Exploration: The search

Chapter 3 Tisa

TISA[LD1] 
 

            Mina dropped her supplies, unhooked her bow and arrows, and moved slowly toward the echoing sound. She saw a wolf sniffing around a gaunt body, halfway on the trail, and half in the bushes. The body wasn’t moving, and as the wolf circled the body, Mina realized it wasn’t a wolf at all, it was a wild dog, the size of a small pony. It was a dirty brownish/ black color, with matted fur around its head that gave it the appearance of a mane that protected its neck. Its teeth glistened with saliva that dripped from its muzzle, and sizzled as it hit the trail, foaming on the Ancient’s path material. Mina knew this was an animal changed by the radiation from the Ancient war. She took careful aim, knowing that she had to kill the monster dog to protect herself, and the other human lying there.
            The dog sensed her approach and looked right at her as she released her first arrow. The bow twanging with the power of her shot. The arrow arched through the air and went exactly where she had aimed. It slid through the chest of the dog, piercing both of its hearts before it could take a step. The dog crumpled to the ground. Mina walked closer to the dog, her bow and another arrow held ready to release. Seeing no movement from the dog, she slung her bow over her shoulder, and gripping the arrow shaft tightly in her hand, she moved closer to investigate the body.
            Mina saw that the body was female, her skin was the color of clear; reflecting the dirt under her; except where the dog saliva spotted her face, in those places the skin had burned away to show a light pink color. There was also a white puckered scar disfiguring her face and crossing the lines spreading from her eyes and mouth, it extended from the outer edge of her left eyebrow down beneath her chin. She had long eyelashes, a small nose, and thin lips. Her hair was short, the same color of snow, and matted with leaves and sticks. Mina could tell if the woman’s hair was clean it would delicately frame her face. The old woman’s body was covered in a rough fabric, and her hands and feet were scarred and bleeding, as if she had been climbing rocks in her bare feet.
            Mina’s thoughts were split, she contemplated leaving the woman, and getting back to her building; but her underlying compassion, and need for companionship, urged her to bring the stranger home with her. Deciding to rescue the woman and knowing she couldn’t carry the body back to her sanctuary alone, she used the bushes around her to cover the unconscious figure and her supplies. Mina waited until the woman’s body changed color to merge with the shadows before she turned back across the bridge.
            Mina headed back to the Ancient’s city to search for something from which to build a carry board. Going directly back to the section of the building that contained rope, she was able to find a wooden board, long poles, another sleeping net made of the Ancient’s long lasting material, and more rope. Knowing she had to keep quiet, or she would draw more wild animals to them both, she tied the board and poles to her back, and carrying the net; she returned to the body hiding in the bushes. Once more at the old woman’s side, Mina used her materials to construct a platform balanced on poles to support the body and drag the unconscious woman home.
            After securing the woman to the carry board, Mina donned her bags of supplies, grabbed a pole in each hand, and began to walk. Realizing the poles would scrape along the trail, making a racket that would draw animals from miles around, Mina chose to walk in the grass between the trail and forest. She was relieved that she had supplies to fix injuries at her sanctuary, and she hoped the woman would live, providing company and companionship for the cold season.
            Though Mina had to stop and rest often, the sun was still high in the sky when she arrived back at her home. Even though she knew she had to get the woman inside quickly, Mina still had to make sure her refuge was safe. The meadow seemed peaceful as she reached the fringe of the forest surrounding it. The tops of the green, purple, and gray feathery grass waved in the stiff breeze blowing against the house. Circling to the back of the building, she left the woman safely on the pole contraption, while she surveyed the house for signs that people or animals were lurking around. Finding none, she released the old woman from the board, and brought her inside. Knowing she couldn’t bring the body far, Mina laid her down by the wall in the first room and moved deeper into the house. She returned shortly, carrying a bundle of her bedding, and more fabric. Mina constructed a bed along the wall for the injured woman. After laying her in the newly made bed, Mina tended the spots from the dog drool on the older woman’s face. Gently examining the rest of the body, Mina found a lump covered in dried blood and dirt. Believing this to be the cause of the old woman’s unconsciousness, Mina carefully cleaned the blood and dirt off the lump, then dipped a new cloth into the water bucket and packed it against the lump, to help the swelling go down. After her ministrations were complete, all she could do was wait, and hope the woman regained consciousness on her own. So, Mina turned her attention to preparing food for them both. Retrieving ingredients from her chill room, she began to prepare a hearty meal. As Mina waited for the food to cook, she stared at the woman, wondering what had brought her to the abandoned city, how she ended up so scarred, and where she had come from. Mina felt that the woman’s face was somehow familiar, but she couldn’t match the disfigured face to any in her memory. Eventually Mina decided that she would have to wait for her answers, and hope the woman awakened soon. She kept a vigil over the woman all night, and half the next day, before there was any change in the unconscious woman.
            The injured woman’s eyelids fluttered, attracting Mina’s attention, as the old woman suddenly groaned in pain, and tried to sit up, before crying out. Mina immediately moved to her side, holding a cup of cool river water, and urging her to drink it.
            “Here,” Mina said, “it’s cool water from the stream. You must be thirsty, drink.” Supporting the stranger, she handed her the cup, and helped the woman take a drink.
            “Thank you.” The old woman replied, emptying the cup, and passing it back to Mina for a refill. “Do you know where I am? I don’t recognize this place.”
            “This is my home.” Mina answered. “I brought you here. A wild dog attacked you, I killed the dog and brought you here to heal. Do you come from a village around here? How did you find the Ancient’s city?”
            “I...I...I don’t know. I don’t remember.”
            “Do you know your name?” Mina asked.
            “No, I have no idea what my name is.” The mystery woman began to panic. “Please help me.”
            “Of course, I’ll help you.” Mina said calmly. Your memory is probably foggy because of the bump on your head. So, the first thing we need to do is give you a name.” Looking at the walls around her for inspiration, she saw a name that seemed to stand out from all the others. “How do you like Tisa?”
            “Tisa?” The old woman repeated, “Tisa. Hmmm, I think it is good enough, at least until I can remember my own name.
            “Well Tisa, my name is Mina, and seeing as how I don’t know how long you were walking for, or if you had anything to eat, you’re probably very hungry. How about some food?”
            “If it tastes as good as it smells, then I can’t wait to eat.” Tisa said, her mouthwatering from the savory smells filling the room.
            After serving Tisa some stew, Mina walked out of the room, and collected her bags from her sleeping pod. Returning to the fire pod, Mina began telling Tisa about her city scavenging expedition, and how she rescued Tisa from the mutated dog; while unpacking her bags. While Tisa ate, Mina sorted books, wrapping similar feeling fabric together, placing the boxes of candles near the archway; the lamp oil, rope, and wooden board all went by the door. Mina lined up the jars of liquid color by the fire. Picking up the wall hooks, fabric piles, and extra sleeping net, Mina once more left the pod. Coming back a few minutes later, she saw Tisa examining the colors by the light of the fire.
            “What are these?” Tisa asked in amazement. Everything else that the girl; Mina, she reminded herself; took from the bags Tisa could name, but these little bottles of colors were something she had never seen before.
            “I don’t know what they are really,” Mina said. “I mean, I don’t know what the Ancients used them for. I do know there is a thick, smelly liquid in the bottle, there are a lot of colors, and there is a small brush attached to the lid of the bottle that you can use to draw out the color. I used most of this green one to write the names on the wall.” She showed Tisa the now mostly empty bottle. “I wanted to see if any other colors shone in the dark, but I can figure it out later. Would you like more to eat?”
            “No, thank you Mina.” Tisa replied. “I’ve eaten enough.” She reached over, and refilled the cup with water from the bucket, and sat sipping it as she talked. “It’s odd. I know the names of these objects, I understand what a fire is, and even how to make one. But, I can’t remember my name, or where I came from.”
            “Hopefully you’ll remember someday.” Mina responded. “Until then, you are welcome to stay here with me. Do you think you can stand up?”
            Tisa nodded her head gently.
            “Come on then, follow me. I’ll show you around the building.” Mina rose and lit a candle from the fire. “Watch your steps in this next room, there are books stacked everywhere. Follow this path here leading back to the small room pods.
            Entering the dark corridor, Tisa noticed a small room off to the right. “What is this little pod for?” She asked.
            “I have no idea what the Ancients used it for.” Mina answered, “but I am trying to widen the hole in the floor so I can get into the chill room when the snows arrive. Follow me, I think there is a pod you can use.”
            “Which pod do you rest in?” Tisa asked.
            “I sleep in the pod straight ahead.” Mina replied.
            Standing in the hall, Mina shone her candle around the small pod she called her own. Tisa looked around at the piles of books and noticed the bundled sleeping net and wall hooks.
            “What happened to your net?” Tisa wondered aloud.
            “I can’t figure out how to make it stay on the wall.” Mina said with a sigh.
            “How long have you been here?” Tisa asked.
            “Four moons.” Mina replied.
            “Have you been alone the whole time?”
            “Yes,” Mina said, staring at the floor, “I’ve been on my own for six moons. It’s okay though.” She took a deep breath and looked at Tisa. “I’ve made a lot of repairs here; I’ve stocked up plenty of food. I even found some Ancient books to read when it gets cold out. I know I will be less lonely with another person around. I was hoping to find another Village, but this is all I found in my search. Any shelter is better than none when the cold season comes.”
            “But why are you alone? Why aren’t you with your family in your Village?”
            “I would rather not talk about it right now. I need to concentrate on staying alive, not live in my past.” Mina answered past the lump rising in her throat.
            “It’s alright,” Tisa said, as she moved closer to Mina. “You don’t have to tell me unless you want to. I don’t want to cause you pain.” Tisa slipped her arm around Mina’s shoulders for a quick squeeze of support, then bent down to pick up the hooks and net. “I know how to use these, I can get your net hung, if you would like me to. If you have another net and more hooks,  you can pick me a room pod, and I can hang a net for me too. The ground is very hard, and uncomfortable.
            “That would be amazing. I would love that, thank you so much Tisa. Please excuse me while I go find the other net and hooks.” Mina dashed out to the eating room and returned within minutes with the net and her grass filled mat.
            Tisa turned and gave a little laugh at the energy and spunk that lit Mina’s eyes. “I’m guessing you want to learn how to do this, am I right?” She asked.
            “Oh, yes!” Mina replied. “Most definitely.”
            “Okay then, come here and I’ll teach you.” Tisa explained how to find the best place to put the hooks; by knocking on the wall and finding a non-echoing area. Finding one spot, she secured the hook in the wall, doing the same thing on another wall in the pod. After hanging the net from both hooks, she held it steady for Mina to try out.
            Mina gingerly sat on the net, not trusting all of her weight on it at first, but after a moment; with the hooks securely staying in the wall; she leaned back and let the net support her whole body. “This is perfect!” Mina laughed, “It has been so long.” Taking one last pleased look at the net supporting her off the ground, she jumped down, grabbed the other net and hooks, and led the way to the room pod next door. “I use this pod for some of the fabric I find.” Mina explained, “I was going to try to make blankets out of the fabric, but you can use the fabric for whatever you want, and I can move the rest to another pod.”
            “Thank you so much Mina,” Tisa said with a smile. “I can help you make blankets too. For now, though, I think we need to get this net up before our light disappears.”
            Working together, they were able to hang the net in half the time it took for Tisa to do the job alone. As soon as the net was up, they used the fabric in the room, making a head rest, and covering the net with a few blankets. They then headed back to the fire pod for more food, and some hot tea.
            Tisa was following Mina when they turned the corner and went through the archway to the fire pod. Tisa saw the names shining in the dark. “How did you do that?!” She gasped.
            “This is what I was talking about earlier, I wrote the names with the green liquid in the bottle.” Mina said uncertainty.
            “That’s right,” Tisa said with a relieved chuckle. “Hey, look. Some of the other bottles are shining in the dark too.”
            “Wow!” Mina exclaimed. “That was easier than I expected. Now I know which one’s shine in the dark, and which ones can’t.” She sat down near the fire, separating the bottles into two groups, bottles that stayed dark at night, and bottles that shone.
            “What are you planning to do with them?” Tisa asked as she filled bowls of stew for them both.
            “I’ve already marked some trails I’ve found, and I want to paint some areas inside that aren’t safe in the dark, in case I run out of candles.” Mina said as she started eating.
            “Did you mark any trails from the Ancient’s city to this building?” Tisa asked, a worried note creeping into her voice.
            “No, just near here, and only one pictogram in the city itself, so I could always find the books.” Mina replied, unconcerned.
            Unwilling to patronize her young host, Tisa finished her meal; keeping her worries to herself; and was drinking her tea, when her eyes were drawn back to the names that glowed on the walls. She read each name, wondering what had happened to all those people.
            “Would you like to see my snares and garden tomorrow?” Mina asked, disrupting Tisa’s thoughts, and bringing her back to the companionship of the fire.
            Tisa paused to clear her thoughts, then said, “Yes, I would like to see where you collect such wonderful foods.”
            “Okay.” Mina said, thinking of the morning. “We can do that tomorrow, but we should probably get some sleep. I can’t wait to sleep in a net again.” She turned to the dark archway and began to leave the room. Suddenly, she turned back to Tisa. “Oh, one more thing. Don’t go out the front door, ever. I’ve put traps all over the meadow, from the front door to the tree line. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
            “Thank you for the warning. Back door only?” Tisa asked with a little trepidation.
            “Yes, back door only.” Mina replied firmly.
            They rinsed their bowls, and each woman lit a candle to make their way to the room pods in the rear of the structure. They parted in the hallway after they said goodnight to each other. Mina laid in her net, trying to recall if she had ever heard Tisa’s voice, or laugh before but, being comfortable for the first time in moons, her thoughts slipped out of her head while she drifted off to sleep.
            Tisa was lying awake, trying to recall her past. She remembered a deep, searing pain on her face. A low echoing growl reverberated through her mind, and she remembered falling, then blackness until she awoke here with Mina. She tried to push her thoughts back to before the dog attack, but it was hopeless. She knew she had been traveling for a reason, but the reason escaped her for now. As she tried remembering further, her thoughts faded into the fuzzy darkness that heralded sleep.
            The next morning both of the house’s occupants were well rested, and ready to tackle the day. After a cup of morning tea, Mina gathered sacks for both of them, and readied her bow and arrows.
            “Do you know how to shoot an arrow with a bow?” Mina inquired.
            “I did a long time ago, but I don’t think I’ve used a bow and arrows for a long time.” Tisa answered.
            “That’s okay,” Mina said, “I only have one bow anyways. Do you have a weapon you prefer to use?”
            “I’ve always had a knife, but I don’t know how to use any long range weapons really.” Tisa said. “I think I stayed in my Village mostly. But I don’t remember for sure.”
            “Working together we should be able to gather a lot of food today, I hope. There are a few other projects I would like to complete before the snows come.” Mina stood and headed for the window. She waited there for a few moments, watching the forest before turning to Tisa and explaining a few of the dangers they were about to head into. “Okay, before we leave the safety of this building, I need you to understand a few things. Firstly, out there I am in charge, I know the paths, I know what to look for. I can tell if there is an animal about to attack, and I know places to hide from Raiders. Second, we can’t make any noise out there. It’s different from living in a Village, there isn’t anything out here to protect us; we’re on the ground, so are the animals. They can hear a lot better than we can. We need to be as quiet as possible, no talking.” She took a breath. “So, I put some pictograms on the trees near the path. The first one is two wavy lines, that means...”
            “Stream, or running water?” Tisa interrupted.
            “That’s right,” Mina said, surprised. Pictograms usually differed slightly from village to village, so Tisa had to have come from a village close to the one where Mina grew up. “I also marked the path for my garden meadow, the one for my snares, and the trail leading to the Ancient’s city. But the pictogram for my snare path is a lie. The trail actually leads to a long winding path that stops at a steep drop off. The last pictogram is one that you’ll see when we start coming back, it means ‘danger’ and ‘deserted.’ I used that as a sign the building is near and I’m close to home. Stay behind me out there, and we should both be able to make it back in one piece.”
            “Sounds like a good plan to me.” Tisa said, as she discovered how strong this young woman was growing up to be.
            “Alright, stand by the door, and when I signal; open it, run straight behind the first tree you see, and wait for me.” Mina instructed as she turned back to the window.
            Tisa stood by the door, waiting for Mina’s signal. When the signal came she ran straight for the first tree as instructed and leaned there pressing into the bark as she watched her skin change and blend into the tree behind her.
            A moment later Mina appeared carrying the bow and arrows, both sacks, and the bucket. Mina silently passed the bucket and a sack to Tisa and led the way deeper into the forest. When they reached the stream pictogram, Mina reached back to take the bucket from Tisa and hid it in the bushes as they continued down the path. Following the pictograms and the trails, they finally approached the meadow garden. Mina led the way, and they both spent the next few hours picking ripe vegetables, weeding, and searching at the base of trees for nuts that had fallen.
            Done with the gardening, Mina led the way around the meadow, clearing traps and resetting the ones that had been sprung. With both bags bulging from the bouncy collected, Mina started back on the path to the home, with Tisa walking happily behind her. After retrieving the bucket from the bushes, they both headed to the stream. Mina silently showed Tisa where the still pool was, and as Tisa leaned over to dip the bucket in, her eyes met a horrible sight. There was a face staring at her from the surface of the pool; it was the face of a woman with a jagged scar running down the side of her cheek and small pits covering her nose, cheeks, and forehead. She knew two things in an instant. She had never seen this face before, and even more shocking; this was her face; she could see her fright and shock seeping out of her eyes with the tears she hadn’t noticed dripping down her face.
            Mina didn’t know what was happening, she saw Tisa sitting as still as a rock, the bucket dangling from her fingers. She knew they needed to finish getting water so they could cook tonight. Mina gave Tisa a small nudge with her elbow, to see if that would bring her back to the present and the task at hand.
            When Mina nudged Tisa, she remembered what she was supposed to be doing, and ignoring the face on the water, she dipped the bucket, and got to her feet. Following Mina back down the trail to the house she was lost in her own thoughts. She knew Mina saved her from a dog attack, which was the cause of the pitting, but the scar? How did she get that? Did it have anything to do with the pain she recalled last night? If only she could remember.
            Tisa spotted the last pictogram as she got her first look at the meadow and building. The structure was situated close to the trees, with the meadow in front spanning the distance between the trees and the building. The meadow grass was a faded greenish brown, off to the right side of the structure there were tall grasses topped with feathery purple and gray seed heads. The rest of the meadow was flat and barren, there were no flowers. Remembering what Mina said about traps in the meadow, Tisa tried to see them, then realized they must be hidden, because to her the meadow looked peaceful and quiet, not deadly.
            Using hand gestures, Mina got Tisa’s attention and pointed to the wooden doors to the cool room. They both entered and carefully made their way down the steep stairs to the dirt floor below. They each took a spot at the long table and began unloading and skinning the catches and cleaning the vegetables that they had harvested.
            Looking around Tisa saw that they were well prepared for the coming cold season, all they needed was an uncomplicated way into the cool room when the snow was piled up outside, and projects to occupy them when the frigid wind blew.
            As Tisa was contemplating their food stock, Mina was examining the ceiling, looking for the hole leading to the house. She found it in the furthest corner from the steps and was trying to figure out how to get to the hole from the room. After a few moments she decided that it was a project for another day.
            “Tisa, would you like to help me gather ingredients for dinner?” Mina asked.
            “Sure,” Tisa replied, “what do we need?”
            “Stews are easy, and still taste good the next day, so how about raccoon and bird stew, with carrots, onions, mushrooms, potatoes, and garlic?”
            “That sounds wonderful, I can’t wait to eat.”
            They quickly gathered the components to the night's dish, and quietly returned to the domicile to begin preparations for making food.
            The fire still glowed with warmth when they re-entered the structure. After chopping the meat and vegetables for the stew, Tisa began to wander around the building, with the light outside being blocked by the thick fabric and wooden boards, Tisa had to return to the food preparation area for a candle.
            After lighting the candle at the fire, Tisa went back into the space past the arch, carefully looking at the stacks of books, trying to decipher the words. She was able to make out a portion of the writing, but not enough to understand what each book was written about. Moving on through the structure, she stopped at the hole in the floor, laid down, and lowered her candle through the hole; with the light she could see the edge of a shelf, and the corner of the table in the room below. After closely examining the hole and the space below, she continued her search. She did not enter Mina’s space, but continued to her room pod, and gathered most of the fabric scattered around there. Tisa then returned to the space with the fire, carrying the bundled fabric, and her small candle.
            “What have you got there?” Mina asked as Tisa reappeared in the archway.
            “I thought I could use this fabric to construct a soft net we could put in the cool room to climb between the two floors. Is it okay to use this fabric, or did you have other plans for it? Tisa questioned.
            “I really didn’t have any plans for that. I thought if it got colder we could just use them for blankets, but there is more where that came from. Use what you need. I can always get more.” Mina explained.
            Tisa put out the candle and settled herself near the fire. She began working on the net, twisting, and knotting the fabric together; by the time the food was ready she had a small section of the net finished.
            While Tisa was making the net, Mina had continued stirring the pot, and thinking. “The net is a clever idea.” Mina told Tisa. “I was thinking of making a ladder, or hanging a rope, but this will be much easier.”
            “Well, I may not be the best hunter or protector, but I am good at making things. I used to make nets to trade at my village. I wish I knew what had happened to send me out here.” Tisa said wistfully.
            “I hope your memory returns.” Mina stated. “When the warm season returns, I’d like to try to find a village that would take us in, I don’t like being alone.
            “Living in a Village is safer, most of the time. Tisa responded, sadly.
            “Yes,” Mina agreed, “most of the time.”
            They both lapsed in the silence as they ate, Mina thinking about her missing family, Tisa trying her hardest to remember her past.
            “Tomorrow,” Mina said suddenly, breaking the silence, “I would like to work on the hole in the passageway. We need to find some way to cover it to keep the cool down below. I’m also not sure how we will stay warm at night in the cold season.
            “Hmmm.” Thought Tisa, “Can we hang sleeping nets in here at night, block off the archway, and keep the fire going? It would be easier than trying to heat both of our pods.”
            “We will need a lot of wood for that.” Mina said. “I don’t know if I have enough, but if I don’t there’s a few trees that fell in the woods recently, we just have to find a way to break them up. We could use the pull-board to carry them here. I will need to get back to the Ancient’s City, I have to find another axe, or something just as sharp.”
            “Are there still things like that in the city?” Tisa asked, astounded those items could have lasted so long.
            "Yes, that's where I found the first axe, the Ancients had magical ways to make things last, and there were other tools there too." Mina explained. "Would you like to come to look with me, I'm sure that together we can find something."
            "Oh, no," Tisa said shakily, "I...I...I can't." She burst into tears. "I'm s...s...so afraid. I'm s...s...sorry."
            "Hush, hush," Mina said, moving closer to Tisa, and trying to calm her down. "Hush, you don't have to go, I can do it myself. It's all right." She drifted into silence for a moment, as Tisa’s tears slowed down, and finally stopped.
            "You don't think I'm a coward?" Tisa asked, afraid of the answer.
            "No! Of course not." Mina thought about her grandmother. "You remind me of a woman from my village who refused to leave her tree house, except rarely to go to the other houses nearby, and even then she had to be led on the walkways, you see, she was afraid of heights, open spaces, and terrified of the animals on the ground. You don't have to do anything you don't want to around here. I don't think you're a coward. You made it this far by yourself. It's scary down here on the ground, but sometimes, like now, it's where we need to be." Mina’s voice trailed off as Tisa understood the meaning behind her words. She wasn't going to expect Tisa to be able to do the same things she could. Mina was willing to work with Tisa to help her feel safe.
            They finished their meal in silence; Mina thinking about the untouched strength her new friend possessed. Tisa was grateful for her good fortune to find such an understanding young woman who offered, so selflessly, to share her isolated sanctuary with a complete stranger.
            When Mina stood up to collect the dishes, Tisa shook out of her reverie and asked, "Is there any more fabric here?"
            "Oh, yes, " Mina admitted. "I guess I should show you the rest of the pods. Light a candle and follow me." She led the way through the archway,  down the passage, and turned to the left. Mina pushed aside the fabric covering the doorway and beckoned Tisa to enter the first pod.
            Tisa’s eyes widened when she saw that this pod was filled with wood, neatly stacked to the roof throughout the pod, it was impossible to move more than a few steps into the room.
            "You said something earlier about needing more wood, are you sure?" Tisa asked.
            "I'm not sure how much wood we will need, I'd rather have more than less." Mina responded.
            "I can understand that, " Tisa said with a smile. "What is behind that other fabric?"
            Mina let her actions be her answer. She smiled, backing out of the pod, and shifting the other fabric out of the way. Tisa took one look in the room, and Mina thought her eyes would pop out of her head.
            "Where did all of this come from?" Tisa asked, her eyes glinting with excitement.
            "Some of this was here when I found the building, the rest was scavenged from the Ancient’s city." Mina replied.
            Tisa stepped into the room; her eyes wide with amazement. "What is this called?" Tisa asked, picking up a bundle of multi-colored, thick, corded material that she had never seen before.
            "The Ancients called it ’yan’ I think, most of the label has disappeared. I don't know what they used it for, I thought I could stuff the headrests with it, but if you can think of something else, I'm all for it." Mina explained.
            Tisa replaced the yan where she found it and examined the next pile of fabric. Mina had done a wonderful job separating all the fabric into piles based on fabric thickness and texture. She finally sat in the middle of the pod, surrounded by material of all different colors, textures, and thicknesses.
            "Can I use any of this?" Tisa inquired breathlessly.
            "Of course."
            "I can make clothes, more nets, hanging containers for food, and a bigger carry bag for you if you want." Tisa said, reviewing plans in her head for everything she could make.
            "That would be wonderful, the clothes I have are very ragged, and containers would help, as well as the larger carry bag. I'm so glad I found you, this cold season would be very lonely and drab without you." Mina said with a smile. She was very happy Tisa was concentrating on the things she could do, instead of dwelling on things she had no control of. "We should rest, we'll figure out what to do in the morning."
            "Alright, " Tisa answered, distracted by the plans running through her head, "sleep well."
            "You too Tisa, " Mina replied, heading to her pod next door.
            Tisa took one last look at the room bursting with cloth and yan and finally turned away, heading to her own pod for some much-needed rest.
            The next morning, they gathered around the fire again, drinking hot tea, thinking about the growing list of projects that needed to be completed before the cold season.     
            "I think your idea about sleeping in here for the cold season is a good one. Do I need to get more hooks and sleeping nets? Or should we just move the other ones?" Mina asked.
            "I can make more nets, they're quick to make, and we can use them for storage when we don't need them, but we should use new hooks in here. With all the fabric you collected, they won't take long to make, but I want to finish the climbing net I started first." Tisa admitted. "The yan will work well for the sleeping nets though. Are there cutters and string here? Other than the knives of course."
            "There's a pile of strings, all assorted colors, and thicknesses in the fabric pod, and I have some cutters in the cool room that you can use." Mina said.
            "That will work," Tisa said. "What will you do today?"
            "I think I will continue working on the hole to the cool pod," Mina answered thoughtfully, "I’ll go back to the city tomorrow to find more hooks and tools, but I think I have enough on hand to hang the climbing net."
            "Okay then," Tisa said, "I'll bring the net to you when it's done, and we can figure out how to attach it."
            "Sounds great!" Mina exclaimed.
            After their tea was finished, Mina went to the hole in the passageway while Tisa stayed in the fire pod. They each worked on their respective projects for the rest of the day. By the time the sun began to set, both of the projects were in their finishing stages.
            Tisa was completing the climbing net as Mina walked back to the fire, announcing, "We have a hole, is the net ready to hang yet?"
            "Almost, I just need a few more minutes."
            "Alright," Mina said cheerfully, "that gives me time to mark a few areas with the colorful liquid." She gathered the glowing, colored bottles and left the fire, heading to the back of the dwelling. She chose a bottle at random, and marked the edges of corners, and frames of archways; she slowly made her way back to Tisa. Mina paused in the passageway by the new entrance to the cool room and marked the outer edge of the hole with a bright red color that gleamed like the sun when it started descending in the sky. Finished with the hole, she started marking the path through the book forest, as well as both sides of the arch to the fire room.
            "All done," Tisa announced as Mina came back into the room. "Let's go hang it, I'm sure I will be able to figure something out."
            "Right," Mina said, ducking out of the room, and disappearing for a moment.
            Tisa stared at the empty archway for a second, then stood up, gathering the net in her hands as she moved towards the book forest. She hesitated as she passed the archway, her eyes were drawn to the colorful path markings on the floor. Finally, she started to move, following the directions marked on the ground, within moments she was standing above the new entrance to the cool room. Just then, Mina returned from the other side of the dwelling.
            "Here, I grabbed some nails and a hitter for you," Mina said, "I'll go below, see you in a moment." She handed over nails and a hitter as she headed for the back door.
            Tisa put down her burden and returned to the fire in order to light candles. Once she had a lit candle in each hand, she headed back to the hole. As she approached, she heard Mina’s voice.
            "Tisa? Are you up there?"
            "Yes, sorry," Tisa apologized, rushing to the void in the floor, and kneeling down so she could see Mina. "I think we need some light; it's starting to get harder to see."
            "Good idea," Mina responded, "I'll light one down here too."
            While Tisa waited for Mina to return with light, she started straightening the climbing net, finding the top, she carefully began pushing the bottom into the hole. By the time Mina returned, Tisa had maneuvered the net halfway down the wall in the cool room, easy for Mina to guide the rest of the way. Working together they lowered the net to the floor. While Mina used nails and a hitter in the cool room, Tisa did the same for the net at the top of the hole.
            "Okay, this end is secure." Mina’s voice drifted up out of the hole.
            "Mine too," Tisa replied. "Who should try it first?"
            "I will," Mina answered as she began scrambling up the net, with as much ease as climbing a tree. In an instant Mina was navigating the final foot of the net, pulling herself over the edge of the hole, with no difficulties.
            "Oh, that looked easy, should I try?" Tisa asked.
            "We should be sure the net can hold each of us," Mina replied.
            "Alright," Tisa took a deep breath and prepared herself for the descent. Sitting on the edge of the hole, she supported her body with her arms, in order for her to turn herself around. Once turned so she was facing Mina, she too swiftly climbed down the net and found herself in the cool room with no difficulties. Looking around, getting her bearings after the climb, her body started making bubbly noises. She laughed, "We were working so hard we forgot to eat!" They both laughed harder.
            "Hold on an instant," Mina said when their laughter finally died out. She darted away from the hole but was back in less than a minute. "I'll toss you the bag, grab some food and bring it on up."
            "Will do," Tisa replied. She caught the bag neatly and began selecting meats and vegetables for the evening meal. When the pack was full, she looped the strap over her head and shoulder, settling the pack securely on her back. Then she began the return climb. Making it safely to the top, she passed the pack to Mina. "This works so well. We won't have to go outside at all in the cold season!"
            "I just got the best idea!" Mina cried as they headed to the fire. "I'll tell you all about it once we start eating."
            Working together to peel and chop the food, their dinner was on the fire and cooking in no time. Preparing two cups of tea, Mina settled in near the fire and began explaining her idea. "Okay, here's my idea. Now that we can get to the cool room from here, we really don't need to use the doors down there. I think it would be good to set traps in the back meadow so our food supply stays safe. We only need to use this door, it's easier to watch for activity from up here than it would be from down below."
            "You're right, it's a perfect idea. I can help with the traps if you need me to." Tisa agreed.
            "We’ll get the traps done sooner with both of us working on them. But I need more supplies to do that. I have to go back to the Ancient City. I'll need to stay overnight again. But I can get more axes, wood, fabric, and hooks. I may be able to attach wheels to the pull-board, I could bring more supplies back that way. Do you mind if I stay in the city for a night or two?" Mina asked.           
            "No, I don't mind, I'm sure I'll be fine," Tisa said. "While you're gone I'll work on the sleeping nets, and I think I have an idea to keep the cool room doors shut, so I could work on that too."
            "That sounds promising." Mina nodded her head. "While I'm gone, the snares need to be checked, and it looks like we'll need more water too."
            "I can check the stuff around here, no need to worry." Tisa said.
            Savory smells began swirling around the room, triggering the bubbly noise from both their bodies. They laughed in unison. Both at peace for the moment and thinking of their plans for the next few days.
            When dinner was finally ready they both dug in and ate without many conversations. Together they decided to leave at the same time in the morning, Mina heading to the Ancient’s city, and Tisa heading to the area around the dwelling to collect the harvest. After dinner, they both went to their respective pods. They both wanted a good night's rest for all the activities they had planned for the next few days.
            In the morning, after a quick cup of tea, Mina and Tisa left the building. Mina gathered the pieces of the pull-board, and began her journey to the city, Tisa turned into the forest and started toward the meadow.