Melez chuckled as Eona laughed at the idea and followed her out
down the path through the forest. Pulling her trenchcoat tighter
around her as they neared the edge of town realizing that the dress
showed a little more of her bust than she was used to. "So I have a
few things I need to get from there, does that place carry rice and
candles?" She asked as she took a couple strides to walk alongside
the smaller female. I hope she likes curry... Should I ask about
noodles? It goes better with rice though...
"They should. If not, I know a place that specializes in them. And
at a fair price too," she said, heading for the door. Eona opened
the door and stood to let Melez go through first. "After this, I
was hoping we could stop in one of the smaller stores. I saw a
necklace that I can't get out of my head. We can check out some of
the furniture too."
"Why thank you." Melez said with a bow of her head as she entered
the store. "I think I can find my way around, I'll meet you back
here when I'm done." She smiled before heading off into the store.
"Chicken, curry, pepper, onions, lemon juice, cooking oil, candle,
rice... And flour..." She mutters her list to herself as she gets
the foods and items. She heads to the checkout to buy her items.
She reaches into her pocket, and with a quiet muttering her hand
moves through space to a small chest that is buried somewhere
hundreds of miles away. She pays for the groceries and heads to
where she waits for Eona.
Eona gathered up her own groceries and checked out. Once back at
Melez's side, she asked, "Get everything you needed? Candles too?"
All of Eona's purchases were tucked into the basket on her arm.
Spotting someone walking on the other side of the road, Eona
frowned. "I...I think I know him...but I can't place him...I get a
bad feeling from him though," she said, nodding to a tall, burly
man. He was littered with weapons and scowled at everyone in his
path. Thankfully, both girls were no where on his radar.
Melez nodded looking through the burlap bag slung backpack style
over her good shoulder. "Yup, I got everything I need. Wasn't there
a shop you wanted to stop in at?" She asked, following Eona's gaze
to the man mentioned. "I've taken out bigger guys than him so don't
worry." Melez smiles trying to reassure her friend. Okay,
perhaps the guy I took out wasn't paying attention and had a chink
in his armor... But there are two of us and one of him... DRAT! I
left my weapons in the cave... Wait, I do have one dagger tucked in
the built-in sheath in my trenchcoat...
That made Eona grin. "I know we can get take him. It would just be
a matter of when. I have my fans but if he did over power us, I
can't do anything until we're in a more private setting. Not unless
we want everyone else in town in on it," she whispered the last
part. "He's gone now," she added, watching him go into a bar. "At
least for the moment. I don't think he'd give us any mind...Oh!
That shop! Yes, let's go!" She said, grabbing Melez's arm in her
excitement. She was focused on that necklace now and very little
would distract her. Weaving through the crowd, she led Melez to the
store she wanted and stepped inside, holding the door for her
friend. The bell chimed from above and Eona smiled. This was one of
her favorite places. Grant it, she had to control a lot of strength
of will to prevent herself from going crazy. But most of the items
on display were not of high quality. As much as she loved shiny
things, she wasn't willing to overpay for the stuff. Moving to a
display case, she gazed down at the gem. It was, ironically enough,
a gold charm that looked like a dragon and set with rubies. A gold
chain finished the piece. The asking price was a bit much but Eona
knew how to barter. After a couple minutes of back and forth with
the jeweler, Eona handed over her coins for the piece and carefully
stored the necklace in a pocket.
Melez chuckled as Eona agreed with her then she nodded as she
realized that he did have a chance of over powering them. But she
had an idea of how to fix that. She let out a little giggling
squeak as thankfully her good arm was grabbed and she was pulled
through the mulling crowds of people and into a store. She could
have spent hours there looking at the intricate patterns on the
various pieces, but she stayed with her friend watching her work
very adeptly at working down the price on the necklace Eona had
wanted. "That's a beautiful piece..." Melez whispers to Eona. "Are
we ready to return? I need about half an hour, maybe a little more
to prep all this..." She said, motioning to the bag that was still
in her hand.
"I'm ready to head back," Eona told her. "And I love this! I saw it
yesterday. It's new. I wanted to get it then but before I could get
it, I found someone in need of help. And who would help me." She
smiled, showing how happy she was to have met Melez. Leaving the
store, Eona led her back to her den.
Melez smiled broadly and a blush formed across her features as she
followed Eona closely back to the cave. "Now, if you would like to
dig out my bedroom while I'm making dinner that would leave me some
privacy to work." She grins hoping that she could make the meal as
much of a surprise as she could. Then she can make my bedroom
however she'd like so if I have to leave, which I hope I won't,
then it will be how she wants it...
"Sure! You won't mind the noise? And is there anything you want in
there? A place to sit? Shelves? I plan to make a bathroom attached
to it. And a closet too," Eona said, making up a plan in her head
as they walked. "I want to make sure you'll be comfortable and
happy. It's no trouble digging. I bet I'll even manage to find
something in the rock as well. Perhaps some rose quarts. Or jade!"
Melez giggles. "Whatever you'd like to add will be perfect." She
smiles. "You are an amazing person. I'm just sorry I couldn't have
met you in a better circumstance... If you find a precious stone in
the wall add it to your hoard, but let me see it! I love looking at
raw stones before they're cut and polished." She chuckled.
Eona smiled and hugged her briefly. "Thank you! I wish we could
have too. It would mean you weren't hurt! And of course you may! I
am okay with letting you into my treasure room. I have to keep my
dragon in check, but she knows you are good. That you are like a
clutchmate." Entering the cave, Eona went to store her goodies for
baking and asked, "Do you need anything special to prepare it? I
try to keep the kitchen clean and well organized. But I don't have
much experience with how other people keep theirs so mine might be
different."
"I just need a knife, a cutting board, a pan, and a bowl. I do
think that's all I'll need that I don't have... Perhaps basic
instructions on how to operate the stove and oven..." Melez said as
she set down her ingredients in the kitchen. "Most ovens and stoves
are similar, but not the same..." She said remembering the one time
she had made a mistake which had ended in flames and some yelling.
Eona came over and retrieved the items Melez needed. Then she
walked her through the directions on the stove and oven. "Alright.
I will leave you to it. I'm being banished until it is ready,
right?" Eona asked, smiling to show she was teasing. "I think I can
get the bedroom knocked out relatively quickly."
"Yes, if you could be banished from the kitchen while I work that
would be the best." Melez smiles, and once Eona has left sight of
the kitchen she gets started cooking.
(Here is where it gets long, she's making curry chicken with
onions, so if you don't want to read the really long paragraph
don't open this and jump to the bottom.)
She sets a candle next to the burners
and lit it, then she set the cutting board next to the candle, the
bowl, the flour, the chicken and the knife. She cut up the chicken
into bite sized pieces, and put them into the bowl and poured some
flour into it. She mixed up the flour and chicken giving them a
thorough coating. She let them sit in the bowl as she put a pan on
the stove and poured a little cooking oil into it after She'd
turned on the burner. She then put the pieces of chicken into the
pan and let them cook until the coating turned a golden brown. She
took them out, dumped the excess flour into the trash and put the
chicken back into the bowl and poured some lemon juice and
sprinkled a little pepper on them and set the bowl aside. She set
up the rice in a pot of water to boil and took out the onions and
cut them into thin slices putting them into the pan of oil. Once
those were cooked she poured that and the oil into the bowl with
the chicken then sprinkled a good deal of curry into the bowl and
mixed it all up, sprinkling in a little more pepper and lemon
juice. Then she put a little bit of flour into a small bowl and add
in just enough water to the flour to make a thin paste. She poured
that into the mixture of the chicken and onions and mixed it in,
thickening the broth into a gravy-like consistency. She put the
whole bowl into the oven to cook the rest of the way and stay warm.
She turned her attentions to the rice and put a little curry into
the water to make the rice taste better. She turned off the heat on
the rice and let it simmer.
(Continue here)
Once she had everything where it could be left for a while she blew
out the candle and she took a deep breath and smiled as she could
smell the curry coated food. Then she set about cleaning the dishes
she had dirtied.
Eona shifted and moved to where she planned to dig. Stretching her
paws, she set to work. She worked in big chunks, taking out
boulders and setting them aside to be further explored later.
Perhaps they could go through these together and find something
special! In an hour, she had the walls worked out. Now it was about
refining it and smoothing over the surfaces. That took a little
more time. When she finished, the room was a mirror of her own.
Going to the stream, she cleaned herself up before going to see if
Melez wanted to hunt through the boulders.
Melez had finished cleaning the dishes and had returned them to the
exact place that she saw Eona pull them from. She had just put the
last dish away as she heard someone approaching, turning and seeing
that it was her friend she smiled. "Done already? Well, the food is
in the oven and will be ready whenever we are." Her smile widened.
"How does it smell?" She asked before taking a deep inhalation and
letting it out happily.
Eona's stomach growled, giving away the fact she thought it smelled
amazing. "Well, I think this is going to be the best meal I've ever
had! Oh! I was wondering if you'd like to look through the rocks
with me. I know you said you wanted to go mining. I think we might
find some really cool things! I smelled fossils and lots of
different quarts." She neared the oven, her nose leading her there.
It smelled so good. She wasn't sure if they would be able to make
it through digging without their noses and stomachs driving them
crazy.
Melez chuckled as she watched Eona move over to the oven where the
meal she had made was simmering and staying warm. "I think your
stomach has something else in mind... Perhaps we eat before we look
through the rocks?" She put her hands on her stomach as it too
joined in the chorus of rumbling in hunger. "I doubt with the smell
floating around that we could work very efficiently if we're
hungry." She giggled.
Eona grinned and nodded. "I'll get the plates and stuff!" she
exclaimed, dancing over to the cupboard and pulling out two plates
and two cups. Then she grabbed some silverware and serving ware.
She was very excited to try the mouth water scented food. She was
sure she was going to have to ask Melez to show her how to cook
this meal so that she could make it for Melez sometime too.