The campfire piled high and burned brightly, fuel was piled nearby, and Jazdia finally considered it up to her standard. Yet, despite the fatigue and comfortable settings, she couldn't get herself to fall asleep. In addition to the ailment currently gnawing at her insides, she could guess what the problem was. Quickly, she walked toward the supply crate and rummaged through to find a kettle, a metal tankard and some iron bars to be assembled near the campfire. And then, finally, a freakin tea! The scent made her feel so happy that she would have flipped if there had been no witnesses here.

Stepan helped to assemble the irons, while Jazdia went toward the river to fetch the water herself. Upon returning to the campfire and scrutinizing the water under the light to verify its cleanliness, she happily declared: [color=ec008c]"Okay, that seems safe."  [/color]

After hooking the kettle above the campfire, the ranger checked on the foreigner, who seemed busy preparing dinner. Yeah beef sausage, potatoes, beans, and onions, all chopped. Very staple ingredients for a stew.

She rolled up her sleeve and grabbed one of the potatoes to peel it, concluding that his whole chore seemed too much for one person to handle.  Looking at the party, Vesemir and Eblana were busy with their tomes, and the others were still dealing with knowing-each-other-names. So she summoned the only person available. 

[b]"What is it again, lass?"[/b] grumbled Stepan. 

[color=ec008c]"Hungry? Get some water, please? Ask Mr. Elc too. We need at least two basins of water; one to fill the pot and the other to wash the vegetables. It is [b]safe[/b]. I scooped some samples before. Chop chop! The stew isn't going to cook itself!"[/color] 

After much muttering and under-breath protesting, the water was delivered, the pot hooked and a bag of Instant condiments made by Ensling-Co was torn open, poured into the pot, and allowed to simmer.

Jazdia handed the peeled potatoes to Akari, insisting that she liked them peeled. [color=ec008c]"Takes more time, maybe, but that's a small detail that reminds us that we are civilized beings." [/color]

Pausing to take a breath, she eyed ripe apples hanging low on the trees near the river. [color=ec008c]"Let's throw some apples in that stew. Why the hell not." [/color]