CW: Discription of game animal butchering

As they approached the fire, Enoki took a moment to take everything in. It had been hard to take stock of what the season was like in the sky.  All of the clothing seemed to be designed for warmer weather. Ze was going to have to figure out how to explain ze didn’t know what season it was. Possibly carefully based on the various daggers, silvery bows, and swords that were glinting in the light of the fire. If Enoki accidentally made hirself look crazy, some of those lovely weapons might end up pointed at hir.

“Enoki, please don’t feel nervous. We know for humans it can be unsettling seeing us all standing. You’ll feel better when we are all sitting down.” Li’tiana’s ears, which had been sticking straight out from her head, twitched up slightly and rotated backwards towards a group of elves that were speaking softly. 

With a sudden turn, her eyes became pure black while facing the shadows. Li’tiana’s voice shook the branches. “You will NOT be rude to our guest! Get the other birds and pull the feathers!”

Hir sight was locked on this very imposing woman, noticing small golden cracks around her eyes before they disappeared in the light of the fire. The black eyes changed, shrinking down, revealing the whites and silver iris. 

“I um. I probably don’t take offense. I’m sure whatever they said, I’ve been called worse.”

She sighed and sat down as one of five giant dead birds were brought over. Something in the back of Enoki’s mind told hir they were twilight ravens. Known for flying at dawn and dusk looking for prey. Some of said prey included humanoids. Which made them fair game for any traveling bands to eat by most cultural standards. 

“That is not the point. We are part of the cultural exchange. But some of our younger members don’t understand why we do this so frequently. They still remember their own parents doing this just a mere thirty five years ago.” With each word a feather was quickly plucked and set aside. “They do not understand how quickly the world of Flickers like you change.”

Enoki paused, plucking the feathers a moment, struggling even to get a few out at this size. “Flickers?”

There was another ear twitch. Ze looked around and noticed that, despite what the elves were doing, there were many whose ears were now turned towards hir. It was like watching a cat listen for a can of food to be opened. Li’tiana kept pulling the feathers as others came over to help. 

“We are the longest lived race. At one time, we had ones so old we could claim they saw the other races being created one by one by the gods. Because we live so long we rarely birth new life. Meaning new ideas come slower to us. Thus, many of you are but a flicker of a candle in our eyes. A spark if you will. But because your lives are so much shorter than our own, your innovations and ideas change rapidly.”

“Ok, that makes sense— Ah!” Enoki got a big feather out, falling on hir butt while waving it above hir head. “This is harder than it looks.”

A small smile crossed her lips, showing the too perfect teeth again. “As it was, I pushed for the cultural visits to start happening more frequently. They used to be once a century.”

“So, are you leaving to meet one of the other races?”

“Yes. But if you are on a quest from the gods, I fear we cannot help you long. Such missions are dangerous to bystanders. But, a meal, perhaps a map, and some guidance could be done.” Her silver eyes glanced at Enoki’s hand, still holding the large feather. “Perhaps with the explanation of how you survived your fall. Your leather armor is not thick enough to prevent broken bones.”

“Maybe once the food is cooking? I promised to help.”

A low growl was heard behind hir head. Ze turned to find hirself face to face with a wolf, large enough to hold the eight foot tall elves and their packs on its back. It gave a small snort in hir face, appearing to debate if it was looking at dinner or a friend.

“Reg, calm down. That human is helping to pull the feathers.” The new elf slid down. “Ambassador. We have checked the area. Everything is safe.”

“Good. We started pulling by hand, but if you can have the mages use some magic to help with the feathers. Ze is very hungry. In fact, do you have some of the rations?”

“Oh, yes ma’am.” He reached into a pouch and held it out in his hand. Though the hard roll was big enough to make a sandwich out of, in his hand it looked like an adult offering a child a candy. 

Enoki took it and carefully started to eat, missing the watchful gaze of hir host. As ze ate, several of the elves came over, removing gloves to show runes tattooed in black ink softly starting to glow as they sang. Within moments, hundreds of star filled hands appeared in the air and started grabbing at the feathers. Many feathers were placed inside various bags and others thrown into the fire to help with the flames. Enoki couldn’t figure out how the elves could stand the stench as the burning feathers turned to ash. As soon as one bird was done, Li’tiana raised her hand and made a sharp cutting motion to the side. Everyone instantly silenced. 

“Alright, mages. Rest. Everyone else, get a knife and first gut the birds as we practiced. Give the organs and heads to the wolves. Everything else we prep for ourselves.” She looked to Enoki who was quickly shoving the last of the bread into hir mouth. “Are you able to. . .  help? Where did that knife come from?”

Unable to get words out around the food, Enoki followed the gaze of the elf to hir own right hand. There was a boning knife. It was the perfect size for a bird this size, with its blade a bit longer than hir own hand. The handle had a blue and gold inlay. Swallowing the hard roll quickly, Enoki spoke up. “I um, my hand?”

The elf from before frowned. “It wasn’t there before. I would like to know what kind of magic that was.”

“So, would I.” mumbled Enoki as ze went up to the bird. Ze took a moment to look over the plucked bird before speaking up. “I never butchered a bird this big but I think I know where to start. So, we want it in smaller pieces or a particular cut?”

“We separate the dark meat from white. Then separate the spine, wings, and breast. And set the feet aside from the legs and thigh. We will be cooking these all different ways.” She gestured to how the others were beginning to cut away the meat and bone. “But the head and organs first. The wolves need to eat before we do.”

“Right.” Ze went up to the head and looked at the eye of the bird. Ze always felt a bit bad for the animals. But in nature they would die to predators, or illness, or plain old bad luck. And this wasn’t for sport, but for needed food. Ze closed hir eyes for just a moment and proceeded to do the only prayer ze ever did.

“May your energy return to the world. If you have more beyond this, may it be good to you. The world is cruel, death should not be.” When hir eyes opened a few elves had gathered around, watching carefully now, not even hiding their nosiness. 

There was nothing to do now but simply begin butchering the bird. Using the knife to cut through the soft flesh of the neck and then between the neck bones. As soon as the head rolled off to the side, the eyes staring to the sky, the wolf from earlier padded over. With its tail wagging it took the head and began to work on crushing the skull in its teeth. Enoki missed most of the mess that caused by turning to the rest of the body. Trying to focus on what ze needed to do. The other elves helped pull out the organs from the huge bird and carried them away for the other wolves. 

By the time the chest cavity was empty, other elves had already started cutting the feet and carving up the rest of it. Mo’ton gently pulled hir back, his golden eyes full of worry and concern. “Young flicker. I don’t know what magic you are doing but you need to rest yourself before you burn out.”

“I. . .  ok.” Ze looked down to see the blood all over hir body. “Maybe a bath is a good idea?”

“After how you blessed these animals, we can do such a minor thing.” He waved his hand, humming as stardust scattered over hir. As it landed on hir, it quickly spread causing the blood to disappear off everything except the blade. 

No sooner did Enoki think ze should put it away, it suddenly melted into a metallic goo and entered the golden ring in hir glove. Ze stared a moment, shocked that it had come from there. Granted the godlike beings did say it was going to be whatever tools were needed. But ze didn’t think it’d change with a mere thought.

“Just like the shapeshifting before.”

Mo’ton’s eyes narrowed at the word ‘shapeshifting.’ “Hrm. I will want to talk with you directly once the meal is prepared. I get the feeling you were not told enough for your quest. For now, you should go through your pack. Before the others try to do so for you.”

Wordlessly, Enoki nodded and sat down a ways from the butchering. When ze opened hir pack, a dark blue paper was sitting on top ze didn’t remember. Carefully, ze opened it and looked at the golden writing upon it.

Little chick. I hope you read this upon landing and before you meet others, or things may become complicated. Consider this a shopping list, if you will. It will show the things you need once you meet the needed race that can provide it. Keep in mind these races will not give up these items easily. Stating ‘the gods demand it’ will sometimes make it harder. Find your flock, and they can help you. No matter how far apart you are from each other.

Prove yourself with this feast little chick. And fly.