Jonyna Si
Rayia sighed under her breath, and let the glass vial containing the sedative slip back into the pouch on her hip. She'll have time enough to worry about that later. While riled, the beast was still rousing from the calming, comforting presence Jonyna had presented. Eventually, however, she knew. She wasn't exempt from her troubles. She followed Jonyna into the kitchen and watched while the Cathar grabbed a pan, two steaks and some seasonings. Feeling as if she was imposing, Rayia stood awkwardly in the center of the kitchen crossing her arms in front of her. Her culture had raised her to assist in the preparation of food, lest she not pull her weight. Everyone in the tribe had to work together to survive the harsh savannahs after all. But on the other hand she wasn't sure she fully trusted this Cathar woman quite yet.
She had certainly been kind, but neither was this the first time others attempted to use kindness as a weapon. A few pirates and slave traders had tried to wheedle their way into currying favor with the tribe. They had dropped off a few supply crates of food under the guise of aid. The tribe discovered only after some of them had been taken that the food had been drugged. Rayia remembered those days vividly. Her mother, Nemea, had issued the first great hunt to be called since she had taken the throne. Her mother's fuse had grown ever shorter, and the young Felacatian had spent several days avoiding the nest so to speak while her mother strategized the culmination of the pirate's systematic assassinations.
She blinked as the Cathar asked her how she wanted her steak. Rayia contemplated the question as the silence stretched on. Finally, after a pregnant pause Rayia said,
"I like it with just the barest hint of pink." However, just like with the water before, Rayia would not touch the steak when it was finished. Once again, she pushed it towards Jonyna, waiting for confirmation that it was safe before greedily snatching it up.
"So, is Dice a good pilot? Will he be able to take us where we need to go?" Rayia asked, between bites of steaming, savory meat.