Murdersquees Clearing, Tuesday Afternoon

[seeks_truth]

Cassandra did not quite grasp the purpose of their current dwellings, but she was not about to waste time thinking about it. Rather, she was choosing to be practical while they were here, this close to the preserve: she had hunted down a small rabbit in the woods. It had been some time since she last took care of her own food, and there was a sort of joy to the practicality of it, skinning the animal and getting it ready to go on the fire.

But that was something of an hour ago. Now she had a small fire going in the clearing, rabbit meat cut into rough cubes and shoved on some sticks. She was holding two over the fire, inspecting her handiwork every few minutes.

Not too terrible.

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[crimson_sister]

Escaping the bubble hut she shared with Ringo, Lucille had gone looking for Cassandra. She sighed in relief when she saw her friend by the fire.

"Am I interrupting? That smells nice."

[seeks_truth]

"Not at all," Cassandra said, looking up. She smiled faintly. "I believe there is enough to share. Come, Lucille."

[crimson_sister]

Lucille smiled back and sat down next to Cassandra. She leaned closer to the fire. "Where did you find the meat?"

[seeks_truth]

"There are rabbits in the preserve," Cassandra said. "It has been some time since I hunted my own meal. I felt I should ensure I hadn't lost my edge."

[crimson_sister]

"You hunt?" She shouldn't be surprised really, but Lucille had never thought about it. "We sometimes had roast rabbit at Allerdale Hall."

[seeks_truth]

"When I need to," Cassandra said. "I did not go on expedition often with the Seekers, when I was an apprentice. But when I did, I was expected to feed the group as much as any other."

She passed a rabbit kabob over to Lucille.

[crimson_sister]

Lucille took a bite of the meat. It tasted good, and she wiped the corners of her mouth with her fingertips. This wasn't a way she was used to eat, but somehow it suited the taste, and the smell of the roast meat and fire.

"Who are you sharing your... bubble hut with?"

[seeks_truth]

"Cosima Niehaus," Cassandra said, taking a bite of her own rabbit. "The situation is agreeable enough, I suppose, though I have grown used to living on my own. What of your... bubblehut?"

[crimson_sister]

"I share it with Ringo." Lucille didn't sound that pleased. "Have you met her? She is quite... enthusiastic."

[seeks_truth]

"We may have passed each other in the hall once or twice," Cassandra said unless there's a thread I'm forgetting. "What do you mean by... enthusiastic?"

[crimson_sister]

"She is incredibly cheerful and obsessed by her rolling shoes." What else? "She also seems to think I'm her friend, even if I make no effort to be so."

Luckily Lucille didn't know that Ringo thought she was shy and awkward.

[seeks_truth]

"That sounds..."

Cassandra groped for a word that would be somewhat kind.

"...Annoying."

[crimson_sister]

"It is," Lucille confirmed.