The creature pulled its head away once had taken the berries and sat for a quiet moment before getting back up and turning away. Slowly walking off without any sound, disappearing into the thicket of the forest.
Maria didn't move for a few minutes before finally gripping her chest as panted from holding her breath for so long. Her whole body ached from staying tensed up for so long. She frantically ran her hand along the grass and grabbed up the berries she could quickly. Staggering up onto her feet, she backed away slowly a few steps before turning and running back down the pathway she had taken to get here. Running as long as she could back toward the cabin, too afraid to ever look back in case the creature had decided to follow.
Once back at the cabin she slammed the door behind her, leaning back against it panting hard from the long run. Once caught her breath at all she pushed the table against the door. She would have locked it but the door only had a simple latch on it.
She looked at the two small handfuls of berries she had held onto from the trip. A sinking feeling hit her in the gut, she'd have to return there again soon to gather food. She shook her head, she'd put it out of her mind for now. She had enough provisions for now. She'd focus on finding a water source tomorrow. The sun was already setting by the time she had returned.
She took some bread and cheese she had in her basket, cutting a thin slice of both for her dinner. Afterwards she lit one of the candles she had brought with her and wrapped herself in the light blanket on the bed. Shivering as gripped her knees with a soft cry. She had figured she was sent out here to simply live on her own until her illness took here, but was she sent out here simply to be given to the forest?
She had to save her candles so blew the one lit out as curled up on the bed and cried herself to sleep, still keeping the door blocked with the table.