Ava rushed towards the base of the tree, and brought back the spiked horned grass that was spread under the sun. Although it was now dry, the grass still looked fresh, it was not dry enough to be turned into powder yet,
Ava cover her hands with a piece of beast skin, she picked up the needed amount of spiked horned grass and threw it in the mortar, using a small stone cup, she scoped a bit of water from a stone pot at the base of the tree and added it to the mortar, then with the pestle she started to grind until the water in the mortar turned green, with Kaels help the water was decanted into the small stone cup with a little spillage then wiping the sides of the cup clean she asked kael, "can you please take this cup of spiked horn grass essence up to the house and come and get me?"
kael nodded and did as he was told
While kael was away, Oma called Ava, "since you will be busy with treatment, I will go for now, good luck Ava"
"Thanks, see you later" Ava said while she received a hug from Oma, it seems like she and Oma will become good friends.
Kael was already out, only to see Oma and her mates heading back home, "Good Riddance" he thought.
Lifting Ava up in his arms, he jumped high up and into the tree house. Ava always felt giddy during those jumps. It was the feeling you get on your first time on an elevator or lift, except that she would never get used to this.
In the tree house, Ava could see George's half eaten roasted meat, he was sleeping, but even in his sleep he would twitch his one of his limbs, Ava gently stroked his fur, making George to wake up, his amber eyes gazing up at Ava.
"As the procedure might cause some discomfort as I am going to try and reset the bone, we'll employ the spiked horned grass to numb the pain. If you feel numbness or you find that your body can't move, don't worry, it's just the grass taking effect. It will wear off soon."
George's eyes widened in shock. What was Ava planning? She was going to set the bone, and she wanted to use spiked horned grass to ease the pain? He had never heard of such a method before, and his mind was racing with doubts. But in the end he decided to trust her, after all Ava was the female he decided to spend his life with, moreover she did not have to be here with him but yet here she was, he must be really stupid for daring to doubt her after all, he would still die Even if Ava didn't help him.
He growled twice in agreement, then nodded.
Petting the Jaguars head, Ava carefully brought the stone cup to the Jaguar's mouth, so as to give him a sip.
The medicine worked quickly. In less than a minute, George had lost all feeling in his body.
He tried to lift his head to look at Ava, who was getting ready for the process of treatment.
"Growl-" Ava, I can't feel anything now. But Ava couldn't understand him.
Ava turned her head, gently lifted his left injured Leg joints, which were now swollen and noticed that the Jaguar's expression showed no pain. This eased her worries. It seemed that using Spiked horned Grass as an anesthetic was indeed a good idea. Ava touched and press down on the swollen joint, till she located the patella, as a novice that she was she just kept pushing the patella around applying moderate force till she heard a poping sound. Kael, who was attentively observing, handed over a piece of wild snake skin to Ava. She secured the joint with the snake skin, ensuring it stayed in place.
As Ava worked, she couldn't help but marvel at the effectiveness of the spiked horned grass. She had learned from the previous owner's memories that this grass, dangerous due to its paralytic properties, was typically avoided. However, she saw its potential as a makeshift anesthetic, a revelation that could change how injuries were treated in the tribe.
Ava then focused on the right leg, which seemed like a simple oblique fracture, she carefully pushed down on the bone, while she instructed kael to place the wood sticks and tie them tightly over the fracture.
George who was unable to move while all this was going on, was grateful to the beast god for the gift of spiked horned grass, if not for its pain numbing effects he would have probably died from shock caused by excessive pain.
Initially, George and Kael viewed Ava as a mere female just like the others, naive, weak and fragile, but her actions today revealed a depth of knowledge and wisdom they hadn't anticipated. As they watched her expertly reset the bones into its rightful position and dish out orders without wavering, they couldn't help but feel a surge of admiration for her ingenuity. After the meticulous work was done, George succumbed to exhaustion and fell asleep while Kael cleaned up the place.
After tidying up, Ava settled into a corner of the tree house, observing as Kael finished cleaning and George rested peacefully. As she sat there, her thoughts drifted to the idea of constructing a proper house. Although the tree house was cozy, it felt restrictive, limiting her freedom to come and go as she wished. She longed for a place that offered more autonomy.
"What's on your mind?" Kael asked, noticing her pensive expression.
Startled, Ava realized that Kael had already finished his chores and was now seated beside her. Turning to face him, she replied, "I'm thinking about building a house on the ground, but I'm not sure if it's possible."
"Whatever you want, I'll make it happen," Kael assured her confidently. "But first, what exactly is a house?"
Ava explained, "A house is a place where someone lives. It's like a cave or this tree hole, but built on top of the ground."
Kael nodded, intrigued by the concept. "Alright, can you describe it or show me what it looks like so I can try to recreate it?"
"I suppose I can," Ava replied thoughtfully, "but I haven't decided what type of house to build yet. Should it be made of mud, rocks, or wood?"
"Whatever material you think will make it strong is fine," Kael suggested.
After considering various options, Ava settled on the idea of constructing a stone house. She envisioned using stones or rocks shaped into bricks, binding them with a mixture of clay, sticky grass essence, sand, heated wood ash, and ashes from burning snails and seashells as cement. The walls would be thick to withstand the strength of the beastmen, who could easily punch through thinner structures. Her plan was to build two walls side by side with a gap between them, filled with soil and rocks, to reinforce the structure's strength.
For the flooring, Ava imagined using rock bricks and incorporating a Korean-style "ondol," or heated floor system. She thought of an outdoor kitchen with a fire pit connected to underground passages. The heat from cooking would travel through these passages, warming the house's floors before exiting through a chimney on the opposite side. This setup would be particularly useful during the cold winter months.
As for the roof, Ava envisioned using sturdy wooden sticks to create a framework, then applying the cement mixture to it. By mixing in more grass, the cement would be prevented from falling through the spaces in the wooden frame. Once the roof surface was smooth, bamboo halves would be cemented onto it, resembling the look of a traditional Chinese roof or even a zinc roof.
Ava shared her detailed plan with Kael, who was amazed by her innovative ideas for house building. Although he had never attempted such a project before, he was confident in his ability to bring Ava's vision to life. He knew it would take time to gather all the necessary materials, but he was determined to make Ava's dream a reality.
Kael was inspired by Ava's ingenuity and felt motivated to tackle the ambitious project. He appreciated her creative thinking and was eager to show her that he could indeed turn her vision of a perfect home into a tangible structure.
As Ava continued to explain her ideas, Kael listened attentively, absorbing every detail. He was fascinated by her thought process and the way she approached the design with such practicality and creativity. Her vision of a home was not only functional but also tailored to the unique needs of their environment, taking into account the strength of the beastmen and the harshness of the seasons.
Kael admired Ava's determination and was inspired by her ability to think outside the box. He realized that her plan required a combination of strength, durability, and innovation, qualities that he was eager to apply in the construction of their new home. With Ava's guidance and his own strength, Kael was confident that he could make Ava's dream house come true.
Eager to start the project, Kael began to mentally list the materials they would need and the steps involved in the construction process. He knew that it would be a challenging task, but with Ava by his side, he felt ready to take on the responsibility of bringing her vision to life. This home would symbolize their partnership and the beginning of a new chapter in their lives.