《Gadugi》 Ch 1: Stolen Voice The morning mist clung to Rebecca''s ankles as she moved through the forest, her Elisi''s woven basket swinging lightly at her hip. Dawn barely broke, painting the sky with muted shades of pink and gold. She paused beneath a towering oak, fingers hovering uncertainly over a cluster of mushrooms. *"The plants speak if you listen,"* Elisi¡¯s voice echoed in her memory, but Rebecca sighed and plucked the mushrooms without much thought. Her grandmother always stressed the land¡¯s symbols, but Rebecca had never fully grasped their significance. They were just words to her¡ªwisdom for someone else. "Wado," she whispered to the oak out of habit, repeating the motion as Elisi had taught her. It was routine now; more gesture than belief. She bent to gather the mushrooms, noting how the forest felt just the same as every other morning. The light shimmer she thought she saw around her hands¡ªlikely just dew catching the sun. Nothing more. Back at the cabin, Elisi sat in her usual spot in the back room, wrapped in her worn blanket adorned with Blue clan patterns. Her frail body was hunched, but her eyes, deep with generations of memory, fixed on Rebecca. Without a word, Elisi extended her hand for the basket. Rebecca sat it down beside her and felt the familiar awkwardness of the moment. ¡°The oak tree shared its medicine,¡± she said, though the words in Cherokee felt slightly distant, they meant more to Elisi. Elisi examined the mushrooms with care, nodding slowly. ¡°You felt something today?¡± Rebecca hesitated. ¡°I mean¡­ they were there. I took them.¡± She shrugged. ¡°I didn¡¯t feel much different.¡± Rebecca shifted uncomfortably but was saved from replying when the sounds of thunder cut through the morning stillness. There was a commotion coming from the village center. Horses'' hooves thundered on packed earth, and a sense of dread settled over Rebecca, like a cold hand on her spine. The commotion from the village center grew louder. She exchanged a glance with Elisi, who, despite her age, moved with surprising swiftness. "Pack what speaks to you," Elisi commanded, her voice steady. "Leave behind what doesn¡¯t." Rebecca blinked in confusion, her eyes darting to the shelves filled with belongings. ¡°Speaks to me?¡± she repeated, but her hands remained still. They were just things¡ªobjects, tools, food. But Elisi was already moving, pulling dried herbs from the rafters with practiced ease and handing Rebecca a bundle of corn and coffee. ¡°Now, you must trust.¡± Trust. It was a word her elisi used often, but Rebecca felt the gulf between them widen in moments like these. She hesitated again, glancing around the room, unsure of what was important. ¡°Elisi, I¡ª¡± Her grandmother didn¡¯t let her finish. She pushed a small bundle into Rebecca¡¯s hands. ¡°This. And this.¡± She gestured toward the stone mortar, still heavy with the scent of freshly ground herbs. Rebecca reluctantly gathered the items. She had never felt the energy her grandmother spoke of, never understood the connection. Yet, Elisi¡¯s insistence forced her to move, to act, even if she didn¡¯t understand why. As the shouts of soldiers drew nearer, Rebecca¡¯s hands moved faster. She stuffed the bundle and mortar into a sack, along with the clan wampum, unsure if she chose them because they ¡®spoke¡¯ to her or because Elisi expected her to. The scene outside was chaos. Families were being driven from their homes, children clutching at their parents, and elders struggling to keep up. Rebecca''s heart pounded, and for the first time, something inside her stirred¡ªan awareness, almost a warning. She glanced at Elisi, whose face remained composed, but her eyes were sharp, unwavering. The door burst open with a loud crash, and soldiers filled the frame, their bayonets glinting in the early morning light. ¡°Out! Now!¡± They barked, voices hard and unfamiliar. Elisi grabbed the sack from Rebecca, ordered her to stay in the room and slipped out toward the commotion and the rest of the family. Her two younger siblings clung to their mother¡¯s side, eyes wide with fear. Rebecca¡¯s mother stood frozen near the hearth, one hand trembling as she reached for the basket of corn. Their father moved forward slowly, his hands raised, but there was a resignation in his face¡ªhe knew better than to fight. The soldiers stormed inside, their presence filling the room with a cold, heartless authority. ¡°Out!¡± one of them barked, his gaze sweeping over them like they were livestock. ¡°We need more time,¡± Rebecca¡¯s father said, his voice calm, though it wavered slightly. ¡°We are gathering our things¡ª¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have time!¡± The soldier snapped, pushing past him without a second glance. The man¡¯s gaze settled on a small carved knife that Rebecca¡¯s younger brother had proudly made weeks earlier. Without hesitation, the soldier grabbed it, turning it over in his hands. ¡°That¡¯s mine!¡± her brother cried out, lunging toward the soldier. Rebecca quickly reached out and grabbed his arm, pulling him back. The soldier smiled, twisting the small knife in his fingers. ¡°Not anymore.¡± His tone was mocking, dismissive. Behind him, another soldier rifled through their belongings, opening crates, scattering clothes, upending a basket of corn with an air of bored entitlement. His hands moved quickly, without care, and when he found something he liked¡ªa small copper bracelet their mother had kept as an heirloom¡ªhe slipped it into his pocket. Rebecca¡¯s father¡¯s hands clenched at his sides, but he didn¡¯t move. They had heard the stories¡ªfamilies who fought back, tried to resist, and were met with unspeakable violence. They had seen their neighbors taken away in chains, some never returning. It was too dangerous to fight. The price was too high. Their mother clutched her siblings tighter as the soldiers continued to plunder the cabin. They took whatever caught their eye¡ªblankets, tools, the little that their family still had. Her father¡¯s jaw was tight, his eyes burning with quiet rage, but he remained still, his fingers twitching with the urge to protect his family. But he couldn¡¯t. None of them could. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. One soldier, taller and more deliberate than the others, moved toward the back of the cabin. His eyes swept over the room, and Elisi¡¯s breath caught in her throat as he approached the door to the small room Rebecca was in. He pushed the door open with a lazy shove, his gaze shifting over the room¡ªa bed and belongings, the few personal items strewn about. His eyes landed on Rebecca, lingering for a moment too long. She could feel his gaze like a weight pressing down on her, heavy and suffocating. He picked up a small blanket that hung on the edge of the bed frame, examining it briefly before letting it drop. His gaze shifted back to her, slow, appraising. He said nothing, but the implication was there, lingering in the air like smoke. Rebecca¡¯s heart hammered in her chest, but she forced herself to stand still, her face a mask of defiance. The soldier stepped closer, leaning in just enough to brush his fingers against the edge of her dress. His touch was light, sending a chill through her body. Rebecca¡¯s stomach twisted, but she didn¡¯t move. She couldn¡¯t. Her entire body was frozen, her mind screaming, but her limbs refusing to respond. She felt paralyzed beneath his gaze, trapped in a moment she couldn¡¯t escape. The soldier¡¯s eyes flickered with amusement before he straightened up, casting one last glance over her. ¡°I¡¯ll remember you,¡± he whispered as he turned away and left the room. The door clicked softly behind him, and Rebecca stood there, trembling, from the weight of what had just happened. There was nothing she could do or say that would change it, nothing that would undo what had been done. When she finally emerged from the room, her face was pale, her hands trembling. Her mother and father were busy with the soldiers, their attention fixed on keeping their younger siblings safe. No one saw the way she faltered, the way her legs shook beneath her. Elisi¡¯s eyes met hers for a moment, sharp and knowing, but she said nothing. If she sensed something was wrong, she didn¡¯t let on. Outside, the soldiers were growing impatient. ¡°Move!¡± one of them shouted, his hand on the hilt of his rifle. Rebecca¡¯s father moved first, guiding her siblings toward the door, his face tight with anger. Her mother followed, glancing nervously at the soldiers who still hovered around the cabin, grabbing what little they hadn¡¯t already taken. Rebecca moved to follow, her steps slow and shaky. She couldn¡¯t shake the feeling of the soldier¡¯s hand on her skin, the way his breath had felt like a violation all on its own. But she couldn¡¯t tell them. They didn¡¯t need to know. As they stepped outside, the cold morning air hit her like a slap. The village was in chaos¡ªfamilies being herded together, children crying, elders struggling to keep up. The soldiers were everywhere, pushing and shouting, their voices harsh against the silence of grief and heartache. Her family stayed close together, her mother¡¯s arms around her younger brothers, her father¡¯s eyes scanning the crowd with weary resignation. Rebecca¡¯s heart ached, not just for herself but for everyone around them. Their home, their land¡ªit was all slipping away. And no one could stop it. As they were led away from the cabin, Rebecca cast one last glance at the place that had been their home, the small bits of her life scattered and stolen, just like the lives of the people around her. Rebecca felt a flicker of something¡ªa connection, a recognition¡ªbut it was fleeting. She shook it off, focusing on the immediate task of survival. There was no time for symbols or ancestral wisdom now. They were being forced into exile, and that was all she could understand. As we were led away from our cabin, Elisi shuffled over to me and pressed a final bundle into my hands, wrapping one of our blankets around my shoulders. "Here Rebecca. Take this and hide it under your blanket. I was told we will be walking the entire way. So, we need to prepare for the worst." I quickly opened my bundle to take a glance. The herbs glowed green and the corn a golden hue, seemingly more vibrant than they should be. As I stared, a voice, like Elisi¡¯s resonated in my mind. ¡°Preserve the healing wisdom during the journey. Learn the sacred knowledge of these plants to help those in need.¡± Along with this edict, a list of the herbs and their uses flowed through my mind like water: "Don''t let anyone see those," Elisi whispered. "This will be a long journey, and they may be useful. I nodded as I put the bundle under my arm, obscured by the draping of the blanket. The knowledge settled into my mind, feeling both foreign and familiar at once. "I also included some corn and mushrooms for food," Elisi added quietly. "We don''t have a lot so eat only when necessary." As we joined the crowd of our people being herded away from our homes, I felt the weight of both the bundle and my new pursuit pressing against my heart. Perhaps now, on this dark trail ahead, I would finally understand what it meant to listen to the land''s voice. [Chapter 1 Complete]
[New Quest: Trail of Tears]
[Inventory Unlocked: Carrying Capacity (Level 1)] Improved ability to carry essential items with limited strain.
[Item Acquired: Herb Bundle] Contents: Echinacea, Sweetgrass, Yarrow, Wintergreen, Ginseng, Rosemary, Sage Properties: Healing, purification, fever reduction
[New Skill Unlocked: Herb Knowledge (Level 1)] Ability to identify common medicinal herbs found along the journey and gained knowledge of traditional healing plants.
[Debuff Activated: ???] Ch 2: First Steps The cries and shouts of people filled the air as we were herded toward the stockade like cattle. My breath caught in my chest as I clutched the bundle Elisi had given me, the weight of it pressing against my ribs. I could still feel the imprint of that soldier¡¯s hand from earlier, the way he had looked at me, touched me like I was nothing. The shame and anger churned in my gut, making me feel unsettled. I shifted the bundle under my arm, but even that simple movement felt strange. I¡¯d been tired before, plenty of times, but this wasn¡¯t just exhaustion. It was the stress of everything¡ªthe soldiers and the journey ahead. I tried to shake it off. We were just a few steps from where my parents and siblings were being led when the same soldier from earlier appeared again, his eyes scanning the crowd with a bored expression. He spotted me and Elisi, then barked out, ¡°You two! Over here!¡± His voice was rough and commanding, offering no choice in the matter. Before I could react, he was pulling us away from the rest of my family, shoving us toward a different line. His grip on my arm was hard, leaving no room for protest. ¡°Wait¡ªwhat about my family?¡± I stammered, trying to keep up as he marched us forward. ¡°Follow orders,¡± he snapped, barely glancing at me. His eyes flicked past us like we were just another task he needed to check off his list. ¡°Move along! You¡¯ll catch up later.¡± I tried to look back at my parents, at my brothers and sisters, but they were lost in the chaos of bodies being shoved and jostled toward the stockade. My stomach churned again, the anxiety of not knowing where my family was growing in intensity. I forced it down, gripping the bundle tighter as I followed the soldier¡¯s orders. Elisi said nothing, just gripped my arm tighter as we were forced toward the back of a cart being loaded with provisions for the journey. My mind raced, trying to hold onto the image of my family, but they were gone, swallowed up in the moving sea of people. ¡°Only the sick and elderly in the carts!¡± the soldier shouted, indicating only Elisi could ride, and I had to walk. Elisi decided she had the strength to keep moving on foot, so we continued forward as our group started the long journey west. As we stepped on the path, forged by the steps of thousands of Cherokees who had already begun the trail, a hush fell over the people. I could feel the wind pick up, bringing me an earthy scent of cedar. It feels comforting yet charged with an unfamiliar energy, like the air before a storm. Suddenly, I could hear faint whispers flowing through the air around me. They speak the language of the Cherokee, tsalagi. It sounded familiar yet archaic, resonating with a sense that it reaches back generations. The words carry a sense of urgency. The scent of cedar wrapped me in a protective blanket and enveloped me in the words that compelled me forward. ????? (si-da-ne-lv). I had never learned the Cherokee writing system, but I knew it meant family. The whispers began to fade as I continued forward. I had to get back to my family, who were probably still back at the stockade waiting for the next group of soldiers to command their group forward. --- The first few hours on the trail blurred together. The air was thick with dust, and every step I took felt heavier than the last. My feet dragged through the dry earth, kicking up small clouds that clung to the back of my legs. The sun beat down, relentless, turning the sweat on my skin sticky, and the weight of the bundle I carried made my shoulders ache. I glanced over at Elisi, my grandmother, who shuffled beside me, her cane digging into the ground with each careful step. I didn¡¯t know how she managed it. She gripped my arm tightly, as if she was holding me up, not the other way around. ¡°We¡¯ll find them again,¡± she said suddenly, her voice low and calm, as if she could sense the storm of worry swirling inside me. ¡°We just need to keep moving for now. Trust the journey.¡± My grandmother''s words echo in my mind, mixing with the strange new awareness that has been growing since we left our home¡ªlike writing in the air that only I can see. I nodded, even though my heart felt like it was breaking. Trust the journey. Elisi said that all the time, as if the journey was something we could rely on. But I didn¡¯t know how much longer I could keep going¡ªhow much longer she could keep going. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The soldiers barked orders up ahead, and we slowed to a halt. Another ¡°rest¡± that wasn¡¯t really a rest. Just time for the soldiers to regroup, to count heads and make sure no one had wandered off. Elisi nudged me toward a patch of shade beneath a scraggly tree. We sat down, and I watched her settle herself, her movements deliberate and slow. ¡°Come here,¡± she said, beckoning me closer. ¡°I want to show you something.¡± I wanted to protest, to tell her I didn¡¯t have the energy for more of her lessons, but I held my tongue. It wasn¡¯t that I didn¡¯t care¡ªI did. But the things she taught me always felt so far away, like they belonged to a different world that I didn¡¯t quite fit into. I loved Elisi more than anything, but all her talk of spirits and listening to the land¡ªit just never resonated with me the way it did with her. I shuffled over, curious despite the exhaustion clouding my mind. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Look at the people around you,¡± Elisi gestured to the crowd of people resting nearby, her hand sweeping across the sea of faces. ¡°What do you see?¡± I sighed, glancing around without much interest. ¡°I see tired people. Hungry people. Same as us?¡± Elisi shook her head. ¡°No. Look closer. You see with your eyes, but you need to learn to see with your spirit.¡± Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. All I saw were people, just as tired and hungry as I was. I sighed again, impatient and annoyed, but I didn¡¯t want to hurt her feelings. I knew she was trying to teach me something, but I just couldn¡¯t understand. I squinted, focusing harder on the people around us. They were more than just tired, I realized. There was something about the way their shoulders slumped, the way their breathing became shallow and uneven. It wasn¡¯t just physical exhaustion weighing them down¡ªit was something deeper, something that clung to their bones. ¡°You see it now, don¡¯t you?¡± Elisi¡¯s voice was soft, but firm. ¡°It¡¯s not just their bodies that are tired. Their spirits are worn, too. And you¡¯ll need to know how to understand that if we¡¯re going to survive.¡± I blinked, my vision shifting. A faint glow seemed to surround certain people¡ªsubtle, but there. It was as if I could see their energy, their strength¡ªor lack of it. My heart pounded in my chest. Elisi smiled, the warmth of it steadying me. I looked at Elisi, but she just patted my hand, like it was the most natural thing in the world. ¡°You¡¯ve discovered a gift,¡± the sound of her voice filling my mind. Before I could ask, the soldiers shouted again, their voices harsh and impatient. ¡°Move it! No more resting! If you¡¯re too slow, you¡¯ll be left behind!¡± ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nightfall came and we finally set up camp for the night, the cold was a sharp contrast to the heat of the day. The camp was a quiet murmur of whispers and the crackling of burning wood. My body ached from the days walk. I hadn¡¯t eaten anything trying to preserve the little food we had. I felt lightheaded, but I had to tell myself it was nothing. I sat by the fire, watching as Elisi carefully arranged our few belongings into something that resembled a shelter. She moved with purpose, even after everything. ¡°Pay attention,¡± she said, her voice gentle but firm. I nodded, though my eyes were heavy with exhaustion. The fire crackled, casting long shadows that danced around us as the night deepened. Elisi began her evening prayers, and I joined in, my voice low and steady as we asked for protection. We did this every night, but tonight, it felt different. More urgent. Exhausted, I watched the flames of the fire dance into my mind. They began to form into shapes and figures. Suddenly, amidst the crackling embers, I could see an owl feather. It began to glow with a power that seemed to bring it to life. It began to sway into the smoke rising out of the flames. I felt a shiver run down my spine. I must be tired, hungry, or something. As I reached for my bundle to grab some food, the feather in the smoke began to way gently toward the ground by the edge of the fire. I reached out to confirm I was seeing things. As my fingertips brushed the edges of the feather, a warmth rushed through me. I grasped it by the tip and the world around me faded away. It was just me, the feather, and the fire. In the spiraling flames, I could see an owl looking back at me. It seemed to speak to me without words, imparting a profound understanding of my surroundings, urging me to observe the hidden signs of the land and people around me. Like the way Elisi was trying to show me earlier. As I stared into its eyes, the world began to come back around me. I could smell the distinct smell of roasting meat on a nearby fire, and the sounds of everyone settling in for the night. My eyes stayed on the fire, with the feather still clutched in my hand, and I drifted into a much-needed sleep as I pondered what had just happened, understanding that I had to trust. [New Skill Unlocked: Insight (Level 1)] Ability to assess conditions and see what others may not. --- A sudden cry pierced the quiet of the camp, jolting me awake. I turned to see a woman, a mother cradling her child. He was burning up with fever. I didn¡¯t think¡ªI just ran toward them, Elisi following close behind. The mother¡¯s eyes were wild, tears streaming down her face. ¡°Please,¡± she sobbed, ¡°Please help him.¡± [Emergency Quest Activated: Save the Child] Time Limit: 2 hours, Failure: Decreased Group Morale, Possible Fatality
I knelt beside the boy, my heart racing. I reached out instinctively, the child glowed with a subtle heat that strengthened as I got closer. His fever was dangerously high. ¡°Elisi, what do we do?¡± I asked, my voice shaky with panic. Elisi didn¡¯t hesitate. She was already pulling herbs from her pouch. ¡°We need to cool him down first. Then we¡¯ll pray for his spirit.¡± I could feel the bundle of herbs radiating with warmth under my arm and somehow knew what each one was for. My hands shook as I fumbled for the bundle hidden beneath my blanket. I pulled it out, my fingers clumsy as I searched for the yarrow. Elisi guided me, her voice calm, steadying me as I worked. ¡°Crush the leaves,¡± she instructed. I followed her instructions, my hands shaking as I mixed the herbs into a paste and applied it to the boy¡¯s forehead. Elisi¡¯s voice rose in prayer, her words soothing, rhythmic, as though they were wrapping the boy in a blanket. I joined in, feeling the power of the words flow through me. The fever didn¡¯t break right away, but the boy¡¯s breathing began to steady, his body relaxing slightly in his mother¡¯s arms. I let out a breath I hadn¡¯t realized I¡¯d been holding. [New Skill Unlocked: Diagnosis (Level 1)] Ability to assess health status of others, Current range: Close proximity (Up to 5ft), Detectable conditions: Exhaustion, Dehydration ---------------------------------------------- By dawn, the camp was stirring, and the boy was breathing easier. I sat beside the dying embers of the fire, my thoughts heavy. I had saved a life. I wasn¡¯t sure how I¡¯d done it, but it had happened. Elisi placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. No words are needed. We both knew this was only the beginning. I patted her hand lightly, a part of me felt overwhelmed by the weight of what had just happened. There will be more trials ahead. But now, I had a glimpse of what we were capable of, if we just trust ourselves. The soldiers were already shouting for us to start moving. I gather my bundle, still with the herbs and little food, and prepare myself for whatever this new day may bring. [Chapter 2 Complete] [Quest Completed: Save the Child] Reward: Diagnosis skill increased to Level 2 [Skill Level Up: Diagnosis (Level 2)] Ability to assess health status of others, Current range: Up to 30 ft, Detectable conditions: Exhaustion, Dehydration, Malnutrition, Fever, Injury (minor wounds) [Cultural Preservation]: [Hidden Debuff: ???]
[Quest Progress: Trail of Tears] Ch 3: Trail of Loss The air bit at my skin as I trudged along, my feet dragging through the thick sludge of mud and slush coating the path. The chill sank right into my bones, and I tried not to dwell on how weak and battered I felt each time I lifted one foot to place it in front of the other. My stomach turned, the relentless nausea rising again, and I pinched my eyes shut, praying it would pass soon. Elisi, beside me, pressed her weight into her walking stick, one step at a time, leaning forward just slightly so that she appeared invincible in her pace, though I could see the stiffness in her joints and the fatigue weighing down her breath. ¡°Here,¡± I said, slipping her a bit of mushrooms that were tucked away in my bundle. She held it in her palm a moment, her fingers trembling just a bit before she popped it into her mouth and chewed, her brows furrowed. I still had some winter green tea Elisi taught me how to make tucked away from this morning. Maybe it could help my menstrual pain. The bitterness of my own medicine stayed in my mouth as I nodded, my hand instinctively going to my abdomen. For days, there¡¯d been this subtle twinge in my stomach. It was strange and unwelcome, especially since I should¡¯ve bled by now. But there was no sign of it, only this odd sensation that filled me with a strange dread. I dreaded the arrival of my monthly courses, knowing I would lack the proper comforts on this journey. They say this journey takes four months, which means four times I must suffer through this, without the comfort of my home, or my mother. The malnutrition, exhaustion, and stress of the journey is affecting my body. And I am young and healthy, I can only imagine how it is affecting Elisi. The mud started to stick to our feet, and Elisi struggled to keep pace with our group. I could see her bundle that she clutched close to her side start to sway back and forth. Inside that bundle were the few remnants of home she was able to collect. Her woven basket, some dried herbs, and a medicine wheel her father had made. Her foot caught on a root that was hidden in the rutted trail. She stumbled, the bundle slipping from her grasp as she threw her hands out to break her fall. The contents scattered across the ground. Before she could gather them, a soldier¡¯s boot stepped into view. He snatched up the items and held it away from her as she reached for it. ¡°Please,¡± she whispered, her voice hoarse. ¡°Those are sacred to me.¡± The soldier snarled, turned the items over in his hands, and one by one, began dropping them to the ground and smashing them with his boot into the mud. I could see Elisi go numb as she watched each piece crush under his boot. She emanated with a sadness only I could see. She looked up at me, tears cutting through the dust on her face. Her hands trembled as she tried to gather what little remained, tucking the fragments into her blanket. I picked up what I could and tried to help her get back on her feet. She kept going, her gaze down, focusing on the ground as her cane sank in and out of the mud. She was silent for a while. She ignored us when me and several others urged her to try resting a bit on the wagons. ¡°Elisi,¡± I whispered, ¡°they were just things. Just pieces. We can find more, make new ones.¡± She turned her weary gaze to me, her face a mixture of sorrow and fierce resolve. ¡°No, Rebecca,¡± she said softly. ¡°These weren¡¯t just things.¡± She reached into her blanket and held out the shattered pieces of the medicine wheel. ¡°This was given to me by my father. Each stone, each piece of wood, carries meaning. It reminds us of where we come from, who we are meant to be, and how we walk in this world. They''re destroying more than just our possessions. They''re trying to erase our history, our very identity.¡± ¡°If they keep destroying our things,¡± she said softly, ¡°they will destroy us. We will forget who we are.¡± ¡°They think they can pluck us from the earth,¡± she muttered in Tsalagi, her voice low, ¡°but they can¡¯t take her from us.¡± I focused on the ground, watching for anything familiar among the frostbitten leaves and brittle branches as we walked. The pain in my stomach rose up again, a familiar and unwelcome wave, and I reached for the bunch of rosemary and winter green I kept wrapped in my medicine bundle. It had been a small blessing from earlier in the journey, but it barely kept the pain at bay now. As I chewed on the root, I spotted something tucked under the shade of an old pine¡ªsmall, slender green leaves with a faint dusting of white. Yarrow. I plucked a few stems; their softness felt cool in my palm and tucked them carefully away in my medicine pouch. It was a plant Elisi had taught me to recognize, useful for everything. But a few feet away, there was something else¡ªa plant with large heart shaped leaves and little purple flowers. I knelt down, studying it carefully. I didn¡¯t instantly recognize it, but something about it seemed important. When I plucked it out of the ground, the knowledge suddenly came flooding through my mind: Ginger root: digestive aid, menstrual cramps, fevers, sore throats I tucked the ginger root into my bundle, knowing now that I can use it on my aching stomach, I glanced back to see my Elisi walking steadily, her face stoic, though I noticed the slight shiver in her frame. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. --- A shout pierced the air, and we all froze, our ears pricking at the sound of violence ahead. My heart clenched, and I pulled Elisi close, shielding her as we watched soldiers drag a young mother and her infant from the crowd. ¡°You¡¯re slowing us down!¡± the soldier screamed, shaking his head in frustration. ¡°We can¡¯t keep stopping for every little thing. It is for the best,¡± trying to justify it to himself. To him, every day on this journey was an inconvenience. In his mind, he is following protocol. Her screams shattered the icy silence, desperate pleas that spiraled into helpless sobs as one soldier¡ªhis face blank and eyes cold¡ªwrenched the baby from her arms and raised it high. The mother had stayed close to our group since the beginning. Elisi and I had offered to rock the baby to sleep the first few nights so she could tend to her other children and take a rest. She had been a friend to us, sharing herbs and stories. I felt a scream claw its way up my throat as he took the baby towards the trees, I bit down on my knuckles, a sharp pain grounding me as I looked away, unable to watch. But the sound of the crack through the trees, a sickening thud that seemed to rip through my chest and settle there, a weight so heavy I could hardly breathe. The mother crumpled to the ground in an aching silence. Her eyes fixed on what was left in front of her. We were forced to stumble forward again, in silence now, as if the trail itself demanded our quiet mourning of a moment that would haunt this trail forever. --- The days blurred together, the ache in my legs growing deeper, but that pain in my stomach never dulled. It throbbed now, like a steady pulse. I¡¯d been taking herbs for the sickness, chewing them like Grandma had shown me, and drinking wintergreen tea for the pain, but still, it wouldn¡¯t let up. I was certain I¡¯d fall to the earth any day now, exhausted and broken, my body betraying me when I needed it most. We halted as dusk fell, forced to make camp, and I could see Elisi¡¯s shoulders slump, her breaths coming shallow and quick. She sat down slowly, her hand clutching her side, too weak this time to even try gathering wood or arranging the stones for a fire. I knew she wouldn¡¯t be able to manage it tonight. [Quest activated: Start a fire] I swallowed hard, the task feeling heavier than it should have. I¡¯d never had to do it before. But as the cold night crept closer and Elisi closed her eyes, I forced myself to my feet, gathering branches and kindling with trembling hands. I knelt and struck a rock against a piece of metal I had found, urging the sparks to catch. And then, someone moved into the circle of our campfire¡ªa man with fierce, dark eyes and moved with silence. He lowered himself to the ground beside me, watching my fumbling hand. ¡°You¡¯ll wear yourself out like that,¡± he said, his voice low and calm. ¡°Here.¡± He extended a weathered hand with a piece of flint. ¡°Strike it with purpose, not force. Fire knows the difference.¡± I grabbed the flint from his hand and struck it against the steel as he showed me, and finally a spark jumped into the kindling. His name was RL, and he carried knowledge with him like an old story, one that only needed a listener to make it whole. ¡°You see those stars?¡± he asked, pointing upward. ¡°They guide the hunter and the hunted alike. My clan, the A-ni-wa-ya (????), we look to them for strength, for protection. They remind us of the wolves, how they hunt together, protect together. And how they always come back for their own.¡± His words sank into me, and I nodded, a warmth spreading through me. There was a strength in his gaze. As he spoke, he showed me how to craft and hold a blade in defense, where to press to make a clean strike if I ever had to hunt for food¡ªor for survival. [New Skill Unlocked: Crafting (Level 1)] Ability to start a fire and craft simple items for survival. [Item Acquired] Flint shard [Item Acquired] Simple blade Beside me, Elisi breathed shallowly, her chest rising and falling with an unsettling slowness that didn¡¯t escape me. Her eyes were closed, lips drawn tight, though she tried to hide her pain. She always did. But in the dim firelight, I could see the shadow that clung to her, the way the weariness had seeped into her bones. Her skin was paler, too, the lines in her face deeper. I knew it wasn¡¯t just fatigue. It was something more. RL had been with us a few nights now, a presence as calm and fierce as the wolves he spoke of, always watching, always listening. ¡°There¡¯s a trick to it,¡± he said, ¡°when you catch something small.¡± His hands moved gracefully, showing me how to hold the dagger steady and strike with intention, so it would be quick and clean. ¡°If we hunt, we do it with respect. Every creature has its role.¡± He motioned for me to stay silent and led me a short distance from the campfire, our breaths white puffs in the cold. And there, in the silence, we spotted it¡ªa small rabbit, nibbling on something by a frozen branch. My heart raced as I crouched down, my fingers clutching the small dagger. I took a breath, remembering RL¡¯s instructions, and struck It was over quickly; the warmth faded from the creature in my hands. ¡°Tonight, you eat what you earned,¡± he said, carrying the rabbit back to camp and showing me how to clean and prepare it. By the fire, chewing on the meat I¡¯d hunted, I tried not to focus on the pains in my stomach, and on the feeling of knowing I have the strength to fend for us. Beside me, Elisi ate slowly, her eyes distant and weary. Yet, when she reached for my hand, her grip was steady. In the firelight, she looked at me, her gaze searching. I could feel it, in that strange, mysterious way that had come to me lately, as if a fog had lifted and left only clear signs behind. I couldn¡¯t name it, but I knew something dark was eating away at her, and that soon, she¡¯d need more than herbs and mushrooms to keep her walking. When I closed my eyes that night, I felt a strange presence with me. I wasn¡¯t sure if it was some spirit. But there was a connection there, something pulling me deeper, something that stretched between me and the earth, a connection to the land and to those who had walked this path before. The journey pressed on, and with each step, the weight of our circumstances seemed to grow heavier. [Inventory: Carrying Capacity (Level 1)] [New Skill Unlocked: Fire-Starting (Level 1)] Basic knowledge of creating and maintaining a fire using natural materials. [Cultural Preservation] [Hidden Debuff: ???]