The blood-sucking root wasn't idle as Ikem prepared his meal. It voraciously absorbed every drop of blood from the prey. With the meat finally ready to cook, Ikem secured it on a branch over the fire, the savory aroma quickly filling the forest air.
Observing that their aid wasn't required, the two treants transformed into flowers, their roots delving into the earth. As the meat finished cooking, Ikem, ravenous, dove into the meal. The hunger was unlike anything he'd experienced before. In his father's company, he'd never faced such extreme deprivation. With a wild hunger in his eyes, he devoured the meat until he was satiated and full.
