Dark Edge Village

Butaj returns from the ride he has taken once the ground dried up a little when his nose detects an odd smell. So does Huludai. Both ride into the yurt area pursuing it with their noses.

The odd smell is soon discovered to be coming from the yurt of the Crane candy maker from a few days ago. She's gathering a ball of sweet-smelling clear stuff around a stick and carefully and quickly starting to mold it with bare fingers. It's quite warm near her, and the yurt is open to let some of the oppressive heat out.

When she notices Butaj ride by, she rises and bows, greeting him with, "Good afternoon, Moto-san," before sitting again and resuming her work.

"Good afternoon!" Butaj calls from the saddle, observing and rubbing his nose as he bends over Huludai's neck to see better. "What are you cooking? It smells funny sweet."

She looks up as he asks, even while her hands work to form the basic shape. "Candy. Remember the unicorn candy I gave you the other day? It's like that. After the feast the other day, I wanted to experiment with milk as a flavoring."

"Oooh. Butaj is very intrigued." Judging by his wide eyes, he is. "Is it good?"

"I don't know yet." She picks up a pair of clippers and finishes forming the candy into a cute bunny, waving it in the air a little bit to cool the sugar. "Do you want to be my taste tester?"

"Butaj will eat the sweet bunny and tell you if it's any good." Butaj nods, dismounting.

"Okay." She touches it lightly with the back of her hand before handing it over. "It should be cool enough to get the flavor, but be a bit careful."

Butaj blows some air on the bunny before chopping off its head and chewing thoughtfully. "Oooh. If fasfes fihe..."

The bunny is sweet with a very creamy flavor. It is definitely still quite hot and melts a little as he's eating. "Oh, good. I'm glad you like it." She's already forming another one. "I'll have to try it. I had no idea so many milk products existed as I tried the other day, let alone how good they were."

"So milky. Butaj is delighted." Butaj beams, having nommed the bunny down. Nomming bunnies was really good. "Butaj is happy Doji Ameka likes milk so much. Milk is very good for body strength, just look at Butaj." He pats his chest to make a point.

"You are a mountain of a man, Moto-san," she says withobvious emphasis, looking him over. "Fortunes know I could use the boost in health."

"Ha, we are what we eat! Doji Ameka is very sweet and butaj is very strong. And now Butaj can be a little sweet too because of sweet bunny, thanks to you. So Butaj has to return the favour and take you for a a Unicorn lunch so Doji Ameka can boost her health!" Flawless logic, Butaj is proud of himself.

"So then perhaps I can become a little strong?" She giggled. It wasn't the most nonsensical thing she'd ever heard. She had been in court before, after all. "I think I will take you up on that, Moto-san."

"Butaj is ready now, as is Huludai, so unless Doji Ameka wants to be busy with sweet bunnies more for now, we can ride." Butaj nod and smiles.