Living Weapon Whumpee #14
The meat in the soup that A had made practically fell off the bone and mixed in to the broth. It was so rich and hearty that it spread warmth through Whumpee's chest like nothing ever did. (Although B braiding their hair does give the same feeling.)
Whumpee had never had something like this before.
So filling and mouth watering.
A said it was something called “Chameen”.
Whumpee thinks they've heard of it. They've seen it. The red and black feathers. Their old handlers would eat the meat roasting it over fire. But it wasn't called Chameen then. They can't remember. But they never had it.
Previous handlers never fed them because they don't need food to survive.
But A and B give them food. And food tastes good.
They shoveled the last spoonful that was left in the bowl and looked at A. They were feeding B.
A's knee was warm to lean back on. They had folded their leg so B could lean on one while they sat up because it helped A feed them better.
B's eyes felt so heavy. But A looked so excited as they grabbed the bowl of soup. They felt nauseous, they felt bloated and full. But A's smile as they took a spoonful and raised it to their lips made them want to eat a few bites.
B took a bite. They couldn't taste anything. But it was warm. B furrowed their brows.
The texture of the meat was stringy.
“Why is it bad? I know I'm not the best cook but I tried to make it taste good.” A asked sheepishly.
“No no…” B trailed off. “What meat is that?”
A smiled at them mischievously. “Can you guess?”
B took another bite and mulled it over around their mouth.
B looked at A's smug face. “I got nothing. Is it a kind of mushroom?”
“No it's Chameen meat.” A said giddily.
B stared at them for a good two minutes.
A watched B stare at them.
“...what?” A asked hesitantly.
“Where did you get the Chameen?” B's voice was steady. Hoarse, but steady.
“The woods? While I was gathering?” A tried.
A could tell where this was going.
A watched with dread as B took in a sharp intake of breath.
A wished the ground will open up and swallow them whole.
“I went to gather and well I was looking for pallen tail for so long ya know? Cus you asked but I tried and tried and I couldn't find it-” A risked a look at B's eyes and immediately averted them again. “- so I was looking and wondering how I'm going to find dinner. Cus you know… dinner is important. So then the Chameen just landed next to me… like… a couple of feet away.. so like… I slowly took my bow and arrow and uhm.. you know like shot it.”
If B's looks could kill A would have a heart attack right about now. They wanted to say ‘oh look I think leader needs me’ and run out of there but B leaning on their leg was preventing them.
B took a deep breath closing their eyes. When they opened again A offered a nervous smile.
“Take your shirt off.” They said bluntly.
“Take your shirt off. I need to see your ribs.”
A blinked and slowly took off their shirt.
B turned their body and started prodding and poking around their ribs with their eyes squarely on A's face.
B poked a certain spot and A winced.
B leaned back with that stubborn glint in their eye.
“You're leaving your bow and arrow in this tent.”
“You're not going in to the forest. We can find food from the creak down the hill. The supplies you got us will hold us for three days.”
A sighed. “Okay.” There was no point arguing. B had made up their mind. They had that ‘you are not getting out of this’ look.
“But will you at least eat it?”
“Of course I will. I love Chameen meat.”
A smiled, taking another spoonful and giving it to B.
This was the third day A was here instead of B. Leader didn't like that one bit.
Leader was glad they were getting some rest but the way A's eyes shifted away and how they insisted upon feeding another spoonful of broth didn't sit right with them.
“How has… camp been? B didn't say much.”
“It's alright. We've gotten in to a sort of routine. B said you'll be able to sit up soon.”
“Why didn't B come for the past few days?”
A prodded another spoonful to Leader’s lips. “They've been resting.”
Leader swallowed the morsel as quickly as A had pressed it to them.
“So I take it that you don't… plan on telling me the truth.” Leader winced slightly.
“I don't know what you're talking about.” A pressed another spoonful of broth a little too soon and tipped it in to leader’s mouth.
Leader was so glad they were recovered enough for A's feeding style. Maybe they secretly hated leader and wanted to poke the wound. Quite literally.
Leader didn't ask a question until A finished feeding them.
They couldn't believe it.
They were being silenced. By broth.
It made them want to throw that bowl away. It made them want to never eat.
They were all keeping secrets. Both of them were lying to them. They were the leader. They were the one who A and B used to turn to. Why would they lie to them.
How could they lie to them.
They knew it was because of the weapon.
They were becoming attached to it probably. They know these two. They used to carry A home on their shoulders after they finished fooling around in the meadows back in the Kingdom.
This wasn't the kid that used to come up to them to show the biggest fish they caught. This wasn't even the person who'd beg for them to spar together.
This person couldn't stand them. This person bolted the moment Leader tried to talk.
This person chose the thing over everything they went through.
“I'm finished. Thank you.”
A blinked. “There's more. Are you sure you're done?”
“Yes I'm sure. Thank you.”
A cleared their throat. “You… you don't have to thank me.”
“I know. I'm assuming B is sick. Go check on them.”
“But I'm supposed to change your bandages.”
“You can change them tomorrow.”
A stared at them as if they wanted to say something.
“You have something to say.”
“We have always talked about everything. There's no reason for that to change now.”
“Yeah. I know. That won't change.” A smiled. “It's just… I think B will be okay to come back tomorrow. So I won't be coming to change the bandages in that case.”
Leader smirked. “Oh praise the heavens. I was half scared to death at the thought of you doing it.”
A blushed. “Hey! I can do it!”
“Sure. And I will also remember the Gods every ten seconds and B will wonder why certain patches of my skin are missing.”
A narrowed their eyes. “It's better than the time you tried to make me a fishing rod.”
“You fished with it successfully!”
“I also got splinters from it successfully.”
“Splinters build character.”
A rolled their eyes. “Of course they do.”
Leader breathed out deeply.
“A?” They said their name softly.
They raised an eyebrow at the change in Leader's tone. “Yeah.”
A crooked their neck. “Eh they're fine. B keeps scolding me about moving around too much though.”
“They don't hurt as much.”
“I'm sorry about your ribs. I didn't think I… it's not an excuse but I didn't think I hit you that hard.”
A blinked slowly as if they didn't exactly know how to react.
“Hey… don't.. it's okay. Anyway… I punched first.
“But it doesn't make it right. I'm sorry.”
A sighed. “Okay. Apology accepted.” A crossed their arms over their chest. “Are you going to apologise for insulting my bandaging skills.”
“Not even in your wildest dreams.”
@i-am-a-radioactive-paperclip
@thehorriblewizardofwhump
