A deer was being dragged across the crusty fresh snow that blanketed the ground, the recently killed game was firmly held in Grusha’s jaws as she returned to the campground area. She came back to find Lady Hammer busy laying a ring of stones and wood in the center. Slapping the game in front, she flopped to the earth. Fingers deformed and prepared to rip into the warm pelt of the animal, her mouth salivated from the thought of fresh game in the folds of her checks. It has been a decent while since the last she had a good meal, having expended so much energy made her all the more ravenous.

Just as her hand was about to dig in, Lady Hammer snatched at her hand. Grusha bared her teeth at her, irritated that she dared to interfere between her and her meal. She let her live for now, but there would another gruesome battle if anyone got in between her and food.

“Unhand me, or pay.” Grusha threatened. Growling in an undertone, making a point with Lady Hammer.

“Barely a day passed and our life-debt pact is already eroding over a deer? Hand it, meat was meant to be cooked, just as the gods have intentioned.”

Lady Hammer fearlessly snatches the deer from Grusha’s stubborn clutches, but Grusha did not resist any further. Grusha sighed in relunctant defeat. Admittedly, meat was always best when prepared and cooked, even though it mattered little to her if it was not. Her stomach acids could dissolve the hardest of minerals if need be, it did not take much for her body to adapt.

“Let the gods find fault, then, I intended to eat meat as it was made. Fresh. Besides, aren’t you a god?”

“Aye, but nay. A mere shadowy fragmentation of the original. If I am to serve as your debtor, you will be serviced to the full as such.”

Lady Hammer snatched out a small dagger from her belt, carving the well-toned deer in clean cuts that made it all the more tantalizing. Pulling out a large flat stone, she placed it in the center of the firepit and a massive fire was ignited. Hammer pulled out some herbs she had and began to grind them in her hand to then rub it on the slices of meat, and bit by bit, she slipped the slices of gamey meat and it filled the alcove with a mouth-watering aroma. Large pieces were sliced into slim parts, carved up from the deer that they were to feast on.

Grusha could not help but lean in closely to the burning fire, tempted to snatch one as it was. Hammer must have read her thought, she positioned herself between her and the fire. A childish wry smile on Hammer's face.

Grusha growled hungrily, hardly able to wait any longer for the prospect of food. “Skorto.” She swore. The past few days had been grueling and even though she could go on for weeks still, an empty stomach was still an empty stomach.

“Silence, Wildebeest. Your meal will be done when it shall be done. Such impatience is unbecoming of you, learn to have mannerisms befitting of a lady.”

Grusha growled lowly. “If you do not finish anytime soon, Enyo, I might just forfeit the life-debt for a slab of meat. Whether that slab be the deer or yours, the choice falls in your hands.”

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“Tsk. Very well then, the timing is nigh impeccable. Your fine meal, my Beast.”

Hammer modestly picks out pieces she wanted from the stone slate, and gingerly ate the pieces of meat. Grusha was the polar opposite to everything that Hammer was, she ravished the piece of meat in a single gulp. Licking the pieces of her fingers and face, without any consideration to dignity. Slurping down pieces without the least bit of decency, a mockery of her beautiful dark hair, wavy on the breeze, and spotless fair skin.

“Very unlady like.” Hammer remarked.

With a full mouth. “And so?” To mock her further, she slurped loudly another piece and gulped. Grusha's twinkled mischieviously.

“How do you expect to win the heart of a man with such unredeeming qualities as thee?”

“There is no reason for me to ever win the heart of a man.”

Hammer let go of her piece of meat, staring at Grusha that made her uncomfortable. “You mean you have not considered courting the man, Aput?”

“Courting? Aput?” Grusha dropped the hind-leg she had in hand, blood rushed excitedly into her head. “Rid those thoughts this instant! I’d never court a man, one who is lesser than I, above all else.” She could feel her fingers and feet shaking nervously. What is wrong with me? I don't understand why I am acting like this.

“Very well, if thou say so.” She narrowed her eyes as she took another bite of her meat. “Of course,” She gulped her food down. “If thou are not interested in the man, I suppose he would make a fine companion for someone such as I.”

Grusha hunched over, growling menacingly at Hammer. Her eyes sparkled in teases, an annoyingly wry grin made her angrier.

“Your words bear no merit if your actions speak louder, you desire the man or not?”

Grusha stared grimly at her. Truth was that she had not given it any consideration, she herself was surprised by her own anger over Hammer’s clearly taunting words. She settled back down, and began to eat her deer-hind again. This time she was much more conscientious of eating it in a mannerly fashion, biding her time in between bites and swallowing.

There was an amused smirk from Hammer as she watched her, taking joy from her odd reactions. Her hair tightened into long pieces of quill, sensing the jittery fun that pulsated in Hammer’s nerves. It annoyed the hell out of her.

Sudden disturbance in the distance caught Grusha’s attention, something large was moving about in the area. More and more creatures were picked up in the noise, then the waft of scent came in. Sweaty men and young boys with rifles were treading through the forest, bloodlust reeked from their pores.

“Company.” Lady Hammer commented. Realizing the same disturbance as Grusha.

Hammer’s senses were sharp, not in the same way as Grusha, but sharp nonetheless. Grusha took another big bite from the limb, chomping the meat along with the bone. Devouring what was left in moments. Lady Hammer slipped on her helmet, and lifted her hammer, ready for more glorious battles.

“Stay.” Grusha ordered.

“May I contest orders?”

“You shall not, these are Aput’s people. I will pay my debt in full.”

Hammer rubbed her chin. “Oh, intriguing. Very well, I will steer clear if otherwise needed.”

“Good.”

Grusha stretched her limbs that still ached from yesterday, it seemed she could not get a moment’s worth of rest. However, this was always the story of her life. She ran towards the hunters that traversed the woods, leaving Lady Hammer idling behind. The humans had no clue what they had wrought upon themselves.