Chapter 95
The next morning, the moment Nina opened her eyes, she saw Yinny and Didi playing beside her. The two little ones noticed she was awake and immediately toddled over, pressing close to her affectionately.
Nina tapped their tiny noses with a smile. “Why are my babies up so early today p>
She glanced at the little milk dragon. Linny was still curled in the hollow of her shoulder, fast asleep, his small body warm and steady against her.
Carefully, she set him down before getting up to wash.
As soon as Kith saw her rise, he hurried over with water and washing supplies.
Nina felt a little awkward seeing it was him. “Thank you p>
“You don’t need to thank me. This is what I should do,” Kith said with a gentle smile.
“Actually, you can just focus on taking care of Yinny. You don’t need to take care of me,” she replied.
Kith only smiled faintly and did not answer.
He wanted to care for Yinny. But he also wanted to care for her.
Nina didn’t press further. Suddenly, she realized she didn’t even know their names yet.
“Oh right—I’m Nina. What are your names p>
“I’m Kith,” he said.
“I’m Finch,” the fox male added quickly from the side.
“Oh.” Nina nodded.
Kith hesitated, then asked carefully, “Can I… simply call you Nina from now on p>
“Yes,” she replied with a nod.
A quiet joy bloomed in Kith’s chest.
After washing up, Nina prepared to make milk for the cubs.
Kith and Finch immediately took the bottles from her.
“Let us do it,” Kith said. “It’s our first time—please watch and tell us if we’re doing it correctly p>
Finch nodded too. “Little female, from now on, we should handle things like this. These are tasks males ought to do p>
“Alright p>
Nina stood nearby, watching.
Kith quickly finished mixing the formula. “Is this right? Is there anything wrong p>
Nina tested the temperature with her finger. “It’s fine. You can give it to Yinny and the others p>
Kith walked to the nest and then turned back, eyes hopeful. “May I hold him p>
Finch stood nearby, equally eager.
Nina looked at Yinny and Didi. “See if they’re willing. I don’t mind p>
Kith crouched and opened his arms, his voice soft. “Yinny, may Father hold you p>
Yinny hesitated, then slowly trotted over.
Kith’s face lit up. He carefully lifted the little cub and fed him the bottle.
Yinny hugged the bottle and gulped noisily.
Kith felt the warm, soft weight in his arms and a gentle warmth spread through his heart.
Finch quickly crouched down as well. “Didi, come to Father p>
Didi stuck out his tongue at him, then deliberately turned around and presented his backside.
Didi doesn’t want the bad fox who scolded him.
Finch deflated.
The little one really held grudges.
Lowering his voice, he said sincerely, “Didi, Father was wrong. I shouldn’t have said those things before. I apologize. Can you forgive Father p>
Didi ignored him.
Finch sighed and handed over the bottle. “Are you hungry? Drink your milk p>
Didi accepted it—but still refused to look at him.
Finch squatted beside him, feeling deeply envious of Kith.
Why is Yinny so obedient?
Nina chuckled softly. She would let them figure things out on their own.
After breakfast, they left the cave.
As they flew low through the air, Nina suddenly spotted a tree covered in spiky burrs.
Chestnuts?
Her mouth watered.
“Odian,” she said, “can we land for a moment? I want to pick something p>
“Of course,” he replied. “Where would you like to stop p>
She pointed. “That tree—the one covered in those spiky balls p>
Odian guided her down beneath the chestnut tree. Ridan and the others followed.
“Nina, what do you want to pick?” Odian asked.
She pointed upward. “I want the fruit inside those spiky shells. Can you help me gather some p>
“No problem. Sit and wait p>
Odian spread a clean piece of animal hide on the ground for her and instructed her to sit there.
He and the phoenix males flew up into the tree to harvest the chestnuts.
Meanwhile, Nina glanced around and noticed another plant nearby that looked familiar.
She set the cubs on the mat and walked over, using a small stick to dig at the base of the plant. When she saw the reddish color beneath the soil, her eyes lit up.
Sweet potatoes!
Her craving intensified.
Happily, she began digging them out.
The cubs watched curiously.
When Kith and Finch caught up, they saw Nina crouched in the dirt.
“Nina, what are you digging?” Kith asked.
“A kind of food,” she replied. “There are more over here. Help me dig them up p>
She held up a vine and a freshly unearthed tuber. “Dig beneath this plant—the red root underneath p>
“This is food? Are you sure?” Finch eyed the dirt-covered sweet potato skeptically.
“Yes, I’m sure p>
“Finch, stop questioning. If Nina says it’s edible, it is. Help her,” Kith said firmly.
He had long realized that Nina knew many things they did not. He trusted her completely.
“I’m not doubting her—I just find it hard to believe this muddy thing is food,” Finch muttered as he knelt down to help.
“Nina, stop digging. Sit and rest. We’ll handle it p>
Kith gently took the sweet potato from her hands and handed her a clean damp hide. “Wipe your hands p>
“Alright. Leave the leaves too—they’re edible p>
She cleaned her hands and sat back down.
By the time Odian and the phoenix warriors had gathered a large sack of chestnuts, Kith and Finch had nearly finished digging the sweet potatoes.
Odian placed the heavy hide sack in front of Nina. “Is this enough p>
“Yes, thank you p>
“How do we prepare them?” he asked.
Nina reached toward the chestnuts, but Odian stopped her.
“They’re spiky—you’ll hurt your hands. Tell me what to do p>
She pointed. “They’re called chestnuts. Break open the spiky outer shell and take out the nuts inside p>
“And this?” Kith asked, holding up a sweet potato.
“That’s a sweet potato. Later, we’ll wash them in a stream. I’ll show you how to cook them tonight p>
“Alright. I’ll store them for now p>
Kith put them away and then went to help peel the chestnuts.
But Nina glanced at the sky. “Let’s process them later. We should find a place to stay before it gets dark p>
They soon found a suitable resting spot.
Kith and Finch carried the sweet potatoes to a nearby stream to wash them, while the phoenix males cracked open the chestnuts.
Once enough were prepared, Nina used some to stir-fry and others to simmer into soup.
Soon, the warm, nutty aroma of roasting chestnuts filled the air.
“They smell incredible,” Ridan remarked.
“They’ll taste even better,” Ridan added, swallowing.
Just as the chestnuts were done, Kith and Finch returned with the washed sweet potatoes.