A pair of eyes emerged from the murky waters, just barely visible in the dusk’s waxing light.

Saezz felt his heartbeat slow as he caught a glimpse of his chosen prey. Much like his ancestors, he employed the sacred art of the crocodile. Ambush tactics might not have been the most honorable, but it was perfect weather to be taking a dip.

Unlike his companions, the lizardfolk was cold-blooded by nature. This normally meant little, save for a bit of languor in the mornings. Though the climate here in Rohl was considerably colder than his homelands, it was still considered mostly temperate. At least in these parts, thankfully.

Still, if it hadn’t been late spring then he would be in much more trouble. As it was, the evening sun made the waters warm enough to brave. A fact he was taking advantage of right now.

Waiting at the shore’s edge was a mammalian creature. A horned stag, this one of impressive bulk. This buck in particular had recently shed its antlers, small nubs quickly growing in their place. The creature lowered its skull to drink deep in the river below. From his position, Saezz could see its deep breaths.

He closed his eyes and offered a prayer to the Spirits. It was only by their blessing that he might hunt to his heart’s content. A kill like this would deserve a bountiful offering. Perhaps the liver?

Swimming closer, his movements were slow and calculated.

The buck didn’t even notice when he approached within five meters. Then three. Two. His time was now. Saezz violently burst from the waters. Above, birds took flight in a panic. His taloned hands grasped the deer’s neck and pulled it into the waters. For a moment the two contested their strengths, fighting and kicking.

Nature was not a pleasant place to be. It was inherently violent. But he found beauty in the circle of life. He, too, would one day become the meal of something else.

Swiftly, he dug his talons into the deer’s ribcage; feeling a rapidly fluttering heart for but a moment before he snuffed it out. The deer’s movements slowed as it lost steam. The creature realized it was dying. Its eyes blinked open and closed before eventually losing the light in them.

Within moments it was dead. Saezz let out a breath and dragged the corpse to the shore. It was heavy, but he was strong enough to pull the waterlogged body back onto dry land.

“Bless this kill, oh spirits of the land and sky.” Saezz spoke in his native tongue, a low hissing array of syllables. He drew his dagger and lifted it to the heavens. “Thank you.”

Then he decapitated the creature as was customary. That done, he quickly dug a hole and gently placed it inside. Turning back to the body, he began the process of gutting the creature. Intestines were quickly withdrawn and buried. Returned to the soil from whence we all came.

He paused to kneel before the makeshift grave, palms on the wet and bloody soil. “I thank you for your life. Please return to the cycle. Let the roots of this land make you anew.”

A moment of silence filled the forest. He felt a presence watching him. It sent his scales twitching, but wasn’t uncomfortable.

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Just a reminder that he, too, was a part of this world.

Returning to the body, Saezz licked his lips. His hunger had begun to rise at the scent of blood filling the air. He flicked out his forked tongue and lapped up a bit of crimson splotches on his hands. Rich and filling. He may have been technically omnivorous, but his kind much preferred meat.

Slabs of deer were quickly sliced and diced as he quartered it. He took great pleasure in the art of preparing a hunt. Unlike the popular thought, he didn’t prefer raw meat over cooked. Yes, there was something pleasant in biting into a warm body, but he much preferred spices and flavorings.

He quickly prepared a small fire, flint and steel striking up a flame. There, he gently placed the deer’s liver into the flames. He watched as the fire consumed it, reducing the offering to ash. “Please accept the offering, Spirits.” The presence almost seemed to nod.

That done, he snuffed the flame and spread the ashes out to feed the undergrowth. He then wrapped the meat up in the deer’s own hide and set about returning to town.

It wasn’t a long trek, so he didn’t have to smoke the meat in situ. Fresh was always better, even if there was a certain charm in jerky.

Cheerful looking faces met him as he arrived back in Amberfields. Congratulations and smiles at his successful hunt made the lizardfolk quite proud.

Arriving at the butcher’s, Saezz gave a quick nod to the orcish woman applying deft cuts to a chicken’s carcass. “Ghala. Saezz greetss you.” Innately, Saezz knew that the common tongue required one to refer to themself in the first person, but it had always been a difficult gristle to swallow. His people’s tongue had no such methodology. No one was special enough to deserve such things.

“Ah! I see you’re back. Excellent.” She tucked the wickedly sharp looking blade into her apron. “That’s quite the haul. What, that has to be a hundred fifty pounds of meat at least.”

“An impressive specimen,” Saezz concluded. “Might your services be available? Saezz would like…” He paused to do a bit of math. “Thirty percent. He will sell the rest.”

“Sounds good to me. Prime cuts?”

“Yes. Saezz has a party of adventurers to feed, after all. Only the best.”

She chuckled, brushing away a long lock of gray hair. “Right, then. Let’s get to cutting this up.” Together, the two of them began to disassemble the corpse further.

Slices of meat were sliced to make all kind of cuts. The loin would make for great filets or steaks. Its rump would go great on kebabs. Shanks for stews. To top it all off, the ribs would make for an excellent barbeque. Saezz could hardly stop himself from salivating at the prospect.

He may have greatly enjoyed their draconic feast, but Saezz was growing to like gamey meat very much.

Several hours passed as he worked with the tusked woman to finish the task. All in all, the day had been quite the success. His party would surely enjoy the evening meal. Saezz for sure wasn’t going to skimp out, for he wanted a good meal as much as the rest of them.

Enjoying food was their party’s biggest contributor to cohesion. Everyone liked food.

Bidding the butcher farewell, Saezz hefted his bag of meat and ventured towards the town’s market. There, he picked up a few necessities like vegetables and simple spices. Meat was a vessel. It should be respected as such. It wasn’t like they had to worry much about money with their haul.

Arriving back at the Speckled Carp, he gave a nod to the woman manning the bar. “Miss Karyss. Saezz will be borrowing your kitchen, if you do not mind.”

“Go ahead, Saezz.” She replied, wiping at a cup. “Just don’t touch any of my boiling pots. You know the drill.”

“Saezz does,” he replied, walking past and into the inn’s simple kitchen. Making sure not to disturb the other patron’s cooking meal, he set up shop. Cooking was a calming experience, the perfect way to relax after a hunt. Dedicating yourself to food was one of the most basic actions one could take.

He paused at the sight of a hastily boarded up patch in the ceiling. Not his problem. He ignored it and got to work.

Soon the kitchen was filled with the sound of sizzling meat and the smell of sacred spices. Tenderloin steak was on the menu today, with a side helping of mashed potatoes, braised vegetables, and a glistening sauce.

By the time he was finished, Saezz could hear the excited murmurs of his companions just outside. Eagerly awaiting the day’s supper. He grinned and portioned everything out onto plates, exiting the kitchen.

“Companions!” Saezz called. “Tonight we eat well, for Saezz had returned from a hunt with the Spirit’s blessing. Now, dig in! And don’t forget the sauce!”

Another good day came to a close.

I'd say that Saezz is the best cook in the party. Ulgrin is second, followed by Raelza. Last is Alyss, who can't cook a damn to save her life. If you're wondering how the group isn't fat, well, adventuring takes a lot of calories. Marching eight hours a day and then fighting a big monster tends to keep a person lean. If they had a long period of downtime they'd certainly pack a few pounds, but the adventurer's life is not stagnant.

Posting schedule will probably be every three days or so, dependent on outside factors. This might be changed if I get inspiration or not. We'll see. Raelza's chapter is next, and after that will be a final, secret interlude.