Chapter 21: Plan
Gabby cooked the food while Clara washed up at a nearby lake.
By the time she returned, the meal was ready—a hearty boar stew. Gabby handed her a bowl carved from wood and said, "Eat this while it’s hot."
Clara took a sip of the broth, then tasted the meat. The wild boar usually had a strong, gamy flavor—pungent and tough due to its uncultured diet. But Gabby had skillfully balanced taste. With his cooking, the result was surprisingly rich and savory.
It’s delicious—for something made with wild ingredients. He could become a chef, she thought.
Out loud, she said, "It’s not terrible. Good enough for survival, if you don’t have a choice."
Gabby blinked, "That’s how bad my food is? he thought to himself.
After they finished eating, Clara climbed up to the tree camp to rest.
Gabby said, "I’ll guard our camp. We need to stay alert for nocturnal monsters."
Clara nodded. "You have a point. Let’s take turns. We’ll switch after four hours."
The night grew colder, even with Gabby wearing a hooded cloak.
Thanks to the moonlight, his far-seer still worked well. As expected, the goblins had started moving. Their base must be near that cage.