Chapter 2: Berries of a New Start

The fire crackled low, spitting embers into the damp air as the last of Garr's laughter faded. My ears still rang from his bellowing, my shoulder throbbing where he'd clapped me like I was some war trophy. I hunched lower behind the rock, knees drawn up, trying to shrink into nothing. The muffin was gone—devoured in seconds—and now three sets of eyes pinned me down like wolves circling a lame deer. Garr loomed closest, his beard flecked with crumbs, grinning wide enough to show a chipped tooth. "You're a goldmine, kid," he said, voice rumbling through the mud. My face flared, and I tugged my bangs over my eyes. Goldmine? I just wanted them to leave me alone.

Lina paced nearby, her robe swishing, fingers still glistening with traces of nectar she couldn't stop licking. "That… thing you made," she muttered, half to herself, "it's unnatural. What are you?" Her sharp gaze flicked to me, and I flinched, words tangling in my throat. Unnatural? It was just a muffin—eggs, dough, a bit of flower juice. Nothing fancy. Tev, the bowman, stayed silent, crouched by the fire, restringing his bow with slow, deliberate pulls. But his eyes kept darting to me, dark and unreadable, like he was sizing up a target. I hated it—all of it. Talking, staring, expecting. I'd rather face a stove than this.

"Quit gawking and pack up!" Garr barked, finally turning away. "We're moving. Pretty boy's coming with us." My stomach dropped. Coming with them? No. No way. I opened my mouth to protest, but all that came out was a choked "Uh—" before my tongue glued itself to the roof of my mouth. Garr didn't notice, already kicking dirt over the fire. Lina smirked, slinging her staff over her shoulder. "Don't trip over your own feet, baker," she said, sauntering off. Tev just stood, brushing ash off his hands, and gave me a nod—short, curt, like I'd passed some test I didn't sign up for.

I scrambled to my feet, mud sucking at my boots, heart pounding. Run? Where? The forest stretched out around us, dense and shadowed, branches clawing at a sky heavy with gray clouds. Wolves howled somewhere far off, a low wail that prickled my skin. I clutched the cracked spoon tighter—useless, but it was all I had. The glowing berries I'd spotted earlier winked at me from the trees, red and plump, dangling like tiny lanterns in the gloom. My mind spun. Jam. Tarts. Something better than that sad muffin. If I could just grab a handful, maybe I'd—

"Move it, Baru!" Garr's shout jolted me. Baru? Oh. Me. My face burned hotter—he'd named me like a stray dog. I shuffled after them, head down, the spoon shoved into my torn pocket. The group trudged toward the forest, Garr hacking at vines with a rusty sword, Lina muttering about "filthy trails," Tev scanning the canopy like death might drop from above. I stayed at the back, steps faltering, eyes locked on those berries. They were closer now, clustered on thorny bushes, their glow pulsing faintly, almost alive. My fingers itched. One handful. That's all I needed.

A twig snapped under my boot, loud as a gunshot, and Lina whirled. "What're you sneaking around for?" she snapped. I froze, mouth dry. "N-Nothing," I stammered, staring at my feet. She huffed, turning away, but Tev paused, glancing at the bushes. "Those?" he asked, voice barely above a whisper. I nodded, jerky and quick, hoping he'd drop it. He didn't. He plucked one berry, rolling it between his fingers—juice leaked out, scarlet and thick, staining his skin. "Poison?" he said, looking at me. Poison? No idea. But it smelled sweet, sharp, like cherries with a bite. "Uh… maybe not," I mumbled, barely audible.

Garr stomped back, peering over Tev's shoulder. "What's this hold-up?" He snatched the berry, sniffed it, then popped it in his mouth without a second thought. My eyes widened—idiot!—but he chewed, slow and loud, then grinned. "Tastes like booze!" he roared, slapping Tev's back. Lina rolled her eyes. "Great. Now he'll be drunk and loud." I ignored them, edging closer to the bush, hands trembling as I grabbed a fistful. The berries were warm, heavier than they looked, juice dripping down my wrist like melted rubies. My brain kicked into gear—reduce them, mix with egg, a tart crust maybe. I could—

A roar shattered the thought. Not Garr—something bigger. The ground shook, leaves rustling as a shadow loomed from the trees. A beast burst out—twice my height, fur matted and black, claws like kitchen knives glinting in the dim light. A bear? No, worse—its eyes glowed yellow, fangs dripping with spit. Garr drew his sword, cursing. "Damn razorclaw!" Lina's staff flared blue, and Tev nocked an arrow faster than I could blink. Me? I stumbled back, tripping over a root, berries spilling into the mud. My chest seized. Run. Hide. Anything.

"Stay back, Baru!" Garr yelled, swinging at the beast. Metal clanged against claw, sparks flying. Lina hurled a bolt of light, singeing its fur, while Tev's arrow sank into its shoulder. The razorclaw snarled, swiping at them, and I scrambled behind a tree, breath ragged. My spoon fell out, useless in the dirt, but my eyes snagged on the spilled berries—smashed, juicy, still glowing. An idea hit, stupid and desperate. I grabbed them, mashing them into the dough I'd stuffed in my pocket earlier, the sticky mess clinging to my fingers. Sweet, sharp, raw—it'd work.

The fight raged—Garr took a claw to the arm, blood dripping; Lina's magic flickered, her face pale. I darted to the dying fire, hands shaking as I flattened the berry dough onto my stone, shoving it over the flames. "Hold, just hold," I whispered, sweat beading on my forehead. The scent rose fast—tart and rich, cutting through the stench of blood and fur. The muffin baked, edges crisping, a deep red sheen glowing like the berries themselves. The razorclaw paused, snout twitching, yellow eyes locking on me.

"Baru, you lunatic!" Lina shrieked, but I yanked the muffin free, burning my fingers, and hurled it at the beast. It caught it mid-air, jaws snapping shut. A low growl rumbled—then stopped. The razorclaw chewed, slow and deliberate, drool pooling under its paws. Garr lowered his sword, dumbfounded. "What the—" The beast sat, heavy and sudden, licking its chops, staring at me with something like awe. Tev's arrow dropped, and Lina's jaw hit the ground.

I sank to my knees, panting, face blazing. "Uh… truce?" I mumbled, barely a breath. Garr burst out laughing, loud enough to shake the trees. "You're insane, Baru! Feeding a razorclaw!" Lina shook her head, muttering, "Unnatural." Tev just picked up a stray berry, popping it in his mouth, and nodded at me—approval, maybe. The beast huffed, curling up like a tamed dog, and I stared at the empty stone, mind racing. Those berries. That power. If I could do this with scraps, what else could I make?

Garr clapped my back again, nearly knocking me over. "You're cooking for us and the monsters now, kid. Let's move—camp's ahead." I nodded, weak and dazed, but my eyes drifted back to the bushes. More berries glowed there, endless possibilities simmering in my head. This world might kill me—or I might just bake my way through it.