For a moment, Visha relaxed. She didn't know why he allowed it, but it didn't matter. What mattered was whether or not they could get out of this safely. She wasn't sure what kind of shifters they were, but judging from their size and body hair. She would assume they were some kind of bear.
If she was wrong, it didn't matter. It was her own assumption. One she never hoped to confirm in a fight.
As for those who chose to stay, they were none of her concern. As long as they survived the winter, the task she had before would be complete.
Getting someone to take care of ungrateful people is a bonus for her.
Inside the cave, Xeno was feeding everyone the Glimmer-Moss. Uri was the first to wake up. Still feeling lethargic but able to get up nevertheless.
One by one, the others got up. There were groans of hunger in the cave. Some of them hadn't eaten for days. Unlike Xeno, who would force-feed Uri and his mother, who took care of her husband, others didn't have that luxury.
He briefed everyone about what was happening outside. The reactions were mixed. No one said anything at first. Possibly hoping to stay together, or they wanted to see how things would play out.
The one thing everyone had in common was getting rations. Hunger was real; everything else could wait.
Visha asked the leader to stay outside. She wanted to check on everyone and make sure they were doing well. She had Willa and Heta stay outside to watch them. Along with Heta's husband.
Since they were negotiating, she felt it necessary to talk to the people inside first.
She watched them eat with a voraciousness she had never seen before. Well, she might have seen it a long time ago.
She shook her head. She refused to think about that now.
Clearing her throat, she called everyone to attention.
Though they didn't stop eating, they turned to her.
"I know that many of us don't get along," she turned to look at the seven people. "However, there is something I need to put to your attention."
"There are some people outside who want this cave. We don't have enough manpower to stop them. Although some were caught in the trap, there are still a number of them who are standing. With the situation as it is now, we don't have the kind of power they have."
"I don't want to ask you to vacate, but we might have to. I have negotiated with their leader. Those who want to stay can stay with them. Those who want to leave...we need to find a new home. I hope you all can understand why I made this decision without consulting you."
There was a moment of silence. No one spoke; the atmosphere felt heavy. The choice was not easy to make. If they left, they would have no home, temporary though it is. If they stayed, they would have to fight. And they weren't sure they would win.
"If we leave, what about the food?"
The voice cut through the tension like a knife. It was, of course, Grik. The boar beast man who always made trouble. Visha didn't know what issues he had with her, but he always tried to step on her after the incident.
"The food is rationed just as we've been doing. Did you expect something different?"
Visha expected Grik to speak out. It wasn't the first time. So her expression when talking to him was impassive.
Over to one side, Uri, who was listening, narrowed his eyes dangerously. Even ill, he was ready to take on Grik.
"I refuse! I hunted that meat. Why should I share it? You don't want to fight and want to give up the cave. Do you think you are some great leader?" His voice was gruff and demanding as he spoke.
Visha couldn't help the small chuckle that left her.
"You? Do you really believe you hunted everything?" She scoffed at the audacity. Walking up to him, she said, "From what I've heard about the hunts, you're a lazy piece of shit who only knows to give the opponent a finishing blow after everyone already did the hard work. You think you deserve anything?"
The scorn was evident in her voice. She was not as tall as him, but the way she spoke carried an authority he had never heard from her before.
What they saw as authority was actually Visha being annoyed. She didn't mind arguing. She is usually a laid-back person. However, when someone pisses her off...sometimes, just sometimes...old habits die hard.
"Listen up," she stated. "I'm not in the mood for anything else. Tell me if you plan to stay or go. Food gets rationed just like we agreed before. We've been doing it for a month now. That's not going to change. I'll leave some Glimmer-Moss to whoever wants to stay, that's for the Blight. Whether you survive the winter is your own business after that."
"Pack up and let's go," she declared. The statement was for Uri and Xeno. She knew once they left, their family would leave too. The same goes for Nimo's family. Before leaving, she went to the pile of food they had preserved.
She took some of the food from the back into the inventory. She knew everyone wouldn't be able to carry their fair share. Then she turned around, intending to wait for everyone outside.
Outside, where Willa and the others were guarding, she asked them to go in and talk to Uri and Xeno. She knew they needed some time.
Standing outside, alone against what looked like an army but was in reality thirty people, Visha did not look the least bit afraid.
She saw how they scrutinized her. It was expected, given what she was wearing. Along with the fact that she gave up the cave so willingly.
No matter how suspicious she seemed, it didn't matter.
Neither party spoke. Not because of tension. Some females made eye contact. Seemingly wanting to say something but unsure of what to say. Whatever it was, Visha wasn't interested.
At one point, the noise in the cave caught their attention. Visha took a quick glance before turning away. She knew what they were arguing about.
"You don't want to check?" Asked the leader.
"Check on what? Whoever wants to stay can stay. I don't have their feet."
The leader's curious gaze once again fell on Visha. He didn't understand why she wasn't concerned about her own people.
The shuffling of feet came from behind Visha, not long after they spoke.
She turned to see Will, Heta, and their husbands and children. Xeno and Uri were, of course, a part of the package. What she didn't expect was to see the couple who rarely spoke.
The man, Krag, stood there with his partner Chi. Regardless of the surprise, she welcomed them.
She noted the expression on Heta's face. She was definitely not happy about it and expressed it openly. Visha didn't mind being a villain for now. She would see how Heta acted when they arrived at the other cave.
As for everyone else, they looked mostly tired, which they should be. Most of them had been sick and unable to move until today. The journey would take a toll on them.
Not wanting to stay any longer, she smiled at the people before turning to the leader.
"The rest are inside. You all can decide how to live with each other."
The people following Visha shuffled as if reluctant to leave. That was part of the reason; the other part was because of illness.
Visha handed some more Glimmer-Moss to Xeno, who, in turn, broke it apart to give to the others.
The leader, seeing this, squinted, unsure of what they were eating.
He looked towards the cave with the rest of the people. He believed he would get the answers he wanted from them, somehow.