(Zeslinry)
Now things really began to change. I focused on food transformation and turning our square into secured crop fields.
We've learnt that in some instances, plants don't go crazy and remain the same as in the past. It's an artificial influence outside that changes things.
From there, Myls was focusing on fortifying our square and securing the surrounding land. I focus on keeping us fed, and cared for, inside our safe zone.
Splitting responsibilities keeps us efficient. And it keeps her active. Also she has sharper senses than me outside.
Whereas I'm good in organising lands and buildings. I repair things and I build a hoe first thing.
The gardens and plain park in the square are turned over.
I make the calculations and choices from everything we have stored.
Jars of preserved food accumulate gently. Dry things, bulbs and seeds as well.
I hope it works. I sow seeds and potatoes cut in pieces.
We've built two pumps to bring water from the small river behind. We've drained the flooded basement of the house we'll inhabit and sealed most others.
Slowly but steady, we're turning this corner of an abandoned city into our new home and land. We're the owners now.
I shovel dirt and soil all day long. I'm short of making new folk songs. My hands hurt. My skin gets blisters. I'm shaky...
The growing girl comes and gives me a hand. She takes over while I rest for a little while.
Z - Anything new outside?
M - No. It's all quiet.
Now and forever hm...
Z - Tomorrow I'll come along to find supplies.
M - Okay.
She's tired. She speaks less and less the more tired she gets I noticed.
I tell her to stop and we return to the house we inhabit.
~
The carpet keeps our shoes in the entrance. The living room lacks light and is a little cluttered with stuff already.
We're actually spending some time reading books in the morning or evenings.
For now I lit the gas and start cooking something. We have fruits, vegetables, even lentil. But we're soon to suffer malnutrition if we don't find meat, eggs or fishes I realise.
I serve my young friend her bowl of soup. She doesn't complain nearly as much as I did at her age. I eat along, too quietly.
Z - Have you seen the tracks of animals around?
M - A few. Not much.
Z - And fishes in the water?
M - No, never.
Z - Is the rifle good to use you think?
She raises her eyes at me. It's a shrewder look.
Z - I don't think we'll find chicken and eggs anytime soon unfortunately. But you especially need to eat a little more. So if we're good to go, tomorrow we'll look for something.
She lowers her gaze back to her soup. She thinks fast. She knows I'm right.
M - Okay.
She finishes it and brings her bowl back to the kitchen. I later head to the attic and check our hunting equipment for the morrow.
~
We went to the heart of the woods at dawn. Where she had sometimes caught the trails or whiffs of animals. She was not sure of the kind.
We proceed slowly and quietly. She sniffs our trail as best she can. It's a little cute, and surprisingly good.
M - This way.
Surprisingly to me, we reach a meadow. Long abandoned houses are almost not crumbling there. Trees have grown inside and above.
It's old.
We walk through the tall grass. It's a moor opening there and further. We could get lost if we go too far. Thankfully the beast that moves isn't of the kind I'd call monster. It's a big dog. I don't know anything about the hundreds of races of dogs there had been.
It looks alert, but I think it's unsteady, maybe it's old.
Z - A wild dog?
M - I think it's what I smelled before.
I load the rifle steadily.
The dog is looking at us, now barking.
We wait. No one is coming to hold it over. I half expected the old owner to come out from the ruins for a moment, but that was fantasy. We're alone.
It starts rushing at us. I shoot. I grazed it, but it keeps running fast.
A gunshot follows and the angry prey falls.
Myls is more steadily looking than I am. She's looking tensed for a few more seconds but then breathes.
Z - Good job Myls... I will need to train.
M - Hm...
We carefully get closer. The animal is wimping like any mammal would, as it's bleeding profusely. I take out the hunting knife and the spare towel I had brought. It's messy, but I put it down for good.
I'm not feeling good. I feel guilty and sick honestly... But...
Well.
After a breather, we load it onto a makeshift stretcher and pull it back with a rope, through the hillside of the meadow.
Then the woods. It's tough, but that thing is nearly as big as me and I couldn't lift and hold it properly over my shoulders.
Z - I hope you like dog meat...
M - I don't know, I never tasted it.
Z - Me neither comes to think of it.
M - You know how to butcher such?
Z - No...
She seems a little disappointed. But we'll learn.
M - I'll look inside the books.
Z - Okay.
It takes us a few breaks and a good half of the day just to get back to our town.
There's still so much to do and build... If only to bring us food without deficiencies. I'm feeling so scared sometimes.
I don't want us to starve...
Z - We'll look into fermenting malt someday. And fishing too tomorrow, alright?
M - Alright.
She smiles a little.
We'll make it.
~
It was messy butchering. I spent hours freezing my feet in the water stream to wash everything. My hands hurt so much. Some parts of the intestines looked heavily cancerous. We threw all that away.
We'll try drying the legs into hams. And we make the most of everything.
By the end of the next day, we finally have a roasted taste.
Myls chews very long every bite. She's making a face, unpleased.
M - It's not very good...
I don't know why, but that made me laugh loudly.
~