Arin and Kai fell into a grim routine in the following days. Each morning, their bodies weak but driven by the primal need to find food, they would set out into the forest. The other orphans took turns joining them, but it was clear that Kai preferred having someone a little older, someone who could better understand the gravity of their situation.
While they ventured out, Arin noticed that some of the children were no longer present. When she questioned Kai about their absence, he shook his head, his eyes haunted.
"They didn't come back. Probably got attacked by an aura beast."
This was Arin's first real encounter with death in this world. She had known loss before, in her old life, but there was something profoundly different about facing it here, in a place where survival was already so precarious. The realization that any one of them could be snatched away at any moment, that their lives hung by the thinnest of threads, settled over her like a suffocating weight.
Arin pondered silently, her heart heavy with sorrow. These children have seen so much death, it's become a normal part of their lives.
However, for the children of the shelter, death was a constant companion, a reality they had learned to accept at a far too young age. The constant struggle for survival demanded that she too had to adapt quickly, pushing aside her own emotional needs in order to focus on staying alive. Here, in the face of such relentless adversity, grief was a luxury that none of them could afford.
Their foraging expeditions were fraught with danger and limitations. The ever-present threat of aura beasts loomed over them, forcing them to stay within a relatively small radius around the village.
Arin quickly learned to recognize the signs of nearby aura beasts - a sudden stillness in the forest, an unnatural shimmer in the air, or a faint, otherworldly glow emanating from the undergrowth.
She mused silently, feeling a chill run down her spine. But even with these signs, we're still so vulnerable out here.
The dangers of the beasts were not the only challenge they faced. The areas closest to the village had already been picked clean by generations of desperate orphans, leaving little for Arin and Kai to find. Each day, they were forced to venture a little further out, balancing their need for food against the increasing risk of encountering deadly aura beasts.
Huddled in a corner of the shelter, her arms wrapped around her knees, Arin tried to ignore the gnawing pain in her belly. She watched the other children, their faces gaunt and eyes sunken, moving listlessly about the space. The harsh reality of their existence had truly set in.
The forest, once a place of wonder and potential bounty, now seemed to mock them with its lush greenery. Every rustling leaf made their stomachs growl in anticipation, only to be met with disappointment.
Hours passed, and they searched fruitlessly for anything edible. Desperation clawed at Arin's insides, rivaling the hunger pangs that twisted her gut. She could see the same desperation mirrored in Kai's eyes, though he tried to hide it behind a mask of determination.
"Kai," Arin whispered, her voice barely audible. "I don't think I can go on much longer without food."
He turned to her, his eyes filled with sympathy and resignation. "Sometimes we have to do things we'd rather not to survive."
With that, he knelt down and brushed aside some leaves, revealing a small cluster of insects crawling beneath. Arin's stomach turned at the sight, but the hunger was stronger than her revulsion. She watched as Kai expertly sorted through the insects, discarding some and collecting others.
"You mean...?"
"It's not ideal, but bugs are protein. They can keep you going when there's nothing else."
Arin swallowed hard, steeling herself. She reached out with trembling fingers and grabbed one of the insects, squeezing her eyes shut as she quickly popped it into her mouth. The taste was bitter, and the texture made her gag, but she forced herself to chew and swallow.
Almost immediately, she felt a churning sensation in her stomach. Some insects, she realized, contained compounds that could irritate the digestive system, especially when eaten raw. The bitter taste lingered on her tongue, and she could feel a slight burning sensation in her throat.
"It gets easier. After a while, you almost forget what real food tastes like."
Kai paused, noticing Arin's discomfort. "Some of these can make your stomach hurt at first. The red-striped ones are especially nasty - they've got some kind of defense mechanism. Stick to the plain brown ones if you can, they're easier to digest."
Arin nodded weakly, feeling a wave of nausea wash over her. She took deep breaths, trying to calm her rebelling stomach. The survival instinct warred with her body's natural aversion to the unfamiliar food.
"Don't worry. Your body will adjust eventually. Just... maybe don't eat too many at once until you build up a tolerance."
"Why can't we go further into the forest? Surely there must be more food out there."
Kai's expression darkened. "Aura beasts. The further we go from the village, the stronger and more numerous they become. It's not worth the risk."
"But why? What makes the village safer?"
"It's complicated. It has to do with the Moonfire Crystal and the barrier around the village. I don't fully understand it myself, but I know it keeps us safer closer to home."
Arin nodded, processing this information. She had heard whispers about the Moonfire Crystal from the other orphans, but its true nature and power remained a mystery to her.
The sun was beginning to set when Arin noticed something unusual on a nearby tree trunk. A large, pale slug was slowly making its way up the bark, leaving behind a trail of softly glowing moisture.
"Kai! What's that?"
He hurried over, his eyes widening at the sight. "That's a Dewdrop Slug."
"Is it... edible?"
"Not exactly. But that trail it leaves behind... it has healing properties. It can help with hunger pains and give you a bit of energy."
Carefully, Kai reached out and collected some of the glowing moisture on his fingertips. He offered it to Arin. "Here, try a little. It won't fill you up, but it might make you feel better."
Arin tentatively licked the moisture from Kai's fingers. A cool, refreshing sensation spread through her body, momentarily dulling the ache in her stomach and clearing the fog from her mind.
"That's... amazing," Arin breathed, feeling more alert than she had in days.
"It's not a permanent solution, but finding one of these can be a lifesaver on days like this."
They collected what they could of the slug's trail, careful not to harm the creature itself. The small amount of healing moisture, combined with their unappetizing insect meal, gave them enough strength to make it back to the shelter.
The next day brought a new challenge. A heavy rain had started in the night and showed no signs of letting up. The shelter's thatched roof leaked in several places, forcing the children to huddle together for warmth and to avoid the worst of the drips. The sound of rain pounding on the roof was almost deafening, drowning out the usual chatter and movement of the orphans.
"We still need to go out," Kai said, his voice barely audible over the pounding rain. "Rain means more bugs will be out."
Arin nodded, pulling her tattered clothes tighter around her body. They set out into the downpour, the cold water quickly soaking them to the bone. The forest floor had turned to mud, making each step a struggle.
Despite the discomfort, Kai had been right. The rain had brought out a variety of insects, and they managed to gather more than they had in previous days. Arin even spotted a few Dewdrop Slugs, their glowing trails mixing with the raindrops in an ethereal display.
They collected what they could of the healing moisture, sharing it among the group when they returned to the shelter. The brief respite it provided from their hunger and fatigue was a moment of pure relief. Arin watched as the younger children's eyes lit up at the taste of the Dewdrop Slug's trail, their faces momentarily free from the constant worry and fear that had become their norm.
That night, huddled together for warmth, Arin found herself thinking about her life before coming to the village. Try as she might, she couldn't remember anything specific. It was all a hazy blur, like trying to recall a dream upon waking. The only clear memories she had were of the past week, filled with hunger, fear, and surprisingly, a growing sense of belonging among these other orphans.
The rain continued for two more days, making their foraging even more challenging. The constant wet and cold began to take its toll, with several of the younger children developing coughs and fevers. Arin and Kai took on the bulk of the foraging duties, allowing the others to rest and conserve their strength.
On one of these rainy expeditions, they ventured further into the forest than they had before. The familiar landmarks were obscured by the heavy rainfall, and Arin soon found herself completely disoriented. The trees all looked the same, their bark darkened by the rain, and the usual paths were hidden beneath a layer of mud and fallen leaves.
"Kai, I think we're lost."
He turned to her, water streaming down his face. "We're not lost. We're just... exploring new territory."
Despite the gravity of their situation, Arin couldn't help but smile at his stubbornness. It was that determination, she realized, that had kept him alive all these years.
They pushed on, the rain eventually easing to a light drizzle. Suddenly, Kai held up a hand, signaling Arin to stop. She froze, her eyes scanning the area for any sign of danger.
"Look," Kai whispered, pointing to a small clearing ahead.
Arin's eyes widened in disbelief. There, nestled among the wet leaves and fallen branches, was a cluster of mushrooms. Not the poisonous varieties they had learned to avoid, but edible ones, their caps glistening with raindrops.
They approached cautiously, hardly daring to believe their luck. Kai knelt down, examining the mushrooms closely before breaking into a wide grin – the first genuine smile Arin had seen on his face.
"These are good. We can eat these. And look, there are more over there!"
They spent the next hour gathering every mushroom they could find, their spirits lifting with each addition to their baskets. It wasn't a feast by any means, but it was more real food than they had seen in days.
While they worked, Arin noticed something strange. The air seemed to shimmer faintly, like heat rising from sun-baked stones. She blinked, wondering if her eyes were playing tricks on her. The shimmering seemed to intensify the longer she looked, creating an almost hypnotic effect.
"Kai, do you see that? The air looks... different."
Kai straightened up, his expression suddenly serious. He scanned the area, his body tensing. The joy of their mushroom discovery evaporated instantly, replaced by a palpable sense of danger.
A low, menacing growl echoed through the trees. Arin froze as she saw a pair of glowing eyes emerge from the shadows.