Yves had moved swiftly, his long strides eating up the distance to the hunting grounds. His mind was in a whirl, trying to piece together the puzzle of Rami's arrival. The Albus girl had reacted with confusion to his questions, but he wasn't entirely sure if that was genuine or well-practiced deception.
As he reached the gathering place, the other clan members were already assembling. Kai approached, a flicker of curiosity in his eyes. "Yves! You left that Albus girl at your cave. She seems... confused. Did she tell you anything about how she got there?"
Yves's golden eyes narrowed. "She claims not to know what I was asking about. But something feels... off." He glanced back towards the direction of his cave, his instincts on high alert. "I need to keep an eye on her. For now, focus on the hunt. We'll need the provisions."
Kai nodded, but his expression remained thoughtful. "I'll keep an ear out. If there's any news about strange issues"
As Rami ventured deeper into the sparse woods, the gentle murmur of running water guided her steps. The stream was a welcome sight, its crystal-clear waters inviting her to cleanse the grime and sweat from her body. She approached the water's edge cautiously, ensuring no hidden dangers lurked beneath the surface before disrobing and slipping into the cool embrace of the stream.
With practiced hands, she combed through the tangles in her hair, washing away the dirt and debris. Her fingers scrubbed every inch of her skin, the sensation of cleanliness a luxury she had not experienced in what felt like an eternity. As she bathed, her gaze drifted to her hands, now bare of the adornments that once graced them. The leather that encased them was a stark reminder of the life she now led, so different from the one she had known before.
Once she had finished, Rami stepped out of the stream, the warm sun quickly drying her skin. She donned her pelt clothes once more, feeling a sense of warmth and cleanliness settle within her. As she traced her steps back along the same path, she couldn't shake the nagging sensation that she should have reached Yves's dwelling by now.
Emerging from the trees, Rami scanned the clearings she had glimpsed the previous night. Her eyes fell upon a small, fragile plant growing amidst the tangled wilderness. Its heart-shaped leaves were soft to the touch, reminding her of the wild pepper leaves she had read about in ancient texts. The mild, peppery taste was a treasured ingredient in distant cuisines, wrapped around spiced meats or sliced fresh in salads.
Here, in this wild place, the discovery of such a plant felt like a beacon of hope. A reminder that life could flourish quietly beneath the dappled shadows and overgrown foliage. Rami gently plucked a handful of its leaves, using a crawling vine from a nearby tree to tie them into a neat bundle.
"Pepper," she murmured to herself, a small smile playing on her lips. In this strange new world, where even the most basic of medicines were scarce, the discovery of such a plant was a precious gift. She knew its uses well—the leaves could be steamed as a vegetable, tossed in herbal rice salads, or brewed in boiling water to soothe ailments. With her knowledge of medicinal plants, she hoped to find more such treasures in the days to come.