"Just as close as you can to the shoot without actually breaking into the main part of it. If you're more comfortable using a hatchet, use that. You can use mine if you're worried about keeping yours sharp." She could just find something to sharpen hers eventually. Cutting a few shoots wouldn't cause much harm.
Sara collected her flint and set to work making a fire with the various kindling and logs she had collected, working swiftly and calmly to get one going as she listened to Lydia.
"You can read all you want about something. It's not the same as being in an actual situation and having to put that knowledge to test." Sara offered, looking over at her with a shrug. "There was a time when I would have freaked out at the idea of camping outside, and wouldn't have a clue how to start a fire, forget fashioning weapons. I was probably older than you are now when I learned. So you can as well." Not in the same brutal way that Sara had acquired all of her skills, but with the right teachers, Lydia would be fine.
Once she had the fire going and strong enough, she left the flame to catch, careful not to smother it out with large pieces of wood. She walked over to join Lydia by her pile of shoots, dropping down to the ground and picking one up to start removing the branches.