"Leif, can you separate the animal fats for me?"
Daisy asked Leif before he started butchering the elk. She wanted to use the animal fats to make oils and soaps, since she highly doubted that the inhabitants here knew about these things.
Although Leif didn't quite understand why she wanted the animal fat isolated, he still obeyed without any hesitation. He used a sharp and thin bone to peel out the animal skin, then, with his crude dagger, he sliced into the flesh, revealing the muscles and organs.
As the blood flowed out during the gruesome process, he used the stone bowl in his hands to collect the excess blood, his hands slowly staining with the scarlet liquid.
Daisy silently watched his series of actions with a trembling heart, mesmerized and slightly unnerved by the sight of the blood on his hands and face. His focus on collecting the blood sent a shiver down her spine, and she couldn't help but have a strong desire.
The desire to run away and never look back!
But, of course, she would never do that. Her mate was such a gentle snake; he would never hurt her. Daisy felt relieved after hypnotizing herself with these words.
Leif didn't know the inner turmoils of his mate. Once he had collected enough blood, he set the bowl aside and continued processing the animal while Daisy helped him by passing various containers to hold the meat. They worked quietly, yet quickly and efficiently.
By the time they carefully separated the various cuts of meat, bones, and fat, the sky had begun to darken.
Daisy couldn't bear to look at Leif's bloody appearance; he reminded her of those serial killers she'd seen in movies.
So she hurriedly asked him to take a bath and clean himself while she took a part of the meat away to start preparing for dinner.
There were not many ingredients left in her basket, so she decided to make a simple barbecue with meat, veggies, and fruits.
First, she washed the meat and the veggies before seasoning them with the little herbs and spices she had. Then she grabbed a clean stick and placed the ingredients over one after another before placing them in the open flame.
She made sure to turn the skewers frequently so that the meat on it didn't get overcooked or fall into the fire.
While she did so, she couldn't help but feel a sense of happiness and fulfillment because there was finally someone in her life who she could cook for.
Amidst her busyness, Leif slowly walked inside the cave after washing up, his broad chest and muscular arms exposed in the absence of any coat. His stoic expression instantly went soft and gentle as he found her near the fireplace.
She was currently chopping the fruits from her basket before placing them in a bowl. Her beautiful eyes were constantly shifting between the fireplace and the fruits in her hands, an amusing sight, and he couldn't take his eyes off of her.
Her soft and anxious movements, combined with the soothing and calm environment of her surroundings, all created the warm and lovely scene.
He felt like a part of him was being healed as he continued to watch her.
After a while, when Daisy felt like it was time to rotate the meat, she suddenly turned around to find a figure standing behind her.
"Thump."
Her heart nearly stopped when she found Leif staring at her with his dark eyes, but she quickly smiled at him as she gestured her hand towards the fruits in her basket. "Leif, come here and help me cut these fruits."
"Oum." Leif came forward and took a seat beside her. Holding the dagger that she handed him, he used it to cut the fruits just as she had. He noticed that she was staring at him, and it made him blush slightly.
As the barbecue near the fireplace began to cook, the aroma of grilling meat slowly filled the air, the scents of herbs and spices mingling with the savory smell of the cooking meat and veggies was enticing and mouth-watering.
Leif couldn't resist the temptation of the scent, so he quietly moved closer to his mate. "What are you cooking?" he asked, staring intently at the source of the odor.
"Barbecue, would you like to try it?" Daisy chuckled and brought a skewer of the meat to him to try. She couldn't wait to see his reaction to her dish.
Leif silently took a bite of the meat from the skewer and was instantly hit by the rich, smoky, and meaty flavors. The various savory flavors exploding in his mouth sent chills through his body.
His eyes lit up as he took another bite, barely being able to stop eating.
"Slow down," Daisy looked at his greedy expression and warned him playfully. "You might burn your tongue." She watched his satisfied expression, feeling proud that she had created a dish for him to enjoy.
As she smelled the delicious aroma of the barbecue, her stomach grumbled in hunger, and she also picked a skewer from the fireplace and sat beside him to eat. The elk meat was tender and succulent, while the roasted vegetables and fruits gave it a tangy and smoky flavor.
"Delicious!" she squinted her eyes in pure delight. The taste was exquisite, and she couldn't help but think that the food tasted even better after sharing it with someone she liked.
Although the barbecue was delicious, she decided to not eat much since it was time for bed. She only ate a skewer of the barbecue, leaving the rest of it for Leif.
After their satisfying meal, Leif came forward to clean the dishes while she sat at a corner to eat her fruit salad. She inadvertently glanced at the rest of the meat placed in the corner of the cave and began to worry if they would be able to finish it before it started to smell.
However considering Leif's inhuman appetite, she silently buried her concerns in a pit.
With nothing else to do, she turned her attention to the rain pouring heavily outside the cave. She felt like her head would start growing mushrooms if she continued to stay inside the cave with nothing to do.
"Leif, do you know when the rain will stop?" She asked Leif absentmindly while eating her fruit salad and listening to the rain outside.
"I guess it'll stop soon," Leif replied softly while removing the excess charcoal from the fireplace and adding new firewoods.
"Hm, I hope it stops tomorrow," She weakly mumbled as she ate the last spoonful of her salad. "My fruits are almost over." She was not a big fan of eating fruits, but the fruit-eating habit she had developed since young made her uncomfortable if she skipped eating a fruit for a day.
Leif chuckled at her words and gently said, "Tell me what you want, and I'll bring it for you." His words were extremely gentle and petting, as if he would even bring down the moon if she asked for it.