Moonlit vow

7.Gathering herbs

After chatting a while longer, Annie left.

As evening fell, Iris looked at the chicken Annie had brought and decided to cook it herself. She remembered seeing some edible mushrooms in the woods behind the cave. Quietly and cautiously, she ventured out, picked a handful, and brought them back. Inside the cave, she found a stone knife. Though heavy for her, it was sharp enough to do the job. She set to work, cutting the chicken into small pieces.

When Leiand returned with his share of the hunt, the rich aroma of cooking filled the cave. The weariness in his eyes softened, replaced by a gentle warmth.

“Iris, what are you doing?” he asked, setting a deer leg and a rabbit down outside the cave.

Leiand was mindful of Iris’s preference for cleanliness. He didn’t want to bring raw meat into the cave, knowing it might dirty the stone floor and upset her.

“Wow! Leiand, did you catch all this?” Iris asked, her eyes wide with surprise and delight as she looked at the deer leg and rabbit on the ground.

“Today’s hunt went well,” Leiand replied. “I caught quite a lot, but the elderly and children in the tribe need food too. The younger wolves distribute most of their catch to ensure everyone is fed. I only brought these back for us. They wanted to give us the whole deer, but I thought it’d be too much. It’s hot, and the meat would spoil if we couldn’t finish it.”

As he spoke, Leiand began preparing the deer and rabbit meat, intending to roast them. He remembered how much Iris had enjoyed the rabbit legs last time and decided that anything they couldn’t finish, he would eat himself.

Iris listened quietly, nodding as he spoke. She understood the heavy responsibilities Leiand carried as a leader. He wasn’t just tasked with ensuring the tribe’s safety but also with maintaining fairness and providing for everyone in this primitive and challenging environment.

Later that evening, the cave was filled with a peaceful ambiance. The crackling of the fire blended with the faint sound of the wind outside. It was tranquil and warm, as though the world outside had faded away, leaving only the two of them.

The next day, before Leiand left, Iris, unable to endure the boredom of staying in the cave any longer, asked, “What do the women in the tribe usually do during the day?”

Leiand glanced at Iris and immediately understood that she was feeling lonely in the cave.

“Now that you’re my acknowledged mate, I’ve marked you with my scent. No one will dare to harm you easily,” Leiand said with a smirk.

Iris blushed furiously at his smug tone. “Does that mean I’m free to leave the cave?”

Leiand hesitated but eventually agreed, recalling that women and children often went to the forest to gather wild fruits. “You can go with the other women to gather wild fruits in the nearby forest.”

“The elders, who are weaker, usually stay in the tribe and handle tasks like cleaning,” Leiand added with a sigh.

Hearing this, Iris was overjoyed. She decided not to waste her special abilities and was eager to explore the forest to see what it had to offer. Being in a group, she figured, would make things relatively safe.

After giving instructions to the other women in the tribe, Leiand left for his hunt. With winter approaching, he needed to bring back as much food as possible, not just to stockpile for the tribe but also for the woman waiting in the cave. He knew life in this forest was far from easy, and it was his responsibility to ensure Iris’s safety and well-being.

Iris put on the animal-hide shoes Leiand had made for her and stepped outside, where a woman waved at her.

“Hello, Iris! Are you coming with us to gather wild fruits today?”

“Yes, and I also want to look for medicinal herbs,” Iris replied with a smile.

“You’re amazing! A healer!” the woman said excitedly. “During winter, many of the elderly and children fall ill. We can call for healers from other tribes, but they demand so much food in exchange that it’s not always possible. Sometimes, the sick are left untreated and are even abandoned outside the tribe to fend for themselves.”

Her expression darkened with fear as she spoke, but then she brightened again. “But now that you’re here, our tribe has its own healer. It’s wonderful!”

“Oh, I haven’t introduced myself yet,” the woman added. “I’m Kami, the leader of the wild fruit-gathering team. If you ever want to go out, come find me.”

“In our tribe, only strong beastfolk and women who can gather food are allowed to live in the caves. Those who can’t contribute live over there, in the straw huts,” Kami said, pointing toward a cluster of huts in the distance.

Iris had noticed the straw huts when she first arrived but had assumed they were storage spaces for food. Now she realized that living in the caves was a privilege, not just a matter of space.

Soon, Kami led Iris to a patch of shrubs, where other women were already digging. Kami pointed to a vine-covered area. “Iris, this is where the ground fruits are most plentiful. Let’s dig here.”

The two knelt down, quickly taking out long, sharp stone tools from their waists and digging skillfully. Before long, black ground fruits began to emerge from the soil.

Iris dug out a cluster of ground fruits, each vine bearing four or five fruits, each the size of three or four fists. The surface of the fruit reminded her of potatoes from her previous life, covered with many sprouting roots. Curious, Iris asked, “Kami, do these ground fruits only grow at this time of year?”

Thrilled to be chatting with the tribe’s new healer, Kami was eager to answer. “No, they grow from spring to autumn!”

As they continued digging, Iris estimated they had gathered enough and began wandering around the area. That’s when she made a new discovery.

Her mysterious ability led her to a patch of grass. In her mind, she heard, “Tiger-tail grass—a herb that enhances strength and courage. Often used for battle or daring adventures.”

Gazing at the patch of tiger-tail grass, Iris thought of Leiand and immediately began harvesting it. She continued exploring and discovered even more herbs. Each time she found a new plant, its medicinal properties would appear in her mind. Among the herbs were blood-staunching grass and silvermoon grass. Silvermoon grass, she learned, could be used to create potions with healing and protective powers.

As the sun began to set, Iris’s bamboo basket was nearly full. A satisfied smile appeared on her face as she made her way back to the cave with light steps. This forest was truly a treasure trove! She marveled at how it not only teemed with game but also held an abundance of rare medicinal herbs.

In just one afternoon, Iris had gathered plenty of herbs to alleviate pain, heal wounds, and treat illnesses. She even found a few rare ingredients. Although the tribe’s members were strong, they were still vulnerable to illness and injury, especially in the harsh winter. If she could gather and store more herbs, the tribe would have better protection in the colder months.

When Leiand returned from his hunt, the setting sun cast a golden glow over Iris. Her white figure stood out against the backdrop of the cave, radiant in the twilight. She was busy processing the herbs she had collected.

Leiand had brought back not only some lamb but also two chickens. He figured Iris liked this type of smaller game, even though it wasn’t very popular among the others. Though slightly exasperated, he still made a habit of catching a couple for her.

Seeing the chickens, Iris was indeed delighted.

Just as she was about to help process the game Leiand had brought, a commotion erupted at the tribe’s gates. Shouts and hurried footsteps broke the evening calm.

“Quick! Find the healer! Jimmy’s been bitten by a snake!”

Iris turned to see a beastman rushing into the tribe, carrying a child. Behind him was Kami, the woman Iris had been gathering fruit with earlier.

Kami ran to Iris, crying out, “Iris, my brother was bitten by a snake! Please save him! It’s a venomous snake—he’ll die if you don’t help!”

A beastman holding Kami back shook his head solemnly. “Kami, you know that those bitten by venomous snakes are said to be cursed by evil spirits. Even a healer can’t save them.”