Waste not, want always

[Eya]

2nd of searing.
It started with a mournful screech. Eya cracked open their eyes to see Marwoi already staring at them intently. The two were situated cross legged on opposite sides of a small fire beneath a burbling cauldron. Meeting his expectant gaze with resignation Eya stood and turned to leave the hut and inspect the source of the screech. It was often worth it to do what the old man wanted before he asked becasue when he had to ask he'd do so in the most verbose and lecturing way possible, something Eya had begun to think they did intentionally. Stepping from the smoky hut Eya bkinked in the light before casting their eyes about for a disturbance. The sounds of thrashing nearby instantly drew the apprentice shaman’s attention. Stepping cautiously down the stairs of the raised platform Marwoi’s hut sat upon. Jumping and nearly falling the second half of the flight due to another piercing shriek from the forest Eya timidly slunk towards the source of the noise. They were no longer sure if the thrashing in the forest was louder or the beating of their heart. Creeping closer until the only obstacle between them and the horrible noises was a tall thicket of bamboo. As they grew closer however the sounds quieted, pushing aside the growing sense of dread in their gut Eya peered through the bamboo.

A green tail whipped around on the ground, the source of the thrashing was in fact a snake, one whose head was now smashed beneath a sizeable rock, the body seizing in its death throws. Snakes did not shriek however. Looking past the spectacle of the dying snake Eya’s eyes alighted upon what they assumed to be the source of the shrieking. Now lying on its back nearby was a lemur, its chest rapidly rising and falling as foam poured from the poor things mouth, the snakes venom doing its deadly work. As always, unsure of what to do Eya just stood their frozen watching the little remaining life in the creatures before them ebb away.

It was then that the familiar sensation of Marwoi’s firm grip appeared on their shoulder. “A shame, to no victor have the spoils been won, still, I would not waste this moment Eya.” Pushing them forward he continued to speak. “tis a shame that the snakes head was crushed, no skull nor venom to salvage now.” He clicked his tongue in disappointment. “Gather up that lemur, prepare it’s skeleton and bring it to me this evening.” With that he turned on his heel and sped back into his hut. Eye swore the man’s feet made no sound, even the very boards of the stairs refused to creak as they would for anyone else. Turning back to the now still creature Eya sighed and reluctantly acquired the body of the poor beast. It was still was still warm as though life still flowed through it, the prosect made Eya swallow nervously.
Taking it home with them, Eya went behind the hut her family lived in and gazed warily at the tanning rack and bloody wooden bench along with the skinning stand beside it. Though it was necessary work Eya never relished the messy parts, if simply because they generally pretested the feeling of being grimy or unclean. Still, they had their orders and would carry them out. Hanging the lemur from its ankles Eya turned on their heel to enter their hut and fetch their knives.