NOVPUB
Chapter 274: Chapter 274 Small Victory
On the other side, another group consisting of Kai, Rowan, and Theo was busy searching for a water source.
"Have you seen Sandra?" Rowan asked as he pushed aside some dense underbrush.
"No," Theo replied, his voice tinged with sadness. "After the beauty contest, she disappeared and hasn’t come back. I miss her a lot. Maybe she found a better place."
Kai, who had been scanning the area for any signs of water, glanced at Theo and said quietly, "She has a lot of admirers. Even if she came back, she might not consider you."
Theo sighed and nodded. "Yeah, I suppose you’re right. It’s just that I thought we had something special. Guess I was wrong." 𝚗o𝚟pub.𝚌𝚘𝚖
Rowan tried to lighten the mood. "Well, if you’re looking for someone who appreciates you, there are plenty of fish in the sea. Just focus on finding water for now."
Theo chuckled, appreciating Rowan’s attempt to lift his spirits. "Thanks, Rowan. I guess you’re right. Besides, it’s not like we’re in a position to be picky right now. Finding water is our top priority."
As they continued through the thick underbrush, Kai’s gaze sharpened. "Wait, I think I see something up ahead."
As the group reached there, their excitement quickly faded. There was no clear water source, only a shallow ditch that didn’t hold much promise.
"Well, this is disappointing," Kai said, clearly frustrated. "Let’s head in another direction."
Rowan and Theo nodded in agreement. They turned around and started walking back, not noticing the large, yellow eyes peering out from the ditch. As dusk settled, the forest grew darker, and the looming head was barely visible against the dimming light.
The group continued their search, and just as they were about to lose hope, they found a small, hidden waterfall within the dense forest near their cave. The water cascaded gently over a rock face, creating a serene, clear pool below. The location was well-hidden by thick foliage, making it easy to miss if you weren’t looking closely.
"Look at this!" Rowan called out, his voice full of relief. "We found it!"
Theo and Kai rushed over, their faces lighting up with joy at the sight of the fresh water.
"This is perfect," Kai said, grinning. "It’s well-hidden, but it’s exactly what we needed."
They quickly filled their containers and admired the peaceful spot. The sound of the waterfall was calming, a welcome contrast to their earlier frustration.
"I’m glad we found this," Theo said, his spirits lifted. "Now we can head back and get some rest."
***
Kyra and her group returned to the cave, feeling both relieved and exhausted. As they entered, they saw that everyone else had already made it back. The cave was warm and inviting, with a fire crackling in the center, casting a comforting glow over the gathered warriors. The mats had been rearranged around the fire, and a pile of freshly cut wood was stacked nearby.
"Found anything useful?" Leader Marc asked as he walked to a corner of the cave and took out a clean cloth from his bag, wiping the sweat from his brow.
"Yes, we found a water source," Rowan said, pointing to a medium-sized container filled with fresh water in corner. "We filled up our containers."
Ash, looking a bit downcast, spoke up. "We didn’t find any suitable shelter. The area we explored was mostly overgrown with bushes and strange plants. We did come across some unusual ones, though."
Noticing Ash’s disappointment, Kyra tried to comfort him. "It’s fine. We already have a good place here," she said with a reassuring smile. Ash’s mood lightened as he returned her smile.
Leo then spoke up, catching Leader Marc’s attention. "We found some small, fat animals we can roast for tonight. Also, we spotted a fruit tree with some birds eating the fruit. We could collect them later."
Leader Marc nodded in approval. "Great job, everyone. It sounds like we have plenty to work with. Let’s prepare the food and get some rest."
Ash and Rowan started preparing the small, fat animals for roasting. Leo and his group members had already cleaned the prey, so Ash and Rowan took over the next steps. Rowan skewered the animals on a makeshift spit, while Ash arranged the spit over the fire.
Ash and Rowan carefully added salt and some spices they had brought along to enhance the flavor of the meat. They sprinkled the seasoning evenly, ensuring that each piece would be flavorful. The aroma of the seasoned meat soon mingled with the scent of the roasting fire, creating a mouthwatering smell that made everyone’s stomachs growl.
As the meat cooked, the conversation around the fire grew lively.
Lucas sat with the other warriors, recounting his earlier encounter with the strange beasts. "You know, those creatures that kept rubbing against me? It was like they thought I was their long-lost brother or something," he chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief. The warriors laughed along, amused by his story.
"Maybe they just had a thing for your fur," one of them joked.
Meanwhile, Damon kept his distance from the group as he held Kyra close. His expression was gentle, and he spoke softly in her ear. "Little thing, if you’re feeling uncomfortable with so many around, you can sleep in my arms tonight," he whispered. His tone was reassuring, and Kyra looked up at him with a grateful smile. "Thank you, Damon. That sounds nice," she replied, feeling comforted by his presence.
Kyra leaned comfortably against Damon, enjoying the warmth and safety of his embrace. The crackling fire cast a gentle glow over their faces as they sat apart from the others, who were busy with their own conversations and preparations.
Damon’s voice was soft, barely audible above the crackle of the fire. "You look more relaxed now," he murmured, his breath warm against Kyra’s ear. "I’m glad we found this place. It feels like a small victory."
Kyra smiled up at him, feeling the tension of the day slowly melting away. "It does feel like we’ve made some progress. I was a bit worried about finding a safe spot, but this cave is perfect."
