After hiding the rocks, there came another issue. What was she going to use to light the fire? Would just any rocks work? Almathea began to panic. If it were so, then Evy would not need to use the same rocks every time she lit a fire.
She looked to the direction Evy and Zingel had walked off to. She could hear Evy say something before laughing. Maybe if she managed to light a fire without the rocks, Evy would never know.
Almathea picked up the first two rocks she could find, and began hitting them together. However, with just one smash, the rocks had already broken. She began to panic, Evy and Zingel were coming back to the camp, and she had broken their rocks for lighting a fire.
Almathea knelt on the ground, and bowed her head. She did not know where she had read it or heard it from, however she felt that if someone found you kneeling on the ground apologetically then they were more prone to forgiving you.
Evy walked with the tiger into the clearing. The tiger was holding two rabbits in its mouth, and Evy was holding a bunch of plants she planned to make for them to eat.
The first thing that came to her sight once they arrived was Almathea's kneeling figure. Almathea spoke in a loud voice once she heard Evy's footsteps stop. "I am so sorry, I broke the fire stone things and I know that I am in the wrong, so please do not get angry," Almathea spoke in one breath.
Evy stopped walking, staring at Almathea as if she was looking at a crazy person. "What are you babbling on and on about? You broke the stones, I have a few others in the bag."
Almathea raised her head to stare at Evy. It was almost as if there were stars in her eyes. "You are not angry?"
Evy shook her head, "Why would I be angry. It is not like they were anything special. Almost any rocks can light a fire." She walked to the cart and picked up her pouch from the backpack they used. From somewhere within the pouch, she removed another pair of rocks and handed them to Almathea, "Here. Don't break these ones too."
Almathea gave Evy a large smile, "Thank you, Evy."
Evy coughed and scratched the nape of her neck, "It wasn't anything. If you don't get the fire started, it will be you I shall throw into a river instead of Zingel."
On hearing his name, the tiger, that was standing at the edge of the clearing looking at the two interact, walked closer. He did not fully understand what they were saying. However, he could make out a few words. Like the apology that Almathea was dishing out, and that Evy had forgiven her.
As he walked, his body began to morph back into his human self. Evy and Almathea instinctively shut their eyes. "Where did he place the clothes I gave him?"
"I think in the cart." Evy answered, "I will get them. You go start the fire."
Almathea complied and walked to the wood she had picked for the fire. She then began to smash the rocks together once more.
Evy turned to her after giving Zingel his clothes. Her eyes were wide, "What on earth are you doing?"
Almathea turned to her, an innocent look in her eyes. "I'm starting the fire."
Evy smacked her head, "That is not how you start a fire you dumbass." She plucked the rocks out of Almathea's hands, "You have to be gentle. If you smack them together like that, then it is obvious that you're going to break the rocks."
In just a few seconds, the fire had been lit. Almathea watched in awe. "You are honestly the best." She gave Evy a pat on the shoulder.
There was no way she would have survived without Evy. Evy is the one who did most of the things. She ensured they were fed, ensured their clothes were clean and ensured that they remembered the path that they took.
It made Almathea feel a little useless.
She turned to Evy who was skinning the rabbits using a small knife. Zingel was hovering around her and was saying the word fire every few seconds.
Evy would then nod and point at the fire that was now crackling steadily. "Yes, fire."
Almathea sighed, "I am going to pick up more wood for the fire."
Evy turned slightly, "Sure. Ensure you get ones that are dry. Wet ones will put out the fire."
Almathea sauntered away after ensuring that they would not require her presence.
She felt utterly useless. She had no memories about who she was, she could not do anything that Evy could and she was also unable to take care of herself.
Angry, she punched the tree that stood somewhere at the end of the path she was walking on. The tree cracked at the contact her hand had with the tree. She did not notice and went to sit on a rock that was a little to the side.
Once she was seated, she pulled out the necklace that hung around her neck. The half-moon pendant was cool to the touch. The pendant gave her just a little bit of nostalgic feelings. "I wonder." She muttered under her breath, pulling the pendant out of her clothes. "If this was something I got from my family." She did not have any memories about them, however, this was among the few things she had found on her body after she awoke.
She had done everything to keep it out of Evy's sight. She did not know why, but she felt that if Evy saw it, then she would be curious about it, and would take it from her.
No, she felt that she should keep the pendant's existence a secret from everyone. The feeling was very tight in her that she ensured that she bathed alone so that Evy would not see it.
Feeling a little bit calm, she picked up a little bit of wood before walking back to their campsite.
Evy was cutting up the vegetables with the knife she had been using before. Once she saw Almathea, she perked up, "Are you done? We should get dinner ready. The sun is going to set soon."
Almathea pointed at the small amount of wood that was in her arms, "Will this be enough?"
Evy nodded, "I will get some more after dinner. Come, help me cook."
.
S/T:
As they are eating, they hear a loud crash.
Evy stands immediately after hearing the crash, a knife in her hands.
The hundred-year-old tree that Almathea had punched: ...⊙.☉