Chapter 112: Wild pig
Anaria walked into the woods near the stream.
The trees were thick here. The moonlight barely reached through the branches. She held the lantern low so she could see the ground. Ana was already asleep against her chest.
She called on the system to scan the area and it did but it didn’t find anything, so she kept walking. She could hear the water moving over stones and this means that the stream was close, so she followed the sound.
She did not know where she was going and she did not know where the child could be but she kept moving.
She walked for a long time. Her leg ached and her body was tired, she ignored it for the time being
Then she heard something.
A small sound. A whimper. It came from behind a thick bush near the stream.
Anaria stopped and listened to it, she wanted to be sure it wasn’t a ghost or a strange animal before moving ahead.
The sound came again, soft, scared and cries.
She moved toward it slowly. She pushed the bush aside.
There he was.
The little leopard cub. He was curled up against the roots of a tree. His knees were pulled to his chest. His face was wet with tears and his small body was shaking.
He looked up when he saw the light.
Anaria knelt in front of him "It is alright, my love" she said softly. "I am here."
The cub stared at her. His eyes were wide. He did not move, he wasn’t sure whether to trust her or not.
"I am a healer. I came to find you. Your mother is waiting."
The cub’s lip trembled but he finally said something. "I got lost while playing and I could not find my way back."
Anaria reached out her hand. "I know. It is alright now. I will take you home."
The cub looked at her hand. Then he looked at her face. Then he reached out and took her hand.
Anaria helped him stand. He was small and thin. He had been out here for hours.
She looked at him. "Are you hurt?"
He shook his head. "I am hungry and tired."
"We will get you food when we return. Can you walk?"
He nodded.
Anaria kept hold of his hand. She adjusted Ana against her chest. Then she turned and started walking back toward the settlement.
The cub walked beside her. He was slow cause his legs were short but he kept up.
They moved through the trees. The stream was behind them now. The settlement was somewhere ahead.
Anaria did not know how far they had to go. She only knew they had to keep moving.
The cub looked up at her. "Fine lady, I haven’t seen you before. Can I know your name?"
"Anaria."
"I am Tiku."
"Tiku. That is a good name."
He smiled a little then he kept walking.
They walked for a while.
The forest was quiet. The stream was behind them now. Anaria kept the lantern low so she could see the ground. Tiku held her hand. He was small and slow, but she did not complain. Ana was asleep against her chest.
Then it happened.
Anaria did not see it. She did not hear it. The wild pig was resting near a bush. They stepped too close. The pig woke up immediately, it snorted and stood.
Anaria froze.
She looked at the pig. It was large. Its tusks were sharp. It was looking at them. Its eyes were wild.
She did not have time to think.
She let go of Tiku’s hand. She grabbed him and pulled him close. With her other hand, she pressed his mouth closed. She pulled Ana’s head tighter to her chest.
They stepped back.
Slowly.
One step at a time, then she felt it. A stick beneath her foot snapped.
The sound was loud in the quiet.
The pig turned at them then it quickly charged.
Anaria shouted. "Save yourself, child!"
She let go of Tiku. She pushed him away. He stumbled back.
She turned to run then she stopped, she could not leave him.
She ran back. She grabbed Tiku and lifted him into her arms. She did not know where the strength came from. She just held him and ran.
The pig chased them.
Anaria ran through the trees. Branches hit her face. Grass caught her feet. She pushed through. Tiku was crying. Ana was crying. She held them both and kept running.
She did not know where she was going. She only knew she had to keep moving.
The pig was behind them. She could hear it. It was close.
As she was running, she didn’t care to look down which made her not see the leaves on the ground.
Her foot slipped and she fell.
She twisted in the air. She held Ana close. She held Tiku close. They landed hard but they fell on her which made the impact of the fall affect her badly.
She didn’t have time to feel or think about any fall cause she could hear the snort of the wild beast.
She quickly looked around, looking for a perfect hiding place for the main time then she saw the tree trunk. It was hollow, open but it was big enough.
She did not think. She pulled Tiku inside. She pulled herself inside. Ana was still against her chest. They hid inside there and waited for the pig to run past them, they could still hear its feet pounded the ground but yet it did not stop and thankfully it did not see them nor did it sense them.
Anaria waited for a while. She held Tiku and Ana to her self as if any single movement from them could alert the wild pig back to them
After a while, the forest went still, no sound nor footsteps was heard
She waited longer then she looked out. The pig was gone.
She quietly pulled Tiku and Ana out then she pulled herself out.
She tried to stand but her leg gave way and she fell to the ground.
Ananria let out a cry. It was so loud, she could not stop it. She looked down at her leg and saw that it was twisted. Her clothes were torn including upper clothing.
Tears filled her eyes, she didn’t know how to express it.
She looked at Tiku. He was staring at her, his eyes were wet, she looked down at Ana. The poor baby was sobbing.
Anaria wiped her face. She forced herself to breathe "I am fine," she said. "I am fine."
She was not fine.
Tiku crawled closer to her "Are you okay?"
Anaria looked at him. She smiled. It hurt to smile but she did it anyway "I am fine."
𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚
"You are crying."
"I hit my leg. That is all."
Tiku did not look convinced. But he nodded.
Anaria called on the system.
"Are you there?"
[Yes.]
"I am hurt. My leg."
[Scanning...]
She waited.
[You have sustained an injury. Your ankle is twisted. There is swelling.]
"Thank you for the late information."
[You were warned not to go.]
"I found the child. So stop talking and tell me how to fix this."
The system was quiet for a moment.
[I cannot heal it immediately. But I can provide an old technique to stabilize it until you reach the settlement.]
"Then do it."
[Materials required: two straight sticks and a piece of cloth.]
Anaria looked around. She found two sticks near the tree trunk. She found a strip of cloth from her torn clothing.
She set to work following the system guidance. She placed the sticks on either side of her leg. She tied the cloth around them. Tight. She winced. It hurt. But she kept going.
The system guided her.
[Wrap it firmly. Not too tight. You need circulation.]
"God, can’t you see that I’m trying here"
The system ignored her cries
[Host, you better tie it properly or else you want the situation to worsen]
Ananria look at the panel Infront of her as if she wants to tear it into pieces and murmured under her breath.
She adjusted it and then she sat back.
Tiku watched her. "Is it better?"
"It will hold until we get back."
She looked at him. His face was dirty. His eyes were red. He was still scared.
She reached out and touched his cheek.
"We are going home now. You and me and the baby."
He nodded.
Anaria took Ana and tied her to her chest. The baby was still crying. Anaria held her close. Then she took Tiku’s hand.
She stood.
Her leg screamed. She almost fell but she held herself.
She took a breath then she started walking.
One step at a time
The settlement was ahead. She did not know how far. She only knew she had to keep moving.
Tiku walked beside her. He held her hand tight.
They moved through the trees slowly and carefully. The night was quiet again.
Anaria did not look back, she just kept walking.