There were many things Tsung Yue needed to learn, including developing her *reptilian instincts*. Whereas she knows how to survive, you'd need to understand that the only primitive instinct she has is from human nature. And that would mean that she'll walk on her hind legs, fight with spears, and use her forelegs to grab things just like people do. So you can imagine the sheer difference between the two dragons' eating habits, circadian rhythms, hunting patterns, etc. So the first thing Hairong needed to focus on, was, of course, hunting. It's one of the crucial skills one needs to learn to survive. Hunting could develop Tsung Yue's control over her spiritual powers in a more natural aspect, so Hairong decides to try stimulating the body's instincts by putting Tsung Yue in a dangerous situation. Where, in this case, is dealing with a *rock bull*.
Unfortunately, when this incredibly smart decision was made, Tsung Yue wasn't informed about this at all. All she knew was that she'd learn something, and perhaps, remember more about her past. If only she knew what was already planned for her…poor little dragon.
On their way to establish Hairong's splendid plan, they decided to chat for a while on the road. While it was baffling for Hairong to see a dragon just walking like a person as if Tsung Yue was one, she soon started to accept this interesting habit of her hunting partner. What they chatted about was simple; Hairong would tell her simple techniques to hunt big and small prey, and Tsung Yue would nod like a horse trying to shoo off flies and then the process repeats itself again. Soon, they start to exchange information about themselves, mostly Hairong, how she's the first spiritual beast, about her immense knowledge of herbs, and how she can teach Tsung Yue to be a dragon.
Then, finally, they spotted a rock bull, just minding its own business when Hairong encouraged Tsung Yue to attack. *Too stunned to speak*, Tsung Yue had no other choice but to walk over to the bull. And what would bulls do if a two-legged dragon was approaching them? They try to protect themselves, of course. But due to horrible luck, as one would say, the bull was too fierce for its own good. Not even after a while Tsung Yue started to leave the hiding spot, the bull stormed right at her. You could imagine the dragon's surprise and fear as a huge herbivore was running straight at her, the first survival instinct she could think was to charge back at it. Yes, you've read that right! It was a weak attempt at intimidating the bull, and barely effective. Barely. The bull flinched, but dashed again, trying to skewer the poor dragon. Oh, how scared she was, but her fear instinct was to make the bull fear her more than it was making her.
Looking at the scene from afar, Hairong saw how stupid her plan was. You don't expect a puppy to act like a guard dog in command, do you? Realizing how dangerous the situation had become, she knew she needed to step in. Hairong found the favorite plant of the bull and mimicked its smell to attract the bull first. Once she caught the bull's attention, she lunged once to pierce a hole in its heart, killing it on impact.
As for the other dragon that was almost about to dogfight the bull, everything flashed before her eyes. In one second, the bull was faux-dashing mockingly to scare her, and in the next, the latter was donuted on the ground, already taken its last breath. How Hairong just killed a huge animal like that so effortlessly made Tsung Yue wonder if she could do that one day too.
-"And that's how you're supposed to hunt! Fast and effective. Otherwise, you either die or lose your prey. Did we learn our lesson?"
-"I suppose…But still, I need more practice. Now that we've got the food, what to make with it? Any ideas?"
-"Just eat it."
-"I beg your finest and most sincere pardon?
-"Just eat the meat. It's tasty and chewy."
-"*Sorray*?"
-"What now?"
-"I just remembered…you're supposed to cook the meat. That much I know. And add some vegetables, salt-"
-"Vegetables?? Why do you want to add vegetables to a perfectly fine meat?"
-"Excuse my dignified preference here, dear friend. But my humble self only desires a safe cooked meat that can either be boiled or fried with nice vegetables and seasonings on the side."
How amusing for someone who can't remember their past existence but can remember how certain dishes can be cooked with the necessary ingredients and tools.
After a while of arguing about how meat should be consumed, they came to the conclusion that whatever floats their boat only matters to them. To keep the meat equally halved, Hairong first ate her share. It was a gruesome image of a beast devouring (keyword: devouring) its meal. It was scary and yet endearing at the same time to see a creature swallow down a whole meat her size with no mess. Seeing such action, the dragon started to question Mother Nature's wisdom of the circle of life. Sure, there should be deaths here and there, but the way Hairong ate the meat was straight-up diabolical to her. What difference. Snapped from the philosophical inquiry, she started to look for herbs to add to the meat to cook. How lucky is she to find wild potatoes and onions from a nearby mountain. Now she just needed a pot to add all the ingredients to mix. And how did she find one, you ask? From an "abandoned" turtle shell near a lake, which Hairong had left after eating the turtle inside a few moments ago, to be specific. Tsung Yue started to remember how to make a simple soup step by step. Cutting the meat and vegetables, using the lake water, and adding saltlick for flavor. And for heat, Hairong decided to help by blowing fire under the turtle shell.
After some time, the soup had been made, and our missy finally had a moment to rest while sipping on her flavored water and gazing towards the sky. Beside her, Hairong lounges lazily on the grass, glancing towards the sunset from time to time, and, sometimes, her new "student" too.
Oh, Tsung Yue has much to learn, much to remember, dear reader. But, perhaps much to teach.
***
Word explanations
-Reptillian instincts: 1 of 3 parts of the brain; the first primal instinct of living, which includes eating, responding to danger, and reproducing in order to survive.
-Rock bull: A herbivorous animal that resides within Tsung Yue's world. Similar to a bull, but bigger.
-Too stunned to speak: Basically, I was trying to explain how one is so shocked that they do the shocked thing anyway, and that could be explained with one word, but not in English. (Бантах)
-Sorray: A more dramatic way of saying "Sorry"