With my bare feet submerged in the cool river, I watched the rippling reflections of the sky, a silence floating between Liora and me. The morning air was crisp, carrying the earthy scent of the forest. Liora broke the silence, her voice barely louder than the rustling leaves.

"I saw some wolves yesterday," she said, a hint of excitement in her voice. Her hazel eyes sparkled as she spoke, her fiery hair dancing in the soft breeze.

"Were they big or small?" I asked, my curiosity piqued. Wolves were rare in these parts, their presence usually a harbinger of danger.

"Babies," she replied, her face brightening at the memory. "They were just pups, really."

I smirked, nudging her gently with my elbow. "You didn't try to adopt one, did you?"

Liora laughed, shaking her head. "Tak, I can't raise a wolf. That's a job for their parents."

"Hmm, I suppose you're right," I conceded, my gaze drifting back to the river. A strange silence fell between us again, only the soft whispers of the wind and the rhythmic flow of the river to keep us company.

After a moment, Liora turned to me, her voice softer now. "What's on your mind, Tak?"

"Nothing," I replied instinctively, but my gaze had already drifted over my shoulder, settling on the familiar sight of our village.

Our home was a sight to behold. The cluster of fired clay brick homes, each unique yet harmoniously blending with the next, made our once-disparate tribe seem like one large family. Our heart, the central fire, was ablaze as ever, a beacon drawing everyone towards it.

Nearby, the new clay oven was busy with activity. The scent of roasted meat filled the air, adding to the homely atmosphere. On the opposite end, the silhouette of a new building began to take shape, Joran, Mako, and Garan hard at work. The future chieftain and elder's hall would stand there one day.

As my gaze drifted, I noticed a group of children playing in the open space, their laughter echoing through the quiet morning. Zulu, my little brother, was amidst them, his infectious energy on full display as he chased after Finn.

A sense of satisfaction washed over me, a sense of belonging. My gaze fell back on the river, its calm surface mirroring the tranquility I felt within. We had built something here, something enduring. My thoughts returned to Liora's question, what was on my mind?

"Progress," I replied, my voice barely a whisper. "Our progress."

Liora turned to look at me, her emerald eyes reflecting understanding. For a moment, she said nothing, just looked at me. Then, she smiled.

"We've come a long way, haven't we?"

"Yes," I replied, the faintest of smiles playing on my lips. "We have."

I reached into my pouch, my fingers brushing against the cool metal inside. Without saying a word, I pulled out a small copper bracelet I had been keeping in there for some time, holding it out to Liora.

She looked at it, her emerald eyes widening in surprise. "What's this?" she asked, reaching out to take it.

"It's a bracelet," I said, a hint of bashfulness seeping into my voice. "I made it out of some of the copper I found. Try it on."

Her fingers traced over the smooth surface of the copper before she slid it onto her wrist. The metal glinted against her skin in the early morning light, looking as if it had always been there. She smiled at me, the corners of her eyes crinkling slightly. "I like it, Tak. It's really nice."

A sense of warmth spread through me at her words, making my heart flutter slightly. In an attempt to distract myself, I reached for the clay bowl beside her, ready to grab a berry when her hand shot out, plucking one before I could.

"Here," she said, holding out the berry to me. I opened my mouth to thank her, but she simply placed it on my tongue. I chuckled, the sweet tang of the berry exploding in my mouth as I bit down.

The conversation then shifted, Liora's expression growing serious. "What about your expedition?" she asked, her gaze steady on me.

"I'll be leaving soon," I said, nodding. "Brin, Isha, Lorn, Eamon, and I will be going together."

"That's nearly all the Ashaya hunters," Liora noted, her brow furrowing. "Who will protect the village?"

"Some of the Wulani will be staying," I assured her. "We're splitting up, exploring different areas."

She was silent for a moment, her fingers absently tracing the bracelet. "How long will you be gone, Tak?"

I shrugged, honestly unsure. "I don't know. Mako wanted me to come along for my...unique insight," I explained, chuckling slightly at the memory. "But you're right, we might be gone for a few days."

"We're going beyond our regular hunting grounds," I continued. "The animals are migrating, and Mako wants to see what's out there."

Liora's eyes widened slightly at this, a look of concern flashing across her face. "Isn't that dangerous?" she asked, her voice dropping to a whisper.

I nodded, reaching into my pouch once more to reveal a shining copper knife. "I know," I said, holding it up for her to see. "But I'm prepared."

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

The morning sun glinted off the copper, casting a warm glow over us. It was a silent promise, a vow to come back safely. A promise I intended to keep.

As Liora ran her fingers across the smooth copper blade, I couldn't help but think that the knife was more for show than anything else. Copper, after all, didn't hold an edge for long, and while it made a good impression, it wouldn't do much good in a real fight. I found myself wishing that we had discovered iron instead - a metal more suited to the purpose.

But it wasn't just the knife I would be taking with me on the expedition. Over the past couple of weeks, I had been busy crafting copper-tipped arrowheads - a process that took longer than expected. The crafting itself was intricate work, requiring both skill and patience, but I felt a sense of satisfaction each time I finished one. It felt as though I was equipping my tribe with the best possible tools for our survival.

In addition to the arrowheads, I had also been working on a new type of shield, one made from thick logs, durable animal skins, and sturdy vine for reinforcement. Assembling the materials together had been a unique experience, and the result was a sturdy shield that I was quite proud of. The hardest part was creating a secure spot for my arm, a challenge that took a fair amount of time and effort to solve.

All these thoughts swirled around in my mind as I sat by the river, the water lapping gently against the shore.

"Do you want to go on a walk, Tak?" Liora asked suddenly, pulling me out of my thoughts.

I couldn't help but chuckle at that, remembering the last time we had ventured out together. "The last time we went for a walk, we found Kiera injured and ended up having to fight off those desperate Wulani people," I reminded her, a playful grin on my face.

Liora's laughter rang out, a beautiful sound that echoed through the quiet morning. "I think we can handle it," she said, her emerald eyes twinkling with mirth.

I nodded, my heart light. "All right, let's go on that walk," I agreed, ready for whatever adventure might come our way. After all, with Liora by my side, I knew I could face anything.

As Liora and I stepped beyond the confines of the village, we passed the remnants of an unfinished wooden wall – a project we had abandoned some time ago. The half-built structure stood in stark contrast to the thriving activity of our tribe.

"We don't need that anymore," I said, pointing towards the remnants. It was intended as a fortification, a line of defense against possible threats. But we had moved beyond that now.

Liora chuckled at my words, the sound a warm melody against the backdrop of the forest. "So, we're going for a wall of bricks next, are we?" she asked, amusement glinting in her eyes.

"Exactly," I confirmed, "And once it's up, it'll be a formidable barrier between us and any danger that might come our way."

Liora's smile softened at my words, her gaze thoughtful. "That's nice, Tak. But remember, we can't hide behind a wall forever. Eventually, we'll have to step outside, face whatever comes."

Her words were like a gentle reminder, a tethering to the reality that lay beyond our tribe. I nodded, agreeing with her sentiment. "One step at a time, Liora."

Our journey led us deeper into the forest, away from the familiar sights and sounds of the village. The forest was alive with the chatter of birds, the rustling of leaves, and the distant hum of a river.

"Do you notice anything, Liora?" I asked, taking in the forest around us. My question seemed to catch her off guard.

She cast her eyes around, her gaze flickering from one tree to the next, from the ground to the sky. A moment of silence passed before she turned to me, a puzzled look on her face. "No, I don't think so. Why?"

I couldn't help but chuckle at her response, the irony not lost on me. "No blood this time?" I teased, reminding her of our last adventure. She laughed then, a sweet sound that blended with the natural symphony of the forest around us. Life in the tribe might have its ups and downs, but moments like these made it all worthwhile.

Venturing further into the forest, the plaintive cries of young animals pricked our ears. Rounding a thick stand of trees, we discovered the source – three wolf pups, huddled together, their soft wails echoing through the silent woods. I paused, Liora by my side doing the same.

"Those are the ones I saw," Liora whispered, her voice just loud enough for me to hear. I looked at her, surprise coloring my expression.

"Are you sure?" I asked, scanning the trio of wolves. Their eyes were bright with confusion and fear, their small bodies shivering.

She nodded. "Yes, one of them has a white patch on his coat. I remembered it because it was unusual." Her eyes tracked to one of the pups, its fur marred by a distinctive splash of white.

I looked at the pup she was referring to and sure enough, the unique marking was there, making it stand out from its siblings. The pups were quite small, possibly not more than a few weeks old. It was alarming to see them alone like this. The mother should be around somewhere.

"But what are they doing here alone?" I questioned, my brows furrowed in concern. "They should be with their mother and the rest of the pack."

"I don't know," Liora responded, her gaze never leaving the pups.

"Do you think we should go closer?" She asked, turning to me. There was a mix of concern and curiosity in her voice. My mind raced with thoughts. The situation was delicate. The mother could be around or she could have abandoned them. There was no way to know for sure.

"I think we should just observe for now," I decided, "Let's keep our distance and watch. Maybe their mother will return." It wasn't ideal but it was the best plan given the circumstances. Getting too close might deter the mother from returning, if she was nearby. Or worse, provoke her to attack us if she felt her pups were threatened. And so, we waited.

As the sun began its descent, painting the sky with vibrant hues of orange and red, Liora broke the silence. "She hasn't come back."

I sighed, my heart heavy in my chest. "Yeah," I agreed, my gaze fixed on the little trio, "something must have happened to her."

"They must be hungry," Liora observed, a hint of concern lacing her words. I nodded, knowing she was right. They had been without their mother for far too long and were probably starving.

"Do you have anything we can give them?" I asked, turning to face her.

"I have some berries, but that's about it," she replied, pulling out a small pouch from her side. The berries would do little to satiate the young wolves' hunger, but it was all we had.

"They won't find that very filling," I chuckled lightly, attempting to lighten the mood.

"Yeah," Liora laughed, rolling her eyes at me. The humor was short-lived as we both fell back into a contemplative silence.

"Do you think we should bring them back to the tribe?" she finally asked, her gaze meeting mine.

I pondered over her suggestion. Taking them back could be a dangerous gamble. We had no idea how to care for wolf pups, and bringing wild animals into the tribe could potentially pose a risk. But then again, we couldn't just leave them here to die either.

"We could, but it might also be risky," I said cautiously, "or we could bring them some food until they are old enough to fend for themselves." I wanted to support her decision but also ensure we were making the right choice.

"I don't think we can just leave them here, Tak," she pressed on, her voice firm. I nodded in agreement. We were both too soft-hearted to just leave the pups to their fate.

"Alright," I relented, "whatever you want to do, I'll support you."

Liora hesitated for a moment, her eyes flickering between me and the pups. "We should take them," she finally decided, a determined look in her eyes.

"Then that's what we'll do," I agreed, preparing myself for what was to come.