The cabin's kitchen was alive with the clatter of pots and the rich, savory scents of a meal being prepared with care.
Evelyn stood at the counter, chopping wild onions she'd gathered that morning, their sharp aroma mingling with the earthy fragrance of mushrooms roasting over the fire. Beside her, Mira kneaded dough for flatbread, her sleeves rolled up to her elbows, flour dusting her forearms.
Ashley, perched on a stool with her chin barely clearing the countertop, was determined to help. She clutched a wooden spoon like a scepter, stirring a bowl of crushed berries with intense focus. Juice splattered her cheeks, staining them purple.
"You're doing great, sweetheart," Evelyn said, kissing the top of her head.
"I'm making *special* sauce," Ashley announced, dipping a finger into the mix and tasting it. She wrinkled her nose. "Needs more sugar."
