1 - a bird in a cage

I don't know how I came to this world. I know I used to live in a place where beastman never existed, I have faint memories of my parents but as the years pass, they are slowly fading away.

The elders of this tribe have told me that one of the males found me while out hunting. He couldn't just leave a helpless little kid so he abandoned the hunt he was on. I was raised under close watch. Where all the others got to play and run around, I was not allowed out with them. I watched them longingly from my window, wishing I could be like them.

As I got older I figured out they didn't want me outside was cause I was far prettier then all the other girls in the village. All the other girls are tanned and in my opinion to fat to were the crop tops they wear. Their hair either being blonde, red or a light brown made me stand out even more.

I have long dark brown hair, green eyes and through I'm kept inside most days, iv kept myself fit. When you have nothing to do day in and day out, working out is a good time waster.

The elder, who has gone Grey and looks exhausted from life, comes into my room. It's got a grass nest with a tiger skin laying over it and a bucket big enough for one person to bathe in.

Everyone normally bathes in the lake, girls in the morning and guys in the evening, but since I'm not allowed to do most normal things here, I have to bathe alone.

"Morning Yuki" he says with a smile but he seems to force this one. Something is off about him today. His normal perky ears seem to droop.

"Morning elder"

"Come with me child" he says.

I follow him out of my room. The sun shines bright and I can see the lake. The trees are just starting to grow back their leaves. Little wooden huts line a wide dirt pathway. Panthers, tigers and lions are standing around, some in their animal forms others their human.

A small group of girls seem to all be standing around this one girl. She must be the top female here. I wonder why. She isn't pretty and she doesn't have muscle. He tummy sags and she has a muffin top. All of them seem to have shoulder length hair and all have a light brown color.

"Come on Yuki" upon hearing the elder speak I snapped out of admiring the outside world. They see this every day so no wonder it's dumb for me to react this way. I follow behind the elder to a the biggest hut.

Stepping inside the hut, the chief stands, he is a big muscular man. Tanned and many scars over his body, all different sizes and some deeper then others. He has many necklaces on and a tiger skin loin cloth.

Next to him sad a line of six guys. Varying in hight and muscle. Seems like different species to. What's going on?

"Yuki" elder says, my attention turns to him "you have come of age, it's time to choose your first mate" WHAT?! MATE? Why didn't they tell me? Why wasn't I told, made aware of this prior to now?

"I have gathered here the best males in our village" the chief says. "I'll introduce you. This is Damian"

He has black hair that's longer then everyone else in the line. Black eyes and tanned, tall but lacking slightly in the muscle department. My eyes can't help but eye his chest, abs and lastly .. that V area. His loin cloth doesn't leave much to the imagination.

"He is quite a skilled panther, very good hunter and gather. He is quick in making a fire and he would like to add, he is very good at making a soft nest" Damian smiles at the last part and stands proudly. His confidence in being picked is kind of a turn off. It's not that he is a bad looking guy just seems to cocky for his own good. He steps back in line with the others.

"Next is Jace" he steps forward. Dirty blonde hair that curls with eyes that look like steel. He is tall and slender but I can see his muscles. I can tell he is stronger then he appears to be. I wonder how many underestimate his strength. He is tanned but not nearly as much as the rest. My eyes travel to his V and holy shit is it defined. I catch him smirking, oh shit.. did he catch me staring? Oh my god. There is something about him, he has this rough look to him but he is put together. He stares directly at me, where as the panther didn't.

"He is a Lynx with great skills in hunting and tracking. Has great all around knowledge of everything. He is quick, cunning and alert. Jace would like to add, and his words not mine, I can show you a great world of pleasure, if you let me" the chief looks like he hates himself for having to say that, and I can't say I blame him.

The chief goes down the line, saying their name and what they are good at. I liked Jace, he by far has the best body and seems the best option but I want to pick someone I feel close to, I want to get to know them first. Something about having a connection with someone, not having many partners to have babies with.

"Do you know who you will chose?" The elder asks.

"Is... is it okay if I think on it for a bit?" I ask. Elder looks like he is about to answer when the chief speaks up.

"Yes. You may think it over for tonight, tomorrow give us your answer" I smile at the chief.

"Thank you" the elder leads me back to my hut, that's a room with a bed and place to bathe. The sad walls of my life.