#Double Pukei Trouble

[venalos]

@rathalascendant, cont.

"I can imagine."

A surprisingly tender statement, considering Marina's earlier severe tone. Perhaps it helped that she paid no attention to the unorthodox Felyne, whose fur was bristling at her earlier comments.

Getting into an argument with some weird alley cat was simply far too beneath her, regardless.

She tossed more kindling into the newly lit fire, feeding the flame until it was big enough to burn on its own. She then picked up and carefully placed the flame on a pile of firewood, stacked in a pyramid-like shape to let the fire slowly burn down in a way that should last the entire night if everything went smoothly. Even if something went wrong, she could always make a new fire. Marina was no stranger to minor mishaps.

Marina stood upright again, rising to her full height and towering over the Felyne, the Wyverian, and even the two Pukei-Pukei. Her steely gaze hovered across them, from one to the other, then she turned to the camp entrance and simply left. As she did she said nothing more than the simple order of, "Stay."

She was gone the next moment.

Marina acted as though she had no reason to explain herself to complete strangers. She would have been somewhat justified had it been genuine, of course, but only a little -- anyone with even half a brain would know that doing so was exceptionally rude. However, it would help in the long run. She knew there was no point in growing fond of people and Pokémon she would soon part ways with. That was beside the point, however; she and the lost souls she rescued needed to eat. Thus, out into the wilderness she went, dead-set on filling bellies.

As she walked and walked, she would collect anything that caught here interest.

By the lake shore she picked up some Scatternuts (for the bird wyvern twins). Then she pulled out her fishing rod and cast a line, quickly reeling in a Sushifish. Ascending the mountain she gathered fresh Mountain Herbs. A Giadrome and its pack sprang out of nowhere, menacing her. A fine addition to any meaty stew.

She reached the mountain's peak in record time, a little under two hours. There she spied her true prize: the shedding of a Kushala Daora. She smiled a rare smile, knowing that Khezu liked to deposit their young inside (for some reason). Perhaps she could find the local Veggie Elder, that grumpy old coot, and have him make a special treat...

It took another two hours for Marina to return, most of which had been spent on sniffing out the elderly hermit. She stepped back onto camp none the worse for wear, a Giadrome carcass slung effortlessly over her shoulder, both it and the fish kept fresh by the cold tundra air. Once again her cold gaze fell upon the lost group as she approached them, unceremoniously dropping the dead 'drome to the ground.

"I'll prepare dinner."

Even saying what should have been a warm and welcoming line, her words were still as cold as the surrounding air.