My real name is Stephanie, and I was a second-year arts major. How I ended up as Arinya in the Beastworld novel I wrote is something I cannot understand.
All I remember was hiking during our college trip. We were on a cliff. I… slipped.
The world went silent in that moment. I couldn't breathe. I didn't even scream. All I heard was the sound of my racing heart.
I thought I died. Or perhaps I would wake up in a hospital bed with a broken neck or worse. But instead, I woke up as Arinya, the first daughter of the tiger clan chief. He was the ruler of the Stormhole tribe.
Who came up with the name anyway?
Oh right, I did.
Everything feels so strange. Some things remained the same, but there were huge differences too.
In this world, I am Arinya, an ugly duckling hated by 99% of the tribe. If not, a hundred percent.
After conducting myself and coming to terms with my new body, a tail, tiger ears and clothes that were rough against my skin, I decided to retract steps back to the tribe.
Arinya's memories led me on the right path... I think. Well, it was more like instincts, her body recognizing every turn before my mind caught up.
But it felt like I was walking toward an execution ground.
Just thinking about all the looks I would get drained me. Some would be filled with loathing pity, others filled with disgust.
I already felt tired.
I hadn't even arrived yet.
Honestly, if emotional exhaustion could knock someone out, I'd be flat on the ground right now.
But noooo, apparently fate wanted me to walk straight into the circus.
Lucky me.
"Huff," I wiped my sweat with the back of my palm as I rested my hand on a tree trunk.
I hadn't even reached the tribe gate yet, and I was already tired.
The flower field was so far from the tribe. It was no wonder no one went there, even to play.
I looked up.
The sun had already set. I could hear the cooing of owls and the chirping of crickets. I could pinpoint their locations, thanks to my enhanced hearing as a beastman. I was able to see in the dark, too.
The perks of being a beastman, I guess.
As I took another step forward, I paused. There was a pressure on my lower abdomen, pressing on my bladder. I took quickl glance around.
"Good, there's no one around."
I quickly moved further into the bushes, lifted my animal skin skirt, and squatted. But then the hair on my back stood, alerting me. I glanced around, heart pounding. In the corner of my eye, I noticed something glistening under the moonlight. Something silver.
It looked scaly, but I could't see clearly.
'What's that?'
Reality hit me hard. I couldn't hold back my pee anymore, so I decided to let it out before worrying about what I saw.
It felt as though I hadn't peed in days. The satisfaction that came with releasing my bladder made me close my eyes.
But the relief didn't last. I heard rustling in the bushes. I opened my eyes immediately.
Something... moved.
But when I looked, I couldn't see it.
Could it be a rat? No, perhaps it was the silver thing I saw earlier! My body tensed but my bladder still kept going.
What... What was that?
It was moving. The thing in front of me was moving!
Was it a wild animal?
I know I'm a wild animal too but I was still new to this world. If something attacked me, how was I going to defend myself? Do I beg for mercy?
I watched the thick mass of silver scales slither, praying my bladder would soon empty and finish.
I had to run away before it was too late.
Halting mid-pee was a torture I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.
The silver thing finally lifted higher, revealing more of itself—a long, sleek, scale-covered shape curled tightly like… a body?
Wait.
Was it a tail?
No, n-not just a tail.
A… serpentine lower half.
And just at the end of those scales was flesh... The upper body of a normal human being.
Oh no.
OH. NO.
In shock, my stream of urine suddenly hit the silver scales again. The silver-scaled creature reacted!
A deep, low exhale rumbled from the bush. The creature hissed at me. It almost sounded like a growl.
"What's warm…?"
A human-like voice?
It seemed like he hadn't noticed me yet, so I slapped a hand over my mouth to keep myself from screaming in fear and shock.
DID I JUST—?
WAS I ACTUALLY—?
—PEEING ON SOMEONE'S BODY!?
My insides screamed in horror. How could I do something like that?!
Before I could decide whether to flee or die on the spot, the figure in the bush slowly unfurled, rising bit by bit.
The moonlight finally radiated on him brightly, revealing broad shoulders and a toned torso. His hair was the same shade of silver as his snake tail.
Then the rest of him followed—long, gleaming scales coiling beneath him like a massive serpent.
A serpent beastman.
One of the most dangerous species.
His eyes opened, reptilian slits glowing faintly with a shade of amber, and he lifted his head toward me with all the lethargic menace of something that had just woken from a deep sleep.
I was still squatting, holding my breath like I'd die if I exhaled.
My skirt was still lifted and, welp, I was sure he could see all of me from where he was... Why don't they have pants in the beast world? How embarrassing! But that was the least of my worries.
At least they don't sue you for indecency in the beastworld.
Still, the fact remained. I peed on him.
Just... Kill me. Kill me now.
The serpent beastman blinked once. Twice. And then he looked at his gorgeous scales; the urine I had sullied him with remained.
"Did you," he asked in a slow, deep voice, "...just… relieve yourself… on me?"