Maddy guided the girl to a spot in front of the bonfire she had rebuilt. The night was growing colder, the wind whistling through the rocky pass, but the circle of light stayed warm. Over the flames, a heavy pot bubbled with a rich, golden soup.
The girl's nose twitched. A familiar, savory scent drifted through the air, cutting through her exhaustion. Maddy was using her Food Slime traits again, but this time she had manifested the lean, mana rich meat of a Dao Deer. She knew the child needed protein and restorative energy for the long trek in the morning.
Maddy didn't ask a single question. She didn't press for the name of the village or the details of the attack. She simply focused on the ladle, stirring the broth with a gentle, rhythmic motion. She gave the girl the one thing she hadn't had in a long time: space to just exist without being hunted.
