as food has become scarcer every time I went out foraging
Sounds like you're devoid...
Probably best to hyphenate complex adjectives, though this can be controversial, I often get tripped up on sentences where I read one half first ''= defy ever'- and stop, thinking I've read it wrong.'
The word ''but'' is used about 20 times in this chapter, including the start of many sentences. I like it as a style, but (!) perhaps cut a few out.
I think this should be one word.
Danglings - holding the chilly wind tight?