After the fight with the now wiped out pack, Abel decided to rest. The trio travelled further away from the spot where the battle took place, opting to take a spot up on a hill that had a single large tree, and a wide patch of vibrant green grass underneath it. The spot was quite eye catching when compared with the relatively bland gray rocky ground that comprised of most of the First Floor.
Pulling out a large blanket from his spatial ring, Abel spread it on the ground, before pulling out an assortment of nutritional drinks and food. The food wouldn't last, so he decided to eat it first, saving the rations for later. Breeze and Dust watched on from the side, as Abel moved from the blanket and arranged a stack of wood away from the patch of grass, lighting it up. He pulled out a variety of spices, setting them to the side, then also brought out the strips of meat that he had cut out of the creatures he had killed.
At the bottom of the hill was a flowing stream. Abel took the meat down, making sure to wash it clean, getting rid of all the clumps of blood that stuck onto it. After washing it clean, he took it back up, setting it out on a wooden board he had gotten specially for this occasion. He took his time to rub in the different blends of spices, getting it into every nook. He could already imagine how good it would be.
After hanging it over the fire to slowly roast, Abel returned to the stream after instructing his two companions to watch over everything. He stripped his dirty clothes, washing them, before jumping into the stream himself to wash off the blood and grime that had stuck to him after fighting for hours on end.
He spent some time floating around in the stream, eventually getting out when the aroma of the spicy grilled meat reached his nostrils. He was sure that if there were some Tower Runners in the vicinity, they would most likely show up, wondering what the source of such an aroma was.
Pulling out a fresh set of clothes, he put them on, leaving the ones he wore before to dry out properly, before heading up the hill to check on the grilling meat.
Dust laid curled up, with Breeze leaning against his side, the two of them in a comfortable silence. It made Abel doubt that they had been the ferocious beasts that he had personally fought against. If not for the fact that he had ended their former lives himself, he would have thought they had been domesticated all their lives.
After turning the meat over so it wouldn't get burned on one side, Abel turned to the basket containing the prepared food he had brought into the Tower with him. He pulled out a couple loafs of bread, an airtight container that held the heated chicken broth he had made a few days earlier, some sandwiches, and some other snacks and drinks.
The moment the airtight container that held the broth popped open, an aromatic fragrance spread into the surrounding air. The ears and noses of both Breeze and Dust twitched, their eyes darting to Michael's hands for a fraction of a second. This movement didn't go unnoticed by Michael though, especially because he could already hear their inner thoughts. He could almost feel their primal urges to pounce on the food in his hands, but was pleased at the restraint they showed. Although they didn't need to eat after becoming Beast Souls, their instincts were still present, even in their current forms.
"Want some?" Abel raised up the food in his hands as he asked the two curious creatures before him. Their ears visibly perked up at his questions, a poorly hidden look of eagerness hidden in their eyes.
"If that is what you wish, Master." Breeze spoke, while Dust chittered, clicking his teeth together. Abel simply shook his head as he split up the soft bread in his hand, throwing each half to the two hungry companions before him.
Catching it with their teeth, the two creatures eagerly gobbled up the bread, tasting human food for the first time. Breeze expressed his thoughts on the matter, unable to hold in his opinion.
"So this is what human food tastes like? It is unlike what I expected." He nodded his head sagely as he licked his lips. Dust chittered in agreement, already having downed its piece in one large swallow.
"You two are something else." Abel laughed as he ate his own food, occasionally giving his two companions something to eat. Soon after, the last piece of food was gone, and Abel's hand was resting on his full belly. When he had packed up the food, he had originally thought that he wouldn't be able to finish the food until the second day, but surprisingly, it was all gone on the first! And it was all thanks to his newly gained companions.
Getting up, he sauntered over to the strips of meat that were still grilling over the fire a few meters away. The once red meat had now turned a deep brownish-gold color, having been left long enough for the juices and fat inside it to cook it to an acceptable degree.
Using a small dagger that was sheathed to his thigh, Abel cut off a small piece, blowing on it for a while before putting it in his mouth to chew.
"This... This is heaven!" Tears came to his eyes as his tongue was doused in the fine juices of the Ground Rat meat. Now he knew why Ground Rat meat was a favorite back in Seneris. Perhaps he might take back a few pounds of meat on his way out of the Tower after this expedition. But for now, this was just for him. Well, him and his companions.
"Breeze, Dust! Come over here!" He waved them over, already cutting up larger pieces from meat. The two beasts hurried over, having already been eyeing the grilling meat for a while now.