chapter 32

I lie on the makeshift fur bed I made last night, resting on my stomach lazily with a good size of the pelt over the top of me, hands crossed under my chin as I watch the early morning birds peck at the scraps I left on my cooking stone. Dancing around and merrily, eating what little I left behind. The fire has long smoldered out, and everything around me is dewy with early morning moisture. Everything still, and peaceful, in the morning glow of a newly rising sun, and oddly still. I made it through another night, and I m still here, waking in a better mood with every day that pans out. I didn t find a cave or shelter last night, so curled up in the bear pelt, which took me a full four days to scrape and clean and dry out in the sun on the hottest rocks I could find. I m no expert in tanning or preserving pelts, but it works enough, even if it is a bit stiff and smelly, and it s worth lugging with me every day, despite the added bulk and weight. I sliced it into four manageable size