As we kept walking through the forest, I noticed how seriously Alex and Sam were learning the signs. They repeated them back to me, their movements growing smoother and more confident with each try. Alex’s fingers, once a bit clumsy, were now forming the shapes with surprising precision. Sam’s hands moved with a quiet determination, their focus sharp and deliberate. It wasn’t perfect yet, but I could see their progress, and it gave me a sense of comfort—knowing that, in moments when silence might be crucial, we could still communicate. This wasn’t just about Ana anymore; it could be about survival.

"Trail," I signed and said, showing them how to hold both hands in front of them, palms facing each other with fingers straight, and hands a few inches apart. I then moved my hands forward in a wavy motion, mimicking the shape of a winding path through the forest. Alex gave it a try first, the motion a little stiff but correct. I nodded, encouraging them.

Sam watched intently, repeating the gesture with more fluidity. "Trail," they echoed, both speaking and signing. Their focus was sharp, as if they could already see how this sign might come in handy when tracking or signaling silently while hunting.

"Good," I signed and said. "It’s a useful one when we need to stay quiet."

We continued moving through the underbrush, the signs becoming a natural part of our rhythm. I taught them the different ways to signal "quiet." First, I demonstrated the basic "shh" gesture—bringing my index finger to my lips, the universal sign for silence. Alex and Sam mimicked the gesture, both familiar with it.

Next, I showed them the full "quiet" sign—holding both hands flat, fingers together and pointing upward. I crossed my hands at the wrist, forming an X-shape with my arms, then pushed my hands outward to either side, visually representing pushing away all the noise. They followed along, and I added, "Remember, when signing 'quiet,' it’s not just the hands—your body language and facial expressions should project calm and silence." I demonstrated with a calm demeanor, softening my features to convey the meaning.

They both copied the motion, their faces focused and calm, taking in the full breadth of the sign. I couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride seeing how seriously they were taking this. It wasn’t just about communicating with Ana—it was about becoming a more cohesive unit, preparing for whatever challenges lay ahead.

"Food," I reminded them, signing again as I brought my fingertips to my mouth. They both practiced, their hands now familiar with the movement. I could see Alex signing it quietly to themselves every few minutes, ingraining it into their memory. Sam was more focused, their eyes scanning the forest floor while their hands practiced the signs at their sides.

Ana, walking alongside us, gave a small smile when she saw them practicing. I caught her eye and signed, "They’re getting better," as I spoke. She nodded, clearly pleased that they were learning how to communicate with her, and there was a quiet glow in her expression. For her, this wasn’t just about language—it was about inclusion, about being part of the team without needing me to translate everything. It meant she could connect with them directly.

As the shadows of the trees stretched longer and the forest grew quieter, we continued practicing. "Hunt," I signed, holding both hands in front of me with the thumbs extended—forming 'H+thumb' handshapes—one hand positioned diagonally above the other. I moved both hands sideways twice, demonstrating the motion. Alex’s lips twitched into a grin, clearly enjoying the new signs. Sam, ever practical, mirrored the sign with precision, their eyes focused ahead as if already thinking about how to use it.

"Good work," I said and signed again. I could feel the bond between us growing stronger with each shared gesture, each lesson learned. It wasn’t just about words anymore—it was about connection, trust, and the silent understanding that would one day be crucial when words could not be spoken.

As we pressed on, I noticed a familiar feeling—a pull from my plant-collecting book. Instead of reaching for my pack, I closed my eyes briefly and focused on my inventory. To my surprise, the book appeared in my mind’s eye, just as though I had physically pulled it out but it was still in my bag.

I blinked in disbelief. I can summon the book without touching it? It felt strange, yet oddly natural. I mentally flipped through a few pages, seeing detailed sketches of plants I’d encountered in the past. The realization left me with more questions than answers, but now wasn’t the time to get distracted.

I bent down near a patch of unfamiliar herbs, my fingers brushing over the leaves. I didn’t need to check my plant-collecting book to know these were edible. There was a strange certainty about it, though I couldn’t explain how I knew. I gathered only a few sprigs, a small amount that felt... right, like I knew the exact amount that wouldn’t affect the plant or the ecosystem.

Ana sketched beside me, her pencil moving quickly over the paper. Her eyes were focused, but there was a certain intensity in her expression that I hadn’t noticed before, almost like she was connected to the world around us in a different way. I couldn’t shake the feeling that she, too, sensed something—though I wasn’t sure what.

The sun began its slow descent, casting long, cool shadows across the forest floor. I glanced at the others—Alex, always vigilant, Sam, quietly assessing their surroundings, and Ana, sketching intently, her focus unwavering except for the moments when she paused, listening to things I couldn’t hear. I made a note to ask her about it later. The soft rustle of the wind through the trees and the gentle sounds of the forest were calming, a peaceful contrast to the weariness in our bodies. The cool, shaded woods seemed to cradle us, offering a brief sense of peace.

My stomach grumbled softly, reminding me that we’d need to eat soon. Had we even eaten lunch? As I watched the others and felt the quiet rhythm of the forest around us, an idea took root—stew. It just felt... right. A strange certainty settled in me, as if the forest itself whispered that a hearty stew, made from foraged roots and herbs, was exactly what we needed. It would be warm, nourishing, and grounding—perfect for this moment.

I shook off the lingering strangeness from the book and refocused on the task at hand. "We can make a stew," I said, the decision settling in my mind as naturally as if it had been there all along. I signed the same words as I spoke, making sure Alex and Sam could follow along. "I’ll search for some roots and herbs, but we’re short on a few ingredients."

I turned to Alex and Sam, my hands still moving as I spoke. “Can you see if you can catch anything for meat?”

Alex grinned, copying my sign for "meat." “I’ve got a good feeling about today. I’ll see what I can do,” they said, clearly trying to mirror both my words and signs.

Sam gave a nod, their hands mimicking my sign for "roots" before they slipped quietly into the trees. It felt good to see them practicing, slowly building their skill as they moved further into the forest.

While they searched for game, I focused on gathering root vegetables for the stew. I scanned the ground, looking for the familiar tops of carrots or the bushy greens of turnips. After a few minutes, I found a patch of wild carrots, their orange tips just barely visible through the soil. I dug them out carefully, their earthy scent rising as I brushed off the dirt. They’d add sweetness and texture to the stew.

Not far from the carrots, I spotted turnip greens poking out from beneath a cluster of rocks. I pulled up the purple-skinned roots, placing a few in my bag. The slight bitterness of the turnips would complement the stew’s richness perfectly.

Just as I was about to stand up, something else caught my attention. A plant with reddish-hued leaves stood nearby, its slender stems swaying lightly in the breeze. I felt a strange pull toward it. It wasn’t familiar, and I couldn’t place its name, but instinct told me this root would be perfect for the stew.

I closed my eyes for a moment, focusing on the plant. The pages of my plant-collecting book appeared in my mind’s eye, flipping through rapidly until it landed on a detailed sketch of the plant in front of me. The entry read: Nocira Root.

The book described it as follows:

Nocira Root: Scientific Name: Nocira nutrata

Description: A pale, round root with a faint nutty scent, often found in dense forest underbrush with reddish-hued leaves and slender stems. The root has a firm texture and a taste similar to hazelnuts, making it ideal for soups, stews, and roasted dishes.

Uses: Known for enhancing the flavor of savory dishes, Nocira Root brings a rich, earthy depth to any meal. When used in stews, it balances stronger flavors while adding a subtle nutty sweetness. It also contains high levels of antioxidants and can aid in digestion.

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Harvest Notes: Found in temperate forests, particularly in shaded areas. Best harvested in early fall. Use sparingly, as a little goes a long way in flavoring food.

I smiled, feeling a wave of satisfaction as I read the description. This was exactly what the stew needed. I carefully dug the root from the earth, its smooth, pale skin warm in my hands. The nutty aroma hit me immediately, and I could already imagine how it would bring out the flavors of the rabbit and vegetables.

Tucking the Nocira Root into my bag alongside the wild carrots and turnips, I stood up, feeling a sense of contentment. This stew was going to be something special.

Not long after, Alex returned, holding up two freshly caught rabbits, their triumphant smile wide. "Dinner is served!" they announced proudly, their grin as sharp as ever.I blinked in surprise, signing and speaking at the same time. "That was fast," I said, my hands moving as I signed "fast" for emphasis.

Sam, who had appeared at Alex’s side, gave a quick nod, a satisfied look on their face. “I found the trail right off,” Sam explained, mimicking the sign for "trail" as they spoke. "I could track them easily, and Alex got them in one shot."

I paused, glancing at both of them as I processed what they had said. Alex had always been a great shot, and Sam's tracking skills were sharp, but there was something about the ease with which they had brought back these rabbits that gave me pause. My fingers hesitated for a moment before signing “fine work” along with my words. I smiled, but the considering look in my eyes lingered. Maybe it wasn’t just their expert skill. There was something... more, something I couldn’t quite put my finger on.

"Great job," I signed and said with a nod, though my thoughts lingered on the possibility that there was more to their success than just years of practice.

I mentally ran through our supplies, calculating what we had and what we needed to make the stew. Sam had some dry vermouth, which was a stroke of luck, and I remembered that I had Herbes de Provence in one of my tins. But the stew also called for garlic, and I knew we didn’t have any in our supplies. I'd need to find that fast.

"We’ll make rabbit stew tonight,” I said, smiling at their catch. “And I can whip up some campfire bread to go with it.”

Before we got too far, I decided to marinate the rabbits for the stew. We didn’t have time to do an overnight soak, but letting the meat sit in the marinade for a bit would help enhance the flavors.

"Hold on, let me prepare the marinade first," I said, as I quickly cleaned the rabbits. “Sam, do you still have that vermouth?”

Sam nodded and handed me the bottle. “Sure do, it’s my camping secret,” they said with a wink.

"We’re still missing garlic, though," I muttered to myself. Just as I was about to head out in search, Alex reached into their pack. "I found these while I was out hunting," they said, holding up a small bundle of wild garlic cloves.

I sighed in relief. "You’re a lifesaver, Alex."

I quickly smashed the garlic and mixed it with the vermouth and Herbes de Provence to make the marinade. I rubbed it generously over the rabbit pieces, ensuring every part was coated. Then I set the rabbits aside in one of our sealed containers to marinate while we finished gathering the rest of the ingredients.

“Alright, that should help the flavor soak in,” I said, standing up. "There are a few more things I need but we can forage while we walk.” Thinking of what else would be good, ”I can also whip up some campfire bread to go with it.”

As we walked, I effortlessly summoned my tins and reusable sample bags from my inventory, surprised at how natural it felt to access them this way now. It was becoming second nature, and I was grateful for the ease it provided. I handed a few bags to Sam and Alex, in case they spotted something useful while foraging.

Ana, focused as ever, sketched each plant we encountered with precision. Meanwhile, I crouched down to dig around the soil, fingers brushing across the cool earth until I uncovered some edible roots.

I mentally ran through what we already had: Alex had brought bacon but I was still needed fennel, tomatoes, thyme, and potatoes. I’d have to find them if I wanted the stew to come together.

I stopped for a moment and glanced at my collecting book. Instead of pulling it from my pack, I focused on it, and it immediately appeared in my mind’s eye. I could feel the pages waiting to be turned. I focused on roots first, thinking about potatoes or something similar, and the book responded—turning its pages until it landed on a detailed drawing of a root that resembled potatoes but had a faint blue hue to the skin, and darker blue flesh inside. I made a note to keep an eye out for it. This is great, much easier way to find what we need.

Next, I thought about fennel. The book flipped pages again, landing on a tall plant with feathery, green leaves and a bulb-like base. It wasn’t exactly like the fennel I was used to, but it seemed close enough to work for tonight’s dinner and it was described as wild fennel and edible so I trusted it.

“Alright,” I muttered to myself, “I need fennel, thyme, tomatoes, and those blue potatoes.” I pulled out my reusable sample bags, ready to collect.

As we moved through the undergrowth, I kept one eye on my surroundings and the other on the pages of the collecting book, flipping through it mentally as we went. Every so often, I’d stop when something caught my attention. I spotted a patch of green shoots peeking through the leaves and knelt to inspect them.

I focused on the plant, and the book responded, confirming it was the blue-skinned root I needed for the stew. I carefully dug a few from the ground, placing them in one of my sample bags. “These should work as potatoes,” I said aloud.

I focused on the plant, and the book responded, confirming it was the blue-skinned root I needed for the stew. I knelt down, carefully digging a few from the ground, their strange hue catching the light as I unearthed them.

Sam glanced over at me, eyebrows raised. “Found something?”

“These should work as potatoes,” I said aloud, placing them in one of my sample bags.

Sam glanced over and did a double-take, eyebrows raised in surprise. “They’re blue! Are you sure those are safe to eat?”

I held one of the roots up, giving a small smile. “Yeah, I know they look strange, but the book confirmed they’re edible. Think of them like the potatoes we’re used to—just with a different color.” I wasn’t entirely sure how I knew that, but there was a deep, calm assurance within me that these ingredients weren’t just safe—they were exactly what the stew needed. There was also a feeling that there was more to them, but I’d have to explore that later. The book mentioned they were Adirondack Blue potatoes and noted that their taste was similar to Yukon potatoes. I vaguely remembered blue potatoes existing, though they weren’t very common.

Sam still seemed skeptical.

I don’t know why I trust the book and my instincts so much but even if I didnt have the book I would have known these were good. “Now we just need to find some fennel, thyme and tomatoes.”

We continued onward, and after another fifteen minutes of walking, I spotted a patch of feathery green leaves, just like the book had shown. I knelt down and dug my fingers into the earth, pulling up a bulb-like plant that smelled faintly of anise. Fennel. Perfect. I added it to my bag, feeling a bit more confident now that I had one of the key ingredients.

I called out to Alex and Sam, who were up ahead. “I’ve got fennel! Still need tomatoes and thyme, though.”

“We’ll keep an eye out,” Alex responded, still scanning the area. Sam had their head down, focused on foraging as well.

As we continued foraging, I decided to teach a few more signs. “There isn’t a specific sign for ‘herb,’” I explained, pausing for a moment. “Some words don’t have an exact ASL sign, so instead, you spell them out letter by letter.” I showed them how to finger-spell “herb” slowly, and they watched carefully, fingers twitching as they practiced each letter.

“It’s important to know how to finger-spell when a word doesn’t have a sign, or you don’t know it,” I added. “Let’s go through the alphabet so you can get the hang of it.” I went through the alphabet with them, Ana signing alongside me, her movements confident and quick.

After finishing the alphabet practice, I moved on to teaching them two more useful signs. “Now, let’s try the sign for ‘root.’”

I demonstrated by forming both hands into the ASL number 4 sign. I held my non-dominant hand steady with my palm facing upward, while my dominant hand came down vertically, interlacing its “root” fingers with the other hand, mimicking roots growing deep beneath the ground.

Sam mirrored the motion, their fingers intertwining smoothly like roots spreading through the soil. Alex followed, their hands a bit stiff but loosening with practice.

“Good, now here’s the sign for ‘vegetable,’” I said. I formed a "V" shape with my dominant hand, touched my cheek with my index finger, and then twisted my hand to touch my cheek with my middle finger. I repeated the motion for them to see clearly.

Alex and Sam both practiced, their hands moving more confidently now. “Vegetable,” they signed, speaking the word aloud as well.

Ana watched with bright eyes, her face lighting up when she saw Alex and Sam practicing. She signed, “Good job!” to them, and Alex gave her a thumbs-up.

A little further on, I came across a vine with small, red tomato-like fruit hanging from it. The tomatoes were slightly oval-shaped and smaller than what I was used to, but they looked promising. I gently plucked a few, testing their firmness before placing them in my sample bag.

“That’s tomatoes off the list,” I said, satisfied.

The last thing I needed was thyme, and I hoped the book would help me find it quickly. I focused on thyme, and once again, the book responded, flipping to an entry showing small, fragrant sprigs with tiny, needle-like leaves. I scanned the ground, and not far from where we stood, I spotted it—growing in the cracks between two large stones, nestled in the shade of some low bushes.

I knelt and gently tugged at the small thyme sprigs, inhaling the familiar earthy, woody scent as it wafted up from the leaves. It was exactly what I needed to finish the stew. With the last ingredient in hand, I stood and tucked it away into one of my sample bags.

“Found thyme,” I called to Alex and Sam with a satisfied grin. “I think we’ve got everything now.”

As I finished stashing the thyme in my bag, I glanced down at the green dot on my wrist, which had been guiding us toward water all day. To my surprise, it had moved much closer to the center. I hadn't even noticed it shifting during all the foraging and experimenting with the inventory. Between testing the book’s abilities and hunting for ingredients, the steady pulse of the dot had slipped into the background.

“Hey,” I said, blinking at my wrist. “We’re almost at the water. I didn’t even realize how close we were.”

Alex, who had been scanning the area, nodded. “Looks like we’re right on top of it.”

We followed the path a little further, and it wasn’t long before the soft sound of trickling water reached our ears. The trees parted ahead, revealing a small, crystal-clear stream winding its way through the forest. It shimmered in the fading light, reflecting the warm hues of the setting sun. The sight of it felt like a reward after the long day.

I knelt by the stream and dipped my hand into the cool water, feeling the relief of its freshness. “Perfect. We’ll camp here,” I said, filling my canteen as the tension of the day started to melt away.