Chapter 74

• I quickly get up and pull my now dry clothes off the rocks. I washed everything yesterday and slept naked in my fur bed, hoping to feel less grubby today, less scraping by, and more pulled together. Washed myself head to foot with the last of my soap braided my hair into two plaits hanging down each side of my head to let it dry. I felt neglected and feral lately and needed to remind myself that I’m still part human, and the little things, like grooming, can make a world of difference. I feel somehow determined and cleaner like I have an actual purpose.
• I pack my things, roll up my furs, and eat some of my dried meats as I encase them in large leaves to get ready to go. Binding and tying everything in and to the backpack with vines I corded yesterday, dragging it all on my back, bouncing the weight up to adjust the straps, and re-acclimatizing the weight.
• My sneakers are getting scuffed and worn, and soon I might have to find tree sap and make minor repairs to make them last, or venture towards the human spots in time, to use what money I have for something longer lasting. I didn’t expect them to give out quite so soon, and in hindsight, I should have brought boots and not these when going off-grid. That’s the only downside to all this. The human part has specific requirements that nature won’t provide unless I get creative. Shoes are not in my skill set, and I’m not sure my human feet could handle the forest floor debris without them. I would have to turn to go any distance and probably pull a thousand pieces of grit and broken wood out of my feet every night.