When Daisy finished playing with her new dress, a loud rumble emerged from within her stomach. She was slightly thankful that no one was around to witness her flushed face.
She could feel the rats of hunger running around in her stomach. It seemed like her stomach was demanding a good, filling meal, and if she doesn't feed it soon, it might just start a revolt inside.
Daisy let out a small laugh, and she can't help but feel amused by her stomach's insistent grumbles.
As her hunger intensifies, she decides to go search for fruits in the forest, since catching fish and cooking them was a laborious job. She would be dead due to starvation by the time she catch a fish, make a fire and cook them.
She had zero talent in catching fish.
"Or, I can just weave a fish trap and put in the river?"
Since there was no one to pat her, Daisy patted herself. "Oh! You're such a genius, Di!"
As a person who worked in agricultural industry, she had learnt a skill or two when she visited some villages for her research. She didn't expect those skills to become handy at this strange place.
She found a suitable plant that can be used to weave a fish trap. The trap was small but sturdy enough to haul in a decent catch.
Daisy was confident that she'll be able to get enough fish by tomorrow. With the fish trap set in the river, she heads into the forest with her basket which she made alongside with the trap.
Since she can't hunt for animals without a weapon, she decided to search for fruits or berries. She weaved her way through the dense vegetation and trees, looking for any fruits or nuts that are ready to be picked.
Afraid of getting lost, she used a sharp stone from the river to mark an X on the bark of the trees she passed. This would help her find her way back.
At the other side, the large pair of golden eyes who watched her movements silently moved from its position, tracking her every step.
It seemed like this creature was watching and understanding her, it could also sense that she was unaware of its presence.
Realizing that the woman was searching for food, it silently and quickly slithered through the forest, using its sharp senses and superior hunting skills to locate a suitable prey for the woman.
Back to Daisy side,
As she made her way through the thick forest, a shrub caught her eye. The leaves were tinged with yellow and red, and the berry clusters resembled like strawberries in her place.
However, with a closer look, they seem too small and different in color. Daisy was hesitant on picking it.
What if it was poisonous?
She was going to take a risk when a bird suddenly flew in and begun to peck at the berries, relieving her suspicions.
"Thank you, little birdie." She smiled softly. The bird tilted its head before chirping and flying away.
With the knowledge that the strawberry like berry bush was edible, she took some in her basket, making sure to keep enough space for other fruits.
As she continued on her search, another fruit tree catches her eye, and this time, the pink fruit was dangling from the branches. Underneath the tree were many fallen ones. She picked one to examine it. She was surprised to find the orange like flesh inside.
Seeing one with a stem long enough to reach, she took a stick and knocked the dangling fruits down, carrying it to her basket.
She ate the pink orange and replenished her energy before moving on. She found another tree bearing fruit not long after. The shape and size were similar to a dragon fruit, but this one was entirely black, unlike the dragon fruit she's used to.
Intrigued, she took off the peel and examined the flesh within. It was bright and red as a dragon fruit, so she added it to her collection.
She then looked at the creeper that densely covered a tree. The fruit of the creeper was in the shape of a watermelon but smaller and red. She once again added it to her basket.
"I think these are enough." She mumbled to herself. Just when she picked up her basket to leave, she suddenly heard a sound of frightened squeals and a flurry of movement in a thorn bush nearby.
Cautious and wary, she picked up a stick.
She slowly moved closer to the sound and saw a small brown rabbit entangled in the thick and sharp thorns.
"Ugh, I was afraid for nothing." She heaved out a sigh in relief.
"Little bunny, calm down. I'll help you." She announced, moving closer to the rabbit. She didn't know if it understood, but the wild rabbit was much calmer, although it looked like it was ready to run away any second.
She carefully removed the thorns around it and before she could react, the rabbit dashed away, disappearing into the forest, as if a terrible thing was chasing behind it.
"Ungrateful bunny." The corner of her lips twitched. Dismissing the event as a random occurrence, she picked her fruit basket and returned to the river.
On a huge tree few meters behind her, the golden pair of pupils which witness her compassionate action was shocked and bewildered.
The woman was not only strange, but dumb as well.
Shouldn't she kill the rabbit to eat? He had searched for a long time before finding the smallest prey that would'nt threaten her. It was also easier to kill.
But she let it escape?
Daisy didn't know that her kind action had labelled her as dumb by an unknown creature.
She reached the river where she had first entered the forest, and she stopped at the shore to wash the fruits she had collected.
After cleaning and examining them thoroughly, she begun to eat them one by one.
The sweet and tart flavors were a delicious treat to her palette, and she felt extremely happy and content with her progress.