lost in her thoughts, Abnaki called out.
"Yes?" Bella lifted her face and her eyes met with his emerald green orbs. The color of his eyes was mesmerizing and seemed full of mystery.
"Let me show you the way to the shrine," Abnaki said as he helped her up. He let go of his hands immediately after Bella had stood up, and continued to walk in front of her.
"Abnaki, right?"
"Yes."
"You're nice."
"Hm."
Bella smiled again as she stared at his back. It seemed like every other beastman here was a lot nicer than Gaharu. He's such a bastard.
*****
Satria was saved and was taken to the nearest Ra army camp on the east side to be treated. Sora requested to stay so Gaharu made his way back to the Tiger Palace.
He strode into the palace and went straight to find Bella but she wasn't in her chamber. So he went down to look for her in the hot spring but he couldn't find her there. He then went to the garden at the top of the palace but he couldn't find her there either. Gaharu started to feel anxious when he couldn't find her anywhere. 
"Where is Bella?" Gaharu questioned the servants.
"Lady Bella is at the shrine, my lord." One of the servants answered.
"What is she doing there?"
"Lady Bella has been making offerings to the shrine these days, for the sake of the tribe."
Gaharu raised an eyebrow after hearing that. Bella? Offerings? For the tribe? He thought she would run away after he had treated her so badly that day. He worried that she would hate him because of that incident. Worried? Me? No, I just haven't had my fun with her.
Although that's what he said to himself, Gaharu couldn't deny that he felt uneasy when he thought Bella would run away from him. Gaharu went to his chamber without saying anything. Maybe he should just wait for her in their chamber, he thought.
When Bella returned from the shrine, she was shocked to find Gaharu sleeping on the stone bed of her room. She was also terrified at the same time. What if he tries to kill her again? Bella's eyes scanned around the room. There were pieces of metal plates on the floor. That tiger must have taken off his armor and threw them all over the place before went to sleep. What a typical human male stereotype. Bella quietly scoffed in disbelief.
Gaharu was purring in his deep sleep. He seemed tired that he didn't hear Bella walking in. Bella stood by the entrance for a long time, thinking what she should do.
Maybe... Maybe she should behave like how he wanted her to. That way she can earn his trust and maybe...
"Gaharu..." Bella called out softly.
There was no response from him. Bella approached him and stretched out her hand to stroke his arm gently. His purring sound became louder. A gentle smile appeared on Bella's face and the look in her eyes softened, to which she herself didn't realize it. Inexplicably, she found herself captivated by his handsome sleeping face. He looked tamed and relaxed when his eyes were closed. She then stroked his hair, somehow feeling like petting her mother's old cat, Chase, who also had the same color fur as Gaharu's hair. That damned cat... It died a few years ago due to old age. She didn't miss the cat after it had died, and she surely didn't miss it now. However, seeing Gaharu somehow reminded her of Chase... That damned old cat. Bella accidentally let out a small scoff as her hand stroking Gaharu's wavy locks. It felt just like Chase's fur. Thick and coarse. How nostalgic. 
Gaharu opened his lazy eyes and gazed at her emotionlessly. He looked dazed.
"Bella...?" He finally responded and his eyes sparkled. He sat up and held her hands.
"Have you eaten?" He asked, "Let us have a meal together. I am hungry."
Bella blinked several times. He was being cute all of a sudden. Does this tiger have bipolar?
Without waiting for her to answer, Gaharu took Bella's hand and pulled her out of the chamber and they went to the dining hall.
Bella didn't eat much or say much during the meal time. And obediently followed Gaharu back to their chamber after they had finished their meal.
"Come, Bella." Gaharu patted the stone bed gesturing Bella to sit beside him. What the fuck is he doing? Is he trying to talk me into mating with him again? 
"Why, so you can try to kill me again?" Oh shit, I shouldn't provoke him again! 
Bella mentally slapped herself. She glanced at Gaharu, whose face had already darkened, and Bella knew she'd be dead for sure if she didn't do something...
"Bella..." Gaharu patted the stone bed once more. Bella gulped before went to sit next to him. Just to be safe, she reached out her hand, using her fingertip to stroke his muscular arm in a seducing way hoping to lighten his mood up a bit. Men are all the same. They're easily tempted, she thought. These beastmen are no different. Bella thought he would react but surprisingly, he didn't.
As soon as Bella sat down, Gaharu pulled something out of the folds of his shirt. It was a tiger claw pendant with a red fabric string.
"This is something important to me. Now I am giving it to you." He said as he put it on her neck.
"... Why?"
Without replying to her, Gaharu came closer and his hand gently touched the side of her face. Bella thought he was going to kiss her, so she quickly looked away to the side. It appeared to him that she was being shy, so he clasped the back of her head and pulled her face towards himself. Their foreheads and noses touched. Bella was about to freak out but when she realized Gaharu's eyes were shut tight, she too, closed her eyes.
They stayed that way for quite a while. Bella could feel their breathings become one, then a warm comfort bloomed in her. She felt at ease and all of a sudden, it felt like nothing else mattered.
It somehow felt like an apology from him. 
Bella only opened her eyes when she felt Gaharu pulling away from her.
"Never take it off." He said, referring to the tiger claw pendant he had put on her.
*****
Bella was twisting and writhing as she inhaled the fresh air of the morning. The sun was soothing and the fresh scent of flowers and moist forest filled her lungs.
What a great feeling to start the day, she thought.
She had woken up early to go to the garden at the top of the palace and had left Gaharu alone in the chamber. He was sleeping soundly, which was rare. Last night he didn't do anything perverted like he normally would. He only asked about her world and listened to her talking until he fell asleep.
Did something happen? He seemed a bit down last night. Strange. He must be bipolar.
"You are sure early."
Bella turned around to find Gaharu standing behind her. The sun was casting its shine on his smooth olive skin, his skin was clean without that black pigment he usually had on his face, he also didn't have that red headband he used to tie around his forehead today, and his striking golden orange hair looked shining under the bright morning sun. He was shirtless. His long tail wrapped around his waist like a furry belt just above his black pants. 
Without his armor and tiger skin clothes, his strong built muscular body looked so sexy that Bella's nose almost bleed. His thin chest hair was golden orange and when Gaharu raised one hand to block his eyes from the sun, Bella's eyes caught the sight of his golden orange armpit hair. She tried not to laugh. Funny, the color of his eyebrows and eyelashes were black. Bella's gaze trailed from his toned abs down to the little hair below his navel. She blushed at the sight of his bulging underneath those pants. She averted her gaze instantly. Although he was obnoxious, unpredictable, and very much dangerous, she could not deny how gorgeous and sexy he was.
Bella plucked some plants that smelled like peppermint, although it doesn't look like one. She discovered it several days ago. She chewed on it and gave some to Gaharu. The plant tasted minty and sweet.
"You never failed to amaze me, Bella," he said, "I never knew this plant was edible." He said as he too, chewed on the plant.
"Does this plant have a name?" She asked, "If it doesn't, then I'm going to name it Pudina from now on."
Gaharu's lips formed a faint smile as he stayed quiet. Bella noticed his smile, it wasn't obvious, but he did smile. 
Bella also found a twig that can be used as a toothbrush. Like a Miswak twig. She even taught Gaharu how to use it. They spent their morning together at the garden, Bella discovered some spices that she thought she could use to add flavors to the meat. She also found some plants that looked like potatoes, whether or not they were potatoes, she wasn't sure.
"I can hand these over to Suria later," she mumbled alone. She then looked around for more spices when she noticed Gaharu was staring blankly at the sky. He seemed low-spirited for some unknown reason.
"Gaharu?"
She silently stared at his sorrowful look from the side and wondered what was on his mind that so painful for him to forget. Bella went to his side and patted his arm. She wanted to pat his shoulder like friends normally do, but he was so tall she had to raise her hand a little higher in order to reach his shoulder and she was a little lazy to lift her arm. So she decided to just pat his arm. 
Gaharu gazed down at her. Staring at her under the sun, he couldn't help but admire her beauty. She was nothing like the females here. Her eyes were big, her lashes long and curly, and her black irises were sparkly. Her long black hair was straight and shiny. Her nose was adorably small, her lips were reddish and plumpy smooth. Her skin was so fair that one can see the veins underneath those skin of hers. Her scent was very different, she exuded an out of this world fragrance that no other female here had. She was so different, so beautiful, and so...
"Auch! What the hell, Gaharu?!" Bella wanted to punch him in the face when he suddenly bent down and bit her on the neck. But she restrained herself from doing so.
"You are very beautiful." He said as he walked past her and left the garden.
Bella blushed. She turned around and stared at his back until he was gone.
"What is wrong with him today?!"
*****
"Abnaki, I've found these and I think they can be placed here." Bella handed the mild fragrance flowers that she plucked from the garden to Abnaki. After she left the garden, she went to the shrine to find him.
"Thank you, my lady."
"You learned fast."
Abnaki lowered his head slightly, a faint smile appeared on his face. Yesterday Bella had taught him how to express gratitude or politeness, in response to something done or given. She also taught the servants how and when to use the words 'sorry' and 'excuse me'. He realized she was more educated and civilized than beastmen. She even taught the servants to soak the meat in sea water before cooking it so that the meat would taste better. Perhaps her world was really very different than here?
Bella was busy placing the flowers into the clay vases to put on the altars of the shrine. These past few days she's been spending time here and she learned quite a lot about the beastmen culture. They believe in the existence of gods, like the wind god, or sun god, sort of, but they don't worship gods but instead, they worship their ancestors. They believe that when beastmen die, they become one of the warrior gods and will always watch over their descendants, aid them in the battlefield. They also believe that their ancestors would answer their prayers, and would give them signs like in their dreams or through the weather change like sudden rain, or typhoon.
Not all beastmen can dream. And those who can dream are said to have strong intuition and wisdom. That's why the ones considered wise are mostly engaged in shrine activities rather than holding weapons. 
"Oops..."
Bella was busy arranging the flower vases she didn't see Abnaki who was kneeling to pick up one of the flowers she had dropped. She accidentally stumbled over Abnaki and fell on top of him. The flowers scattered around and one of the vases broke. Abnaki caught her by her waist and his body immediately tensed up. He realized they were too close to each other. 
"Sorry, I didn't..." Bella stuttered. 
Her eyes met with his, her hands were on his broad muscular chest and his hands were on her hips. Both of their breathings paused for a moment and Bella's face immediately reddened in awkwardness. There was sweat streaming down Abnaki's chiseled jawline and his sexy Adam's apple bobbed.
"Apologies, my lady. I should not have let you do such work, it is my job to look after the shrine." Abnaki uttered with his head bowed. He quickly got up and kept his distance.
"It's alright. My bad, I didn't see you there." Bella apologized as well before wanting to clean up the mess she made.
"The servants will take care of it, my lady."
"You're right. I... I'll leave you to it, then. See you tomorrow, Abnaki."
Abnaki gave Bella a smile as he watched her stepping out of the shrine. He drew in a breath and exhaled long after she left.
He felt a tingling warmth in his stomach.
*****
Bella was having her 'alone' time in her private bathroom. She had her long hair in a loose bun as she soaked herself into the hot spring pool filled with flower petals. Feeling bored, she started to sing a song that her mom used to sing when she was a kid. It was an old song, Truly Madly Deeply by Savage Garden. The song used to be quite popular back in her mother's days. She only knows how to sing the chorus. Her singing voice echoed throughout the cave room.
"What a beautiful voice you have."
"Waaaarghh...!!"
Bella wailed and almost drowned herself when she realized Gaharu was there next to her. In the water. Butt naked!
"Just what the fuck do you think you're doing!? Get the fuck out!!" She yelled, covering her bare breasts with both her hands.
"Spending time with you, of course," he replied nonchalantly, "this is comfortable. Although the heat here is not." He said again.
"You're such a pervert!"
"Bella, wait." Gaharu called out when Bella reached for her clothes. He quickly pulled her back into the water when she was about to leave. Bella fell on his lap and her body tensed. She was sure her hand had unintentionally grazed over his genital when she fell but she immediately shrugged the feeling off.
Gaharu's body also tensed up. His jaw clenched and his hands slowly crawled around Bella's waist. Bella's face turned bright red when she realized that her breasts were flattened against Gaharu's firm muscular chest.
Bella could feel his hardness against her thigh and she started to freak out. She began to squirm in fear of what could be next.
"Gaharu... I swear I'll cut your dick off if...!"
Gaharu clasped the back of her head and pulled her into his embrace.
"Just stay still, Bella." His voice was husky and deep, as if suppressing the boiling heat inside him.
It was an awkward silence for Bella as she remained stiff like a statue in his embrace. His harsh breathing slowed down after a while and he pushed himself away, just enough to take a good look at her crimson face. 
"I believe we have soaked enough," he said with a smile before letting her go, "it is mealtime."
Bella was confused. Is this the Gaharu that she knew? He didn't take advantage of her and didn't do anything perverted like he normally would. Did he hurt his head or something?
*****
Bella woke up feeling cold. She looked around and couldn't find Gaharu. When Gaharu was sleeping beside her, it felt warm and cozy. She could sleep comfortably thanks to his warmth. 
"My lady." Suria's voice could be heard from outside the chamber.
"Oh, come in, Suria," Bella said, "good morning."
"Good morning, my lady. Did you sleep well?" Suria brought in a wooden basin filled with water and a clean cloth. She also brought in the teeth-cleaning twig Bella had handed to her yesterday. Bella had requested to have these things to be brought in for her every morning so she can wash her face and brush her teeth.
"Not bad," Bella replied with a smile, "um... Where's Gaharu?"
"Lord Gaharu had gone to the barrack on the east side, my lady."
"Oh, when will he be back?"
"I am not sure, my lady."
Bella let out a sigh. For the past few days she and Gaharu were on such a good term that she didn't hate him as much as she did before. He had been listening to her babbling about her life and such. He can be such a good listener sometimes. He seemed to have a lot of interest in her world as well. He would ask a lot of things regarding her life as a human.
I guess cats really are curious beings, huh? Bella giggled at her own thoughts.
*****
The corner of his lips curved into a devilish smirk. Blood flowing down from his right arm down to his curved sword in his hand, yet he didn't show any reaction to the pain of having his arm slashed. Carcasses of the Moro armies lying on the ground surrounded him. He had fought for days and had killed the whole troops of a thousand of beastmen singlehandedly, however, he was too reckless. He had underestimated the Moro.
The poison from a Moro's blade had caused his right arm to starting to numb.
"What an arrogant beast you are, Gaharu. How dare you come here alone and challenge the Moro?! Do you have a death wish?"