Ari

Chapter 20: The Tangled Beastman

While flying, I landed back in the forest upon spotting a tree similar to a rubber tree.

Upon checking, I confirmed that it really is a rubber tree. I wanted to take some of its resin, but I didn't bring any container with me and just tied a handkerchief on its branch to mark it, hoping no one will remove it till I go back to fetch some resin. Then, I decided to walk back to familiarize myself with the area.

While walking for a while, I suddenly smelled something familiar nearby, but the smell was faint and it's coming from the cliff just a few meters away.

I flew straight to the cliff to check if my intuition was correct.

Upon checking, I saw an idiot... I mean a male beastman tangled up on the vines just a few meters below the cliff smiling at me as if nothing wrong was going on.

"Ari?! Can you help me out for a bit please?" He asked and smiled at me while he was currently tangled up hanging upside down.

It was Dillon, who was supposed to be wed to my sister, but he suddenly backed out from the courtship participation saying he was eyeing a female youngling who belongs to a different tribe causing my sister to get furious at me.

I wore my gloves and I took the bone dagger tied at his waist and started to cut the vines to untangle him without saying a word.

His smile didn't fade at least until I cut the last vine tied to his legs that caused him to fall on the ground. He fell down, hitting his head first. Luckily, the soil was soft on the area and a beastman's head was sturdy enough for a small impact like that.

"Ouch! Are you still angry at me? *sigh*" He complained while rubbing his head.

"Did you intentionally back out from the ritual to drive a wedge between me and my sister? Weren't you supposed to wed my sister? Why did you suddenly back out?!" I angrily nagged while thinking of my sister's angry face.

"What are you saying? Lindie? When did I ever say I'll wed Lindie? I was also surprised that she suddenly got angry at you at that time after confirming to me why I backed out from the ceremony." He asked with a confused face while shaking off the dirt on his hair and body and removing the remaining vines tangled on his body.

"I don't know. Everybody was talking about it, especially the elders ever since we were all young. Isn't it just natural for you to wed the most beautiful female on the tribe since you are the best-looking beastman among our peers? Also, there are only four females who will participate in this year's courtship ritual including Lindie. The other two females were already wed previously and already had a few spouses so we thought you would prefer Lindie since Chephirah, your cousin, already has a male she loved so dearly, my older brother Orson." I answered while returning back his bone knife.

Judging from the marks and bruises on his body, it looks like he was tied up for at least an hour or two.

"I saw you flew over the fence earlier, while wearing your mask so I followed you from behind trying to catch up, but I lost your track as our distance grew farther away since you were flying too fast. I even fell on the cliff. I tried to grab on a vine, but got tangled up as a result. I tried shouting for help, but no one was responding. Luckily you found me. *Sigh* Such a relief, I thought I'd be stocked here forever. Thank you so much for saving me." He explained while sighing in relief that he smiled at me.

He looked exhausted and the sun was starting to set so I offered to fly him back to the tribe, though it will be the first time that I will carry a beastman while flying. I used to carry the heavy prey we caught during every hunt to help the group lessen their load since it is harder to travel by foot because of the uneven slopes and the thick forest during spring and summer.

I was thinking of how to fly him back to the tribe when I suddenly remembered the image of the helicopter rescue team that I always saw in shows in my previous life.

The rescuers use a ladder where one of the rescuers and the person to be rescued shall climb to get on the helicopter while in midair. It could be quite dangerous, but I think he still can manage to cling to it till we get back to the tribe.

I asked Dillon to help me find a bunch of long and sturdy vines and a few light, but sturdy tree branches.

It only took him a few minutes to gather the things I asked for so I hurriedly worked on the harness and a ladder using the materials.

"What are you going to do with those materials?" He asked as he tried to walk near me.

I instantly moved away, keeping a distance so he was so confused as if he was not aware of my special condition despite being informed by the elder healer just a few days ago

"Stop moving, I am making a harness and a ladder for you to cling onto when we fly. Also, you are not allowed to approach me arbitrarily. Have you already forgotten that I am allergic to males?" I answered sternly without looking at him.

"Is there really such a thing? You won't be able to take any partners if you really do and it would also be hard to..." He mumbled to himself, making me unable to understand the last part of his words.

"It's up to you if you believe it or not, now help me with this." I replied sternly while pointing him on what he should do.

He was still really confused, but he helped me out on finishing the harness and the ladder obediently.

I checked the quality of the finished product before asking him to put on the harness that is tied to the ladder.

I tried pulling up the ladder while asking if he felt any discomfort.

He said it was fine, so we hurriedly flew back to the tribe before the sun set down to rest.