18 Flavour

The sun was setting and Ruben had ventured out to get some food.

He had said that he planned to hunt some game.

So he left Izzy and Theonymphi back at the little cabin.

The cabin was hidden amongst trees, it was in a remote area but Theonymphi assured her that they were no longer in the Night Forest.

Izzy sat on the stairs outside the cabin flicking through her phone. She was looking at pictures of her parents. The photo was of her, her father and mother at the beach. Izzy smiled remembering the fond memories of the photo, they had taken it on a family vacation overseas.

It had been a time just after her mom got laid off at work and they had struggled that time. Fortunately, her father managed to secure a managerial position at his company. They no longer struggled with funds and Izzy remembered even being moved to a better school.

Thinking about school Izzy looked out ahead of her and thought that she missed it. Despite school being difficult, it was much better than being in an unfamiliar place with no family.

Izzy sighed, while Theonymphi fascinated by the photos used both his hands to scroll to the next one.

" These paintings are amazing," he said and lightly smiled.

" They're not paintings they're photos" she explained.

" What's that?" he asked curiously.

" It's like taking a ....um... well maybe a painting but instead all you have to do is click the phone and it can take a picture of anything."

She flipped open her camera and flipped it to the selfie mode.

" Come see here", Theonymphi flew to her shoulder and sat on it. He then saw himself reflected in the phone screen and gasped.

" That's me! That's me!" he exclaimed.

" Now watch".

Click the phone took the photo and Izzy showed Theonymphi.

He was ecstatic, " My reflection it's trapped in there!"

Izzy laughed even harder. " No, it's just a picture of you in the phone. It's now stored on this phone".

" Wow!" he said like a child discovering something new.

She walked around with Theonymphi, taking photos of the landscape and sky. Theonymphi was so engrossed in taking pictures that he himself even started taking selfies.

Izzy was amused at his little poses and even recorded a video of him flying around.

She scrolled through her photos thinking that if Theonymphi had a real knack for being photographed.

Even with her poor skills, the photos of him came out pretty good.

When Ruben came back he had was carrying three rabbits and in tow, he brought along a new beast. After his bird had been killed by the Armoured Tiger, he needed a new contracted beast.

Izzy watched as the large grey wolf walked alongside Ruben.

The wolf was larger than a horse and bulkier and Izzy was both stunned and afraid of it. It made eye contact with her its yellow pupils glowed and it growled.

[ Warning Danger Detected]

The system rang, it logged out of the photo app and disturbed Theonymphi who was admiring the pictures of himself.

" Ahhh! Izzy your black box is crying" he said.

She ignored the system and Ruben told the wolf to stay. The wolf stood away while Ruben approached Izzy.

" That is my new contracted beast. His name Grey Fang." Izzy nodded.

" What is it?" she asked looking over Ruben's shoulder.

" He's a Starred Wolf, but after he becomes more powerful he'll transition into a Star Dire Wolf".

Izzy pretended to know what that was but she was interested in the wolf. Since she liked dogs and though she never met any dogs in this world, wolves were the closest to the dog species.

Ruben made a fire in the chimney, he gutted the rabbits and placed them over the fire to grill. Izzy frowned there was no seasoning of the rabbit so she asked.

" You don't have any herbs?"

He frowned " No why?"

" To season the meat" Izzy said, she thought it was obvious to season your food to make it tastier.

" Ah! I don't know. Sometimes we mix fruit with meat but herbs are mainly for medicine".

Izzy narrowed her eyes " So you don't use them to season your food?!"

Ruben shook his head and Izzy's mouth was slightly open. She walked up to Ruben and patted his back.

" My dear friend tomorrow I will teach you about seasoning." Her tone was grave as if she was determined to fill him in on something his life depended on.

Izzy and Ruben ate the meat while Theonymphi who still had a stash of fruit ate that. When Izzy asked why he didn't eat the meat, Theonymphi replied that fairies cannot consume other beings.

The day ended on a calm note and Izzy laid in the bed in the room alone. She was still looking at the pictures of her parents on the phone.

A stray tear fell from her eye and she then fell asleep.