Aurora stood by the stream as her stomach growled again, louder this time.
She glanced toward the stream, recalling the small flashes of movement beneath the clear water she had noticed earlier. There were plenty of fish down there, darting between rocks and reeds.
Food was right there. She just needed to catch it.
She scanned the surrounding area and began gathering dry leaves and twigs. Her movements were slower than before but still deliberate as she carried everything back to the spot near the hanging hides and arranged them carefully into a small pile.
She grabbed two stones from deeper in the woods and returned to the pile. She then struck the stones together a few times, and the fourth time, spark flew straight into the pile of dry leaves and started a fire.
Though it was small at first, she build it into a steady one by adding more dry leaves and small twigs.
She watched it for a moment, ensuring it wouldn't spread uncontrollably as she added bigger dry branches to build the fire further.
Once the fire was steady, she moved toward a nearby tree and selected a long, sturdy branch before breaking it free. With controlled force, she snapped off its smaller protrusions before using a sharp-edged rock to whittle one end down.
When she finished, she held a makeshift spear in her hand. And while it was far from perfect, it was still sharp enough to do its job.
She then returned to the stream and stepped into the water once more. She felt her senses sharpening despite the fatigue.
The fish were moving quickly, but not unpredictably.
She watched and waited, studying the patterns for a while before she struck. The spear pierced the water... and missed.
She didn't react. Instead, she adjusted and waited again for another minute before striking again. And this time, the spear hit its target with ease.
The fish struggled briefly before going still as Aurora pulled it out. Since it was a small one, she caught two more.
She had no utensils or knife, but at least she knew how to use the things present in her surroundings to make do with her needs.
She grabbed the same sharp-edged stone from before and used it to clean the fish with practiced precision. She began with scrapping off the scales, then she cut the fish open and removed their insides, and finally she finished by washing them thoroughly in the stream.
Once done, she found sturdy branches and pierced through each fish before positioning them over the fire.
The flames crackled softly and heat rose as she adjusted the placement of the fish, ensuring they all got evenly cooked.
While the fish were getting roasted, she unwrapped the towel from her hair and hung it beside the hides.
The pastel red of her damp strands caught the flicker of firelight, looking even more eye-catching.
She then used a small amount of hair serum and worked it carefully through the strands. Then she left them loose to allow them to air dry.
Finally, she settled down on a big, flat rock near the fire. It was close enough for the warmth and far enough for comfort.
In no time, the rich, smoky aroma of roasted fish filled the air, and Aurora's stomach responded immediately.
Though she didn't even have salt for seasoning, she was still excited to taste the food she had prepared with so much care after everything she had gone through today.
She picked one up carefully and blew lightly over the surface before taking her first bite. It was warm, tender, and simple.
She took another bite.
And another.
For a brief moment, there was peace around her. No system, no threats, no complications... just food.
But then, she heard a soft, almost faint, rustling sound. Her body stilled instantly. She turned her head slightly, letting her gaze scan the shadows.
And there, behind another rock on the other side of fire, she noticed a small movement.
Her eyes narrowed as she looked closely, and then, she saw it - a cub.
It was small and white as fresh snow. Its fur were almost glowing under the soft light of the fire and the twin moons above.
But what caught Aurora's attention were its clear, ocean blue eyes that were reflecting the flickering flames.
She didn't move, didn't speak. She just watched. And then, Navi's voice burst into her mind.
[Host! Rare species detected!]
Aurora didn't react outwardly.
[Snow White Lion Cub! Extremely rare! High-value genetic lineage!]
"Lower your volume," Aurora said internally.
[You should befriend it! Raise it! Keep it! This is a valuable asset!]
Aurora ignored the over-enthusiastic system and kept her gaze fixed on the cub.
It was hiding.
Half its body was concealed behind the rock as it peeked at her cautiously. She couldn't sense any aggressiveness or hostility from the little beast, just pure curiosity... and wariness.
Aurora shifted slightly, slow enough not to startle it.
Still the cub tensed, its gaze momentarily flickering to the small bonfire.
"…Fire," Aurora murmured.
Navi responded immediately.
[Fire is not commonly used in this world. So most beasts instinctively avoid it.]
That explained it.
Aurora looked at the cub again, and after thinking of something, she held up the fish in her hand slightly and spoke in a calm voice.
"Do you want to eat?"
The cub blinked, but didn't move.
Aurora waited as silence stretched. Several long minutes passed, and them...
"Your loss."
She took another bite.
And just as she did, the cub moved.