Stone Soup

A/N: This is a prompt submission for EFB! This month's theme is "Folktales," so I decided on a Hungarian folktale under the same name. I didn't write this with an empty stomach (totally). This story is different from anything I've written as it stars pets instead of the El Search Party. Anyway, I had fun with it!

Disclaimer: I don't own Elsword.

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When night approaches Feita, five pets returned to the campground from their expedition, just in time for dinner. They were Miho, Hoya, Death, Uniring, and Eddy the baby ice hedgehog. While each came from different owners, there is one thing they all have in common: a very ferocious appetite.

Unfortunately for them, there is a food shortage problem, so each pet could only be given a limited portion of food. Of course, they aren't happy about this change.

"Hoya, can I trade my bread for your apple?" Miho asked, a white kumiho donning a dress and ribbons.

The fox boy dubbed as 'Hoya' faces his back toward her to shield the red fruit in his hands. "Not a chance!" he sharply denied. "Besides, you've already stolen from Uniring. I would rather eat bricks than give you my last apple!"

"Grrr, why do you have to be so selfish about it?" Miho pouted angrily, her ears twitching. She bared her claws at him. "If you're going to be like that, then...I'll just take it by force!"

Hoya reached for his katana. "Sure, come at me. The winner shall get the apple!"

"Don't underestimate me, baggy. My knowledge stretches further than yours by one thousand years!"

"...There they go again." Death sighed, sitting with his half-eaten cracker. He adjusted his hoodie when the wind blew in from the battle. "Uniring, are you alright with her taking your berries like that?" he asked. When met with silence, he looked at the dark bringer. "Why, you're eating my jerky!"

Uniring swallowed the piece of meat. "Oh...sorry, I thought it was my basket." she apologized before relocating hers. "To answer your question...mm...it's okay, I don't like berries anyway. Although, I do wish there was more food." Soft-spoken and quiet, Uniring is generally inexpressive with an absent-minded demeanor.

The reaper sighed, his stomach growling. "I know...this sucks. Do the humans truly think this measly amount will be enough? We deserve better after working our butts off today. Don't you agree, Eddy? ...Eddy?"

Death checked on the youngest pet on their team. The hedgehog has mysteriously disappeared, but his basket is seen on the ground. Just as he expected, it's empty. "Of course it is. Eddy always eats fast for a little guy." he thought, smirking to himself. "Right now, he's probably trying to allure the knights for some more."

Just as Death sipped his water cup, a blue and white blur stepped in front of his vision. It was Eddy, placing a water-filled clay pot on top of their little bonfire.

He choked on his drink in surprise. "Wh-what are you doing?

The baby pet looked up, having heard his coughs. "I'm still hungry, so I'm making stone soup," he replied.

The reaper blinked. "What is...stone soup?"

"It's soup cooked with a stone. My master made it before and it was so good!"

Eddy tossed a large stone into the pot with a bit of a struggle, making plop sound when it hit the water. He grabbed a wooden spoon to stir it, however, he is too short.

"Let me help you with that," said Death, taking the spoon to stir in the toddler's stead. After a few minutes, he scooped a little to allow Eddy to taste it.