The Tiger Within 112 Found At The Falls Part 2

"I suppose that is true. Mind if I join you for a bit?" He asked glancing at Mally and the basket she had sitting beside her. All three girls nodded as Kyera took a seat on the blanket beside the girls.

"You are welcome to, Fourth Prince. We are graced with your presence." Mally replied more formally than either of the other girls had spoken. Kyera winced slightly realizing she was behaving like she was still in the forest. There was a different etiquette here.

"Thank you, Mally My dear, but you need not be so formal with me. It's just the 4 of us out here." Clovis replied with a sigh, laying back in the gra.s.s next to them. Kyera began unpacking the simple meal they had brought along. The meal was simple and made of some amazing warm dumplings and banana leaf packets that the prince had never seen before. For a moment he wondered where this meal had come from.

"I hope you enjoy, Prince Clovis. Raina was curious about the meals cooked in the forest, so I asked Kyera to make some of them for her." Mally explained with a smile as Kyera served each of them from the basket. There seemed to be extras of everything still in the basket as she fed everyone. He raised an eyebrow glancing at the woman serving him.

"I see, I suppose cooking comes with living in the forest by yourself then? Do you cook for others often?" He asked, taking a bite of one of the dumplings on his plate. It melted in his mouth as he chewed and Kyera stirred a pot with leaves in it waiting for the tea to steep.

"I cook for others fairly often. The Banana Leaf has always been a good breakfast. I make several of them a night. My friend…" Her voice trailed off and her eyes turned away from them to the water. There was a sadness in her eyes as she looked away, but for a moment he was drawn in wondering what those eyes held so deeply. "My friend use to come over for breakfast." Kyera finished her statement with a soft smile.

"Verone?" Mally asked softly, knowing what would cause such pain in her eyes. Kyera's eyes watered and she stood and wiped her eyes.

"Yes. We lost contact in a rather… cruel way. I worry about how he is doing now." Kyera replied with a smile. Raina was eating her banana leaf packet with enthusiasm and nearly done, so Kyera busied herself with offering the child a second one while she regained control. It didn't take long for her to be able to smile properly.

"I know how that can feel, sometimes losing contact with loved ones can be harder than if they had actually died. You never know what has become of them." Clovis added with a sigh, eating his packet and raising a brow as the warm fresh flavors coated his mouth and warmed him up. There was a sense of sweetness from the fruit as well as the well cooked meats that had cooked together in that tiny package. The fire smoke had infused with the meal itself giving it another flavor he was less use to. "This really is delicious." He complimented and Raina nodded quickly.

"Teacher is a fantastic cook!" Raina agreed with a bright smile. That was enough to dispel the feelings of gloom that had started to settle on the group. Kyera chuckled.

"Thank you, My dear. However, as your teacher, I should remind you that when your father leaves, we need to review the chords you have learned." Kyera replied with a grin. Raina's eyes lit up as she realized that Kyera was offering her a chance to practice. It had been almost a full day since she had first told Kyera the good news and yet she hadn't even seen the beloved instrument.

"MMMHM Snow Drop told me she would teach me a new song today." Raina added with excitement bubbling out of her sweet little voice. Kyera couldn't help but shoot a look at Clovis and chuckle at his slightly lost expression. He was still finishing a bit before he had a chance to respond.