Snakes Can't Cook

It was far too humid to do much of anything, it was decided. Sure, like the men, Shuule was capable of forging through the weather, but with no reason to, bachelor males would even take a day like this to conserve themselves and not overheat.

Set had shifted back into his full snake, and was entirely submerged into the water, his head elevated just enough that he could breathe, dozing off. Shuule had decided that she was going to stay human for now, sitting on the edge of the water, legs submerged up to her knees. With her almond skin, getting sun burnt wasn't much of a worry, but she was already regretting the decision. After four weeks of playing fox, she actually just wanted to test out being somewhat normal around a male, but she also was considering leaping out of her clothes so she could burrow under something shady.

When she sighed, the snake opened up one of his eyes slightly, rolling it back to look at the girl sitting on the rock. The water rippled as his massive black body followed the direction of his gaze, his head bumping up against her knees. No longer afraid of him, Shuule gave his nose a light pat with her palm, envying how cool his skin was to the touch. This was probably a perfect day for someone cold blooded, she figured. The snake leaned into her hand, then slid his head away, swimming along the bank, and stopping with his body now in front of her, looking back. This time without hesitation, she slid into the water, then climbed up onto his back, and as he slowly swam off, she allowed herself to laugh.

His iridescent scales were smooth, but she was careful not to run her body in the opposite direction of their growth, as the edges were sharp. As she lay down on his back, her legs dangling lazily in the water, Shuule traced the red line down his sides with a finger. They were the brightest red she had ever seen, and she wondered how the symmetrical stripes didn't glow in the dark like his eyes. The cool water rolled past her thighs, and as they both relaxed in silence, the girl crossed her arms under her chin and closed her eyes, listening to the birds.

Meanwhile, Set's stomach threatened to leap into his throat.

---

As the sun started to hang lower in the sky, Set wiggled his tail to gently wake his sleeping cargo, who opened her eyes to his human form twisted up out of the water.

"You haven't eaten in a day, go get out of the sun and I'll hunt." As Shuule rubbed her eyes, and before she could answer, he picked her up in his arms. She startled as she wasn't expecting it, but didn't struggle. He noted she was heavier than he expected a female to be - this was another difference between men and women. Those that could shift were always much heavier than you'd expect their bodies to be, their skin being made out of the hair and hide needed to shift, but it was no matter, as she was still small compared to other beasts. Set easily slithered up the rocky hill, letting her crawl into the cave on her own.

Shuule, finding herself alone in the cave for the first time, took the opportunity to snoop. She first struck a flint and lit the candles, as she didn't feel like living in the dark even if she could see. After, she started to paw through all the hides. She looked over the horse hide first - confirming that it luckily wasn't Xunsu by the markings - and then started to fumble her way around the rock wall. Since it was comprised of individual boulders, there were nooks that could easily conceal or be used as shelves. After just a few moments, she found what she was looking for.

Neatly folded, she pulled out a thick parcel that was as heavy as a rock itself. It sparkled like a black opal in the low light, with two fire red pinstripes laced through it. The snakeskin was silk smooth, which she did not expect given the sharpness she thought she felt earlier today. Luckily, her excellent hearing allowed her to note that there was movement in the stream, and she quickly put the folded hide back into the wall, leaping quickly onto the rug to act like she had been doing absolutely nothing for the last half hour. When she heard no more movement, she went to the opening and peeked out.

Set was at the bottom of the rocks, with a thoroughly dead tiger wrapped in his tail. He was looking down at it, seemingly confused.

"What's wrong?" Shuule called down, while starting to leap out of the hole and pick her way down.

Set looked up and raked a hand through his long black hair. "I uh - how do you want to eat this?"

"Huh?" Shuule had made her way down the ledge, and was now standing next to the snake and his prey. She hoped that was a wild tiger, tales told to her said that ferals were indiscriminate.

"I don't cook." Set flinched at his own words and gross oversight. Males were supposed to do everything, especially when courting a female. Bringing her food was a large proposal, but it was useless if he didn't prepare it for her, which he had no skills in, and what was more, they didn't have any salt.

"Oh," Shuule relaxed and laughed. "I do - I can - but this is so large. I...." She trailed off, her whole body stiffening up, about to reveal part of her nature she feared anyone would find disgusting, though he had to have guessed it after her time out here on her own, "If you cut off a smaller portion for me, I can... shift and we don't have to bother."

Tonight, that's what they did, two animals, one intimidatingly large, and one much less so, out on the strangest dinner date even in Beastworld standards. The small fox crouched over a few pounds of tiger meat, taking little bites with her pointed muzzle, the snake swallowing the remainder of the carcass in one go, laying stretched out to digest his meal.