Ari

Chapter 16: Fabric and Dresses Production

Four years had already passed since the boar incident and I turned 13 years old.

Gurion was getting bigger though he still couldn't transform into his passive form until three more years later.

We became closer as I visit him often. He always clings to me and is always hesitant to part with me when it's time for me to go.

Meanwhile, the fabric production was in full swing, especially when other tribes also started to negotiate with us on trading our fabrics for food, salt, rare herbs and tools upon learning about our fabric production.

I designed a backless cloak just for myself so that it will never be torn again like before. I also wore an undergarment that doesn't hinder my tail when it suddenly pops out after my transformation, it was made from the combination of cotton and silk fabric with silk lace ribbon tied on each side as a waist strap to hold it in place.

I also decided to make a loose backless knee length dress with a thick leather belt designed with a wooden clutch to keep it in place and remove easily as I please underneath my long cloak that covers my clothing.

The preparation for the courtship ritual was almost done despite the busyness of the tribe in the fabric production and dress making for the female participants of the upcoming ritual.

Lindie was one of the participants this year and was expected to be wed to one of the best-looking male in the tribe named Dillon.

He has honey-blond short curly hair while his eyes are emerald green. He has the most charming and gentle personality among the tribe despite being a lion beastman. He looks more like a sheep in a lion's clothing. His body was smaller than the average body of a lion beastman, but I am sure that he will grow more in time.

Older brother Orson, who was also one of the best-looking male in the tribe will also participate despite having no interest in any female who shall participate in the ritual.

He has chocolate brown hair and light gray eyes. Though he never approached me because of the hostility of his father towards me, he still made sure to greet me with a smile every time we met each other.

A male has a freedom to choose a female participant at the start of the ritual, then they will be presented hand in hand in front of the altar for the beastman goddess at a scheduled time designated by the elders for three consecutive days.

If a male shall fail to choose a prospective partner before the scheduled time allotted to them; they shall be forfeited from proceeding with the ritual and from joining the succeeding rituals for at least three years despite any reason.

Lindie never apologized to me for the incident four years ago. She acted as if I didn't exist and sometimes she was extremely hostile to me. It was as if she was the victim of a plot of a failed murder attempt.

Even so, I still prepared a special silk dress for her to wear on her wedding day since our mom was no longer capable of sewing good clothing for her first step into adulthood.

Every female was envious of her when my father presented her the wedding dress a week before the event along with the coat and a few simple dresses she can use regularly.

The other females were also provided with new dresses sewn by the elders made from silk fabrics.

I asked my father not to reveal that I was the one who made the dresses for Lindie, though most of the elders knew the truth since it took me two years to sew them all.

During the first day of the ritual, I decided to play around the hidden spring I found while hunting two years ago.

It was a little bit far from the tribe that it could be tiring to walk by land. Luckily I have wings so it is easy for me to travel by air.

I intentionally left my mask and removed my cloak and changed into a more comfortable clothes since I am planning to go alone and I did not think that I would be able to bump into any male around the location I was heading to.

I brought my cloak, but I placed it inside my bag and took my bow and tied my quiver on my waist in case something unexpected happened.

I ran at the back side of the tribal territory that has the highest fence installed since it was the area with minimal guards. The fence was intentionally made high and only winged beasts like me were able to pass through.

Upon reaching the high fence, I briefly looked around checking for the assigned guards.

I didn't see any guards, but I saw a familiar face looking at me at a close distance.

It was Dillon, I gestured asking for him to keep it a secret before flying away in a haste. I didn't even know if he recognized me or not.

He looked stunned as if he was asking himself who I was, but couldn't recall.

I bet it won't be too long till my father realizes my disappearance.

I just hoped that Dillon didn't mistake me for a thief or a spy of the other tribes because if he did, I would be in big trouble once I got back to the tribe.

I was wearing a 2 piece bathing suit that I recently made using silk and cotton fabric. My body hasn't fully grown yet, but my bosom size was not that small compared to an average female beastman so I had to make a top with cotton made pads on the front to prevent my teat from sticking out. It is a halter top tied around the nape and at the lower back just below my wings. The bottom one is a bikini like design tied on both sides, then I wrapped my body with a big shawl made from cotton fabric draping it like a halter dress decorated with floral shaped tints made from various colored herbs and flowers.