Everyone ate the meal that Neve had prepared.
It was warm and filling. The flavors were different from what every beastman was used to, but they enjoyed it. Even Popi, who had never cooked before, seemed satisfied with how the food turned out.
After eating, everyone went to sleep.
Doris's siblings had woken up from the sleeping powder's effects. They cried when they realized their sister was not there. They asked for her. They asked where she went. They wanted to know when she would come back.
Neve found a way to tell them a lie that would comfort them without causing more pain.
"Your sister went somewhere to look for food," Neve told them gently. "It's a punishment from the chief because she disobeyed him. She will be back after a hundred moons."
The young beastmen looked confused. A hundred moons was a very long time. An impossibly long time.
They began counting from today. One moon. Two moons. Counting up to a hundred.
