Bella had outdone herself. She had not only roasted the cassava roots to perfection, but she had also added some wild mushrooms and small cherry tomatoes to the mix. The aroma of the roasting meat wafted through the air, making their mouths water in anticipation.
As they sat down to eat, Bella asked Lisa and Bianca to make some juice from the wild fruits they had collected earlier. The girls worked together, chatting and laughing as they squeezed the juice into a makeshift container.
Finally, the meal was ready. Bella handed each of the girls a plate, and they dug in, savoring the delicious flavors. The cassava was tender and slightly sweet, while the mushrooms and cherry tomatoes added a burst of flavor to each bite.
Bonita looked up at Bella, her eyes shining with delight. "This is really good," she said, her voice filled with gratitude.
Bella smiled, feeling happy and proud. "Back home in Africa, we can have cassava in any way we want, and it's always delivered," she replied, a faraway look in her eyes.
The girls looked at each other, intrigued by Bella's stories of her homeland. They asked her questions, and she regaled them with tales of her childhood, of the food, the culture, and the people.
As they finished their meal, the girls felt a sense of contentment wash over them. They had found a new sense of purpose in the forest, and they had each other to rely on.
After their meal, the girls decided to take a shower at the nearby stream. The cool water was refreshing, and they felt invigorated as they washed away the dirt and grime of the forest.
As they returned to their shelter, they felt a sense of peace settle over them. Days turned into weeks, and the girls fell into a routine. They spent their days exploring the forest, gathering food, and tending to their shelter.
But despite the tranquility of their new life, the girls never forgot the danger that lurked outside their little sanctuary. They knew that they had to be vigilant, always on the lookout for any signs of trouble.
As they settled into their routine, the girls began to feel a sense of hope that they had not felt in a long time. They knew that they still had a long way to go, but for the first time in months, they felt like they might just make it out of the forest alive.