One More Step

''This time your summon saved us a lot of food. That girl really can feel the Nature moving as it seems. Continue watching over their life. Any strange change son them?''

''Sir, they started a long time before gathering food like hamsters. Literally. Isn't that strange?''

The man chuckled with a deep voice. ''Let's see if they have some of our blood in their veins. Just continue watching them.''

The man disappeared while leaving two speechless people alone.

''What now?''

''Back to work. You go home and exchange me in the early morning. To watch over these two precious children we need to be healthy. So you go first.''

''Good. I will be back in the morning.''

The men disappeared from the forest and the only thing left was slight dent where they stood a few moments ago, but even that dent filled with water and last trails of their existence were erased by the power of Nature.

''Mother, your gut feeling really saved our lives. We were lucky and sold most of the vegetables on time. We have filled storages with food so we can survive everything now. I will never doubt you again.'' The old woman's children were complaining for weeks about her urgency to harvest all grains and vegetables, but seeing their rooms filled with all kinds of produce they just calmed down and enjoyed their days as they knew that others had not that much luck.

''Crown prince... The Emperor is calling you to the morning meeting with ministers.'' The servant came to give him notice that was sent by the palace.

''I know. let me prepare and I will come.'' He put his official garment on and rushed to the carriage that waited for him outside his residence.

As crown prince, he had the right to live in a palace. So not long after he arrived at the main hall where a crowd of people spoke about the problems that arose from the storm.

''Your highness, the rivers on three sides of our country flooded and harmed the existence of tens of thousands of people...''

''Your highness, the drought on north started wildfires and people are trying to escape...''

''Your highness the hail that fell down in these days have destroyed most of the harvest of our region. Many humans were hurt while trying to save what they could while uncountable animals died by the sheer hit of the hailstones...''

When the emperor couldn't almost handle their reports the servant loudly announce. ''His highness the crown prince!!!''

Everyone went silent and bowed to the young man that came with steady steps and straight back forward. He kneed and bowed in front of the Emperor. ''Your son has an emergency report!''

He didn't even greet him or started off with all that procedure...

''Speak.'' Emperor felt his head clearing as those people stopped talking.

'' I got a report before coming here that huge amount of refugees are moving toward the capital. I would like to request to set up the food as soon they arrive here.''

''Why not before? The people here have been harmed as well.''

But crown prince shook his head. ''If we punish those that suddenly start rising prices in this kind of situation and harm our people as well, then the situation for commoners in our city might be still bearable and they could buy their food with the money they have.''

Emperor stood up and stared with cold eyes at Ministers. ''If I hear that any one of those people sold the food by the higher price I will make their life to hell. The food in the city can be sold only to those from this country. To the other counties send enough food. Crown prince was that your idea?''

Crown prince bowed. ''Yes, your highness. I planned to gather more food as I feared last year's disaster and part of it I sent already to the north to the drought-ridden land. Father, our capital still has enough food to sell. If we don't let the prices to rise or county people might be able to survive. I think about food stalls... Maybe nobles and ministers could do that if the situation gets worsened. It is their share of the duties towards this country.''

Ministers were about to protest but were stopped by sudden clapping from Emperor. ''Good. good. This is the best idea. Main state storages will feed the country and our nobles will feed the city refugees. Let's see can how many of you have food to give away.''

He sat down and looked with a smile but cold eyes at the people under him and all they could do is to bow their heads and sigh.

Soon the first refugees and people that had not been able to save their food came to the city to beg for food. The city made four food stations. Each station would be given to one of the ministers and nobles to feed the people for a day.

But a strange thing happened. The food was just some sorghum gruel and few leaves of greens that were harvested from their fields.

After the rain came the sun and one-day a large amount of people appeared asking for food. The nobles started claiming that they had no food to give and stopped altogether.

Two days later carriages filled with jars and bags and all kinds of crates approached slowly trough mud to town. The foreigners jumped out their carriages and started taking out the food and two girls started ordering them like small generals.

''Uncle uncle, not that way... put some planks under it or the rice will soak with water and dirt we cant give people food like that.'' Kyra roared over the heads of stunned people.

They prepared big cauldrons to cook the food and suddenly men were preparing while girls started cooking. Fresh and dried meat, dried vegetables were first fried then added washed rice and then they put the lid on to make porridge.

They set up over twenty cauldrons and while the last was finished preparations the first was already ready to give away. Kyra jumped on the horse and rushed towards the gate and stood in front of awed soldiers. ''Uncle soldier may we make a small request. We are foreigners so we can't order around, but we fear there will be some unrest if we don't get help. Could you give us hand in this so everything goes smoothly?''

One of the officers was there and bowed to the little girl. ''I will come with my squadron and will help you all. ''

She bowed politely and rushed back, jumped almost flying from the horse and stood by Anna's side to help her giving away food. Chief Jafar with his sons as well stood by already done cauldrons and waited until the soldiers didn't come and made orderly lines.

When the lids were open the amazing smell spread over the people's heads and they gulped down. Even the soldiers felt that the porridge looked tasty but was stoic in their standing and maintenance.

One after another the first there pots were empty and girls already started to cook another round of porridge. Oil, meat, vegetables, seasonings, rice, water.

They cooked for a whole afternoon and when the last cauldron was empty they washed it off and asked the soldiers to put it in storage as they planned to come again the next day.

Day after day the foreigners came and fed people. Day after day the girls stood there and cooked with a smile on their faces. It passed already a dozen days, then two dozen days and at third dozen, the girls started looking vane and weak.

One day Anna fainted and hit her head while falling. Medical Ling came and took her to the medical office while looking at the weak Kyra that just smiled at her with panda eyes. ''I am fine, I can handle this.''

But she couldn't. Two days later as she gave away the last bowl of food and as she put the bowl in shaky old hands of an old woman she fainted as well. Chief Jafar took her to the medical office and left her with medical Ling.

He went out and bowed to everyone. His voice was naturally very loud so they all could hear him.

''We from the foreign village are really sorry. This is all we could do with our little power. These girls felt sad that they couldn't give you more food so they would go from door to door in the village and ask them to donate food. Everyone in our village donated, but we can't anymore. Sorry. we hope you will forgive us, but we just can't anymore.''

His white face and dark circles showed that they didn't sleep well for a long time. The people just whispered and bowed as the carriages went away and only Chief Jafar was left. He went to the medical office to care about the two foolish girls.

People crowded in the front office and pointed fingers at it. ''Those girls are the poor orphan girls from before. they felt sad that they couldn't add food so they did all to cook for those. I as a person of this city feel ashamed. Those foreigners feed our people for so long but our nobles can't ... How does that make any sense?''

Clamor started becoming loud but medical Ling came out and yelled. ''Quiet. They are exhausted and need sleep. Please go if you have any compassion for them, they deserve at least that much from us.'' then she turned around and slammed the door making her point.

The people spread and just a few servants stood there and watched quietly at the medical office.

''It seems its time. Send a message to our friends and open storage. It is time we feed the people now.'' In Lord Jung's eyes was a deep seethed worry. ''Why does she has to go to that length? That foolish girl.''

''There was no other way. Only this way they could get rid of those dirty flies around that wanted to target them. Now all eyes will be upon them for a while and that is enough time for us to become stronger and protect them.'' Lady wang hugged his waist and looked at the changing sky.

Next morning carriages with food sent by various nobles could be seen. But the amount and quality were on different levels one from the other.

Lord Jung and the Wang house gave the rice porridge with meat and vegetables while the other side again started giving strange gruel like a thing that was overwatered.

The next day Lord Jung came out and noble Jiang house and started giving again rice porridge with meat and vegetables.

Day by day he would come out and arrive with filled carriages of food together with one of his trusted nobles and would give the food away.

The girls went back home and just started enjoying their days. They would wake up, tend to the animals and then sit under the pavilion in their soft recliners while drinking tea and enjoying the warm weather again.

They didn't leave the house and most people thought they are still weak and sickly. One day they came to the city on their horses and saw a calm line of people standing and waiting for food. They passed the streets, went to the medical office and came out with medicine bags, then went to the Jiang store and got themself the proper winter clothes and shoes and on end went to the booming restaurant where two old people stood on door with open eyes and crying faces waiting for them with relief in their eyes.

''You two are fine. Really fine...'' happily they hugged the girls while the people watched with tears in their eyes.

''They are fine. They are really fine...'' was whisper through the crowd...