Mar's Father

Mar just came back from hunting, while Ren is taking care of little Ezra.

"Look love, I got a boar and some eggs and potatoes."

"That's nice. Ezra can have some mashed potato and eggs. Come and rest here, I will prepare the food." Ren replied.

"Okay, love, thank you. I will take care of Ezra then."

While having their meal, Ren can't help but think about the things that they talked about the boys that can't transform.

"Dear, did it ever happen before? I mean a boy of ages that didn't turn as a Tiger beast?"

Mar paused for a moment and replied. "Yes, it happened. The truth is, my father was actually one of those men who can't transform. That is also the reason why my mother left him and went to another village and lived there with her other mates. She is ashamed to have my father as her mate." Mar looks sad.

"I'm sorry dear. I don't want to make you sad. If you're not comfortable talking about this, I won't ask anymore."

"No, it's fine. This is one of the things that you need to know about me. I am just feeling sad every time I think about my father."

"What happened to him, if you don't mind me asking."

"Alright, I will tell you, but this is a long story."

"Take your time, dear. I will listen."

"My father, who also used to live in this hut, came of ages. By the time of the Moon Worshipping night, where boys who are of age gather and transform into a Tiger Beast and start hunting. By that time, when he was supposed to transform, he couldn't. He was thinking that maybe he isn't of ages yet or maybe there must be something wrong with him. Nobody noticed him though, as you know that everyone is all busy in the feast."

"Yeah, I remember that. It was actually a fun night. And then what happened?"

"Knowing that nobody noticed that he can't transform, he still went into the forest and hunt some animals. Though my father can't transform yet when he is still young, he is still one of the best hunters in the village at that time. A lot of women, including my mother, want him to be their mate. So when he went back and got himself a big deer, everyone praised him, not knowing he hunt that deer without transforming." Mar continued.

Mar paused, looking sad. "He didn't tell anyone he can't transform. It was a puzzle for him. He also knows that if anyone in the village knows, he will be a laughing stock. But then my mother came to him and asked my father to be her mate. My father is so happy because my mother is the prettiest female in those times. My father is the first mate that my mom has. Then I was born. Time has passed, and eventually, my mother found out that my father can't transform, and she gets herself another mate after another. She refused to even look at my father or me. She thinks that I might not be able to transform too, just like my father. She thinks that people in the village are laughing at her, so she decided to leave me and my father and went to another village."

A tear fell down from Mar's face, "My father got so sad and depressed that he wouldn't eat. He died before I'm at my age when I could transform. He didn't even see that."

Ren hugged Mar tightly. "I'm sure your father would be proud of you, love. If only he could see you now and our son, he would be really proud."

Mar looks at Ren and smiles. "I know that he will be proud of me. I will make sure that he will also be proud of Ezra, whether he can transform or not."