Hadama did not look at Maea directly often, giving her space to think about her answers without rush or pressure, but he did notice her body language and it affected his own. The Tidebreaker began to relax from stoic to serene as the Ancient found herself on steadier footing and as the good food warmed their bellies and soothed their souls. He ate slowly, but made encouraging motions when he noticed her slowing as well so that Maea would continue while he took his time. They had plenty of meat, and as long as they were sparing with the mushrooms they could have a full meal until they were both sated.
"Hmm." He did not quite laugh, but his lips twitched upwards at her admission. "Not even most fish are... vegetarian." The word was not a common one below the waves. "Though some mer make that choice. We eat a great many fish. Crustaceans. Shellfish. In addition to kelps and seaweeds." Her question finally drew a quiet rumble from his chest that was the ghost of a laugh as he nodded. "I have hunted fish in my manta form. In the depths there is little else to eat." Though it was not a sight most humans ever saw a manta doing, relegated to the sunlight zone as non-Attuned typically were.
Her last question had the humor fading as he tilted his head at her. "I do not consider people to be 'meat,'" he said slowly. "Eating them is... upsetting, yes. Does Dygra require Ancients to eat humans?" Or Fae. Or Mer, for that matter, though it seemed unlikely that an Ancient would dare to delve deep enough into the water to try when they were as susceptible to drowning as most landwalkers.
"Hmm." He did not quite laugh, but his lips twitched upwards at her admission. "Not even most fish are... vegetarian." The word was not a common one below the waves. "Though some mer make that choice. We eat a great many fish. Crustaceans. Shellfish. In addition to kelps and seaweeds." Her question finally drew a quiet rumble from his chest that was the ghost of a laugh as he nodded. "I have hunted fish in my manta form. In the depths there is little else to eat." Though it was not a sight most humans ever saw a manta doing, relegated to the sunlight zone as non-Attuned typically were.
Her last question had the humor fading as he tilted his head at her. "I do not consider people to be 'meat,'" he said slowly. "Eating them is... upsetting, yes. Does Dygra require Ancients to eat humans?" Or Fae. Or Mer, for that matter, though it seemed unlikely that an Ancient would dare to delve deep enough into the water to try when they were as susceptible to drowning as most landwalkers.
