“Oyons?!” The group was puzzled.

  But Civ’s face was smiling from ear to ear.

  “Civ, what do you mean by that?” Vel asked.

  “Smell this.” Civ placed the plucked leaf to Vels' nose.

  The pungent smell immediately overwhelmed Vel’s sense of smell.

  “Euk! What is that smell?!” Vel gently pushed away Civ’s hand.

  “Hmmm I guess it is better if we use this.” Civ pulled his stone knife.

  Following the bottom of the leaf, he stabbed the ground. When he scooped it, the red onion appeared.

  “Hehehehe this is great. Everyone, let's stay here for a moment. Please find these kinds of leaves and scoop the bottom. You should be seeing this kind of plant.” Civ showed them the red onion.

  The group started scouring the area, and Civ also looked for it.

  Kivrah wanted to start looking also, but he wanted to know the reason why.

  “Son, why do you want us to collect these onon that you're saying?”

  “Sorry Father, it is called, On-ion” Civ corrected his Father.

  “On whatever. Tell me, why or else I’ll command the group to stop looking.” Kivrah seriously wants to know. Even though this area is safe, it is better to return to the camp the early as possible.

  “Alright. Remember roasting the boar meat?” Civ asked

  “Yes?” Kivrah eyebrows knitted.

  “Like roasting it, it will improve its taste by- ” Before Civ finishes explaining.

  “No problem, I’ll let everyone look for it.” Kivrah’s mouth has visible drool coming out.

  Kivrah swiftly looked for the onions, and they were able to find 3 onions.

  But after a few minutes, Kivrah called Civ.

  “Yes, Father what is it?” Civ walks toward Kivrah.

  “I have found another, but the leaves are different, and it was not red. Take a look.” When Kivrah showed it to Civ.

  Civ’s face brightened as in front of him was one of the most used herbs, similar to onions.

  “Garlic!” Civ blurted.

  Talk about a bountiful harvest. Civ was only expecting wild onions in this area. Even though it might be possible, he still did not expect that there was garlic here.

  With this, he can make the dish much more tasty.

  The group was able to find more garlic and onions. Civ let the team stop looking, as it's hard already to bring this many items back. The group was able to return to the camp safely.

  When they arrived, Ash and the hunting group welcomed them. They were almost 3 hours outside.

  “Tell me Arsh, anything unusual happened?” Kivrah asked.

  “Reporting to the Tribe leader. We are able to see a sighting of a boar. It will appear away from the camp. Will disappear, then return a few moments later.” Arsh finished his report.

  Kivrah nodded. “Good work managing the camp.”

  Arsh smiled at being praised by the tribe leader.

  Civ, on the other hand, was holding his chin. ‘Why is there only one boar?’

  Unfortunately, he cannot conclude a single answer. They need to stay in a safer location, so he doesn’t have any other choice but to be prepared for any attack.

  ‘It’s not worth checking out if it's dangerous. Better to improve the camp while waiting for any development in the north.’. Civ stopped worrying too much about it.

  The hunting group returned from their daily tasks. Vel did not leave Civ.

  Civ looked at Vel. “Hey Vel, I thought you would work on arrows?”

  Vel quickly responds, smiling ear to ear. “Civ. About the garlic and onion. When are you going to show us how we can use it?”

  Vel is rubbing his hands. He knows there is something special about those two items they discovered. So he wants the first to know how they can use it.

  The curiosity and persistence of Vel start growing in Civ. Helpless, he replied.

  “Alright. Please bring those two big jars to the back of the cave. I’ll let someone bring water there.”

  “I understand.” Vel quickly left and brought the materials requested.

  Civ went inside the cave. Checking the animal hide, the hair is started to be pulled now.

  ‘This is ready, I can start working on this in a few days.‘ Civ mixed it and left it to soak for another day.

  Civ brought some dried meat and went to the back of the cave.

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  When he arrived, the garlic and onion were already there. Also, the water.

  Civ placed the ingredients in a flat stone.

  Vel asked, “What do I need to do?” Vel eyes were twinkling, awaiting instructions.

  “Call the Tribe leader and the Shaman,” Civ commanded.

  “Sure, I will- wait! I thought I would help you with making it?” Vel was confused about the instructions from Civ.

  “Yes, I will. But call them first. They need to be here as I will explain the process.” Civ clarify.

  Vel nodded.“Alright! I’ll bring them here.”

  Vel quickly left, and silence arrived at last.

  Looking at the two jars, he needs to prepare the other components.

  He looked around for any medium-sized stones that had a flat surface on both sides. He collected six and then arranged two separate triangle figures side by side.

  Then he prepares the ingredients.

  As he was preparing, he heard Vel. “Civ! The Tribe Leader and Shaman are here.”

  “What do we have here Civ? Are you going to show us how we can use the items we gathered?” Kivrah, seeing the preparation, knows it was about processing the food.

  “Yes Father. Please have a seat for both of you.” Civ is sitting in front of the audience, and behind his back, the jars. Like a chef, he wanted to introduce it to both of them properly.

  Vel was going to sit facing Civ on the side. Seeing that Vel wants to observe, he gives him a task to do.

  “Vel, start the fire.” Vel, who just sat, had a wrinkled brow, walked to the back, and started the fire.

  “Shall we begin?” Civ asked.

  Both Kivran and Mashu nodded.

  “First, I want you to check this. If you can smell it, it has a pungent smell. Do not worry, it will be a great help.” Civ explained.

  “We need to cut the onions and garlic first.” Civ picked three each of onions and garlic and started chopping them with his knife. When he chopped both, an aroma started to release. Getting the attention of the audience.

  “Next is we need to place these two into water and also put the dried meat.” Civ put all of the ingredients.

  “Then we need to boil it.” Civ continued.

  “Boil? What is that?” Kivrah asked.

  “Boiling is the process of making the water turn hot,” Civ explained.

  “Hot? Why do we need to make the water hot?” Shaman Mashu follows up with a question.

  “This. I can show it to you in a couple of moments. Kindly wait for it.” Civ politely asked.

  The group quietly observes. But since Civ does not have a lid yet, the boiling takes much longer.

  But then-

  BLOK

  BLOK

  BLOK

  The water starts boiling.

  “What was that?” Shaman Mashu stood up, and Kivrah followed here to the jar.

  When they walk there, Shaman Mashu wants to place her head above the jar.

  Civ quickly reacts and stops them.

  “Everyone, please avoid looking at it directly. Please your hand above it and you will understand.” Civ reminded them.

  Shaman Mashu slowly placed her left hand -

  “Oh it's hot, ouch! It's hotter!” Shaman Mashu instinctively blew her hand.

  Kivrah did not get burned, but he felt the heat.

  “I understand it Son. Thank you for stopping us.” Kivrah replied while Shaman Mashu nodded.

  ‘You can get hurt with boiling water?’ Kivrah was surprised.

  For them, the boiling water is not something they see. They were able to encounter hot water that was in a puddle and exposed to sunlight for too long. But boiling hot water is a new and otherworldly concept for them.

  The meat and the other items were dancing inside the jar. Civ did not stoke the jar anymore, let it simmer. The aroma from the jar is starting to escape. Smelling this made everyone's stomach growl.

  When the fire went out, he grabbed one of the bowls, blew a little bit, and tasted it. Civ's eyes were sparkling.

  “Please have a taste. But please do not drink it right away.” Civ remind.

  Civ handed each bowl. They smelled it, blew the steam, and took a sip with meat. Both Mashu and Kivrah's eyes widened!

  A sweet and savoury taste runs through their taste buds. Both of them have tears of happiness.

  “This is a new taste that I did not expect! It tastes so good, and the meat.” When Kivrah chewed on it, it was tender and easy to break down. The hot soup also warms their stomach. Making them feel much better.

  Both of them savour the moment. They asked for another bowl, and Civ happily gave them more.

  Civ also grabbed another bowl and gave Vel some.

  Vel also cried tasting it. It changed their perspective on what they see in the environment. All of these things might help them eat more happily. A delicious food will make everyone feel happy.

  “Praise the Sun Goddess.” The three of them said it at the same time.

  Civ looked at them happily, seeing that they enjoyed the food. But for him, he needs time, manpower, and resources to improve this. This soup might taste better compared to smoked and dried meat. But it still tastes bland. Accidentally discovering onions and garlic made him realize something. They need to explore more to find more materials and ingredients to improve their life.

  When the three of them were enjoying the soup. Their fellow tribesmen smelled the aroma and guided them here.

  Horm asked. “What is that Civ?”

  Civ replied. “Good that you are all here. Please help me bring this empty jar to the middle of the camp. Vel, bring the items and chop them once you arrive.”

  Vel nodded and followed the instructions by chopping the rest of the ingredients. But when he was chopping the onions, he started crying. He doesn’t know why, and he did not plan to know.

  When everyone returned, Civ let the group sit behind Kivrah and Mashu.

  After the ingredient was chopped. He started boiling the water with the ingredients inside.

  Everyone has the same reaction when the aroma starts permeating the camp.

  A blow of wind was circling the camp also, and it was going north. With full focus, Civ stoked the fire while mixing it. After a couple of minutes of boiling, he let it simmer. Then started distributing it to the group. Having five bowls made the rest wait for their turn.

  Every person who received the soup and ate it started crying. Some of them got burned by the soup for not listening to Civ. When everyone got their full, Civ let the guard in the wall take a soup. Ras, Pil, Kes, and Yan were replaced by the rest of the hunting group.

  The camp happily enjoyed the meal. Looking above the ladder, Civ cannot help but appreciate the atmosphere of the camp. If he had a camera or paint materials. This is a moment worth capturing in a memory. He stared at them for a long time.

  The hunting group that is tasked to guard today. Just finished their meal and started walking back to their post.

  Civ looked ahead, but he did not see anything, so he checked the arrows he had for the meantime to check any issues.

  Then Safi called their attention.

  “Civ!” A call of concern from Safi.

  Civ looked ahead, and he still saw nothing.

  “It's near!” Safi shouted.

  Civ knows the boar is coming from the North, but he cannot see it in his vision.

  Everyone from the hunting group also rushed to climb up the ladder to defend.

  They hold their breath.

  Then a few seconds, the boar appeared from the right side. It was near and rushing to them without fear!

  “Prepare to defend!”