My foot's still fine…? It was the morning of the next day, and I was up before these three. Allisa was on her side, again, I had her arm hammered down to the ground. Verd's kids were huddled behind her, they were trying to keep each other warm.
I need to get through all that snow… My hands balled without thinking. How long is this going to take…? How long will it take before we can eat…?
It's our second day without anything to eat. For drinks, I just melt the snow. We can cup our hands if we're thirsty. I tried making cups with earth manipulation, that.. wasn't working out too well..
The… only good thing is my earth manipulation is getting better. My knives are able to cut through nails, and only the surface level of the pelt. It could… Well, it takes longer to get to the flesh that's edible.
We were starving, I could feel my stomach eating itself. And I know if I don't eat soon, we could very well die. I was skinnier than Allisa, these two kids also eat quite a lot. Even now, my energy levels were dropping drastically. I was getting way more tired at night, to the point I was struggling to keep my head up last night.
Just… push it. I hobbled outside the cave. Things were not always gloomy, the sun was melting the snow. My job is getting easier, so… I got started.
With slight struggles, I got to my knees, and started to manipulate the earth beneath my hands.
Focus on durability, Yukina… Durability… Quickly, the ground formed into a knife, much better looking than the first ever. Every time I crafted one, the design became slicker, more refined.
Right now, the blade was a lighter grey; albeit, it had a rocky texture and was decently rough. But, it was good enough for now.
Just a bit more practice…. Maybe one more day I can put Allisa's arm in a splint, possibly two. That's if I can keep standing. It's getting tougher already, but I'll survive.
When I looked to my left, the bear from yesterday was laying there; there were a few claw clippings on the ground— then a shallow gash was onto its side.
My first miniature task of the day was to hack at this big fella'. Well, with the strength I have in my body; anyways, I walked up to this big guy and tried to push in my blade.
The first initial stab took forty percent of my strength; whilst I made it in, I tried to force an opening.
Sickening sounds of carving made my stomach churn— then the rotten stench of iron followed, warm saliva had entered my mouth… I could taste the iron, the blood in my mouth— I wanted to vomit, it was starting to come up.
But I kept my eyes glued onto the now opening wound— I could feel the blade starting to crack. In which, I used earth manipulation to keep it together.
It's starting to work…
I kept forcing the muscles in my entire body to work. Though, they cried at me to be released. However, my hard work was starting to pay off…
When I turned my head, I saw a deep cut going from to hide, all the way into the meaty muscles of this hulking behemoth.
YES!! GOOD JOB Yukina!
I felt a roaring fire enter my heart as I looked inside; food was secured, and my practice and innovations were working! If I woke up Allisa once my mana recovered I can make a cast!
There was an unfortunate downside to this, but the upsides were starting to outweigh them– okay maybe not, I know James and Melinda are fine, but what about the other guys and ladies?
I'll ask Shen if she truly can enter my thoughts… maybe. Anyways, I yanked out my knife from this big guy's corpse.
Thankfully, I'm not some weirdo wolfkin who'd enjoy this shit… The sickening smell of iron had entered my nostrils. God… Shen would get hungry over this shit.
Although, she did say she was only into human blood. But I guess the raw meat might get her drooling..
I pulled my shirt over my nose and held my knife to my eyes. Looks like these tricks are going to work, noted.
The blade looked as if it wasn't even used, in fact it looked pristine— if not better. I couldn't stop my hands from shaking…
Okay, okay… calm down Yukina. This is just a small step. This doesn't mean I could create that cast, I still need more practice. And which I did by carving more.
Soon, I had many chunks of meat on the ground; mainly muscle that bled onto the rocky terrain. Damn… are all these creatures made of muscle…?
I made this realization as I dug into this bear's stomach. There was no fat, nor anything that showed they hibernated. What was left were these gamey meat chunks.
Will those two be able to bite into it…,? I felt my heart ache as I handled these slimy meats. Most likely not…
As I stood here for a moment, I felt my mouth crease into a frown. Verd's kids were tough, tougher than any five to six year olds.
"Wher- where is big sister Yukina?!"
Speak of the devil… I sighed to myself, then commanded the earth to open for me.
"Hey, I'm okay." I proclaimed as I took a step inside. The two kids were cuddling each other whilst staring at me with teary eyes. "You two need to worry less, okay?"
"Y-Yukina…? What were you doing?"
Whilst holding the chunks of bear in my hands, and a forced smile I responded to the now awake Allisa. "I was gathering food for us, it's been a few days since."
Allisa rubbed her sleepy eyes, stared at the bloodied meat and laid her head back down.
Guess that constant healing is tiring her out.
Anywho, my two little helpers finally unglued themselves. With earth manipulation I made a makeshift pan, which was held up by two earth rods. Next I threw these chunks onto the pan and used palm of flames to heat up the bottom.
"Big sister, how do you do that?" Verd's son asked me a few minutes later. "Can you teach me?"
"I don't think I can."
"Why not?"
"Maybe after." I responded to his question a second later. "Maybe after we get through this."
"Really?! Sis did you hear that?!"
"Mmm…"
"Big sister Allisa! Did you hear what big sister Yukina said?!"
Allisa simply rolled over onto her other side, or well attempted to. My spell was restraining her arm down.
"Yuukina… can you let my arm go?" Allisa bellowed out in a tired tone; her eyes were not even opened at this point. "I've been… healing my arm for a few days…"
"Not until I can put it in a cast." I simply responded. I flipped this bear meat, well, burger with a makeshift spatula. "Get up or you'll miss something to eat."
"Big sister Allisa! Did you hear? Did you?" Verd's son was now straight up in her face, quite excited as he began shaking her vigorously. "Wake up! Hear what Big sister Yukina said!"
"..."
"Brother! Calm down!"
"Nope!"
Geez… that kid… I let out a small sigh before prepping this unappealing food. First of all, it was far from burnt; the meat was rather tough though, dry from all blood.
For reference, I had slightly above strength for a fourteen year old girl. Well, no shit… Anyways, it was slightly hard to tear individual pieces up.
After a few rough tears, and testing, I gave Verd's kids theirs.
Well… time to continue this…
Allisa and I were next, obviously I gave her a bigger piece than mine— she lowered her head, then looked at me with furrowed eyebrows. "You need to eat more."
At her words I shook my head and pushed her food further. "I don't need this much." I was truthful, just one chunk would've filled me up. Though, I've really been hearing that being said a lot to me.
"Take some more!"
"Allisa, y'know I don't need that much?"
Allisa gave me a gigantic frown whilst glaring at my food. "You're the one doing all the work, you need more food."
"I'll be okay Allisa."
After some more reassurance, we went to eat our food. Once I bit down into my food, the bear meat was mostly savory, with a hint of a green taste. Surprisingly to me, it wasn't as tough to eat…
I kind of like it…
**************
Many… many hours later, the sun was in the sky; and one crappy thing later… It was not a good situation.
"Oh, shit…"
Hulking, crazed and starving. A gigantic polar bear was towering over me, saliva dropped from its mouth… I could smell the musky breath from its open mouth.
Its eyes were focused on me, I was its next lunch… Behind me, I very well know what's going on. Allisa was frozen, terrified of this beast; the two kids were the same.
Its chest rose and sank, it was struggling to breathe… this is going to be tough anyways…
I poured mana into my hands, and this big bastard seemed to sense it. Every hair on my body shot straight up when this bear tried to bat at me…
Quickly I ducked, whilst feeling the air above me whistle. Another one struck towards my stomach.
I sucked in my breath as I stumbled backwards. Shit! I need distance!
My mana was repeatedly cut off, this big fucker was not letting me get a chance! I was glued to the ground; every time I stopped, a giant leg came to stomp on me.
My heart was racing, my lungs were expanding against my tight chest. Hurts like shit…
It felt like an eternity, rolling, scrambling to get out of the way. I wasn't able to feel my body eventually.
The bear… was utterly tireless; it kept roaring and rearing its head— it wanted to maul my body.
"Roar!!"
Finally… The bear got to its two feet, bellowing out a loud roar. Do it! C'mon!
Just as big as it is, the harder the mistake was… In a millisecond I commanded my mana to my hands. Stay there you big bitch!
For a moment, it paused and snarled at me. Then, it lowered itself, bearing its yellowed teeth.
My legs, mouth, stomach, legs and chest were all on fire. I could taste blood coming up my throat.
Stay still… I wished in my mind.
This bear and I were at a stand still, but a hint of primal confidence was in its eyes. It knew, very well, that I couldn't keep dodging.
"Yu-Yu-"
"Quiet!"
Shit-! My lungs were in agony, and I felt a stinging sensation for me to cough. I'd be dead by now if this bear suddenly didn't see me as prey; but… it now did.
Within seconds, I heard the bear let out a huge huff; then it caused the ground to rumble as it trotted towards me.
Now! As it was one paw away, I commanded Earth Dome to cover my body— whilst I summoned a few earth darts to shoot out.
My vision blurred, and I felt my entire body rock around. Then, I felt a massive thud against my back— it reverberated throughout my entire body.
Crap… crap… crap! I internally exclaimed, all my organs just slammed against my bones— my bones creaked as I crumpled to the ground and earth dome receded. Please… be okay- don't be alive…
It took everything for me to stay awake— my vision was blurry, but I kept my head forward. Is it dead… please…
"Shit…" I cursed under my breath. My entire body hurts, it was excruciating… "Shit…!"
When I looked down, the pain… it made sense….
Wobbly, I tried to keep myself up; but the ground forced me to stay on my stomach. I was… scarred all over; hot blood was pooling from my stomach— a chunk of my right thigh was roaring at me
"Yu-Yukina! No! No! Nonono!" I heard Allisa's voice pound inside my head. "Don't- don't die… we need you…:
Her voice was… faint, to be exact. Even my eye…? My vision was fully blurred, but I knew Allisa's presence was next to me.
"Yukina…!"
"I'm… alive…" I tried to groan out, but I felt a cough leave my mouth. Soon, my mouth was full of an iron taste. Alive…? But I feel my soul wanting to leave.
Am I going to die again?
…
Geez kid… what happened to you?
I heard Shen's voice… inside my head again, she sounds disappointed.
A bear…
Told you not to die, look at what you're doing now…
…
I'm trying to survive… I really am… I'm trying to stay conscious as I choke on my own blood— it's filling my mouth, and pooling below me.
"Mo-move me… me onto my side…." I tried to speak between chokes.
"Wha- What'd you say…?" Allisa, who was trying not to break down, asked me. Still, I couldn't see her, but her voice was so fragile "on… on your side?"
"Yes…."
FF-! I gritted my teeth as she forcibly moved my body. My entire body screamed at me, agonizing— prickling stings covered every inch of my body.
Anyways, I found Verd and Shaun— both are the least injured, Shaun only had cuts on his body, Verd's was almost as bad but he's relatively fine.
Can… you shut up…?
How are Verd's kids? He's wondering how they are… and about Sage.
…His kids are fine, I never found Sage.
The blood in my mouth was draining further, and the choking feeling lessened. Does Shen… care all that much? She sounds so calm.
Thanks, don't get yourself killed.
…