Chapter 15: An Unfamiliar Offering (Part 1 of 2)

  The Exchange

  The path to the creek had become familiar.

  Moss crossed the stones without needing direction now. Lily barely looked down as the cold water splashed around the Stonehorn’s hooves. By the time they climbed the opposite bank, the clearing already waited between the narrow trunks ahead.

  And so did he.

  The Karnyxen stood near the fallen cedar, waiting.

  His head lifted when she stepped into the light. The long neck rose slightly, scanning posture settling into recognition as his eyes followed her approach.

  Lily dropped the gathering basket beside the cart and untied the cloth bundle at her hip. She pulled several strips of cooked hare free—more than she used to bring.

  “I brought extra today.”

  She placed the first strip on the ground.

  The Karnyxen stepped forward and swallowed it in a smooth motion. The second disappeared just as quickly.

  Lily watched him for a moment.

  She let out a small laugh and placed the third strip on the ground.

  The Karnyxen swallowed it easily.

  Lily reached for the last strip and made a small wounded face.

  “This is costing me more money, you know.”

  She placed the fourth strip down.

  He picked up the fourth—

  —and paused.

  Instead of eating it, he turned his head and nudged the strip toward her.

  Lily blinked.

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  “Are you… sharing with me?”

  The Karnyxen pushed the strip closer with his snout and nudged her knee lightly.

  Lily pointed at the satchel hanging at her side.

  “Don’t worry,” she said. “I have my portion.”

  She nudged the strip back toward him.

  “This is for you.”

  The Karnyxen watched her for a moment.

  Then he lowered his head and swallowed it.

  His tail flicked once.

  The Karnyxen remained where he was while she moved to the edge of the clearing and began loosening soil around a patch of Bitterroot. Moss wandered nearby, tearing at the grass.

  The forest settled into quiet.

  That visit did not remain unique.

  Lily returned the next week, and the week after that.

  The pattern settled quietly between them. She crossed the creek, placed the cooked strips on the ground, and worked along the edge of the clearing while the Karnyxen watched from the fallen cedar. Sometimes he left after eating. Sometimes he remained, observing her movements while she dug for Bitterroot or bundled Ghostleaf.

  Moss stopped trying to bolt after the second visit. By the third, the Stonehorn only snorted and kept grazing.

  The distance between them changed little—but the routine remained.

  On the fourth week, Lily stepped into the clearing and stopped.

  The Karnyxen was not there.

  Lily waited a moment.

  She sat on the fallen cedar and brushed the dirt from her palms.

  Moss lowered his head to graze nearby.

  The forest remained quiet for several minutes.

  Then the brush rustled.

  The Karnyxen stepped from the trees.

  Something hung from his jaws.

  A Meadowburst Hare.

  He approached and dropped the carcass at her feet.

  Lily blinked.

  “…That’s the same thing I gave you.”

  The Karnyxen nudged her shoulder lightly.

  Then his gaze shifted toward the satchel at her hip where the cooked strips had been.

  Lily followed the movement.

  “You want me to do something to it?”

  The Karnyxen nudged the hare again.

  Then glanced toward the satchel.

  Lily sighed.

  “You want it to taste like the strips.”

  She shook her head.

  “Sorry. I can’t.”

  She nudged the carcass toward the direction of the village path with the side of her boot.

  “I don’t have the ingredients out here.”

  The Karnyxen lowered his head.

  He picked the hare up.

  Dropped it closer.

  Nudged it toward her again.

  Lily laughed quietly.

  “I said I can’t cook it here.”

  She brushed the dirt from her hands.

  “I’ll bring what I need next week.”

  The Karnyxen stepped closer.

  His snout bumped gently against her shoulder.

  The contact surprised her.

  Lily smiled.

  “Well… thank you.”

  She reached up and ran her fingers through the thick fur along his neck.

  “Your fur is so soft…”

  She laughed quietly.

  “…warmer than Moss.”

  The Karnyxen stood still, accepting the contact.

  After a moment he stepped back, leaving the hare where it lay.

  Lily looked down at it.

  “…For me?”

  One ear flicked.

  That was the only answer she got.

  She bent and lifted the hare.

  Still warm.

  “Alright,” she murmured.

  “I guess I’m bringing dinner home.”

  Then she untied the cloth bundle again.

  “You should still eat too.”

  She placed his share on the ground.

  The strips vanished quickly.

  That day he did not return to the fallen cedar.

  Instead he lingered nearby while she worked, occasionally brushing past her or nudging her shoulder before settling again.