WORLD OF BEASTS: A Girl For The Beasts

Anindira's Outburst

Chapter 012: Anindira's Outburst

Their conversation continued. Halvir pointed at things around them one by one—twigs, leaves, soil, fire—saying their names in a flat yet patient voice. Anindira listened attentively, occasionally nodding and imitating the pronunciation as best she could. Eventually, the rabbit meat over the fire was fully cooked and ready to eat.

It tasted bland.

Even so, Anindira ate it without much complaint. Besides, in a situation like this, she had no room to be spoiled or picky about food.

"Bland," Anindira said after taking a small bite and chewing slowly. "Even so, it doesn't taste bad. It's just a shame that it's tough. My jaw is getting sore."

She lifted the piece of meat she had torn off and showed it to Halvir while grimacing slightly.

The rabbit meat had a distinctive natural flavor—clean and simple—mixed with the scent of firewood and the leaves that had partially burned while wrapping it. The smell of smoke still clung to her fingers.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Halvir said while watching her, "but seeing you eat so well means you like the meat I cooked for you. That's good. At least you won't go hungry."

Anindira couldn't finish her portion of the rabbit. Her stomach was already too full. Without saying much, Halvir wrapped the leftover meat in leaves and tied it with strips of tree bark fiber so it would be easy to carry.

Not long afterward, the young man picked Anindira up again and continued their journey.

Anindira was startled. She had assumed he would take her back up into the trees like before.

"Um... Kak Halvir... put me down!" she exclaimed awkwardly.

Because she felt they had become slightly more familiar with each other, Anindira no longer addressed him as "Sir." Instead, she reflexively called him Kak, older brother, because Halvir did not feel much older than her own brother, Raffa, who was twenty-one years old.

"Um, please put me down..." she pleaded again, her face turning red. "If we're going to walk, I can walk by myself..."

"Calm down!" Halvir called out firmly, though his tone remained controlled. "The journey is still long. If I don't carry you, it will take much longer. That doesn't matter to me, but it could be bad for you. This way is faster. We can't stay in the forest for too long... it's extremely dangerous!"

Anindira could only remain silent. She didn't understand Halvir's long explanation, but his tone and expression were clear enough.

In the end, she gave up and accepted it.

Not only because of the language barrier, but also because Halvir's strength far exceeded her own. Resisting would be pointless.

The journey continued.

Step after step passed while Anindira chattered endlessly about whatever crossed her mind. Halvir responded from time to time, though the conversation often felt one-sided.

Before they realized it, the sky had begun to darken.

Halvir looked up, his eyes sweeping across the forest canopy as if searching for something. When he found it, he leaped—from one branch to another—with lightness and precision while still carrying Anindira.

Eventually, they arrived at the top of a tall tree that was relatively safe.

There, Halvir finally set Anindira down.

"Urgh..."

Anindira stretched her stiff body. She rolled her shoulders and then patted her thighs.

"Eumh, my muscles are so tense. Even though I was the one being carried. Kak Halvir was the one doing the walking, but somehow I'm still unbelievably tired."

"You're tired?"

Concern filled Halvir's voice. He watched Anindira straighten her legs and massage her own thighs while grimacing.

Throughout the journey, Anindira had never fully understood Halvir's words. However, they had hardly stopped talking—or rather, Anindira had hardly stopped talking. Ever since she was little, she had been the most talkative member of her family.

"Bring your legs over here!" Halvir called out as he sat cross-legged a short distance away. "Come here. I'll massage them and loosen those stiff muscles."

"Kak, what are you doing?!" Anindira shrieked in surprise when Halvir placed one of her legs across his lap. "Don't, Kak! I'm fine..."

"You know I don't understand a single thing you're saying," Halvir said firmly. "Be still. If something happens to you in a place like this, it will be troublesome. I wouldn't know what to do if that happened."

"I don't know what you're saying..." Anindira's voice weakened. "But Kak Halvir, it feels like you're upset... Why? Am I causing trouble?"

Halvir frowned.

He saw the sadness in Anindira's expression and heard the tremor in her voice. He could sense the pressure building up inside her once again.

"I'm honestly frustrated with myself right now," Halvir finally said. "I'm a *Sapphire, yet seeing you like this makes me feel useless. Other than your name—Anindira—I know nothing about you. Which clan do you belong to? Which village are you from? What happened that left you wandering alone near the border of the Forbidden Forest? Being unable to communicate properly is incredibly frustrating!"

Anindira chose to remain silent.

She let Halvir massage her leg, abandoning her intention to pull it away by force. Halvir's expression clearly showed sincere concern, not anger directed at her.

"Anindira," Halvir called in a gentler tone.

"Yes, Kak Halvir..."

Halvir fell silent for a moment before offering a faint smile.

"At least now you answer when I call your name."

WHOOOSH—

A sudden night wind blew across the treetop, brushing against Anindira's exposed skin. She immediately shivered.

"Huft."

Halvir sighed when he saw her.

"I don't know what your parents were thinking when they gave you clothes that thin. Or... maybe they didn't give them to you? I don't know what kind of fabric you're wearing, but it's incredibly thin."

Halvir opened the bundle containing the leftover rabbit meat and took out several fruits he had picked along the way.

"Eat first. Then rest. Then sleep."

Some time passed.

They finished their simple dinner. Anindira was beginning to grow sleepy. Physical and mental exhaustion gnawed at her. Her eyelids felt heavy.

Just as she was about to lie down, Halvir stopped her.

Suddenly, Halvir stood up and began removing his clothes.

Anindira's drowsy eyes immediately widened.

Standing before her was a muscular young man—completely naked—without the slightest hesitation.

"KAK HALVIR!" Anindira screamed, shocked and furious.

Fear struck her instantly.

The memory of the man who had harassed her during their first meeting surged back into her mind, mixing with panic.

"Stay away from me!" Anindira shrieked, her eyes wide as tears began to gather. "Whatever you're thinking, don't even try it! Even though you've helped me all this time, I won't hesitate to make an extreme decision!"

Halvir was stunned.

A deep frown formed on his forehead.

"What's wrong with you now?!" he shouted in confusion. "What's gotten into you?! What's bothering you?!"

"I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE SAYING!" Anindira screamed hysterically. "Even if you were trying to seduce me, I still wouldn't understand!"

Halvir's eyes widened.

He held his breath, restraining emotions that were on the verge of exploding.

"Anindira!" he called out loudly, yet with remarkable control. "Calm yourself. I don't understand what's happening. We're both struggling to communicate. You suddenly flew into a rage like this... I genuinely have no idea what's upsetting you."