FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

CHAPTER 3

"All of this, is ours. We built this."

The cafeteria is the second-largest chamber in the den. It is defeated in size only by the spiral farm. This dining chamber was not always the functional place it is today.

Initially, the kitchen and dining room was a pathetic rectangular chamber with packed dirt for walls. The old dining room had the simplest of setups. Plywood cabinets you can find in any modern kitchen. A wobbling table. A floor of packed dirt. There was space for two grown rabbits to cook and enough seating for ten to eat. In five years of having a successful den with healthy kits, this space was more than enough. By the time Grean and Laela reached their tenth year of marriage, the kitchen was in dire need of expansion.

The family had just finished the third major expansion for the residential section of the den. The death of their oven was the last straw for Grean.

He put himself and his family to work in building their future kitchen. They had excavated and exhumed the walls. The ceiling naturally elevated as the room expanded. The original square of the room had become indistinguishable compared to the new mess.

The dirt ceiling had been packed tight and supported beneath wooden beams. Nothing that would become permanent, but Grean and his children got carried away with digging. As expected, and by Grean's design, they had to build a wall to divide the chamber in half to bear the weight of the ceiling.

He had a plan drawn up and wanted to show his children how to partition a floor based on that. Grean's biggest problem was that he had never built a home underground. Not in such soft soil and loose rock. He inherited everything he ever lived in, or he slept under the stars, but he was too ashamed to admit it.

"All of this, is ours. We built this." Grean would say -- just before the wall they built, along with a section of the ceiling caved in.

Grean had learned a hard lesson that day, ten years ago. He swallowed his pride and accepted; he had no idea what he was doing. After a few drinks at Alvalin's Bar and Grill at North's Third Gate, the idea came to him.

That is the first year Grean had more outsiders come into the den than ever before. The crews came one after the next. They blocked the underground highway for two seasons with their trucks to unload stone and bags of cement or to haul off rock and soil.

Grean paid the laborers enough to work from the moment they awoke to the moment they sleep. He asked them to teach his children how to do the same work. He paid the workers extra -- though it slowed progress.

The labor crews brought their roll-out beds and slept on the floor in a chamber of their creation, which later became the bottom level of the spiral farm.

First, a crew of near twenty Animalia had widened the crawl tunnel from the underground highway to the long hall Grean had dug himself near the surface. The artisan crew reinforced this tunnel from start to finish. The winding tunnel had to be wide enough for the workers to get their equipment through and of concrete strong enough to handle the constant traffic.

After expanding the tunnel to the width and height needed, the crew worked with the ceiling. The workers built appropriate walls and supportive beams. After a time becoming familiar with the family, the workers from the city were proud to teach Grean's children how masonry works. They also thought it cute to watch the little rabbits struggle hauling a single cinder block. One of the workers was inspired to help Vick and Keel build their first forge and kiln on his off-day. The workers needed to repair tools and prepare brick and tile; having an on-site foundry became necessary.

The rabbits helped where they could as masons built up a proper brick wall dividing the dining hall and the kitchen. The Thumper children observed the workers construct an insulated room for refrigeration, panel by metal panel to then fill the walls with expanding insulation foam. The children watched the workers pour concrete over steel rods for the floor and later lay tile.

The same crew gave the two living rooms a solid foundation with proper support beams at each arch, hallway, and chamber divider.

Grean saw so much more to furnish the den better, and the companies he hired were making plenty of suggestions. The workers would do a far better job than Grean could ever dream of doing on his own, and his children were learning so much, far more than he could ever teach them.

The walls of every current tunnel became reinforced. The ceilings became tiled over the cement. Furniture, work tables, and equipment got installed in the kitchen and the new workrooms. A classroom and library fit between the ever-expanding spiral farm to the long winding tunnel that connects the main hall with the underground highway. A strong ironwood hatch replaced the oak wood hatch on the surface. At the bottom of the den, where it connects to the underground highway, Grean had a contractor install a large enough ironwood gate -- large enough for his new freight wagon. Several ventilation shafts to the surface, a sealed chamber for compost, and waste chutes from the kitchen joined the plan.

With the cafeteria finished, a different crew had come to install proper plumbing in the kitchen. A state-of-the-art water filtration system became required at the highway entrance -- one that can be accessed by a service truck from the city during scheduled cleaning cycles.

The kitchen had turned into something rivaling the restaurants in the Twenty-Third District with massive ovens, a deep fryer, dough mixer, a steamer, and an electric cauldron. Families from other dens had heard the rumors of the work happening in the Thumper-Noble den and came in droves to beg Grean to let them cook just one meal in his new kitchen. It was a good (and the first) time for neighborly bonding. Something Grean was never good at. Especially after all of those trucks blocked the highway for as long as they had.

Today, the kitchen is capable of filling near one hundred stomachs per hour. The ovens are massive, and the walk-in freezer remains stocked. An excavated chamber beneath the kitchen for bulk storage also became a requirement. Brilando always has his corner to hide in when he sneaks a bit of glazed cinnamon cake.

After nine and a half years since the workers had left the den, the cafeteria maintains the same half-circle shape it was given, but its appearance is far warmer since the newly-skilled Thumpers redecorated.

First -- the restrooms. One for the boys, one for the girls. The two doors reside to the left of the kitchen. Three toilet stalls each. The two rooms remain fondly scented with potpourri. The lighting is kept dim with three scattered bulbs. One resides over the divider of the stalls, one on the far back wall and one above the sink. The porcelain sink rests on a granite countertop.

Next came the bar. There are two doorways between the dining hall and the kitchen. One door resides within a bar counter. Carr had acquired a curiosity for brewing ale and bourbon and needed a place to serve it. With the help of Cecil, Desmond, Alic, and Vick, they built this thing. They even made matching bar stools.

Behind the bar and between the two doors leading to the kitchen is a rectangular window spanning the wall.

Steam escapes from the stainless steel cauldron when Andesto lifts the lid. The cauldron stands above a drain that rests within a two-by-two foot space, six inches lower on the floor. Andesto suspends the cover on an overhead hook so moisture can drip back in. He stirs the noodles with a canoe paddle. "Mikna, a nugget of time left on the noodles," he says.

"Alright, Andesto," Mikna replies.

Andesto looks through the window to see the cafeteria full of rabbits. He inhales the fond aroma of Nal's seasoning and cannot wait to devour the roasted tuber in sweet-grass. The steam makes his fur too humid, so he reaches for the switch to power on the ventilation shaft. Hot air and the scent of food is sucked into the overhead airshaft as cooler air flows in from the cafeteria window.

There are three ventilation shafts in the entirety of the cafeteria. Two of them are in the kitchen. One sucks out smoke from the ovens and blows it into the Darklight Forest above. The second vent resides in the corner of the kitchen beside the sinks and is for waste disposal to the compost chamber ten levels below. The third vent is in the ceiling above the dining hall. Cold, fresher air from the surface gets drawn into the large filter chamber by a five-foot fan. After the first filter, meant for forest spores, the air passes through a secondary screen to clean out the forest stench. A steel mesh covers the interior and surface access for each vent. Additionally, there are iron bars welded in the ventilation shaft. There are thorny shrubs planted above and around each vent.

The concrete wall initially installed by those city workers ten years ago has been covered with polished granite tile. The curving concrete walls opposite the kitchen now possess three alcoves carved to make for cozy dining booths. The three elevated enclosures are for the eldest of siblings, each hosting an oak table. The upholstery is faux leather. Above each table hangs a tin lamp from a chain.

There are three manual turbines installed outside of the cafeteria entrance, otherwise known as stationary bikes. It takes three teenage rabbits to pedal a modest pace to keep the kitchen battery at full capacity while in use. These generators power the walk-in freezer, the ventilation system, the rice steamer, and the modern lighting system across the den. The wiring lays hidden behind false panels in the ceiling or floor.

The Thumpers do not use the power for much else. The ovens use gas, wood, or coal. So does the grill. The freezer, water filtration, and water heating system are the biggest energy hogs.

Mikna checks the cauldron of noodles when the five minutes pass. A wide enough straining tray rests below where the cauldron drains. Beneath that is a square container to catch the water for reuse.

Nal stands opposite of the cauldron with the canoe paddle.

Carr tumbles sizzling vegetables in a wok. He grabs the seasoning container to dash it in. Nothing too spicy. A dusting of paprika at best or some black pepper. Nal had labeled the bottles: Stir Fry Veggies, Stir Fry Tuber, Roast Root, SPICY!, Garlic, etc.

Brilando is in the dining hall, offering appetizers. Additional clippings, root bits, broth with bread, and rice chips. Brilando reminds those who are assigned clean up duty, in case anyone forgets their name is on the board. He collects empty plates and puts them on a cart from those with allergies who eat before anyone else.

Andesto watches Cali, Marin, and Hessa finish their food. The three girls have a list of food allergies, which is rare among these lapin. Nothing that might kill them, but someone has to watch them like a goshawk protecting a hatchling. "The Delicates are done eating," Andesto informs Carr and Mikna.

As soon as Brilando returns with their plates, the staff can begin setting dinner for everyone else. He pauses on his return to the kitchen so he can hum a familiar part of the music he hears.

Cilia plays her violin. Her twin Davon accompanies her on the upright piano.

Ike, Alfonso, Jones, Macky, and Narsil prance around when Brilando is not watching.

Brilando exits the kitchen while pushing a cart carrying great bowls food. He does not need to lift a finger to order his little brothers to their seats and to straighten the central dining mat. The rabbits catch his stern glare and then his goofy distorted face as he pretends he is furious. Brilando widens his eyes and mouth before he warns his siblings with, "Ah. Ah. Watch out. Hot." He rests a steaming bowl of noodles in the middle of this smallest table. Around that center bowl, Brilando puts a plate of glistening garlic-buttered bread, the roast tuber, grilled leek on a deep oval platter, and another curved plate of assorted steamed vegetables. Brilando assists each kit acquire a helping, and leaves a pitcher of water and a pitcher of juice on the table.

Jordan is the elder sibling undesirably assigned to this table. He fills everyone's drink with a furious scowl stuck on his face. From Jordan's right and around the table sits Jones, Macky, Glenn, Narsil, Elil, Hessa, and the giant of them all, Ike. Jordan is a healthy rabbit of nine, but five-year-old Ike is the bigger rabbit. Sitting at this table has been Jordan's latest punishment for scoffing at Essa's lessons.

Andesto exits the kitchen to deliver the same meal to the second round table. This table seats the next age group and is slightly larger than the first. Sarina, Raine, and Truine kindly offer to help Andesto. He preferably has them sit to wait patiently -- the kits at the second table glance at the first table where they have more fun with Brilando. Seven of the eight rabbits at this table share the same stare, Andesto is so dull. Some may sneak to another table to have Brilando serve them. Though Kiistavo -- their table's elder who takes his job very seriously -- will not allow them to change seats. From Kiistavo's right sits Sarina, Alfonso, Janice, Raine, Truine, Hurinna, and Kanna.

Andesto keeps his head down and goes through the motions. His father's eyes are burning a hole through his soul from across the dining hall.

Dad knows, and everyone else who knows keeps quiet and stares at him with ears at the ready.

The lack of music pulls Andesto's attention to the wall.

Cilia and Davon finish their musical piece and bow to the cheering rabbits. Cilia places her violin on the piano before the twins return to their booth. They scoot into the booth and try not to interrupt whatever joke Reifa is in the middle of telling Gordon and Desmond.

Brilando returns to the kitchen to prepare the next bowl. He takes a ceramic bowl from the shelf and heads to the cauldron. Since having left to deliver the first cart, the strained noodles had been poured back into the cauldron with some olive oil. Brilando holds the bowl in front of Nal.

She uses clawed tongs to yield a big helping.

Carr places steamed vegetables on the next curved plate.

Mikna lands a plate of bread onto Brilando's cart.

Brilando acquires more cloths and drinks while Carr and Mikna talk about why they used olive oil instead of the corn oil.

Two minutes pass before Brilando brings his next cart to the third table. Ferdinand emits an adorable squeal when he sees it is his table's turn to get their food. "Watch out, hot food. Hot plates." Brilando says, "Ferdinand, get your butt sat. Wait."

"I'm hungry! Bry!" Ferdinand cries.

"Ferdinand! You'll get your plate filled after everyone else." Brilando says.

Ferdinand crosses his arms and glares at his gigantic brother. He whines to Norta, who sits beside him, "Norta?"

"I'm not helping." Norta decides with his long ears flat down his nape. "I'm just as hungry, but I will wait for everyone else to get their food first because I am a mature buck."

Ferdinand shuts up and sinks into his seat until he lays on his shoulders. He has been hungrily watching Marin eat her food before everyone else, because she has an allergy to tree nuts, coconut, and cinnamon, though nothing has any of that. She has been elegantly nibbling away at the food on her fork while her brother whines. Ferdinand sits up and looks across the table to see Maegin almost done with her meal as well. She, too, has allergies: soy and milk. Her plate got drenched in garlic-saturated sesame oil. She loves it, and watching her slurp down her noodles only makes Ferdinand's tummy roar.

Norta is the elder of this table. From his right sits Ferdinand, Marin, Dyson, Miranda, Liesca, Maegin, and Gavin.

Andesto wheels his cart to the fourth table. Of the six tables that fill the dining hall, the first, second, and third tables are the smallest and expand in size. The fourth, fifth, and sixth tables are each of the same size, for far larger kits.

"Andesto, why is dad growling at you?" Loxacael asks. Loxacael is far too keen not to notice when something is amiss. His astute eyes catch everything.

Buraldin clears his throat, not wanting anyone to say anything. Buraldin's position in the den is to maintain the hydroponics farm, but places him within earshot of every conversation had by his father.

Andesto feels the sting. Loxacael is too damn smart for his own good. He is ten and knows something epic is up.

"Don't worry about it, Loxacael," Andesto says.

Buraldin is the elder of the table. He shakes his head at Loxacael and fights the awkwardness with a laugh. Most of the table look to Andesto, Buraldin, or Loxacael with confusion.

"Whatever," Loxacael barks. He looks at the kitchen, then Kiistavo sitting at the second table. Kiistavo glances over his shoulder to Loxacael to see if his same-aged brother learned anything. Both brothers are deeply dismayed. Neither yet knows what is going on this time.

Andesto's siblings each thank him as he distributes the food. From Buraldin's right sits Jessin, Sahrua, Sheila, Cali, Nina, Marke, and Loxacael. Buraldin nudges Loxacael to try and get him to wipe that furious glare off of his face.

He looks so offended when he misses pieces to a puzzle. Loxacael also hates being lied to. At the very least, he can stave off his fury from freezing his hot food.

Brilando comes for the fifth table with a noodle bowl of the same size as the other tables, but this particular vegetable plate is far more substantial than previous ones. There are six extra rolls of buttered bread. Mikna knows damn well that Yeelan and Baendile will greedily devour it all since both boys love turning everything into a sandwich. Even noodles and vegetables. Brilando's food ordinance is readied just for those two.

"Thank you!" the two boys chime in unison while admiring the roasted cutlets of tuber and root.

Sidd is the elder of this table, though the table is missing half of its members. Paelami is in the infirmary to watch over Delilah. Otherwise, Paelami would have been the table's elder. From Sidd's right are Yeelan, Angelinia, and Durbin. Those also missing are Huratte and Baendile, who pedal the generators with Jacob.

Andesto passes Brilando to reach the sixth and final round table, which is closest to the restrooms and cafeteria entrance. This table has no elders as everyone is between the ages of twelve and fourteen.

Hector stands up and approaches Andesto and his cart.

"Look, Hector, I got it," Andesto says with his hands up. He tries not to look at Hector's silver eye.

"I'm only helping you out, bro. I know you're hungry, too." Hector says.

"No, I've got this," Andesto utters sternly. "Please, Hector."

Hector gives a mean look to his older brother. He rolls his eyes and returns to his seat, where he sits back and crosses his arms.

Rhy was halfway out of his seat and half on his feet. He held on to the backrest of his chair as he slowly slides back in. He was going to join Hector to help Andesto.

"I told you so," Haver says to Rhy.

"Shushies!" Wurima and Cassidy hiss. Both girls give Haver a deathly stare.

Haver grunts and clears his throat. "Yeah, yeah."

Andesto gives them all a dubious stare as he puts the food down.

Each rabbit holds their plate out for Andesto to distribute the noodles. Andesto is polite enough to oblige. He starts with Wurima, then Rhy.

"More, please," Rhy asks.

Cassidy whimpers at Rhy, wishing he did not ask and would have taken the tongs herself if Andesto would grow up.

Andesto nods and gives him another serving. "There you are, Rhy."

"Thank you, bro. Love ya!" Rhy replies.

"Ah, Andesto, me too," Haver asks. He knows how much of a pushover Andesto is. He grins like a demon when he holds his plate out.

Andesto plops the steaming noodles on Haver's plate. "There, Haver!" he growls.

Two strings of hot noodles slap across the back of Haver's fingers. He slams his plate down. "Ah, Fuck!" He presses his knuckle into his mouth.

"HEY! Language!" Cassidy scolds Haver.

"Sorry," Andesto says to Haver. He does not mean his apology.

"You're fine," Haver says, dismissing the incident. He pats the thick fur on the back of his hand. "No harm done. Love ya, but not like that." He nods to Nal, who they can see through the window behind the bar.

Andesto feels the mortifying shame fall heavy on his shoulders and keeps his head low as he heads back to the kitchen. Everyone knows.

"Fuckin' inbreeding cunt," Haver says under his breath.

"Language!" Cassidy snaps while glancing at the other tables.

"Haver, don't spread rumors," Rhy says with that sad frown of his.

"You know that stuff is true, Rhy. We all heard Bry scream." Haver says despite Cassidy's threatening growl.

Hector inhales and exhales a long, exhausted sigh. "I thought Mikna was going to break Andesto's neck. Took all of us to get Mikna's giant arms off that little rabbit, and Carr was crying because he was so upset. I'd hate to have to report something like that to Dad. Again." He takes a buttered garlic roll. "To each their own, I guess. The wolves will sort us out in the end, right? Cassidy?"

Cassidy gives her brother a regretful, slanted stare.

From Hector's right sits Cassidy, Vilma, Rhy, Haver, Jacob's and Marcosh's vacant seats, then finally, Wurima. Jacob pedals the generator with Huratte and Baendile. Marcosh is on hatch duty with Garrett.

The second Andesto returns to the kitchen, he punches the concrete wall. He did so out of view of those in the dining hall and kitchen and rubs his aching hand while whimpering, "Mikna, Carr. I don't want to go back out there again!"

Carr and Mikna have no response or remorse.

Nal feigns confusion. Those distressed eyes of hers are too honest.

"Why is Dad staring you down with that deathly face?" Brilando asks.

Andesto frowns as he looks at Brilando. You of all rabbits should know, Brilando! You're the one that got Nal and me in trouble. "Brilando, why do you think?"

"Because of that, mating-hug?" Brilando inquires. He looks toward Nal.

Nal shoots her eyes straight down to the tile floor as the shame and humiliation burns through her gut.

"Don't worry about Dad's table. I got them." Carr says. "I'll distract them with blackberry cider." He looks to his shame stricken brother. "Andesto, eat if you can and start cleaning up. We still have prep-work after the chasm dive."

Andesto wipes the tears from his eyes. "Will Dad kick us out?"

"What?" Mikna asks. He looks at Carr, who was giving him a knowing look that it is possible. Mikna looks at Andesto. "If you two learned to stop fuckin', you wouldn't be asking."

The awkwardness that falls upon the kitchen reaches a pinnacle of which it has never achieved before. Nal finishes preparing the plate for Reifa's table. Everyone knows how involved she and Andy are. She mentally prepares for the pending nausea attack from the stress and anxiety.

There will be irreversible consequences.

Mikna grumbles through his gritted teeth as he moves to the cart with the plate of stacked buttery garlic rolls. "Let's all just shut up about this shit. Keep it between the elders. If it comes to a vote, I'm not letting you both get kicked out. Locked up, maybe and chastised, sure!"

Mikna's sleeves appear ready to burst when he lifts anything moderately heavy. Besides Vick and Brilando having thick arms, Mikna wins the category for upper strength. Mikna is eighteen and a master of baking and grilling. Mikna has a coat of midnight fur with a clustering of white spots melting into one another across his sides and back. He has thick, muscular brows and a vulgar mouth to match his scornful glare on glowing emerald irises. His animalian hair grows only on the left side of his head and would typically fall that way, if not for the hairnet. Just like Carr, Mikna lives for the kitchen. Unlike Brilando, Mikna loves the process of creating delicious food more than eating it.

Andesto sulks in the corner in the dish room between the kitchen and the dining hall. He leans into the sink with his face buried into his hands. He tries not to cry. For sixteen, he was the last born of his litter and is by far the least successful or talented of the elder siblings. He burns the food if left alone. He maintains a conservative haircut. His mouth and cheeks are white-furred like a milk-stained muzzle. He has sparsely distributed white specks of fur across his body. The rest of his coat remains midnight blue. He is slender with a habit of leaning back with his hands stuffed in his pockets. His blue eyes have a heartbreaking innocence to them.

Nal wants to run her fingers through Andesto's scalp to cheer him up. Instead, she keeps to herself and focuses on work while feeling the vigilant eyes of Carr and Mikna.

Carr adds water and oil onto an assortment of soft vegetables after laying them onto a cooking surface. The oil sizzles, caramelizing the corners of the carrot slices and bamboo chutes. After browning, he scrapes them onto a plate. He eases by Brilando and walks by Nal. He looks at the back of Nal's head as he wonders. Why? Why would you throw our lives away for your brother?

Brilando loads the next bowl onto his cart. He pats his lower back and winces at the knot before shrugging off the pain. Brilando is seventeen years old and is by far the tallest, the fattest, and the most robust rabbit of Nesterly. Over six feet tall is monstrous for a soft-furred lapin of any species. His thighs and calves are twice as thick as any of his brothers. His belly is bulbous and possesses a sparse snowing of white across his midnight coat. His neck long since vanished behind his plush chin. His green eyes add to his handsome, chubby face, which can easily contort into a goofy or a menacing expression in an instant.

"Oh, yay! Brilando to the rescue!" Gordon cheers.

Brilando smiles with respect at his fun brothers and sisters. This table is always the happiest of the whole den.

Reifa has her long, bony arms reach across the table. "Bry!" she groans. "Feeeeeed meeeee!"

"You eat all day, Reifa." Desmond jokes.

"Those are samples, Desmond, to check for ripeness!" Reifa states while wearing a playful smirk on her face. She eats nearly as much as Brilando does, but throughout the day, yet she gains no weight. She is born after Brilando.

There is a joke that Brilando and Reifa should be the same size, but only Brilando gains the weight.

Brilando places the steaming bowl of noodles down. He dares not tell anyone to hold back. Reifa spears her fork into the food to get herself a helping. As soon as Brilando puts each plate down, Reifa attacks it. She already has her mouth full before Brilando finishes setting down the food. "It's still hot."

Reifa gapes her food-stuffed mouth open to breathe and cool it off. Her eyes shimmer with white light to swiftly cool the food down. A burst of steam erupts from her mouth and nose. "Ew, I made it too cold!" She chews on ice and gulps it all down.

"Reifa, slow down!" Cilia begs. She looks to Brilando for help, but this is normal.

Davon stares at Reifa as if she's gone feral. "Without fail."

Reifa is growling as if she had indeed gone feral. She continues to shove food into her mouth, pausing only to stare at the twins with a shimmering light in her playful eyes. She blinks and goes back to eating.

"Reifa--" Brilando says behind a chuckle.

"If you eat like that, you'll catch up to Brilando," Desmond says, throwing his thumb at Brilando.

Brilando appears guilty as he holds his stomach. "Huh?"

Gordon snorts while kindly taking a modest helping of everything. "She'll never catch up to any of us," he says, minding Reifa's slender body. "Her metabolism will always keep her well. Skinny even as she eats twice as much as all of us combined. Except her big butt."

"I don't eat--" Reifa realizes she was screaming, food had fallen from her mouth. She quiets herself from words until she swallows. "I don't eat that much, Gordon!"

"Sure, you don't." Cilia and Davon say in unison.

"Cilia, Davon. Stop speaking at the same time," Desmond begs the twins. "Or I'm switching tables."

"What? Desmond that was the first time today!" Davon says with a grin.

Cilia is bouncing her eyebrows to taunt Desmond. "Won't be the last, either."

Brilando laughs his head off at how freaked out Desmond while returning to the kitchen.

From left to right in the first elder's booth sits Desmond, Gordon, Reifa in the back, and the twins, Davon, and Cilia who always sit closest to their piano and violin. Little Garrett would be sitting at this table and leaning into Reifa's scalp-petting if he were not on hatch duty with Marcosh.

Mikna brings out the next cart while grumbling up a storm of hushed profanity as he passes by his little siblings. Kiistavo keeps his eyes down into his meal with his ears erect to listen to his older brother. Most of the words are too jumbled and hushed to hear. Loxacael does the same as Mikna stops beside his table to distribute the wealth of food to the second dining alcove. Both Kiistavo and Loxacael hear Mikna muttering profanity about Andesto.

"Mikna? Where's our usual waiter?" Yaril demands. He then hollers. "What's got you so mad? Did someone spill food again? Did Bry take something?"

"Don't ask, Yaril. _Please_don't." Mikna begs as he hoists the bowl of steaming noodles onto their table.

"Well, I want to know!"

Sena politely orders, "Yaril, drop it." She tugs her cute arm warmer back up. It was near falling from her elbow. She takes a moment to redo the purple lace.

"Why?" Yaril demands. "Sena, I have a right to know what's going on! I'm at the second elder's table, and I should know what's going on! Buraldin is fifteen, and_he_ gets in on the elder meetings, and I was born before him!"

Mikna pauses midway from putting the steamed vegetables on the table. "Yaril, this is none of your business," he says with a ferocious growl.

Yaril matches that growl. "I don't have to take this shit. I knew something was going on," he says as he glares down at his plate. "Every one of you is an ass."

Sena sighs and rolls her eyes. "Yaril, did you remember to take your medicine,"

"Yes! My medicine? Yes." Yaril shouts. "Sena, I just did."

Sena nods. "Okay, honey. I was_just_ checking."

"I'm fifteen for the Sake of Life-Breathers. I'm good at math. I don't forget the time. Ask Keel."

Keel keeps his head down and is not about to get into this one. The last thing he needs to do is start fighting with Yaril. He glances up to give Mikna a wordless apology.

Mikna blinks his somber gratitude.

No one mentions that Yaril forgot to take his medicine the other day. And the day before that.

"I know, dear brother. You know I have a habit of asking everyone." Sena says as she rubs Essa's shoulder. "This one here gave me the habit. The same habit she got from Paelami and Mom."

Essa nods with her mouth full of food. She shoves vegetables into a roll of garlic bread and keeps her mouth stuffed. Despite a mild intolerance to butter, the flavor is worth sacrificing several rounds on the toilet, and not because her gallbladder was removed two years ago. She loves the taste of these soft and fluffy and hot and glazed breads with savory seasoning and dripping with deliciousness.

Mikna leaves the tongs and the extra forks.

Everyone gets a knife to cut their food with except Yaril. He uses two forks. He is not allowed to have a knife for reasons that he gave to himself.

"And he's gone. No one asked for more water?" Kayla asks, looking at everyone. She and Alic watch Mikna storm back to the kitchen. Mikna mutters something profoundly offensive. Something the kits at the second table thoroughly hear. They giggle and squeak at Mikna's choice of words, each glancing at Yaril but trying not to stare.

Kiistavo snaps his fingers to acquire his siblings' attention. "Don't instigate."

Cassidy glares with concern from across the dining hall as she watches Mikna muttering next to kits.

"Damn, the fuck crawled up_Mikna's_ass and died?" Sena quietly asks Essa, who keeps stuffing her face to avoid answering.

Yaril looks disgusted as he stares at the food he put on his plate. "I hate this food." he decides. He hears the babbling of one of his baby siblings and looks over his left shoulder to see Ashley and Nami both staring at him through the bars of the kit-crib. He makes a funny face to get them to laugh. His table feels relief once Yaril finds a distraction. If there is one thing that calms their mind-ill brother down, it is when he shuts out the world to entertain his baby siblings.

With Yaril at the end seat, to his right sits Essa, Sena, Keel, Alic, and then Kayla at the opposite end of the booth.

Mikna returns to the kitchen in a flurry. "That fucking cock sucker, Yaril. He's shitting out again with dumb anger. Fuck, he pisses me off." He clenches his teeth and lifts his right leg, ready to slam it down and split the whole den in two. He stops himself and glares between the ground and his raised foot. The muscles in his thigh strain the fabric on his pants near the point of tearing the seams. His eyes emit a celeste light, dropping the temperature of the deep fryer oil until the oil hardens to a cream orange. He calmly put his foot down and yanked the hairnet from his head. "That little shit didn't take his fucking crazy-head meds. Fucker gets to me every time!" He growls long and hard enough to scratch his throat up. His hair is a mess. He brushes it back with one hand and slips his hairnet back on.

"You know he can't help it," Nal quietly says. "It's in his nature not to trust anyone or anything, including the medicine he's supposed to take."

Mikna chooses to not argue about what can and cannot be helped. If it is Nal, he will go off on her again about what nature can and cannot help between siblings. He leaves the cart and gets the final table's meal ready. "Yeah, but he doesn't have to be such a cock all the time. I bet he's bitching about how much he hates our food, even though_he's_ the fuck who asked for this very meal. I hope he chokes on it."

"Damn, Mikna!" Carr chuckles and adds, "I mean, he's ungrateful, but come on. We have to look out for every one of them. Especially Yaril."

"Everyone loves your food." Brilando proudly states as he prepares the final cart.

Mikna growls, "He's a fucking retard."

Brilando rushes Mikna, and nearly shoves his older brother over. Looming with threatening eyes, Brilando makes one thing clear, "We don't use that word, Mikna."

Mikna's right eye twitches. It takes a lot of effort to piss Brilando off, and when that happens, their giant silly brother quickly becomes the most frightening monster ever. "Okay! You're right. I'm sorry."

Brilando shifts gears and smiles as he heads back to the cart.

Carr heads to the sink to wash his hands alongside Andesto, then dries his hands on the hanging towel hanging. He waits for his brothers to prepare the final cart. "Thank you." Carr politely says.

"You're eating with them?" Mikna asks.

Carr nods. "Yeah. You know, Mom loves a full table. Plus, Dad wants to make sure I don't get drunk."

Mikna bursts into a hearty laugh. "Too late."

Carr shares his lazy smile. He has been tapping his cider all day.

"Right! What a rebel!" Brilando says, hauling a tower of dinner rolls.

Dad loves the buttered bread the most.

"You know who's been quiet?" Mikna asks, looking through the window.

"Who?" Brilando asks.

"Vick and Keel. They look damn exhausted."

"Dad has'em working from wake to sleep on armor plates," Carr says.

"Armor plates?" Mikna asks. "The fuck we need that shit for? We got pots needing new handles and tiles coming off the wall!"

Carr shrugs and submits. "Yeah. They're told to work toward the plates for Alic and Gordon to put into clothing." He points to the back room. "_Including_melting down the extra utensils."

"What? The extra utensils? Carr, does Dad know how fast we go through them before the brats break or lose them?" Mikna asks.

"Dad wants armor plates for our clothing."

"All of our clothing?" Nal asks. She stops cleaning the prep counter to look at her brother for confirmation.

Carr nods to Nal and waves his hand in the general direction of the dining hall. "Those of us heading to the city will need protection, but have you _seen_how many plates Keel and Vick have made?" he asks in a somber tone. "If you think Vick and Keel look tired, look at Gordon and Alic. They can't hold their fork without wincing."

Brilando, Nal, and Mikna shake their heads. Andesto keeps silent with ears held erect.

"I think Dad knows something. He even asked Sena to drop that sculpting commission for the figurines so Vick can use that pure iron and chrome." Carr says. "I'll try and find out what's up. I'll let you all know what's going on as soon as I do. Maybe he wants us ready for the taxes."

Mikna adds, "We know who the wolves are going to pick." He looks to the furthest booth.

Kurinne smiles as she and their mother share words that even get Maela smirking.

"I'll let you know what I find. Dad is good at avoiding direct questions, but he's terrible at keeping secrets once he starts rambling. I'll get him drunk and just let him talk." Carr says. He takes his leave by pushing the cart out, but not without forgetting and concealing his tankard. There are many siblings he does not want, knowing that he has blackberry cider. His stash would vanish in the night if they knew.

Brilando follows Carr with a pile of linen napkins.

Ike tries to make his armpit fart. His fur prevents him from trying to mimic a children's book character in The Ruder'est Pig. His table cringes when he uses the same hand for his food.

Carr passes Yaril, who carefully feeds tiny bits of plain noodles to Nami.

Keel does appear exhausted. So too does Gordon and Alic. He slows down when he notices Sena drowsily gazing into her food.

Sena appears stressed beyond words. She has had her project dismantled by Father's orders, despite having signed a contract with the guy from the Golden City. She must be scared out of her mind since she is pulling on her arm-warmers. That was a big contract that provided the purest of material. She knows she will never find another job if she fails to deliver the three hundred figurines. Her sculptures were destined to become an heirloom in a very high noble family when she finishes them. That is now seeming quite unlikely, and she does not know how she will pay the fox noble back for utterly failing. They paid her a quarter of the commission, and that was more wealth than someone in the Twenty-Third District earns in five years of hard labor.

Carr wishes there was something to say to her to cheer her up. He lowers his eyes and continues.

"Alright! Food!" Vick cheers when he hears the cart.

Kurinne and Mom finish their words and perk their heads. Carr and Brilando approach while each wear a generous smile.

"Carr," Renee says, sharing an admirable smile, her eyes going back and forth between Carr's flat cap and his delightful eyes.

Carr smiles back. "Renee." He stands between the cart and the table end to transition the curved plate of chicken-root closest to his parents. He takes the O-shaped plate of sizzling vegetables to put its ceramic rim against the first plate, closer to the boy's side.

Carr calls it "Chicken-Root" after Dad told the staff how it tastes.

Grean licks his chops as he smells the food. "Once again, you've surpassed yourselves."

Brilando places the noodle bowl in the center of the O-shaped plate. The table shifts from the weight.

Carr places the bread rolls as far away from Dad as possible.

Grean gulps when he sees the steaming bread. "Hey, pass me one. No, pass me two. NO! Pass me three!" Grean commands with his fingers counting along.

Laela elbows her husband. "You can wait, Grean." She pulls her shawl tight.

Grean frowns and mutters, "Yeah yeah, Laela. Kids come first."

Once everything is on the table, Carr places his tankard at the edge to keep it out of view of his father.

Renee and Vick eye the tankard. They both know that if Carr brought it, he plans on bribing someone for something.

Carr eases himself into the booth beside Vick, who immediately gives the chef a knowing sniff to tell just how drunk his brother is. Carr ignores Vick's eye-rolling and Renee's giggle.

Kurinne waves to Carr as if she had not seen him for days. He waves back the same way as her to win himself a funny smile.

Carr knows when Kurinne is experiencing the full force of the opium. This moment is when she is happiest. Otherwise, the pain in her gut forces her every meal back up. Kurinne already ate her food, but she will still partake in trying the smallest bits of noodle and nibble on the various flavors everyone else eats.

From the girl's end of the table sits Renee. To her right sits Maela, Kurinne, then their mother, Laela. Continuing sits Grean, Cecil, Vick, and now Carr at the opposite end from Renee.

The sisters thank Brilando as he loads a helping on their plates. After Brilando finishes helping his mother get food, he takes hold of the cart to return to the kitchen.

"Hey! Brilando!" Vick calls.

"Yes, Vick?" Brilando asks in pause.

"You're not going to help me get food?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, m'lady!" Brilando jokes. "Would you like me to escort you to your roach coach as well, Princess IronFoot?"

Vick chuckles. He plays along. "Why no, my lowly servant! I needn't not your services, back to the kitchen with you. Sear me a wolf flank!"

"Needn't--not?" Renee asks Maela.

Maela shakes her head, not knowing what is going on. Nor caring to know.

"Fine. Scoop your _own_food." Brilando says with a feminine voice and feigning heartbreak. He averts his eyes. "HMPH!" and marches away.

Grean erupts with a hearty chuckle. He wipes a tear from his eye. "I have no idea what happened, but that face Bry made was funny."

Cecil also has no idea what just happened. He stares at Vick, blinking in confusion.

"Princess IronFoot?" Carr asks. "Isn't that the name you gave your rabbit girl in that last Kingdom's game?"

"Yeah. Bry hasn't let it go after all these years."

"May I eat?" Grean begs with hands held out.

Cecil is already helping himself. He covers the center of his plate in a leveled bed of steamed and sauteed vegetables. The garlic broth lazily floods his plate. Fried carrots, broccoli, spinach, sprouts, water chestnuts, and various green-colored beans find their way onto his plate. He mixes the steamed with the sauteed food. He builds a wall of dripping mushroom cutlets and stuffed carrot-pups. He reaches across Vick's plate to acquire a scoop of brown rice to sprinkle over the leaking oils.

Vick watches his brother construct the food on his plate and follows suit, trying to keep up with the same design.

Cecil is an architect in several fashions. His plate remains well organized and balanced.

Vick gets close to the same design, but his food starts mushing together on its own. He looks at his plate and then Cecil's and wonders why his food had merged when his brother's had not.

Cecil uses the tongs on the chicken-root, of which has an intoxicating aroma. First, he takes three long strips of the roasted garlic root, each glazed in a subtle tinge of black and lemony pepper with a haze of paprika. Cecil takes three long cuts of caramelized root in sauteed onions and bell pepper. He then adds an extra scoop of the peppers and onions. Finally, he takes three pieces of the third "Chicken-Root." It has basil and shredded spinach saturated in mandarin sauce with a layer of sesame seed clinging to the entire surface of the root. Cecil obtains two dinner rolls when passed his way by Vick. "Thanks, Vick." Cecil unveils his small bottle of cayenne powder from the shelf under the table and begins gently sprinkling it across his entire meal. He sneezes toward his lap.

Vick shakes his head, snorts, and sneezes as well. "Ah, damn! That clears the sinuses."

Grean frowns. "Damn," he says. He watches Cecil ruin his food. "Too hot for me."

"Pass it!" Kurinne begs while flapping a hand toward Cecil.

Cecil passes it as far as he can reach across the table. Kurinne takes it and puts on twice as much onto her food. If there is one tough thing Kurinne can handle, it is a ridiculous kick of spice. Why she risks the pain baffles everyone. She swears it does not upset her ulcers. She swears it helps with a lot of the pain.

Each flavor of the chicken-root rests on a bed of sweet-grass. It is a vibrant green that only needs to contact the hot food for it to cling.

Carr feels like crying when he takes a bite of the mandarin sauced root.

Renee moans as she prepares her next bite. She twirls her fork to build a globe of noodles before she spears one of the lemon-pepper and butter-garlic roots. "We are _so_spoiled."

Laela takes her time chewing to savor it, "My sons," She starts to say, still eating her food. "I don't know how you do it back there, but this tastes incredible."

Carr smiles with pride. "I'm a chemist before I'm a chef. My team is solid."

"It tastes like chicken." Grean states after his first bite. He says this every time.

"Dad, the fact that you know what chicken tastes like," Cecil says.

Grean smiles. "You do, too, Cecil."

"He's never had--oh, his_dreams_," Vick says, correcting himself. He rolls his eyes.

Cecil looks at Vick. "It _does_taste just like it did in my dream."

"The very fact that you dream about someone eating meat--" Vick says.

"To survive," Kurinne says, defending Cecil. "He was surviving in that dream. His guide was dead."

Cecil nods. "Cooked'em good."

Silverware clatters against a plate when dropped. "Okay, enough," Maela demands. She ceases eating until everyone in the conversation shuts up.

There it is, everyone thinks, Maela's rotten scowl.

"Sorry," Cecil says.

"I'm sorry, Maela." Kurinne weakly says.

"It still tastes like it," Grean says.

Maela drops her fork harder onto her plate and glares at her father.

"Shit. Okay, sorry!" Grean says, chewing.

Laela notices Cassidy jumping out of her seat to rush to the second crib. Laela looks around the corner to see if her babies need her.

"Cassidy's got it." Grean confidently says. "Laela, eat, she can handle whatever is wrong. Take an hour off."

Cassidy picks up and cradles Barry. The boy gets cranky when too many others are given attention from Yaril. Jessin comes over to help. Two baby siblings were pulling the ears of the other to get Yaril's offered noodles.

"Those two are going to be a handful." Yaril laughs at his joke.

Cassidy and Jessin are each cradling a crying kit. Yaril's joke goes utterly missed.

"Were Michael and Barry pulling each other's ears again?" Yeelan asks from his seat.

Cassidy nods to him. "Yeah, these two just can't get along, can you, Barry?" she asks Barry.

Barry threateningly exposes his incisors to Michael.

Michael buries his face in Jessin's tunic, wanting nothing to do with Barry. She returns to her table with Michael, placing the boy on her lap.

Michael immediately stares at Loxacael. Their eyes meet.

Loxacael finishes chewing his food and stares at Michael in silence. The table watches this interaction. Buraldon's head glances left, right, then to the left, then to the right one last time. Jessin does not seem to notice that Michael is staring right at Loxacael.

"What?" Loxacael asks the one-year-old. He starts to wipe his face off with his napkin. His face is clean, so he looks back at Michael. The boy is not blinking. Loxacael stares back.

Michael keeps on staring at Loxacael before he abruptly turns and buries his face into Jessin's chest.

"You scared him!" Sahrua scolds. "Why are you making that mean face at him?"

"What mean face?" Loxacael asks, trying not to glare at his sister's ghostly fur.

"Sahrua, he was born with this face. He can't help it." Buraldin says.

"Born with what face?" Loxacael demands.

Marke giggles under his breath.

Gordon covers his face with his hands as he cries from laughing so hard.

Desmond is shaking his head and grinning at the dumbness of the jokes.

"ReiFA: Please! Another one!" Cilia begs while Davon struggles to breathe from laughter. Davon is nodding in agreement with his twin.

Reifa equips a coy grin. "Alright. On the ocean, what is a sailor's worst enemy?"

Desmond snorts as he looks over his plate and the food they are eating. He shakes his head and rolls his eyes.

Gordon wheezes to catch a breath to ask. "I don't know, Reifa, what?"

Reifa spears a steamed vegetable to hold it up. "Leeks. ZING!"

The table roars with laughter.

"--The crow then said, 'But you are corn. You hear everything with such big ears. Please! Tell me how to get into the magic city!' but the corn refused to answer the crow!" Essa says.

The toddlers in the second crib join the second booth with Reese sitting between Kayla and Alic. Kain lays across Kayla's lap. The six kits are curious toddlers and pay close attention to Essa's story about the Crow and the Crop. It helps that she holds her amazing drawings of these scenes up for them.

Yaril's eyes stare into the abyss. He imagines a crow speaking to inattentive corn while he ignores Nami pulling at his whiskers.

Cheren gazes up at Essa's chin, watching her big sister's mouth move with wide eyes as Essa tells the tale.

Andya stares at the rice on the table while her imagination wanders. She hugs her caped alligator plush and is not paying attention to Essa's story. She is paying attention to Roxy, her alligator doll, as she imagines the alligator has more critical things to say.

Essa grins. "'BUT!' the crow said, 'I have to get into Arboun!'--And still, the corn refused to answer. The crow tried again, 'You stalk the door all day and all night! Surely with all your ears, you've heard the furry speak the password! Tell me!' The corn remained silent. The crow gave up for the time. He knew that the corn would not speak. It hears all secrets but gives away none." she says, continuing with the story.

Keel and Sena listen, they've heard this story from Essa when she first wrote it down many years back. Essa draws children's books bursting with educational puns that she hopes to one day publish. She has yet to discover how to find an agent.

Cecil finishes his water and looks toward the pitcher beside Maela. His eyes wander until he sees a curious thing at the end of the table. He knows it belongs to Carr. "Carr. What's inside of that?" Cecil asks as he points to it with his fork.

Carr looks to Cecil's fork and then to the tankard. He grows a devilish grin. "What, that?"

Cecil nods.

"Yeah, that. You snucked it on the table behind the noodle bowl." Vick says while ignoring Maela as she corrects his incorrect word. He glances at his curious father and smiles. "You wanna hide it from someone, huh?" he added, accusing his father of crimes he has yet to commit.

With his wiggling cheeks about bursting with food, Grean tries to peer around the noodle bowl to see what his sons are talking of.

"I was going to wait until everyone was stuffed," Carr says.

Cecil holds up his glass. "Carr, if you'd be so kind."

"Oh, shit. Carr has booze?" Grean asks.

"Dad, language!" Cassidy hisses. She cradles Barry's head in an effort to cover his ears.

"Darn it!" Carr says with a laugh. He sighs and lifts the heavy tankard. "Vick, hold his glass."

Vick takes Cecil's glass.

Carr thumbs the lid of the heavy tankard open, he tips it to pour a dark purple fluid, filling Cecil's glass halfway before Carr cuts it off.

"Wine?" Renee asks.

Carr keeps grinning, as this is quite obviously not mere wine.

"You know I want some, too. Right?" Vick asks.

"Me too!" Renee begs.

"I want to try it!" Kurinne begs, nudging Maela. "Maela, get me some!" she politely asks, gently tickling her small sister.

Maela smiles at Kurinne, unable to meet that great big smile on Kurinne's face. "Kurinne, you _know_Carr made enough for everyone to try."

"What--is this?" Cecil asks. He holds the glass below his snout. His nose twitches around at the scent. "It smells like fruit and candy. Is this juice?"

"It's blackberry cider," Carr informs. "I got the idea from that blackberry tea Nal made to celebrate the start of the new season."

"That inspiration was a long time ago," Renee says. She climbs down from her seat to bring a glass for herself, Maela, Kurinne, and Mother. Carr gives each of them the same amount that he gave to Vick and Cecil. Except Kurinne, who receives a gracious sip and nothing more.

"Yeah, and do you know how long it takes to brew this?" Carr asks.

Vick translates Carr's words for them, "Do you know how many mistakes Carr had to drown himself in?"

Grean hums for a moment. "I was there for the first and second mistake."

"Wait, you all had drinks, and you didn't invite me?" Laela says.

Grean drops his head from the weight of his guilt. "It didn't taste good at all."

Laela crosses her arms. "Oh? Didn't taste good, huh?"

"No, Mom. It didn't." Carr says. "Remember when some of us couldn't keep anything down for two days?"

"Don't remind us." Maela snaps.

Kurinne pauses before she accepts the drink gets passed to her. "You all try it. I can wait." She is suddenly not feeling so brave.

Cecil and Vick look at each other, then their glasses. They take a sip at the same time. Their sip turns into something more. When they come out for air, both stare wondrously into the remaining cider. Slowly pulling the glass from their lips, each furiously lick their chops.

"Whoa," Vick mutters, overwhelmed by how good the cider tastes.

"Bartleby's got competition." Cecil proudly declares.

"I know! It's great, isn't it?!" Carr asks as he pours himself a glass. "This is the third batch, and I've already filled a whole keg. I want to try and sell it to a bar in town! Maybe, for thirty silver?"

"Screw that. I want the keg! I'll pay you thirty silver if you need money." Grean says. The moment he gets his glass, he leads it to his lips and begins sipping, then quickly gulping down more than half of it.

Carr drops his shoulders in defeat and mutters, "That's not the point."

Cecil's eyes began burning brighter with light. Grean's eyes as well.

"Uh," Vick mutters. His dark emerald eyes do nothing.

"HA! Dad, Carr, Cecil! Your eyes are glowing brighter than ever!" Renee says.

The three studies Renee's face when her blue irises become a fiery sapphire ring. They chuckle before looking at Carr, whose green irises are blazing.

"Damn! Son! What did you make here?" Grean begs while wincing. "My taste buds are going wild!"

Laela tries it as well. Her dim green eyes do nothing to catch fire despite the shock against her taste buds. She looks over everyone, and excitedly asks, "Are my eyes brighter?"

Maela looks into her mother's eyes, and politely says, "They're shining more. Maybe?"

Laela smiles, feeling closer to her children and husband. Her eyes do not glow like her children's, and Grean's do no matter the quantity of the Dark Farm food she ingests.

Kurinne hums as she thinks fondly on the cider. "Carr, do you have more of that apple cider?"

Carr nods. "Oh, yes. Yes, I do. Dad once again refused to let me sell the keg, so I have it. We'll finish it with dinner tomorrow, but if you want one of those tiny flasks for the evening, I got you, Sis."

"Dad, why don't you let Carr sell this stuff in the city?" Maela asks. The look she gives him. "You do know that if he hits big with Bartleby or a competitor that he'd be set for life, right?"

Grean is in mid-sip of the blackberry cider. He slowly removes the glass from his lips to softly belch before saying, "Well, Maela, I don't want Carr to experience the disappointment of his--you know, if they reject him, it'll break his heart."

"Your father wants to drink it all," Laela says. She looks at Grean with her playful smile.

Grean's jaw drops as he looks to his wife, speechless, in her betrayal of his trust. A playful expression comes between them. Laela practically quotes Azine, and Grean's heart nearly breaks right then and there. He forces a smile on his face and laughs before he cries, "Yeah."

"He doesn't want to share it with anyone," Laela adds.

"Cheers to that, Dad!" Vick then takes one more sip before he gets back to his meal.

Renee is blowing bubbles in her glass, not wanting to pull it from her face.

Once again, their brother Carr -- Chef, chemist, and brewer -- has outdone expectations.

"It's bitter, and I _love_it," Kurinne says.

"He gave you a lot, so be careful," Maela says.

Kurinne licks her lips. She puts down her glass to finish nibbling on dinner. "I know. Someone has to finish this for me, or it'll mess with my medicine."

"Speaking of blackberry tea, do we still have more?" Laela asks.

Carr delightfully nods to his mother. He would have said yes had his mouth not been filled with food. A green-tinted noodle wobbles from his mouth.

"I would like a pitcher made for Delilah, with ginger and honey, and make it hot."

Carr has a slow and relaxed blink accompanying his nod. He hiccups.

"Hey," Renee begins. "Aren't we supposed to say something before we eat?"

"We're not religious," Grean states. "We would've said stuff before we got drunk."

Laela keeps quiet.

"Mom used always to lead us in prayer, and thanks," Maela says.

Laela shakes her head. "The prayer was a habit from my family, and Cadburents are _very_loyal to our Guardians."

Grean snickers.

"Hey, let's do it. We haven't said a prayer in years!" Renee asks.

"Why the sudden loyalty to our King?" Vick asks.

Renee looks at her food. "I don't know, maybe Mom's family tradition?"

"Fine, let's do it. In respect to your mother's nut-job family." Grean jokes. He puts his fork down and holds his hands out to his left and right. Cecil takes his right hand. Laela takes his left. Around the table, they join hands and close their eyes, "Oh ye--" he begins singing with a nasally voice.

Vick snorts.

Grean opens one eye to watch his children smirk. He closes his eye. "Thank you, Father Wolf, for I have sinned."

Renee bursts with laughter, "That's NOT how it goes!"

"Dad," Maela growls.

"Okay! Okay. I'll do this correctly." Grean says with a heavy sigh. "Fucking critics."

"DAD! Language!" Cassidy screams, which makes Barry leap back into the crib and hide.

"Thank you, King-Lord Aluvious_Shady_-oath, Master of The Spire. Protector of this Accursed Realm. Lord of the Shady Deals and devourer of the righteous, the wicked, and spoiled." Everyone keeps their eyes shut as Dad recites_his_ version of the Word of Tribulation, Offering II -- Verse 1, "May your Eternal Midnight be ever vigilant of our darkest corners, but not in our toilets, and please stop watching me. May all threats become undone to the One Kingdom beneath your cloak--may you accidentally fall off of your tower," He trails off, muttering the next words, "Break your neck or something."

"DAD!" Renee scolds, this time in a more serious tone.

Grean clears his throat and finishes with, "You cannibalistic fuck of a Wolf. Choke on my dick!"

"LANGUAGE!" Cassidy shrieks. It makes everyone at her table momentarily take cover. They all began telling her to shut up with the screaming.

"Amen!" Vick says.

"Amen, I guess," Carr says.