One More Step

She saw all that meat but how to prepare? Kyra saw her predicament and looked around.

It seems in this house all they have are two firepots with lids. One for food one for water. Then there are some of the cutlery, few smaller bowls. Couple basins for food preparation and a couple of earth jars.

When they opened jars they found a bit of oil in one, and something as it seems to be salt in other. The other jars were empty and clean.

''Anna, we can just make clear soup for now. No other way. After that, we will visit the village head's house to find out about the plots. When we finish there we can go to the forest and gather some wild vegetables and mushrooms. We can plant a few traps as I learned before and I have an idea now how we can earn some money for our first food. After all, we need rice or flour to survive until our land gives us food.''

Anna listened to Kyra's word and nodded.

They knew that they had to cook the meat fast as it will turn bad in short. No other way. Anna used one of the knives they found in the kitchen and tried to cut the meat, but it was really tough.

Kyra looked at how she used the knife haphazardly and took it away from her. ''Come, grandma taught me this. You need to cut the pieces that were connected between bones. Like this. ''

She cut off teh front and back legs and the rest of the carcass were left open to take out the piece of meat on the back of the rabbit. The meat was put aside, and the bones will be later used as stock in the soup.

Anna went to take some water while Kyra used an old piece of firestone to light fire. It took her quite a while to start the fire.

In the time between Anna filled until half the water for rabbit meat and was about to put it in water.

''Anna stop. This is a wild rabbit. We need to wash it completely clean one more time before cooking.''

Anna saw Kyra was about to take rabbit meat so she runs faster. ''You take care about the fire I will wash this.''

Kyra didn't mind. She went back to the kitchen and started taking out all teh bowls. Luckily they were still clean as those people before them left just a few days before their arrival.

When Anna came back with meat, Kyra put a bit of the salt inside the pot tasted it and then put the meat inside.

''Anna, we will eat a bit and leave rest for later. After cooking we will fry some of the meat and then leave it for dinner. We don't know will we find more food. Sigh. I think we need to forage food as soon as we finish by planting our seeds. '' Kyra sat on the chair and stared at the fire.

The two of them went silent for a moment and only crackling of fire could be heard.

''What did you plan to do?'' Anna was curious.

''First, we can ask the village head about the forest and the animal world. Let's not go there where it could be dangerous. But Anna, this rabbit was lucky to catch. Near villages, it is rare to get wildlife. We need to pack our things and go to the forest deeper and stay there for a couple days and hunt. Then we can go to teh city and sell some animals and medicinal plants. If we find green eatable vegetables we will keep them for us and dry them.''

Anna nodded. ''And its springtime, so it is possible to find wild eggs as well.''

Kyra nodded. ''Wild eggs, bamboo shoots, fern shoots, mugwort, medicinal plants, wild onion, etc.''

Anna smiled at her. ''You ate those before?''

''My grandmother was to sick to forage them. But I saw neighbors go to the forest to gather them and after cooking she gave us some, so I know few. Do you know something that could help us?''

Anna nodded. ''I am good at gathering wild mushrooms. We live near water, so we can find some water plants as well to eat.''

Kyra clapped excitedly with hands. ''Good, this is good enough. Oh, by the way. We can gather wild flowers. It's springtime, we can sell them on the market for the essence pouches. With that money, we can buy a few glass jars and make essential oils. What do you think?''

Anna nodded but then remembered something. ''Kyra, food in our bags.''

''We ate last night most of it. Leave some dry bread for us when we go to the forest. Today we will eat what we have.'' Kyra knew that there are more things that are edible. But she can catch them on go. For now, it's best to keep that bread for later.

Soon the meat was cooked and when they were almost finished eating the clear water with the taste of meat, someone knocked on their garden door.

They slowly opened the door and saw a strange-looking man in his forties. He smiled gently at them.

''Hello children. My name is Jafar and I am the village head here. I wanted to show you the plots that belong to you, but if you are tired we can do that some other day.''

The girls smiled back at him. Kyra looked at Anna with a smile. Anna, I will be right back. You stay here I will just get our backpacks here and we can go. ''

Anna nodded and then looked at Chief Jafar. She opened the door and invited him in but he disagreed. ''Young lady, sorry. But me entering your home is no good in this land. From now on don't let anyone enter your yard. Our village will protect you as long as you protect yourself. If you understand.''

Kyra heard the conversation from inside and came out with the bags. She gratefully looked at Chief Jafar. ''We understood. Please be at ease. We will not disgrace ourselves without a fight. If it is possible we will take your offer for help. ''

Jafar nodded as he saw that teh girls understood his meaning. He slowly started walking down the street. Now they could see that their house is literally at the end of the village. But it was not a bad house.

They could see on their way houses that looked like they would disintegrate any moment and looked at each other.

It seems they were lucky with the place they stayed at.

Jafar started explaining. ''All villagers have two plots of land. If anyone wishes to have more it can clear the land near the forest for free and it will be written on their name. That is the reason why the previous owner made a house there.''

''May I ask what is the reason he sold the house?'' Anna was suspicious about that man selling the house even if he had future plans.

Chief Jafar chuckled. ''That is because he got the job for his own people and will have enough money to buy food. After all, he is getting a third child so he hopes for a better future for them.''

Kyra nodded. Of course, normal parents would plan a good future for their children if they are able to.

They walked for about an hour when suddenly between houses view opened.

The huge meadow had paths crisscrossing it and separating the fields from each other. And we are not talking about small plots Kyra had in mind. Each plot had the size of a smaller football field.

Anna and Kyra looked at each other and they realized that they need a plan, soon.

Chief Jafar walked to the plots and luckily just three plots further the pair of plots belonged them.

''The family before had actually four plots on end of the field with quite good farmland, but the problem was just like yours. It was far. So they exchanged the field for these two. Any other questions you might have?''

Anna looked at Kyra not knowing what to say by all that as she was quite stunned by the size.

Kyra sighed and just patted Annas's hand. She looked at Chief Jafar and smiled brightly. ''Chief, we have a couple of questions. First, we need to earn money for the seeds so if you have anyone that needs some paperwork translated we can do it. We know multiple languages and can write. Second, we would like to know how much it would cost to find someone to help us plowing our fields. And last is what kind of dangerous animals are in these woods?''

Chief Jafar looked stunned at the two girls that looked at him calmly. ''The translation jobs are not rare, but usually, they ask for those to translate directly. As you two girls have no wish to contact unknown people I understand your wish for paperwork. I will ask around, can't promise a lot tho.''

Kyra just nodded. ''We understand. If you find something like that we will be glad to do it.''

''Second is not hard. I can plow your fields with my people but you will need to pay just the cost of their daily work. You can pay after doing job...'' he saw both of them shaking head.

Anna was this time determined. ''We are grateful, but please we do not need sympathy now. It is better we pay full amount when we have enough money. Please do not take it wrong, we are just trying to stand on our feet already now. We cant get used to lean on anyone from start on.''

He was really astonished by their reaction. What young girl wouldn't like to be pampered and helped. But thinking about their story and their hard life, he understood somehow their reluctance of taking anyone's help.

''So be it. I will then not be shy and ask for a fair amount. The boys I have are as strong as bulls. These two plots they can finish in half-day and then they can sow the seeds for you as well. You will need to pay for their time and my plow, animals and the hoes as well. All together 38 bronze coins. When you gather that much come and we can start right away. ''

''And the woods?''

He chuckled. '''Since I came here 10 years ago I never saw any ferocious animal in those woods. But some people get lost inside. Be careful. There are indeed a lot of smaller animals you could hunt, but the two fo you... Is it even possible?''

''What about deeper in the mountain? Our house is near the forest and we are a bit worried that in the wintertime we might get visit from there.'' Kyra pretends to be worried, while Anna's mouth slightly twitched.

Chief Jafar shook his head. ''There is indeed long mountain rand filled with smaller wild animals. But we didn't hear of any tigers, wolf or bears. Sometimes fox maybe, but that's it.''

''Then, that is all we nee dto know. Thank you for your help Chief.''Kyra was grateful for this information. It means tehy can travel the mountains looking for herbs and food without fear of wild animals.

Girls greeted him and he left while they inspected the field. Kyra was quite satisfied.

''This was plowed before winter so there is no reason to go deep. When they come to help us, we can let them just to break the earth with hoes or just turn the earth a little bit after we put some fertilizer on it. I am sure we will find a way to get everything fast.''

Anna listened to Kyra's words and was not very convinced. ''We could do some work ourselves...''

Kyra shook her head. ''They are grown-up people. The two of us would need one month just to rake this with a hoe. By then we would or fall sick or give up. Lets quickly enter the forest and see what is good there. Maybe we find something we can use and sell on the market tomorrow. Better than braking back brainlessly. I still want to live a long time Anna.''

Anna looked at the two huge fields and sighed. Kyra is right. Not to mention one month even two-three moths would be a problem for them to finish this. So she sighed and then shrugged.

''Let's try then. I can feel things in our backpacks. What did you bring?'' Anna was curious.

''I will show you when we enter the forest. Come. '' Kyra slowly walked pass their fields and strolled towards the huge forest that towered over the whole field.