Chapter 27. Old Hut

The sunlight seemed to be jostling and trying to escape from the thick leaves of the tree, the groans typical of waking up slowly sounded from Xiao Ara's lips.

Slowly but surely, her eyelids opened and were immediately greeted by the glare of the sunlight that hit her eyes.

Stretching her body muscles for a moment, she then jumped down from the tree.

"Ahh..." suddenly Ara fell to the ground. Landed on the uneven ground causing her to lose her balance and fall, spraining her leg.

It was still morning, and bad things had happened to her.

With great difficulty, she rose from her position. Right now she didn't have a goal, nor did she have someone who could be her goal. Feeling her body so sticky from yesterday's sweat marks, Ara frowned. She felt disgusted with himself.

After the incident at the hunting ground some time ago, she realized that she had never changed the clothes she was wearing. And she never takes a shower.

Luckily the injury to her leg wasn't too bad. Only needed a little massage and she already felt that her feet were in better condition than before.

Standing on her feet which still hurt a little, she started walking. Her throat felt dry. She intends to find a spring that she can use for bathing and drinking.

During the trip, Ara did not meet anyone. Only forest beasts occasionally entered her view.

The morning air was so cool that it didn't bother her too much.

After walking until noon, there was no sign of water in the vicinity. She didn't go back down the road to the camp last night because she was afraid that they might still be hanging around there.

When she was almost feeling hopeless, she accidentally saw an old hut from a distance.

With the thought that 'perhaps the owner of the hut could help her give her directions to the nearest river or spring from here,' Ara ventured to approach the hut.

Upon closer inspection, the hut was made of straw and dry leaves. Not very sturdy but the hut was able to provide sufficient protection from the sun or rain. Several pieces of firewood were seen piled up next to the hut.

Small fields of some vegetables and herbs flourished beside the hut.

She looked from behind a large tree trunk, she chose to pay attention and observe the conditions around her before she approached the hut, she wanted to make sure no danger might threaten her.

A hut in the middle of a dense forest like this, looks a little strange, doesn't it? In her position, Ara began to guess who the person behind the owner of the hut was

Maybe a robber's base? Ara immediately shook her head, she denied that assumption. Her thoughts did not match the scenery around the hut which was so orderly and peaceful.

Hunter? Bandits? Or maybe a firewood seeker? Ah, maybe her last guess was right.

'Perhaps the owner of the hut was a firewood seeker,' she guessed, imagining a burly man.

However, all of her guesses were wrong when an old woman appeared. White hair almost filled her head, and her body was slightly hunchback indicating that she had aged.

But what made Ara stunned on the spot was the stamina of the woman. With her physical appearance, she looks still fit and strong than she should be. Yeah, out of nowhere the old lady appeared with two bundles of firewood hanging from her back.

Silently, Ara studied the woman for a moment before deciding to come closer.

"Finally you came out of hiding little girl? Why? Are you satisfied after observing me?" The old woman's voice echoed in Xiao Ara's ears.

Ara's reflex stopped her pace, 'Is she talking to me?' she thought as she looked around. Thought that the old woman was talking to someone else, not her.

"There's no one else here but me and you," said the old woman again as if she knew what Xiao Ara was thinking.

Ara is stunned. She was at a loss for words. Even though she had moved as smoothly as possible so that her whereabouts were not known. From the old woman's sentence, it was clear that her whereabouts had been known by the woman.

Not only that, since Ara's appearance, the old woman had never turned her head to look at her. She remained busy with the firewood in front of her as if the girl's existence meant nothing to her.

Realizing her shock, Xiao Ara organized her feelings and continued on her way again.

"I'm sorry to interrupt your time," Xiao Ara said in a polite-sounding tone.

"What do you want? There are only firewood and haystacks here, I can't give you anything," the old woman said indifferently.

Ara frowned at the old woman's response. The way she responded was as if she was used to this.

Xiao Ara took a deep breath, trying to make the atmosphere as friendly as possible, she then said in a soft voice, "Sorry, Grandma. I just wanted to ask you something. That's if you are willing to answer my question."

The old woman did not respond, she was busy moving and arranging firewood in front of her.

'Is she deaf?' Ara thought trying to guess. After waiting patiently for a few minutes, Ara didn't get any response. Finally, she decided to directly ask.

"Looking at you, it seems that you are used to this forest. If I may ask, is there a river or spring that is close from here?" This time, her voice sounded a little louder than before.

"Walk a few minutes to the west, there is a small river you can use," replied the old woman.

"To the west?" Ara repeated the woman's words. She then surveyed her surroundings, seeing the direction of the shadows of the trees, determining the west direction was not too difficult for her.

"Okay, thanks, Grandma. Sorry for interrupting your time. Then I'll excuse myself," said Ara again while bowing for a moment. Even though the old woman never looked at her in the slightest, it didn't diminish Xiao Ara's respect for someone older than her.

She then turned around with slow steps, looking a little limp due to the occasional feeling of pain in her legs.

"Wait!"

Xiao Ara's reflexes stopped and turned around. "Are you talking to me?" Ara asked while pointing at herself.

"With an injured leg like that, you wouldn't be able to run and save yourself if someone were to mean something bad to you," said the old woman. Finally, their eyes met.

"Ah, you mean my feet? It's just a normal injury and will soon…"

"Come here..." said the old woman interrupting Xiao Ara's words.