The fish trap had worked over night, though Chiaki was annoyed to wake up with it washed up on shore and partly destroyed. Apparently the lake had more of a currant than she thought. But there was more than a single bluegill still caught in the broken fish trap. She settled on eating the star radish and some of the sunflower seeds from her supplies.
It was thankfully faster to fix the trap than it was to make a whole new one, but now she knew it was time to leave her camp sight. She placed the trap into the storage box and started following the lake shore further north, towards the mountain that the destroyed temple sat upon. She kept the knife at her hip and the spear was used as a makeshift walking stick, sharp point up so it would still be useful.
She noted that just like the day before, she'd woken with no one watching over her. They probably left as she stirred, or at least moved out of sight. The sounds of animals going about their lives filled her ears. Some sounded larger than she was ready to deal with. In the distance she could hear the eerie call of an elk. It made her shiver. When she left, the only things that remained of her camp were the ash from the fire and the picked clean bones of the fish.
Chiaki followed the lake edge all morning, until she arrived at the spot one river drained into said lake. She'd have to cross here and then switch to following the river that would lead up into the mountains. Crossing would be simple, while the river was wide it was neither fast moving or deep. Half way across her foot slipped on a slimy rock and she was thankful for her foot wraps, or she might have sliced open her foot. Instead she ended up taking a dip in the water and getting her knee and leg scratched up.
She limped out of the river on the other shore. She was drenched, her clothes soaked through. She'd have to start a fire and get it all dried. Plus she needed to handle her scratches. There was enough tender and branches from the pines to get a fire going quickly. While pine cause a lot of smoke and she wouldn't want to cook over it, it would dry her clothes just fine, just probably with pine residue. She didn't have a choice though. Unlike where she'd camped the last two nights, she didn't see any dry driftwood washed up nearby.
She pulled out a clay pot from the item box and put some water to boil. She'd use some of it to clean her leg and the rest would get some willow-bark added to it for a mild pain releaving tea. Thankfully it was just scratches and no real cuts. She checked her hands for any abrasions caused by trying to catch herself, they were free of any damage.
Realizing she'd probably have to camp here for the night, she pulled the fixed fish trap out of storage and set it up in the river. She hoped fish would get caught in the moving water and her trap wouldn't get shoved up on shore during the night.
A flash of white fur in the pine forest caught her attention. It looked like she'd been followed. She sighed. "You've been seen!" She called out, not knowing who was following her.
Sheepishly, Lu Yue stepped out from a copse of pine. Or was it deerishly? Followed by Bai Kun. Chiaki face-palmed. They'd both followed her, of course they had. She didn't have Curtis or Winston to frighten them away, or even any of the other guys who would at least be enough that these two would see she was protected. But she was alone.
"Okay you two, if you are going to insist in tailing me, you might as well just stay in camp." She held up a hand as they moved to cross the river. "Just know, I'm not looking to take any more mates, I have important things to do. So get that out of your minds right now." They paused at her words, then crossed the shallow river. Both shook themselves dry once on the other side. Followed by transforming.
White. Just like their beast forms. Long white hair, pale skin, one pair of eyes gold, the other red-gold mixed. Chiaki felt herself give in just a little, why was she so weak to this mixture of features? She took a deep breath. Nope, you have Harvey waiting back home and Faolan courting you also. Seven mates already, Chiaki, think about that! Be a good girl and leave some hot men for the rest of the world.
"You are hurt!" One of them said, quickly moving to her side. Lu Yue, judging by the antlers on top of his head. "I have healing."
"I'm already going to wash out the abrasions, and some willow-bark tea." She said, trying to back away. However the soft green glow from his hands stopped her. Healing?! Cautiously Lu Yue ran his hands over her knee and lower leg. It tingled, but she watched in amazement as the scratches disappeared in moments. He didn't know healing, he had some king of healing magic!
"Magic?!" She breathed.
"I have a single star Light Element Beast Spirit." He admitted.
With the scratches completely gone, Chiaki turned all the heated water into willow-bark tea, offering cups of it to her new traveling companions.
"You know healing?" Lu Yue asked, tasting the medicinal drink.
"Some, enough to take care of small things." Chiaki replied.
"And hunting and gathering." Bai Kun pushed.
"Yes." She admitted. They had seen her do both. Now all three of these things.
"You must be highly cherished in your village, to have been taught how to heal."
"I learned a lot of it from a male I plan to take as my mate once I make it back home."
Two sets of ears twitched. Chiaki might as well make sure they knew she wasn't just taken, but also courting already. She didn't have time for more males. And it wasn't like she could tell them she was from the far future and she would return there.
"Why are you not with your village, or your mates?" Lu Yue asked next.
How to answer that. Chiaki thought about it for a moment. "I- am headed to the temple on top of the mountain." It's didn't answer either question, but she didn't know how to explain.
Lu Yue's ears perked up. "The temple there was attacked before I was born, from what I was told, there isn't anything left."
Chiaki sighed. "I guessed as much. However, I still need to see it with my own eyes."
"Did... did the Beast God speak to you?" Bai Kun asked carefully.
"In a manner of speaking..." Chiaki looked away. She quickly changed the subject. "Uh, would one of you mind hunting something small?