Return of the General's Daughter
Chapter 20: Encounters in the Mountain

Chapter 20: Encounters in the Mountain

Something brown with yellow spots slithered down the tree toward her, its movements slow but deliberate. Lara’s hand instinctively tightened around the hilt of her sword, slung at her back alongside her cloth backpack.

Her breath hitched as the cold, scaled body—thicker than her thigh—drew closer, its gaze fixed on her. Just as it began to coil around her waist, she unsheathed her sword in a single swift motion and slashed downward. The blade cut cleanly through the snake’s body, severing it in half.

The two halves hit the ground with a sickening thud, crimson blood pooling at her feet. Lara stepped back, her chest rising and falling as she assessed her surroundings.

Spotting a sturdy broken branch about a meter long, she picked it up and, using another stick, carefully lifted the snake’s severed halves. She hung the pieces on the branch, her movements efficient and unbothered, as though it were just another chore. Without glancing back, she headed to the stream.

At the water’s edge, she dropped the snake into the current to rinse away the blood. Turning her attention to the two baskets she’d left earlier, her face brightened. The traps had worked perfectly—more than ten fish filled one basket, and another fifteen crowded the second. The carps were larger than her palm, while the catfish stretched nearly the length of a ruler.

Her excitement faded as she realized the challenge ahead. She couldn’t carry everything by hand. Using some nearby vines, she tied the two baskets together and fashioned a makeshift sling for the python. With her cloth backpack of fruits strapped to her back, the baskets of fish weighing around four kilos in her right hand, and the snake—easily over fifty kilos—in her left, she tried to stand.

The weight overwhelmed her. Her legs trembled under the burden, and she paused, panting. ’I overestimated myself,’ she thought bitterly. She shifted the load, transferring half the snake to her right hand and the one basket to her left, balancing the weight as best as she could.

Just as she was about to rise, a low growl froze her in place.

Turning her head slowly, she locked eyes with a gray wolf crouched a few meters away. Its green eyes glinted with hunger, and its fangs gleamed as saliva dripped onto the ground. Lara watched the wolf closely, and the wolf watched her like a predator, it was.

Lara acted without hesitation. She grabbed the lower half of the python and hurled it as far as she could. The wolf darted after it, its powerful body disappearing into the underbrush.

Lara was a little bit scared. Wolves were not solitary creatures. The wolf’s pack must be nearby.

She didn’t wait to see if it would return. Clutching her remaining load, she bolted toward the hanging bridge, her makeshift shoes pounding against the earth. While she was confident in her ability to fight the wolf, the risk was too high. Blood would attract other predators, and she couldn’t fend off an entire pack.

By the time she reached the bridge, sweat had drenched her brow, and her muscles screamed in protest.

Under the shade of a mango tree, Reya and Sandoz anxiously awaited her return. Reya wrung her hands, her worry growing with every passing minute. She had considered waiting at the foot of the hanging bridge but couldn’t bring herself to face the dizzying view of the canyon below.

When Lara finally emerged, laden with her burdens, Reya let out a relieved cry and ran to meet her.

"Miss Lara, let me help you with those," Reya said, rushing forward. Her voice trembled as she noticed the strain on Lara’s face. Her young lady was lugging two green baskets in one hand, and her backpack bulged awkwardly behind her.

Lara’s shoulders sagged. Her back throbbed, and her arms felt like they were on the verge of detaching from her shoulders.

Reya gently took the green baskets from her. Its tightly woven leaves hid its contents, but curiosity got the better of her. She peeked through a small opening—and gasped. "Miss, you caught so many fish!" she exclaimed, her eyes lighting up.

The thought of fresh fish for dinner made her stomach growl. She and Sandoz had skipped lunch, trying to stretch their dwindling supply of sweet potatoes.

Reya set the basket down and carefully helped Lara shrug off the heavy backpack. As she opened it, her excitement grew. "Fruits! Miss Lara, are these edible?" She held up a velvety apple, her brow furrowing as she rubbed its furry skin.

"Yes, it’s edible," Lara replied with a faint smile. "Not as tasty as a regular apple, though."

She dug into the bag and pulled out a cluster of longan. Breaking one open, she handed it to Sandoz. "Try this. I hope it’s sweet."

Sandoz eagerly popped one into his mouth. His eyes lit up. "Sister, it’s so sweet!" Without hesitation, he peeled another and offered it to Lara.

Lara caught the fruit playfully. Tossing it in the air, she caught it in her mouth and spat out the seed with a satisfied sigh.

"Miss!" Reya scolded hands on her hips. "That’s improper!"

Lara rolled her eyes on Lara. Was she acting like her stepmom?

Sandoz giggled, mimicking Lara’s move. He tossed a longan into the air but missed, the fruit bouncing to the ground. He crouched to pick it up, his face falling.

"Leave it," Lara said. "It’s dirty now. But don’t worry, it takes practice. Try again." She consoled him.

Sandoz hesitated but peeled another longan. This time, he calculated the timing carefully. He tossed the fruit, positioned himself, and caught it—almost. It slipped from his mouth, and he tripped in the process.

Lara knelt beside him, her tone soft but firm. "One more try. Focus and relax. You’ll get the hang of it."

With renewed determination, Sandoz peeled another fruit. This time, he timed his movements perfectly. The longan landed in his mouth, and he grinned triumphantly.

Reya, meanwhile, busied herself inspecting a mysterious package wrapped in large leaves and tied with vines. She slowly began to unwrap it, only to let out a shrill cry.

"Ahhhh!"

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