Free Web NovelChapter 354: First steps
The following morning, Nina took the cubs to a broad meadow awash in golden sunlight. The grass swayed gently beneath the breeze, sparkling with droplets of dew that had yet to fully disappear. It was the perfect place for energetic little ones to play.
The cubs scattered across the field, tumbling through the grass and chasing one another in endless circles. Their cheerful laughter drifted through the air, bright and carefree.
Everything seemed perfectly normal until Yinny abruptly stopped.
While his siblings continued racing around him, he stood rooted to the spot, his small brows knitting together in concentration.
Something felt different.
Deep inside his body, an unfamiliar force was awakening.
It was as though a powerful energy had been sleeping within him all this time, only to suddenly begin stirring. The sensation grew stronger with every passing second, pressing against him from the inside, eager to break free.
Yet he had no idea what it was. Nor did he know how to release it.
Confused, Yinny instinctively focused on the strange feeling. His little face tightened with effort as he tried to grasp the source of the sensation.
Nearby, Nina noticed his unusual behavior and tilted her head curiously.
"Yinny? Why did you stop playing?"
Before he could answer, a brilliant flash of white light burst from his body.
The sudden glow forced everyone to pause.
For a brief moment, the meadow was bathed in dazzling radiance.
Then the light faded. The fluffy little white tiger who had been standing there was gone. In his place sat a chubby naked toddler.
The entire meadow fell silent. For a heartbeat, everyone simply stared. Then Nina’s eyes widened with delight.
"Yinny!"
A broad smile spread across her face.
"You shifted into human form!"
The little boy sat frozen on the grass, staring blankly at his tiny hands. He flexed his fingers experimentally, watching them move.
Then he looked down at his legs.
His feet.
His body.
Realization slowly dawned.
He had done it. He had actually shifted.
Excitement instantly flooded his face. His silver eyes sparkled as he looked up at Nina.
"M... Mother..." His voice sounded unfamiliar even to himself. "I... I think... I shifted..."
The words came out awkwardly and slowly. Speaking in human form was still new to him, and his tongue seemed reluctant to cooperate.
The moment the others understood what had happened, the cubs rushed over like an unstoppable tide.
"Big Brother transformed!"
"Big Brother transformed!"
"Big Brother is human now!"
Their excited voices overlapped as they crowded around him.
Among them, Mimi was the most excited. Her eyes practically shone with anticipation.
If Yinny could transform now, then her turn could not be far away. Once she shifted too, she would finally be able to run around everywhere with her brothers and experience all the things they did.
The males exchanged pleased glances. Their little prince had taken another important step in his growth.
A sense of pride filled their hearts.
"Come here, Yinny."
Nina opened her arms toward him.
Without the slightest hesitation, the newly transformed toddler immediately dropped onto all fours.
Then he crawled toward her at impressive speed.
Nina could not help laughing.
It seemed Yinny had not yet realized that human children were supposed to walk on two legs.
The moment he reached her, she bent down and scooped him into her arms.
As soon as she held him, Nina discovered that the feeling was completely different from carrying a tiger cub.
There was no soft fur brushing against her skin. Instead, his skin was warm and velvety smooth.
His little body was soft and cuddly, almost like freshly whipped cream.
It was so pleasant that she found herself reluctant to let go.
After a moment, Nina turned toward Kith.
"Kith, could you bring Yinny some clothes?"
Kith immediately froze. The smile on his face stiffened.
Under everyone’s gaze, he awkwardly searched through his storage space before finally producing a small piece of carefully prepared animal hide.
He handed it over with obvious embarrassment.
"Well..."
His voice became increasingly guilty.
"Nina, I haven’t actually made clothes for him yet."
The moment the words left his mouth, he looked as though he wished he could disappear.
"I’ll start making them today."
The truth was that nearly all of his free time had been spent crafting things for Nina.
Whether it was furniture, decorations, tools, or accessories, everything he made revolved around her.
As for the cubs... They rarely received the same level of attention.
Yinny puffed out his cheeks. His expression immediately became one of profound disappointment.
Just as expected. A terrible father. Not even a single outfit had been prepared. How irresponsible.
Seeing his son’s accusing expression, Kith felt even more ashamed.
Nina, meanwhile, could only laugh helplessly.
Then she called out inwardly.
"Little Bun, help me buy some clothes for Yinny."
"Of course, Host."
Little Bun quickly scanned the toddler’s measurements before pulling up an extensive selection of children’s clothing.
After browsing through the options for a few moments, Nina selected two adorable outfits and purchased them.
She carefully dressed Yinny herself.
The little boy lowered his head and examined his new clothes from every angle.
His eyes gradually grew brighter.
The happiness on his face was impossible to hide.
"Mother..." He touched the fabric. "Like..."
Nina smiled and gently rubbed his head.
"As long as you like them. Later, we’ll have your father make a few more outfits for you."
Yinny nodded obediently.
Then he immediately leaned against her and rubbed his cheek against her shoulder.
The action was almost identical to what he did as a tiger cub.
After a while, Nina set him down on the grass again.
Supporting him beneath the arms, she carefully helped him stand upright.
"Yinny."
She stepped several paces away before crouching down and opening her arms.
"Try walking over to Mother using only your feet."
Around them, the cubs and males watched attentively. Everyone’s attention was focused entirely on the little boy. Silently, they rooted for him.
Yinny looked at Nina. Then he looked down at his feet.
Slowly, he lifted one leg.
His tiny face was filled with concentration. He took a cautious step forward. The instant his foot touched the ground, his body swayed violently, and he nearly fell.
A collective gasp escaped the onlookers.
Fortunately, after wobbling precariously for a few seconds, Yinny managed to steady himself.
A determined expression immediately appeared on his face.
He refused to give up.
Taking a deep breath, he attempted another step.
Then another.
And another.
Little by little, he began understanding how to balance himself. freёwebnovel.com
His movements remained clumsy, but each step became steadier than the last.
Soon he was toddling forward on his own.
His small body swayed from side to side like a tiny drunkard struggling to walk in a straight line.
The sight was unbelievably adorable.
The cubs could barely contain their excitement.
Nina’s eyes were filled with encouragement.
Finally, Yinny gathered his courage and broke into a shaky run. With a delighted squeal, he threw himself toward Nina.
Nina caught him securely in her arms. The moment she hugged him, she showered him with praise.
"Yinny is amazing!"
The little boy’s entire face lit up. Pride sparkled in his eyes.
Unable to contain his happiness, he buried himself against her chest and rubbed against her affectionately.
He could walk now. He had truly learned how to walk.
The other cubs immediately surrounded him.
"Big Brother is amazing!"
"Big Brother is so awesome!"
"I want to transform too!"
Their excited chatter filled the meadow.
The males joined in as well.
"Our little prince is incredible."
"Well done, Yinny."
"You learned so quickly."
The endless stream of praise quickly overwhelmed the toddler. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
His cheeks turned bright red. Embarrassed by so much attention, he buried his face even deeper in Nina’s arms.
Nearby, Kith watched the scene quietly. A soft smile tugged at the corners of his lips. Warmth spread through his chest, filling him with a happiness that was difficult to describe.
Watching his son grow, watching his family laugh together, he suddenly felt that no amount of effort or sacrifice could compare to moments like this.
For the remainder of the day, Nina stayed beside Yinny, patiently helping him practice walking.
Whenever he stumbled, she encouraged him.
Whenever he succeeded, everyone celebrated.
The meadow remained filled with laughter, cheers, and endless encouragement.
As the sun slowly drifted across the sky, the family spent the day together, cherishing the precious milestone they had witnessed.
It was a simple moment.
Yet for all of them, it was one they would remember for a very long time.
