It was around lunchtime when she arrived back in the village. She had been walking along the narrow, twisting path among the shifting shafts of bright green light filtering through the trees. And made her way out of the jungle. Greeted by the sting of the bright light of the twin suns, pulling the battered remains of a giant dull black centipede. Behind her, Leaving deep drag marks across the dirt as bits and pieces dropped. Its dead body was longer than most school buses. Its black shell was cracked and shattered. Chunks of glimmering pale white flesh puffed out like wet cotton. Long heavy vines twisted around its outside.
She walked, each stride more casual than the last. Her hair was wild and messy, dirt and grime covered her, looking like a beast. Over one shoulder, she held the end of the vines in one hand, and in the other, she had the severed head of the centipede holding it by one of its two pairs of jaws. And a few sizeable wet dripping bags. Using her elementary school art experience to weave strips of large leaves together were swinging against her hips. An appetizing aroma trailed behind her, the scent less appealing by the look across her face, eyes watery and nose crinkles. Her cheeks look a little pale.
The villagers stood in front of their longhouses, eyes wide in gawking, as the little ones came rushing out, grunting and chirping like small hungry birds. They quickly picked up the pieces and patted the segmented body of the centipede. A few managed to tear pieces of its flesh and run back to their longhouse. A couple, overestimating their hunger, underestimating their eyes, grabbed the rear antennae and tried to pull, then gave up and walked along.
Mikoto reached down, untied one of the wet-soaked bags, and handed it to a little one, who chirped loudly, eyes glowing and smiling. She struggled to hold it, letting it drop but held on to the knot. And did its best to pull it across the ground. Another little one quickly joined, trying to take it in different directions. Each one grunted and chirped in a funny little tug of war.
"Figure it out!" little misaka yelled with a laugh. "puppies with a new toy!" she tapped the screen. "That's a definite save." Swiping left.
Aya and Gullah, holding her little one, came out of the longhouse. Nya followed, holding the small hand of her little one, which bumped against her leg when she stopped. She waddled and teetered for a moment, almost losing her balance. And quickly regained her balance, Thanks to the gentle tug of her arm.
"Hey?! Is that Rae?" Little misaka asked. "Of course, I know it is… just making normal conversation, ya know? " She crossed her arms and nodded. She carried a little one. On her back, It was looking over her shoulder, eyes getting wider, and stings of drool dangled from her mouth.
"I think these little ones know what lunch looks like." Little misaka spoke.
Mikoto rolled her eyes. "I don't see…."
"And there she is." Little misaka said as Kea walked out of the longhouse. Mikoto could see her smile and hear her heart beating faster. And Mikoto felt the same. Her cheeks flushed, swallowed her breath. "I can't keep doing this?" she said
"Yes, you can," little misaka said, "and she does look good. It's like she is getting older each day." Little misaka leaned closer, biting her bendy straw, and took a drink. "Are her hips coming in?" She asked.
"What the! Are you asking me?"
"I'm just saying that tonight when she's asleep, we should check out her hips and boobs." She sighed, "for scientific reasons. Of course."
"We are not molesting her for any reason. Pervert."
Mikoto took a deep breath and dropped the centipede by her feet with a heavy thud and a slight push of air. She wiped the sweat from her forehead, looked at them, and stayed on Kea. She blushed. "I couldn't sleep last night, so I had some time to kill. And well…." she waved her hand over the centipede. "This is for you, kea," and handed the head of the centipede. "Why am I doing this.". she whispered. Kea blushed a bright red, taking the head of the centipede. She smiled silently and softly.
Aya laughed, hurrying into the longhouse and coming out with a sizeable, bladed weapon. Looking like a heavy broad ax. Nya shook her head. "I'll get the pots and seasoning," going inside. Gullah, with her little one on her hip, smirked. Looked over at Kea, face blushed, holding the head.
"Think we'll get some.? " little misaka quickly nodded. "I'll be bathed and ready tonight. And we'll be making the first move. Ohhh yea…" thinning her eyes, smirking.
"Will you shut up?!" Mikoto growled, "and no, we are not!"
"See that little one?" Gullah said softly into the little one's ear, "now that is a lovely gift." She grinned, thinning her eyes mischievously like a shewolf.
Mikoto felt an icy chill run up and down her spine. "Yep…. she'd be a good shewolf," little misaka said. "I am not arguing that."
She turned around and walked into the longhouse, "we should get out the enormous pots…." She called out. Aya screamed in excitement. "A feast tonight!"
It came across the open ground like an earthquake. "A feast tonight!" Mikoto looked around, and the gawking looks quickly dropped. Like a bee hive disturbed, excitement takes its place. "We need this and this?!" she heard them saying, getting into planning mode for a feast.
"Oh great, another drunken debaucher and barf on the son of the king moment. I am really looking forward to this." Little misaka said, leaning back into her recliner.
"I really hope you are being sarcastic."
"Oh… hell no." little misaka whispered. "We just spent the night shredding bugs, and now we have to go to the hot springs to wash and then come back to a feast. How can I be sarcastic about it? Prime time to check out some developing hips and boobs." She raised her drink, "for scientific research! Boo…ya!"
Mikoto exhaled, untying the other wet bags made of leaves and dropping them onto the ground. "Oh. And here is some of those," her face turned sour, "pill bugs…already steamed." She gagged. Rea and Gullah walked over, reaching out with expressions bordering on thank you for the food, and someone might be getting lucky tonite. Each taking the bag of steamed bugs.
"See, even they think we should…."
"Will you shut up?!" Mikoto nervously blushed and nodded.
Little ones rushed over, curious and excited, sniffing and trying to open and move them. They looked up at Mikoto. Chirping excitedly, she shook her head, feeling the tugs at her heart. "I am not opening those bags. If you can, good for you. I really hate bugs." She said, "and I need a bath."