The 27th

Chapter 30

The spices and flavor was an odd but welcome change. Her taste were accustomed to flavorless slop and the taste of pure meat from the traveling but their seasonings were a welcomed surprise. It made eating a lot more excited when everything has its own distinct flavor.

Her stomach, however, did not enjoy the new variety of food it was receiving. Often, she found her stomach cramping from either eating too much or she was overwhelmed with nausea after a few bites, the new food not agreeing with her. It sadden her when this happened. She had come to realize that everything here was used to its full potential. No bone, fur or fat went to waste so when she had almost a half plate left yet unable to eat it, she felt terrible.

She tried to serve herself smaller portions but Arias would end up giving up his food and sliding onto her plate, which somehow made her feel even worse. Though, she didn't fully understand their customs. She knew somewhat that the women came first, they ate first and whatnot, but Arias could offer her food off his plate; things he could potentially eat, but when she offered hers; things she couldn't manage to eat, he refused. She knew he had a large appetite and could easily eat the measly portion she had left, to save herself from shame for wasting resources, but he never dared even touch her plate unless he was giving her more, never taking.

This has become their routine for weeks, while traveling and at the other pack yet she wasn't too bothered by it. However, now that she was in the presence of his mother, who seemed to make an entire array of food that she seemed extremely proud of, the left over food left her feeling worse than over eating did. She tried, she really did but she could not seemed to find the will to force the few mouthfuls of eggs and stripes of meat that remained into her body, her stomach begging her not to. It aches terribly and it took everything in her to keep it down.

Arias, next to her, seemed satisfied that she ate more than usual but again, when she tried to slip him a piece of the meat, he gently grasped her wrist and had her transfer her food back to her plate.

"He's not going to eat from your plate." His mother somehow had seen the interactions even though Thaelia had tried to be discreet about it. Being called out made her flush but his mother's tone was in no way accusing or distasteful at her actions, rather, it was humorous and gentle.

"He gives me his food all the time though." She finally gave up and set the meat down, now having two people insist that the one was never going to accept food from her.

"It's a tradition here but it's really more of an instinct for the men. They have a need to provide and will sacrifice their own needs and wants for their family, their mates. They won't take anything from you when it could be to your benefit, like food and other things. They will never take anything from you unless it's harming you."

"So, they won't take gifts?"

"No, they will not only if the object in question wasn't for your personal gain to begin with. With food, the food was put on your plate, so it was yours and would give your nourishment. Though, if you make or obtain something with the intent of it not being yours, they'll accept it."

"So he really won't eat something off my plate but I can his? Even if I'm not going to eat it? It's just going to waste though."

"It not go to waste." Arias intercepted the conversation, smiling down at her. He spoke something in the direction of his parents before grabbing the small amounts of food that remained on their serving platters, and loaded them onto his empty one.
"Come. And bring the plate. I show you."

The four of them prepared for the snow, bundling up in their heavy furs before stepping out into the bitter cold. Together, they made their way back to the center of town, a few people surrounded the fire that never seemed to go out.

His parents stepped forward, carrying their own plate of food that resembled the dinner they had prepared last night. They each muttered something before dumping the food into the fire.

"Each morning, we put the food we no eat in the fire. It is a sacrifice to send thanks to the Moon Goddess. We thank her for leaving the sky for the Sun God. We tell her we no forget her. We tell her we remember her and she no alone." He said his own phrase in his native language before letting the food fall into the fire.

"Do I have to say something?" She asked when he handed his empty plate to his parents who now stood behind them. She watched as more people gather around the large fire, whispering before making their offering to the flames.

"You no have to say out loud. You can say in you head." She nodded and stared into the burning embers, clutching the plate in her hands. For some reason, she was nervous, afraid she could somehow mess up something else this morning, another custom that seemed important to them.

Deciding on just saying a simple thank you in her head, she poured her food into the fire, watching as it caught aflame and melted into the burning wood, joining the charcoal at the bottom. As she did so, she thought she could feel a small warmth begin to build in her chest before simmering back down, her stomach no longer aching from the stretch. Unknowingly, she had brought a hand up to rub her chest where the warmth had once been and another hand joined hers.

Ceasing her movements, she allowed Arias to gently pull her hand away from her body, his hand replacing the missing warmth. He gave her what seemed to be a knowing smile before pulling her closer so that their arms were flushed against each other as they began to walk.

"Let us go home."