By the time the sky darkened beneath heavy rain clouds, the exhausted search parties finally returned one after another. Reis himself walked at the front, soaked from head to toe, his clothes splattered with mud and leaves sticking from his otherwise beautiful hair.
Behind him, Kellen carefully carried a large woven basket covered with a hide. Curious tribe members quickly gathered around as Aurora hurried forward.
Reis rubbed the back of his neck with a helpless laugh. "You may have overestimated us a little."
Aurora raised an eyebrow before lifting the hide. Inside the basket, five frightened jungle fowl huddled tightly together. Four of them were females, and the proud, brightly feathered one was the rooster. Fortunately they were able to grab at least one rooster.
For a brief moment, complete silence settled over the gathering. Then Briana burst into laughter. "Brother, you spent hours chasing birds... and only caught five!"
