Chapter 83: The Mystery Dish And Aldric’s Lesson!
Neve stayed with Popi in the snow.
He had carefully placed her on a clean patch of white snow and even added more snow on top of her body. Not so much that she would freeze, but enough to shock her system and help suppress the effects of the frenzy flower.
He stood there watching her, waiting, secretly hoping nothing would happen to her. That she would recover. That the cold would do what Aldric had suggested.
Aldric stood by the cave door, looking shy as always. His large frame was partially hidden behind the cave entrance, like he was trying to be invisible even though he was impossible to miss.
"What’s happening?" Gideon’s voice echoed behind them.
Everyone diverted their gaze immediately.
Neve turned to look at him and in that instant, Gideon saw Popi lying in the snow. His physician’s instincts kicked in and he rushed toward her without hesitation.
"What happened to her?" he asked, already checking for her pulse, her breathing, and her overall condition.
"She’s fine," Neve said quickly. "The snow is to get rid of whatever the root of the frenzy flower did to her. It’s supposed to shock her system and help her recover faster."
Gideon straightened up from his examination.
"Oh! She’s the second patient," Gideon said with a slight smile. "That’s actually a very good idea, Neve."
"Well, it’s Aldric’s idea," Neve said quickly. "Not mine. I was going to try something else but Aldric suggested this and I think it’s better."
Neve would have stated that from the beginning, but he had not been sure if Gideon was going to approve. He had been ready to take the blame if the treatment did not work.
Gideon’s eyes traveled across the snow to where Aldric was standing by the door.
Aldric flinched so hard his entire body jerked backward.
Without another word, he ran into the cave.
Neve laughed nervously.
"Don’t mind him," Neve said. "He’s a bit shy."
"Yeah," Gideon said, his expression showing understanding. "It’s famous in the bear tribe. I wonder how he even managed to talk to you. Those beastmen are highly secretive due to their shyness. Most of them don’t even make eye contact with strangers."
"Ha," Neve said. He supposed that explained a lot about Aldric’s behavior. About the way he flinched every time someone looked at him. About the way he tried to make himself smaller. "I see."
He looked at Gideon directly.
"Can you take a look at Sorin inside?" Neve asked. "He needs you more than Popi. His wound was pretty deep."
"Sure," Gideon said without hesitation.
He headed into the cave to find Sorin.
Neve exhaled deeply.
The stress of the day was catching up with him. Everything that had happened. Popi attacking. Sorin getting hurt. Ryker confronting the tiger tribe. All of it was weighing on him now that the immediate danger had passed.
Ryker walked closer to him and pressed Neve against his chest.
"I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you, Neve," Ryker said, his voice carrying genuine guilt.
"I’m fine and it’s not your fault," Neve told him. His hand reached up to try to touch Ryker’s hair, to ruffle it the way he wanted to. But he could not reach high enough.
Ryker understood without being told. He went down on his knees into the snow.
Now Neve’s hand could reach.
Neve slipped his fingers into Ryker’s soft hair and ruffled it gently. The tiger’s hair was different from Cael’s. Softer. Silkier. It felt nice between his fingers.
"Whatever happens to you," Neve said, "I’m on your side, Ryker. No matter what."
"Thank you, Neve," Ryker breathed, his face sinking into Neve’s stomach.
The moment was quiet and intimate and everything Neve needed after the chaos of the day.
It lasted only a moment before Neve had to step back.
"Help me carry Popi back inside," Neve said, his practical side taking over. "I think that’s enough cold to shock her system."
Ryker picked Popi up carefully and stepped into the cave with her.
.
.
Inside, they found Sorin already awake.
Gideon had treated his wound and wrapped it up with leaves. There was no bandage in this world, so leaves and natural materials were what they used.
"He’ll survive," Gideon said mockingly, like the injury was nothing serious.
"It’s not that deep," Sorin added, clearly trying to downplay how serious the claw wound had been.
"Oh, it is," Neve said, pointing to where Ryker should place Popi down on the other side of the main cave. "Thank you for saving my life, Sorin. I definitely owe you a lot."
Sorin’s cheeks flushed red as he looked away like he did not care about being thanked.
"I didn’t even do anything much," he said.
Neve smiled.
He stretched his hands above his head, feeling the tension in his muscles release. He was a bit tired from everything that had happened, but his stomach was telling him something else.
He was hungry.
And more importantly, they had a full house now. Sorin was injured. Popi was recovering. Aldric was shy and needed food. Gideon was here treating patients and probably had not eaten. And Cael was extremely busy with the security of the village and had probably not eaten either.
Neve needed to cook.
"Please check on Popi too," Neve said to Gideon.
Then he turned to Aldric, who was still hovering near the cave entrance trying to be invisible.
"And you, Aldric," Neve called.
Aldric almost entered the ground when Neve called his name. His entire body flinched like he had been shocked.
"Come with me," Neve said and headed into the kitchen.
Aldric followed behind him, his footsteps soft and hesitant.
.
.
In the kitchen, Neve started preparing to cook.
He had an idea to teach Aldric how to create fire properly. The bear was afraid of fire. Neve could see it in the way he had burned the soup earlier. He had been too nervous to handle it properly.
So instead of using his new lighter, Neve decided to show Aldric how to do it the traditional way. With friction. With patience and understanding.
While Aldric tried to mimic his movements, Neve was wondering what to do with the ingredients he had available.
Potatoes. Tomatoes. Onions. Meat.
He folded his hands and thought about it.
He had more than enough ingredients for soup or stew, but he was tired of it already. He did not have cream or cheese or most of the things that would make a proper meal. But he had these basics.
And with these basics, he could create something.
Something special.
Something that was definitely not soup or stew he had been making.
He closed his eyes for a moment and smiled to himself as an idea popped in his head.
"I don’t have enough ingredients," Neve said quietly, thinking out loud, "but I can definitely create ’that’."
Aldric looked up from where he was practicing the friction method for making fire.
"Create what?" Aldric asked shyly.
But Neve did not answer.
He just smiled and continued gathering his ingredients, his mind already working through the steps, already planning how to transform these simple things into something new.
Something delicious enough to surprise everyone.
Something delicious.
Something worth the effort.
Aldric watched him work with curiosity in his eyes, still practicing the fire-making technique, still trying to overcome his shyness and fear of the flame.