Mark looked up and could see the sun just past the midpoint through the swaying trees as he made his way out of the forest. His mining sack was full of meat from the beasts he had killed.
The hunt was quick, and had ended before it had ever truly begun.
'Were these monsters always so slow and weak?'
Mark pondered the change in hunting the beasts he experienced since his consumption of the blood cake that the witch woman had him eat. Every strike of his spear left a dead beast. Even the Gullen was taken out in one strike, though Mark had to throw the spear as the damn giant ran away.
'I should go question that witch woman after I get these supplies to Grom. . .'
He received a few sideways glances from the farmers as he passed their plots. They were still hard at work, making sure the crops would grow well for the village.
The guards merely saluted him, expecting the giant sack of meat slung on his back. Though a few were also slightly surprised by how quickly he came back with so much meat.
As he approached the butcher's place, he noticed Cecil waiting outside. Apparently, waiting for him.
'Word must have traveled fast as I walked over here.'
The joy of living in a small village.
Mark went to pull the large sack of meat off his shoulder, but Cecil stopped him with a gesture.
"Let's take it out back; it's easier for us to process there."
After walking around the building, Mark unloaded in the open area next to the ovens.
Cecil raised a brow.
"I could see the size of the sack on your back, but this is truly an impressive haul. I can make out at least one Gullen and a few Wargs. How the hell did you manage this so quickly?"
Before Mark could answer, Cecil looked him up and down before shaking his head.
"Never mind, I should learn to stop being surprised by you."
Grom made his way out of the back of the house as Cecil stopped talking. He was wearing his blood-stained apron with a carving knife in one hand and a set in the other. Over his shoulder was also his own cloth to move the meat onto.
As he approached the two men, he studied the meat briefly before looking at Mark with a grunt and a nod.
Mark nodded back and mentioned the furs.
"Take any of the pelts you like. I had to separate them from the rest of the monsters' bodies before I could field dress them. You can keep them all if you like, actually, I am very appreciative of you guys for cooking so much meat for me this morning."
Grom nodded his head, absentmindedly, as he spread his cloth. Then, he just wordlessly picked out the cuts he wanted, taking the majority of the meat and a couple of warg pelts as well as the Gullen pelt.
He looked to Cecil and nodded, then looked to Mark and made a satisfied sound before getting to work on the meat.
As Cecil was about to speak he was interrupted by Mira, Groms wife, as she burst out the back door.
"Ah! Mark! There you are! I heard from Florence that his boy had seen you hauling a large sack over your back with a bit of blood dripping out of it as he was playing near the east gate this afternoon! I was so surprised that I ran and got Cecil while he was busy baking with Lauren. Haha, she was quite flustered having to work alone again, but your sweet Anabel stepped in to help!"
She approached Mark with her arms up as she just kept talking, wrapping him in a big hug, even though she only came up to his lower chest.
Mark was a bit flustered, but he looked over at Cecil, who was just smiling awkwardly, slowly shaking his head at his sister-inlaws bubbly nature.
It was obvious that she normally invaded people's personal space, so Mark just awkwardly patted her back until she pulled back, putting her hands on his impressively large arms.
"I put some food on for your return. I know you eat a lot, so I have a feast that will be ready soon! Come in, I'll get you started on some of the quick dishes as we wait for the meat of the meal! Pun intended!"
She then turned around and quickly made her way back into the house and Mark gave Cecil a questioning glance.
"Yes, she is always like that. You'd better get in there and try her food, it's great. We will be getting this meat prepared for storage. Don't worry about us. And take your pelt with you when you leave. This is more than enough to make up for the meals."
Mark gave him a firm nod.
"Alright, Cecil. Thanks for everything today."
Then he turned to Grom, who was working hard on the meat, getting it ready for the chopping block.
"And you too, Grom, I am glad you were there for me when I was starving so."
Grom just gave a grunt as he continued to work.
With that, Mark went inside to see how this feast Mira was working on was going.
As Mark approached the door, he could already smell the rich aroma of meat coming from the kitchen. His mouth started to water involuntarily.
When he was passing through the kitchen, he noticed Mira with a large cooking fork in hand, a smudge of grease on her cheek.
She quickly noticed him there, standing in place like he had forgotten where the dining room was.
"Come now, Mark! Head through that door there and take a seat at the table, the first dish is already prepared! Don't just stand around and let it get cold, it is best fresh out of the oven!"
She had a playful spark in her eye. Mark noticed she didn't name the dish.
'Whatever it is, I am sure it will taste amazing. Chef Mira is known in the village as the best cook of a generation."
As he approached the table, he noticed a large helping of steamed vegetables next to a bowl of what looked to be monster stew. He took a seat and picked up some utensils as Mira barged in with a loaf of bread in her hand.
"Eat up! I have plenty more on the way; this is just the appetizer!"
Eat, Mark did. It took him hardly any time to eat the whole loaf of bread with the stew and vegetables. The stew was made from dried monster meat, and the vegetables had obviously been something she could quickly cook up.
'This food is amazing, and I hate vegetables. But these, I could eat these every day!'
After wiping his face from the stray stew and taking a big swig of the water prepared for him, Mira came in with a large tray of cooked meats of a variety of cuts and monsters.
Mark wolfed down each dish brought to him, eating like he was just as hungry as the first dish. Mira continued to happily introduce each dish like introducing a new family member, giving Mark the rundown on the way it was cooked and even sometimes an order on how she would suggest eating them.
Mark took her advice every time, noting that the order really did change how each dish tasted. Cecil came to check on things a couple of times, leaving as soon as he poked his head in after realizing he didn't want to get caught up in the chaos.
The noise of knives on the block carried faintly from outside. Grom never came in. He didn't need to. Mira made enough sound for the both of them.
When the edge of Mark's hunger dulled, Mira finally slowed her fussing. "There now. Look at you, fit to burst. If you fall asleep at the table, I'll have Grom and Cecil drag you home. I know it would take both of them."
Mark wiped his mouth and stood after rinsing his mouth with more water, bowing his head slightly. "Thank you, Mira. It was… more than enough."
She grinned, waving him toward the door as if shooing off a child. "Go on then. You've work waiting, I'm sure."
Mark walked into the living area and grabbed his pelt, still hanging from the back of the couch, before walking out of the front door. Behind him, he heard Mira yell out:
"And don't forget to grab Anabel! She said she was expecting you!"
Mark chuckled to himself as he turned to the left instead of the right, waving to Mira as he walked over to the Bakers' house.