Lingering Bliss

♧♧♧♧♧

Three days had passed since Ling Wei began living in the small clearing. She had been traversing back and forth to the stream to wash up and drink, often collecting firewood for her small bonfire. Each morning, she checked her traps, but they had yet to yield any success.

Ling Wei had been surviving on berries for days. Despite her attempts to construct a simple shelter between two old trees, she eventually gave up, reasoning that she had no intention of staying in the clearing forever. It wasn't because she struggled to build one—an architect like her failing to make a meager shelter was unthinkable.

Looking at her half-finished shelter for the nth time. She had managed to gather some sturdy branches and intertwine them into a rudimentary frame, but her heart wasn't in it. The hope that she would soon find a way back to civilization, kept her from investing too much effort.

She sighed in defeat.

Another day of berries awaited her, but with the dawn of a new day, she revisited her traps, including the three new snare traps she had set up the previous day.

Each trap was meticulously placed, taking into account the tracks and signs left by animals in the area. Ling Wei's fingers were nimble and practiced, a skill honed from years of delicate architectural modeling.

As she walked the now-familiar path to check her traps, she heard the cry of a struggling animal. When she came into view, she saw a small rabbit caught in one of her snares. A surge of delight quickly gave way to discomfort as she realized she had to end a life.

After three days of foraging and patiently waiting, one of Ling Wei's traps had finally yielded a result—a small rabbit caught in the snare. The sight of the rabbit, its small body quivering in the trap, brought a pang of sadness. She knew this was necessary for her survival, but it didn't make the task any easier.

Ling Wei approached the rabbit, ensuring it was securely caught. She remained calm and quiet to avoid startling it.

She knelt down beside the creature, her hands steady despite the turmoil in her heart. "I'm sorry, little one," she whispered, acknowledging once again the harsh reality of survival in the wild. Taking a firm hold of the rabbit by its hind legs and head, she dislocated its neck with a quick, firm motion. This method was chosen for its swiftness and efficiency.

Ling Wei grimaced at the sound of the neck breaking. She unconsciously apologized to the rabbit again in her heart. She then brought the dead animal to a flat, clean surface near the stream where she could work, using her construction knife from her belt.

The knife, once used for precision cuts in architectural models, now served a much more primal purpose.

She made her initial incision, a small cut just above the hind legs, careful not to puncture the intestines or stomach, which could spoil the meat. She inserted her fingers into the incision, pulling the skin away from the flesh to create a gap.

Ling Wei carefully cut along the legs and around the tail, then began peeling the skin off the rabbit. She gradually worked her way down the body, using her hands to avoid cutting into the meat, though she used the knife for any tough spots.

Once the skin was pulled down to the head, she cut around the neck to completely free the pelt, setting it aside for possible future use.

'The fur might come in handy for warmth or as a makeshift pouch?'

Next, Ling Wei made an incision in the abdomen, a careful cut from the rib cage down to the pelvis, being cautious not to puncture any internal organs. She then reached in and gently pulled out the organs, starting with the intestines. She separated the liver, heart, and kidneys to be buried for later.

The smell was strong and unpleasant, but she forced herself to focus on the task at hand.

After thoroughly cleaning the inside of the rabbit, removing any remaining blood and bits of organs, she rinsed the whole carcass in the running stream water, ensuring all blood and contaminants were washed away. She inspected the rabbit for any remaining fur or debris and removed them as needed.

Ling Wei wanted to season the rabbit for flavor. Fortunately, she had found some oregano herbs days before while collecting berries. She rubbed the rabbit thoroughly with the oregano, ensuring the herbs were evenly distributed over the surface of the meat.

After seasoning the meat, she skewered the rabbit using a clean stick she had carved beforehand, starting at the hind legs and pushing it through to come out at the mouth. She ensured the rabbit was securely fixed on the stick to prevent it from rotating unevenly.

Mindful not to overlook any detail, Ling Wei meticulously cleaned the pelt in preparation for drying it out under the warm sun. After completing this task, she delicately arranged the rabbit's liver, heart, and kidney on her helmet, ensuring they were securely positioned.

With the skewered, uncooked rabbit held in her left hand and the helmet cradled in the other, while the washed pelt rested over her shoulder, Ling Wei retraced her steps back to the clearing. There, her small campfire crackled and flickered, casting a warm glow as it eagerly awaited her return.

'Cooking Time!' The young junior architect exclaimed with bubbling excitement, though the feeling only resonated deeply within her.

Ling Wei started cooking by first burying two forked sticks on either side of the fire pit to hold the spit in place and allow it to rotate. She adjusted the height to about 14 inches above the coals, where it would roast evenly without burning.

Over the course of almost an hour, Ling Wei meticulously rotated the rabbit, ensuring equal cooking on all sides. Throughout the process, she intermittently added small branches to the fire to sustain a consistent heat, carefully managing it to prevent large flames that could potentially scorch meat. Additionally, she regularly probed the thickest part of the meat with a knife to assess its doneness.

As the aroma of oregano and the slight scent of roasted chicken filled the air, Ling Wei's mouth began to water. The juices now ran clear, and the meat was tender and crispy on the outside. She knew her first real meal was ready.

Ling Wei didn't bother waiting for the rabbit meat to cool down or cutting it into manageable pieces. Driven by hunger, she blew on the hot meat a few times and began to devour it. The first bite burned her tongue, but she ignored the pain. The strong oregano flavor mingled with the taste of roasted meat, reminiscent of chicken.

It was the best roasted meal she had ever had, evident in the way she ate it, finishing the whole thing in just a few minutes.

After emitting a satisfying burp, Ling Wei took a moment allowing herself to fully savor the lingering bliss that enveloped her after relishing what she considered to be the best meal she had ever experienced. For the first time in days, she felt content and slightly hopeful. The warmth of the fire and the fullness in her belly brought a momentary sense of peace.

This meal not only sustains her but also provides a morale boost to face her new challenges ahead.

♧♧♧♧♧

After Ling Wei finished her meal, she collected all the bones, scraps, and remaining parts of the rabbit and placed them in her helmet along with the internal organs. Carrying the makeshift container, she embarked on a trek of at least sixty meters away from her campsite in search of a suitable location to properly dispose of the remains.

Using the claw end of her mini hammer, Ling Wei began to excavate a pit in the earth, digging down to a depth of about two feet. Carefully, she arranged all the collected remnants within the pit and covered them with the displaced soil.

This method would help mask the scent and prevent scavengers from being attracted.

In an effort to further conceal the pit, Ling Wei scattered leaves and natural debris over the filled hole, ensuring that it blended seamlessly with the surrounding environment. This precautionary measure eased her worries about drawing unwelcome attention from wildlife.

Upon returning to the clearing, Ling Wei began by gathering additional firewood to replenish her dwindling supply. She diligently collected dry twigs, branches, and small logs from the surrounding area, making sure to gather enough fuel to last through another night. Once satisfied with her collection, she arranged the firewood in a neat stack near her campfire pit for easy access later.

After completing the task, Ling Wei developed a new habit of regularly surveying the perimeter of her campsite in search of anything valuable or interesting, a ritual she embraced to occupy her time.

She meticulously searched for wild herbs, edible plants, mushrooms, and various types of berries in the area. With the aid of her smartphone, Ling Wei diligently photographed each plant, herb, and mushroom, and utilized a QR code-scanning feature available on her phone—an invaluable offline application—to determine their edibility and potential toxicity.

Thanks to the app, Ling Wei expanded her bountiful rations by gathering more edible items. Satisfied with the outcome, she concluded her small exploration, like a child simply enjoying a weekend camping trip.

As the last light of day faded, Ling Wei quickly set about rekindling the fire by gradually adding larger pieces of wood to create a stable flame. With the bonfire burning steadily, she settled down for the night, the hearty meal she had enjoyed earlier still lingered in her belly, feeling satisfied.