Party till the cows come home

Finally, she felt like she was back in her element. Oki had invited her back to the pack his daughter presided over (crazy, still, to think he had children) to recuperate before she carried on in her journey. If she carried on. Would it be so bad to kick up her paws for a while? She was already tired of running. Fable was nearly certain she'd put enough distance between herself and her pursuers... No matter! Tonight wasn't for thoughts of being captured and tortured, it was for delicious food.

The most important part of a party, even more than the food, was the entertainment. A true professional knew how to perfectly meld the two. Alongside the tables groaning under the weight of food - from sugared berries, to roasted hocks of spiced meat, and various containers of stews and sides - Fable had set up an open cooking fire. It was massive, embers spitting out, the heat almost enough to curl your whiskers if you got too close. She'd directed several larger and stronger wolves the night before in how to craft the spit that leaned across it. A large metal dowel rested between two tall wooden structures, suspending a massive, fat hog above the crackling flames.

While the others had been creating the structure the hog rested upon, Fable had been preparing the beast itself. She'd skinned the boar and then set another team upon carefully removing its pelt until they were left with long, thin strips of outer skin that she'd flash fried. The pork rinds sat out in a dish as an appetizer at the end of the table, crunchy and delicious. The hog itself had been stuffed with rosemary and a big, juicy apple was speared through its mouth, and the cook was nearly done - she'd been diligently turning the roasting spit with the help of some assistants, and the smell was mouthwatering. Fable sat back, eyes glittering with pride. This was a dish she'd whipped up at many a royal party, and it was every bit as fitting for Oki's princesses.

What surprised her most was how good of a father he was. Kind. Indulgent. "Birthday girls are served first!" She announced, with a wink to Delphi and Maki.

"Speech"