The next morning, Iris and Caspian promptly set off for home. Iris was very exhausted during the entire trip home. The room they had stayed in the night before had been very sparsely furnished. In fact, the only furnishings in the room had been a stone platform that served as a bed.
When they arrived back at the Arctic Wolf Tribe's mountain, Caspian scooped Iris up into his arms and carefully carried her to their home. He brought her to their bedroom and laid her in their bed.
"You should get some rest. I'm going to go catch us some dinner. You haven't had a proper meal in too long."
With that, Caspian kissed Iris gently on the forehead and tucked the animal hide blankets up to her chin. With one last tender look, he went off to hunt. Though it was still afternoon, Iris truly was exhausted and quickly fell asleep.
When Iris next awoke it was to Caspian bringing her a hot bowl of soup. While not exactly new or unique, Caspian's specialty was comforting. The market was quite exciting to check out but it was exhausting, and there was just something about a hot meal and sleeping in a comfortable bed that makes one feel at home.
Seeing Iris eating his food with vigor, Caspian felt happy. It was well worth the effort to hunt fresh prey and tend to a fire long enough for the soup to cook, so long as he could watch his mate enjoying his efforts.
"There's more if you're still hungry."
Iris nodded to show she'd like another bowl, and Caspian was quick to fetch it for her. However, this time, instead of simply watching her eat quietly, he decided to broach the topic of Iris's odd behavior.
They were home now, so it was safe enough for them to talk about such sensitive topics. No one in the entire tribe was stronger than Caspian, so he was confident that even if someone was bold enough to eavesdrop, he alone would be sufficient to protect Iris.
With a gentle look, Caspian set his hand on Iris's thigh. He used an even and calm voice as he began.
"Iris, I care for you quite a bit. We are mates now, so our fates are the same. However, you seem to have many secrets. You know many things that very few others know about. Sometimes even things that witch doctors and tribe leaders aren't aware of. I wish you'd share your troubles with me."
Iris immediately stopped eating as her heart raced and she began to panic. She wasn't sure how much she could trust those in this world, even Caspian. How could she even begin to explain her world, the system, or anything else for that matter?
Caspian searched Iris's face, desperate to see the same trust he had in her reflected back at him. However, when he only found guilt, remorse, and uncertainty in her eyes; his face darkened. Was she still not willing to trust him even despite their mate bond? Had he not done enough to prove himself capable?
As he was about to apologize for asking, choosing not to force her to open up and risk losing her; Iris spoke up
"I love you, Caspian, and I want to be honest with you. I'm just not sure where to start or even what is safe to say and to who."
Iris couldn't even bring herself to look Caspian in the eye anymore. Caspian sighed, hating that he couldn't put her heart at ease. As a male, he felt it was his duty to ensure his female felt safe and happy. If she couldn't even freely be herself then wasn't he failing?
"I don't want to force you to say anything you don't feel you can. I just feel unsure how to protect you and support you when I don't even know anything."
Iris felt as if her heart was in her throat. Watching this strong and capable beast man look so vulnerable and unsure was too much. He'd done nothing but attend to her every desire since she met him. He asked for so little and gave so much, how could she sit here and deny him this?
"Alright, I'll tell you what, just ask me what you want to know. I'll do my best to answer them."
Caspian looked carefully at Iris, unsure of himself. However, he knew that he had to take the chance Iris was offering him.
"What tribe are you from? How did you learn to read and write? What about fire and how to cook?"
Iris didn't answer for a bit, still nervous about how Caspian would react. Then, she struggled with how to phrase things so that he could understand. How does one even describe being from a different world where common sense and knowledge differs so vastly? Deciding to bite the bullet, Iris decided to just answer and let Caspian ask further questions to clarify when necessary.
"If by tribes you mean like how you are an Arctic wolf, then I am a human. Where I come from everyone knows how to read, write, and cook. It is something we are taught from a young age."
Caspian had never heard of humans before. He wasn't even sure what such a beast looked like. As for an entire tribe knowing how to read, write, and being so unafraid of fire as to regularly cook with it? That was a rather baffling idea to Caspian.
Faced with such information that was difficult to wrap his mind around, Caspian was speechless for quite some time. Iris was left hanging as she waited for his response. Would he believe her? Would he be angry? She had no idea what to expect but she certainly was still concerned that he would one day hear something and grow to fear her or even hate her.
When Caspian finally found the words to express his confusion and shock, he had so many more questions.
"What does a human look like? Can you transform into one for me? I know females rarely transform into their beast forms after maturing but I've just never heard of or seen a human before."
Caspian barely took a breath before asking even more questions. It felt like the more answers he had, the more his curiosity about his little mate was piqued.
"Why does your tribe teach everyone to read and write? Here only those in power and religious figures usually learn how to do so. Doesn't having everyone learn diminish the power of those in charge? Where is your tribe from? How come I haven't heard of such an amazing tribe?"
Iris began to feel a headache coming on as the questions just kept piling up. It was a bit overwhelming to be asked so many in a row by someone with seemingly undying enthusiasm for the topic.
"Alright, alright, that's enough questions for now. If you don't give me time to answer, I'll end up forgetting what you were even asking before I can answer."
Caspian turned red from embarrassment and nodded to show he understood. He then patiently waited for Iris to answer, reminding Iris of a child waiting to open gifts on Christmas.
"Alright, let's see here. You wanted to know what humans look like, right?"
Caspian eagerly nodded as he waited expectantly. He was expecting Iris to get up in order to transform in front of him so when she showed no signs of getting up he was surprised. Iris gestured to herself amusedly as she stated,
"This is what humans look like. We can't transform into a beast form. Humans are pretty much like apes but less hairy. Humans' ability to use tools and knowledge to survive means we don't need a beast form."
Iris peeked at Caspian's face as she said this, feeling more nervous as she went on.
"By having everyone learn to read and write it is easier to communicate and share knowledge. As humans see knowledge as their strength rather than raw power, they teach everyone. The ones who are smarter and have leadership skills usually end up in power, I guess. Kind of like how beast men use their strength to decide things."
The more Iris explained, the more confused Caspian felt. If a tribe did not rely on strength and did not have a beast form, then that tribe would be too weak to survive in this world. An awakened celestial beast with elemental abilities was the pride of any tribe. Without a beast form could humans even become stronger like other beasts?
Iris was very weary of Caspian's reaction already, but she had already come so far. Perhaps it was best that she just admit aloud the part she was afraid to mention.
"The reason you haven't heard of humans before is because they aren't from here. One day I was home and then the next I awoke in this world full of beast men. I am the only human in this beast world as far as I know."
With the truth finally stated out in the open, Iris was on tenterhooks as she waited for Caspian's response.
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This series is now complete on Patreon!
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Discontinued: Ann, Argon, Austin J., Byloderus, Care, Catherine W., Cheyenne O., Chong Y., Christen F., Cindy S., Clara, CooCoo C., Courtney H., Dagoon320, David Z., Denise G., Doc., Dreamer, Emma B., Fictional F., GeminiDragon, Gracie, InjaP., Izzzy B., Jasmine H., Jenn L., Juha, Kayla N., Kelly, Killer K., Lisa C., Martina I., Merveille L., Michelle S., Michelle W., Miranda M., Myungjun R., Nick T., Nova H., Nyrobi J., Nyxie N., Parul N., Quince, Red, Reyanne B., Rochelle N., Ryanna B., Satya P., Sboss678, ScorpioPerk, Shaunna H., Shawna B., Steven B., Travis S., 7Please respect copyright.PENANA9E7G2zQYxE
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