The next morning, Sam woke up to find his cave bathed in the pale light of dawn. He yawned, stretching his arms over his head, and glanced toward the fire pit. The flames that had kept them warm last night were gone, reduced to cold ashes. Normally, he'd expect to see at least a few embers glowing, but the fire had completely gone out.
"Guess I overslept," he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. Kira poked her tiny head out of his jacket, blinking up at him with a soft mew.
It had been the best sleep Sam had had in a long while, surprisingly so. He scratched his head, glancing around the cave in mild disbelief. Who would have thought he could sleep so well on a cold, hard cave floor with no cushions or blankets? It wasn't exactly the comfort of home, but his body felt rested, and he hadn't woken up once during the night.
Kira stretched out lazily, her tiny body warm against his lap as he worked to revive the fire.
Sam chuckled, "Morning, sleepyhead."
He carefully slid Kira down to sit on his lap, then reached over to the pile of sticks he had set aside the day before. He grabbed a few dry ones, placing them into the pit, and set about rekindling the flame.
With just a few strokes of the flint, the fire sparked back to life, catching the kindling and roaring to full blaze in no time. Sam watched the flames flicker and dance, casting warm, golden light across the cave walls. The smoke curled upward, disappearing neatly through the ventilation hole in the ceiling.
"Almost too easy," he said with a grin, satisfied with how smoothly the flame had revived. The warmth spread quickly, filling the cave with a cozy heat. It was a good sign for the day ahead, he felt.
Sam crouched beside the fire, his eyes gleaming with a flicker of excitement as he stared into the dancing flames. The crackling warmth stirred something within him, a spark of determination. He straightened, remembering the jerky idea from the night before.
"Time to get serious," he murmured, rolling up his sleeves. He grabbed the leftover boar meat and began cutting it into thin, even slices with his freshly crafted stone knife. The blade wasn't as smooth as steel, but it was sharp enough to do the job.
Once the meat was prepped, he hung each strip near the fire, using a few sturdy branches as makeshift hooks. He positioned them carefully, far enough away to avoid charring but close enough to let the heat gradually dehydrate the meat. The warmth would pull the moisture out slowly, preserving the flavor.
Sam crouched back, watching the meat dry in the fire's glow. "Boar jerky... who would have thought?" he mused aloud. He could almost imagine his father's approving nod, remembering the times they'd prepared deer jerky together back home.
As he tended to the strips of meat, Sam chuckled at the memory of his father's more sophisticated jerky-making kit. It had been a far cry from this primitive setup, filled with all sorts of gadgets and spices.
"Guess it's all about adapting, huh?" he said to Kira, who was peeking curiously at the meat. The little creature's eyes sparkled with interest as if she could sense the deliciousness to come. Sam smiled at her enthusiasm.
He checked the meat again, satisfied with the progress. The jerky would take time, but the reward would be worth it. For now, he could relax on hunting, knowing they were well-stocked for at least a few days.
Instead of hunting, Sam craved a moment of respite, something to lift his spirits from the grind of survival. His gaze drifted to the makeshift fishing rod leaning against the shelves, and a grin spread across his face. "Wanna go fishing, Kira?"
Kira perked up, her ears twitching in excitement. She seemed to sense the shift in atmosphere, her little tail flicking as she mewed in agreement. With a sense of renewed energy, Sam grabbed his hidesack, slinging it over his shoulder, and then the fishing rod, the lightweight twine feeling sturdy in his hands. He grabbed his new spear too, just in case, as well as the newly crafted fish basket. Picking up Kira and lowering her down into his shirt, he headed outside. As he reached for the door, Sam gave it a gentle push, testing its sturdiness before stepping out, ready to embrace the day with his fishing gear in hand. He strolled toward the stream, the knowledge of its location now second-nature. The sun already climbing higher in the sky, painting the world in hues of gold.
The gentle sounds of the water flowing over stones and the distant chirping of birds set a peaceful backdrop as he approached the stream. He carefully set Kira down on the riverbank, watching her curiously explore the muddy edges while he fished. Retrieving a handful of berries from his Hidesack, he scattered a few berries on the ground beside her, watching as Kira eagerly sniffed them out, her little paws batting at the bright fruits with delight.
He expertly threaded one onto the hook of his makeshift rod and cast it into the shimmering water, the ripples spreading out.
"Now we wait..." He leaned back, his gaze fixed on the water, where the bobbing tip of his line danced in the current. Kira, content with her berries, pawed at the ground, her playful antics providing a welcome distraction.
Minutes passed, and the quiet sounds of nature filled the air—the rustling leaves, the gentle flow of the river, and the occasional chirp of distant birds. Just as he began to relax, he felt a tug on the line. His heart raced as he tightened his grip, waiting for the right moment to reel in his catch.
With a swift motion, he yanked the rod upward, feeling the weight of a fish thrashing at the end of the line. Excitement surged through him as he pulled, struggling to bring it closer. Kira perked up, her ears twitching as she watched the commotion, ready to pounce if the fish jumped free.
He reeled it in, his muscles straining with effort. The fish broke the surface, glistening in the sunlight before he managed to haul it onto the bank. Breathless and exhilarated, he beamed down at his catch—a plump trout, flopping energetically.
"Gotcha!" he exclaimed, turning to Kira, who tilted her head curiously. "Look what we have here!"
He placed it gently in the fish basket, and continued. Each time he cast his line into the shimmering water, a sense of joy enveloped him. He was no longer just doing it as a survival task; it was an escape, a playful pass-time. Kira, perched beside him, pawed at the grass and occasionally pounced on a wandering insect, her playful antics drawing laughter from him.
As he waited for another nibble, the sun broke through the trees, casting dappled light on the surface of the stream. The gentle lapping of water against the shore, combined with the distant chirps of birds calmed his nerves. He leaned back, feeling the soft earth beneath him, and for a moment, he allowed himself to forget the hardships of the past days. Here, with Kira at his side, everything felt fine.
Suddenly, a pungent odor wafted through the air, and as Sam instinctively sniffed his armpit, he recoiled in horror. The realization struck him like a slap: it was his own smell. He nearly gagged, the stench unlike anything he'd experienced before. He hadn't bathed since arriving in this wilderness, and it was clear he needed a proper wash before anything else.
With a grimace, Sam quickly decided that fishing could wait; cleanliness was now a priority. He set Kira down, undressed, and headed toward the stream, eager to wash off the grime that clung to him like a second skin. The icy water shimmered under the sunlight, inviting him in as he stepped closer, the chill sending a shiver up his spine.
As he slowly waded into the river, he splashed his face, gasping at the refreshing coldness, then began scrubbing at his arms and chest. Kira, standing on the edge of rhe bank, curiously pawed at the water, her playful nature resurfacing as she tried to catch the droplets dancing in the air.
"Okay, girl, this is a bath, not a splash zone!" he chuckled, watching her antics.
He dunked his head under the water, letting it soak through his hair, and emerged with a triumphant gasp. The coolness felt rejuvenating, washing away not just the dirt but the lingering fatigue from his survival efforts. He could already feel the weight lifting from his shoulders, and as he finished rinsing off, he couldn't help but smile at the simple pleasure of being clean.
"Now that's better," he said, grinning at Kira, who looked up at him with wide, curious eyes.
After rinsing off the last remnants of dirt, Sam stepped out of the icy water, shaking droplets from his hair like a wet dog. He quickly dried himself with a piece of cloth he'd scavenged and pulled on his newly crafted boar hide tunic, feeling the warmth envelop him like a protective embrace.
As he fastened the tunic, he caught a glimpse of his reflection in the stream—a wild, rugged version of himself with a hint of determination in his eyes. He felt a surge of pride at how far he'd come.
"Time to get back to the fun," he said, glancing at Kira, who was perched on a nearby rock, her tail flicking with excitement. With a final shake to dislodge any lingering water, he grabbed his fishing rod.
"Let's head downstream a bit; I think I scared the fish off," Sam said, scooping up Kira and cradling her against his chest. Her small body nestled comfortably in the crook of his arm, and she peered out with wide, curious eyes.
He walked along the riverbank, the sound of the flowing water providing a calming rhythm to his thoughts. The sun was shining brighter now, casting playful sparkles across the surface of the stream. As he reached a quieter stretch of water, he set Kira down, watching as she playfully pounced at the fluttering leaves and small insects buzzing nearby.
With a grin, he unpacked his fishing gear and cast his line into the water, the lure dancing enticingly beneath the surface. "This is more like it," he murmured.
Hours later, as Sam trudged back to the cave, he peered into the fish basket, a grin spreading across his face. "Well, look at this haul! We're going to eat like kings tonight," he mused, lifting out a plump fish that glistened like silver in the sun. "I'd say we've got enough here to feed a small army—or at least two hungry adventurers."
Kira lifted her head from inside his jacket, ears perked at the mention of food, and he chuckled, shaking the basket slightly. "Don't get too excited, little one. You've still got to wait for me to cook it!"