As Rito makes himself comfortable, you head back into the kitchen, and place the basket of goodies on top of the fruit barrel. You know you won't be needing to get anything out that one anyway.
The basket contains, as you suspected, a lot of carrots. They fill up one entire side of the wicker carrier, and while you are quite grateful for them, even a rabbit can get sick of these. You suppose that no one else in the village eats them, which honestly seems quite unlikely, but it's the only explanation you have for the sheer volume of carrots you have been receiving lately.
More importantly, however, the basket also contains two whole onions, a small jug, and a package wrapped in cloth. Finally, you can start properly cooking.
You take the onions out first, and like a master swordswoman, you chop one of them up so quickly that tears do not even come to your eyes. You add the now-tiny chunks of onion to the rest of the vegetables, nuts, and cucumber; placing the other one safely into the vegetable pantry.
Onions were to be treasured, when one could have them.
Reaching down to pick up the pot next to the table, you bring it up just even with the tree-stump, and carefully scoop all of your chopped victims into it. This makes it a bit heavier, but not as much as you would like. Placing it on the table where the massacre pile was, you next remove the wrapped package from the basket. As usual, it's warm to the touch, even through the cloth.
You carefully lift the package over the pot, and quickly open it up, dropping a glowing red sphere into the metal canister. Immediately, the bottom of the bot starts to turn red, as is it quickly heated.
[b]Din's Gift[/]: strange, hot rocks that would wash ashore on the bank of the river that flowed nearby Faron Village. They were a mystery, as they would appear every morning from the river, yet dissolved immediately in water.
Speaking of which... The jug is surprisingly cold to the touch as you retrieve it from the basket. Now you know why Rito was running late: he must have gone to draw water for you. You feel heat rush to your cheeks, as you take a moment to thankfully nuzzle the blessed pot. The well is always crowded, and the river is too dangerous to go to. You're lucky that Rito is willing to go to such lengths for you...
Shaking yourself out of your thoughts, you carefully take the lid off of the jug, and begin to pour the water into the pot. There's a loud hiss, as steam begins to pour up around the stream. You can't help but wince, the hot vapor stinging your arm as you empty the ration into the pot. It fills the pot over halfway, which you hope will be enough for everyone to get a portion. Thankfully, the aroma that begins to drift from the cooking soup isn't completely unpleasant.
You retrieve your wooden spoon from the rack, and begin to stir, the odor becoming more and more savory as you do so. You have a good feeling about this meal...
"Smells delicious." Rito's wings wrap around you suddenly, causing you to squeak in surprise and a slight bit of fear. Despite being the town guard, Rito is technically a carnivore, and your natural instincts still haven't adapted to him. Still, you can't help the blush and smile that come to your face as he places his head on your shoulder.
"Anything I can do to help?"
