Once back at the village, Ava immediately went to the kitchen, while Kael busied himself crushing the portion of salt they had brought home. He ground it into fine grains and stored it neatly in salt containers. Meanwhile, Ava went to her personal poultry area and selected three bubu birds she had been raising for personal use. After Kael finished his task, he helped Ava by slaughtering and cleaning the birds. Using his sharp claws, he skilfully cut the birds into manageable pieces before placing them into a pot to simmer.
Ava took over from there, skilfully adding freshly prepared spices—ginger, garlic, onions, citrus juice, and a bit of zest—to the bubbling pot. Kael had peeled and chopped the ingredients efficiently, and when the time came, Ava added a few pinches of the new salt. Before long, the kitchen was filled with the delicious aroma of rich, fragrant chicken soup.
As time passed, the savory scent began to waft out of the house and drift into the open air. Orcs lingering nearby lifted their heads, sniffing eagerly. Their gazes turned toward George's home with barely concealed envy. Ava's cooking skills were well known—among all the tribe's females, she had a reputation for being the most talented cook. It was no surprise that both George and Kael were considered to be extremely fortunate.
That jealousy was nearly tangible.
George, drawn by the scent and accompanied by Amon, returned from meeting with the hunting team. Under the resentful stares of nearby orcs, he walked into the yard, dropped off Ava's share of fresh meat, took a quick bath, and changed into clean beast skin clothing. He followed the irresistible smell straight to the kitchen.
The aroma made George's empty stomach tighten with hunger. He hadn't eaten all morning, and the scent was almost overwhelming.
Ava greeted him with a large bowl—so big it dwarfed his face—brimming with steaming, golden chicken soup. She handed him a wooden spoon and fork and said gently, "Drink some soup to warm yourself."
George accepted the oversized bowl with both hands and took a sip. The warmth of the soup immediately spread through his body, relaxing his muscles and soothing his insides. He shivered from the comfort it brought.
He picked up a piece of chicken and bit into it. The meat was incredibly tender—it practically melted on his tongue. George sat inside the kitchen, happily slurping soup and chewing on meat, while the other orcs watched from a very long distance, swallowing their drool as they stared longingly at their home.
Ava filled another bowl with the rich soup and generous pieces of meat, then called out to Amon, who was lingering outside, "You worked hard today. Come have some soup and meat—it's my way of saying thanks."
Amon's eyes welled up with emotion. He stepped inside to accept the hearty offering, Just as he was about to sit down, he caught a glimpse of Kael's sharp, possessive gaze. Instantly changing his mind, he stammered, "I'll eat outside," and darted off like a startled hare.
Ava let out an exasperated sigh. Knowing Kael's overbearing personality, she simply rolled her eyes at him before walking away to enjoy her own bowl.
She settled on a low stool, and as she ate, warmth spread through her entire body. She couldn't help but think to herself, "This soup would be perfect during winter..."
As evening approached, Ava and her mates made their way to the shaman's home, finding the tribe leader and Amon already seated and engaged in hushed conversation. The warm glow of the setting sun cast a golden light over the gathering, illuminating the determined faces of the beastmen.
Upon Ava's arrival, the group exchanged warm greetings, their voices filled with a sense of camaraderie and shared purpose. The tribe leader, his eyes shining with a hint of excitement, began to share his thoughts. "Ava, I've been thinking," he said, his voice measured and deliberate. "We should select a few beastmen to patrol the area around the cave subtly and rotate guard duty to ensure our safety."
Ava's face lit up with enthusiasm as she applauded the tribe leader's idea. "That's a great idea," she said, her voice filled with conviction. "Not only should we select a few beastmen, but we should also keep them under oath of secrecy by having them swear to the Beast God." She paused, her eyes locking onto the shaman's, who nodded in understanding.
"In the beast world," Ava continued, "when a person swears using the Beast God's name, they cannot break the oath or they will die. This will ensure that our secret remains safe." The others nodded in agreement, their faces set with determination.
Ava's thoughts turned to the logistics of their newfound resource. "We should also recruit strong or elite beastmen or even begin training beastmen of our tribe specifically to defend the territory of the Tree Tribe without drawing suspicion," she suggested. The others agreed that this was a good idea, and the discussion flowed smoothly.
"I have a few ideas that I've been thinking about," Ava said, her voice filled with excitement. "Firstly, we should mine the salt in small, consistent amounts to avoid depleting the supply too quickly or attracting attention from nearby tribes. We will also need to use distant, trusted traveling beastmen merchants to trade on behalf of the tribe without disclosing the source."
Everyone agreed with this idea, their faces filled with admiration for Ava's resourcefulness. "Your ideas never cease to amaze us, Ava," the tribe leader said, his voice filled with gratitude.
Ava continued, her thoughts flowing freely. "We might also need to dig or find other hidden exits in case the main entrance is compromised. And we might have to build salt storage facilities in secure areas of the village." She paused, her eyes sparkling with creativity. "We could also have emergency rations hidden in multiple places far from the village, for example, we could wrap them in a clay vat and dig a secret den to store the salts. It has to be a place that is not prone to floods, and we can think further about that later."
As Ava finished speaking, the group fell into a thoughtful silence, each member lost in their own thoughts. After a moment, Kael spoke up, his voice calm and measured. "I know a few traveling merchants, the leader is a snake beastman like me. He can be trusted to keep a secret, and he is very strong."
The tribe leader nodded, his eyes shining with determination. "I will be in charge of patrolling and picking out strong beastmen who will guard the area quietly." Amon spoke up next, his voice filled with conviction. "I will be in charge of supervising the salt mining, and George will help me."
George nodded in agreement, his face set with determination. The shaman, who had been quietly observing the discussion, spoke up, his voice tinged with a hint of concern. "Oh dear, it seems I don't have a role."
Ava smiled warmly, her eyes locking onto the shaman's. "Don't worry, shaman, you do have a role. Your role is to keep the peace in the tribe and help clear any suspicions in the mind of the people. At some point, when people start to suspect our activities near the cave, you can tell the warriors and the people that the cave is a sacred gift from the Beast God. This will spiritually bind tribe members to protect it and discourage betrayal for a time."
The shaman's face lit up with understanding, and he nodded his head in agreement. "I see," he said, his voice filled with newfound purpose. "I will make sure to keep the peace and maintain the spiritual balance within the tribe."
As the discussion drew to a close, Ava added, "As for me, I'll start working on how to use salt to cure meat and make it last till even after winter." The group erupted into excited chatter, their faces filled with anticipation. Kael pulled Ava close, hugging her tightly. "I'm looking forward to tasting the cured meat," he said, his voice filled with amusement.
The meeting concluded with a sense of purpose and determination, each member knowing their role in the tribe's new endeavor. As they dispersed into the evening,
Ava felt a sense of belonging as she walked away from the shaman's home, the warm glow of the setting sun casting a golden light over the village. The way the tribe members listened to her opinions without protest made her feel valued and respected. She was fast becoming an indispensable individual in the tribe, and she knew that her influence on the tribe's people would only continue to grow.
As she thought about the future, Ava couldn't help but smile. Soon, the tribe would discover her involvement in discovering the salt, and people like Emily would have no choice but to acknowledge her contributions. However, Ava hoped that day wouldn't come too soon. With great power came great responsibilities, and she wasn't sure she was ready to handle the weight of her newfound importance.
For now, Ava focused on the more pressing issue of stockpiling food for the coming winter. The winters she remembered from her past were harsh and unforgiving, bringing severe cold, hunger, and sometimes lasting longer than they should. By the end of winter, she would be all skin and bones, a shadow of her former self.
Ava's thoughts drifted back to her childhood, memories of her father's bravery and selflessness flooding her mind. He would venture into the snowy forest, returning after many days with prey and wounds on his body. His sacrifices had ensured Ava and her sister, Isabelle, survived the harsh winters. Ava's heart swelled with gratitude as she thought about her father's strength and love.
The memory of those winters made Ava more determined to help the tribe prepare for the coming winter. She knew that with the salt, they could cure meat and make it last till the end of winter. The thought of having a steady food supply brought her a sense of comfort and relief.
As Ava walked through the village, she noticed the tribe members busy with their evening routines. Some were preparing dinner, while others were tending to their homes or spending time with their families. Ava felt a sense of belonging among these people, and she knew that she would do everything in her power to help them thrive.
With a newfound sense of purpose, Ava made her way to her home, her mind already racing with ideas on how to use the salt to cure meat and prepare the tribe for the coming winter. She was determined to make a difference in the tribe's lives, and she knew that with her knowledge and skills, she could help them survive even the harshest of winters.