Year 0002, The Imperium
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Three days have passed since the events occurred; August was still lying unconscious.
To keep themselves busy, Gel took care of the garden, and she also cooked for their meals.
She also taught Betty the things she was doing, at least those that August taught her.
If she concluded her work early, she would return to August's side and take care of him.
During the day after, while Erik was thinking about what he could contribute in this place where their saviors lived.
Gel approached him; she asked him if he had skinned an animal before.
"Hey, have you ever skinned an animal before?"
Erik's eyes darted outside and went back to Gel; he hesitantly answered.
"Yes... I was taught by my father."
"Good then... Since August here is still
sleeping, I will ask you to skin that Boarat and take its meat so we could dry it out and store it afterwards in the root cellar below."
"Don't worry, I'll help you with some of the less strength-based processes."
*Sigh
This is going to be a long and arduous task for him, so he could only agree.
"Alright then."
---
While she asked Bren, the one closer to her in age, to gather some firewood just outside the perimeter fence so they could continuously stock their kindling wood.
And she reminded him to not wander off deeper into the forest unless he wants to be eaten by predators.
"Okay, pretty sister."
Bren answered jovially.
"No, I'm not your sister, and we are only a couple of months apart in age."
She coldly replied, with a blank expression on her.
But Bren was unperturbed by her cold reaction, and he went out of the house with bouncy steps, visibly happier now.
She didn't ask them yet what happened to them; she could only guess.
They were also probably refugees of war, but as to how they got here and survived, she was curious.
They were still a bit distraught from whatever traumatic experience they went through.
So she decided to let them be for now and let them slowly open up or ask them when August wakes up.
She could be a bit of a knucklehead sometimes, but she still had some tact to be mindful of others.
---
"Agghhhh, my head."
August grasped his aching head; his body was sore and still a bit painful to move.
So he slowly got up and sat on his bed; he remained unmoving for a good couple of minutes.
He looked at the window; it was dark outside.
He noticed that he was back at their house; the last thing he remembered was that he was clearly fighting that Commander Rank Boarat, and he shot it dead, but it also got him in the end.
Suddenly it dawned on him, wasn't he supposed to be dead by now, or is this heaven...? What the heck?
So he inspected his body; he has some bandages wrapped on his body, with some leaves inside it.
He also seemed to have one on his head, though he didn't notice it before when he touched his head.
No wounds?
My internal organs seemed fine now, my ribs... He felt like cringing when he remembered; he knew it was crushed along with his organs.
He could only puke out the window in thought.... A moment later, when he calmed down, he could not believe that he was overall actually... fine?
After he could further rack his brain, he looked around the house, and there seemed to be other people with them who were currently sleeping near the hearth...
Oh right, there were those kids back then...
Gel seems to be sleeping also; they were all huddled with each other.
So he could only conclude that it was still night, or was it morning already right now?
Since there seem to be bustling chirps of creatures outside already.
It was indeed already dawn; it was the fourth day, and he woke up on his usual daily schedule, but he didn't know that yet.
He slowly got up, still in pain and very weak, since he hadn't eaten in a while.
It was then that his stomach started grumbling as if to signal to him of his emaciated state.
---
He slowly moved around the house, and when he went down the upgraded root cellar, he saw that there seemed to be a new, fresh meat hanging around there.
He got some ingredients to cook for himself; he was too hungry right now.
He ate some of the fruits that seemed to have been stocked recently; every bite was juicy, and it sent shivers down his spine, as if to remind him what life was all about.
After that he went back upstairs; he slowly moved so that he wouldn't disturb the others who were sleeping.
---
After a few minutes, his first meal after four days was finished.
It was a simple hot gruel, but it was aromatic, and its smell wafted around the house.
The residents at this time were still asleep, but they slowly began waking up, allured by the wonderful smell that was lingering all over the house.
Their still sleepy eyes were slowly waking up, the fresh morning air moved around inside the house and stirred the aromatic food that August have just finished cooking.
Their eyes darted around the house, looking for the source of the delicious-smelling food.
Finally it landed on the kitchen area, there was someone standing there, preparing a meal for himself.
Now a fully awake Gel yelled.
"GUS!!"
She ran and hugged him from behind; he balanced himself so that he wouldn't spill the smoking hot gruel.
"Ow... ow… ow... Gel, can you, um, release me? It still hurts, you know..."
She quickly let go of him and apologized.
"I'm sorry . . . I'm just so happy you're back!"
Her tears swelled and slowly went down her cheek.
He didn't know what to do after he placed the bowl of hot gruel down
.
He patted her head gently.
"Thanks ... for worrying about me."
"But I'm very, very hungry right now."
So he took a seat and ate, and she left him alone while she also took a seat in front of him.
Her eyes were staring at him, as if he would be gone if she blinked.
"Welcome Back!"
She declared and smiled with her teary-eyed morning face.
---
He remained to rest the whole day, so he let the others move around and do their assigned task, which he heard Gel assigned them to do.
They briefly introduced themselves to each other after they had finished their tasks, and they all went back inside.
Now August finally asked them.
"So... can you tell me exactly what happened?
I know I'm not supposed to be here right now, alive and talking to you guys…"
Each of them recalled the things they remembered that day and how Erik and Gel looked for him.
And how there was a mythical beast who looked after him and took them home.
They also stated what they did since yesterday.
---
After a while, they finished their gathering. reporting?
"Hmmm, so that happened, huh?
That seemed like a fairytale, to be honest.
But I believe you guys, and I hope it was all true and that is indeed what happened since I'm alive right now.
After that, there was a deafening silence that ensued around them.
Gel was the first to break this silence.
"Since you are back with us now, why don't we have a Welcome Back Celebration for you?
It will also serve as a celebration with your victory against the huge Boarat and our first harvest that day, and we could also include the celebration of life for you, Erik, Bren, and Betty."
The others only nodded, now looking at their most important celebrant, their savior.
"Okay, okay, I got it. Geez, stop looking at me; I'll melt."
And so celebrate they did; August was the lead cook, and the others helped organize the place....