She looked more intensely at the bush she had been simply glaring and gazing at all long. And her earlier smile was still coalescing her adorable face.
"Wintergreen berries…!"
Flower exclaimed out in full, sufficient joy. But then, she quickly realized that she was presently treading the wilderness, meaning she could be under the scrutiny of various wild animals, or even attract them towards herself with her sounds of joy. Even she might have some unwelcomed guest who might have been trailing her all along in search of her—Anthony, or perhaps Horatio.
So therefore, acknowledging all these possibilities, Flower hesitantly but willingly lowered her voice into a moderate tone.
Even so, these didn't stop her from smiling more. She sniffled. She couldn't contain her glorious mood. All these feeling of overwhelming happiness came with the rapid certainty that she knew that she wouldn't starve any longer. Her days of starvation and famishments were limited, or rather let's go with the word over!
Wintergreens are tiny red berries that grows in a very snowy provinces, and since Alaska is an example of a snowy provinces, it is not a surprise that Flower was visibly percepting one at the moment. Wintergreen berries are perfect for human consumption, and not to eliminate the fact that they're utterly delicious and esculent when swallowed. Plus, they also grow in abundant amounts, which means, Flower was sure to eat to her satisfaction today. Finally, hunger mode be damned!
"They look so fresh…" she whispered to no one other than herself. "…and beautiful."
'I must have some at once!'
Without a second thought, Flower immediately assumed her digging stance and confidently began digging harshly towards the red glorious wintergreen berries that were screaming out her names with their miniature figure, and tempting her with their captivating red colours as they hide amongst the tree shrubs.
Fully aware of the fact that these berries could put a stop to her days of famishments, no one could basically question Flower for wanting to get there in an instant. To be very honest, Flower wasn't really expecting such a thing, although she had heard of the word 'wintergreen' before, and had also heard that they do grow in snowy places, besides as a wildlife reporter, it's inevitable that she must have heard such.
Even so, amongst all her moments, minutes, hours and days of treading this wildlife provinces, the word 'wintergreen' had never crossed her mind throughout. The only source of food she had anticipated were animal meats and nothing other than that.
The wintergreen shrubs looked like bushes. It wasn't so high that Dora the explorer the second wouldn't initially be able to climb. Asides from that, it wasn't a tree, it would be best ascribed as a bush, and one can't literally climb bushes. Additionally, the bush is just about Flower's height, so everything was definitely under control.
As soon as Flower got close enough to the wintergreens shrubs. The different varieties of snowbirds that were feasting on the exquisite red wintergreens quickly and fearfully withdrew themselves and soar away and above. Sensing that an human was close by, and assuming that the human was after them. Not knowing that Flower doesn't give a damn about them, especially when she was overly famished.
Soon enough, Flower was standing in front of the wintergreens shrubs. She pushed her head forward, and forced her face to scan the wintergreens' abode. Flower could see that those unthoughtful birds had already chewed on some of it, which had caused them to rotten and decay.
Flower ignored that. Shifting her focal area to things that were much more important about the wintergreens.
Firstly, Dora the explorer the second basically had to make sure that the wintergreens were truly 'wintergreens' and not poisonous herbs that just happen to share red berries akin to that of the real wintergreens—namely winterberries.
Flower already had learnt that some poisonous herbs which share some similarities to wintergreens' berries with its poisonous red berries looking exactly like that of some wintergreens' berries also exist in Alaska, and in any snowy provinces to be specified.
The only difference between the poisonous herbs which produced almost the same red berries as the wintergreens' shrubs was that, its berries were always bitter and possesses zero sweet substance in them.
Flower didn't know how to tell the difference between them. After staring at them for awhile, she heaved a sigh.
'Well then, only one way to find out.' She concluded.
In an eyeblink Flower plucked one of the esculent red wintergreens. She immediately propelled it between her slightly parted lips, not giving it a second thought that perhaps it might be poisonous and cause her to fall sick and nauseated.
Anyways, no one can literally pin any blame atop her. Everything she had basically indulge herself into up until now, were all as a result of risk taking. She had acknowledged so many risk up until now, so then, one more risk wouldn't hurt, now would it?
In addition, what was aggregating Flower with excess confident was that, since those snowbirds were feasting on it before she came. It must mean that it is infact delicious, and birds only feast on delicious berries. Contrary to that, there was still the fact that human beings don't share the same taste buds and food cravings as animals. Because what might perceives exquisite to humans might not perceive that way to birds. And as they often say, one man's food is another man's poison.
Flower chewed on it like a food critic. Analyzing the taste of the uncertain berries. Then as though her tastes bud hadn't acquired anything as beauteous as these in there entirely life of existing. Flower spontaneously began plucking more and more into her mouth. These wintergreens were the most delicious thing she had ever tasted, it possessed a minty flavour. She grinned delightfully.
Flower had only heard about wintergreens berries, she simply hadn't tasted it before or even seen one physically and make any hand-to-hand contact with it. She had only seen one through her tablets and through some magazines which she occasionally read.
Flower plucked it multiple times and feasted on it like a scavenger. It had no side effects, therefore Flower had every right to eat it as she pleases.
Flower knew that if she kept plucking it one after the another, and also kept eating it at the spot, it would lower her arrival rate to the hill top. Although she was unfathomably famished, she still didn't want to delay her fugitives.
Thus, after consuming another round of the sweet, glorious red wintergreen berries. She gulped down some water from the earlier container, then immediately after that, Flower unbacked her satchel, she opened its zipper. Turning towards the direction of the wintergreens shrubs once again, she began plucking it into her satchel, hoping to eat them later as night food.
Dora the explorer the second would have initially enjoyed swallowing all the wintergreen berries in one goal, however, she knew that she was presently treading a dire situation. So it is a must for her to think about the future and also limit her eating capacity. Or else, starvation at night was a must.
Even, if Flower could minimize her eating rate into a very minimal portion presently. Those wintergreen berries was sure to last her till tomorrow morning, and in that way, she would have something to eat in the morning too. Nevertheless, at the rate of Flower's famishments, that doesn't stand a chance of transpiring.
Thoughtful Flower made sure to pluck every decent wintergreen atop the shrubs. Even, she plucked those that had already been partly eaten by birds, and those that were slightly decayed. She couldn't afford starvation once again, just because she was being finicky about the wintergreens berries.
In short, Flower plucked everything atop the shrubs, without leaving even the most decayed out of the option. If those unthoughtful birds ever came back to have some more delicious wintergreens, they would be sure to give Flower one hell of a curse if they noticed that all the wintergreens had been plundered, looted and vamoosed. Well they had enjoyed it while it lasted and at present it was Flower's turn, so no hard feelings should be attached.
Flower ate more out of the ones she was planning to eat at night.
She soon pinched herself.
'Flower, Flower, don't be such an unthoughtful little bird,' she reprimanded herself inwardly.
'I need to control myself. If I end up consuming everything now like this, I would definitely be stranded by evening. I need to control myself.'
She then closed her satchel's zipper. And then, Dora the explorer the second perpetuate her pilgrimage. She kept thinking about the wintergreen berries, but she consistently reminded herself that she would end up starving when night falls if she ended up consuming everything.
Fortunately, for Flower and as though the prayers she had made were starting to manifest, the dazzling sun overwhelmed the sky with its beautiful light. Although the dark clouds were still above, the sun still managed to secure its light above earth.
Flower's passion hasn't smolder out, even though she's amidst loneliness, berthed in sleepless nights. She wasn't going to give up on her ideal world, she was only going to give in to her desires about seeing her mother again. The journey continues…