Yumi blinked at Aramis's reaction as she finally started coming down from the adrenaline. She finally noticed that Locke was also staring at her with an expression of horrified amusement. She followed their gaze down.

[color=4c87bf]"Ah..."[/color] she said simply as it finally dawned on her.

Her entire body was red. Not speckled. Not splattered. Drenched.

She let out a chuckle as she removed the feather from her cheek. [color=4c87bf]"Guess I'm still getting used to things having blood here.[/color]

Locke shook his head in disbelief and sighed before mumbling [color=A70000]"This girl..."[/color]

[hr]
After loading the Greatspur carcasses into some carts and hauling them back to town, they turned over all but one to the guild and took the remaining one back to their group's house.

[color=4c87bf]"I'm gonna go get cleaned up,"[/color] Yumi said as they arrived, giving them a small wave as she headed off to the washroom.

Locke snorted. [color=A70000]"Yeah, go wash off before Evie thinks we hunted dinner with a chainsaw."[/color]

[hr]
By the time she rejoined Locke and Aramis in the kitchen, Yumi looked human again and ready to help. Locke had already gotten the turkey seasoned and roasting. The three fell into an easy rhythm preparing the rest of the dishes.

Yumi wasn’t much of a chef, and not particularly familiar with an American-style Thanksgiving, but she was precise with a knife, and Locke’s confidence in the kitchen, as well as Aramis helping out, made the whole prep feel light, warm, even fun. Between the three, they managed to build a surprisingly impressive feast: roast turkey, crisp veggies, mashed potatoes, and whatever last-minute ideas Locke came up with that somehow worked.

When everything was finally plated and the table set, Locke nodded, satisfied. [color=A70000]"I'll go call her."[/color]

Evie stepped into the room expecting maybe a snack or a distraction — definitely not a full Thanksgiving spread glowing under warm lights. She froze, wide-eyed, one hand drifting to her mouth.

[color=697DFF]"You... you did all this? For me?"[/color]

Yumi grinned, both proud and a little shy. [color=4c87bf]"Locke’s idea. But we all pitched in."[/color]

Evie’s eyes shimmered, her homesickness melting into something softer. [color=697DFF]"It’s perfect. It smells like home."[/color]

She hugged them all in turn, and for the first time in days, Evie’s smile looked real.

[color=697DFF]"Let’s eat,"[/color] she said, voice warm and full again. [color=697DFF]"And next time... maybe warn me before you fight dinner?"[/color]

Yumi rubbed her head and smiled sheepishly, causing Locke to burst out laughing.

And together, they sat down to a meal that tasted like comfort — even if it had required a small poultry massacre to make it happen.