"One's enough," Andy managed to squeak, digging in her bag for a bottle of water. Once the near-crippling sourness faded, the taste wasn't actually that bad, but it wasn't something she would make a habit of eating.

Belle laughed and shook her head, getting out her big pot and starting to make the rabbit stew.

"You know, you should make chili," Thomas said, plopping next to her, looking at Andy. "Her chili is delicious. She makes it all from scratch."

"Sounds interesting, at least," Andy said. She grinned. "I remember one time my dad made chili that was very nearly combustible, it was so spicy."

"I can't stand spicy," Belle said, shaking her head. "So nothing I make will be spicy. I have to wait until we get to a town, though. And we have to have a room with a kitchen so I can get everything I need."

"Sounds like a plan," Andy said. "I'll remind you next time we get to a town."

"Alright." Belle started adding things to the stew, humming to herself as she did. "Oh, Lucivar, you think putting up a shield would help us hang out here for a bit wihtout being seen?"

"It wouldn't work against anyone darker than I am," Lucivar replied. "It may not even work against another Ebon-Gray."

"Meaning he could, but you're looking for a pair of Blacks, so it may or may not do what you want," Andy translated.

"Yeah, I kinda figured that. We might as well try, if you don't mind, Lucivar." Belle shot him a smile.

Lucivar nodded. Andy grinned.

"This should be good," she said. "I want to see how well this idea works."

"I mostly want to see how Craft actually works. There's a big difference between understanding it intellectually from a book and seeing it." Belle grinned and stirred the stew, checking it to make sure it would sit and simmer properly.

"It's oddly underwhelming," Andy replied. "Except witchfire. That comes in different colors. And physical shields."

Belle paused for a moment. "You know, if I get a Saetan, I'll have to keep yarbarah around."

"Part of the reason I didn't want to get one," Andy replied. "High maintenance and all that."

"Meh. Oh well." Belle shrugged. "I'll deal with that when it comes up. I don't really have a problem with it."

"You have too little of a problem," Thomas said. "You have no sense of self-preservation."

Andy grinned, but didn't comment. Instead, she started brushing burrs out of Kaelas' fur.

Belle shot Thomas a look that clearly told him to shut up before she stirred the stew some more. "Should be ready for dinner. It'll taste better the longer it gets to sit and simmer."

"I'll get some in a little bit," Andy replied. "Unless you're going to let it sit and simmer a while anyways."

"Yeah, I was planning on letting it simmer for a while. It'll taste better." Belle stretched out briefly before she got out a comb and started combing out Dejaal's fur.

"Sounds good," Andy replied as she brushed Kaelas. The massive cat was sprawled on his back and purring as she brushed him.

Dejaal relaxed as Belle brushed him out, and he purred as she continued. She smiled and made sure he was all clean before rubbing his stomach.

"Kaelas is being so disgraceful," Andy commented. "Look at him, sprawled out like that..." She grinned and kept brushing him.

Belle laughed quietly. "Oh but you know he likes it," she said with a grin.

"Of course," Andy replied. "He's like a giant, lethal lapcat right now."

Belle snorted. "There is no 'like' about it. He is a giant lapcat with the ability to tear someone's face off." She grinned.

Andy grinned as well.

"But that's why I like him to begin with," she pointed out cheerfully.