When The Cherry Blossom Fades

Price of berries

The very moment she stepped into the cave, Han Aeng felt her heart shatter into a million pieces. Tears threatened to fall as her eyes beheld what had become of her blackberries.

She reached out her arms to grab the black pulpy mess on the ground, but she stopped mid-action and dropped to her knees.

Much to her horror, someone knocked her basket of blackberries over. More than half of what she collected had been eaten, and the other half heartlessly trampled on.

"Why? Why would you do this? I spent two hours picking these berries, and even fought a small bear for them, and now you've taken them from me!"

The sorrow she felt was incomparable to anything she had yet experienced. She longed for justice, but she knew no one would seek it for her. Her pitiful state resembled someone who had been greatly wronged and would garner sympathy and protection from anyone who saw her.

Mourning the loss of her blackberries, an intense sense of revenge surged within Han Aen. Drying her eyes, she ran outside, cradling the empty basket and goods from Lucky Son. There was a faint trail of black pulp left behind by the culprit, but it stopped not too far away from the little cave.

Alas, even with all her pent up rage, there was nothing she could do.

Sighing in frustration, Han Aeng looked up to the sky, only to catch a glimpse of something clinging tightly onto the branch for dear life. It was small, furry, and most importantly, covered with the pulp of the blackberry!

"You-" Han Aeng's eyes widened, and her jaws dropped to the floor as the realisation hit her with full force. "You and I already fought over these berries, and I had won! It is cheating to steal the plunder when I'm not around - more so since you lost."

The little bear paid no attention to her ranting and turned away. The two of them had already had a confrontation earlier that morning when Han Aeng had come to collect her berries. Naturally, Han Aeng had emerged victorious and ran away with her hard-earned spoils. However, while she returned to the palace, the little bear had returned later and feasted on her treasures.

"Aa, Little Bear, are you even listening? Don't look away!" Han Aeng rolled up her sleeves, preparing herself to go to war against the little furry creature. "Didn't your mother teach you not to steal?"

Amid Han Aeng's wrath, the baby bear lost its grip and flung itself onto the ground. Startled but not willing to let the little bear get hurt, Han Aeng dropped everything in her hand and forced herself to endure the weight of its fall.

"Little Bear, you are so heavy after devouring all my berries. I guess I'll just have to cook and eat you to make it even!"

Despite her harsh tone and her vaguely menacing threat. The little bear affectionately nuzzled against her neck.

Han Aeng took a sharp breath at the abrupt movement her anger dissipate, vanishing into thin air. "Erh, I will let you off just because I'm a very nice person and because I do not argue with cute babies... Baby!"

Suddenly a wave of realization hit and Han Aeng panicked, frantically looking around. It might not have hit her earlier, but bears are extremely protective of their young. Honestly, Han Aeng was not willing to take the risk of encountering the fury of a mother bear who would walk in to find her cub with a human.

As if in response to her worry, a few branches snapped, accompanied by an unruly growl.

Concealing her dread deep down, Han Aeng turned around to face a furious mother bear.

Suppressing her fear, Han Aeng turned around to face the furious mother bear. With a lump in her throat, she cautiously placed the little bear on the ground, which immediately ran to its mother, diverting her attention away from Han Aeng.

Seizing advantage of the diversion. Han Aeng slowly started to back away with her hands up in the air, hoping that the bear would leave her alone, seeing she was nothing but a twig with clothes.

However, as her eyes scanned the bear, she noticed an arrow lodged in its leg. In an instant, Han Aeng knew she was dead meat. An attacked mother bear was not letting a human with her cub leave this place alive.

As Han Aeng had predicted, after ensuring her cub's safety, the mother bear charged at Han Aeng with pent-up frustration.

"Ekk!"

Like the life-fearing human Han Aeng is, she sprinted with all her might, miraculously managing to hold onto her mochi and candle as she fought for survival.

She ran, busily trying to navigate through the woods, searching for openings to squeeze through, silently cursing herself for consistently making trouble for herself. But deep down, she knew she wouldn't listen to her own advice and would continue finding herself in such predicaments.

Glancing back, Han Aeng saw that the mother bear was getting closer and closer, forcing her to pick up her speed. As a last resort for survival, Han Aeng pushed herself off the trail and slid down a muddy track, jumping into the river bed.

Splash!

When Han Aeng resurfaced, she noticed the mother bear had received a fatal arrow wound to her shoulder and headed back to her cub, leaving Han Aeng alone in the river.

"Who shot the Mamma bear?"

Not having the luxury to ponder the question, Han Aeng used the last of her strength to drag herself to dry ground. Meanwhile, the young man who had shot the arrow cast a quick glance her way to ensure she was alive before disappearing into the distance.

Soaked and drained of all her strength, Han Aeng decided to head home instead of lingering and jeopardizing her life further.

"Aish, my mochis are soaked."