The amount of meat from the large deer was enormous, but it was for certain enough to feed everyone here. And despite the snow, Leo could find a spot where the grass wasn't so wet to start a campfire for cooking the meat for everyone here. It was an interesting sight to see how their drools were coming down from their lips as the taste and aroma of the food spread through the air.
As the five children huddled together, watching Leo prepare the meat from the deer, they whispered amongst themselves. The eldest, a thoughtful boy named Ivan, was the first to speak.
"Wow, it smells really appetizing," Ivan said while his eyes were wide open as he wiped away the drool close to his mouth.
The second eldest, a girl named Natasha, nodded in agreement. "It smells amazing." Her eyes drew tears in the corners as she rubbed her empty stomach, as she says in quiet voice to her brother Ivan, "I can't remember the last time we had a proper meal."
The third child, a quiet boy named Alexei, looked at the others with curiosity, as he asked his other siblings with interest as he looked at the tall Leo with his slim but also muscular physique showing, "How do you think mister Leo can hunt the deer in the forest so easily? I remembered Father and Mother warning us to never venture deep into the forest because the monsters will eat us alive."
Ivan considered the question that his little brother Alexei asked for a moment. Before saying in thought, "I believe it has something to do with his special power. I mean, if you think about it, they must have certain special skills to navigate through the rough sea terrain with such a calm attitude."
The two youngest children, a set of twins named Vera and Yuri, listened intently to their older siblings with an attentive attitude. Vera, the more vocal of the two, asked them, "Do you think we could learn to be as strong as Leo and Marnia? I don't want to experience the hunger of not having food again. It is almost like bugs are eating me from the inside."
Natasha smiled at her sister's enthusiasm and placed her fragile hand on her little hand with warmth and love. She says to her, "Maybe one day, if we work hard and learn from them. They have much experience and knowledge that we could benefit from."
Yuri, who rarely spoke, chimed in. He said while patting his chest, "I want to be brave like them and protect my family, too. I want us all too, to never go hungry like that as well."
The children, who were far away during to being uncomfortable with adults, continued to watch Leo cook the meat, their eyes filled with admiration and wonder. What they didn't know what that Leo and Marnia heard their conversation the entire time and the two exchanged a knowing glance with each other and a warm smile.
They imagined themselves one day to become as strong as the two adults that they are coming to admire, and are determined to take control of their own destinies and overcome the challenges that life had in store for them in the future. And as the aroma of the cooking meat filled the air, they felt a newfound sense of hope, knowing that they were no longer alone in their struggle to survive like before.
"What are you guys talking about?" as they were still in their conversations, the oldest of the children, Ivan, find a large hand warmly on his head. And when he looked up, he sees it was Leo.
The little boy quickly gave a boy to Leo, with such an utmost respect, and says to him with no sign of fear in his eyes, "Can you let me help you with the cooking of the deer meat?"
"Oh, I want to help too," Yuri and Vera joined in as well, stretching their arms like students in a classroom, asking the teacher to allow them to take part in a school project. And soon all the children were eagerly begging to associate more with their tasks, trying to gleam lessons that would help them with their survival.
Leo wasn't expecting the kids to be so eager, and he gave a radiant smile as he put his hands on the shoulder of the boys, "Of course, come here, I will teach you how to perform the cooking of the large chunks of meat."
It wasn't long before everyone was enjoying around the warm fire an enormous chunk of animal meats in their hands. The kids were all eating so eagerly with radiant smiles as they laughed and talked with their siblings. Leo didn't know he could bring so much happiness to everyone here so easily. It reminded him of the time when he was with his brothers back on the small island. It was such a short time that has passed, but he has already missed them dearly.
"I wonder what those three are doing right now," Leo thought to himself as he looked up at the bleak open skill filled with floating clouds. "Maybe they are also sharing a wonderful dinner as we are, especially Luffy, that fortunate fool." His mind traces back to those times when he was still with them.
As Marnia, who was by his side, smiles and jokes with the kids who were eating. She seems to get along with the children, well probably because she is also like a little kid inside as well. And as they were all eating, he sees the father and mother of the kids coming back from the home with their hands grabbing full of the clothing made from the animal fur.
"Thank you for taking care of our children," the father, Dimitri, said with gratitude and an enormous smile. As he hands a two jackets made from the animal fur, "Without your help we would have still been starving and I wouldn't know what to do without the medicine that you have provided for us. Please accept this as our gifts to you two. It is a small token of appreciation."
Except, Leo just smiled, and pushes the gift away, he says, "It is fine mister Dimitri. I would have gladly helped your children, anyway. I think the children are the ones who need this warm clothing the most right now."
The mother, Anna, who was on the side, wept softly as she held onto her husband's arm with grateful tears. "Thank you so much." For Leo, he doesn't need anyone to express their gratitude for his actions. He doesn't help others because they need to give him anything back, instead it is just because he doesn't want to leave things the way they are without doing something about it.