Stella:

Watching the Wolves eat was... like a horror movie.

Most of the time, she forgot how they were animals with sentience and more humanoid proportions. Now, however...

So much blood... So much viscera... Stella almost became vegan that day.

Namadi's light shone upon her when Kaku accepted her help in the kitchen. She knew nothing about cooking, but whatever occupied her mind and distracted her from that macabre feast was welcomed.

Kaku grabbed the chunks of meat for the rest, skillfully cutting them with their razor-sharp claws. Stella was both impressed and a bit concerned. It felt like everyone here could end her life in mere seconds.

Good thing they weren't actual monsters.

The girl was responsible for the vegetables. Carrots, potatoes, radishes. That would probably be the most nutritious meal Stella had in years. If only she knew how to cut the damn things!

Actually, cutting wasn't the issue. These vegetables were not that difficult to slice through, not even the sturdier ones. That was starting to become a pattern with Stella. The stuff she would consider heavy before felt like holding a plume. Maybe the effects from the pego jam haven't worn off completely. She had to ask the Knight later when she was mentally ready.

Even though she had the strength to cut the veggies with ease, she had the skill of a freaking chimpanzee when it came to the actual bits she diced from them. They were either too thick, and/or their surfaces were infuriatingly non-linear. She deemed herself as an absolute failure.

Thankfully, the actual cook beside her wasn't an angry British dude. Kaku only chuckled with amusement at her poor culinary skills as if she were a toddler making her first sand castle.

"I tried," Stella spoke in self-disappointment while the Kappa put the flimsy-cut veggies in a pot.

Their chuckle became louder. "The shape of the ingredients doesn't matter much. As long as it tastes good!" They mixed it all with a big wooden spoon.

Stella pulled a stool from nearby, thank goodness it wasn't in the living room, and watched the elder do their magic. Watching them made Stella feel a fuzzy, warm sensation, almost like watching her grandma cook.

But then, the girl remembered, she never had one. Her reality was often disappointing.

"You know, I appreciate you helping me," Kaku confessed.

Stella shrugged this insincere kindness. "You don't have to lie, you know. I know I suck."

The Kappa insisted. "That's not my point, child. Just the act of assisting me is a gift by itself." They took the pot and carried it to the hearth in the living room. The Human was impressed by the strength they still had.

They didn't take long to return with a stool in hand. "As I said, you're a sweet girl for bothering with this task. You remind me of my daughter."

Stella blinked at this mention. Yesterday, the Knight told her before she got to the boat that Kappas are hermaphrodites. But do they still consider themselves male or female? More questions for later.

They sat down next to her. "She helped me with cooking throughout her whole life. After I got too old, she insisted on doing everything by herself! That girl had a talent for driving me mad!" They broke into a charming laugh. Stella could hear them talking for hours.

"How's your family, by the way? I assume Padda isn't related to you?" The girl left her previous conversation with the Frog undisclosed for now.

"You're correct, he's not. That Frog's just a close friend I begrudgingly adore having around." They whispered. "But don't tell him that. He'll get that throat of his inflated over the slight praise."

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Both snickered at the thought, prompting Lien to poke her head into their conversation with her snout and tunic dripping in crimson liquid. "Hey, guys! Whatchu laughing at?!"

That creeped the Human out. "Lien!" She frowned.

"What?!"

She walked to the pup, grabbed her shoulders, and flipped her. "Get a bath, for Pete's sake!"

Lien tilted her head. "Who's Pete?"

"I DON'T KNOW!" Stella pushed her out of the kitchen. "That pup, amirite?" She turned to Kaku.

They nodded with a smile that could convince anyone they had achieved inner peace. "I go through that with Padda almost every single day."

Great. Stella's mental image of the two elders being a lovey-dovey couple was slowly tainted by herself and Lien taking their place. WHY WAS SHE EVEN FANTASIZING ABOUT THAT IN THE FIRST PLACE?!

She swore her own mind would be her most dangerous enemy coming forward.

The girl went back to her seat. "Do you like living with him? Do you miss your family?"

The Kappa fidgeted their claws. "I do. But I enjoy living with that grumpy anuran as well. They visit me still, so I'm not missing anything!"

Stella's tone darkened. "But don't you think it's unfair they decided they didn't want to stay with you anymore?"

That was an impulsive thing to say, something she realized the moment it came out of her mouth. The girl couldn't look at their face anymore. Knowing she had, once again, destroyed any goodwill someone had for her with her stupid emotions.

She expected the Kappa to huff, scold, or even slap her. She winced in anticipation, but... Nothing came.

Slowly, Stella turned her attention to the elder, who reflected on her words, or so it seemed.

"You're a smart girl, I see." They smiled and patted her head again. The warm feeling was still there. "To tell you the truth, I get upset sometimes. My hatchlings decided on this crucial change without even asking me. Again, I don't hate this house or my partner, but..." They sighed. "I feel more like a burden than a part of the family most of the time."

Stella felt some faint connection with the old Kappa. Now, what does she do? Sharing something seemed appropriate at the moment, but would she break into tears like before?

"Speaking from someone who doesn't have a family, it's still cool they visit you. There's none of these for me!" She tried to laugh to bring lightness to the conversation, but it came out broken and sad.

"Oh, dear. You're an orphan?" The Kappa's tone softened.

Stella only nodded. She couldn't risk speaking too much and breaking again.

"Well, my issues sound like frivolous whining now." It was their turn to lighten the mood. It somewhat worked.

"Don't need to worry about me! I got this far just fine!" The validity of this statement was imprecise at best.

"I believe you, but I imagine it doesn't bring you much happiness. I met my fair share of orphans, especially in the war." They grimaced. "So many lost their parents, Human and Monoke. I remember vividly a boy trying to kill me with a pitchfork. When I asked him why, he kept lunging at me, crying for his dead father." A tiny tear glimmered at the corner of their eye, which they wiped away. "Sorry, it's easy for an old soldier to get caught up on memories."

It was... uncomfortable, but Stella kept silent, letting the old creature continue their rambling.

"But my life was much more than that, you know. I was once a sumo wrestler, a cook, a healer, a writer, and a shogi legend. I've met countless Humans and Monoke throughout the world." They poked at the gaping hole on the top of their head. "I did all that before my dish could be half-empty. Or half-full, depending on your perspective."

"There's water inside your head?" The weirdness in Monoke never ceased to amaze her. "Can it spill out? Would you die if it did?"

Kaku shook his head. "The liquid inside all Kappa skulls is the physical manifestation of our souls. Our dish starts full when we're born and empties when our life ends from old age. Nothing can take it out except our death, but it would evaporate before anyone could use it."

Stella imagined Kaku letting something slip from their head, then losing all his soul juice by looking at the ground. A morbidly funny scenario.

"I was already a VERY old Monoke when the war came along and dragged us all to this forest. But it was a well-lived life up to that point. One too long, if you ask me."

The girl cocked an eyebrow. "Living that long can't be that bad, right?"

"It is when your family has to dedicate decades, if not centuries to care for you. It's even worse when they have hatchlings of their own. I don't resent them. I get why they think this is for the best."

"I see." It's all the girl could muster.

Kaku then went to take care of the deer stew. After it was ready, Stella was the first to dig in. It felt like poetic justice for her missing flashlight. Now, a deer's flesh would be the sustenance she needed for the journey ahead.

Right. The Human girl wouldn't be staying here much longer...

She deflated at remembering that detail. Stella had warmed up to these two elders and their home. They had done so much for her.

Maybe she could convince the guards to stay here for one more night. Hell, perhaps she could live here!

No. The last thing the girl wanted was to make people try so hard to please her. She doesn't want to be a spoiled brat or anything, especially to the elders. It would be unfair.

Asra, or The Silver Knight, grabbed a bowl and went upstairs. Another hill to climb later.

Coupled with the intrusive staring from the Wolf captain at the corner of the room, these factors only made Stella loathe her soon departure.

"I hope Pantsti is as good as here."