One More Step

The next day they woke up excited after a long time and put their boy's clothes. They now realized how much they grew up this year. Arms are shorter, legs are shorter, but as their body frame was tiny, the clothes were still fine.

They rushed on their horses towards their hidden cave and saw that entrance was hidden now behind large bushes that they planted before winter. They opened up the cave entrance and slowly walked there and realized how much the cave changed.

The green grass spread everywhere as it was transplanted by the girls. Like soft carpet around the lake. In the other cave were many deers grassing and couple small ones as well. But it seems heer as well as the rabbit overdose. A huge number of those critters jumped around making wild chickens crazy. About wild chickens, they had many new ones.

When they saw the amount they realized that they had to cut the numbers as they are really too many now. So the girls took the time a whole afternoon to catch chicken and rabbits.

They didn't want to kill them. They just used a simple way to bind them and found out they have over thirty chickens and over fifty rabbits.

''Lets quickly plant these seedlings and go to Chief Jafar. Maybe he has some us for these. We don't have to go all the way to the city.'' Kyra felt they are too many. Maybe Chief Jafar had an idea.

Anna admitted. It was too many. They quickly finished planting the seedlings and hurried back home.

Before they came out forest they just put over boys clothes their simple dresses and when they were almost halfway in the village familiar voice stopped the,

''You two. Stop right there!'' The girls surprised stopped while the usually arrogant woman rushed after them with a couple of servants. ''Wait. '' She stopped in front of them while heavily breathing trying to get some air.

''Do you plan to sell these?'' She pointed at a bunch of rabbits and chickens in simple cages that were hung on the horse's backs.

Girls almost simultaneously nodded. Kyra smiled at her. ''We had to many and to tell you the truth we need money. So we planned to sell these. Even if these are wild chickens their meat is highly nutritious so we will get good prise from the restaurant in the city.''

Of course, they had no plan to go to the city now, but if they sell a few chickens already now, not a bad idea.

Soon other villagers saw the number of rabbits as well and asked about the prices. Kyra started boasting.

''The whole winter they at good forage and are quite thick so I think we should settle with one silver stone each rabbit and three silver stones each chicken.''She was feeling that the price was quite shameless and expected they would give up, but suddenly the fist servant bough half of rabbits and ten chickens while others without a word bought rest of it, making girls speechless.

Anna and Kyra looked at each other while holding bags filled with silver stones. ''Kyra what was this about? Should we ask Chief?''

Kyra shook her head. ''Why? Do you think its too much? It's not like we stole the money. We earned it. I felt that the price is quite shameless as well for a moment. I didn't expect that they would accept it just like that. But think about it. Who in this village is really poor?''

Anna thought about it. Actually it was called a foreign village but most villagers were or traders or had a bunch of other ways to earn money. None was really poor. Actually, them two could be considered the poorest here. She felt uncomfortable. ''Did they just felt sorry for us and gave us alms like charity? I feel that we are able to live without alms just right.''

Kyra tapped her head. ''Where do you feel ist alms? How much was the meat last time we asked? It was multiple times higher than rice. You know why? Winter was so hard that most animals died from hunger even before the end of winter. Some died from that icy cold weather some from sickness. To have some fresh meat with this price, you could be considered good. They probably feel that we sold it too cheap.''

Anna was stunned by her words. True. The grains stayed the same as the Emperor held his eyes on the prices, but the rest of the food shot again into heavens. They planned again to start selling greens to the restaurant, but not every day. It's too exhausting for them.

She gave a big smile to Kyra. ''In that case, can we go and buy some new clothes. I think we grew up over winter quite a bit.'' She showed the sleeves that became shorter in just a few months and girls started laughing.

They sat upon their horses and went back home. At home, they checked all their clothes and realized that even those clothes that they bought in advance bit bigger were almost too small as well. Kyra laughed. Over the winter they had nutritious food and had healthy statures.

They drank tea from wild flowers and herbs, ate good meals and had the fun whole day. Growing healthy like this is something good.

Anna looked at Kyra packing all the clothes and was stunned. ''What are you doing with those?''

Kyra thought about it. ''Let's see what is going on with our idea. Then we can bring these clothes to the refugees that plan to return and give them.'' She suddenly stopped and her smile became big.

Anna suddenly had a premonition. ''What?''

Kyra rose one eyebrow and with a smile blinked at her. ''Do you feel tired or energetic?''

Anna knew that Kyra was sometimes playful so she chuckled. ''Fine. Just tell me your ide.''

''Let's go through the village and ask about their stuff that they don't need. Maybe we can help with these small things for those returnees.'' She wanted ta first to support those that want to go back home.

Anna nodded. They stuffed their clothes on the carriage and started going from door to door. Of course, their first stop was the family next to them. When the servant on gate recognizes them, he rushed in to call for that woman who is apparently the main servant of that household.

She blinked at them when they came down and while looking at their faces she realized they had a small crafty smile. She had to sigh. What kind of idea do these children have this time?