Just Another Day

It was a long trek to Imperial lands. The Scissortail territory was about in the middle of the Nyre. Directly below them, the Peridæ, Willow, and Crawfen clans. Above the Willow clan were the Blade and Weolcen clans, the Weolcen clan also bordered Scissortail lands and was whose territory the small group had to pass through on the way to the only Imperial territory in the Nyre. Most of the Imperials lived in the Eor forest, next to the mountain range where the Highland lived.

Their escort was a quiet, but stern fellow. He had white and blond hair and fur, and his wings were a golden yellow and brown. He dressed in the traditional loose breeches and short tunic most of the Scissortails preferred to wear. Each of the small group travelled lightly with just a pack on their back. They had brought a few rations, but mostly survived on what Shanku and Katari caught for their supper and what Hilael could gather to make it better.

"You're a highborn, aren't you?" Shanku asked with a grin as she finished dressing a few large rodents she had caught.

"Yes. Why do you ask?" the escort asked.

"You haven't given us your name and you never work for supper," Shanku teased as she began to spear pieces of meat and vegetables onto sticks.

"I am Piram, and watching over you lot is work enough," he stated.

"You'll never survive out in the wild with that attitude," Shanku laughed.

"I have little interest in your survival stories, miss," Piram said with half-closed eyes. "And I certainly don't want any of your habits."

"Come now, prejudice is just going to cause trouble," Shanku said as she helped Katari finish preparing their camp fire. They dug a shallow pit and gathered many green branches with intentions of using them to make a smoker so they could keep their extra meat for a longer time. If they didn't eat it all while walking the following day. Shanku handed a stick strung with meat and vegetables out to Piram. "You're roasting your own meat tonight."

With a flat look, Piram took the stick from her and held it over the fire. Shanku stuck her stick into the ground and wedged a log under it so that her kebab could roast slowly without her having to hold it the whole while.

"A particularly lazy way of doing it," Piram said distastefully.

"You don't try to burn energy when you're out and about," Shanku said gently. "You never know when you're going to have to defend yourself from a predator either."

"Perhaps if you were more observant of your surroundings, you wouldn't make camp near a predator."

"Kind of hard to do if they're out hunting too," Katari said. "I've lost a kill a few times to a hungry cougar."

"I'm told you were one of the more average hunters of your class," Piram said.

"Just ignore him, Katari. If he wants to be grumpy and alone, let him," Shanku grumbled before he could protest.

Katari nodded and directed his conversation toward Shanku. "Since supper is the topic, what would you say was the strangest thing you ate while on your travels?"

"I would say," Shanku trailed off and sat thoughtful for a moment. "A squid."

"A squid?" Katari asked curiously.

"Yes. A squid. It's this kind of fish in the ocean. It's got a big head and a ten wiggly arms with little suckers on them," Shanku explained.

"Doesn't sound good," Hilael shuddered.

"Tastes better than it smells," Shanku grinned. "Crabs are particularly tasty. They get really big out at sea, unlike the little ones we have around here. So what's the strangest thing you two have eaten?"

"Minocentaur pie," Hilael grimaced.

"Aw, I like mino-pie," Katari chuckled. "I think perhaps poke salet."

"Isn't that poisonous?" Shanku asked warily.

"Quite! Mother boils it a few times to get out the toxins, and then she fries it for a long time in minocentaur or boar fat," Katari replied. "How about you, Piram?"

"Rabbit and mushroom kebabs," Piram said and swallowed his current bite.

"See? We bring you new experiences!" Shanku giggled.

Innugati trilled as she swallowed a small piece of meat whole. Piram recoiled at the sight of her.

"It's strange how the Sylvans are the only ones so rude to other species," Shanku commented with a sideways glance at Piram. "Can't help but think that's part of the attitude that got us out here in the first place."

"What's your point?" Piram asked coldly.

Shanku shrugged and would not reply to him. With a hrmph, Piram curled up onto the leaves he had scratched up and pretended to go to sleep.

We've got such a long way to go, Shanku thought. Both in distance to the Imperial Grove, and the Sylvans as a whole to stop being so xenophobic. She sighed heavily.