The Seaglass Lounge kitchen smelled like two worlds meeting for the first time. On one side of the counter sat the coiled Whisperwind sausages—smoky, savory, each link tied with precision.
On the other, a basket of Snakewater apples. Each one had a different color and flavor. The fermented ones were blush-hued and so soft, even a feather-light touch had it releasing apple juice (though to Marron, it already tasted like wine.)
The ones for baking had golden skins and had a crisp, tart bite. The baking ones were Marron's favorite, because they were red-skinned and had a honey-sweet bite.
Marron rolled up her sleeves. "Let's make history."
+
Before she removed the sausage meat from its casing, she set some aside for herself, Mokko, and Lucy to enjoy for another day.
There is no way I'm missing my chance to eat perfectly delicious sausage!
Happy with herself, Marron then focused on preparing the delicious apple pork sausage rolls.
She took one of the sweeter apples (red-skinned with a honey-crisp bite) and diced it finely, before doing the same with a yellow onion from the Snakewater Cove market. They both went inside a pan, with Marron sautéing aggressively so it wouldn't burn.
"Mokko, apple-cider vinegar please!"
The bear looked a little confused but handed her the right bottle. "Where'd you get that?"
"One of the wolfkin," she whispered. "I just have to make sure these are soft enough before I add the meat."
"What else do you need besides meat?" Mokko asked, approaching the spice rack.
"Pepper, sea salt, thyme, garlic...and maybe some fennel?"
Mokko mixed the spices into the meat carefully, his paws covered with gloves. "All right, say when."
Marron nodded to him when the apples felt soft enough. "Now!"
When the meat hit the pan, there was a satisfying sizzle, and the sweet, rich scent of apples and sausage filled the room. Mokko swallowed his saliva back. "Wow. I can't believe no one's thought about this sooner."
"Mmhm!" Marron grinned as she rolled out the pastry dough, made from Whisperwind wheat. "Everyone who's never had this before is in for a treat."
Lucy peeked from her jar on the counter, eyes bright. "I like the apple part."
+
Once the pastry dough was rolled into a thin rectangle, she cut them into individual squares. Then she added the sausage and apple filling before folding the dough over. Lastly, she sealed the edges with an egg wash.
"And now we add some more for color."
She brushed the tops with more egg and sprinkled them lightly with coarse salt. At this point, the rolls already looked fit for a banquet.
"I would've deep-fried them at the market, but I think the Lodge's oven will make it nice and toasty."
The oven took the scent and made it sing—meat sizzling inside flaky pastry, apples caramelizing into sweet pockets of steam.
Ding!
[Special Recipe Created: Sausage Apple Rolls]
[Cooking Skill +6]
[Clan Relationship Potential: High]
Lucy blooped softly, pressing herself against her jar. Her two cores pulsed with longing as she watched the golden rolls cooling on the rack.
"Can Lucy try?" she asked in her tiny voice.
Marron smiled gently. "No Lucy, these are for the Snake Queen to try. But I can make a special snack for you and Mokko."
Both of them perked up immediately.
"Snack?!" Mokko's ears shot forward, his usual calm cracking.
Lucy bounced in her jar. "Snack for Lucy too?!"
+
Marron pulled out flour, butter, and eggs again, but this time she worked smaller. Sugar cookies, simple and sweet. She creamed butter with honey instead of sugar—the same wildflower honey they'd traded for weeks ago. The dough came together smooth and golden.
While the cookies baked, she unwrapped one of the chocolate disks from their welcome gift basket. The dark chocolate melted in a small pot, turning glossy and rich. The smell alone made Mokko's whiskers twitch.
When the cookies emerged, perfectly golden and fragrant, Marron dipped each one halfway into the melted chocolate. The contrast was beautiful—pale honey cookies crowned with dark, gleaming chocolate.
She offered the first cookie to Lucy, who stretched out of her jar to touch it delicately with one pseudopod. The chocolate didn't even have time to harden before she'd absorbed it completely.
Lucy's cores flared bright blue, pulsing with pure joy. "Sweet! Sweet and warm and... and..."
She couldn't find words, just blooped happily.
Mokko took his cookie more carefully, biting into the honey-sweet crumb and rich chocolate coating. His eyes closed, ears relaxing completely. "This is... this is really good, Marron."
It was the most emotional she'd ever heard him sound.
Ding!
[Relationship Status Updated]
[Mokko: Companion → Familiar]
[Lucy: Companion → Familiar]
[You can now spend XP to level up your Familiars]
[New Feature Unlocked: Familiar Status Screen]
Marron blinked. "What? Let me see that status screen."
A new window appeared:
[FAMILIAR STATUS]
Mokko - Level 3 Culinary Guardian
Cooking Support: AdvancedTrade Negotiation: ExpertProtective Instincts: HighNext Level: 100 XP
Lucy - Level 2 Kitchen Slime
Cleaning Efficiency: MasterItem Organization: ExpertHealing Potential: DevelopingNext Level: 75 XP
Marron - Level 8 Traveling Chef
Cooking Mastery: AdvancedCultural Bridge: ExpertRecipe Innovation: HighNext Level: 200 XP
Food Cart - Level 1
Storage Capacity: BasicCooking Equipment: StandardMobility: StandardUpgrade Cost: 150 Gold + 100 XP
Current XP: 500Current Gold: 60
"Five hundred XP," Marron murmured. "I could level both of you up, or save for the cart upgrade..."
"Cart first," Mokko said immediately. "Better equipment helps everyone."
Lucy blooped agreement, still savoring her cookie. "Lucy wants to help Marron cook better!"
Marron smiled, closing the status screen. "We'll figure it out after today. Right now, we have a Queen to impress."
+
By midday, Marron's stall was set at the heart of the Snakewater market. The Queen herself arrived, her golden coils gleaming, crown tilted slightly in curiosity. Not far behind, a small wolfkin trade envoy approached—clearly sent by the Lord Jackal.
"Today," Marron announced, "Snakewater apples meet Whisperwind sausage."
She broke one roll in half. Steam curled into the air, carrying the smoky meat scent wrapped in the soft sweetness of fruit. The Queen's fork slipped in first; she took a bite, eyes closing just a moment longer than necessary.
The wolf envoy's ears perked, tail flicking as he tasted his share. "This… tastes like home. But not mine alone."
"That's the point," Marron said. "It belongs to both of you now."
Ding!
[Clan Trust Increased: Snakekin +8 | Wolfkin +8]
[Potential for Joint Feast: Unlocked]
+
The Queen leaned toward the wolf envoy, speaking low but not hiding her smile. "Tell your Lord Jackal that if he wishes to challenge me in the kitchen, I will accept."
The envoy's tail wagged once. "I think he already is."
Marron caught the exchange and hid her own smile. The rolls were vanishing fast—snakekin savoring the sweet-salty balance, wolfkin nodding at the quality of the pastry.
For the first time since she'd arrived in Savoria, Marron felt she wasn't just bridging cultures with food—she was building something that might last beyond her.
Ding!
[Event Triggered: "The Two Crowns' Feast" – To be scheduled]