Fortunately, Aurora had more than enough survival experience to continue with the current task.
Back in her previous life when she was training to be be assassin, she and her fellow trainees were made to go through several survival trials that were far worse than the life she was currently handed to live.
So making a temporary water container wasn't really that tough.
She located a tree with large, broad leaves and grabbed a handful. She then layered them together and reinforced them with flexible vines, shaping a crude but functional water carrier - something between a basin and a bucket.
It wouldn't last forever. But it didn't need to.
Aurora filled it carefully and carried it back to the cave. Fortunately the cave was close because water kept leaking through the gaps in the leaves.
One trip was far from enough, so she made a second one. Then another. And another.
By the fifth trip, her arms were shaking. By the eighth, her steps slowed. By the tenth, her breathing grew heavier. And by the thirteenth, she nearly dropped the entire thing.
She used her makeshift broom and the water to wash the cave - the ceiling, the walls, the floor. She scrubbed every corner, pushing away layers of grime that had clearly built up over time.
The process was slow, messy, exhausting, but effective.
Gradually, the stone began to look clearer and the smell died down further, becoming less aggressive.
Aurora forced her body for three more trips to the stream and back to the cave and finally decided this was enough for now.
There was just one last thing she needed to do before ending her cleaning task. So she stepped outside again and made her way into the woods surrounding the cave.
According to the memories of the original owner of the body, her cave was located at the farthest north part of the Tiger Tribe. She was given this one after her father's death to keep her as far away from the tribe as possible.
And while the original owner didn't like living so far away from the rest of the tribe and always complained about it, Aurora found it just perfect. Besides, she's the kind who loved seclusion.
And it was only because she lived so far from other tribe members that despite her jumping around the place so late at night, no one had come looking for what was going on.
As she moved through the woods, her eyes scanned the vegetation. Though the flora in this world was different from the ones back on Earth, the base remained same.
She had already recognized a few herbs and plants that looked different from the ones she had seen back on earth but were still from the same family, just more evolved.
And with the system assisting, it became even easier for her to find the exact ones she was looking for.
[Herb Identified: Moonleaf Sage – Purifies air when burned]
[Herb Identified: Bitterroot Thyme – Neutralizes odor compounds]
Aurora crouched and carefully gathering the herbs.
Next she collected a decent amount, along with dry leaves, small twigs, and a few smooth pebbles before she made her way to the cave.
- - -
Inside the cave, she arranged the dry materials in a small pile and used the pebbles to start a fire.
Once again her survival trials from during her assassin training period turned out useful as it took her barely three attempts before she was able to create a spark.
The dry leaves immediately caught a small fire, and Aurora used the small twigs to build it into a steady fire.
Next, she crushed the two herbs she had gathered to clean the smell and air inside the cave and added it to the fire.
The effect was immediate as a faint, earthy aroma began to spread through the cave. It was sharp at first, then settling into something clean and fresh.
Aurora watched the smoke curl upward, filling the space.
She stepped back only to freeze as her body throbbed in protest. Her limbs were aching, her energy level had nearly depleted, and she barely needed some sleep.
But it was impossible for her to sleep while looking like... this.
So instead of allowing herself to finally get some rest, she once again stepped outside the cave and headed toward the stream. But not empty handed.
On her way out, she grabbed the few hides she had previously set aside and took them along to wash them as well.
Just the though of finally taking a bath and getting rid of all the layers of dirt and smell coating her body filled her with a newfound energy.
For a moment, she forgot all about her aching body and her only focus was on cleaning herself just as thoroughly as she had just cleaned the cave.
"Time to make use of the luxury bath and body set."