Since regaining his ability to walk, George had felt inadequate when he saw the impressive cave-like abode Kael had built for Ava. He had been unable to contribute as much, and it had made him feel inadequate, but now, creating something for Ava filled him with pride.
"I did it," George thought, beaming. "I made something for Ava."
Though he didn't fully understand what all these objects were for, he could see that they were important to her. Making these items gave him a sense of purpose and connection to Ava, allowing him to finally contribute to her happiness and well-being.
Seeing the sun was now high up in the sky, George thought that Ava must be hungry by now, he went to the kitchen by the side of the house and brought over the half roasted meat, leftover from morning breakfast, he started a fire in front of the house were a clearing was made and started roasting.
Ava went indoors to the food storage den and rummaged through the fruits in the basket to find some mansu fruit, and headed outside the house, using the newly made bamboo spoon she scooped out the mansu flesh into a small bamboo bowl the used a 3 pronged fork to mash up the solid bits of the fruit into puree.
Then she asked George to place the roasted meat on the flat plate and bring it over when done.
George with a puzzled look asked "why?"
Ava explained "these dinner wares were objects used to serve foods instead of using leaves and the cup was for containing water and is much more effective than using leaves to carry contain water"
George's eyes widened as if he had been enlightened.. he knew these objects were important and he was right about it.
After roasting the skewered meat, George took out a flat plate and placed the skewered meat on it which he served Ava with. Ava removed the meat from the sticks and left the meat pieces on the plate, used a fork to dip the meat in the bowl containing the fruit puree and ate. It felt nice to eat food like a human being.
Later on Kael was seen carrying a well constructed shelf inside, he soon carried one more shelf inside, Ava ran over to Kael, pulling his arms, she greeted him with a kiss as he bent over to Ava. "Good Job" Ava said, Kael smiled back at her as he tucked her hair behind her ears. With the shelves in the sitting room, Ava and George carefully arranged their new creations.
And the next day Kael finished up the shelf for the food storage den.
Now that everything was ready, all the shelves were in the right places, all the bamboo dinner wares were all properly arranged and stored on the sitting room shelf, Ava realized that she needed to start thinking on how to make pots for cooking, after all she couldn't just eat roasted meat everyday for the rest of her life.
As dusk settled, Ava relaxed on the porch with Kael and George. Seated on Kael's Lap, her back pressed against his chest. The evening air carried the sweet scent of roasted meats and the soft chirping of crickets.
Ava's mind wandered to the next challenge: creating cooking pots. While roasted meat was delicious, variety was essential.
She sat on Kael's lap, her back pressed against his chest, lost in thought. George sat beside them, watching the stars twinkle to life.
She began to wonder how to make pots. she thought about making clay pots but she didn't know how to mold clay and after that you need to figure out the right way to fire the pots to avoid cracking and breaking, moreover in her old world they were cases of people who poured cold oil or wateron heated clay pots which cause the clay pots to crack or explode, some people were even hurt.
Just as Ava's thoughts seemed stuck, she recalled the granite mortar Kael had crafted. Inspiration struck.
She wondered if Kale could make pots out of granite stone.
"Kael, can you make pots from granite stone?" Ava asked, turning to face him.
Ava explained what pots were, and how it's typically a big and stronger version of a bowl and it will be heated on fire to cook the meat inside.
Kael's eyes narrowed, considering the challenge. "It's possible, but it will require patience and careful crafting."
Both George and Kael were amazed again; it seemed like Ava was about to introduce a new way of cooking meat.
George leaned in, intrigued. "How would you do it, Kael?"
Kael outlined his plan, explaining the need for selecting the right granite, cutting, and shaping.
Ava's excitement grew. "That would be amazing! Granite pots would be durable and safe."
Just then, Oma and Lily approached, their warm smiles illuminated the evening. "Ava, look at our newest work," Oma said, holding out a stunning purple-colored basket.
Lily unveiled her own creation, a large basket with a sturdy handle. "We wanted to experiment with vines and plant stems. Isn't it beautiful?"
Ava's eyes widened in admiration. "Yes, I particularly love the purple color of the basket. What type of vine is it?"
George, sitting nearby, replied matter-of-factly, "It's called creeper vine. It's purple, nasty, and persistent – known for its quick growth, covering caves, and climbing trees."
Oma chuckled. "We tamed it, though."
As Oma and Lily joined the group, Ava shared her idea about granite pots. The women exchanged enthusiastic glances, they were both eager to discover and taste new ways of preparing food.
"This will significantly change the way we prepare food," Lily exclaimed.
Oma nodded. "We'll help in any way we can."
The evening unfolded, filled with laughter and discussions about the endless possibilities of cooked meals and spices. They explored the types of food suitable for pot cooking, debating what could or couldn't be boiled in water.
Ava even showed them her newly made dinnerware, Oma and Lily were particularly interested in the bowls and cups which can contain food and water, and bamboo bottles and food flasks that made it easier to carry water and cooked food around for a distance.
"These will make carrying water and cooked food so much easier," Lily said, holding a lightweight bamboo bottle.
Oma examined a cup, admiring its smooth surface. "And these cups will keep our drinks from spilling"
Ava smiled, grateful for her friends' interest and support.
As they conversed, Kael and George listened intently, pleased to see the women bonding over their shared passion for cooking.
As Oma and Lily continued to admire the dinnerware, George's face glowed with pride. He had crafted each piece with care, and Ava's praise warmed his heart.
"Actually, making these bamboo cups and bowls required great skill," George began, his voice filled with enthusiasm.
Oma and Lily's eyes sparkled with interest. "Oh, really? Tell us how."
George leaned in, eager to share his process. "First, me and Ava selected the perfect bamboo stems – sturdy, yet flexible. Then, I carefully cleaned and cut them to size."
Lily and Oma listened intently, fascinated by George's attention to detail.
"Next, I scraped and smoothed the surfaces, ensuring they were even and comfortable to hold," George continued.
Lily nodded, impressed. "And the bamboo bottles? How did you shape those?"
George grinned. "Ah, that was the tricky part. I followed Ava's instructions, carefully shaping to create the curves. It took patience, but the result was worth it."
Ava's praise had unleashed George's passion for craftsmanship. He reveled in sharing his expertise, proud to showcase his skills.
Oma asked, "And what about the utensils? The spoons and forks?"
George chuckled. "Those were a challenge, especially the small ones. But we experimented with different techniques until I got it right."
Lily marveled, "Ava this is a brilliant idea, I am going to have my mates try making this."
"Me too, we hope you don't mind" Oma added
Ava replied " I have no problem with that"
Ava smiled, her eyes shining with gratitude, she kissed George's lips and whispered into his ears "Your hard work is truly appreciated, George. These dinnerware and utensils will make our meals so much more enjoyable."
George's chest swelled with pride as his face turned pink, he was glad his creations brought joy to Ava and the others.
The night air vibrated with creativity and anticipation, as Ava, Oma, and Lily envisioned a future filled with flavorful meals. Their conversation flowed like the nearby river, meandering through topics like stewing meats, steaming vegetables, and even brewing herbal teas.
As the night deepened, Ava turned to Kael. "Would you escort Lily and Oma to the outskirts of our territory? Their mates must be waiting."
Kael nodded, standing up. "Of course, Ava."
Lily and Oma bid Ava farewell, their faces aglow with excitement.
"Thank you for the wonderful evening," Lily said, hugging Ava.
Oma added, "We'll return soon, eager to learn more about your cooking techniques."
As Kael escorted the women away, Ava watched them disappear into the night, feeling grateful for her new friendships and having someone other than her mates to talk to.
Ava had no idea that by the end of tomorrow the bamboo forest would suffer a great loss as the news of bamboo plates, cups, water bottles and food flasks would spread throughout the entire tribe. Lily and Oma shared stories of the bamboo dinnerware and utensils with their mates.
Word spread rapidly throughout the tribe, igniting curiosity and interest. By the end of tomorrow, the bamboo forest would face an unprecedented demand.
The tribe's members would flock to the forest, seeking bamboo stems to craft their own plates, cups, water bottles, and food flasks.
The once-peaceful bamboo forest would soon resound with the sounds of cutting, scraping, and shaping. The tribe's enthusiasm for Ava's innovations would transform their daily lives.