Healed

Chapter 5

"What do think you're doing?!" Umber popped his head into the kitchen window and hissed at Flame.

The SkyWing had had his head in a cupboard and at the sound of Umber's voice jolted and slammed it into the above shelf. Umber winced as Flame fell to the floor, cradling his head and letting out a long string of profanities. Umber crawled in through the window to join him.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you," Umber apologized when the swearing had ceased. Flame jumped up and faced Umber with a snarl.

"What the fuck do you want? Are you following me you weirdo?"

Umber's tail twitched in irritation. "No! I was just looking for my sister and found you doing...whatever it is you're doing." Umber motioned around to the messing kitchen.

A cloud of smoke blew from Flame's nostrils and into Umber's face. Umber tried to swallow his coughs.

"It's none of your business, so why don't you just fuck off and leave me alone." Flame turned away and picked up some sticks of wood that had been on the floor and took some more out of the cupboard. Umber watched him place the wood into the giant meat smoker at the back of the kitchen and lit it on fire with his fire-breath.

Umber pumped his wings in alarm. "Flame, what are you doing? Are you even allowed to be in here?" But the SkyWing ignore him and went to the counter where a dozens of ingredients were laid out. Cinnamon, brown sugar, salt, pepper, chili peppers, dried herbs and many other things that Umber didn't recognized were present and Flame was pouring them all into a giant mixing bowl.

"What's all that for?" Umber asked, approaching Flame and gazing curiously at the fragrant mix of spices.

"I thought I told you to get lost," Flame sneered without looking up.

"I'm not leaving until you tell me what you're doing." Umber squared his shoulders and prepared for another bash of insults. Flame turned on him, his eyes sparkling with fury, but paused. Just as soon as the anger had some, it had disappeared and Flame stood back observing Umber like he was trying to estimate the value of an old antique item.

"How much can you lift?" Flame abruptly asked.

"What?"

"Did I stutter? How much can you lift?"

Umber stammered while he thought. "Um, I don't know. A lot?" He shrugged helplessly.

Flame considered this for a moment before speaking. "How about this: I'll tell you what I am doing if you help me out with it."

Umber raised a brow in apprehension. "Well I know you're making some sort of smoked meat, I'm not that dumb. Besides, I don't want to do anything that'll get me and Sora in trouble."

Flame grumbled something under his breath and finally looked back up at Umber. "FINE. If you help me out I 'll...share my food with you."

At that moment Umber's stomach came to life with a gut twisting growl for food. Umber still wanted to say 'no' but his stomach forced him to ask the fatal question: "Well, what are you making specifically?"

Flame gave a wolfish grin, knowing very well he had found Umber's weakness. "I'm making my famous ten hour smoked Pork Body Medley with my grandma's secret seasoning recipe."

Flame sat with a smug grin on his face while Umber battled with his stomach. No, I can't break the rules! I don't want to get us in trouble. What if we get sent back to the Mud Kingdom? Would they kick us out?

Despite all these worries Umber couldn't help himself. "...What would I have to do?" He asked but Flame took this to mean that Umber had agreed.

"Follow me. We need to go and get the meat."