68 Toad Harvesting (1/2)

Mari woke up after a good's night rest. Cyrus' head was resting on her lap while Sam curled into a ball on the floor wrapped in a wool blanket. Natasha was sleeping on the opposite side of the room. They've been sleeping together for the past two days. They huddled together to keep warm while Mari read to the three women her books.

Mari looked out of the tent's entrance and saw the light peering through. She wanted to leave the tent and go for a walk, but her legs were trapped under Cyrus' head. Mari planned to wake her up, but Cyrus looked so peaceful in her sleep, and waking her up would be too cruel. Mari decided to stay still and caress her head. Cyrus' hair felt more like cat fur.

The silence suddenly ended when Cyrus jolted upright and screamed. ”Cyrus, are you ok?”

Cyrus turned around and hugged Mari tightly, ”You're not going to leave me, right?”

”No, I won't leave you.”

Sam got up from her sister's scream. She crawled next to Mari and Cyrus, ”No one is going anywhere, Cyrus.” Sam joined the embrace, and the tent eventually regained its peaceful atmosphere.

The women got up and organized their bedsheets and blankets. Natasha was still asleep, ”She sleeps like a rock.” Sam joked. Once they finished cleaning up, Mari invited the twins for a walk around the camp. ”I'm down for a walk, but we can't just leave Natasha. I mean, just look at her.” Sam pointed at Natasha, lying on the bed. Natasha had an awkward posture with her face planted on the soft blanket, and her butt raised in the air.

”Excuse me, is anyone here?” Rock peeked through the tent's door. Cyrus hid behind Mari and Sam at the sight of the large red goblin. Rock's size reminded Cyrus of Tama when he was trying to break through the barn's door to **** them so she could not help but be cautious around Rock.

”Rock, how are you?” Mari asked.

”Oh, I'm good. I'm just here to give Mama something.”

”Sam, could you wake her up?”

”Oh no, it's fine. I'll come back later.” However, Sam already woke Natasha by hitting her butt with a blanket.

”We'll leave you alone, Sam and Cyrus will be joining me for a walk so take you time.” Mari and the twins wore their coats and hid their bodies under their cloaks.

”Oh, thank you.” Rock walked in with his hands behind his back. Once outside the tent, Mari glanced back and saw Rock holding a necklace that he most likely found in the rubbles of the town. Mari smiled, knowing other than his size Rock was far different than Tama. He is the definition of a gentle giant.

Mari, Sam, and Cyrus walked around the busy camp. Sun told them of their plan to migrate the entire tribe to the south. He was also going to take this chance to fulfill his promise to her and the other women. Mari had mixed emotions when she heard Sun's plan. Mari wanted to be free, and she felt like she already attained it, but just like Cyrus, the tragedy they experienced still haunted them. She doubts they will ever be free from the trauma.

Mari was also too curious to leave the forest. She witnessed a once in a lifetime event. No one has ever seen a goblin transform, and the new form Sun mutated into hold more mysteries to discovery. Mari wanted to stay with Sun to learn more, even if it meant facing her inner demons.

The women stopped and rested under a large oak tree. Mari noticed the icicles hanging above them on the branches were melting at an incredible rate. Spring is almost here.

While the women were resting, a group of goblin women walked near them carrying empty baskets, and children accompanied them, carrying small empty bags. Mari watched the goblins dig through the snow and mud. Flute was among the goblins digging on the ground.

Mari stood up and walked up to Flute, ”Hey, what are you guys doing?”

”Mari,” Flute was startled to see Mari outside the tent, ”Women get horny toad for travel.”

”Horny toads? What are those?” Sam asked. Cyrus followed closely behind while holding Sam's coat with her slender fingers. The three women got on their knees while watching Flute dig through the mud, looking for a toad to show them.

”This horny toad.” Flute pulled one out and showed the women.

Mari covered her nose. The smell coming from the toad was stronger than the latrines they cleaned in the adventures' camp. ”Why does it smell so horrid?”

”I smell a hint of dark elves on those toads,” Sam commented.

”What?”

”Those toads might be related to those green frogs my tribe used to buy from the dark elves. Just like these toads, those frogs could only be found underground, so the dark elves had all the access to them. They were used for medicine and a delicacy for the older men.”

”And are what are you going to use that for, Flute?”

”Purple stuff, used for medicine.” Flute poked on pus, and purple liquid slowly flowed down the toad's back. Mari finally knew what made those sludge purple. She could also sense a hint of mana foreign from the toad. ”But no need purple stuff for medicine. Mari greater healer.” Flute smiled.