One More Step

The next morning was quite relaxing for the girls. They choose to leave after the sun comes out.

Not needing to rush to pick flowers in the morning and greens in the evening, girls had actually a relaxing start of the day after a very long time.

Spring passed and days were already warmer. Some of their spring plants could be seen growing fast in beautiful weather. The girls went to feed the animals and check the garden before taking reins of the horses and moving slowly towards the forest.

''We don't have to rush anymore anywhere....ahhhh. So niceeee.'' Anna stretched a bit while the sun shone over her body.

They wore boy's clothes as it was comfortable for such traveling.

This time they didn't follow the river trail then went straight to the deeper side of the forest.

As the horse slowly followed the girls they saw so many little animals hushing in the early sun.

''We spent very day stuck between the herbs and greens. Now we can have some free time it feels like a dream.'' Anna bowed down and looked at a small flower that peeked between the leaves.

''Look, if we went bit further like now we could have collected these flowers as well.''

Kyra took out the map they planned to make a note, then she took a small notebook and wrote the plant art.

Anna pouted. ''Do you plan to do that whole way?''

Kyra nodded.''This is for us for next year. Like this, we will know around the forest where we can find the plants we need. Ony this way it is possible. I know you have an amazing memory but I will forget.''

Anna gave up and smiled. ''Then let's make it fun at least. Let's see who will find more plants until lunch. ''

''Deal. The one that loses has to cook today.'' Said Kyra.

Anna happily accepted. ''Deal!''

As they played around the time passed quite fast. When they checked the map they saw that Anna clearly won the majority.

Kyra stared at the map and the notes and sighed. ''Unbelievable. You seriously found seventeen different kinds of herbs. I give up for now. Let's eat something. Now we are in mid of the forest so we must be careful. Let's find a good spot for our fire or should we cook tonight when we set up the first camp?''

Anna just looked around and saw way too many trees that were too close together. ''If we make a fire here we might harm the forest. Let's eat something easy and find a good place for our camp. We still have time.''

They agreed to find a better place so they walked and ate some bread with bits of sausage.

''Look Anna, wild onion. We can use him later on. Shall we take some with us now? Who knows will we pass by here later on.''

''Yes. Let's take as many as we can. We can put them in the bag and on the horse. It is a good thing.''

Kyra nodded. ''As it grew in the forest where Nature powers are strong we might get some healing from the onion. But actually, I think it would taste amazing with some wild chicken. In the pan with bacon. ''

Anna punched Kyra and chuckled. ''You do that intentionally. Are you trying to make me get hungry again?''

they chatted and laughed while they filled their bags. To their wonder, they gathered almost two bags of wild onion.

''This can last us for a while. Let's find a place where we can camp for a day or two and make some traps. Now I really feel like eating some meat.'' Kyra was actually just playing around Anna but realized that she unconsciously wanted to eat that.

''We need to find water. I am thirsty. '' Anna felt perched. They had some water with them but they drank it on their way. Now its literally time for new fresh water.

''Mountains like this, that are filled with moisture and lots of plants have a high possibility of having tiny springs. If we find one of the springs we could just make camp nearby.'' Kyra knew how to find hidden springs somehow even in past life so she hoped she could do the same this time as well.

She sniffed the air and then went down on the floor. She slowly searched around and sighed.

"There is water, but look at the ground. It is filled with leaves. The water probably can't flow away and in its current state is not that good to drink it. Let's find a place where land has a bit of slope and stones. That is natural filter and we can then drink it." She looked around as everything was a hill, but some parts, like here were flats and it was good to grow other things.

She looked at Anna and Anna nodded. "Yes, this place is nice and wet, good for mushrooms. When the rain comes, if the rain comes we can try and look for mushrooms in this area. "

Kyra noted the area in her notes and sighed on the map.

"It is just passed lunchtime and we walked slowly until now, next time we can come on horses and we will be here in less than one shichen. " Said Kyra while she looked around.

"Yes, we actually spent a lot of time at home and on our way here we searched for those herbs as well... If we come to this part of forest just for the sake of herbs I think we could be faster in and out." Anna looked around and then said it to Kyra to put it in notes.

Kyra looked around and sighed. She pointed at the hill. "We should try climbing this place up. I somehow feel that there should be water and place to set a camp from camp out we can search forest in circular form for plants and herbs."

"I'm thirsty. Let's hope we find water first." Kyra was feeling the same so it was for both of them mist important part to find clean water.

They walked up between shrubs and trees while the horses followed them calmly. It was quite a peaceful place with birds singing, some small wind could be heard in air and gurgling of... gurgling?

Water?

The girls both heard the clear sound and rushed up to see a really tiny stream getting out from the stone wall and flowing down to the forest.

"Oh, that is the reason there was so much stagnated water under the leaves. We have to be careful. That place can turn into mud pad if there is a lot of water." Kyra looked down from the flat ground they came from.

"Maybe that is the reason why there weren't any mushrooms in the first place even if place perfect for it." Anna already felt that the place was somehow strange.

Kyra smiled at her. "If we could bring the earth from here to our ground and add it to earth it would give us better produce. Not only that. If we clear those trees around and sigh out bit more we could make rice paddy field here as it has direct contact to the water."

"Something like that wouldn't be bad. Do you plan to make it secret paddy field or do you plan to get help from the Jafar brothers." Anna wanted just to joke but almost chock on the water when she saw Kyra's stunned expression.

"That idea is not bad tho. Even if this place is not far from the village no one would come here. We can try to clear this place ourselves and plant many things in this surrounding. If we clear the two trees up the paddy here could have a nice sun for a long time of day and we could plant some greens here near the water. And taste if this water is amazing." Kyra drunk until her fill and was about to walk a bit further when she saw something.

She glanced at Anna that followed her and what they found stunned them even more.

Behind on tree that grew straight out the stone wall was a bunch of shrubs but behind shrubs was opening in the wall.

Kyra was curious and pushed shrubs as a side and entered the opening to find it strange. Inside was something like a long hall and pit if light could be seen from the other side.

"I am going in." She felt extremely curious. Long-time ago she read the novels and in such cases, they found big caves that could be used in case of an emergency.

Anna was feeling rather anxious. She hated wet and dark places but never said anything to Kyra. So she just held the hem of Kyra's clothes and followed behind her.

As the tunnel seemed to be big enough even the horses could pass inside but they just let them outside, for now, to drink water and nibble on grasses near the water.

The tunnel seemed at first short, but now they realized it was quite long. Inside was silence and only their breaths could be heard.

"Kyra, this place..." Anna was scared but suddenly felt a small hand holding her hand and Kyra's voice.

"I am here, so just follow me. In the worst case, we will just end up on the other side of the hill and have a good laugh." Kyra's words gave her confidence and she snickered lightly.

"That would be funny. But actually possible." The girls started to laugh and space was suddenly not scary anymore.