While looking for more fireleaf on her last day, Miera met a cool guy named Joaquin.  He liked music as much as she did, and after a few false starts, a promising conversation picked up. 

But, inevitably, Miera said something that embarrassed them both and Joaquin wandered over to the horseshoe pit. 

Why Am I Like This!?

But even with a full belly, Miera just could not seem to shake her sadness.  The alleviation cream she made only helped so much; what she really needed was someone to talk to, and hug.  Someone nice. 

For a moment she thought to call Caleb and see if he wanted to spend a day up here with her, but at last moment she recalled that he was out of town visiting some vaguely referenced ‘relatives’.  She was half-inclined to think he was lying, but she was already depressed and didn’t want to think about it. 

She distracted herself by roasting beetles over the crackling fire pit. 

To take her mind off of the lost birthday, Miera decided to try catching a few fish for dinner.  She managed to catch a good handful, and returned to camp with a greater sense of accomplishment.  =D 

All at once, as Miera was about to head back through the tunnel, an overwhelming desire to Take The Spin came upon her! 

–

Me: WHOOPS.  That was my fault, sorry, poor timing! 

Miera: “You forgot my birthday?  You made me!” 

Me: Yeah I’m sorry about that, but hey, you have a house now, and you’re camping.  That’s something, right? 

Miera:  (ಥ﹏ಥ) 

Apparently an old woman lived alone out here; she had a small rugged house, a wild garden, and a sprightly waterfall all to herself.  At first she seemed uncomfortable, and even angry at Miera’s presence, but Miera soon won her over with gardening questions. 

Back behind the big Ranger station she discovered a cave or tunnel.  Curiosity getting the better of her, she crouched down and went to see what was inside.  After a few fights with spider webs, she finally saw a light, and what looked like the silhouette of a sim… 

As the week went on, Miera studied her book and examined the plant life; she got better at catching the bugs she needed for her remedies, and found bunches of frogs too (though she set most of those free).  So far she had found no use for the butterflies, but liked catching them anyway.  Maybe she could sell them next time the Flea Market was open. 

Miera soon wished she had bought a flashlight as well.  She didn’t realize how very black it could get out here. 

Anything could be lurking in this darkness. 

Anything. 

◉_◉ 

After reading a few chapters, Miera went on an ingredient hunt.  Some of the recipes called for normal herbs, and others required plants that she had never heard of.  A few even listed bugs! 

She collected essentially any plant she didn’t recognize, and brought her haul back to camp to cross reference it with the plant list in the back of the book.  She had what she needed, and a few still unidentified.  One of them made her SO Itchy! 

But she coated herself in bug repellent, and rubbed salve on her itchy, burning hands.  It worked quickly, and by the time she had her tent

set up

she felt comfortable enough to take a hike and explore. 

Miera found the Ranger’s station, and bought a tent, cooler, lantern, and chair.  The Ranger apologized and told her that they were out of insect repellent and salve, but gave her a book of local remedies in case she wanted to make her own. 

As she skimmed through the remedies on the way to her fire pit, she saw a pretty flower.  It didn’t seem to be in the book, at least not after a quick flip-through, so she grabbed it to check it out later.