[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

Area Discovered: Thornbriar Hollow

Guardian Status: Sleeping Creature Type: Thornback Bear Threat Level: Moderate (when well-fed) / High (when hungry) Current State: Emaciated, defensive, territorial Diet: Omnivore - prefers eggs, fish, berries, but will eat almost anything when desperate

Recommended Approach: Offer substantial meal Success increases if meal is warm, aromatic, and protein-rich Bonus success chance if meal demonstrates care and quality

Warning: Creature is sleeping but will wake if disturbed Approach quietly. Prepare food within scent range. Allow creature to wake naturally.

Marron relayed the information to the group in whispers.

"A bear," Mokko muttered. "Of course it's a bear."

"An emaciated, territorial bear," Millie added. "Even better."

They crept to the edge of the hollow and looked down.

The Thornback Bear was massive—easily twice the size of a normal bear, with thick brown fur that had thorny protrusions growing along its spine and shoulders like natural armor. It was curled up in a nest of leaves and moss, breathing slowly, its ribs visible through patchy fur.

It looked terrible. Underfed, exhausted, defensive even in sleep.

"Poor thing," Marron whispered. "No wonder it's territorial. It's starving."

"That makes it more dangerous," Millie pointed out quietly. "Desperate animals are unpredictable."

"Which is why we're going to feed it something amazing." Marron looked around the hollow, assessing. "We need to set up about thirty feet from where it's sleeping. Close enough for the scent to wake it naturally, far enough that it doesn't feel immediately threatened."

They moved carefully, setting up a small cooking area on flat ground. Marron unpacked her ingredients while Mokko and Millie kept watch, weapons ready but not drawn.

"What are you making?" Mokko asked.

Marron pulled out eggs, dried tomatoes, preserved peppers, onions, garlic, and a few spices. "Something warm, protein-rich, aromatic. The System said those work best."

She lit a small fire—using her portable stove would be too quiet; she needed the crackling of flames to be part of the experience—and set the copper pot over it.

Into the pot went oil, heating slowly. Then onions and garlic, sliced thin, beginning to soften and release their aroma into the forest air.

The scent was immediate and powerful. Even Marron's stomach growled despite having eaten breakfast.

Next came the peppers and tomatoes, rehydrated with a bit of water, creating a thick, rich sauce. She added spices—cumin, paprika, a touch of chili for warmth—and let it all simmer together.

The sauce bubbled gently in the copper pot, the heat perfectly controlled, the flavors melding and deepening.

Finally, she cracked eggs directly into the sauce—six of them, one for each member of their party and three for their hopefully-soon-to-be-less-grumpy friend.

The eggs poached in the rich tomato-pepper sauce, their whites turning opaque, their yolks staying soft and golden.

The scent filling the hollow was incredible. Savory, warm, comforting. The kind of smell that made you think of home and safety and care.

Marron watched the bear.

Its nose twitched.

Then its ears.

Then, slowly, one massive eye opened.

The Thornback Bear lifted its head, sniffing the air with obvious interest. It looked at Marron, at the pot, at Mokko and Millie standing nearby.

For a long, tense moment, nobody moved.

Then the bear stood—carefully, slowly, like every movement hurt—and began walking toward them.

Millie's hand moved to her sword.

"Don't," Marron whispered. "Let it come. It's curious, not aggressive. Look at its body language."

The bear wasn't charging or growling. It was approaching cautiously, nose focused on the pot, movements deliberate but not threatening.

When it reached the edge of their cooking area, it sat down heavily—still massive, still intimidating, but not attacking.

It looked at Marron with dark, intelligent eyes.

And waited.

"Good bear," Marron said softly. "You're hungry, aren't you? It's okay. I made enough."

She pulled the pot off the fire and carefully portioned the shakshuka-style dish onto three of her travel plates. One for herself, one for Mokko, one for Millie.

Then she took her largest serving bowl and spooned the remaining eggs and sauce into it—a generous portion that steamed and bubbled invitingly.

She set the bowl on the ground in front of the bear and stepped back.

"It's still hot," she said quietly. "Let it cool for a moment. You don't want to burn your mouth."

The bear leaned down and sniffed the bowl thoroughly. Then, surprisingly gently for such a large creature, it began to eat.

Not frantically, not desperately—just hungry and grateful.

They watched in silence as the Thornback Bear finished the entire bowl, licking it clean, then sat back with what could only be described as a satisfied sigh.

It looked at Marron again, and this time there was something different in its expression.

Recognition. Gratitude.

The bear stood, walked over to a nearby patch of thornbushes, and began pushing them aside with its massive paws.

Behind the bushes was a path.

A clear, well-maintained path leading deeper into the forest.

The bear looked back at them, then at the path, then back at them.

"I think it's showing us the way," Mokko said quietly.

"I think you're right," Marron replied.

The Thornback Bear made a low, rumbling sound—not a growl, more like a satisfied hum—and lay back down in its nest.

But this time, it looked less defensive. Less desperate.

Just tired and finally, blessedly full.

+

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

Quest Updated: Journey to New Brookvale

Thornbriar Hollow guardian appeased through peaceful means Shortcut unlocked Estimated time to New Brookvale: 5 hours

Achievement Unlocked: Beast Friend You have fed a territorial guardian and earned safe passage

Reward: +1 Cooking Level New Recipe Learned: Guardian's Comfort (Savory Egg and Pepper Stew) Special Bonus: Animals in the Whispering Forest will be less hostile toward you

Skill Improved: Trail Cooking (Novice → Apprentice) You can now prepare restaurant-quality meals even in wilderness conditions

Current Stats:

Cooking Level: 49 → 50 Achievement: Reached Level 50 Milestone New Ability Unlocked: Ingredient Intuition You can now sense the quality and properties of ingredients by touch

Marron felt the System's notifications settle into her consciousness like warm light.

Level 50.

A milestone.

And they'd done it by feeding a starving bear instead of fighting it.

"All right," she said, packing up the copper pot carefully. "Let's take that shortcut."

They followed the path the bear had revealed—and it was immediately clear why it was a shortcut. The path was smooth, well-maintained by some unknown force, and seemed to guide them naturally through the forest's tricky navigation.

Five hours later, just as the System had predicted, they emerged from the dense forest into a clearing.

And there, spread out before them in the late afternoon light, was New Brookvale.

The mimic settlement.

And somewhere in that settlement—a ladle that might be the third Legendary Tool.

Marron adjusted her grip on her cart, touched the copper pot to make sure it was secure, and smiled.

"Let's go meet some mimics," she said.

And stepped forward into the clearing.

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