The tears eventually settled into something softer.
Xiaoli wiped her face with the back of her hand and sniffled loudly. Nala had composed herself back into dignity, though her eyes were still red at the corners. Puka had uncrossed her arms at some point without announcing it.
"How much food do you have?" Puka asked. She had shifted fully into practical mode, the way she always did once she had decided a situation required action rather than feeling.
"Not enough for a long journey." Ningning admitted. "We were going to start gathering but with the ankle—"
"We'll help." Xiaoli said immediately. She said it the way she said most things, quickly and without deliberating, like the thought had barely formed before her mouth caught it.
Nala nodded. "Water too. You'll need containers, dried meat, whatever we can find before the weather turns."
"I know where the good berries are still holding on the east slope." Puka said. "I'll go today."
