”They are impressed with you... even Bennik.”
The cheers and applause from the Scattered Bones when they returned made Razkar smile, as did Quinneth's slow, measured but glowing words. But only when he felt Ayatah's fingers on his palm and heard her soft, proud words did Razkar truly grin.
There was a whirl of people around them and he felt he start to move away, but his hand held onto hers and when she turned to see the reason for his sudden force, he pressed his lips to hers.
"If I can make you proud of me in the eyes of your clan," he said softly, eyes as sincere as he hoped his words sounded, "then my day has not been wasted."
"Oh, such romance. It's been an age since I heard the like."
That did not come from Ayatah, and the two lovebirds nearly jumped and looked around at the source of it. They found a grinning Quinneth standing there, clearly relishing the sudden flush that came across both of them. Razkar's mouth worked silently for a few moments before the matriarch finally rolled her eyes dramatically.
"Calm down, boy. Wonderful theory, the idea of losing your hearing as you get older, but it doesn't work for all of us. Now come along, we have need for you in the kitchen..." She waved her hand dismissively as he looked to Ayatah, infuriatingly knowing his next question again. "Oh, she'll be along shortly, I'm sure, but her mother needs her to help with the firewood. Off you go, young lady. I'll take good care of your male..."
Well, not much arguing with that, was there? They were separated in short order and soon Razkar found himself in a steamy longhouse dominated by shelves of pots and a massive fireplace in the middle of it under an open roof. The quiet terror Razkar felt at being around this frighteningly insightful old female was gradually eroded by the... aroma emanating from the pot.
"What is that?"
"The beginnings of a deer stew, my lad." Quinneth said, helping a pair of younger females bring the vegetables to order. "Your first kill, in fact. Bennik's parents can skin a deer as fast as you like."
But not all of it was ready for cinsumption, as Razkar soon found out. Half of the animal was still laying on a long, wide chopping board taking up most of one side of the longhouse. Quinneth handed him a heavy craving knife and nodded to it.
"Well, I suppose you know what to do, Razkar. Get to it."
"Yes, mistress."
Razkar could have sworn he saw her roll her eyes again as she bustled away, but he wasn't sure. Still, he had a tool, a task and raw materials, so he was happy as could be expected. He cast a critical eye over the bloody, skinned and bisected animal... grabbed a foreleg, held it ready...
Brought the blade down and cut through bone and sinew with a loud thunk. He repeated it several times until the carcass was much more manageable, then found a different blade. Ah, perfect. Long and thick enough to let him put some weight behind it, fine enough to work around chunks of flesh and gristle.
Humming softly and enjoying himself despite everything, Razkar smiled and started to carve...
The cheers and applause from the Scattered Bones when they returned made Razkar smile, as did Quinneth's slow, measured but glowing words. But only when he felt Ayatah's fingers on his palm and heard her soft, proud words did Razkar truly grin.
There was a whirl of people around them and he felt he start to move away, but his hand held onto hers and when she turned to see the reason for his sudden force, he pressed his lips to hers.
"If I can make you proud of me in the eyes of your clan," he said softly, eyes as sincere as he hoped his words sounded, "then my day has not been wasted."
"Oh, such romance. It's been an age since I heard the like."
That did not come from Ayatah, and the two lovebirds nearly jumped and looked around at the source of it. They found a grinning Quinneth standing there, clearly relishing the sudden flush that came across both of them. Razkar's mouth worked silently for a few moments before the matriarch finally rolled her eyes dramatically.
"Calm down, boy. Wonderful theory, the idea of losing your hearing as you get older, but it doesn't work for all of us. Now come along, we have need for you in the kitchen..." She waved her hand dismissively as he looked to Ayatah, infuriatingly knowing his next question again. "Oh, she'll be along shortly, I'm sure, but her mother needs her to help with the firewood. Off you go, young lady. I'll take good care of your male..."
Well, not much arguing with that, was there? They were separated in short order and soon Razkar found himself in a steamy longhouse dominated by shelves of pots and a massive fireplace in the middle of it under an open roof. The quiet terror Razkar felt at being around this frighteningly insightful old female was gradually eroded by the... aroma emanating from the pot.
"What is that?"
"The beginnings of a deer stew, my lad." Quinneth said, helping a pair of younger females bring the vegetables to order. "Your first kill, in fact. Bennik's parents can skin a deer as fast as you like."
But not all of it was ready for cinsumption, as Razkar soon found out. Half of the animal was still laying on a long, wide chopping board taking up most of one side of the longhouse. Quinneth handed him a heavy craving knife and nodded to it.
"Well, I suppose you know what to do, Razkar. Get to it."
"Yes, mistress."
Razkar could have sworn he saw her roll her eyes again as she bustled away, but he wasn't sure. Still, he had a tool, a task and raw materials, so he was happy as could be expected. He cast a critical eye over the bloody, skinned and bisected animal... grabbed a foreleg, held it ready...
Brought the blade down and cut through bone and sinew with a loud thunk. He repeated it several times until the carcass was much more manageable, then found a different blade. Ah, perfect. Long and thick enough to let him put some weight behind it, fine enough to work around chunks of flesh and gristle.
Humming softly and enjoying himself despite everything, Razkar smiled and started to carve...