Chapter 34 - At the foot of the mountain
Traveling long distances in the Barrens required a lot more than what I thought at first.
We would usually walk three to five days between one oasis and the next and then make a stop at that oasis for a couple of months.
Obviously, we had to restock the supply for the next leg of the walk, but it was more than that.
The tribe had their share of adults, old people, and sick people who couldn’t be made to keep going on and on like healthy adults would. And the mental toll of the dangers of the wilds was something that could shake even adults.
Also, the tribe also had duties to attend to. Most oases only survived because of the tending the people keep doing there.
Thinning the taller palms so they wouldn’t overshadow the medium-sized ones, which are most of the fruit-bearing ones. Digging wells to bring more water to the surface, planting seedlings, harvesting the grains planted by the last visitors, and planting new grains for the next ones.
And that’s without counting the ceremonies for the spirits of the oasis and other religious rituals.
So, that’s why it took ages to reach this place.
:::
Along the way, I’ve learned a lot about the beastkin way of life and also got lots of useful everyday-life abilities.
Those are not skills listed on the System, but are useful nonetheless, like sewing and making small crafts from branches, twigs, and vines.