Chapter Text
At the Resistance HQ's kitchen, a young Sarentu woman, (S/n), stood at the kitchen counter, meticulously chopping the vibrant crimson mushrooms into small pieces on the wooden cutting board. Her brothers and sister, Teylan, Nor, and Ri'nela, sat at the dining table, their eyes fixed on their sister with admiration. They watched her every move with a mix of respect and hunger.
"Can't you tell us anything about what you're cooking?" Nor asks, resting his chin in his palm.
"Nope!"
(S/n) cheerful reply only earned her brother a groan. (S/n) Then, carefully place the freshly chopped mushrooms into a separate bowl on the side. She then reached for the refrigerator and pulled out three ripe Shell fruits. She placed it on the board and cut the red skin in half, revealing its juicy and vibrant interior.
"Not even a tiny bit?" Teylan asks nervously, not one for surprises.
"Not even for the tiniest bit."
Both boys groaned, one annoyed and the other in dismay. Ri'nela laughed at the two as she waited patiently for her sister to finish setting things up. Unlike her brothers, she could wait patiently for things. After what felt like hours (10 minutes), (S/n) finally walked to the table with two large trays. One held the food, and the other had the drinks. She placed them down.
"Dinner is served!"
The others gazed at the food. The tray held two sets of three meals, a bowl of shell fruit and sliced crimson mushrooms, and another meat roast. The fruit salad looked fresh, as it was washed and had shiny skin, while the mushrooms were bright in color. The same was true for the meat dish, with marbled fat that glistened under the table light as steam rose from it. The second tray was also intriguing. A glass pitcher held a bright pale blue liquid with seeds. The others were surprised.
"(S/n), all of this looks fantastic! Did you learn all of this from Sa'nop?" Ri'nela asks, still amazed at the spread.
Ri'nela knew that her sister was learning various arts from the Aranahe, such as weaving, crafting, and even cooking. However, she didn't expect this after only a few weeks. "Him and the Aranahe top chef, Relun. I practiced a lot when I had time for myself. They both taught me a lot," (S/n) replies happily, her hands on her hips.
They both were also very particular in their teaching methods. Relun's fiery temper and obsessive nature were challenging, as he always had notes on everything (S/n) did. Cutting the wrong way results in a small swat back of the head, not cooking a meal properly forces you to eat and deal with stomach problems, and if you bring a kill that was not clean or merciful, don't even try to get any note from him. But, despite that, he was always there for her, like a daughter wanting to learn from their father. He seemed always there when she arrived from the clan, even late at night—to Nefika's delight, teasing the older man.
Sa'nop's teaching was very different from Relun's. He's a more carefree and joyful man when making meals. Due to his youth traveling Pandora's lands in exotic foods, he sampled the feasts he enjoyed. He treats (S/n) kindly, much like his own daughter. He educates the young Sarentu by sharing tips from other clans and narrating stories for each lesson. But when it came to gathering, he made her go alone, stating that it was up to her to get the freshest ingredients by her own hands than someone else. In the sense of cooking, it makes sense.
"Well, your work shows. Everything looks delicious," Ri'nela praises.
(S/n) smiles at her sister before she turns to her brothers, seeing their curious and hungry expressions and giggling," What are you guys waiting for? Dig in and tell me what you think."
Without hesitation, all three of them grab their bowls and dig in. Ri'nela starts with the fruit salad, taking bites of fruit and mushrooms. A burst of ripe fruit drove her to hum in delight when it hit her tongue. The sweetness was subtle and not overpowering, which pairs perfectly with the earthy and savory taste of the dice mushrooms. They also have this nutty taste, which this dish makes sense with this type of dish. She looks at the meat dish. She used her spoon to scoop up a good piece of meat. Blowing at it to cool it down, she takes a bite. The meat is perfectly cooked, and the tender flesh falls apart when she eats it. The richness of the roast juices and the spices used to bring this robust flavor make the dish even more delightful.
"Well? Is it good?"
Ri'nela looks at her sister, holding in her laughter, as she sees the serious look on her face while her tail sways back and forth. Before she could comment, Teylan beat her to it with a happy yelp.
"It's so good!" Teylan's ears twitch happily as he eats, and his tail sways freely. Both Ri'nela and (S/n) smile at their brother.
" Aw, thank you, Tey. I'm so happy you like it."
"I don't like it; I love it! You should always cook for us," Teylan adds, still munching on his food.
"He's right," Ri'nela points out," You beat the guys here with your cooking. Nothing can compare.'
(S/n) smiles more brightly at her sibling's comments. If this is the feeling you get when making meals for people, she may need to reconsider her path. She looks at Nor, noticing that he hasn't said anything. His face was down, but (S/n) could see the frown on his lips. Was the food bad? Undercooked? Not to his taste? Was the food not good, Nor?" Teylan and Ri'nela looked at Nor with confusion on their faces. Their food was delicious; was Nor's different?
"Nor?'
"It's taste.."
The three of them stood in silence as he finally began to speak, "It tastes exactly like the meals my father used to make."
As Nor finally looked up, his eyes began to water as memories flooded back. The others were shocked by his reaction, except for (S/n), who quickly moved next to her brother and enveloped him in a tight, comforting hug. He did not hide his face on her shoulder as quiet sobs escaped him, prompting Teylan and Ri'nela to join in the hug to comfort their brother. After a moment of hearing his cries, (S/n) said, "When Sa'nop taught me this recipe, and I got to try it, I couldn't stop stuffing my mouth until it was all gone."
Nor cries soften, and his ears twitch at her words.
"When I told him, he laughed, told me it was alright, and asked me what I liked about the dish. At first, it tasted like it was named 'Mushrooms and Shellfruit.' Then, she gently moves Nor to face her, making the others move away from their hug as she continues, 'But then, I remembered this warmth. A gentle hand that holds me during a storm. Her voice."
As she speaks, Teylan and Ri'nela fix their gaze on her, their ears perked up, fully attentive to the heartfelt words about her mother.
"Then Sa'nap told me how he got the recipe from a Sarentu woman. Who had an amazing singing voice and my eyes ."
Shocks ran across the three faces , " You think-"
"He sang the Sarentu song that he learned from her. The one we always sing "
All three gasped, realizing that their ancestors had paved the way for connections with people they had yet to meet. This thought brought them comfort. After wiping his face, he calmly settled down, signaling for the others to take their seats. Then, (S/n) poured juice from the pitcher into each cup and handed it to them. Ri'nela took a sip and immediately recognized her childhood favorite - Yovo fruit, which she and the others had loved as children. Nor and Teylan also smiled at the taste, enjoying their drink.
"Is it sweet?"
As Ri'nela looks at her sister, her eyes are filled with abundant love and warmth radiating from her entire being. Her smile is genuine and reflects the depth of her affection. She responds with a radiant and heartfelt smile, her eyes brimming with joy and tenderness.
"Yes,.It's very sweet ."