"Not enough." Back to scrubbing. "And—the cottage field is bigger. Plus, there's a market. Small one, near the cottage. I need—chickens. More chickens."
"More chickens."
"For eggs. The pack needs eggs, Kestria. Protein. And Nugget needs friends, she's getting aggressive from loneliness—that's why she keeps attacking people and eating rocks. Chickens are social animals. She's losing her mind by herself."
"The chicken is aggressive because she's lonely."
"Yes."
"That's your theory."
"Yup." I set down the vegetable and grab another one. "And a rooster. We need a rooster or we can't hatch more chickens, and then what? The supply just ends when these ones die? That's not sustainable—"
"Mel."
"What?"
"Eggs?"
"Yes."
"That's the reason."
"A valid one."
She's looking at me. The vegetable's going to have no skin left.
The pot bubbles. Neither of us says anything. Fire crackles and I'm staring at the vegetable I've scrubbed raw, hands still going because they don't know how to stop.
Should start on the carrots? Or check the bread situation. When did we last have bread? Need to figure out flour—
"I could go with you."
I look up. She's watching me over the pot, wooden spoon paused.
"You said it's near your cottage. I obviously know the way." She shrugs. "Two people are safer than one."
"Kestria—"
"Don't argue with me. You need the flowers. I can helpyou get them. Girls day!"
I grab another vegetable.
"So we're getting chickens and a rooster." She resumes stirring.
"And maybe a goat."
Kestria drops the spoon entirely. "MEL."
"Goat's milk! For the pack. Cheese eventually, if I can figure out how to—" I wave my hand vaguely. "You people can't just keep hunting forever. What happens when game goes scarce in winter and everyone's starving because no one thought to diversify?"
"Mel."
"What?"
"Let me get this straight. You want to go to your old home, gather poisonous flowers, stop at a market, and buy a small farm's worth of livestock. All in one trip."
"I mean, when you say it like that, it sounds complicated."
