Visha stood next to the three women. Heta, since the day they left the cave, had been giving her side eyes and scornful looks. Not once did she come to apologize after getting to the cave.
Visha didn't particularly care. However, she knew she would be around these people for many days to come. She hoped everyone would be able to have a harmonious relationship.
But it seemed that would not be the case.
Even now, living in a warm cave, being able to have food to eat and not having to worry about anything, she had a grudge against her.
Is she too bored? She doesn't have anything to do, so she decided to make me an imaginary enemy?
This was what Visha thought as she met her eyes.
Willa, on the other hand, was still as quiet as ever. Eyes just as observant and gentle as the day she met her. She didn't make a big fuss about anything. Instead, choosing to believe her when she asked to leave the cave.
Chi was still the same. She didn't talk much to anyone except Krag.
Although they weren't talking, the three women stood together looking at the men gathered together.
"Is everybody okay?" Visha asked. "Let me know if there's anything wrong with the cave. We're going to spend a lot of time here, so we should be prepared."
"We need more food," Chi said without preamble.
"Are the things I gave already done?"
Visha didn't really take stock of what she, Xeno, and Uri were eating. Although their appetites are large, they should still be able to survive for a while.
She did know they weren't eating until they were full, but as far as she was aware, they could bear it.
"It's not that we don't have any. It's just that I'm hungry," Chi pouted, looking at Visha with wide innocent eyes.
This was the most Visha had ever heard her talk, and when she did, she felt a little dumbfounded. She wasn't sure what to say to her.
Willa patted Chi's back. "You can eat more after winter."
"Pssh, I'm not so sure about that. Someone might want to control how much we eat." Heta glowered at Visha.
"What's your problem? Are you still acting like this because of a cave?" Visha's face showed her annoyance. "If you don't want to stay, then leave. I'm not stopping you. Someone like you, who takes advantage of others' kindness, isn't welcome here."
Chi laughed when Vish finished speaking.
"You're funny," she said, turning to Visha.
Unsure of what she said that would constitute her being funny, Visha tilted her head in confusion.
"Aren't you supposed to be the leader? Leaders are magnanimous. They take the tribe into account and make sure as many people as possible help the tribe. If you talk to her like that, she might rebel."
Chi didn't hide her thoughts. Everyone could hear what she said.
Visha pointed to herself. "Me? I'm not a leader. I'm just like everyone else. Trying to survive the winter."
Chi wiggled her index finger. "You're the leader. You decide what's happening, and everyone follows your lead. See...leader."
Visha couldn't say she was wrong. She really had been making decisions for everyone. She didn't really ask for their opinions either. She basically led them in the direction she wanted them to go.
But they didn't seem to have any complaints.
And everything she has done so far has benefited them.
It seems she needed to talk to Xeno and Uri about this leader thing. It's bad enough they think of her as a priestess; she didn't want to be a leader.
"I'm not a leader. You can talk to your men after this. If they want to make the decisions in the group, they are welcome to do so."
Heta's eyes twinkled when she heard it. No one saw because her body was tightly covered and her head was down.
She thought about her male becoming a leader. The thought filled her with joy.
Over by the section with the males, Uri and Xeno were talking about opening the cave entrance.
"Shasha seems to be interested in what Kit and Nimo brought out. She asked if we could open the entrance so we could go in."
Xeno was addressing all the males standing there, including little Kit and Nimo.
"Yes. Ba, if we could make it bigger, we could get more. It's really big on the inside. Whatever the priestess wants must be a good thing."
Kit has been fond of Visha ever since she gave him the pill. To him, there is no one more powerful than the Visha.
"Did she tell you what it could do?" Fil asked, looking between Uri and Xeno.
They both shook their heads.
"She didn't say. She was very excited to see the stones, though. So there must be something special about them." Xeno responded.
"We aren't telling you it has to be done. We are asking you to help us. If this is something that will benefit everyone, the best solution would be to widen the hole," Uri stated.
He waited for their response. To him, it didn't matter whether they helped. He would find a way to make the hole larger if Visha needs it.
It didn't take long for them to decide.
They considered Visha a priestess. If she thinks something is valuable, then it most likely is. Even if they aren't sure what it is, they will find out sooner or later.
Since the decision was made, rather than wait longer, they decided to open it up.
They didn't know anything about structural integrity. However, they did know that when rock was too loose, it would fall. So they ensured that the place they were about to hit wouldn't fall.
After confirming that it should still be steady, in true beast man fashion, they shifted. Using their claws to chip away at the rock.
All the beast men, except Krag, who hadn't shifted for some reason, worked to open the cave hole.
The females on the side watched, looking proud of their men.
Chi watched Krag standing at the side. She knew he wanted to help, but he couldn't shift yet. Shifting now would only cause trouble, so he could only watch.
Krag looked at Chi and shook his head slightly. Indicating she shouldn't say anything.
Visha noticed the interaction but didn't say anything.
Her eyes caught Chi, and she smiled softly. No matter who they were, as long as they didn't pose a threat, Visha wouldn't mind them staying.
Another 15 minutes and the narrow tunnel became wide enough for two people to pass through at a time.
Seeing the hole widened, the children tried to run inside, only to be picked up by the scruff of their necks.
"Where do you two think you're going?" Xeno asked.
"Brother, we're going back in," Kit responded while Nimo nodded in agreement.
"You small things should stay out of danger. The adults will go check first."
"But brother, we've already been in there."
"Sure, sure," Xeno nodded to the children, then gave a single nod to the adult males.
Krag and Cato went inside first.
Everyone else waited outside with bated breath. After a minute or two, the two men came out.
After receiving the all clear, everyone filtered inside.
As they walked inside, they saw the stones embedded in the walls. They could be found from the ceiling all the way to the bottom of the wall. It made the cave glow. It was just as bright inside as it was outside.
The blue and milky white crystals seemed to shimmer.
On the floor, there was a carpet of moss and fungi. Each seemed to hold its own territory around the crystals, perfectly coexisting.
Using Nature's Echo, Visha found what it was that grew on the floor. One was called bread-moss. The other was called gloomcap fungi.
The name 'gloomcap' might fool some, but not Visha. It is an edible fungus according to her sight. While it can't be eaten raw because it would cause severe stomach pain. It can be eaten after it is cooked.
Visha, focused on the two new things to eat, didn't notice others turning to look at her.
As per usual, Uri and Xeno were beside her.
She hadn't realized it yet, but when they are close by, she would normally not be on the alert. It was something she later had to learn to overcome. While she felt comfortable around them, she couldn't afford to leave herself open to danger.
A hand touched her shoulder, pulling her out of her thoughts.
She looked around to find everyone looking at her, waiting.
She grinned sheepishly, realizing she didn't even notice them trying to get her attention. If not for Uri touching her, she wouldn't have noticed for a while.
She knew what they were waiting for. She had told Uri and Xeno she would let them know what's so special about these stones.
Now it was time for her to explain.