Cil laughed a bit.

"Well, if you've tasted my cooking, you might just change your mind about that..."

"You have me interested now. I've had to survive on some rough stuff before," Karine said.

"I've been cooking for myself in the wilds lately," said Cil.  "...not that good at it yet."

"It's something you'll get better with practice," Karine said.

"...so you'd think," sighed Cil.  "Well.  If it can be learned, I will.  And I'm good at other woodcraft..."

"I'm sure they'll teach us about it. If not, I could always show you," Karine said.

"...thank you," said Cil as their food arrived.

You and Gregory arrive at the tavern. The smell of cooking meat is in the air.

"No worries, we are on the same team, after all," Karine said, digging into her food.

"Have you met our fourth?" Cil asked.

"Let's get a table," Giulia said.

The two of you were quickly seated. A waitress came over quickly to take your order.

"I have, yes," Karine said. "I'd have preferred not to have."

"That's not good," said Cil.  "We're going to depend on each other.  What happened?"

This was clearly not the kind of place Giulia normally ate, but she wasn't going to quibble-- she was hungry.  She ordered meat and bread and cheese and ale and stew, for a dragon could eat a great deal.

"Mighty impressive," Gregory said, ordering the same.

"He wasn't exactly pleased I was a beastfolk," Karine said.

Giulia shrugged awkwardly.

"I'm big. I eat a lot."

"Ah," nodded Cil.  "Seen the type before.  Wants to be pleased over his pa... his kin without considering himself."

"Nothing wrong with it, just not used to seeing other people eat as much as me," Gregory said.

"It doesn't bother me too much. I'm sure I can deal with him if it gets too bad," Marine said.

Cil looked up at her.

"I do not doubt you for one minute, I assure you," they said.

"Oh?" said Giulia.  "I'm surprised.  Few humans come close to me."

"I'm the really tall one in my family," Gregory said, looking a bit sheepish. "I ate way more than the rest of my family."

Karine chugged her mug of ale.

"How about you tell me about yourself?" she asked Cil.