Znozor returned with a collection of fruits and mushrooms, ready to prepare a meal. Nearby, Branoc was deeply engrossed in crafting his weapons, his frustration evident in the way he furrowed his brow and muttered to himself.
Undeterred by Branoc's frustrations, Znozor took charge of the cooking duties. He gathered some wood and kindled a fire. Soon, the aroma of mushroom stew soup filled the air, and the soup bubbled away merrily in their makeshift pot.
The sound of bubbling soup mingled with the peaceful symphony of the forest, creating a tranquil atmosphere. It was a stark contrast to the challenges they had faced, and they both welcomed this moment of respite as their meal continued to cook.
Branoc focused on crafting his weapon but grew increasingly frustrated, scratching his head and occasionally shouting in frustration because it wasn't working as expected.
As the food was ready to eat, Znozor was preparing to have a meal. He noticed Branoc's struggles and with a friendly smile, suggested, "Why don't you take a break and grab a bite to eat? It might help clear your mind. Once your stomach's full, you can get back to work with a fresh perspective."
Branoc thought about it and agreed, saying, "Hmm, perhaps you're right. Okay, let's eat."
They put their crafting aside, enjoyed their meal, and soon felt quite satisfied, reclining on the ground with full stomachs.
Branoc abruptly woke up, determined to continue crafting his weapon bullets. He announced, "It's not the time for me to rest; I have to finish my work." He resumed his task diligently.
On the other hand, Znozor, feeling tired, lit a cigar and decided to take a nap on the ground. As he drifted into a peaceful slumber, he suddenly awoke to the sound of screams. Startled, he looked around, fearing the return of the scorpions, but realized it was Branoc shouting in excitement.
Branoc grinned maliciously and proposed, "Now, let's test these new bullets on something. Before we confront the big one, we should assess how effective they are."
They readied themselves and began searching for a suitable target. Znozor spotted a monster bird, similar to the one that had attacked him in the desert, perched on a tree.
He whispered to Branoc, pointing at the bird, who nodded in agreement. Branoc took careful aim with his slingshot and fired his newly made bullet at the bird. Upon impact, the monster bird convulsed in the noxious gas. Its vibrant feathers lost their luster as it plummeted, gasping for breath. Desperation filled its eyes as it crashed to the ground, twitching, then fell into silent stillness.
Branoc couldn't contain his excitement, and they approached the fallen bird. They observed it closely, noticing that it was releasing foam and saliva as the deadly scorpion poison worked quickly, ending the bird's life.
They exchanged a triumphant smile.
Branoc's eyes gleamed with determination as he declared, "Now it's time for the big one to go down. I'm coming to save my mom and dad."
He gathered his newly crafted bullets and prepared for the battle to rescue his family from the clutches of the giant monster.
With a backpack full of food and supplies, Znozor stood up and strapped his sharpened blades to his sides. Branoc carefully stored his newly crafted venomous bullets in a secure pouch. He looked determined, his eyes filled with a mix of anger and determination to rescue his family from the clutches of the giant monster.
Znozor took one last puff of his cigar, extinguishing it in the dirt, and said, "Branoc, we're ready for this. We'll fight this giant monster together and save your family."
Branoc nodded, his fangs showing in a determined smile."Thank you, Znozor. Your help means everything to me."
With their resolve strong, they followed the path deeper into the forest, guided by Branoc's knowledge of the terrain. The cave where Branoc's family was held captive lay ahead, and within its dark depths awaited the formidable foe.