back to the camp and he stepped off the path suddenly to strip a small twig off of a little sapling near the trail. He handed it to me with a smile.

            “Chew on this. It’s what they use.” He grins at my look of displeasure. “That will get the gunk off, then…” He glances around before stepping off the path again and bending to pick something from the ground.

            He walks back over, holding out a small pile of shiny dark green lobes. “Wintergreen. Closest thing to Crest you’re going to find around here.” He pops a few of the leaves into his mouth and chews happily. “Mmmmm… minty fresh.”

     &...

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