One month after Avi’s horrific, unprovoked, savage attack on her childhood sweetheart, Tammy’s achy bones and shredded skin had finally healed. The only wounds remaining on his comparatively frail body are those of the mind. The rattling of tails makes him queasy, physical contact skyrockets his blood pressure. He can hardly occupy the same tent as Avi.

On assassination missions, Tammy can more or less keep himself together.

He’s not a person, or so he tells himself, he’s a tool of the Barabba Tribe to be used in their endless guerrilla war against the Gurant Empire. Tools have no capacity to be traumatized. A real assassin, in his mind, is single-mindedly devoted to the task at hand, and cannot be bothered by anything that will get in the way of the mission. He can crawl through raw sewage, he can look death in the eye, he can converse politely with Avi and even joke around with her. Immediately after the attack, another bone-tail went on missions with the two, but Tammy insisted he was fine and didn’t need a chaperone.

However, once he returns to camp, this persona falls apart and he splits from Avi immediately. They sleep in separate tents, he eats by himself, he spends his time working out, or reading. Should their paths ever cross, which happens occasionally given the small size of camp, his body locks up. His eyes home in on her, unblinking, fists clenched. Rather than a proud assassin, it’s more like he’s prey that realizes escape is impossible, so he’s preparing to make his death unpleasant for his killer.

Avi is similarly alone at camp, though she’s treated no differently by her tribe. They hated her before she assaulted Tammy, they hate her now that she’s hurt him, and they’ll hate her forever. She’s given up trying to change that state of affairs. The only difference is that she doesn’t even have him anymore.

In between missions, she often goes full days between missions without uttering a single word. If anyone does talk to her it’s an insult, or an apology for ‘accidentally’ running into or hitting her. If she spots Tammy, her face brightens and her instincts scream at her to go over and say hello, but seeing his terrified face brings her back to reality. Her only reason for existing at this point is to be an assassin. If she isn’t on a mission, her time is spent waiting for her next mission.

After weeks of this social isolation, Avi finally goes into the matriarch’s hut, her grandmother’s. A large circular tent made with thick, decorative, handcrafted fabric, with large wooden sticks shoved into the ground for struts. The walls are seven feet high, then the support beams turn inward at a shallow angle. The middle of the roof, where all the support beams meet, is a hole that lets in sunlight, and lets out smoke, though Matriarch Damara doesn’t currently have a fire in the pit.

The ground is a fine red sand, with circular rugs and pillows placed around.

Avi sits on one of those pillows, her legs crossed, her hands on her knees, and her head down. Her messy, raven black hair is cut short because, a few weeks ago, she suffered damage to her scalp, and some patches of hair have yet to return to their previous length. Her face also has faint scars crisscrossing her skin, but they’re almost fully faded. “Please, Matriarch. I can’t stand it anymore. How do I get Tammy to stop hating me?”

Damara is tall for a bone-tail woman, standing at 7’1 while her 14-year-old granddaughter is a runt at only 5’7. She’s lying on her side, with a large pipe held elegantly in her strong, youthful hands. Despite being 92 years old, her bone-tail genes keep her looking in her mid-30s. “It’s inarguable that you did something awful to the poor boy,” she pauses and rolls her eyes, “or, no, I’m sorry, the boy ‘got attacked by a wild beast and you saved him’, since he’s still going with that ridiculous lie.” Attacking a fellow tribe member is a serious crime, and everyone was excited to use the incident as a pretext to finally get rid of Avi through execution, even though banishment is a more typical punishment. Despite all evidence to the contrary, Tammy swore up and down, even as the bandages were still wet from the wounds she inflicted, that she did nothing of the sort, and that she instead saved him from a random beast. “You beat the shit out of the poor boy, nobody can fathom why, and you can’t possibly justify it, or pass off the blame. It was entirely your fault that the kid’s so skittish. That being said, have you tried apologizing to young Samuel?”

“I have!” Avi snaps but doesn’t raise her head. “I apologized right after it happened, I apologized every time he looked distressed. I apologize in my head, over and over on repeat in case he’s listening to my thoughts. I even apologize every time we go on missions, but he just dismisses me and says there’s no need! But even still, every time we come back to camp, he runs away…”

Damara takes a deep breath in her pipe, then slowly exhales the smoke, shaking her head. “Wrong, wrong, wrong. There’s your issue. You apologizing is just reminding the kid what you did to him, which is foolish, like you keep prodding a wound while it’s trying its best to heal. The remedy here is to not apologize, obviously.”

Avi raises her head, “wait, but you just told me I should-“

Damara whips her long tail around and smacks the top of Avi’s head, forcing her to look down. “I asked if you had apologized, I didn’t tell you to. A real bone-tail never apologizes. Apologies are a sign of weakness, and an affirmation of guilt. If Samuel is still broken up about what happened, that’d be his fault.” The Matriarch is lying, only saying what she needs to twist the knife in Avi’s heart. If Avi hadn’t apologized, as Damara assumed, she would have called her granddaughter heartless. Because Avi did apologize, she switched her strategy without skipping a beat.

No matter what Avi does, it’s wrong.

Avi can feel her grandmother’s next words coming. To keep herself from speaking out of turn, she grips her pants and bites the inside of her cheek.

“But Sammy’s a tough little guy, so I don’t think your horrific, monstrous betrayal is the real cause.” She takes a long inhale of her decorative wooden pipe. There’s a powerful psychedelic plant burning inside, but bone-tail physiology prevents her from feeling its effects. She’s inhaling so deeply because it’s a fresh, mint flavor. After exhaling a thick cloud of smoke that quickly dissipates, “have you considered that the boy just isn’t fond of you anymore?”

Despite preparing for the words, they still hit Avi hard in the gut. She pinches her thighs through her pants. “I don’t think that’s the case,” she says as calmly as possible.

“It’s not?” Damara says with her chin high, looking down her nose at her granddaughter with a smile. “Do you think your ‘husband’ is so weak minded that he’d let a few injuries bother him so? He’s been injured on missions before.”

Avi grits her teeth, “I almost killed him. If mother hadn’t shown up and injected her serums… he would have died. Of course he’s bothered, especially since I was the one closest to him.”

Damara ignores this, “the boy isn’t like us, he’s a human. They don’t mate for life, their whims and fancies change like a rifle changes magazines. Everyone saw how sickeningly close the two of you were, that’s true, but you’ll just have to accept that it’s over now. You ruined it. You hurt him, it killed his delusions, I think perhaps one of your sisters or cousins should take over from here.” Damara takes a long inhale of her pipe, looking her granddaughter up and down. At 14 years old, a normal bone-tail girl should be around 6’3, nearing their full height. Her arms and legs are thin, her tail short due to repeatedly getting segments cut off. Avi sitting there, seething with frustration, just comes across as cute. “They’d also produce a stronger generation of assassins than you, and added with his psychic gifts? The gurant wouldn’t stand a chance.”

“I… disagree, matriarch.”

She rubs her chin, “actually, how would I go about maintaining order as everyone fights for him? Ah!” Damara sits up, her legs crossed, with her feet on top of her knees and the soles pointed upwards, her long tail happily swishing left and right. “Not that you’d know, but it’s customary for a wife to prepare her husband’s dinner, and when there’s a feast, it’s her duty to collect his plate and serve him.”

“I did know-“

“Therefore, Sammy should decide who his wife should be! I’ll have them make his dinner tonight. Whichever dish Sammy declares to be the tastiest, that’s who’ll get exclusive rights to charm him.”

Avi bites her bottom lip hard enough to draw a thin streak of blood down her chin, and she repeatedly stabs her tail into the red sand of the ground. “As you wish, matriarch. I’ll participate too.”

“Hm? Sammy isn’t interested in you anymore. There’s no point.”

“I will participate, matriarch, and I’ll win.”

Damara waves her hand dismissively, “fine, fine, waste all the time you want. Not like Sammy would choose your meal anyway. The bitter taste of his memories would ruin the dish.”

Avi dips her head further as a sign of respect, “thank you, matriarch.”

Damara calls for a few of the young women of the village, and they arrive promptly. They enter her tent and stand on the opposite end of the unlit fireplace, while Avi remains sitting, her head bowed. There are six girls in total, including Avi. One is 10 years old, another is 12, Avi and her cousin are 14, one is 15, and the oldest is 18. Despite being older than two of her cousins, Avi is only barely taller than the 10-year-old, and that’s only because the 5’4 girl hasn’t hit her growth spurt yet.

Damara claps her hands, signaling her granddaughters to sit. “Girls, as you all know, Avi thoroughly destroyed her relationship with Samuel, and their marriage is in tatters.” The girls look at Avi and start giggling. “I don’t want you killing each other over the boy, so we’ll make a game of it. Dinner is in…” She grips her golden watch necklace and checks the time. Years ago, she had the tribe’s artificers make this replica to match her husband’s—the patriarch’s—prized necklace that he stole from a target over 80 years ago. He often leaves the tribe on business, so she likes having it close to her heart. “Two hours. You’ll all be making Sammy a meal, and the supper he enjoys the best will net the winner exclusive rights to charm him. There’s no time to hunt for food, so you’re all permitted to take what you like from the storeroom. You may use any means necessary to win Sammy’s approval. Good luck.”

“Yes, nana!” The girls either give her a salute, slam their fits against their chests, or snap their hands to their sides to convey their understanding. Before leaving, each walks over to Damara and gives their beloved matriarch a hug.

Avi has to wait until everyone leaves. Once she’s alone, she’s permitted to stand, bow, then walk backwards out of the tent.

****

The nomadic Barabba Tribe is currently set up camp in the light red sands of a vast, arid desert. Hidden amongst the rocks, canyons, and mountains, the Gurant Empire hasn’t developed this region of the planet, making it ideal for their hideaway. It’s noon on the planet, and it’ll only be another hour before the sun dips below the mountain.

The valley is about 300 meters wide, flanked by steep cliff walls to the north-west and south-east. A small stream of crystal-clear water runs through the valley, with the many tents of the village on the east bank of the stream. The ground has a fine layer of light red sand, with larger pebbles and stones spread across the campsite.

Tammy and Avi’s tribe has 183 members, five of which are various humans from across the Gurant Empire who, like Tammy, married into the tribe. 11 members are currently on missions across the planet, killing the gurant and their agents, or participating in mercenary work for the good of the tribe. Official members are only those who have survived to the age of 12, but even by age nine each child is a skilled assassin with dozens of kills under their belts.

Tammy sits on a rock by the stream, poking and prodding a small fire with a stick. He’s responsible for maintaining eight fires since the tribe will start cooking dinner soon. Behind him rests a stack of logs that had to be dragged dozens of miles through the desert.

“Oh, Sammy!” A girl calls out, siphoning the energy from his body as he looks up.

It’s Filian, Avi’s older sister. When bone-tail women get pregnant, they give birth to litters of children, 4-7 at a time. Filian was born in the litter prior to Avi’s, and she’s the only one from her litter of six that’s still alive, proving she was the best. She stands at 6’10, with a strong tail that’s 20 feet long. She’s wearing a one-piece, fitted brown dress made of animal hides, with long sleeves, tall boots, and a hole in the back to accommodate her tail. Her skin is tanned from the harsh desert, and she has the same raven black hair and piercing ruby eyes as her little sister.

“H-h-he-hey.” Tammy bites his bottom lip, and keeps his eyes locked on the fire while Filian sits on the right of the fire.

Unlike Avi, Filian has tact, and knows not to approach the boy too strongly. “I asked father for a contract, and I’ll be heading out tomorrow. Wanna come, just me and you? Surely a quick break from my little sister will do you some good.”

Tammy doesn’t respond for a long time. Too many thoughts are swirling in his head, fighting each other for prominence.

What if Filian freaks out and jumps him like Avi did? Was Avi just a special case? What’s her ulterior motive? Would it be good to do a mission without Avi? What would happen to Avi if left alone in the village? Does he even care? At the same time, he remembers that none of these questions will bother him once he finally goes on a mission and can dedicate his mind, body, and soul to his objective. Even if he knows that being on a mission will be relaxing, it always takes so much effort to actually go.

As Tammy stares into the fire, Filian waits patiently. Even after a minute passes, she doesn’t ask if he’s okay, nor does she repeat the question.

“Sorry, I, um, don’t th-i-i-“ Tammy shuts his mouth tight and swallows his words. He didn’t used to have a stutter, but it’s making him want to rip his throat out. Yet another issue that doesn’t plague him once he finally gets a target. “I. Don’t. Think. I. Want. To.”

“That’s fine,” she says with a soft smile and a gentle tone. “May I ask why? Is the problem me specifically, or would it be too strange to go on a mission without her?”

“Why..? I guess I j-j-ju-…” He clenches his fist so tight that it breaks the stick in his hand, “just. I just can’t drum up the enthusiasm.”

“Hmh, sounds like you’re in a slump.” She rhythmically taps her feet on the sand, “well, you always brighten up a lot when on a mission, so perhaps it’s best to just rip off the bandage? I could have father order you to go, if that helps.”

Tammy looks into the fire again and tosses the broken pieces of the stick inside. “I pro-probably should go on some miss-iss-… mission. It’s been. A few days.”

“That’s the spirit,” when smiling, she makes sure not to show off her teeth. She saw the gnarly bite marks Avi left during her assault and doesn’t want to bring back any bad memories. “And hey, to sweeten the deal, I’ll even make you a nice meal while we’re out. Fresh game, hunted myself, and I’ll bring spices from the storeroom. Just tell me what food you’d like, and I’ll figure out what animals would be best to hunt.”

Tammy hangs his head, “umm…” He shrugs, rocking his head back and forth. “Well, s-so you were interested in m-m-ma-… Matriarch Damara’s game?”

“Teehee,” she brushes her long hair behind her ear and shoulder, “nothing gets by you, does it? How’d you know?”

“I felt Avi’s soul meet the matriarch and I was worried ab-b-b-… about. What Avi was planning, so I listened in. Sh-she keeps her thoughts and words really or-… organized. So it was easy to piece together. What was being said. But I didn’t… know who else was there.”

“Aww,” she pouts playfully, “you can’t recognize my soul at a glance?”

“A-as for the food, I’d like meatballs in flatbread. There’s no need for everyone to come a-a-a… ask. To come ask me what food I like.”

“Understood,” Filian says with a smile as she promptly stands. “I already have an idea about the recipe, so prepare to be blown away.” Despite the enthusiasm in her voice, she keeps calm, and doesn’t shout. “I’ll tell the others what you want, so they won’t bother you.”

“Thank you.” Tammy notices one of the fires is starting to die down, so he rises from his spot and feeds it another log.

“Oh, but please don’t listen in when we’re cooking,” Filian says with a cute wink. “I’d like it to be a surprise.”

****

The tribe’s storeroom is a large tent in the center of the nomadic village, shaped like a pentagon. One face of the pentagon features the entrance flap, while the other four sides extend into rooms stacked with metal boxes. The central area of the storeroom features a large pit, with a generator inside, constantly rumbling and spewing thin black smoke that rises up the ventilation hole in the ceiling, before quickly dissipating in the wind. The generator is powered by a viscous, specially synthesized fuel serum. Thick wires extend from the external battery pack of the generator and connect to dozens of fridges in each protruding room of the tent. One extension houses vegetables, one contains various meats, the third is stocked with exotic spices and ingredients for serums, and the fourth extension is full of fruits and grains.

The six girls enter the storeroom and quickly spread out.

“Meatballs on flatbread? Easy!” Kary says with a determined look in her eyes.

Filian cracks her knuckles, “time to win.”

Danielle rolls her shoulders and flexes her tail, “this competition will be a piece of cake!”

“We’re making meatballs on flatbread, not cake.” Amanda corrects with a flat look in her eyes.

Zhu slaps her friend on the back. “Haha, oh my gosh, shut up, Ames.”

The six competitors go their separate ways to plot and gather the correct materials and spices for the best meal possible. They’ve all known Tammy for years, so they dig deep into their memories to find his likes and dislikes. Most of their recollections involve Avi annoyingly jumping in to force a distance between the girls and her husband.

Meanwhile, Avi stays in the center. With her arms crossed, she stares at the generator and the billowing smoke. She has one chance to succeed and needs to use everything in her power to make it work.

She heads over to her big sister, Filian, who’s busy looking through the blocky fridges to find meat. Each fridge lays on the ground, with the door opening upwards like a chest.

“Hey, Filian.”

“What is it?” She says, not bothering to turn around. “If you want me to drop out so you can keep Sammy, I’m sorry to say that that isn’t happening.”

“N-no,” she rubs her hands, methodically. “Actually, the opposite. I want you to win.”

Filian pauses, then turns around. “Pardon?”

Avi sways in place, incapable of making eye contact. “I… I’m not stupid enough to think I could win this competition for Tammy’s heart. I messed up bad, I get it. So, rather than, you know, trying, failing, and making a fool of myself, I’m in a position to basically pick Tammy’s wife.” Avi clenches her jaw to steel her nerves, then looks up at her big sister’s ruby eyes. “I think it’d be best if it was you.”

Filian’s harsh gaze softens, “really?”

“I will admit, it is a bit selfish of me, but it’d hurt less if I knew it was my sister that ended up with him. You’re the closest to me out of everyone.”

“That’s… not how our genetics work, but I get that you don’t know that. Avi,” Filian places a hand over her heart, “I’m touched by that, I really am. Thank you. So, what would you recommend? What does Sammy like best?”

“Human brain.”

“…hm?” Filian cocks her head.

Avi speaks without a hint of insincerity. “Tammy loves it, can never get enough. He’s a bit shy about acts of raw cannibalism, so he never eats it in camp. But on missions? Phew, let me tell you, all the time he got me to crack open a skull and cook the brains.”

“Really? That’s shocking, he always looked so ill when we eat.” There’s a lot of human flesh in the storeroom and it’s a regular ingredient in bone-tail dishes.

“Well, he is disgusted by it, but it’s like a guilty pleasure. He’ll recognize the taste. And it’s human brains specifically! Not animals, or any other part of the body. Tammy’s a smart guy, and so he likes eating the thinking part.”

“Huh,” Filian grabs her chin. “Yeah, that makes sense. Thanks, Avi.”

“Of course,” Avi says with a somber nod.

Filian opens her arms wide, and Avi slowly moves in closer for a gentle hug. Unlike every other time Avi receives a hug from someone that isn’t Tammy, Filian doesn’t use the opportunity to test her strength and squeeze the life out of the poor girl, or punch her in the stomach. It’s a normal, warm, love-filled hug.

Which contrasts Avi’s thoughts, “ha! You dumb bitch, I can’t believe you fell for that! No, I’m not giving up on Tammy. No, I don’t want you to have him. No, Tammy doesn’t like human brains. What kind of idiot would believe that? The first time I pressured Tammy into eating human flesh, he puked his guts out then cried for three hours straight. So, he’ll eat your nice little meal, you’ll tell him that it includes human brains, he’ll puke out the disgusting trash you cooked for him, and then I’ll swoop in! A pure meal, cooked properly, with no odd ingredients. He’ll be so disturbed by what you fed him that he’ll have to choose me as the winner. Haha, I’m so smart, it hurts.”

Avi and Filian separate, with Avi’s face a perfect example of resignation. She’s seemingly accepted her fate, and nobody could tell otherwise from her body language.

She solemnly walks away from her big sister, then heads over to her 16-year-old cousin.

“Hey, Kary?”

“What is it?” Kary is also fully grown, standing at 6’11, with a head full of fiery red hair, freckles lining her face and shoulders, and a sleeveless dress that shows off her dense, muscular arms. She’s leaning over a wooden crate full of vegetables, her long tail, thicker than average, reflexively curls and uncurls like deep breaths.

“Well, I’ve been thinking, and I know I can’t win, so I’d rather you win Tammy’s heart.”

Kary pauses, stands upright, then looks down at her cousin. “Really?” It’s a childhood habit that Kary’s long tail coils around the waist of whoever she’s talking to, tightening and relaxing in a steady pulse.

“Yeeeeah, it sucks, but there’s no choice. You’re at least cute with your hair and all, better than that old hag, Filian, or those two twirps, and especially that bitch Danielle. So I might as well help you win.”

“Huh. How… oddly mature of you.” She puts her hands on her wide hips, “what did you have in mind?”

“You need to use human liver as the primary meat for the meatballs.”

“Human liver?”

“Tammy loves it, can’t get enough. Just make sure they’re fried, and don’t tell him. He saaaays it’s gross to eat human meat but secretly loves the taste. He’d be embarrassed if you just blurt out to everybody that that’s what he’s eating.”

“Hmm,” she rubs her strong, pointed jaw, “I always thought it was odd when he rejected human flesh during feasts, so it makes sense that he secretly enjoys it. Thanks, Avi.”

“Of course, cousin.”

The two fist bump and, unlike every other time a Barabba offers Avi a fist bump, Kary doesn’t try to punch hard enough to split her knuckles.

She walks to her 10-year-old cousin next, Amanda Janner Barabba, who has already chosen her bread and is now looking for the right meats. She’s only two inches shorter than Avi, has fluffy blonde hair that she’s given up trying to manage, and glimmering topaz-yellow eyes. Despite not technically being an adult because she hasn’t survived the ritual that will occur on her litter’s 12th birthday, Amanda has already proven herself invaluable and was given a special exemption. Living past 12 is just a formality.

Avi was not given an exemption like that because everyone was certain she would have been killed by her little siblings. Yet she survived, as always.

“Yo, Amanda, I’ve accepted that I can’t win this, so I’ve decided to offer you my help instead.”

“…” Amanda stares up at her with eyes unblinking. “Why?” She says with a curious cock to her head, her tail swishing to the side.

“Because you’re cute, already tall, and you’re a much better choice for Tammy than those old hags. It hurts to admit, but I don’t think Tammy likes older girls.”

“What Samuel likes is irrelevant though. The goal is just to produce children with Barabba genetics as well as psychic powers, yes?”

“Uh… and that’s what makes you so perfect for Tammy! Very analytical, smart, no room for useless emotions. You’re easily the best match, and that’s why I’m saying you need to use intestines for the meatballs.”

Amanda cocks her head to the other side, with her tail altering sides as well. “Of which animal?”

“Human!”

“Samuel doesn’t like human meat and has, for as long as I’ve known him, been disturbed by its consumption.”

“Yes, but I’ve been grooming him to slowly enjoy the taste, putting it in his food without telling him. According to my tests, he likes small intestines the most.”

“I see. If I include that ingredient without telling him, it should work well for me in this competition. Thank you, cousin.”

With a smile, Avi raises her hand, expecting a high five. When Amanda promptly turns around and returns to her work, Avi slyly alters the trajectory of her hand, brushing her short hair back instead.

Next is the 12-year-old Zhu Induaii Barabba, who’s debating on if she should add fruit to the meal or not. She has dyed blonde hair that she’s taken great pains to style in beautiful curls, sun-kissed skin, the gorgeous obsidian eyes of her clan, and she’s slightly shorter than usual, only two inches taller than the runt, Avi. Zhu and the Induaii Clan are recent additions to the Barabba tribe. A little over a year ago, the Barabba tribe arrived at a water world and stayed with a sedentary tribe of bone-tails for a time. Some Barabba chose to remain with the sedentary tribe, while other families chose to leave the sedentary lifestyle behind and join the nomads.

“Hey, Zhu.” Avi sheepishly approaches.

“Hey,” she speaks with a thick accent native she adopted from the sedentary tribe. “You think I should I add fruit to the meatballs? I’m thinking to, like, surround each berry with a ball of meat. But what berry should I choose?” She looks up and taps her chin, “I’m kiiiiiinda thinkin’ watermelon.”

“…Despite my better judgement, I’ve accepted that I’ll lose this match, so I’ve decided to support you in my place.”

“Awww, thanks, that’s like, suuuuper sweet of you. Buuuut I don’t think I’ll need it.”

“You do. Forget the fruit, you’ll want to add human skin.”

“Human skin?” Zhu grips her chin. “Could be good fried and crispy, but, like, doesn’t Sammy toooootally hate eating humans?”

“Nope, that’s a misunderstanding.”

“Oh! That makes this, like, sooooo much easier! Thanks, Avi,” Zhu leans over, wraps her arms behind Avi’s neck, and kisses her tribemate on both cheeks. Avi recoils, the sensation completely alien to her. Usually, Zhu headbutts her instead.

Next, Avi walks to Danielle, her 14-year-old cousin who’s measuring how much flour she’ll need to cook the flatbread. Danielle, despite being the same age, is of course significantly taller. She has long, straight orange hair, tied in a low ponytail that reaches her lower back, along with straight-cut bangs, and the characteristic ruby eyes of the Barabba Tribe.

“Oi, Danielle!”

The sudden shout ruins her measurements of flour, causing her to sigh and dump her cup back into the large sack it’s housed in. “Why are you bothering me? It’s not like you can win this.”

“Yes, I know, which is why I’m bothering you. I know I’ve lost Tammy’s heart, so I want to set him up with the girl he’d best fit with. You’re not an old hag, or a brat, and it would make me feel better if Tammy likes a girl with the same age gap I have. Basically, you’re the best of several bad options.”

“Huh. Yeah, that makes sense. So how would you set us up?” She turns to her cousin, looking down her nose at her.

“I’m here to help you with the ingredients! Tammy didn’t give you gals much to go off of, so I want to tell you that the best ingredient to add for the meatballs is testicles.”

“…Excuse me?”

“Specifically, human testicles.”

“No,” she holds up a hand, “I heard you, but… what?”

Avi raises an eyebrow, “yeah. Tammy can’t get enough of them. He hates cannibalism, but those, he’ll eat all day!”

“…Is he gay or something?”

Avi’s face twists in befuddlement, “wh-what? Why would you ask that?” She balls her hands into fists, “he’s not! He’s my husband! O-or, rather, he was.”

“Then why would he eat the male reproductive organ? That’s… that’s weird.”

Avi stares at her cousin for a moment, looking deep in her sharp ruby eyes as she tries to make sense of the miscommunication. As bone-tails eat organic material and then reform them to make serums, the reproductive organs are a treasure trove of genetic material, very valuable for that purpose. Added with a total lack of a gag or disgust reflex, and their strong jaws, bone-tails are capable of eating a corpse down to the bone marrow. But when Avi was about to eat a person in front of Tammy for the first time, Tammy freaked out and banned her from eating anything below the belly button, or above the thighs. So her knowledge of that area’s anatomy is sorely lacking.

“Uh, then what’s the female reproductive organ?”

“The ovaries?”

Avi snaps her fingers, “that’s the one. Use those for meatballs, and you’ll win the competition no problem.”

Danielle narrows her brow, studying Avi’s face for deceit, yet finding none. “If you were lying to me, I feel like you’d have avoided such a stupid mistake. I don’t think you’re smart enough to do it on purpose, either.”

She frowns, “h-hey…”

“Alright, fine, it makes sense.” Danielle turns back to the sack of flour and starts scooping. “Don’t worry, Avi, I’ll take care of your former husband for you.”

Avi grits her teeth, yet keeps smiling, “thanks. Glad I can count on you.”

Yet in her mind she adds: “glad I can count on you to be so stupid!”

With that, Avi gets to work preparing her own dinner with all of Tammy’s favorite ingredients. She has a whole excuse planned in case anyone asks why she’s participating in a competition that she had supposedly given up, yet nobody cares enough.