A Trip To Another Land

Chapter 3: Evil Yet Unevil

(tppov) The group remained together for a few weeks after the ogre attack. Mulan and Anjel parted ways with Ruby who went to find her pack, or maybe Dorothy perhaps. The remaining three venture into the woods to look for a new place to camp for night.

(fppov) "We'll stay here and make camp for the night, is that okay?" Mulan asked as she pulled her robe off to make a bed for us three.

I added my blanket to her robe and set a sleeping Joey upon them so he could nap.

"It's perfect, dear."

Mulan set off to find firewood and dinner as I stayed by Joey's side. That's how it was for us for the next few months after Ruby left, moving everyday through the forest until we grew tired, then camping. We all fell asleep together every night. We'd also make a gate so Joey would not run off on his own while we slept. It was perfect, albeit there was no electricity or warm beds, I was surrounded by the two people I loved more than life itself. When she returned, she set down the firewood, then went and carried our dinner in to be skinned and set above the flame to cook.

"How would you like to learn how to clean and skin an animal?"

"Seems like a learning experience I could benefit from"

"Okay, come here and sit in front of me and I'll guide you." I stand and sit in between her legs, my back facing her. She takes my hands and guides me to the rabbits body.

"Okay, first we're going to pinch the rabbit's back by its hide. Then we're going to cut near the base of its neck with this knife here.", She wiggles the knife in her hand before placing in my hand, " Now, use your other hand to loosen the skin. Turn the sharp part of the knife up and cut from the stomach to the neck carefully so you don't puncture the stomach. Then we'll remove the feet, head, and tail, sharp hard chops, watch your fingers." I do as I'm told, small grunts from chopping escape my lips. I finish and wait for further instructions.

"Okay, now we're going to remove the skin. Take your index finger and middle on both hands so we can create an opening. Yep, just like that, good job. Keep your grasp firm and steady and hook under the skin and pull your hands in opposite directions, one towards the head, the other, its rear. It's supposed to tear like that dear, keep grabbing more of the hide so it will separate while you continue to pull. Now grab the back legs and grab a bunch of the skin on one of the ankles." I put my hands where I'm told to and wait.

"Now twist and pull hard to break the skin. Good, now we have to take it off the legs. We're just going to simply tear it off the legs one by one, ready, go. Next, we're going to pop the the legs through the skin by moving the skin to push out the stumps. Now pull the fur from up around the top of the neck where the skull was. Then we are just going to open both sides of its sternum and remove the windpipe. Finally, we are going to pop the rabbit by its shoulders so that it releases from its coat as you hold down the fur and skin." I wipe the sweat from my brow and sigh.

"That was harder yet also easier then I thought it was going to be."

"That's just removing the fur and skin. Do you want to do the rest or watch me do it?"

"I think I'll just watch"

I peer over to make sure Joey is still sleeping and he is. I watch as she makes quick work of gutting the rabbit. She makes sure to point out all the key points I'll need to remember like; be careful so you don't slice the bladder or colon, make sure to remove all the membrane and intestines(don't cut this), and remove the silver skin(fat part of skin), it is tedious so be patient and calm. I look back back at Joey and he's not there. I scramble to my feet in a hurry, screaming out Joey's name, Mulan is quick to her feet as soon as I scream.