A difference of Taste

"So you throw it. Then you wrap your fingers around the hilt and there it is, in your hand again." You bring the knife to your hand in demonstration, it magically disappearing from the tree you had planted it in an reappearing in your grasp.

"But how? It's all the way over there!" Beans objects.

"Over there or in your sleeve, it doesn't really make a difference. You just know that if you grab it, it's in your hand."

"Is this some kind of faith skill? Do I need to be pledged to some demon lord to use it?"

"No! It's not...Well, actually, I guess I can see that. It's sorta faith-y. But just faith that you have a dagger in your hand. It's not too different from seeing a giant, throbbing cock and having faith it will feel amazing to have it stretching your pussy and filling your womb with thick, virile semen."

"Because he would know what that feels like, of course," Huny remarks, though with more jest than snark. Her mood was much better this morning than it was last night.

"Hm, good point. Then when you see a tight, dripping wet-"

"I got it! I got it!" he interrupts vehemently, the pale green of his cheeks blushing yellow. "So I throw it, and it just comes back. And so long as I know it does that, it does that. Right?"

"Right!"

He takes the long knife he's borrowing from Huny and throws it at a tree. It strikes accurately--that Ranged Attack stat isn't just for show--the hilt quivering after the impact. Then he raises his hand, reaching his fingers toward it, and closes his grip.

It makes a small fist. No knife. Kind of a dorky looking pose now, too.

You all look from him to the knife and back, waiting. Nothing happens, so Huny is the first to speak up. "Should I go grab it for you?"

"I don't got it," Beans laments.

"Huh. Well, just keep trying, I guess."

You continued to walk through the woods, not sure where you were going but certain it would be more fruitful than where you were. Louie and Beans had traded knives in the hope the Imp dagger had some special property to it, but it didn't help. It was lighter and easier to throw, though. Meanwhile, Louie practiced swinging the longer blade around like a miniature sword. Noon had come almost before you could notice.

"Gods I'm hungry," Huny moans suddenly.

"You're what?" you ask.

"Uh, hungry. You know, need food? It's been more than a day since I had a meal."

You continue to stare at her in total confusion.

"Wait. Don't tell me you don't eat?"

"I eat," you reply, a little defensive. Her tone makes it sound like you shouldn't be one of those horrible non-eaters. "You saw me! I ate so many cocks, and swallowed cum until-"

"Not the same," she interrupts. "I mean food. Bread, fruits, soup, bacon. Things you chew and swallow to stay alive."

Whatever those are, they sound delicious. Especially the bacon. You wouldn't mind putting that in your mouth and rolling it around to savor the taste. Maybe with a bit of cum, too, since that tastes amazing. But. "Why would you need to eat to live?"

"Oh my gods. Monsters don't need meals."

"Well, it depends on the monster," Beans chimes in. "Demons feed on energy and life ****. Goblins eat. The more we eat, the more we can grow."

"But what happens if you don't eat for a week?"

"Well...I would stop growing for that week."

"See? If a hero doesn't eat a meal for a day, they're struck with the 'Hunger' status. Three days and we're at '**** Hunger.' If we don't eat by day five, we're dead. And not just normal dead; back to respawn, lost levels dead. Not to mention those debuffs are major. I'm already down a quarter on my primary stats."

"Well, what can you eat?"

"Food! Geez, like...Fruits. Nuts. A forest like this should have those, right? Not like I'm asking for a random wild boar to show up for us to feast on."

A loud squeal echoed through the trees, sounding just a little ways ahead. As it continued, it was growing louder. It definitely sounded like an injured pig. You look at Huny in disbelief.

"Holy shit," she breathes under her breath. Quickly she snatches her knife back from Louie and drops into a crouch, trying to gauge where the boar is going to appear among all the trees. Beans starts to offer Louie his knife back, but Louie tells him to take the first toss. You step back to watch, content to see this party you've assembled deal with it.

The wild boar comes crashing through a set of bushes. Huny was pretty close to guessing right; it's path looks to pass ten feet away from her. If she moves now, though, the boar would likely veer a different direction. Beans sees it, too. Trying not to be noticed, he takes aim with the knife and throws. The moving target is vastly different from a tree, and his toss flies behind the boar; but it was near enough the beast noticed and turns away from that direction. Now it'll pass on Huny's other side.

Louie summons the knife and throws it as the boar draws close. He's much more experienced at this, and the dagger embeds itself in the boar's side. It veers back the other way, squealing in pain. That puts it basically on top of Huny. She springs out just as it reaches her hiding place and drives her dagger into its neck with pinpoint accuracy. The beast drops like a sack of vendor trash.

You quietly applaud their achievement, but look skeptically at the creature they've just slain. It's a dirty, stinky boar covered in thick hide and bristly hairs. Two giant tusks curve out of its mouth around an enormous snout. You can't help but see the resemblance to those orcs you... yesterday, but this thing has none of that manly attraction. Even a small mental link between the two makes you slightly uncomfortable. With that thought, you really have to question Huny.

"Are you really going to...'eat' that?"