[CHAPTER 7 : THE TIGER AND THE HUMAN]
Bella felt as though a heavy rock had fallen on her. Her chest felt tight, as if her heart was clenched by an invisible hand, and her mind went blank. She did wish him dead before but she didn't actually mean it. The news she had just received felt like an arrow shot through her heart.
"Gaharu, will he... Is he going to be okay?" She stammered. 
"The high priest had left with general Sora last night. Worry not, my lady, high priest will do everything he can to treat the lord. The general has given us orders to look after you, my lady. There will be more guards patrolling outside the palace during night fall and there will also be guards by your side from now on." Sepatu, the antelope beastman explained to Bella.
"As our chieftess, your priority is to help keep the palace organized and safe. Please give us orders, my lady." Sepatu said again.
"Orders...? But, what about Gaharu? Will he be alright?" Bella asked.
"I am afraid I cannot give you any answer now, my lady, as we are not sure. But, worry not."
"What do you mean you're not sure? How bad is his injury?"
"Lady Bella, you must calm down." Suria who was standing beside Bella, spoke softly.
From Sepatu, Bella learned that Gaharu was still unconscious. He had lost so much blood that he may not recover that soon. He was being treated in the east army camp.
Shouldn't she be glad? She hated that tiger, didn't she? Bella was feeling all sorts of emotions within her. Yes, she hated him. But why does her heart ache for him? Why would she worry about Gaharu's condition?
Weeks went by and none of the servants talked about it. Perhaps they did but not in front of Bella. With Gaharu's absence, and the general and the high priest were also not around, Bella made herself busy by managing the servants to do this and that.
She had asked them to clean the whole palace thoroughly every week. Wash every stone floor using water mixed with the juice from fruits that she found with Suria by the river, outside the palace. The fruits she had found looked and smelled exactly like lemons, but they were red and the insides were white. She named the fruits 'lemons'. She even sent out several soldiers to the far side of the unconquered land to fetch sea water to make salt for meat seasoning, which took them eight days for that trip.
Bella had set some 'house rules' where the servants have to keep the palace clean every day. Daily chores like sweeping the floors, washing the clothes, and constantly changing the flowers. She also had the servants replace all the animal skin curtains to white and blue fabrics, and decorated the empty hall at the entrance of the cave palace with ornaments made from dried plants and flowers and fine fabrics, then named the place as 'banquet hall', where events can be held there. Although what kind of event, she had not yet figured out.
Bella even transferred some of the flowers from the garden at the top of the palace to outside, the palace entrance. And told the servants to hang lanterns from the entrance and along every paths outside the palace. The beastmen could see clearly in the dark, but she couldn't. That's why she needed those lanterns to light her way after sunset. She would sometimes go to the river and forest nearby to look for edible plants with Suria.
Bella would once in a while go the shrine and change the flowers there. Abnaki had once told her that the shrine was made to worship a goddess. But Abnaki himself didn't know much about this goddess that his lord worship. It was Gaharu who requested a shrine there but never told him details whatsoever.
That's kinda... strange. 
"What are you making this time, my lady?" Suria questioned when she saw Bella was busy cutting something.
"These are called incense." Bella replied, short.
She had dried some flowers, powdered and then mixed together with tree bark powder and a little water to form a paste, which then cut and dried them into pellets. Her grandma owned a small incense factory, so Bella knew how to make a simple incense.
"Done." Bella smiled in satisfaction. She would ask the servants to burn incense in the shrine and in the palace so the whole place would smell nice.
She also instructed the servants to cook her meal properly using clean utensils and tools. She even taught them some simple recipes like cooking vegetables together with sliced meat. She had made pepper flakes from dried pepper-like blue plants she found by the river and occasionally used it to season her meat.
It has been seven weeks since Bella last heard of Gaharu. She often wondered how things go at the army camp and how Sora and Abnaki were doing. Every time she asked about Gaharu's condition, the servants would only shake their heads at her, and when she asked Sepatu who once in a while returned to the palace to pass out Sora's messages to her, Sepatu would tell her to rest assured that everything was going well and told her not to worry. 
"What a remarkable job, my lady, I am very impressed." The antelope-faced beastman, Sepatu, said as his eyes scanned his surroundings, amazed by the new appearance of the Tiger Palace.
The ceiling of the entrance hall that was now called 'banquet hall', was draped with long white and blue fine fabrics, and on the walls there were vining plants and ornaments on every side. With torches lit everywhere, the banquet hall looked heavenly. The whole place smelled pleasant too.
"By the way, Sepatu, why did you come unannounced?" Bella asked. 
"My lady, I brought news from the east army camp..."
Before Sepatu could finish, two rows of guards outside the palace yelled out,
"Welcome back, Lord Gaharu!"
Bella immediately turned around and her jaw dropped open. Gaharu, as arrogant as ever, strode into the hall, followed by Sora, Abnaki, and several other beastmen soldiers behind him. He was exactly the same as the first time she had met him, exuding a dangerous aura, domineering and full of arrogance. The long red headband around his forehead and the tiger pattern black face paint on the sides of his face made him look like a primitive warrior king.
"... Lord Gaharu had recovered and had successfully conquered the hare forest in such a short time." Sepatu continued. He then turned to Gaharu and bowed his head, "Welcome back, my lord."
"I thought I had come into the wrong palace," Gaharu said with a proud smirk on his face as soon as he became face to face with Bella, "I am back, Bella."
"Gaharu..."
Bella was lost for words. She felt a huge sense of relief in her heart the moment she saw him entering the palace. It felt just like when her mother's pet cat, Chase, that had gone missing for weeks returned home safely. Her mother was so happy that she cried that day. Or was it her that cried...? 
"Are you not going to say anything to me? Not even-" Gaharu's words stopped there when Bella suddenly rushed towards him and wrapped her arms around his waist. She was short, her face flattened against his chest plate with her arms encircled tightly around his waist. She felt his warmth underneath those metal plates armor. Gaharu too, felt warmth blooming in his heart and his lips unconsciously formed a smile.
On the other hand, Sora quickly turned his face to the side, not wanting to stare too long at the sight of Bella's intimate act towards Gaharu. He felt like his heart was pinched and he felt a slight discomfort and annoyance in his chest.
"They told me that you were badly injured..." Bella murmured after a while and loosened her arms to step back to look at Gaharu's face. He was so tall that she had to raise her face up to look at him. In fact, all of the beastmen were so much taller than her. The tallest she had seen so far were Gaharu and Garuda and they were probably more than six feet eight. Being only five feet tall, she could be the shortest adult in this world.
"I am well, can you not see?" Gaharu replied, proudly.
Bella then suggested that Gaharu should use the banquet hall to celebrate another victory and his safe return. Gaharu was so pleased with the idea and demanded that the whole tribe members attend this so-called celebration.
Preparations were made and wooden stools and long tables were placed on both sides of the hall, with one large stone chair placed on a raised platform, like a throne for Gaharu. In the middle, a long thick red fabric was placed from the entrance to the throne, like a red carpet. Bella personally organized the hall setting, with Suria and all the other servants helping her.
The banquet started by sunset. There was a group of female dancers and a group of young looking beastmen performing with wind instruments, drums, and bells in the middle of the hall. Their music wasn't pleasant to Bella's ears, though. They were only noises and had no rhythm. And the dancers were only leaping around and swirling around each other. 
Where did all these people come from? Abnaki had told her before that many of the Ra tribe members lived at the foot of the mountain of Tiger Palace. Still, Bella was surprised to see the hall so crowded. She had never seen them before. From their simple clothing, she assumed they were probably villagers and peasants, though some of them were wearing fine dresses with bead accessories around their necks. Some of them have orange and blonde hair and tails. And other clans of beastmen like antelopes and oxen could also be spotted. Were they from outside the palace? When she walked into the hall with Suria by her side, they all turned heads and looked at her with eyes widened. They were probably wondering who that short and strange looking being was, Bella thought to herself, chuckling. 
When Gaharu walked in shortly after Bella came in, everyone in the hall straightened up and bowed their heads at him, "Hail to our Lord Gaharu!"
Gaharu in his tiger skin armor looking as arrogant as ever, exuding his powerful domineering aura, giving everyone in the hall a sense of respect towards him. Gaharu came forward and sat on the throne. He was fully satisfied with the whole banquet thing that Bella had arranged. He never thought she was capable of so many things. She was certainly interesting, Gaharu thought to himself as he gazed down at Bella amongst the crowd. She was busy chatting with the servant beside her, she didn't notice Gaharu's gaze on her. Gaharu then called out for Bella to stand by his side. When Bella came up to the raised dais and approached him, Gaharu signaled her to come closer so he could whisper in her ear.
"I am really amazed, Bella, with everything that you have done with the palace. How I wish I can see what your world looks like. It must be full of wonder."
Bella responded with a smile as she nodded her head. Wait till you see what I did to the bedroom. She smirked and turned her head back to the crowd.
With Bella standing by her side, Gaharu raised a hand to silence the crowd as he began to speak, 
"Here, I announce that the fox mountain to be named as the Leopard Fortress, and be awarded to General Sora as the new master of the Leopard Fortress."
The crowd cheered for Sora, who was shocked by Gaharu's sudden announcement. He had never expected Gaharu would be so generous as to give him his own land.
"... And the construction of the Great Temple at the foot of this mountain has completed. As to honor our high priest, Abnaki will be head of the Great Temple which serves the great warrior gods of Ra."
The crowd cheered once more. Both Abnaki and Sora came forward to bow at Gaharu. Gaharu also had officially claimed Bella as his female in front of everyone, and appointed Satria as her personal guard and Suria as her personal maid.
That night, the whole tribe ate to their hearts content. Gallons of wine were served to everyone and Bella also tried a few sips of it. The wine tasted a little different from the wine she had drank before in her world. The wine here has a strong fruity smell but it tasted quite bitter and was burning her throat when she gulped it down. A few sips was enough for her to feel tipsy. Shortly after that she had asked Suria and Satria to accompany her back to her chamber.
And when the banquet was finally over, Gaharu went in to look for Bella, who had excused herself right after she finished her meal. She must have gone to the bathroom, he thought, so he went to the hot spring but she wasn't there. When he was about to go up to their chamber, Sora called out to him.
"I am deeply grateful for your generosity, my lord." Sora expressed his gratitude regarding the land he was awarded.
"Brother, you earned it. Besides, the leopard clans need a bigger place to call home. So do the panther clans." Gaharu tapped Sora's shoulder.
"The Leopard Fortress will be your place of defense and security. You are a leopard warrior, it is also your duty to protect your people. Bring along Sepatu with you, he can be a great help in weapon technology."
"Yes, my lord."
Gaharu was about to turn around and leave when he saw Bella walking side by side with Abnaki. They were chatting quite happily and they didn't notice Gaharu's presence. Satria and Suria followed behind Bella. Gaharu just stood there, as if waiting for Bella to notice him. But she was giggling along with Abnaki that she walked past Gaharu without even looking at him.
How could she not see me...? Just look at the size of me! And she could not see me?!
"Lord Gaharu." Satria called out, bowing his head. When the rest heard this, they too, bowed their heads. Except Bella, who doesn't see the need for doing it.
"Abnaki is always occupied with religious rites and ceremonies, I am surprised he makes time for you, Bella." There was a hint of jealousy in Gaharu's eyes as he murmured.
Abnaki's emerald green orbs met with Gaharu's cold glare and he immediately looked down.
"I have other things to attend, so I shall make my leave, my lord, my lady." Abnaki took a step back before turning to leave as soon as Gaharu nodded.
"Bye, Abnaki." Bella waved cheerfully, but Abnaki didn't look back.
"Bye, Abnaki," Gaharu imitated her tone of speaking. Bella tsked as she glared fiercely at Gaharu. Sora widened his eyes in disbelief. Gaharu had never used that tone of voice before. Even Satria and Suria gave each other a questioning look.
"What were you two talking about?"
"Cultures and beliefs."
"Cultures and beliefs, hah!" Gaharu snapped annoyingly and left angrily. Sora pursed his lips tight as his mind tried to figure out the reason for Gaharu's sudden change of behavior. Bella stared at Gaharu's back, shaking her head.
What the hell is wrong with him again?
"My lady, it has been a while." Sora flashed his bright smile at Bella. Yes, it's been a while since he last saw her face. And not a single day passes by without him thinking about her. Now that he saw her again, he felt like she had become even more beautiful than the last time he saw her.
"The palace had changed so much."
"Better now, huh? Hehe..." When Bella giggled, dimples appeared on both her pink cheeks and she looked even prettier. Her smile was so sweet, it could make anyone's heart skip a beat.
"Surely Abnaki too, had changed his opinion about you. You and Abnaki seem close."
They chatted a while as they walked, with Satria and Suria still following behind Bella. Suria was a mere servant who was lucky to have the privilege to serve only one master, to her, a servant should never question anything. But Satria on the other hand, was a young Ra soldier who sees things differently. His purpose now was to look after Lady Bella wholeheartedly. He noticed the way general Sora looked at Bella was very different from how he looked at other females. His gaze was soft and his smile was very different than usual. Even his tone when speaking to her was softer.
"Would you like to join me at night hunting tomorrow, my lady?"
"I do not think it is a good idea, general, Lady Bella has never been to such activity before, it could be a dangerous and frightening experience for her." Satria pointed out.
"I promise that you will be in good hands." Sora said again.
"Hm... Why not? Don't worry, Satria. I don't get scared easily."
Satria pursed his lips tight as he nodded slightly. There was nothing else he could say to that. 
*****
"Cultures and beliefs... What cultures and beliefs that Abnaki knows that I do not? Does she have no sense at all? Should she not feel glad to see me after such a long time? Should she not talk to me more and ask about my wellbeing since I have now returned?" Gaharu was mumbling by himself, slightly stomping his feet as he walked to the chamber. He was so irritated that he didn't want to look at her at all, but regretted it right after he left her there. Yet, he couldn't turn back and show others his soft side. She should be the one who runs after him. Sadly, she did not.
Gaharu stood for a few seconds by the entrance of his chamber. The door curtains were changed to a fine white long fabric, and behind the curtains were two wooden boards to cover the entrance.
"What is this?" Gaharu pushed the center of the wooden boards and the door flung open. Gaharu let out a quiet chuckle. That female even had the servants installed a door to the chamber. He never felt the need to put doors since he wasn't around most of the time.
He stepped in to find the chamber looking absolutely nothing like he had remembered. His eyes scanned the room for a while as his lips twisted into a smile. There was a stone table and wooden stools in the middle of the cave room. He walked past the table, realizing the white curtains were hung in the middle to separate the bed area and the table area.
The spacious room had a modern touch to it, having white fabrics draped by the ceiling to cover the ugly stone cave ceiling, and ruffled white curtains to cover the huge hole window by the wall, there were also ornaments, flowers in vases, and paintings as decorations. There were many torches being lit on all corners so the room was bright. There was a small wooden rack covered with white curtain at the corner, which also wasn't there before. He went to open it and found dresses neatly folded inside. The stone bed near the window was covered with a very thick fabric. Gaharu went to touch it. Fluffy. His eyebrows raised in amusement. Did she sew cottons into the fabric?
He sat on it, it felt soft and comfy on his butt. There were two soft pillows on the bed too. He then laid down and soon fell asleep.
Bella walked in later to find Gaharu already purring. She tiptoed to the wooden rack to change into her night gown. Just when she raised her arms in the middle of taking her clothes off, a pair of big warm hands hugged her from behind, cupping her full round breasts. She shrieked instantly and yelled in anger,
"What the fuck do you think you're doing?" She struggled to get away but her head and arms were still tugged in her clothes.
"I missed you, Bella," Gaharu's husky low voice vibrated against her bare back as he bent down to sniff her skin, "There was not a day without you appearing in my head."
Bella felt all of her hair stood on end when Gaharu started caressing her breasts. It was a feeling she was unfamiliar with. It made her blush, her face hot, and her heart uncomfortable. She slid back into her clothes and pushed herself forward to get away from Gaharu.
"Wait, wait... We humans don't mate just like that. T-There are... There are s-steps that have to be followed." She stammered as she tried to figure out what tricks she can use to avoid mating with him.
"Steps..." Gaharu tilted his head to the side with a questioning look on his face.
"Yes, yes. Steps. You see, humans don't reproduce right away after they meet each other. First, we have to know each other well..."
"We do know each other quite well now, do we not? You have told me a lot about you and your world." Gaharu took one step towards Bella as he said it. It made Bella even nervous.
"True... And, there's more! The next thing is that... Um... We have to hold hands first."
"I held your hands several times, did I not?"
Bella gulped.
"Then slowly, other skin contacts like hugging and... and..."
"I hugged you before, and you also hugged me today."
"And... Kiss."
"Kiss...? What is that?"
Bella blushed. She could not believe what she'd just said. She felt like a damn fool.
"Tell me, Bella, what is this kiss you are talking about?" Gaharu approached her, bending over slightly so that he could see her face better.
Ah... This silly female.
The corner of his lips curved into a smirk. She looked so shy and nervous, she didn't dare to even look at him. From the bright torches light, he could see her reddish cheeks clearly even though she was trying to hide it from him. Gaharu clasped her face and forced her to face him. His eyes narrowed down to the claw pendant that he gave her. ...She didn't take it off. He smiled thinking how adorably small her face was in his hand. Her big black eyes were so sparkly, they looked like stars in the night sky.
"What is a kiss?" He asked again, gently. His voice was low and husky, it made Bella gulped once more. She was probably used to his aggressive behavior before this, so it felt so mushy when he spoke to her gently. She was fluttered by the way he looked at her. Why is the look in his eyes so different now? Bella couldn't look back at him. 
"It's a... It's when two people's lips... t-touching..."
"Like this?" Gaharu nonchalantly bent down to kiss her lips. It wasn't an actual kiss, though. He just touched his lips with hers. His breath smelled like the fruity wine from the banquet dinner, it was warm and slightly intoxicating.
Bella's eyelashes trembled in shock. She was lost for words. Then Gaharu pecked on her lips once more. His kiss was as light as a feather, gently touching her red lips. 
"That's..."
"Your lips felt nice." He said as he pecked her lips once again with his eyes closed. He covered her lips with his longer this time. He felt a different kind of warmth in his chest. Something he never felt before.
"I think I understand now." He pulled away just to say those words, before leaning down again to kiss her lips. His big hand cupped the back of her head as he pressed his lips slightly harder against hers. Her lips were so soft and sweet, he couldn't get enough of it. 
Bella was dumbfounded. Her mind was blank. Her heart was pounding so fast, it almost stopped beating. Her face was so hot that she thought her face could melt.
"So, what is the next step?" He asked with a devilish smirk on his handsome face.
When Gaharu finally let go of her lips, Bella clamped her face with both her hands, opened her pretty little mouth, and screamed to the highest note she could reach, 
"YAAAAAAAAAAAAARGHHH......!!!"
She ran out of the room with her hands still clamping her face. Gaharu, who was shocked by her screaming, covered his sensitive ears as he watched her running away. After that, he let out a loud scoff in disbelief.
"What was that?"
*****
Satria ran after Bella when he saw her running out from her chamber. She clumsily stumbled over and almost tripped but her wrist was caught by Satria.
"My lady, is something wrong?"
"What just happened...? What the fuck just happened?!" Bella's face was crimson red, and her chest heaving.
"Are you hurt, Lady Bella?" Satria concernedly asked again.
Bella took a few deep breaths and had calmed down a bit. She turned her face towards Satria who seemed worried. She then shook her head.
"I'm... I'm fine."
Satria pursed his lips, his eyebrows furrowed.
"My lady, I may seem very young but I consider myself a potential soldier. Lord Gaharu ordered me to look after you, so I will protect you with my life. So do not hesitate..."
"I understand, Satria. It's not that I don't take you seriously, but I really am fine. I was just... I just... Well, it's nothing, really." Bella let out a weak smile.
"Then, what is wrong, my lady? What made you run out screaming like that?"
"It's just... It's just between Gaharu and me, so there's nothing to be worried about."
When she mentioned Lord Gaharu, Satria, as if thought of something, coughed and lowered his head.
"You are the lord's one and only female, so it is very normal that he wants... Ehem." Satria said while looking awkward and shy. He was still very young, and such topic was sensitive to him as he never had a female before.
"Don't say like it's a normal thing to do! My existence is not for reproducing only!"
"Is it not?"
"Ugh..." Bella groaned, shaking her head. How can she explain to him that women in her world aren't just baby poopers?
"Bella, what are you doing there? Come." Gaharu who came out to look for Bella, called out, beckoning her.
"I will see you in the morning, my lady. Have a good rest." Satria instantly bowed his head to leave, "Permission to leave, my lord."
Satria left after Gaharu gave a single nod. Bella, still standing there, not wanting to go back to the chamber.
"Tsk."
Gaharu was impatient, he went to Bella and swiftly took her off her feet and carried her princess style in his arms.
"Let me down!"
"Your actions are very unpredictable and can be quite confusing sometimes. Are all humans like this?"
"Uh..." Bella lowered her face when Gaharu's eyes met with hers. She didn't dare to look into his golden orbs. She felt shy all of the sudden.
"I will not force you if you do not want to mate, I will give you time. I am contented just by having you by my side."
His calm tone showed his strong attitude which forbade her from denying him. His words caused her heart to pound hard again. Blood rushed up her cheeks but Bella stayed quiet in his arms and let him carry her back into their room. He placed her onto the bed and then he too, laid next to her.
"Bella?" Gaharu leaned close to her, calling her name gently with his low and husky voice. Bella didn't reply, she only gazed back at him, her eyes blinked nervously, waiting for Gaharu to say something.
"I know... I have been... terrible. But after all I did, you are still here. You did not leave even when you had the chance. Why...?" He asked, his eyes kept glancing down at the tiger claw pendant she was wearing. A scene from his past flashed briefly in his mind.
Yes. Why? Why didn't I leave?
Bella kept quiet. Gaharu waited for a while and realized she didn't want to answer his question. So he asked again, 
"Did you paint those?" He pointed at the paintings of tall city buildings scenery on the wall. The paintings looked strange, yet amazingly unique and interesting. Bella was good in art and drawing, and she used to love painting when she had the time. She studied digital art and wanted to be an illustrator someday. 
"Yeah. Why?"
"What are those?"
"That's called an apartment building, where I live. I mean, used to live. The world where I came from."
Gaharu stretched his muscles and made himself comfortable lying beside Bella, his arms crossed and his face turned at her, with eyes gleaming with curiosity, 
"Tell me more."
*****