Heavenfall

Ayumu had volunteered to help with the cooking. Because of course he did.

The task had proven far more overwhelming that expected however. Cooking with other cooks for that many people in that much quantity was a vastly different affair from cooking by himself a family-sized meal, even if the dishes themselves were simple. It was industrious, with a focus on speed and nourishment at the cost of presentation and taste.

He was mostly done with the preparation of the first service by now, and already exhausted.

Forty-nine spots will remain after Dawei makes an appearance, loads up a bowl of food, and begins to find a place to eat.

Then he sees Ayumu, and the morsel picked out of the bow pauses on its way to his mouth.

If the cook looks like that, then I've got to wonder about the food, he thinks.

But it smells decent enough.

"Hi milord. Hope you find the meal to your liking."

Dawei eats the morsel he had paused in lifting to his mouth, finds it pretty good for food in the field, and nods.

"Does pretty well, Slim. Thanks."

Another bite, then "Seppun Dawei."

"skrict there's food?" Hanzou had been drawn by the pleasing sent of whatever had been prepared. "I was going to look for some chreee in the forest, but this is much better."

"Tastes fair enough," Dawei says with a brief nod to the newcomer. And he introduces himself again.

Inga didn't eat much but in a long trek like this one it is better to get good food when is able. The Inga took a plate and a seat. "Morning..." The woman smiled and presented herself.

"Oh, skeek I'm Hanzou." he remembered to introduce himself between bites.

Dawei greets the new arrival, introducing himself and Hanzou.

Then he gestures towards Ayumu, saying "Slim, there, does decent work."

"Ayumu. Jiyo Ayumu if we go by that new double name system. Happy to know the food is to your liking.

Sadly, I have to warn you the quality might decrease in the following days, as we're on our last fresh products, and will be forced to rely only on dried or salted ingredients soon. I'll do my best to compensate for that, but I cannot make any promise about the result."

A prepared meal was surely going to taste better and be more nutritious than whatever trail rations and other foodstuff Miyako wrapped up and set aside for the journey ahead. The young woman made her way to the supply wagon and where food was being served to get her belly full for the day. She listened in a little bit on the chatter as she waited her turn, and then she stepped up to the serving area.

"Good morning... I'm Miyako. Thanks for preparing this for all of us! I'm sure we'll be just fine with the meals ahead: many of us are used to such things, as such is the nature of the long march," she said to the cook as she nodded her head and picked up a bowl of food.

Dawei nods as he eats more.

Still don't get why he's so skinny if he cooks alright, he thinks.

"It's really cheee good, better than most grubs." Hanzou smiled.

"Anything is better than grubs, Hanzou." Inga chuckled as she remembered when she was studying with her teacher. "But it is quite good."

He shrugged but kept eating.

"So," Dawei asks between mouthfuls, "where are folks from?"

Miuna and Aono, having just woken up, reached the wagon seemingly by way of their noses alone.

Miuna practically drooled. She was going to miss good tasting food as the days wore on. She spotted Ayumu serving and walked up to grab a bowl. Aono could tell by her body language that she was going to start communicating, so she simply translated right away.

"Good morning, Ayumu. Did you prepare this? It might not look very pretty but, from the smell alone, I bet it tastes great!" Miuna beamed at him while Aono grabbed a bowl for herself and sat down near Seppun Dawei. She surveyed the area, noticing it was quite full this morning. Everyone brought together by the smell of breakfast.

She addressed anyone listening. "Good morning, I don't believe we have met yet, save Inga. I am Shoji Aono and this is my sister, Miuna. I hope you are all well this morning." She smiled softly at each of them before beginning to eat. Miuna was right, this is quite good, she mused.

After a moment, Miuna came to sit next to her sister. She smiled politely at the man near them and began to eat, knowing Aono probably already introduced her. She glanced around periodically in case anyone decided to speak, so she wouldn't miss it. She spotted Inga and, when they made eye contact, she smiled broadly. Then she saw a boy, small like her, and her curiosity piqued. She found herself staring at him without realizing.

Dawei watches the exchange, raising an eyebrow in curiosity.

Seeing no need to stand on ceremony--and, really, what ritual would apply?--he says "I've used hunting signs, but you seem to have quite a repertoire of them. Where'd you learn so...intricate a set of them?"

Hanzou finished quickly. "Thank you, that was sirch very good!"

"I am from a valley to the north, near the great sreeee forest." he answered the earlier question and waved at the new strangers.

"From the forests of the Chinsei," Miyako responded to Dawei before she took a bite of her meal. "Mmmm, this is really good, most certainly better than what I had originally planned on having," she commented on the food as a couple more people arrived to partake of the morning meal.

"The morning is well, and I hope yours is too. Looking like it will be a good day for travel," she said in greeting the new arrivals, looking up to the the sky and the clouds above them.