"Broth, eventually. But that is not what we will be eating." Emerald eyes twinkled with the promise of a culinary surprise as he pulled a pair of delicately tapered wooden sticks from his pouch, carved from salt-blackened driftwood and with green pearls set into the wider ends. "I have not," he confirmed to her first question. "But I have not heard of Mer being born with wings. Or Fae having aquatic forms." Still, he nodded slowly as he considered what she said about predators. He continued to listen as he lifted a piece of mushroom with the sticks and dipped it into the water that was finally beginning to bubble. He held it there, giving it time to cook, though as thin as the slice was, it didn't take long.
He lifted it to his lips, testing the temperature before checking the flavor. He hummed quietly to himself, then selected the garlic and added an extra pinch to the water that was now bubbling steadily. "There are Mer who are predatory," he said slowly. "Some of the sharks. The orcas." If she had met Kaiden she would not need to wonder at all. "And I have heard stories of Halo. Humans there who once preyed on and ate other humans." He paused to lift a thin strip of meat next and dip it into the water. The heat boiled it quickly and his sharp eyes noted the change in color as it swiftly cooked through. He lifted it and gave it a slight shake to remove the excess drops back into the pot before putting it in his mouth. This time he nodded in satisfaction and then handed the chopsticks to Maea.
"Can you make use of these new instincts? To be a hunter to feed the hungry. Or a guardian to protect others?"
He lifted it to his lips, testing the temperature before checking the flavor. He hummed quietly to himself, then selected the garlic and added an extra pinch to the water that was now bubbling steadily. "There are Mer who are predatory," he said slowly. "Some of the sharks. The orcas." If she had met Kaiden she would not need to wonder at all. "And I have heard stories of Halo. Humans there who once preyed on and ate other humans." He paused to lift a thin strip of meat next and dip it into the water. The heat boiled it quickly and his sharp eyes noted the change in color as it swiftly cooked through. He lifted it and gave it a slight shake to remove the excess drops back into the pot before putting it in his mouth. This time he nodded in satisfaction and then handed the chopsticks to Maea.
"Can you make use of these new instincts? To be a hunter to feed the hungry. Or a guardian to protect others?"
