Land Down Under (KJDarKnight & Treasure)

Tijani frowned a little "I went to hunt and was attacked. I couldn't find my clan. I wandered for many days before finding this place. They look for missing hunters for only two days" he explained. Travelling clans couldn't risk lingering.
 
"Well that stinks," Lynna said after Badru translated. "I'd never stop looking!"

"It is more difficult. After two days, they are probably dead, and to wait would mean more dead," Badru explained patiently.

Lynna huffed, still annoyed.
 
Tijani could tell this upset her so reached out as to touch her shoulder but thought better of it, pulling back and instead said, in English "is the way" he knew a few things in their language but very broken, brief encounters with borrows he had learned a little but very very broken.
 
Lynna looked at him, surprised. "He understands me?"

"You are not difficult to understand," Badru said. "Your face says much."

Lynna made a face and stuck her tongue out at him. "Alright, I get it, but I still don't like it." She turned to Justira and tapped her shoulder. "When is food ready?" she signed.
 
Tijani smiled a bit at her reaction, not understanding most of her words but as Badru said, her face said more.

Justira looked up and gestured to the food she had just taken off the fire and portioned onto some larges dry leaves. Not much, some cooked vegetables and the rest of the rabbit meat
 
Justira smiled "You're too kind, it's just simple food" she sat back with hers and moved to let the others get theirs, glancing outside, still a bit misty and wet outside so they may want to wait a little before going out anyway, it was warm in there with the fire by the entrance keeping out the cold
 
"Simple, but very good thanks to you," she signed. Lynna handed Badru his share, Tijani his, and sat back to eat her own.
 
Whence they had finished eating Justira lead the way back to the burrow.

As she had predicted, there were supplies to be had. Far more than she even realized would be there. Furs, tools, food stores, Seeds for spring, all sorts of things that would help them survive.

It took them a good chunk of the day to organize and collect everything but eventually they had everything ready to go. Or at least everything they could reasonably carry
 
Badru carried the most weight, pushing himself a little with the weight. It was important they get as much back as possible. Once he'd helped everyone else with their packs - including Tijani, he took one last look around and nodded. "Come. We go home," he announced. They were already a day late, but they couldn't worry about that now. All they could do was try to make up as much time as they could.

Lynna touched Justira's arm. "Are you ready?" she signed.
 
Justira stood in the middle of what had once been her home, brushing her hands over the thick roots that supported the majority of the burrow and framed the doorways to smaller rooms where the people had lived. The floor was paved with flat stones with hardened clay between each, though a lot of dirt and rubble had fallen in plus the rain making a muddy mess. It must of once been beautiful but now it was... well, ruins. At Lynna's touch she looked up "Can I have a moment alone here?" she signed, just to say goodbye
 
Tijani stepped out, slightly adjusting his pack to be more comfortable, he hoped the trek back wasn't long or difficult, he was still injured after all

Justira walked into the opening that lead to where she and Faelar had lived and knelt on the floor. This place would have to serve as his memorial, she doubted she'd ever get to see his actual grave again. She opened her hand to reveal a seed. carefully she pried up a stone to reveal the dirt and dug a little hole for it, covered it then placed her hands on either side, closing her eyes. Sure this would drain her quite a bit but today would be a shorter travel day anyway.
After several minutes she pulled back and smiled at the little bush that had grown, out of season roses bloomed.

Finally she came back out to join the others and gave a little nod, ready to go on
 
Lynna smiled at Justira and held out her hand. It was an offer of comfort and comradery in Lynna's eyes. She would hold Justira's hand and assure her she wasn't alone.

Badru started walking, keeping one eye on Tijani in case the other needed help.
 
Justira smiled and took the offered hand. Hers was a bit cool but not cold. She had used a lot of her energy for that rose bush but she regretted nothing
 
Lynna returned the smile and started off after Badru. Time to go home!

~~

Arena stood at the entrance to the cave, her keen eyes scanning the forest line, watching for friend, foe, or food.
 
Mathias wondered over, feeling considerably better "see anything interesting?" He asked as he walked over to join her
 
"Something stirs in the trees, but I cannot make out what it is. Meme does not like it," she said.
The old wolf sat next to her, glaring at the woods. It was almost eerie how similar their expressions were.
 
Mathias picked up his rifle "maybe I should go check it out then. Peter wants to check the traps. If there is something dangerous out there I'd like to make sure it's gone first"
 
"I will come with you," Arena stated as she walked out, her bow slung securely over her shoulder, her spear in hand. The wolf followed her, tail swishing lightly.
 
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