Chapter 87: Dinner together
"Here you go." Sunnie presented the meal before the five beavers, a heavy smile on her face as they stared down at the food before them.
They sniffed the soup and felt their nostrils ascending into the heavens. They stared at each other before they proceeded with eating.
Sunnie and the rest stood there, staring in amusement as the beavers finished up the meal in a short while.
They let out a long sigh when they were done and smiled at Sunnie, nodding.
"So? How was it?" Sunnie raised an eyebrow.
"He said it’s delicious. One of the best they have ever tasted!" Little Black announced. Sunnie smiled, proud of her creation.
When they were done, Sunnie presented another bowl she had neatly wrapped up. "Here, take it to your wife. I made her a special one so that I can help her recover better."
Sunnie explained as Little Black interpreted it all. The beaver appreciated her with a smile as they accepted the meal. They exchanged their goodbyes as the beavers turned and moved away, soon disappearing into the ground.
It was evening as everyone stood there watching.
"I guess that’s over," Karl said, arms folded.
"Yes," Luka supported with a soft yawn. His stomach groaned. "Now what do we eat? I’m hungry?" He turned to Sunnie.
Azure cast him a cold glare as he looked away. Azure wasn’t letting anyone make Sunnie cook again.
But Sunnie smiled. "Don’t worry. I’ve already thought of what we can prepare tonight to celebrate finishing the house and also saving the baby."
Everyone smiled, especially Luka and Little Black, who anticipated the meal of the day. "So what is it?" Little Black asked.
"I think you should rest for today. You’ve been working all day... It’s not good for you and the baby..." Azure stared down at her stomach. Sunnie could already tell he was getting stressed from trying to take care of her.
"Don’t worry. I’m fine. I’ll rest when I feel like it... I promise. But right now, I feel like doing something." She smiled as she turned to the women. "Get things ready, we’re making dinner."
Azure had no words. He simply stood there staring and blinking as Sunnie took the women off to begin cooking. He guessed taking care of his pregnant wife wasn’t easy at all.
---
Sunnie took a quick route in preparing some chicken sauce. They had used the meat of the leopard this time.
After preparing the meat, she gathered some ingredients, tomatoes, and the like to make the sauce condiment.
Little Black, Eris, and Luka sat down close to the pot being used to fry the condiments together, watching as it made sounds. They blinked.
"That’s interesting..." Eris blinked, he sniffed. "I haven’t come across this scent before."
"Me too," Luka blinked, licking his lower lip as they all watched. Little Black was almost drooling over the meal.
Sunnie smiled as she continued preparing with Zuna’s assistance. It didn’t take too long since she didn’t have enough ingredients to make it more garnished.
She was soon done as the meat was ready, and so the women helped her dish it out to everyone who had sat around the fire for dinner.
Little Black and Luka were the first to dig in, and immediately they felt the meal melt a thousand times in their mouths. It was so good, so delicate that they saw themselves dancing in the pot of sauce.
"What’s this taste..." Little Black blinked as he stared at the sauce. "It’s so good!" He expressed.
Sunnie smiled as Zuna replied, "Another grand homeland meal of hers!"
They all laughed as Luka took a deep breath from how good the meal was. He licked his lower lip and said, "I don’t know which is the best anymore..." He ate meat and complimented it with the sauce. "It keeps getting better."
Everyone agreed as they ate. Sunnie slowly ate while she watched. She stared at Karl, who was still staring at the meal. "What? You’re still skeptical about the meal?"
Eris teased, "He probably wants you to feed him with your mouth."
Karl glared at him as they laughed.
"Nothing. I’ll eat," he said as he slowly took a bite. He felt it—a thousand delicacies melting in his mouth! He didn’t know how to feel about it. It felt too good.
He found himself in beast heaven, singing and dancing with ingredients!
But Karl struggled to keep his calm as though he felt nothing. He cleared his throat as he said, "It was okay, I guess."
Sunnie smiled. She could tell he enjoyed every bit of it. As she watched him take another bite, and then another, Sunnie got up and put more portions for Karl. She suddenly didn’t feel hungry at all.
"Huh? Why are you giving him more? I want more too," Luka blinked.
Little Black nodded. "Me too."
Sunnie smiled. "Karl did the most work today. Besides, he’s sick, so he needs more meals for his reward and also to get better." Sunnie stared at him with a smile.
A warm smile that actually moved Karl. Karl hated the way his heart fluttered at the action. With gratitude? He couldn’t tell. But he shook his head. "You don’t have to..."
"Take it. I don’t even feel hungry anymore." She smiled as she left it with him.
Karl said nothing as he stared down at the meal. He was happy about the portion given to him. He couldn’t wait to devour it all. He just couldn’t express it.
Azure didn’t protest. She was pregnant, so he could understand how she was feeling.
Sunnie took a little portion of the meal and went to the quiet woman who was sitting at the corner while feeding her child some sauce.
"He should try this," Sunnie suggested, bringing the meat closer to the baby’s mouth. The mother didn’t protest; her child was old enough to take a bite of it.
The mother simply sat comfortably while watching her little one feed on the meat Sunnie had brought. And Sunnie could feel that for the first time, the quiet woman was at ease with her.