The White Hare

Acidic Taste and the Thrill of the Chase

About an hour or so later after disciplining her patriarch, Jullia made her way to the room she has taken to calling "Jack's Space". It was the first room he made by himself and she was very proud of him. He even used rocks, wood and tree sap to reinforce the walls! Walking down the new tunnel she was still a bit upset at the two boys going out.

"What part of "Jack is to stay here until he is well again" is so hard to get?" She frowns a bit as she leans on the wall with a sigh. "Was I too hard on Clay? Am I just overreacting?" She groans and then continues to walk down the hall. Soon making her way to the room she was looking for.

When she made it inside she found Jack holding his stomach. There was a large amount of vomit in a corner of the room and Jack had a somehow paler than usual complexion. She rubbed her face and went over to his side. Using her magic to give him a drink of water to wash down whatever monster had made him sick.

"Now, your father said that it was his idea to go out and take care of the bug but knowing you I had to take a guess that you had something to do with it as well." She watched him stand up a bit and rub his face.

"I mentioned that I was worried about food for you guys. I have been trying to eat more meat lately but my injury seems to have put a hamper on that plan. I also don't want you guys out hunting FOR me and putting yourselves in danger. Then that beetle decides to move in close to a bunch of food sources and slowly kills them just by being there."

"Jack, for the last time, we are not going to starve. We gather enough food to last and we hibernate for winter anyway." She pats his head as his ears droop down. "We will be fine..." She sighs. This boy was just too caring for his own good. "I guess I may have overreacted earlier. You can go outside but... just be careful okay? You're still healing."

"Okay ma. I will." He hugs her and looks at the meat. "I really have to cook it in a way that makes it edible."

"Is it really that bad?"

"Oh it's disgusting. It's so acidic that I'm sure I've got burns inside of my mouth." He looks at the grubs. "Hmm... Do you think those would give enough experience to give some of my siblings their first level?" His mother looks at the larvae of the acid beetles and hums.

"I doubt it."

Jack tilts his head in a bit of confusion. "Really?" Looking back at the grubs he can clearly see they are full of experience. More than the Water Rats anyway.

"Most insects gain their first level after they pupate but before that they are just not worth hunting for experience for the kids." And so they talk about how Jack was planning on using the exoskeleton of the bug. Deciding that making armor wouldn't really be worth it, the shell was acid resistant sure, but after the recent treatment that he still skirted around in his mother's presence, he doubted it was structurally sound. The only intact piece was way too big for him to use as anything other than a shield. So he decides to turn it into a water bowl. It was big enough but not too big.

After his talk with his mother Jack goes on to cook the meat in multiple ways after going outside and starting a fire. Searing it on the fire did absolutely nothing for the taste or the acidity, asking his mother for help he soaked another hunk of meat in water and let it sit in order to leach out whatever was causing the foul taste, then there was what he was cooking now. In truth, he was just putting shit in a primitive looking stone bowl in the middle of the fire at this point.

Then there came a point where he completely gave up on cooking it. At least now he knew cooking didn't degrade the experience inside of the meat as long as he was quick in preparation... so, deciding to get this over with, Jack proceeded to cook the meat. Then he ate it.