Next was the new neighbor of theirs. The unknown variable of their stay in the cave. Miyanna.
From the third day, she began getting accustomed to the four and her new life she found herself in. Her sharp comments and aggressive nature hadn't vanished, but over the days, something in her shifted. She changed.
From a cornered wolf, always ready to bite and bark at anything that moved, to a calm one, content so long as it was fed and left in peace. She no longer barked and rarely bared her teeth.
Something had changed in her, and Blanc couldn't quite place what. Still, he found himself speaking with her. Small conversations about mundane things.
He never questioned it, nor did he allow himself to think too deeply about why. But the talking continued, all the same.
But something happened on the ninth day.
Something none could have expected in a thousand years.
"Blanc," said Miyanna, entering the kitchen just as he and Celine were washing the dirt from some mushrooms he had picked earlier.
"Miyanna," Blanc replied, still lost in thought, but making sure to acknowledge her presence.
"I have a question," she said, somewhat unsure of her own words.
"Well, what is it?" Blanc began, "Don't waste my time and not say what you have to say."
Celine giggled, hitting Blanc playfully with her elbow, "Speak your mind, Miyanna."
"I was wondering, how do you know what mushrooms are good to eat and which ones are bad for you?" Miyanna asked.
"I learned to differentiate between them. It's easy once you understand how and what to look for," Blanc explained.
"C-could you teach me?" Miyanna stuttered.
For all the woman she was. It seemed that requesting something like this was too much even for her. She was a warrior. Not a gardener. Yet she had to understand both to survive.
Or at least, that was Blanc's reasoning for the stutter.
"What for? You are not leaving the cave either way," Blanc said.
"None of us will remain here for the rest of our lives. At that time, I wish to be able to survive alone," Miyanna explained, regaining her composure.
Blanc could not disagree with the reasoning, so he remained silent.
But Celine spoke next, after she watched Miyanna for a moment, "I do not see a reason to refuse her, my love."
"Celine?" said Blanc, watching her eyes intently.
"What? It's not like she can escape from you. And think about it, the two of you can gather double as many mushrooms or whatever other plants you can bring. And all you need to do is explain why some are poisonous and some aren't." Celine explained.
"True, but it will be dark in two hours," began Blanc, "Even if I agree with this, would it not be better to do it tomorrow?"
"S-so, are you willing to teach me?" Miyanna asked, quite surprised by Blanc's question.
Blanc sighed, "To be fair, more food means less work for the next days. So, I'm fine, but can't it wait?"
"It can," said Miyanna, "Thanks."
"Why wait?" asked Celine, "I can handle the food, and two hours is plenty to say a few words and gather some food. Why are you so against it?"
"And why are you so for it?" Blanc frowned, pressed by Celine, who was taking Miyanna's side on almost everything since they had arrived at the cave and found her here.
They had no reason to. They did not know each other before, yet in the last few days, they became way too close. Close to the point that Blanc was confused as to why.
So, at night, he asked Celine about the reason. But the only thing close to an answer was a 'woman's intuition' mentioned by Celine.
It seemed they were drawing closer to becoming friends. It did not matter to Blanc. He was actually happy for Celine. Even though the person she seemed to want to become friends with was the same person he wanted dead before.
So, he stopped questioning for Celine's sake until stuff like this happened.
It confused and frustrated him not to understand Celine's mind, and if this all was a game of hers, as a daughter of Blood Maroux, or if she genuinely wanted Miyanna and her to become friends… or something more, perhaps.
"Fine, fine, fine." Blanc sighed, dropping the cleaned mushroom in a large bowl, "Miyanna, go get ready and wait for me here."
Miyanna nodded happily, a look that made her feel feminine for a moment in Blanc's eyes, until she disappeared, running towards her room.
Another sigh could not be held back by Blanc's lips, as he patted his hands dry, "I guess I am going to get ready as well, then."
"Have fun, my love!" said Celine, as she turned to continue washing.
What did I get myself into with this shit? Blanc asked himself as he went towards his room.
He accepted, he really accepted. That was easier than I thought, Miyanna said to herself as she left her room.
She put on some warmer clothes she had and went back to the kitchen, where Celine stood alone, now chopping down on the vegetables they had for dinner.
"That was fast," said Celine out loud as she noticed Miyanna's presence. "Are you that excited?"
"Bullshit, I'm just happy to leave the cave," replied Miyanna.
"What are you really planning? You knew I had the knowledge to help you. Even Kael, for Vita's sake. Yet you asked Blanc for help." Celine asked, narrowing her eyes.
"Is that jealousy, I hear from the mighty Celine?" Miyanna asked sarcastically.
Celine shook her head while sighing, "Jealousy? Please, I'm just wondering why you are playing with your life when you haven't said anything to me yet about what we've talked about previously."
"Then why did you convince Blanc earlier?" Miyanna questioned.
"Call it curiosity. To see what your real intentions are. But I will still offer you a chance to tell me now. What is it, Miyanna?" Celine asked, turning towards her.
But there was no time for Miyanna to answer since Blanc returned a few moments later, ready with a bow and some arrows in case something were to happen.
"Let's go, then. No time to dwell," he said to Miyanna.
Miyanna looked at Celine for a moment before grabbing the baskets and heading out the door towards the exit.
"I will try to be quick," said Blanc to Celine as he drew closer to her to kiss her, "Tell Kael and Lune if they come out that I'll be back shortly."
"Take care, love," she replied, pressing her lips against his.
And with a nod, Blanc departed as well.