After the house was cleaned by Harvey he placed a fur rug in the main bedroom for me to sleep on. He said, "This is all I have for now, but I will hunt and try to get better furs for you." I told him, "That is ok, this is fine for now. Thank you!" Again, Harvey looked at me with shock because I thanked him. His feelings for Shelly started to grow unbeknownst to her. Shelly stretched and yawned. The long day and journey was finally getting to her. She laid down on the fur. Harvey transformed into his leopard form and laid down behind her to keep her warm. Shelly was a little nervous at first to lay next to such a big leopard. She thought, It's ok, he's just a big cat! At that thought Shelly started to miss her 2 cats she had at home. Pepper was her female gray tabby cat and Simba was a male orange tabby cat. She thought to herself, How funny is it that in real life I have two cats and here I plan to have two cats. Maybe if I treat them like big pets it won't be so weird? Also, Winston is black and white and Harvey is orange with spots. It was too similar to her black and white and orange cats at home. Shelly had always been a cat person. She loved other animals as well, but cats seemed to be easier to take care of. It also helped that she was a Leo with her birthday in August and also born in the year of the Tiger. Yup, truly a cat lady. Lol! With these thoughts in her head, Shelly drifted off to sleep.
I woke a little later into the day. I didn't have any way to tell time, until I remembered my cell phone in my pocket! I pulled it out of the hobo bag that Harvey had given me. Harvey woke up and looked at me with curiosity. I thought, it's true what they say about cats. Lol! I turned on my little pink iPhone and noticed the battery was half full. Luckily it was on battery saving mode, but with no way to charge it. That won't last long. The clock said it was about 5:30 in the afternoon. I wonder what time the banquet will be? I'm getting pretty hungry. She thought to herself. I hope they have fruits and maybe some vegetables. It had only been a day, but she was already noticing how she felt only eating meat. I miss my own food, but mostly I miss bread! She reminisced about bread and all the delicious pastries she could not get in this world. Not yet, anyways! I know that the Ape king gives out wheat seeds later, but I'm not sure how much later. She tried to do a mental timeline of the story. It's the end of summer now. The rainy season and then the cold season will come. I remember that Winston gets poisoned in the rainy season and the ape king gives out wine in the cold season. I guess I have to wait until Spring to get wheat and then all of summer for it to grow. Thinking about it, her stomach started to growl. Harvey looked away from the phone in her hands and transformed into his 2 legged form. "If you are hungry, we can head to the Ape king's banquet now. The banquet should start soon." I could tell he wanted to ask about the phone, but he held his curiosity back for now. He got up and put on his robe quickly. I tried to look away and think of my little cats. He's just a big cat! No need to think of a naked half beast man sleeping next to me.
I nodded my head as my cheeks blushed a little uncontrollably. We left the sparsely furnished den and Harvey carried me in his beast form to the Ape king's courtyard. I was surprised to see the Ape king's castle. It was huge and made from gray stones the size of boulders. The courtyard had many campfires spread out and there were beastmen all around. Each fire had one female and multiple males. I noticed the sun damage to the female's skin and started to think about some beauty treatments to help them. Aloe Vera would be essential to most of my products. As a Beautician, I know a lot of ingredients that are good for the skin. Later, I will try to describe them to Harvey and see if he knows where to find them. As I was thinking of different concoctions I could create for beauty treatments, Harvey guided me to an empty campfire. I sat at the campfire and almost immediately a wolf Beastman brought over some meat and a little leaf with a small amount of salt. I thanked him and took the meat. He looked shocked to be thanked by a female. I have to remember that these beast men are not used to common courtesy. What is a reflex to me is unheard of for them. I need to change that before it gets me in trouble.
Harvey started to roast the meat and took out some crushed seasonings that I had used before. He mixed the garlic, Ginger, salt and peppers into a paste and smeared it onto the meat just as I had done before. He was a quick learner. The Ape king and the Wolf king approached us with the wolf warriors sniffing the air curiously. "Hello female, I have come to see your secret recipe for delicious meat." The Ape king looked at me expectantly. I nodded and Harvey began to explain what I taught him so far. "I watched her chop these medicines and mix them together with salt. Then she smeared the paste onto the meat while it was roasting. I added the medicines to this meat. It should be done soon and then you can try the most delicious meat in the world!" Harvey showed the Ape king a clove of garlic, a piece of ginger, a pepper and some salt. He demonstrated how to cut the seasonings and mix them together into a paste with his mortar and pestle. The Wolf king and the wolf warriors looked on with hungry eyes. Another piece of meat was provided and Harvey smeared the mixture onto the meat.
The meat smelled delicious while it was cooking and we were getting curious stares from other beastmen around us. I offered to teach them the recipe and the males looked on excitedly. The females looked a little bored. Wait till you try it! I thought to myself. Once the meat was done, Harvey tore off a piece and handed it to me first. I started to eat and the hungry beastmen were salivating. Harvey looked at me to ask permission and I nodded. He tore off a few pieces of meat and distributed them to the Ape King and the wolf beast men. As soon as the meat hit their mouth, they closed their eyes in ecstasy at the most delicious meat they have ever tasted. The Wolf king broke his silence and addressed me after he had finished his piece. "This is truly the most delicious meat I have ever tried. You are a remarkable gift to the City of Beasts! Please let me know if there is any way we can repay you for sharing your secret with us." The Ape king nodded and licked the juices off his fingers. He relishes the seasoned juices and thought he needed to bring some back for his female. I said, "I'm glad you like it. This is a family secret recipe. I was actually hoping to add Winston to my family." The Ape king looked surprised for a moment and then thoughtful. He knew Winston was one of the strongest male beastmen in the city. Unfortunately he was unable to attract a mate due to his scar. Most females were scared of him and he had almost no chance of finding a mate. Maybe it would be ok for him to be with this female even if she is barren. He will never have cubs, but it would ensure the safety of this female. If she shares more secrets with the city, she would be a valuable asset. He nodded, after making up his mind he said, "Winston is away now exchanging salt for females. He should be back soon. I will inform him of your intentions. In the meantime I will send other guards for you." I hesitantly nodded and the wolf warriors looked happy to have the potential to be fed more delicious meat.
The second roast was finished and Harvey offered me another piece. I was full from the first one and without vegetables to help digest the food. I could not eat any more meat. I shook my head and told him to eat and distribute it to the other beast men. The Ape King and the Wolf king nodded their thanks. They took the meat on banana leaves and left. They were both thinking to share the delicious meat with their females and earn some affection from them. A few beast men nearby approached us and asked Harvey if he would share. After I nodded my approval, he shared the recipe with the beastmen. They left excited to find more 'medicines' to try the new recipe.