Moonlit vow

20.wine

In a quiet corner of the exchange gathering, Iris's attention was drawn to a distinctive stall. On display were large barrels of vividly colored juice, resembling grape juice, with a deep purple-red hue shimmering in the sunlight. The stall belonged to the Monkey Tribe, and sitting behind it were the old tribal leader and his youngest son.

The old leader greeted Iris and Leiand with warmth as they approached. "Welcome, esteemed guests! Come, try this—it's our Monkey Tribe’s specialty juice! One sip guarantees a good night’s sleep," he said enthusiastically. Meanwhile, his young son handed two wooden cups filled with juice.

Iris took a cautious sip, her brow slightly furrowing as she tasted the unfamiliar flavor. This was no ordinary fruit juice—it was clearly fermented grape juice, with a subtle hint of alcohol. Iris chuckled inwardly, realizing that the Monkey Tribe didn’t fully understand the fermentation process, believing instead that it was just a natural evolution of the flavor.

"This juice… is indeed quite special," Iris said smoothly, while Leiand also took a sip, nodding in approval.

The old tribal leader beamed with pride. "This is our tribe’s treasure! No other tribe can replicate it. One taste ensures a peaceful night, but don’t drink too much—it will make you dizzy!"

During their conversation, the youngest son’s gaze shifted to Iris’s small cart nearby. He gently nudged his father and whispered, "Father, look at that thing!"

The old leader glanced at the cart and immediately showed a look of amazement. He stepped forward, his voice full of envy. "Dear Wolf King and Queen, this cart of yours is truly ingenious! How did you come up with such a design? Our tribe, when harvesting fruits from the trees, can only rely on carrying them one by one.

Moving them is exhausting, especially with the barrels of juice we brought here—we almost collapsed. If we had a few of these carts, it would solve a major problem for us!"

Iris, after a brief consideration, scanned the remaining barrels of grape juice. She quickly made a decision. "If you’re willing, we can exchange our remaining carts for all the grape juice at your stall. Our tribe is far away, and with so many members, the supply of grape juice isn’t sufficient."

The old leader’s eyes lit up at her offer. "Really? That’s wonderful!" His youngest son jumped with excitement, nearly knocking over the barrels.

Thus, Iris handed over the remaining carts, and the old leader eagerly filled them with ten barrels of grape juice.

The Monkey father and son looked at the carts with contentment. "Our tribe is located deep in the southeastern forest, with stunning scenery and many fruit trees. If you ever visit, you’re welcome to stay. If you bring more of these carts, we’ll have endless grape juice!" the old leader said happily.

The youngest son added with excitement, "If you visit during other seasons, we’ll have other fruits to trade, like sweet peaches and juicy pears."

Iris and Leiand were moved by their enthusiasm, smiling as they promised, "We’ll definitely visit your tribe sometime and bring more carts!"

The old leader nodded with satisfaction as they left the stall.

After several days of trading, Iris noticed that her spicy dried meat had become a sought-after item. Tribes from all over were praising its unique flavor, and in less than three days, her entire stock was exchanged.

In addition to the carts and dried meat, their salt proved highly popular. Almost every tribe sought some, while dried fish and animal hides were primarily traded to the Fox and Leopard tribes. The Fox tribe, in particular, adored the taste of dried fish and expressed interest in a continuous exchange.

The exchange gathering lasted about a week, but most tribes left early once the trading was completed. After all, keeping the tribe’s leader away for too long would create unease.

Leiand and Iris, having completed their trades, decided to leave early. At the same time, Daniel, the Black Wolf tribe’s alpha, made the same decision.

"Let’s travel together," Daniel proposed.

"Sure," Leiand agreed without hesitation.

Thus, their two groups once again united and embarked on the journey home.

Along the way, Iris continued enthusiastically planning. "When we return, we’ll plant the wheat seeds and cultivate more peppers. Next year, we’ll bring even better goods to the exchange gathering!"

Leiand looked at her with a smile. "You’re full of energy! Looks like I need to work even harder!"

Iris patted her chest confidently. "We’ll succeed together! Our tribe will only grow stronger!"

The sunlight bathed them as they walked, and the forest path seemed brighter than before. Carrying their abundant supplies and dreams for the future, they continued their journey toward their homeland.

Leiand and Iris returned safely to the Sky Wolf Tribe, where everything appeared as usual. The tribe members were busy with their daily tasks. When the tribe saw that the Wolf King and Queen had returned safely, they gathered around with joyful smiles on their faces. Although they hadn’t yet held an official tribal wedding, the tribe had already come to regard Iris as their Queen, showing their respect and affection for her.

Seeing this, Leiand was deeply moved. To celebrate their return, he raised his hand and announced loudly, "Tonight, we will have a bonfire celebration! Everyone, join us to celebrate! Also, we’ve brought back a special new juice for everyone to try."

As night fell, the bonfire blazed in the center of the tribe. The fiery glow lit up everyone’s faces, and the tribe members sat around the fire, eagerly waiting for the celebration to begin.

Leiand and Iris brought out the grape wine they had exchanged from the Monkey Tribe and poured it into wooden cups, distributing them among the tribe. After taking a sip, the tribe members felt a warmth spread from their throats down their bodies, finding the sensation quite magical.

As the wine was passed around more freely, the atmosphere grew increasingly lively. The tribe members began singing and dancing, their laughter echoing through the night sky. However, some of the tribe had consumed a bit too much and started feeling dizzy. They wobbled unsteadily, needing the support of their companions to leave the bonfire. Others, overcome by the joy of the moment, began speaking nonsensically. Concerned for their safety, Iris decided to collect the remaining wine, ensuring that the sober members helped everyone return safely to their caves.

Leiand, too, couldn’t escape the effects of the wine. Overcome with excitement, he drank more than he intended. At first, he had underestimated the potency of the fruit juice, but soon, the aftereffects hit hard.

After the celebration, Iris gently helped the tipsy Leiand back to their cave to rest. The cool night breeze flowed through the cave, offering a refreshing touch, but the warmth from the wine enveloped them in a cozy embrace.

In the early morning, sunlight streamed through the cracks in the cave, illuminating the embrace of the two sleeping figures. Leiand slowly opened his eyes, careful not to wake the woman in his arms, feeling a deep sense of happiness. He gently ran his fingers through her long hair, thinking quietly about preparing a grand wedding to make her truly his Queen.

Iris woke up under Leiand's gaze, meeting his tender eyes. Memories of last night's festivities resurfaced, causing a blush to rise on her cheeks. Leiand spoke softly, "The bonfire celebration last night was truly beautiful. That grape wine is something special. We should visit the Monkey Tribe again sometime to get more!" Iris shyly nodded, "Yes, but we’ll need to remind everyone to drink in moderation to avoid the same situation again." Remembering the embarrassing moments from yesterday’s events, she couldn’t help but smile.

The two sat up, tidying their clothes before Leiand stepped out of the cave to resume his daily tasks. Iris remained inside, beginning to plan the organization of the wheat seeds and the previously stored chili seeds they had exchanged during the trading conference. She envisioned setting aside a section of the tribe's land for cultivating these crops.

However, Iris wasn’t entirely familiar with planting techniques. She relied on the magic of her "golden finger" ability to access the knowledge she needed. Closing her eyes, she mentally whispered, "How to plant wheat?" Immediately, a detailed guide appeared in her mind.

She discovered that wheat thrives in deep, fertile soil with good drainage. Before planting, the land must be deeply tilled and fertilized to ensure healthy growth. As for chili, she already knew it requires a warm environment for seedling growth. Once the seedlings reach a certain stage, they can be transplanted outdoors. Chili requires careful watering; it is sensitive to both drought and waterlogging, necessitating meticulous management.

With these steps clear in her mind, Iris began selecting tribe members skilled in agricultural labor to assist her. These hardworking women were accustomed to embracing new ideas from the Queen, believing they would ultimately benefit the tribe.

Under Iris’s guidance, they began clearing the chosen land. They selected a flat, sunny area to begin the preparation. First, they tilled the soil, loosening it to improve aeration and drainage. Following Iris's advice, they applied an appropriate amount of fertilizer to provide the crops with ample nutrients.

During the land preparation, they faced several challenges. Some sections had poor soil fertility and required additional fertilizer. Other areas were overrun with weeds that needed complete removal. Fertilizer management became another concern—if this planting succeeded, they would need more for future plots. These problems required step-by-step solutions, with the primary focus being the successful cultivation of this initial piece of land.

After several days of dedicated effort, the land was finally ready. Following the knowledge provided by her golden finger, Iris guided the tribe members to evenly sow the wheat seeds across the field, then lightly cover them with soil and press down gently. For the chili seeds, they began indoor seedling growth. Iris soaked the chili seeds in warm water to encourage germination, then planted them in suitable pots. These pots were kept in a warm environment, ensuring the ideal temperature for growth.