The Mess hall

She grinned " Ha ha very funny, does he like fish " She asked curiously

Eric smiled. "Cassandra, he will eat ANYTHING. And i mean it. I've had to give this lump o' fur an smack once or twice before for root through my neighbors' trash cans over night...there wasnt much left of the trash...or the bins for that matter...and his breath REALLY stank after that..."

He helped Cassandra down from the great bear and handed her a few fish.

"Here. See if he wants some of these."

She gently laid the fish out on the palm of her hand and nudged it towards the bear

The bear lunged forward and his huge mouth opened revealing his multitude of wickedly sharp and rather large teeth. His warm breath blew against Cassandra's hair and he swallowed the fish on one go like it was just a small candy...and appetizer.

The bear stared at her, expecting more. He was always ready to eat.

He licked his black lips hungrily.

She grabbed some more fish and fed it to him

The bear swallowed that too and looked up at Cassandra again.


Eric walked over and smacked the bear gently on the nose.

"Shwin? She's our FRIEND...not your personal servant...Go and get your own food you greedy fur ball!'

The son of Khione handed the girl a napkin to wipe some of the fish slime off her hands.

"Can you believe that bear? Humph. Anywho, let's get some food."

He walked next to her smiling, "What do you want to eat?"

She swiftly wiped the fish goo off her hands " I'm in the mood for Filet Mignon " She said

Eric looked about. "hmmm, filet mignon...where would one find that? I guess we could always turn some annoying camper into steaks...but Gerswhin and i'd likely get thrown out for that one..." Eric chuckled.

"Anyways, i think there is a line for some food over there." He pointed off to one side.

'Let's go see if there is some steak there, shall we?"

She couldn't help but laugh " Sure " She said

Eric walked down to the line and looked about. He noticed something off to one side and slipped away to go check it out.

He returned a few minutes with something held behind his back.

"Guess what?" he asked Cassandra.

" What is it " She asked curiously

Eric pulled out a plate of Filet Mignon from behind his back and a glass of water.

"Surprise! Oh...wait one moment...forget the ice for the water!" He smiles and eaves his hand over the glass of water and a few cubes of ice fall into it.

"There. I hope you dont mind that i got you a drink as well...i wasnt sure what you like to drink, so i went with some cool water..." He looked at her hoping she didnt mind.

She blushed “ Its perfect “ She said gently

"I think Gershwin's found us a table...or rather scared off the people who were using it..." Eric nodded at the sight...The giant bear was sitting by a small table licking a couple of trays that still had quite a bit of food.

"You rascal..." Eric carried the plate and drink to the table and set it down. "Here you go Cassandra." He looked at Shwin. "Dont you dare touch this girl's food, you hear me Shwin? I'll send you back to the woods for the night if you do." Eric gave the bear a stern look and the bear gave a look of innocence back.

"I am going to go get myself some food and i will join you back here." He turned and walked back to the line to get his own food.

She smiled and sat down, she cut up her steak and slipped a small piece of it over to Gershwin " It will be our little secret Gershwin " She grinned

Eric looked at the food before him. He reached for some t-bone steak and put it in his plate and then added some mashed potatoes and gravy as well. He searched for some lemonade and filled his cup with it and headed back to the table.

"Back!" He sat down and realized he'd forgotten a knife for the steak. He shook his head somewhat annoyed and made himself a knife out of ice. It was sharper than any knife he could have picked up from the mess hall.

He took a few bites and looked up at Cassandra. It was odd. What in the world was he doing here having a meal with a girl? He looked away, slightly embarrassed. She must have better people to spend time with than he, so what was she doing here with a loner?

He took another bite hoping the questions on his mind didnt show too much in his face.

( LOL you said Helen)


" Whats wrong " She asked, noticing the look on his face.

OOC: er, oops...my bad...

Eric looked up. "Nothing...dont worry about me. I'm fine." He closed his eyes and called upon his icy powers to help him compose himself. He opened his eyes and his true feeling were hidden.

"You are enjoying you meal?"

" Yeah, its delicious " She said smiling

He looked at he was she ate. What does she want from me? I have no friends...so what does she want? No one sticks around me unless they want something from me...and i am tired of all the free loaders i run into...she better not be one of them... the tumultuous thoughts echoed in his mind.

"Glad you like the food." Gershwin began to slide closer to Eric hoping to sneak some food off his master's plate.

A sly smile flicked across her face as she slipped a piece of steak under the table for Gershwin.

The bear leaned forward to get the food and his huge bulk accidentally flipped the table...on to Eric...

The bear stood on his hind legs, nearly ten feet tall and roared in surprise.

The heavy oaken table and all the food and knives and drink on in it were now upside down and Eric was nowhere to be seen.

" Eric ? " She said worriedly,

Something red leaked out from under the table.

Gershwin roars and slips his enormous paws under the heavy table and heaves with a growls tossing the table a full ten feet away.

Eric lays there, ice shards scattered all around him. And some unidentifiable red liquid is smeared all over him. His chest is still rising and falling

Shwin barrels forward and whines as he licks Eric's face trying to get a response.

She gently tilted nectar into his mouth worriedly