Page 55 of Emerald

Olivia catches the lichen, staring at it like I've just handed zha something rancid. "You can't be serious."

"Do I look like I'm joking?" I snap, crossing my arms over my chest. "It's edible. Stop complaining."

Zha eyes me skeptically before taking a tentative bite. The moment zha starts chewing, zha’s face contorts in disgust, and zha begins to cough and gag, struggling to swallow. I can't help but signal my amusement.

"Tastes as bad as it looks," I supply with no small amount of vindication.

Olivia glares at me, still coughing. "What… thehell… is this?" zha wheezes between gasps.

"Lichen," I reply matter-of-factly, my skin lighting a brighter white. "Good for you. Plenty of nutrients."

Zha groans, forcing down another bite, and I can see the revulsion in zha’s eyes. But zha keeps eating it, desperate enough to endure the taste. I lean back against the cave wall, watching zha with a mixture of amusement and sympathy. I didn't expect zha to actually eat it.

"Keep in mind," I say after a moment, "if you'd waited a bit longer, I could've made something a little more… palatable."

Olivia shoots me another death glare but says nothing, too busy trying to choke down the lichen. I let out a quiet chitter, my skin briefly flashing a brighter white. Zha’s stubbornness is almost admirable. Almost.

When zha finally finishes the bundle, zha sits back with a groan, rubbing zha’s stomach as if zha just endured some great trial. "That… was awful."

“Was it really, now?" I quip. "You ate the whole thing."

"Because I was starving," zha mutters, shooting me one last withering look before leaning back against the rock, zha’s eyes fluttering closed.

I watch zha for a moment, the cave falling into an uneasy silence once again. Olivia's breathing steadies and I can see the exhaustion weighing heavily on zha. Zha is not as indestructible as zha pretends to be, not even close. I know that, but I also know that I can't help but be… concerned. As much as I hate to admit it.

I push the thought aside, returning my attention to my hoard, but the satisfaction I usually feel when admiring my collection is muted. My mind keeps drifting back to the human, to zha’s fragile, infuriating form slumped against the rock.

Annoying little thing.

17

Olivia

I'mstaringatthedead creature, wondering where to even start. My leg still throbs from where the stupid bug thing stung me, and every step sends a sharp reminder of just how close that thing came to finishing me off. I’m still a bit dizzy from the venom, but it’s steadily getting better.

I can’t believe the sting didn’t kill me. What else knocks you out that fast and you just wake up dizzy and with a headache? Scratch that… I don’t want to know.

But there's no time to dwell on it—I need to keep moving, keep my hands busy. Especially with Kroaicho watching me like that, arms crossed over its chest, radiating impatience.

Then I look back and Kroaicho and realize I can’t keep thinkingit. I’ve been stubborn about it, just like I usually am, but it isn’t right.

"Alright, big guy," I mutter, stretching my sore limbs, "we need to prep this thing, and I'm gonna need your help."

Kroaicho's deep-violet skin shimmers in the low light, his tusks twitching in annoyance. "My help?" His voice rumbles, incredulous. "You expect me to help you eat another creature?"

"Yes," I deadpan. "Lower yourself to the horrors of basic survival."

He narrows his eyes but doesn't argue. Good. That's a win.

I hobble over to the dead creature, studying its oily hide. My makeshift glowing mushroom light casts weird, shifting shadows over it, making it look even more grotesque than it already is. "First thing's first," I say, glancing over at Kroaicho, who hasn't moved an inch. "I need something sharp. A knife."

"I have no such crude tools," he replies, his voice thick with disdain.

"Well, that's a problem." Great. I glare at my empty hands, then my eyes land on the pile of random trinkets Kroaicho calls a treasure hoard. "What about that?" I point to a jagged piece of metal sticking out from the pile.

Kroaicho follows my gaze, frowning. "That is not for cutting."

"It is now."

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