[Summer Rose]
"Are we there yet?"
...no response.
Anaxa's mouth remains shut in a thin line, his brow twitching in annoyance as we walk through more of the same miles upon miles of forestry that make up Mistral. I can almost see a vein on his forehead pulsing as he weighs the pros and cons of strangling me.
We're now onto the fourth day of our journey, and after a pretty uneventful start (aside from like... a handful of Grimm?) we're expecting something slightly more energetic this time around.
"...are we there yet?"
He sighs, the sound quite like a man admitting defeat as he pinches the bridge of his nose in annoyance. Why am I teasing him like this? ...cause it's fun, duh. What else am I gonna do while we walk? He gives such good reactions, too.
"No, Summer. Given that it's barely been a few days and this journey is slated to take two entire weeks of walking... we are, in fact - if you can believe it - not there yet."
I let another childish groan, one that is admittedly kinda embarrassing to hear out loud. Just the idea of spending an entire two weeks on the long walk to Kuchinashi has my head aching. Sure, I was already gonna be making the journey before meeting him, but at least then I could... I dunno, spam my Semblance to make distance faster.
Now I gotta be all slow, and walk-y, and use my legs, and- ugh.
"Why can't Kuchinashi be closer... this is gonna take so long..." I mutter, head hung low and arms folded lower as the weight of my bag seems to grow by the second.
"Quit whining. You can relax as much as you want when we reach Vale. Just keep your eyes peeled like always, I'd rather not get a new haircut after being caught off guard by a Grimm because you were busy moaning."
I roll my eyes, snorting at his 'no nonsense' tone, the one he uses when he wants to be taken seriously.
If there's anything I've learned about Anaxa in the... just about four and a half days we've known eachother, it's that he wants to sound a lot more capable than he actually is.
That, and the fact that he thinks his eyepatch makes him look cool. He's right, it does, but I'll never say that aloud.
"Please. I'm faster than any Grimm this side of Atlas. If we get caught off guard by anything, I'll eat my shoe- no, both of them."
Anaxa's jaw tenses, head whipping towards me in a stern glare that actually makes a small shiver run down my spine. He stares at me like a monster in human skin for a moment, his fist clenched tightly.
"...Summer, I swear to- don't say things like that. You're going to jinx us. You know, Murphy's Law, or whatever it was. That's just inviting trouble."
I furrow my brows, unsure of what exactly he's talking about, and if it's common knowledge given the way he talks about it.
"...who the hell is Murphy? What law?"
He pauses, muttering something under his breath that I barely catch before running a hand through his hair. I... have no idea why he does that, but I'm guessing it's soothing?
"Murphy's Law is... a theoretical concept. I think. It's the idea that anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. I am not trying to tempt the veracity of that adage, and most certainly not with regards to man eating beasts. Don't bother eating your shoe, Summer... because if you keep talking I'll happily shove my boot down your throat."
I have to bite back the urge to laugh upon hearing that, making sure to remember that little nugget of information he's given me for future use as I flourish Sundered Rose.
"Puh-lease! If any big bad Grimm wants to show up and try to eat us, then I'll be more than happy to remind them why that's a terrible idea! By killing them."
He snorts, trying his best not to let the amusement show on his face as he regards me with a withering glare just a moment later.
"Oh? By killing them? And here I thought you'd try befriending them. How naive of me. Then again, spending any amount of time in conversation with you is tantamount to self-harm, so I'll consider them the same."
...that one was kinda funny, so I'll let it slide.
"Ever the charmer, aren't you Anaxa? It's a wonder you aren't practically swimming in women at this point. I bet you're having to beat them away with a stick these days."
He sighs, snorting again beneath his breath.
"Yes, actually. I'm just about drowning in suitresses. One woman for each day of the week. My charm is simply irresistible, they flock to me like birds. I daresay I'm spoiled for choice, as a matter of fact."
I tilt my head at him, entirely unimpressed, as a question comes to mind.
"...you've never even been in a relationship before, have you Anaxa?"
Immediately, he squawks in protest, his cheeks flushing and his eye widening. The reddening of his face only grows worse as he notices my wide, smug grin.
"You- ...bloody hell, you don't have to say it out loud if it's that obvious! At least let me maintain a fraction of my dignity, woman!"
My grin doesn't stop widening, his flustered response giving me way more amusement than it should have any right to as I slip Sundered Rose back onto my hip, walking with both hands clasped behind me now.
"Oh, I had a hunch after the little hissy-fit you threw over sleeping arrangements last night, but this? This right here? Golden. No wonder you can't take a compliment to save your life, you don't even know how to talk to a woman full stop!"
He groans, one hand massaging his head while the other clutches his weapon tighter.
"I was more than justified in my worries last night! You- what kind of idiot suggests going to sleep at the same time when we're alone in the woods? Of course I wasn't going to entertain the idea... and for the record, I've got a lot more experience with the opposite sex than you do, Mrs you're my first friend!"
I make sure to play up my amusement at his words, pointedly glancing up and down across his body before meeting his gaze with the most unimpressed look I can manage.
"...oh, really? You sure about that?"
He scoffs.
"Don't you oh really me, woman! You'd never had a friend in general before we met! At least I've kissed a girl before. You probably wouldn't even know the first thing about flirting if it hit you over the head with an axe!"
...pot calling the kettle black, much?
Wait, no, hold on...
"You realise I was being hyperbolic about the whole 'no friends' thing, right? It's not like you're the first person I've ever spoken with in my life, you're just... the first one I've really wanted to be friends with. That's all."
He blinks, confused.
"...are you expecting my thanks for that? I'd sooner call your friendship a burden than a gift given how this journey has gone so far."
I scoff, my arms now folded and chest raised in mock indignation as I tilt my chin up.
"And just what is that supposed to mean, huh Mister? I've been nothing but kind to you! I even let you share some of my Atlesian tea cakes, and this is the thanks I get? For shame, Anaxa!"
He doesn't bother giving a verbal response to that. Just a smug, knowing grin.
Somehow, that says more than any words could possibly convey, my tongue failing me as I struggle to make some witty response.
"...okay, so maybe I happen to talk a lot, but-"
Anaxa stops dead in his tracks.
His eyes snap to mine, a hand raised swiftly to cut me off. I can't help but follow his lead and halt my steady walk, my head tilted in confusion as he glances around slowly.
"...do you hear that?" Anaxa asks, carefully, as he scans the surroundings.
I hum, brows furrowed as I listen intently for a moment, my hand drifting to Sundered Rose as the tension in his body only seems to grow with each second... yet I hear nothing of alarm. Only silence.
"No. I don't hear anything."
He grimaces, another sigh escaping his lips as he draws his gun close.
"Yeah. Same. That's the problem, Summer. A dense forest like this doesn't just go silent after hours of constant noise... and not to this degree, either. You could hear a pin drop right now." He mutters, scanning every inch of the woodland around us, his eye lit aflame once more (somehow).
"The only explanation for this that I can think of is that something else has shown up, and frightened everything around us into utter silence through their presence. Something that is no doubt watching us as we speak. Watching, but not acting."
I can't help it. In spite of all my years of training, all the Grimm I've killed, and all the wisdom my Master has given me over the time I spent in her care, I can't help but shiver slightly upon hearing that.
The idea of being stalked, hunted by something that wants to eat you alive and knowing nothing about it... well, it's always gonna be a little uncomfortable to think about, no matter how much experience I have.
I don't think anyone likes being eaten. At least, I sincerely hope not given that-
"Focus, Summer. Either I'm right and something is hunting us, or I'm wrong, and I need to stop acting like the world is going to end at any moment. Either way, I need you focused."
...right. Looks like that Murphy guy was right.
Anaxa's strong, incredibly strong considering his lack of training, but not nearly as strong as me. He probably doesn't like saying it aloud, but he needs my help.
"You're not acting crazy, and I'd rather not take the risk anyways. Something definitely feels wrong, at least. Can you see anything with your fancy eye?"
He hums, tightening his hold over the gun at his side as we shift positions, now back-to-back and scanning the forestry relentlessly.
"No. Nothing so far. I can't exactly see through things, though, and given the distinct nature of our surroundings... that means anything with half a mind would already be invisible to me given they're in hiding. Artak once told me that Grimm grow more intelligent with age. Was that true?"
I grimace, Sundered Rose back in my hand and lifted into rifle-form.
"Yeah. Stronger, smarter, more resilient. Some people even think there's Grimm older than humanity itself lurking across Remnant; in the sky, in the water, in the earth. A Grimm's bone-plating is a good visual indicator of their age, at least."
Anaxa swears under his breath. If the situation weren't so tense, I'd make a shitty joke about him losing his composure.
"So something smart could be hunting us as we speak... Stalking. Waiting. I take it you don't happen to carry an encyclopaedia on which Grimm are native to what continents so we can hazard a guess at our pursuer's identity?"
I scoff.
"Yeah sure, it's in my bag, right next to the Anti-Grimm spray and my Schnee Dust Company ownership certificate. Chances are this is just some big Beowulf that wants to be intimidating. At worst, maybe an Ursa."
He sighs, a grimace audible in his words.
"What did I tell you about Murphy's Law, Summer? Stop tempting fate, you're going to get us killed in the..."
Anaxa's words trail off, something akin to utter astonishment in his voice now as he softly bumps my shoulder with his elbow.
"I think I found our little hunter." He says, snorting in amusement and taking a few steps towards whatever it is he found. I sigh, turning on the spot and seeing-
My arm lashes out across his chest, stopping him from moving any further.
He jumps at the sudden contact, glancing at me in confusion and taking a hesitant step back, no doubt noticing my internal panic.
"The hell's the matter with you, Summer? It's just a damn rabbit. A Grimm rabbit, mind you, but I highly doubt they're dangerous."
I shake my head, a bead of sweat running down my head and Sundered Rose clutched tightly in my hand as I watch it like a hawk. The black fur, the small bone-plating above the head, the glowing red eyes... damn.
"Lepor. Not a rabbit. A Lepor. That urge you have, the whole it's so cute and fuzzy thought in your mind? That's intentional. It wants to catch you off guard. Don't let it come any closer. I mean it Anaxa, if it takes one step toward us, you shoot it dead."
Anaxa balks in confusion, but thankfully listens to my warning.
I watch it, my eyes damn near burning with the visceral urge to cleanse, to purge- but I can't. Not yet. Using the Silver Eyes' power so soon on a long journey like this is less than ideal, and I'm not fully recovered enough from the battle at Akarele to even consider the idea.
"...what the fuck? My eye, it's registering the Lepor as... hundreds of Grimm, all packed into one tiny body. It... hurts to look at."
I grimace, taking note of the hiss in his voice, and the fact that his Eye is a lot more special than he told me yesterday if it can make such a distinction so quickly. I can see things clearer my ass. I guess I can't blame him for keeping a secret, though.
"That's how a Lepor works. Nobody knows what they do, or how they even do it, but... one drop of blood, and they start replicating. My Master told me one Lepor can become up to a thousand if they get enough to feed on. They always come in groups too. Rarely are they ever seen alone, rarer still are they seen anywhere near the majour Kingdoms."
Anaxa's finger tightens on the trigger. Not enough to pull, but enough to be ready.
"I hope you're a good enough shot, Anaxa. They're scarily fast, and a small target to boot. You would only make things worse for us if you miss."
He hums, brows furrowed in confusion as he looks upon the creature once more.
"If they were truly that strong, they'd have taken over Remnant centuries ago-"
He pauses. On his lips, a small grin begins to form, his covered eye burning once more.
"Gotcha."
Then, without warning, he fires his rifle.
The bullet misses completely, cutting through the air several inches away from the Lepor. Said Grimm doesn't even waste a second, surging forward across the grassland as several more begin spilling from the woodland around us, prepared to make a meal out of us and spawn an army from our blood-
The bullet bounces back against the air itself, and obliterates the lupine Grimm.
Said bullet continues to bounce erratically between each of the ravenous Lepors, damn near exploding them into blood-red dust and vapour as it cuts through them. Anaxa walks forward as his bullet ricochets between each Grimm, his tone smug and condescending.
"Strong, yes. Terrifying- oh, no doubt... unfortunately though, they happen to have quite the Weakness. Only the one Lepor can control the replicants it forms. Kill the original, and the rest fall victim as well. The clones don't even last longer than an hour. Furthermore..."
He pauses, turning on the spot and cocking his rifle in one hand, batting aside the leaping form of a tiny, fluffy menace and shooting it down a moment later.
"They're tailor made to kill regular folks. Against an Aura wielder, though? They're less dangerous than the common Creep. An Aura means no blood, and no blood means no replication. Utterly terrifying in the right circumstances, worthless in the current."
...how the frick do you know any of this? You'd never even seen them until just now!
"For shame, Summer. You had me thinking we would be in for the fight of our lives. They didn't nearly live up to your description."
I sigh, keeping my axe held close as I move to catch up with him, biting back the urge to scoff as the tension in me refuses to leave.
"I'd only ever read about them before in a few books. You're right, I guess they're pretty useless against an Aura wielder, but those things are a lot more dangerous than you realise. They're called the Empire Killers, because it only took one Lepor being let loose in Avalusia for things to fall apart."
His brows furrow, a frown now marring his... slightly handsome face as he turns to me.
"Avalusia? I don't remember hearing of that."
I can't help but snort at his lack of knowledge- though it quickly becomes a squawk of indignation as he pulls my hood over my head in response.
"Hey- don't do that! I can't see anything!" I shout, glaring at him the moment my hood is back down. The wide grin on his lips only makes my frustration burn brighter, but I still make sure to answer his query.
"The reason you haven't heard about Avalusia, jackass, is because it fell apart overnight centuries ago. You probably just didn't read the right books. It used to be a colony of Mantle-borne who wanted their own independence from the Kingdom, but practically vanished overnight after someone unleashed a Lepor in the capital."
He hums, brows raised in mild shock.
"Grimm-based warfare. How interesting. I'll assume you said 'someone unleashed' instead of calling it a natural disaster because there was a culprit found behind this crime. Or did they too vanish like Avalusia did?"
Slowly, ever so slowly, the tension in my body begins to fade away as we get back on our walk. I still have so many questions to ask, about his Eye mostly, but... I'm willing to wait for an answer. I've got my own secrets too, so I can't judge him for-
...wait a gosh darn minute, we both have superpowers in our eyes!
That's so cool! Does he also come from a long line of super-awesome Grimm Killers-
Ahem. Don't get distracted, Summer.
"No, no. They found the guy who did it, mainly because he went around everywhere boasting about it. Calgaro Mellia, arguably one of the worst men in Remnant's history. A Vacuan native who... well, nobody really knows why he did it. He just decided to destroy Avalusia one day, said he gave them 'a gift'. That the Grimm weren't to be feared, but worshipped instead."
Anaxa laughs loudly, shaking his head. He makes his rifle disappear (how the hell does that even work!?) and folds his arms as we continue our journey, the soft crunching of grass beneath our feet becoming an oddly comforting sound.
"Oho! A Grimm supremacist. Now that is definitely something I hadn't expected to hear about. I suppose I can see the idea, they're technically the apex predators of Remnant and people will devote themselves to just about anything in the absence of hope, but... worshipping man-eating beasts requires a special level of delusion."
I snort, rolling my eyes as I have to stop myself from matching his posture-
"I know, right? Sometimes you really gotta wonder where people get these ideas. A lot of those books say Calgaro was just really unwell, and that Atlas used him to get rid of competition in their 'region', so to speak. It's a lot more believable than Calgaro's excuse, that: the voice in the dark made me do it."
Anaxa sighs.
"...Some people are at a disadvantage from birth. Genetics have always been a dice roll. Sometimes, you're just... not built with the same parts as everyone else. Be it with a few pieces missing, or a few pieces that shouldn't be there. If he was committing heinous tragedy and blaming it on 'voices in the dark', then chances are he was a lost cause from the get-go."
The conversation falls to silence after that. I can't really come up with anything to say. I'm not sure if I want to. It's an odd thing; for the first time, the silence doesn't feel so lonely anymore.
So, we continue our steady journey across the wilderness of Mistral, killing any Grimm we come across and making merry with any travelers we meet on the path.
...the tension in my shoulders never leaves. The feeling of being watched sticks with me.
Hours pass from our meeting with the Lepors, the sun falls and the shattered moon rises, but I still can't shake the feeling that we're being watched by something.
Anaxa notices the tension in my body and walks a little closer to me, a small offering of comfort. It helps... just a little bit.
------------------------------------
[Anaxagoras]
Another long day of walking, another day spent learning just how utterly terrifying this world can be to those living in it.
Whoever came up with the Lepor is a monster. If it was even a who to begin with. I wouldn't be surprised if Remnant just got unlucky, and Grimm popped into existence.
It seems to be a trend for this world, bad luck. That, and the blatant hopelessness.
The shattered moon has long since risen into the sky, the forestry around us blanketed in darkness and a thin, vibrant sheen of moonlight bursting between trees.
Truth be told, I've no idea how much progress we made today. We didn't catch wind of a single landmark to base our progress against, just us and the road.
We aren't lost, at the very least.
Ideally, we'll pass through Kaliyana early morning tomorrow. If that's the case, then we're on pace to reach Kuchinashi with more than enough time to spare to get some training and relaxation in before Beacon's entrance exams start up.
So far, we've not encountered any majour trouble on the road. Aside from the minor Lepor mishap, and the... weird feeling I got after it was dealt with, the rest of the day passed in calm, quiet travel.
As quiet as travelling with Summer can be, at the very least.
Like every incredibly attractive woman I've met in my two lives, there's always a downside to them that you never realise. At least, what is to some a downside. I suppose it could be in equal measure an upside to anyone else with those tastes...
Man, I sound like a pompous prick.
...Point is, she's unfairly attractive, and talks way too bloody much. It's starting to reach a weird middle ground where I'm both very interested in what she has to say and the sound of her voice, and annoyed at how constantly she makes little comments.
I wouldn't say I'm smitten, or falling in love with her. Not even close, frankly. We still know far too little about one another for me to even consider the thought. I'd sooner say I harbour a deep admiration for her talent, and the effort she put into saving Akarele, than anything resembling affection.
That doesn't mean I can't appreciate her beauty, though. I suppose it also helps significantly that she's an incredibly capable fighter on top of said beauty, too.
...I've always been weak for strong women.
No matter. I've far more important things to occupy my mind with than Summer.
The small fire we've set up for our little camp is still burning brightly, though according to my Eye it's not going to stay that way for long. Thinking quickly, I tear away some of the fabric of my coat, tossing it onto the fire.
Well Rested means that my outfit will be repaired by the time we next wake up, anyways. Means I don't have to worry about the fact that I'm turning my clothes into food for the fire, at least.
Speaking of food... I'd placed my faith in Summer's experience living in the wilderness to gather our meals for us, but I'm starting to worry that she-
"Whew! That was a tough one. Hope you don't mind Anaxa, I got us a big meal!" Summer says, grinning widely after bursting through the brush and making me jump, hauling a fucking bear over her shoulder!?
"...Summer, you... how the hell are we supposed to eat all of that!? It could feed a family of twelve! Where did you even find- no, I suppose bears are native to Mistral."
She grins even wider, sliding the dead bear off her shoulder with childish ease. It lands against the ground with a dull thud, notedly missing it's head at the hand of a single clean cut from Sundered Rose.
"We don't need to eat it all now. We just eat as much as we can handle, then leave the rest for anything in the forest to have. Should be more than enough to keep us well-fed and energised for tomorrow, at least."
She then kneels down, making sure to keep her Aura active to avoid getting anything on her clothes, before lifting her axe by the head and slowly skinning the beast. The absurd, casual ease with which she does so speaks to a lifetime of experience.
I can't help but lean forward from my impromptu seat atop my bedroll, damn near transfixed by not only the ease with which she handles our meal for tonight, but also the precision and finesse of it all.
"...you seem to be quite the capable person, Summer. I think I underestimated you."
Summer laughs. If she takes any offence to my comment, I simply can't tell.
"Eh. I don't blame you. I'm not really what you'd call... intimidating, if we're going off looks alone. I did however grow up with one hell of a hardass for a teacher, who wanted me to be ready for anything life had to offer. She made sure I could keep myself going in the wild, used to leave me in the woods on my own for weeks at a time."
I raise a brow, now incredibly intrigued.
"Your teacher? You haven't spoken much of her. I suppose, given her methods, there's probably a very good reason for that?"
Summer scoffs, shaking her head fondly.
"Don't misunderstand me, Anaxa. She wasn't pampering me, but... she wasn't unkind either. Lady Maria just wanted to make sure I could handle myself no matter what situation I was thrown into. I can't really complain at her methods, cause... well, you're looking at the results."
...Lady Maria? One hell of a fancy way of addressing her. Maybe she's from old nobility, a family lineage tracing back to before the Kingdoms stopped being monarchies.
"Sounds like you had quite the tutor, then. Must have been an insanely strong woman if she taught you how to fight, too. I don't want to even imagine what this Lady Maria is capable of, if you can cut down entire hordes of Grimm without flinching."
Her smile shifts. What was once wide and beaming is now small and somber.
"...She was strong. I trained with her for years, and never even managed to land a single hit. I'd just catch a flash of pale skin, see her hat and coat from the corner of my eye, and bang! I'd be on the floor. She was... terrifying with her weapon, the Rakuyo."
I raise a brow, one hand draped over my knee now as I lean forward.
"Was? I take it she's no longer with us, then? A shame. She sounds like an astounding woman. I'm surprised I've never heard mention of her throughout all the books I've read in my... rather short, post-amnesia life."
Summer snorts.
"Master never believed in the whole 'fame and glory' part of being a Huntress. She never wanted any recognition, so she never took credit for anything. All that mattered to her was the job being done, and it being done well... and yeah. She died a few weeks ago. Told me to continue my training in Beacon, that she had some 'old friends' working there who'd be willing to help."
Another clean cut, another long slice. She handles a fully grown bear carcass like a child would handle a toy. Finely honed instinct and practice, not a single motion wasted. Come to think of it, that's the very opposite of how a child handles a toy.
"Oh? So you've got friends on the inside is what you're saying, then? A cheap trick to get into Beacon; the ultimate weapon... nepotism. I'll have to work to the bone for a chance of getting in, and you'll be given a red carpet entrance."
She snorts, an incredibly un-ladylike sound that is quickly followed by her leaning down briefly, her finger flicking at my forehead.
"No, you ass, I'll take the entrance exam just like anyone else. I want to get in on my own merits, not just because of my Master's name. Besides, I don't even think Beacon has carpets at the entrance. It's more like a big castle from what I've heard."
I roll my eye, grumbling at the flick.
"Don't forget this moment, then, if you somehow fail the exam and still get given entry into the school. If this Lady Maria is half as special as you make her out to be, and half as well connected, Beacon would probably have personally escorted you over to Vale had they known she died."
Summer smiles down at me.
It's a wide, beaming grin, the type you can only feel safe in the presence of. The type that could defeat anything, that could light up any room and make you forget all of your troubles for just a single, fleeting moment; the type that could make a man-
"Oh, please! If I somehow manage to fail the exam, I'd just keep trying until I didn't! They'd have no choice but to accept me when I start camping outside the doors. I'll chase their bullheads on every field trip, just to show the students up and remind those dusty old Huntsmen how capable I really am!"
...I let out another soft exhale of laughter, the smirk on my lips refusing to leave.
"Ah, right. So you'd loiter on the campus, harass the students, and stalk the staff. You wanna add jaywalking to that little rap sheet of yours, too? I figure you may as well, since you're planning to play Felony Bingo."
She scoffs, making one more cut at the bear's thick coat before lifting her axe and pointing at me, that same grin on her lips.
"Careful now, Anaxa. One more cheeky comment like that, and I'll add criminal assault onto my rap sheet as well."
Again, I roll my eye. My fingers tap rhythmically against my knee as I watch her work, my mind whirring for any type of witty retort, but finding none.
She grunts in exertion shortly after, cutting away at another corner of skin and chopping at the limb itself a moment later, setting the meat aside onto a small array of leaves to stop any dirt from getting onto it, the first of many more pieces to come.
My eyes are damn near magnetised to her as she works, the soft firelight and gleaming moonlight illuminating her form, only serving to make the moment feel that much more... peaceful. Calm, even.
"...I don't think our little fire is going to be nearly capable of cooking such a large amount of meat thoroughly enough. Doesn't bear meat need to be cooked to a certain level, too? Something to do with parasites?"
She shakes her head, smiling warmly at my own... admittedly lackluster knowledge.
"We won't be spitroasting the meat with sticks and a dream, Anaxa. I've got a pot in my backpack, we'll just slow cook it overnight. You can have the first serving, since you wanna be a big pessimist. You'll just have to cook your own portion while you're on watch for the night."
My amusement vanishes immediately.
"...you're expecting me to cook bear meat, over a campfire, while you sleep away in the corner and leave me to my own devices? Devices which, might I add, are far beyond anything I've ever dealt with before? I've never even touched bear in my life, let alone attempted to cook it. Not that I remember."
She barks out a sharp laugh at the sight of my frown, leaning down to set aside another hefty chunk of bear meat.
"Not quite, you dunce. I'm asking you to watch a pot while your food boils for a few hours. If you really want to, I can give you a little lesson on how to make the best bear stew you'll ever have in your life. At least... with what limited ingredients we have."
...well, I'd be a fool to decline an offer like that, wouldn't I?
"Fine. You have yourself a deal, Summer." I say, standing from my bedroll and going over to rummage through her bag.
She grins in triumph at the sight, rolling up her sleeves even further and tying up her already short hair.
"I knew you'd be interested! Don't worry, Anaxa, I'll make a survivalist out of you yet! Now, the first thing we'll need is a lot of water, and a few of those mushrooms I asked you to find. You... you did remember to get them, right?"
I sigh, turning on the spot to look at her.
"Yes. I did, Summer. Fret not, none of them are poisonous, or hallucinogenic, either. I made sure of it. I'd rather not die at the hands of a fungus if I ever get the choice."
She snorts in response, hacking away at another thick chunk of meat and stripping it away from the bone, cutting it all into small chunks.
"I think most people would choose not to die at all in the first place, not make a choice of what they'd prefer dying to."
I sigh, tossing the pot at her and barely even blinking in shock as she damn near blurs for a moment, catching it and getting back to work without pausing for a single second.
"Most people aren't having what is, unfortunately, going to be some very flavourless bear stew to feed themselves. No spices, no vegetables. Only meat, and mushrooms. You may as well just call it a bloody protein bowl at this point."
She hums, tilting her head and appraising the name for a moment.
"Master called it the Sad Man's Banquet. She never really had the best taste in names, but... definitely better than Protein Bowl. Now, my dearest culinary student, it's time for you to..."
The night passes in the blink of an eye from then on. By the time I can finally lie down in my bedroll and let Summer take over my watch for the night, I'm left exhausted and ready to pass out for a week from all the bear meat we'd eaten.
Between Summer's impromptu lessons on how to make a good meal out of wild game, the soft warmth of the fire between us, and the utter lack of flavour to our meal for the night, I'm left with one logical conclusion to be made when I fall asleep finally.
Bear meat is... an acquired taste.