Ava's eyelids fluttered open, confusion evident in her voice. "Where am I?"
Recalling her encounter with a small tribe before succumbing to unconsciousness, Ava glanced up to find a man tenderly stroking her hair. This was surely her rescuer. In the world of novels, the first man to appear and save her often held significant importance. Could he be royalty, a tribal leader, or perhaps possessing extraordinary abilities?
"May I inquire as to your identity, kind sir?" Ava asked with genuine curiosity and a newfound excitement.
The man, intrigued by the petite woman before him, found himself drawn to her expressive face, which flitted through a myriad of emotions— playful, alluring, and at times, as vulnerable as a startled deer. She had black hair and brown eyes and plump, full, kissable lips.
"George," he replied, his name slipping out almost involuntarily. George's brows furrowed subtly as his gaze covertly traced her form. She was an unclaimed female.
"Greetings, kind sir. I am Ava," Ava stiffly inclined her head in a nod of acknowledgment.
"Ava," George echoed her name, a subtle unease stirring within him, hinting that her name held greater significance than he initially realized.
"Sir, may I inquire about our whereabouts? Are we far from the Gold Sun Tribe?" Ava's question was met with a cold correction from George, who bristled at being addressed as "sir."
"My name is not 'sir,' it's George," he replied tersely, his discomfort evident. He found her persistent use of the title unsettling.
Observing George's direct gaze and striking amber eyes, Ava couldn't help but notice his handsome features—the black roots of his hair fading into blonde strands and his muscular physique accentuated by chiseled abs. She quickly shook off her admiration, realizing she had been staring. Adjusting herself on the makeshift stone bed covered in animal skins, she turned to face George.
Why did she sense anticipation in his gaze? Despite her initial reluctance, Ava found herself complying with George's preference and addressed him by name.
As George nodded in approval, Ava's laughter filled the air, unaware of the profound effect her smile had on George, capturing not only his sight but also his heart.
George had already scrutinized her closely when she laid on his lap, noting the absence of mating marks or the scent of other males. His suspicion was confirmed: Ava was unmated.
This revelation filled George with delight, envisioning the possibility of being Ava's first partner once she joined the tribe. The prospect of this delicate creature becoming his mate brought a slight grin to George's lips, accompanied by an enigmatic yet alluring smile. Rising from the stone bed, he swiftly left the tree hollow, returning shortly with a large leaf containing water, which he offered to Ava.
"Here, drink some water," he instructed, his attention drawn to Ava's worn and dirty clothing.
As Ava finished drinking, she suddenly found herself enveloped in George's arms, lifted in a bridal-style embrace. The surge of male hormones emanating from George caused her heart to race, her cheeks flushing crimson as her previous questions faded from memory.
What did her current location matter anyway? Having a handsome man by her side was all that seemed important now.
Satisfied by Ava's admiring gaze, reflected in her clear brown eyes, George felt content. He began to understand why newly mated males often acted like fools, willing to do anything for their partners. Whenever Ava looked at him with those mesmerizing eyes, whenever she smiled or laughed, everything else faded into insignificance. In those moments, nothing else in the world seemed to matter to George.
Clutching Ava tightly, George leapt from the tree hole, landing gracefully on the ground before swiftly making his way to the river. Arriving at the riverbank, he gently set Ava down.
"Why are we here?" Ava asked, her confusion evident.
"I thought you might want to bathe," George replied matter-of-factly.
Ava felt a flush of embarrassment; how could she have overlooked her current state?
"Oh... thank you. Um... could you... perhaps turn around while I undress?" Ava asked sheepishly. The idea of disrobing in the presence of a man she had just met that day made her uneasy, but she preferred discomfort to being left alone in this strange and perilous world.
Nodding in understanding, George turned his back to her, remaining vigilant as his jaguar ears listened intently for any signs of unwelcome visitors.
As Ava immersed herself in the soothing waters of the river, George stood guard nearby, his senses alert to any potential danger. Despite his best efforts to focus solely on his duty, temptation whispered in his ear, urging him to steal a glance at the female's form as she bathed. Yet, he resisted, knowing that to succumb would betray the trust she had placed in him.
Finally, Ava emerged from the water, her skin glistening in the sunlight as she reached for her worn-out animal skin clothes. Without hesitation, George untied the hide from around his waist and draped it around her, shielding her modesty from prying eyes. He paid no mind to his own nakedness, for in this world, such customs were commonplace. However, the thought of someone else laying eyes on Ava in such a vulnerable state ignited a fierce protectiveness within him.
A flush of crimson spread across Ava's cheeks as she questioned his actions. "What are you doing?"
"Your clothes are dirty and worn out. Use mine instead. I'll fetch new clothes for you when we reach the tree house," George replied calmly, though beneath his composed exterior, a tumult of conflicting desires raged. Part of him longed to shed the garment he had placed on her and join her in the water, to revel in the intimacy of the moment. Yet, he knew that such indulgence could jeopardize their fragile bond. So, with a heavy heart, he stifled his desires and remained steadfast in his resolve to protect her at all costs.
Ava felt a rush of embarrassment as she tightly shut her eyes, determined to avoid seeing George's nudity. She instinctively clutched the hide skin around her body, attempting to distance herself from him, only to find herself restrained by his firm grip.
"Where are you going? And why are you closing your eyes?" George's innocent inquiry caught her off guard.
"Why wouldn't I close my eyes? Look at you, you're indecent!" Ava exclaimed, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
"You mean I'm naked?" George's response was laced with amusement.
"Well... duhh!" Ava retorted, still keeping her eyes firmly shut but no longer struggling against his hold.
"Alright, I'll transform into my beast form," George offered, before Ava could protest further.
Feeling a sensation of something large and fluffy brushing against her, Ava cautiously opened her eyes to behold a magnificent jaguar towering over her. It was five times larger than any she had ever seen in her old world, a stark reminder of her unfamiliar surroundings. The jaguar lowered its body, as if inviting her to climb aboard. Ava quickly secured the hide around her body before mounting the majestic beast.
As they sprinted through the forest towards the tribe, Ava held onto the jaguar's fur tightly to avoid falling off. Along the way, she observed her surroundings with keen interest. The towering trees dwarfed everything around them, their colossal size capable of accommodating entire houses within their trunks. It's no wonder people made houses inside of those trees. The dense canopy filtered sunlight, casting a dim, ethereal glow over the forest floor. Soft layers of wilted leaves carpeted the ground, indicating the passage of time. Ava noticed clusters of mushroom bowls in damp areas, while thick vines, as thick as her wrists, snaked up the trees, some hanging ominously in mid-air. Despite the unfamiliarity of her surroundings, Ava couldn't help but marvel at the natural beauty and wonder of this new world. The air in this world was notably fresher and invigoratingly healthy, filling Ava's lungs with each breath.
They arrived at George's tree house on the outskirts of the tribe, where he reverted to his human form, using a large leaf to conceal his modesty. George asserted that this territory was his alone, and no male could enter without his permission.
"What happens if someone trespasses?" Ava inquired, her curiosity piqued.
"They can't complain if they don't make it out alive," George replied with a smirk, sending a shiver down Ava's spine.
Concern etched on her face, Ava asked, "What if it was a female?"
"We don't harm females," George reassured her. "Females are a precious resource to the tribe. If you want your tribe to thrive, you need more females to attract strong and powerful males."
A pang of unease gripped Ava as George scrutinized her with a strange look. "These are basic principles every female should know. How could you be ignorant of such common knowledge?" he queried.
Ava's heart raced with anxiety as she confessed, "I don't remember much about my past. I only knew I was being chased by strays, and I fell into a hole before finding myself here. My memories are fragmented, and none of it makes sense."
George pulled her into a comforting embrace, his hand gently patting her head. "It's okay, don't be sad. You have me to protect you now," he reassured her.
Flushed with embarrassment, Ava suddenly felt a stirring sensation against her from George's lower body. Ava's face flushed redder than a tomato's skin. "Eerrrrrekkkkkkkk," Ava shrieked at the top of her lungs.
Moments later, they found themselves back inside the tree house, the air heavy with awkwardness. George, feeling embarrassed, couldn't believe he had let his hormones get the better of him. But then again, could he really blame himself? This was the first hug he had ever received from a female in his life—or scratch that, it was his first hug ever. Meanwhile, Ava sat on the stone bed, avoiding eye contact with George, who remained on the opposite side of the room, still clad in a big leaf. He worried that she now hated him and decided to break the silence.
"You must be hungry. Wait here, let me go and catch prey for you," he declared before leaping out of the tree hole and disappearing.
After what seemed like an hour or two, he returned, holding a brand-new set of skin-hide clothes in a golden brown hue, adorned with white fluffy fur sewn crudely around the edges. George, now dressed in a black-spotted white hide skin around his waist, handed the clothes to Ava.
"Are these for me?" Ava asked as she accepted the clothes.
"Yes, I got them from the village chief, who, by the way, hopes to meet you soon," George replied with a smile.
Ava wondered aloud, "And why does he want to meet me?"
"Oh, it's customary for new arrivals to meet the chief, even if they're just staying the night," George explained.
Ava nodded in understanding. "Okay, then."
"In the future, I'll make more clothes for you from the prey I catch. You can go ahead and wear these. I'll be outside preparing the prey I caught," George said before leaving the tree house.
In a matter of minutes, Ava had donned the new outfit, feeling surprisingly comfortable in it. As she peered out of the tree hole, she realized the height made it impossible for her to enter or leave the treehouse without George's assistance. Seeing him approach with a wooden board, she quickly retreated to the stone bed. George's face flushed slightly as he admired her in the new attire.
"You look... lovely," he complimented, causing Ava to blush and look away.
"Thanks," she replied softly.
Sitting beside her on the bed, George offered her the prepared meal. "I've prepared the prey; go on and eat," he announced.
However, Ava's eyes widened in disbelief as she saw thinly sliced pieces of raw meat laid out on the wooden board.
"Say what now?!?!" she exclaimed, shocked by the unexpected meal.