Abel nodded. "We hoped to find herbs or catch some rabbits near the edge of the forest, but Darius wandered off, and we found him being attacked by the tiger."
Lara sighed deeply, reaching into her backpack again. She pulled out four boiled eggs and four roasted sweet potatoes, handing one to each boy.
"Eat," she ordered. "You need your strength to get out of here. That tiger’s carcass will attract other predators."
The boys hesitated, but hunger won out. Abel, however, took only a small bite of his sweet potato before tucking the rest away.
When he caught Lara staring at him, he looked down and explained, "I.... I will keep my share for my mother and sister. Thank you once again, Sir."
Without a word, Lara tossed him another sweet potato. "Eat it. You can’t lead your brothers on an empty stomach."
Abel’s eyes glistened with gratitude as he obeyed, taking a cautious bite.
Indeed, he felt weak and lightheaded.
Lara pulled a smooth bamboo tube from her backpack and handed it to Abel. " with your brothers, and you can refill it at the stream," she said firmly.
Abel accepted the bamboo tube with a small, grateful nod. He tilted it to his lips, savoring the cool water, then passed it to his brothers. Once emptied, he made his way to the nearby stream to refill it, his movements brisk but careful.
Meanwhile, Lara approached the lifeless tiger sprawled on the forest floor. Its powerful form was still, yet the sight of it demanded respect. She studied the creature with an unreadable expression and was reminded of Thunder, the cub she saved two years ago.
"Sir," Darius spoke hesitantly, breaking the silence. "Can we... take the tiger with us?"
Lara turned to face the boy, arching an eyebrow. "And what would you do with it?"
Darius hesitated but then spoke with quiet determination. "We could ask our village chief to sell it in town. That money would be enough to buy our mother and sisters’ medicine." His eyes held a glimmer of hope, though his voice faltered slightly under the weight of Lara’s steady gaze.
Lara studied the four brothers carefully. Abel and Barret, though tall, were painfully thin. Cyrus was the most frail-looking, and Darius, the youngest, was visibly injured and barely able to stand. It was hard to imagine them hauling a tiger through the dense forest.
Darius’s hopeful expression faltered under her scrutiny. He lowered his gaze, his face burning with embarrassment. Who was he to ask for the tiger when it was this stranger—this man in strange clothing—who had killed it?
Without a word, Lara unsheathed her large knife and began slicing branches from a nearby tree. She worked swiftly, cutting four sections of wood, each about a meter long. Thin vines were gathered and used to bind the branches together, forming a makeshift sled.
The brothers watched, wide-eyed and awestruck, as she worked with practiced efficiency.
"Sir, may we know your name?" Cyrus asked timidly, his admiration evident in his voice.
"Just call me Kane," Lara replied curtly. She had considered using the name Larry but thought it sounded too close to her real name.
"Help me load the tiger onto the sled," she instructed. "The scent of blood will attract predators. We’ll need to move quickly."
The brothers obeyed without question, struggling to secure the heavy tiger to the sled with the vines Lara had provided. She disappeared into the trees, leaving them uneasy.
"Do you think he’s leaving us?" Barret whispered nervously.
Before they could dwell on the thought, Lara reappeared, her arms full of leafy weeds. She spread the plants over the tiger’s body.
"This weeds will mask the scent of blood and keep predators at bay," she explained.
Her gaze shifted to Darius, who had slumped against a tree, his eyes shut as if he were on the verge of unconsciousness. Lara made a quick decision.
"Cyrus and Barret, you help me carry the sled with the tiger. Abel, you carry Darius."
Abel had no issues with it. He nodded, understanding her unspoken reasoning.
They began their descent down the mountain. Progress was slow, hindered by the brothers’ inexperience and frequent stumbles. Abel, carrying Darius, often lagged behind, his breath labored.
When they reached a small clearing suitable for resting, Lara instructed them to stop. She noticed Abel’s trembling legs and pale face; he was clearly pushing himself to the limit.
As the group rested, a rustling sound came from a nearby bush. Instantly alert, Lara uncoiled a rope from her waist, a small net tied to one end. With practiced precision, she tossed the net into the bush. A startled cackling sound followed.
Lara approached the bush calmly and retrieved a male pheasant, tangled in the net. She freed it with ease and placed it in the basket strapped to Barret’s back.
Barret stared at her in disbelief. "Sir Kane... this is for us?"
Lara didn’t respond, merely urging them to get moving again. She glanced at the sun, estimating the time. It was nearly ten in the morning.
"How long did it take you to climb the mountain from your village?" she asked.
"Two hours," Cyrus replied eagerly, glad to contribute.
Lara frowned. "At this pace, it’ll be past noon before we reach the village. We need to hurry. I still have things to do."
Abel cast a worried glance at Lara. "Sir Kane, please don’t trouble yourself further. We can manage from here. Thank you for your kindness." His voice was full of sincerity and respect.
Lara fixed him with a skeptical look. "Brave words," she muttered. "But do you realize the four of you will likely die without my help?"
"It’s fine," Lara said briskly. "I’ve been meaning to visit the village anyway. I haven’t had a proper meal in weeks, and I’m hoping your village can provide one."
The brothers exchanged uncertain glances. It was clear that they didn’t know how to respond to her unexpected declaration.