The word 'beautiful' is far from the impression one gets when looking at Anindira, but she isn't ugly either.
Her skin is dark brown but very well groomed, her hair is a short shaggy style because she is a tomboy. She doesn't like long hair because it takes a lot of time and effort to style it. Her body is small, but not thin, in fact, a little muscular and bulky because she is the athletic type. She is only 145 cm tall, making her look cute but tough. Anindira's face is not beautiful, but it's also not boring to keep looking at her, because Anindira is sweet. She is even more attractive with Anindira's firm but innocent aura.
Zia is slightly taller than Anindira, 155 cm. Even though she is not well groomed, she is pretty. It looks slightly better than Anindira. Her eyes were also light brown and looked like they were always sparkling. In contrast to Anindira, who has keen-black eyes with a sharp look in her eyes.
''You will have good hair if you are willing to take care of it diligently, as well as your skin…'' Anindira answered. Finally, their conversation shifted to things that are usually discussed by women.
''How do you do it?... Can the hair not clump and stick together?'' asked Zia enthusiastically with sparkling eyes.
Anindira then told her how to make use of the fruits and leaves around them, as was Anindira's experience on this three-month journey with Halvir. There are many fruits and leaves that they find on the road and they are very good to use in everyday life. Anindira, in detail, taught Zia the function and how to use it.
Just like Zia, Anindira is also very happy.
As Halvir had said, Zia and Anindira's traits were similar to one another, due to which the two of them quickly got along with each other. Zia is quite different from other girls, she is quite interested in new things. Speaking, she is very similar to Anindira and Hans. Maybe, because of her female gender, she couldn't explore more things. But meeting Anindira, who gave her a lot of new interesting knowledge, made Anindira a new idol for Zia.
''Really?!'' Zia exclaimed seriously, ''That way we can look better?... Are you sure about that?!'' Zia asked again, her eyes twinkling with joy, continuing to be captivated by Anindira's explanation about using plants in the wild.
''Of course,'' nodded Anindira replied with a proud face.
Their exciting conversation continues.
Anindira and Zia hit it off in no time. They kept chatting until it was time for their next meal.
**
Here they don't know the concept of three meals a day, because they don't store food.
In the morning, they will first look for food ingredients to be eaten and then cook them.
The average resident of Blue Forest Village is the Predator type. They hunt in the morning since the sun has not yet risen and most of them hunt at night. Usually, when the time is nearing noon, they will return with their game and start cooking. Most of them only cook once and divide the game into two to eat again at night.
During the summer period, they will hunt two to five times a day. Because, only in this season can they tan animal skins so perfectly, and they can preserve the meat for food supplies. They had to prepare animal skins and meat for winter preparations. The season is when they need a lot of animal skins as body warmers, especially if there are women and children in the household. And, the meat will be preserved as food reserves, because in winter, hunting will be very difficult to do.
In this world, winter was extreme. It's not just the temperature that can reach minus ninety degrees Celsius. Storms were frequent, which would make it difficult for anyone to move. That's why in winter they are rarely able to hunt, and what's more dangerous is, if a long winter period occurs, it can be up to two years. When that happens, we can be sure there will be many casualties. Let alone women, even men have difficulty surviving because it is very difficult to get game in winter, not to mention the threat of invasion from the destructive Clans who take advantage of such a crucial moment to attack.
**
''Zia, Anindira, let's eat!'' exclaimed Mischa, Zia's father called.
The Village Head came to pick them up and took them down one by one.
They all huddled together downstairs in front of a bonfire. Zia's family was crowded together. Zia sat beside her father, and next to her father, there was a woman who was Zia's mother. But, her face made Anindira pay attention to her again. The woman is more like Zia's older sister than her mother. She looks like Zia. Caramel-haired, hazel-eyed, fair-skinned, looking very young, like a teen girl in college. But, indeed, her aura and smile showed maturity. Not much different from Zia, her skin looks dull and rough, and her hair is lumpy. But, their smile looks beautiful because their teeth are clean white.
''Are you Anindira?'' asked Zia's mother, ''Mischa told me, Halvir brought you…'' she said, then continued, Zia's mother greeted Anindira very kindly.
''Yes, nice to meet you...'' Anindira answered very friendly and smiled.
''Hopefully, you feel at home with us, I'm Ezra, Zia's mother. This is Ruvi, my spouse…''Ezra introduced herself at the same time as her mate who was also sitting next to her, ''He too, like Mischa, comes from the Jaguar Clan.''
''I'm Ruvi, from the Jaguar Clan, I hope you are happy here, Anindira…'' greeted Ruvi, he kindly introduced himself.
Ruvi has a handsome appearance, with long black hair, looking to be in his mid-thirties. The aura around him was similar to that of the Village Head, maybe because of that they got along well with the same woman.
The sight of Zia's family looks strange in Anindira's eyes. A woman was flanked by her two mates, and there was also a man with short brown hair with *emerald eyes. He looked the same age as Halvir, handsome and young with a well-built body that looked even bigger than Halvir. He is seen babysitting four bears, the size of toddlers.
Two people were busy preparing food. Their faces were slightly similar to each other, as if to show that they were siblings, they both had blonde hair and emerald eyes. However, the color of their eyes was deeper and darker than the man who was raising a bear. The man who was babysitting the little bears had much brighter, clearer eyes. Like most men in this world, they also look handsome with a dashing muscular appearance.
''Anindira, Koza is over there, he is with our four children, they are cute and mischievous…'' Ezra introduced her other spouses again.
''I'm Koza, from the Bear Clan, Ezra's third mate... These are our children, they are naughty indeed, but when they grow up they will be tough guys…'' Koza introduced himself and proudly introduced his children,' 'Brynjar, Cala, Cleon, Herleif... They are only three years old,'' continued Koza, introducing his children one by one.
Anindira froze. She was surprised to hear that the four bears in front of her were toddlers, making her mind wander everywhere. There were several kinds of crazy thoughts playing in her brain right now, and that also made her smile to herself.
''I'm Axel, from the Tiger Clan, I've only been Ezra's mate for six years…'' Axel introduced himself while continuing to prepare food.
"I'm Kaj, the same as him. I'm also from the Tiger Clan. We are cousins, from our father's side. I've only been Ezra's mate for five years…'' Kaj continued to meet Anindira while continuing to help Axel cook.
That night, the first night Anindira went without Halvir, her heart was quite lonely. But the friendliness of Ezra's family could calm her down a bit. Together with Zia, Anindira, little by little, tries to understand what is happening in this world, even though it's only meat that is burned perfunctorily, but the togetherness of a family who gathers together to enjoy dinner full of jokes and joy makes Anindira's heartache because she remembers her family.
''Anindira?'' asked Ezra, calling her with a questioning expression. She is a woman as well as a mother. Of course, she is sensitive to the changes seen in Anindira.
''Yes!'' Anindira replied, surprised when Ezra suddenly sat beside her and embraced her.
''Why?... Are you sad?'' asked Ezra with a worried face.
''No, aunt... just remembering my family, but it's okay... Don't worry!'' Anindira replied, smiling. However, Ezra could see clearly that Anindira's eyes looked lonely.
''I may not be able to fully understand your heart's sadness, but at least we will try our best to make you not feel alone…'' Ezra said while stroking Anindira's head.
''Yeah!'' Zia exclaimed, joining in, ''Anindira, Mother is right... We are already friends... Don't be sad anymore! We will play together starting today,'' Zia added cheerfully.
''Eum,'' nodded Anindira, ''I know, thank you…'' said Anindira, she sincerely smiled and thanked them for their hospitality.
''It's okay Anindira, you have indeed lost your family, but I hope you can make your own family and live happily in this village,'' said Mischa gently and also faithfully caring for Anindira.
''It's true, Anindira, you should be able to find your happiness!'' exclaimed Ruvi, cheering her on.
''Of course uncle,'' Anindira answered, her eyes were full of enthusiasm again and her lips were also smiling broadly.
Overall, they are all welcoming and friendly. Anindira is quite happy to be able to chat and have fun with them.
No wonder Mischa was able to become the head of the village. His character is calm but his aura is strong. They are all quite familiar with each other even though sometimes it seems they want to monopolize Erza, but for the rest, they get along. Although they fight, it still looks like they respect Mischa and Ruvi. Not only that, they all look like they really love the four bear cubs and also Zia. Anindira admired that, something that was impossible to see in her world, five men sharing one woman. They and their children could peacefully live together.
**