Big Meals, Big Dreams [Open: Micah, Sin, Nex, Malon, Ciel, Ariadne]

[LuckyBlackCat]

Trudging along the path winding from the farmlands of Kakariko Village, towards the communal cooking area, Micah was already having second thoughts.

It wasn't as if he'd had a glowing record of culinary successes during the first few days of his stay here. Well, technically he wasn't staying here, in the village proper. Upon his arrival, one look at the Shuteye Inn's fragile wooden stairs, the narrow door frame he had no chance of squeezing through without his crags scraping it up to the Demon Realm and back, had sent him backtracking to book a room at the nearby Dueling Peaks Stable instead. Even the sturdy hardwood bridge over the stream creaked enough beneath his feet right now as it was.

On his way down the hill, he grimaced at a poster stuck to the wall of the clothing store. One of many displayed around town, illustrated with intricate pictures of various Sheikahn dishes, artful script proudly announcing today's date and tonight's event.

~ Community Dinner ~

Join us at 7pm outside High Spirits Produce to celebrate the season's bounty.

A chance for villagers and visitors alike to share recipes, hone culinary skills, or simply enjoy the cookery and company.

All food and beverages free. If you're interested in volunteering, speak to Chief Paya.

Micah averted his eyes from the notice, wondering if he should go back to the chief, cancel his offer. He'd most likely make himself more useful returning to the farm, asking to do a full day instead of the half that Steen had given him so he'd have time to prepare for the dinner. At least the temporary work he'd taken on around the vegetable patches, harvesting produce, pulling up weeds, and hauling carts to the grocery store, meant he could help out in some way, as long as he took care not to trample any crops or splinter any fences.

Yet wimping out at the last minute wasn't the way of his people. Besides, he'd assisted with plenty of community dinners back home, albeit using much more familiar ingredients. How difficult could this be? He tried not to think about his recent attempts at rice cakes, the first batch having left a burnt brown crust all over the inside of the pot, the second having disintegrated into mush so badly that the store owner had asked if he was making "porridge", whatever that was. This time, there'd be more experienced folks to guide him... or laugh at him. The latter was an all too likely possibility.

As he made his way around the corner, past the town hall, he spotted someone already busying herself in the outdoor cooking and dining area, despite the sun still being high in the sky. A young teen with a flower crown atop her silver hair, the same girl he'd seen around selling floral wreaths at a stall. She now looked decidedly less cheerful, a stoop to her posture as she sampled some kind of pastry from a plate, a doubtful frown on her face.

"Uh... Hey!" Micah called, clambering directly onto the platform instead of risking the much thinner stairs. "Is everything alright?"

The Sheikahn youth cast her sad grey eyes up at him. "It's nothing... Koko will get it right eventually." She sighed at the half-eaten snack in her hand, before gesturing at the array of ingredients, boards and utensils set out on a table. "It's just that Koko's trying to make her own recipes, instead of relying on Mother's all the time. But they never turn out as tasty as hers."

Micah gave her a reassuring, lopsided smile. That sense of inadequacy was something he could relate to. "Can attest, these things take time. As well as a fair amount of trial and error. I'd tell you not to get discouraged, but... Ehh, it's easier said than done."

"It really is," Koko replied. "Koko will honour her mother and become a chef some day! But why does it have to be so tough? There are many different ways to make dumplings, yet no matter what ingredients Koko uses, it's like there's always something missing!"

Become a chef? So that made two of them on the same uphill path, working through setbacks. "If it helps," Micah told her, "I'm aiming to become a chef too. It's what I came to town for, to get some experience in. It's all a learning curve." He rummaged through a pouch, setting out ingredients of his own. "Hey, if you want, I may have some stuff here that could liven them up."

Koko's expression brightened. "Thanks!" She bowed her head. "Do you have any spices? They go well with vegetables... I knew I should have brought along some hot peppers."

"Not peppers, no, but something else might fit the bill." Micah held up a jar of crimson powder. "Goron Spice. Good for bringing out flavours, just be warned, it's pretty hot. You, uh, probably won't want to use more than half." He fought back a wince. He'd learned the hard way that non-Gorons typically didn't enjoy meals containing a whole bottle's worth.

"Oh! Again, thank you so much... Uh, what's your name?" Accepting the spice blend, Koko poured half of it into a bowl of minced vegetables, set to work stirring until the mixture turned red, and dolloped it out onto pastry circles.

"No problem! Glad I could be of some help. And it's Micah." Even as he spoke the words, his usual doubts crept in... how much was he really helping? He watched, eyebrows drawing together, as Koko folded the dumplings closed and started steaming them over the fire, a strong curried aroma with just a hint of sweetness filling the air. Would they prove to her satisfaction this time?

Once she'd turned the snacks out and let them cool, she plucked one from the plate. "Alright, moment of truth!"

No sooner had she taken a bite than her face turned almost as scarlet as the remaining powder. Her features creased and squirmed. "ACK! Hot! You weren't kidding about it being hot!" Her eyes streamed as she wildly grabbed for a milk bottle and downed its entire contents.

"Oh no!!" Micah covered his mouth with both hands. "Oh no oh no I'm so sorry, are you ok?"

He had yet to even start cooking, and he'd already messed up.

[Rex Draco]

Sin

It wasn't long after the frost that Sin was able to turn back down the trail towards the Gerudo Desert. At the peak of the frost he had arrived at Afromsia Coast at the end of his pilgrimage. Even this far out he couldn't hear the voice of Naydra among the waves. He was told that upon seeing them coasting over the shrine he would be able to commune with the dragon at the end of the land. Their voice was supposed to carry up from the depths of the sea, where it was said his strongest ancestors had crawled from to compel those on land to follow the way of the blade. He had climbed to the top of the Lanayru Range in order to pray at the Spring of Wisdom, but in his time there he had not once caught sight of the sacred Dragon. He crossed miles out in order to reach the waters they said his ancestors took their first steps from the darkness, yet nothing. It didn't seem he was ready to receive the god's blessing. Something was missing, so he would return down the trails he had first arrived in order to return to the monastery and ask the elders what it was that he failed to do.

But he was worried about returning. What if he was punished for failing? What if he was never expected to succeed? Among his kin he was one of the smallest and least trained in the two-sword style of  Ke Húm. He had only been given an old training sword and sent on his pilgrimage. He was sent behind his peers, by several months. If one ever spied an earth-scaled Zora louping around the wilds, it was likely a member of that clan.

Along his way he passed down other towns and crossed curious villages, but they were places easily forgotten. They had no vistas that drew his attention, nor were they experienced in hosting guests as his arrival was deemed urgent, leaving him no time to relax. It wasn't until he turned down a new route did he arrive at a place called Kakariko Village. It was a village surrounded on all sides by mountains, cradled in a valley. Inside that valley were bright blossoms and sweet smelling wisteria. The warble of cuccos roaming the yards barely crowed above the rushing waters of the falls that fed the winding river. He arrived not to nervous titters, as with some of the smaller villages, nor were there hearty cries that he spend, spend, spend at their markets and inns. Instead it was a quiet welcome that reminded the Zora of the prayer halls in the monastery's vestibule. People went about their business and posters all about seemed to call out to some sort of gathering, but the youth couldn't fathom what. By the pictures there looked to be food involved, which immediately had his interest. He decided to find someone who knew what was going on, but looking around all of the locals looked to be aged. As far as he knew Hylians grew their hair white as they aged, but even the small ones looked to have been of accelerated age. What could have been the cause of this? Was there perhaps some curse in the village? Perhaps this was why there were no other outsiders, that he could see.

Well he had no hair so it was of no concern to him!
He made his way to the Shuteye Inn. The young fish had taken down one of the posters in hopes of someone putting out the effort to read it for him. He approached the innkeep.

"What does this say?" He held out the paper, tapping it furiously with his webbed digit. Whatever it was, looked yummy and if they had it for sale here, he wanted some.

Nex

In the meanwhile there was another figure that had arrived in the village days ago. He had come to relax and enjoy the view Telta Lake provided. The aged historian had come under the pretense that he planned to research the Ring Ruins with other local explorers and official Castle researchers, but in truth the fish had bided his time in hopes a certain Princess would stop by. When he first arrived in the village he had heard mention after mention of the queen-to-be's involvement in the ruin's initial research. It seems royalty was as fickle as it had been in the past and whatever fancy she held for the curiosity was gone as quickly as it arose. But what was he to expect from their kind? If it didn't benefit them, what good was it? It was a piece that fell from the sky, one of the old Zonai ruins. It was probably assumed that the technological treasures the Zonai left behind could be scavenged and made use of by the crumpled kingdom, but even at a glance the old Historian could see there was nothing to be gained from the ruins save a good few broken limbs from unstable debris.

He had taken it upon himself to read over what the archeologists had found so far and it was quite intriguing. There was some correlation between the ruins and Ancient Hyrule, but given that the Zonai have been around since the beginning of the Hylians history, the connection was expected, but why they were connected was less obvious. He sat near a fire by the High Spirits Produce shop and seemed to be leisurely cooking something over the fires. Whenever they were down he dropped the completed item in a sack beside him. It looked to involve him heating sugar and rolling it over and over, making the object bigger and bigger until it could fit in the divot of one's palm. He sat back on a bench with his clothed leg crossed over his knee.

The Zora wore a pair of loose, navy blue sarouel that wrapped around his ankles with tight, white bonds. His flippers were covered by simple, black slippers. He wore a thick, blue haori over a black tunic, layered in order to protect him against the cool air of the valley. He wore a white obi wrapped around his waist and a loose cowl that bundled his headfin around his neck, completely hiding it. His frills visibly hung at the sides of his head, shrouding his cool expression as he continuously twirled his stick in the heated sugar. At the end of the stick was an edible seed and would get wrapped in one sticky layer, cooled, and wrapped again to increase its size. When he was done he closed his pack. It was what he would be bringing to the event this evening.

The only reason he had to join was at Paya's request. The Sheikah was quite thankful he had compiled the scattered notes of the different researchers into one place, collected and easy for new researchers to read. 

[Chaosome]

Throughout the village of Kakariko, the sound of chopping knives, sizzling skillets, and steaming kettles could be heard hither and yon. Which was an impressive feat given that the community dinner had yet to start in earnest just yet, as guests and visitors were still arriving. It caused more than just a little bit of confusion in some travelers who wondered if they had arrived late, but the Sheikah either paid the sounds no mind or simply rolled their eyes.

It soon became clear why.

With a jaunty little spring in his step, and the sounds of a busy kitchen echoing through his beak, Malon strolled his way through the village. Upon his back was a rather hefty looking bundle of vegetables and meats and other assorted ingredients. The bird had tasked himself with gathering up as many ingredients as he could for the dinner tonight. Not purely for himself, of course. There'd be many visitors who didn't have ingredients at hand or might be missing one or two things they need for whatever dishes they planned on putting together, so it felt only neighborly to make sure there was a good stock of spare ingredients for everyone!

He was just returning from his third — and what would likely be his last since more and more visitors were arriving — trip for ingredients when a briefly gruff, albeit rather familiar sounding voice caught his attention. Pausing midstep and midsizzle, Malon tilted his head towards the Inn.

Sure enough Ollie was startled awake by the Zora. Though it took the Sheikah a few seconds to recognize that he was the one being addressed and a few seconds longer to realize he wasn't answering. "O-oh uhm _{yikes he looks like he could crush my head...} I-It's an advertisement for Kakariko's Community Dinner tonight. It s-starts this evening and it's open to anyone who uh... wants to join. T-to cook or to watch or eat. The food and drinks are free a-and if you want to volunteer you can talk to Chief P-Paya." the innkeeper explained with a small little nod towards the general direction of where the Chief would be.

Outside, Malon snickered softly to himself. Why is it that whenever he was in the proverbial kitchen, that Zora was in the proverbial kitchen? He supposed that the hungry go where the food can be found! With a little whistle and wave to Ollie, and possibly the Zora if he paid any attention, Malon would continue on his way. He was sure he'd bump into him again later!

Or at least that was the plan anyway. It wasn't but a few steps later when another familiar voice, this one less gruff and much more panicky, drew his gaze. Malon was pretty good at picking out voices, given his talent at copying he had to be! He recognized the worrywart of a Goron from the winter festivities, the aspiring chef! No real surprise seeing them here. "Hey there!" he chirped cheerfully as he approached the Goron and Koko, watching a little bemused as the girl chugged down a whole bottle of milk. "Smelling pretty good over here, what are you two working on?" the Rito asked as he shifted his bundle from one shoulder to the other.

[LuckyBlackCat]

Slowly, more visitors trickled in. Scents of various dishes intermingled on the breeze - sweet, savoury, spiced. Which stood to reason on a day like today, even in a quiet village like Kakariko. Luckily for both Micah's and Koko's sakes, the nearby figure draped in multiple black and white layers didn't seem to have noticed the blunder, absorbed in crafting some kind of artificial golden crystal over one of the many cooking pots set out for tonight's event.

Someone else, however, did.

"Smelling pretty good over here, what are you two working on?"

Micah looked over with a smile that turned out more of a grimace. Was this the same white-feathered Rito from the Yuletide Festival? The one who'd earned first place in the snowperson sculpting competition? What had his name been again? Marin? No, that wasn't it... "Oh hey! Uh... Malon, was it?" Micah gave a throaty chuckle, further roughened by the curry fumes. Dinraal above, if this was in fact a different Rito with pale plumage, that would be embarrassing.

Beside him, Koko spluttered, breathed deeply, and composed herself. "Dumplings," she wheezed, dabbing at the corners of her eyes with a napkin. "Koko was working on vegetable dumplings. Extra hot ones, as it turned out."

Micah's hand went to the back of his head. "Which was down to questionable advice on my part." He gestured to the half-empty bottle of Goron Spice on the table. What the Depths would they do with the batch of overspiced snacks? Did any non-Gorons actually like food that hot?

"No... It's Koko's fault, not Micah's... Koko should have stuck to Mother's recipes." The Sheikah girl sighed, head drooping, flower crown nearly sliding off. "Koko just wants to prove she can become a great cook like Mother... But perhaps now isn't the time."

Guilt struck Micah like a blow to the stomach. "Hey, don't blame yourself! To be fair, I should have known better. And as was written on the notice, what better learning opportunity is there, for both of us?" He gave Malon a somewhat desperate look, like a lost hiker seeking a point of reference. The Rito, after all, knew a thing or two about cooking. "You wouldn't happen to know the best way to flavour vegetables, would you?"

He hadn't seen it at the festival, yet after having spent several days with the Sheikah, he couldn't help but notice Malon's uncanny resemblance to one, with his silver feathers and crimson eyes. The eye emblem on his leotard made it all the more obvious. Was his coloration a coincidence, his garb a way to either blend in or play it up? Or did Malon have some kind of connection to the shadow people?

[Rex Draco]

Sin

Poor Ollie was like to be swallowed himself if he wasn't quick to answer the Zora, whose belly rumbled from days of foodlessness. He had found himself without rations and seemed an impatient sort as a result. It didn't hel that he came armed with sword being carried on his hip . There was a second scabbard on his back, but it looked to be something of Yiga make and far from the usual dual-edged weapons made by Hylian smiths. It didn't mean he was looking for a fight as the dangers on the road demanded one be armed to some extent, but two weapons seemed excessive. His robes even looked ornate, as if he were some sort of high ranking elite! But... were a tailor to inspect them they would find it was quite a simple style of cloak, something worn by travelers to help defend against rain, but he was  Zora. Didn't they want to be wet? No, were a master to catch eye of the threads it was something quite extravagant that was too extraordinary for a poor ronin like him to bear.

Of course once his request was heeded he seemed to calm. The claw that was ready to jab through the thick, printed parchment, relaxed, the fibers having visibly curled up beneath his scraping claws as his soggy palms had made the page wet. The tendrils at either side of his head began to wiggle as he stood straight, bearing down over Ollie with an intensity natural for a warrior his age. His lips pulled back into a sharp grin while his webbed hand crumpled the sheet. Water dripped from the balled up page, pooling on the flood beside his flippers.

"Dinner?!" He barked out, leaving his mouth hanging as if to speak again. "I can't cook, but I can eat!" So advertisements looked like this? "So I talk to your chief to eat? Good!" He dropped the wad of paper and hurried out of the inn, following the general direction the man pointed him towards.

Of course he had the direction in hand, but far be it for him to have actually asked what Paya looked like. Were they a woman? A child? No. no a child couldn't be a chief — or could they? He was unsure of the social practices of the Sheikah. All he knew about them was that they, much like the Ujua, disliked outsiders. Or something. Still he went along on his way.

"Where is Chief Paya?" His stride was that of a brute: his shoulders were forward and his head was held low. He had his fists at his hip with the other holding tight to his hip hung scabbard. He looked like he was ready to fight, but in truth he was running on fumes by now. He hadn't seen food for days and was starting to dream of pottage. "Come out!" He stood in the middle of the village, tilting his head back as he shouted into the breeze.

Nex

The older Zora had been seated on a bench by one of the fires, using the table as a back support. He languidly leaned to the side, his left ankle crossed over his right thigh and his right elbow on the seat while he perched his book in his webbed palm. His right hand had been dipping into a small caffre of water to clean his fingers between dipping the stick into the sugar and turning a page. Turn the page, wash your hands, turn the page, wash your hands. Far be it for him to get his pages sticky. When done with the sweets he had dropped the dried candies into the lather satchet that likely weighed well over a kilogram. It took some time to get as many layers on the sugary treats, but it gave him time and an excuse to clarify the work done by the Zonai Research team here in Kakriko and get all of their notes concerning the Ring Ruins into one place for future efforts.

Once the candies were done he relaxed to his reading, at least until Koko and Micah came about with their chattering. He could not help but frog-blink his eyes up from his pages and focused his azure eyes on the pair. He tried to fight his eyes from rolling to the back of his head, the quiet disrupted by the energetic youth. His hand brushed over the cover of the collected datalog and shut it with an audible thump before he pulled himself into a sitting position. The shark had been seen for the past few days in the village loafing here and slouching there over the journals.

His headfin was tucked beneath the cloth of his cowl, wrapped around his neck so it was settled just under his chin, always in contact with the gorget around his neck. He had his hood back, revealing the Biri-like eyes against his skill, the frills around his head more like a headdress than natural membrane.

No please, keep talking over him...

"Soak them in salt." When the Zora spoke it was like listening to a big cat growl. His voice was not very deep but it was almost hoarse with a feeling of depth not unlike a heavy set man, but he was a Zora. Though he was below average at 6'1", he was still of considerable size when compared to Sheikah. "Salt draws out the moisture. You then brine them in flavoured water: seasoning, spice... They will become soft and soaked with taste."

It brought back a memory. He often couldn't consume certain foods so always had to heavily ferment and soften foods in order to safely eat them, but he could never forestall his addiction for hard candies...

[Chaosome]

Ollie was starting to sweat profusely as the Zora stared him down. It wasn't the fact that the traveler was armed that concerned him, travelers came through with blades and bows of all kinds. No, more so it was those sharp teeth and that intense stare... The Sheikah jumped when the Zora spoke again. Before Ollie could make a slight correction for him, the six foot shark was already gone. "W-well... won't be getting back to sleep very quick after that..." Ollie sighed and laid his head back down, falling back asleep near instantly.

~~~~~~

Malon nodded with a little thumbs up to Micha. "Yup! Got it in one!" he chirped. "Bad habit of mine though, I didn't catch your name last we met!" Maybe it was because he recognized people more by their voices at times, but the Rito often forgot to bother asking for names. Faces and voices were just as fast, but it was still important information to know!

At Koko's lament he knelt down and smiled, shaking his head softly. "Hey, none of that now Koko. Your mother would be so proud of you for trying out new things. Cooking takes practice and practice means making mistakes. You learn from em, and sometimes you turn mistakes into happy accidents!" Malon gently ruffled Koko's hair with a hand before standing up and looking over to the Goron. As he opened his beak to answer the question however, someone stole the words right out of his mouth.

"Soak them in salt."

Another Zora! This one wasn't quite as tall as the familiar face he'd spotted earlier. A bit older too, more wizened sounding at the very least. As Malon recalled he'd seen the man nose deep in tomes and scrolls. He wasn't much of a talker, and honestly this was the first thing he could recall hearing the Zora say. "Yeah! That is a fantastic way to prep them! Then when you go to cook 'em make sure to roast, don't boil! If you boil em, you'll cook out the flavour and risk making them soggy. Salt, pepper, a little butter. Simple but a tasty and easy dish." the bird added on to the Zora's wisdom with a chipper nod of his head.

"Now... as for this batch of dumplings. Goron spice yeah?" Malon mused as he fetched a small fork from beneath his cloak with his free hand, scooping up a small sampling of the filling to try. He rolled it around in his mouth a little before swallowing. "Mmm, yep I can see where this would light someone up. Don't worry though, got juuuust the thing." hefting the bag off his back, Malon rummaged around for a few moments before pulling a wedge of Hateno Cheese out to hand over to Koko. "Here y'go! Try adding some of this in. Dairy's good at cutting heat, and cheese goes great with veggies anyway!"

[LuckyBlackCat]

"Where could it have gone...?" Paya muttered to herself, pacing up and down the hill, searching all around for the missing poster. Had she not attached it securely enough? Had it blown away? This was the kind of issue Tauro would call trivial, but even the minutae of running a village mattered, and today in particular, everything had to be perfect.

She startled and spun at the sound of someone growling her name. "Oh! W-Welcome!" Plastering on a soft smile, she hurried over to the newcomer - a hulking Zora who looked on the verge of picking a fight in her peaceful town, judging by his bared fangs and clenched fists. After giving a quick bow of her head, she raised her palms in a placating gesture. "How may I assist you? Would this be about tonight's event?" She forced calm and cheer into her words, in an attempt to de-escalate.


Micah let out a gentle sigh of relief. "All good!" he reassured Malon. "It's Micah. And thanks for the recipes last time round!" It'd take a while to master them, but at least his visit to Lurelin had granted him basic knowledge of focaccia... including its pronunciation.

It was with a neighbourly demeanour that Malon knelt, consoling Koko, drawing out a giggle as he mussed her hair. Considering everyone knew everyone here, Micah supposed they must have had this conversation before. One part of it, however, caught him by surprise. "Your mother would be so proud of you..." Realisation settled heavily over him. Oh. His eyebrows creased further, the corners of his lips briefly turning downwards. Her determination to honour her mother wasn't just a matter of Sheikah tradition... it was one of remembrance.

"Yeah... Mistakes happen..." Adjusting her wreath, Koko sighed again. "Koko has to make something good for tonight though. Something that everyone will enjoy just as much as they used to enjoy Mother's cooking."

Now that it had become clear just how much contributing to the community dinner meant to her, and why, the pang of guilt flared up again with twice the strength. Before Micah could say anything, insist once more that it wasn't her fault, somehow offer words of encouragement that wouldn't sound empty, the taciturn Zora nearby piped up.

Salt? Well, Micah had no shortage of that. Even as the gruffness in the Zora's growl earned a wince, he took several jars of salt blends from the pouch. "You're in luck," he told Koko, the smile returning to his face. "Rock salt's something I happen to carry around plenty of. Feel free to use as much as you like." Of course, that left the question of exactly how much was needed. He remembered the mushroom mishap at the festival all too well.

He listened as Malon elaborated on the Zora's advice, albeit in a far friendlier, more cheerful tone. At the question about the spiced dumplings, he nodded. "Ehh... Careful!" Watching Malon sample some of the potent mix, he cringed, although the tension coiling in his shoulders quickly unspooled at the Rito's far less adverse reaction. Was it true that Rito were generally less sensitive to spices than most races were? In any case, Malon, as usual, presented a solution - cheese.

Koko's eyes widened. "Yay thanks! All of you!" Holding her wreath in place, she bowed deep, before setting about slicing up the cheese into the mixture. "And salt-soaked roast veggies sound good! Especially with a few Hyrule Herbs steeped in the water!"

The learning curve, it seemed, was progressing for both of them. "You've got this!" Micah encouraged Koko, watching her wrap up a fresh batch of cheesy curried dumplings, before turning back to Malon and the robed stranger. "And you have my thanks too."

His attention flicked to the sachet filled with the crystalline snacks. They'd looked like small, bumpy pebbles once completed, but had given off a sweet smell while melting and cooling. "Uh, if you don't mind my asking... Those snacks. I haven't seen them before, what are they?"

[Rex Draco]

Sin

Sin had gotten himself a little excited, so much so he didn't really pay mind to just how loud he was shouting. There were three degrees of loud and he was sure he found himself somewhere in the middle where it was more audible than his usual speech, but the man was far beyond that and was out at the edge of boisterous. He heard a voice respond, which caused him to relax his body, though the grip on his scabbard remained. He slid his foot back and turned to face the older woman. He looked her up and down, noting she had the same hair color as the rest of the locals. It wasn't until she asked him her questions did he fully let his guard down.

"Yes!" He barked, snapping his serrated teeth together, lips pulling back in a domineering display. "I was told there would be food! What is this community anyway?" He remembered few of the other places he passed by. He was sure he had spent winter in a town called Hot-ten-toes or something. "I am from the Ujua Clan in the Nephra Hills!" She was supposed to be the chief, right? "You're their chief, yes? I want to eat at this event. Do I have to pay?" He had no money to his name. What he earned was spent up by now, leaving him to scrounge for food in the wild. He was no hunter so the irregular procurement of meat was difficult, leaving him to survive on Hylian Herbs and Mighty Thistles alone.

The Zora was tall and had broad shoulders. Even as he was he did not show any signs of starvation. He was filled out in several places, but he like had tapped into some deep, secret warrior metabolism, or the lack of food was just feeding off his muscles. It was clear he was a hungry lad. The growls that Paya had been hearing were not from his throat, but his stomach...

Nex

Meanwhile more and more people seemed to gather at the fires. Koko, the young Sheikah, and the Goron Micah had arrived, soon followed by the fancy feathered fellows fondly called Rito. If he recalled the word from the times before it was meant to describe their unique feathers and adaptation to an aerial lifestyle. Some say the bird-men evolved from an ancient race of cloud dwelling people, but that was before these youths' times. Now it is quite clear who lived beyond the clouds, though it is still quite a question as to how and why. He studied the notes as he intended to find out... but for now he was spending his leisure time on stalking the Hylian Kingdom's premier princess in hopes of greeting her with an age- old tradition...

The man stayed with his back leaned against the table. The journal was laid across his lap, his left hand arresting on the hard cover. His ankle was still crossed over his thigh and his right elbow now kept him perched on the table's surface. Cerulean eyes drifted over towards Malon. He stared at the bird's pattern before brushing his clawed index finger between his chin and lower lips. The Zora was silent, pondering the vague familiarity of the youthful hatchling. His webbed digits clenched tight as the thought came to him. He had not seen many other Rito before Malon, in fact this was his first experience with the race in his lifetime.

He let out a heavy sigh from his lungs, letting them pass through his gills before he breathed in from elsewhere. "Cheese?" He had even watched Koko chug some milk, hadn't he? The idea of milk after so many years made his tummy burble a bit. Well his days of drinking may have been over, but he could always find other ways to feed his old habits.

Whatever he could get his serrated, shark-like fangs on.

He noted that Micah seemed to really put an effort into his cooking. It reminded the Zora of an old friend. She had always been stern, a no-nonsense woman he got along well with. Her desire to do her job right, the first time, rubbed off Nex who often measured his work on a baseline of perfectionism that bordered on neuroticism. He could admire Micah's efforts, but it wasn't something he would announce... but children needed encouragement, right?

Nex hummed and turned his gaze to the young Goron, his head unmoving as it sat perched on his webbed fingers. "Many don't remember the name anymore..." It was lamentable. "It is a candy that was prepared by Sheikah in the long past. I have some old recipes in a historical cookbook in my collection. They were called Pitopito. They are mostly for the children, but you may try." He spread his left fingers, motioning out towards the hefty sack. The candies were tiny, but very sweet and packed quite a bit of flavour. Once one got down to the core they would have a savory seed to suck on. 

[Chaosome]

Malon beamed brightly and gave a little nod. "Micah, got it!" The bird would commit that to memory. The work that he usually did didn't involve a lot of getting a whole lot of names, so he rarely forgot the ones he did get.

Cleaning off his fork, Malon would slip it back under his cloak. "I'm always happy to lend a wing when folks need. Doubly so here at home!" the Rito chuckled and proudly patted his chest. Even though it had always been quite obvious to Malon that he wasn't Sheikah by blood or birth, he still considered himself just as much of one. And as far as he could tell, the rest of Kakariko felt the same and that was enough for him.

When the discussion of snacks got brought up, Malon's attention was certainly piqued. With a little heft of his ingredient bag back to his other shoulder, the Rito used the slight momentum to spin on a heel to get a better look. "Oh! I recall hearing about these before from Lady Impa. I be she and Lady Purah would be happy to see someone bringing back the old recipes." Since the offer was presented, Malon reached out and plucked one of the treats before tossing it back into his beak with a pleased hum shortly following. Unsurprisingly as the Zora said it was delightfully sweet, the bird loved a nice sweet treat. "Mmm! I'll have to learn this one for sure!"

[LuckyBlackCat]

Slowly, Paya lowered her hands. "Th-this community is Kakariko Village, home of the Sheikah. And yes, there is indeed food. A communal dinner at seven tonight, just outside the general store." She gestured at the path leading down the hill. "You don't have to pay, just... I ask that you treat the people here with respect."

Her voice wavered. Sounding firm was a part of her role as a chief that she had yet to master. Still, going by the way the hangry visitor's muscles relaxed and he kept his questions civil, if not his tone, it didn't seem like she'd have to get her guardsman Dorian to kick him out... yet. He did, however, seem like someone she'd need to keep an eye on from time to time. That clawed hand on his scabbard set her on edge. "Are you looking to volunteer, or simply to attend?"


"Pito... pito?" With utmost care not to crush the tiny sweets the Zora had so meticulously crafted, Micah picked one from the sachet and held it up, studying it. The bumpy shape and glossy sheen brought to mind Star Fragments - not that Micah had ever seen one up close, but it bore a resemblance to depictions of the celestial gems, making him wonder if the snacks were inspired by them. He popped it into his mouth, crunching it up in a matter of seconds.

Sugary foods weren't his first choice, as someone who preferred the salty, earthy flavours of minerals, but its savoury core proved a pleasant surprise, and the brittle, crackly texture was nothing less than perfect if anyone asked him. "Nice and crunchy!" he commented. "To tell the truth, I don't have much experience with sweets... As in, eating them or cooking them. But is it true they're popular in most provinces?"

Koko, who'd just finished wrapping the last few cheesy dumplings, looked up. "Yep! At least, they are here! This is Koko's first time hearing of these ones, though..." She approached and took her turn to sample one of the pitopito, savouring it. "Mmm, they're delicious! And Koko's sure her little sister will love them!"

As Micah watched Koko's expression brighten further, all traces of her earlier dejection gone, a gentle smile spread across his face. The recipe, lost to the ages as it was, had already turned out quite the hit among the small group. "Hey, uh..." He tilted his head, his beady eyes turning back to the Zora. "If you have the time, would you be able to teach us how to make them? And, umm, what's your name?"

[El]

A gloved hand brushed over a leather-bound tome, the touch light but lingering. Aged, worn parchment. Illustrations penned by a mother long since passed. The diagrams were meticulous but clear. The notes which accompanied them were full of adoration. Love, pure and true.

How cute, Ciel smiled, admiring the smudges of tiny fingerprints and faded splashes of sauce. It looked like the campfire nearby had been regularly tended to as well, its dying embers evidence of a recent visit, and the large iron pot above it still smelling of some tasty concoction despite sitting empty. Little Cottla must've been thriving down here.

Stifling a pleased giggle, the Beaumont took a moment, propped up on her haunches, to admire the lush crops nearby. It felt like only yesterday when she was leading that sweet ball of mischief down the well, tickling the excitement of her abundant curiosity with a trail of sparkles and a wisp of blue locks that always just about seemed out of reach. Around corners and through tunnels they wove, until Ciel finally completed her commission. With an abrupt POOF of magic she disappeared. Just like that. Leaving the little child with a brand new 'secret hiding spot' and an experience she'd no doubt write off as just a dream once she'd matured into an adult.

Her spirit had long faded, but she knew the mother would be so proud of her daughter. Of her daughters and the doting husband she unwillingly left behind to raise them. Ciel had spotted the older sibling slaving over the communal cooking pot earlier, but had chosen not to intrude just yet - her little face scrunched up in concentration was amusingly adorable. Best to let her struggle just a bit more!

----

Emerging from the well - not by ladder but by poof and clouds of sparkle, obviously - Ciel took a second to fix up her hair and re-apply her lipgloss. Kakariko was flooded with all manner of aromas, chimneys smoking up the skies above, the tinkering of cookware drowning out layers upon layers of chattering voices. Given the admittedly rather startling escalation of it all, she realised she must've been below ground for longer than assumed.

But should she stay....? Hrm~.

Perched upon the cobblestone, the Beaumont observed her bustling surroundings in absent thought. A child dashed past the buildings, carrying a massive basket of fruit. Somewhere in the distance a man was screaming out Paya's name. A cucco appeared at her boots and began pecking at the dirt. The breeze was fragrant and warm.

I'd run if I were you, lil' one.

Ciel smirked down at the feathered beast, admiring its colourful plumage but knowing full well that they were not to be trifled with. Nonetheless she bared her pearly whites, grin agleam with playful threat.

This may well be your last night alive~! ♪

"Kaw-kaw...?"

Ciel scoffed.

Don't look at me for help! I'm nothing like Cado.

It began to peck at her foot - the gall of it all! - but with a click of her tongue and firm nudge she sent the beggar clucking off, rolling her eyes at the dramatic trail of feathers it left behind. Honestly. If it was going to put on that much of a show she may as well have kicked it.

...Though she was surprised that the Cucco-maniac still hadn't returned. He'd lost his wife over the beasts, once upon a time. Now he was buried in research, assisting Impa still despite the Calamity having passed. It was probably a healthy development, Ciel quietly remarked to herself. An unexpected and far less entertaining turn of events, but probably for the best.

She sighed. How dull.

Well, maybe there were other stories awaiting her in this quaint little village. Kaepora Gaebora was always in need of fresh material, and a community event of all things had a habit of bringing out ♦drama♦. And if not? She'd still get to sample some delights! Such humble fare was rarely to her palette, but who knew - maybe she'd find a new favourite. Worse comes to worst she'd just invent some gossip to print!

Springing up onto her feet, Ciel began a light and sprightly stride down the streets, weaving through the throngs of people as the chaos began to build under the pressure of time and fraying nerves bubbling with excitement. She dodged a piled-high tower of tilting pots just before they crashed. Hopped over an errant carrot as it rolled down the hills from a pecked-open sack. Then ducked low to avoid a flying sandal as it escaped from an open window. How energising! She giggled.

At the base of the village, just infront of the Chief's abode, a colourful collection of people had gathered. To the side a very impressive specimen of Zora physique - woah! Those BICEPS! ♥ - was chomping his sharp teeth at poor Paya's pale, composed panic. While at Koko's pot a little gang of her own had formed. Ciel swore that goofy but adorable Goron looked vaguely familiar. (As did that hulking, sand-skinned Zora actually... Huh.) But then a lot of people tended to look the same when she hadn't bothered to learn the names.

But- Ah. AHA!

She knew that Rito! How could she forget?! Thanks to Arthur's insistent yapping for a whole month after the Yuletide Festival, the name 'Malon' had been engraved into her memory for time eternal.

With an extra PEP to her step, Ciel skipped on over. Sneaking right up behind the Rito to peep her head around his feathered shoulder in time to hear-

"And, umm, what's your name?"

Golden eyes, rimmed with red eyelashes, flashed towards an unhooded figure lounging nearby. Oh. She hadn't noticed him. He looked a bit of (an interesting) weirdo, but he was making candy. ...Not that those were mutually exclusive. On the contrary actually, they could be quite synonymous.

Regardless, what WERE those?!

The lady pursed her lips, a glitter of curiosity sparking in her gaze as they lingered on the tiny balls of sugar. Her nose twitched. By the scent of it Malon had probably just eaten one. Tch. Unfair! She grabbed onto a silvered wing and tugged.

[Rex Draco]

Nex

Nex brushed his knuckle along his smooth-scaled skin. Whenever pressure was placed against the blood rich scales, the interlocked forms shifted in color; the iridescent blue seemed to glean an almost mauve hue that made his skin almost bejeweled in the evening light, like fresh berries speckled by morning dew. Cerulean gaze focused on the Rito for several moments before he finally broke from the spell with a quiver from his nictitating membrane. A stray blossom leaf had brushed across the center of his face, where a nose should be and caused his thoughts to similarly flutter as he flicked out his fingers in order to get out from his face.

This forced him to refocus his gaze, which turned up towards the sky. The sun was not particularly harsh in the shelter of the valley,  but he felt too exposed out of the water. His slit pupils dilated as he moved to pull his hood over his brow.

"Yes, well—" He leaned back and laid the weight of his head back on his knuckles. "Don't eat too many. Preparing them is a tedious process that can go on for days. One has to roll the sugar, wait for it to dry and continue. Think of it as a sort of meditation the Sheikah practiced, a meditation in the form of an art." He glanced away. He didn't bother to glance at Micah when the youth asked his question. "Sweets are very popular." He sternly implied. "In fact I can see you getting quite popular from specializing in them because they take a certain amount of skill to produce..." Sugar was infamously difficult to work with, but maybe a hot-blooded Goron could handle such a thing.

Nex wasn't too keen on the idea of becoming someone's teacher, so he quickly opted out by turning his shoulder to the Goron. He leaned over to reach into the pile of books he had on the table beside him and pulled a leather bound, blue-colored tome out and held it out to the cook-in-training.

"This is the recipe book. You'll find some other culturally grounded Sheikah dishes, but learning the candy was enough for me." It wasn't as if he hadn't read the book from end to end multiple times already. As for his name, it was difficult to provide such a thing so easily. In the distant past he had regularly offered his given name to people, but that was when he sought connections and friendships. Such things were no longer worthwhile or fulfilling at his age. Enough betrayals and envy-induced in-fighting was enough to create a cautious caster, critically underwhelmed by other's concept of 'camaraderie'. "...you can call me Nex, if it makes it easy for you." He would have been just fine with 'hey you — listen!' "Just an old scholar who's come by to observe and document local customs."

Sin

Bolstered by Paya's responses, the easiest he's ever gotten information out of anyone (for some reason people always seemed tongue tied when he approached them), the Zora strutted his way towards the pots the community had put out with the intention of cooking together. With that knowledge in paw the Zora was sure to avoid the flames. They did well to dry out his scales and his cloak hadn't seen a good soak in days so he was starting to dry out. He would be sure to take a dip in the local waters as soon as he was able. He had noticed the paddies and many miniature rivers on his way through.

With hefty stomps he would step up behind Malon, and the now cling-clung Ciel. He put his fists on his hips, lips pulled back in a white grin. Such a pose put his fangs and chest on display, his tattooed tendrils a tertiary thought in the presence of such a boisterous bream.

"I heard there was food! Where?!" He barked, not even bothering to introduce himself, let alone disarm. Usually one removed their blades and placed them aside or, at the very least, covered them, but with his cloak thrown back over his shoulders and his scabbards on full display, the warrior was difficult to misidentify.

[Chaosome]

As much as Malon enjoyed getting tasked with things that had a little action and oomph to them when it came to patrols and the like, events like this were what he lived for. Peoples from all around the different regions coming together for a shared purpose. He could only imagine that this was a microcosm of what old Castle Town festivals were like so long ago. Just with a bit less pomp and circumstance! Honestly, who says you need some big to-do to celebrate? Being alive, being with the people you care about, that was enough reason to celebrate right?

It warmed his heart to see strangers getting along so well! Even if the one who had introduced himself finally as Nex seemed to be a little... bristly... and staring at him. The Zora probably had his reasons for it, you don't grow old without making a few enemies and losing a few friends, maybe he reminded him of one? That sort of thing can jade people, something that Malon hoped he could avoid once he started getting older. Keeping your heart youthful was just as important as keeping your body healthy in Malon's book!

Speaking of youth, the Rito had endeared himself to the children in Kakariko, helping keep them entertained and out of their parents' ways when they had busywork to do. So Malon didn't even jump when he felt a delicate hand grab onto his and give a tug. No, instead he held the hand and gave it a gentle squeeze as he did, waiting a moment to make sure he wasn't going to be addressed before turning to see... Oh? Oh!

A tinge of blush hit the bird's cheeks, shining through those silver feathers. "Ah, Lady Cici!" he chimed. After their last brief meeting, Malon had been informed as to just who he had inadvertently cut in line of during the Yuletide Festival. As if he hadn't felt bad enough about it already when he didn't know! Fortunately, Malon wasn't the type to ruminate or ponder on if someone held a grudge. It certainly didn't seem like it after the little peck on the cheek he got... Or now. Hah. Either way, he beamed brightly at her! "It's great to see you, I hope you've been keeping well!" he followed the woman's gaze towards the candy and hummed. With a dip of his head to Nex, he plucked one more from the pito-pile to give to her.

"Here! They're pretty good! Though I'd say just one is hardly enough, it's a nice little treat." Malon chuckled and went to open his beak again to ask if Ciel was here for the community meal, but before he could the familiar bark of the wandering Zora cut through his thoughts and he turned his head up towards the man. "Heya! Stuff's just getting started up, folks are gonna be working up different meals soon, but if you like spicy food, there's some test dumplings there!" The Rito motioned over with a free wing towards near where Koko was putting the accidental 11-alarm-now-cooled-by-cheese stuffing to good use. He had gotten so distracted that it hadn't clicked that he was still holding Lady Cici's hand...

[LuckyBlackCat]

The Zora didn't so much as reply. Paya watched him turn on his heel and stomp towards the cooking corner, her forehead creased in concern, even as the chaos that swept through the village demanded her attention. Escaped Cuccos flapped this way and that, pecking at sacks of produce, their clucks mingling with farmers' shouts. A cat scampered past with a pilfered Hyrule Bass in its mouth. More calls for her name rose up.

"Y-Yes... Just a moment," she called back, sweat beading at her nape as she glanced from one scene to another. Only once it seemed the others in the outdoor kitchen - Malon in particular - had the situation in hand did she hurry up the hill, grabbing a rolling wheel from a collapsed cart along the way, although she cast a quick look over her shoulder. She'd have to keep checking back on that guy.


"Oh thanks!" Micah replied to both the compliment and the gift. Someone believed he had skill enough to specialise? Even after the spice blunder? "Heh... It's worth giving them a try."

With an uneasy smile, he accepted the book. As encouraging as Nex had meant to be, the prospect of some of these dishes requiring "a certain amount of skill" intimidated him, yet they piqued his curiosity. He leafed through the tome, taking care not to crumple the delicate pages. Words like "mochi" and "miso" were unfamiliar, but... Ah, that was what this rice porridge thing was. A mushy meal intended as comfort food, traditionally served with egg or vegetables. Maybe he'd be better off making that tonight than rice cakes, since he'd already technically succeeded once before?

"I heard there was food! Where?!"

Micah startled at the snarl, eyes snapping up from the pages. That fanged face was one he hadn't forgotten - and he remembered the Zora's appetite just as well. The guy looked about to cause a ruckus if he didn't get something to eat right away. "Eheheh... Hey again!" He shuffled back across the platform. "Food prep's in progress, but there'll be plenty later on!"

Malon, being the guy's friend from what Micah recalled, kept his cool much better, his chirp as cheerful as ever as he pointed out the experimental dumplings. Micah winced internally, both at the thought of the fiery snacks further aggravating the guy's mood, and the other newcomer, unmistakeable with her coiffed blue curls and monochrome finery as she tugged at Malon's wing with a pleading stare.

Lady Ciel Beaumont?! Here? They'd all be cooking in the presence of high society? Well, that had just set the bar higher than the sky islands.

"Uh... Hello there, Lady Beaumont! Or... Lady Cici? Your Grace? What do you prefer?" Shoulders tensing, he gave a slight, stiff dip of his head. Even after his experience in the estate, the standard customs confused him. How did one go about directly addressing the Hylian upper classes? "Well this is quite the surprise! We'd better whip up something fit for the nobility, huh?"

Koko, who'd just heated and arranged the salvaged batch of dumplings, bowed with much more elegance. "Welcome! Koko can tell you, you'll like the sweets Nex here made!" A flash of a grimace crossed her face as she turned her attention to the swordsman, but she quickly stood tall in a display of youthful bravery. "And feel free to have as many dumplings as you like! Careful though, they're hot. As in, both piping hot and spicy hot, but Koko hopes the cheese wil help."

[Emily]

Uma's voice was always so steady, so calm. "Carefully now, last step."

Ariadne tried to keep her hand from shaking as she carried the last spoonful of ground endura shroom into the cauldron. She loved making potions- of all the ways she had learned to do the work of a healer, this was by far the most rewarding. Her mind, normally like travelling with bunny ears on her brain, absorbed the recipe structure and revelled in the satisfaction of creating something beneficial to others. She could focus on her body movements, and she really enjoyed the need to go and grab things, the freestyle structure of changing ingredients or adapting to new needs on the fly. There was a rabbit hole of specifics she could go down: the hardness or softness of the water, the temperature of the water, how old the ingredients were before they were used, how dried the herbs had really become.

It was like cooking, something she also thought she'd never be interested in, but had learned to enjoy during her time here. That said, this was the first time she was making something that was actually going to be used by someone, in a medicinal way. This was a necessary potion for Nanna's health, helping to recover some of the stamina she'd been losing as her health suffered. Because it took so long to make, Ariadne was doing her best not to overthink things and mess it up.

When she'd first arrived at Zora's Domain, the Zora had put her into silent rooms to 'practise meditation'. Told her that she would be a better healer if she could gain control over her mind. It was torture. The Sheikah had shared this belief, but theirs was a different method. They had large groups who gathered once or twice per week, and they would all sit together and meditate, taking turns to guide the rest. Other Sheikah sat in the class with her, and they also occasionally snickered or sneezed or had some other form of accidental interruption that set the rest of the class laughing. And that was so helpful to getting her to relax and stop overthinking.

She stirred the cauldron with the looooooong wooden spoon, struggling against the thick, paste-like potion. Once she had finished, she leaned back, sitting on her calves, and took a breath. Thank the goddess it was over. Uma smiled, missing a tooth here and there, and leaned over the cauldron to sniff. "Very good job, Ariadne! This is a top-notch stamina restoration potion. Now," she grunted as she pushed on the side of the cauldron, allowing the metal holding it in place to swing around and deposit it off the fire, "be a dear and grab one of the cold jars."

Ariadne raised one of the trick floorboards and reached to her elbow before finding the icebox, from which she retrieved a chilled potion bottle half-filled with chunks of ice. She closed the box and floorboard before using the very long spoon to pour the thick formula over the ice. By the time the bottle was full, she was able to cap it, shake the concoction around a bit, and it not only cooled the potion, but the ice became the very water needed to make it palatable. As she did this, Ariadne noticed herself getting restless. She could already hear people out in the square, laughter and shouting accompanying amazing smells that seeped through the walls.

It was clearly very obvious on her face, as Uma cackled. "Very well, child, you have earned a little break, I would think. Deliver the potion to Nanna, and I release you to have some dinner with your friends."

Ariadne smiled. "Was I so obvious?"

"I've never seen you so dressed up."

Ariadne looked down at herself. "Oh, right, that's fair." That morning, Claree had insisted Ariadne wear one of her outfits for the event, because it would just be horrible to be seen next to someone who looked so casual all the time. There were sure to be really important people here! Come on, Ariadne! she had said.

Ariadne stood up and dusted off her knees. She was wearing a loose, flowing red shirt that ended at the mid-thigh, and trousers of the same colour that ended just below the knee. Securing the tunic around her stomach was a white cloth belt, which the Sheikah called an obi. A long, wide-sleeved and loose white jacket with red and blue flowers along the bottom covered the other clothes. She had white socks to her knee and two-toed sandals that felt kind of weird to wear. Socks weren't supposed to bunch up between your toes. But maybe they were here, who was she to judge? And her hair, which had already been somewhat long at the ball, was now past her shoulders and made up in the messy, semi-masculine style of the Sheikah.

"Do try to have fun, dear," Uma said.

"I will, Madame Uma, thank you." Ariadne rushed out the door and into Kakariko, perhaps the most perfectly temperate place she had lived in all this time. She had a lot of nostalgic affection for the Tabantha Snowfields, but you couldn't grow food there. It was too cold for that. She liked the Domain, but it was all rock and water. Kakariko had grass and trees and dirt and a gentle breeze and the bluffs surrounding the village kept it so balanced. It was paradise. It was-

Oh shit, it was all of those same people again. She noticed the Zora who Claria had talked to her about- apparently they had gone to the DEPTHS?! together?! And then later he threatened King Sidon?- then there was Micah and the old Zora she had seen at the Beaumont ball. There was Malon and there was Koko, the normal Sheikah troupe. And then there she was. Lady CiCi. Oh, how difficult she would have been to forget, if that was even possible. She almost tripped over herself exiting Uma's house upon noticing that Lady CiCi and Malon were HOLDING HANDS?! This was an unexpected development.

But despite everything, she somehow made it to Nanna's house, slipping inside quietly. She stopped at the counter near the window to prepare a cool, damp cloth so she could bring everything over to the bed at once. Nanna's eyes cracked open as Ariadne changed the cloth draped across her forehead. "Hey Nanna, how are you feeling?" she asked.

The old woman's eyes opened just a tiny bit. "Claree? Your bedside manner has improved."

Ariadne laughed. "No, Nanna, it's Ari. I've brought you something to drink, how about we get you sat up and then you can drink it and tell me how you're feeling."

"Ariadne, I'm so sorry you had to see me so ill," Nanna croaked, but allowed the doctor to help her sit up and scoot back against the headboard of her bed. "I hope it's not more carrot soup."

"It's not carrot soup-"

"I hate carrot soup."

"I know you do, Nanna. I think you'll like this, though."

"We'll see."

Ariadne fished some of the potion out on a spoon and gently fed it to the old Sheikah. Though it was liquid, the potion seemed to give her difficulty- it would have been preferable to finish and provide this yesterday, but some of the ingredients required an overnight reduction- but they got through it. After several minutes, and more than one break, Ariadne helped Nanna lay down again. "Alright, that should do it. When you wake up, you should be feeling much better."

"Next time, Ari, if you're going to torture me, at least make it interesting."

"Goodnight, Nanna."

"Goodnight, dear."

Ariadne returned the cool rag to Nanna's head before standing. She rinsed the glass with water from one of the buckets brought up that morning, placed it in front of the window so it could dry in the sun, and slipped out quietly. That was one advantage of the shoes they had here- if you could call them shoes, anyway- they were very quiet. She sighed, stretched a little in front of the door, and approached Koko's group in time to hear the young Sheikah talking about the very hot dumplings. "Those sound great, if you have any left, I'd love one. Gimme the hottest one."