She had been wandering the wilderness for a while now. It was something she welcomed yet she knew she would need to find civilization soon. Her sleep punishment clothes were starting fall apart on her to be honest and she had lost the sleep shoes in that underground lake. She shivered at the thought of that place she had woken up in. The trees around her had thinned and finally ended leaving her with a clear view of a town further on. Just what she had been looking for, though it didn't match the description she had received of the place she should have been headed. No, she had been traveling far too long. She had lost her way from those ancient ruins of a civilization long past to Adeluna. How had she gotten so turned around, so lost? But now with this city sprawled out before her she was found. Or at least she hoped she was.    

Her mercury colored eyes widened as she gazed at the place from a distance. So many people. She had never seen so many living beings gathered together so closely. Her people at its largest only numbered around three hundred and yet here before her it looked like ants crawling all over the place. So many, so close to each other yet all making their way past without constantly bumping into one another. She felt light headed and slightly sick just looking at all the commotion. She took one hesitant step forward after another until she found herself among the crowd. She tried her best to control her anxiety and keep to her mental checklist of what she needed to do. First she was to find a merchant to buy the one thing she had from the former days, a necklace.

It didn't take long to find such a being in this ever moving place. When she had produced the necklace and declared her intentions the man's eyes had gone wide. Apparently the materials used in her necklace were rare so she had fetched a good price… I think… She wasn't ally sure if she had or not but she had gotten a lot of gold coins for it. She focused on slowing her breathing and remaining calm as she made her at through the crowded streets in the direction the man had said a clothing store was. She started shaking as she made her way there. This as getting  to be too much for her.   

She burst through the doors of the shop and let out a relieved sigh to see it was nearly empty. She gave a slight tug on her long silver hair as she looked around nervously. A lady came forward with a smile to help her. It wasn't long before she was fitted with new clothes a light and airy light blue dress and some soft and easy to slip on black shoes. The ladies that worked in the shop had even been kind enough to help her get cleaned up a bit after so much time in the wilderness.   

She as feeling relatively calm until she went to leave. That's when she remembered the chaos that'd be waiting for her out on the streets. She exited the building and instantly was filled with panic and anxiety. The streets were even more full now than they had been before. How was it even possible to fit any more people on these streets? That's when a fight broke out in   Her and a man came crashing into her. She let out a yelp as she was pushed to the ground, but the man who had fallen into her paid her no heed as he instantly was back up and hurling insults at his attacker while they fought. She shivered as she looked at the two fighting. What was  this she was feeling? She hadn't felt it since she was a small child but here it was roaring its ugly head, what was it? Oh yeah….   


Fear.  


She scrambled to her feet and darted off into a nearby alley way and sunk to the ground shivering. She was scared. There was such violence. The looks that had been in the onlookers eyes as those two fought… a lust for violence. She put her head into her knees and hid her face with her hair as she tried to unsee what she had seen, but she could still hear the commotion from where she was. She put her hands over her ears and prayed in her mind Please take me away from here. 

"Are you okay? You look like someone scared you? Really badly. Mixie thinks she'll take you for some tasty food! Would you like that!?"

A high pitched voice piped up in the dirty alley, and a large, feminine figure stood in front of the frightened girl.

Mixie squatted down - though this was a bit of a chore due to her girth - and smiled in the stranger girl's face.

"Mixie's name is Mixie. If you trust Mixie, then she'll cheer you up, no problem!"

Mixie's cheerful smile widened. "Come! Come with Mixie and be happy and not scared anymore! Hee hee!"

—————————

Before running into the young woman, Mixie had been going about the dirty town. Lots of mean, smelly people walked around, and Mixie - ever protective of her cookware - kept a wary eye and stance around. The large Marmunk was intimidating in size, perhaps, but her innocent features could very well cause those of shady intentions to act in rather unsightly and unwelcome ways.

In her neverending pursuit for the best dishes and ingredients for cooking, Mixie found herself here, in Vilpamolan - a rather unsavory location to those of a gentler, or at least more honest, disposition. Mixie, however, was not dissuaded due to Vilpamolan's notorious reputation, and was rather confident she'd, for the most part, be able to get through unscathed. She wasn't the best fighter in all honesty, but she was confident her cooking skills were more than adequate to defuse many, if not all, types of situations. After all, if Mixie loved her cooking, then it was impossible for anyone else to dislike it (in her own logic, in any case).

On this particular day, Mixie was searching through the stores of a herbalist's shop for some new and exotic herbs and spices to mix into her cooking. The herbalist - whilst mainly a medicinal provider - had a fairly varied stash of culinary ingredients that Mixie was more than happy to peruse.

"These ingredients are more rare than most of the herbs and spices you've come across before, I'm certain, young miss. As a result, they may be more expensive than you're used to. Is that alright?"

At the woman's words, Mixie looked up - a sparkling look of wonder in her eyes.

"Of course, spicy lady! Mixie believes money is no object when it comes to Mixie's food and ingredients! Mixie has more than enough available to make tasty food at all times!"

"I-I see…"

Confused by Mixie's unusual way of talking, the herbalist did naught but smile and continue grinding the spices she had been messing with into powder.

A short time later, Mixie left the herb shop; her pouch was stock full of new and interesting ingredients with enticing aromas.

"Thanks, spicy lady! Mixie is happy with the new spices she bought!"

Mixie turned back to give the herbalist one last smile, which was returned with a sincere smile from the herbalist.

"Be sure to use them well, young miss!"

"Mixie always does!"

———————-

A short walk to a shortcut alley later, and Mixie found herself in the present situation. She was busy trying to tempt the scared young woman into coming with her. She had new spices to try! She absolutely must have a meal buddy to try them out with her!

"Mixie promises to protect you, she does! Mixie will protect scared pretty girl, and then Mixie will cooking tasty meal for scared pretty girl and herself! Yes Mixie will!"

In a bold action, Mixie took hold of the girl's hands in her own chubby fingers and moved her smiling face as close to the girl's as possible.

"Please join Mixie! Mixie promises you won't regret spending time with Mixie! Mixie is the best cook around! Mixie promises!"

She sensed someone as they approached and her eyes shot open as they seemed to stop in front of her. Her pulse skyrocketed as she felt the fear that this person may be an attacker. Before her stood a large woman with a high pitched voice. She couldn't see the woman's face due to the shadows but just her voice seemed to wrap around her in a comforting manner. Lily slowly began to relax the more the woman spoke to her. When the woman squatted down in front of her and continued chatting to her, saying she would protect her and wanted to feed her all she could do was simply stare into her eyes. The warmth that resided within them seemed familiar and peace radiated out from her heart as she continued to stare at the woman and let her calming voice wash over her. 

She came back to herself when the woman grabbed Lilly's hands in her own and asked her to spend time with her. A smile blossomed slowly across her face as she finally realized why this woman seemed so familiar. She was just like Lily's big sister Amara. To be around someone who seemed so familiar brought a joy she could not possibly describe and she couldnt seem to help herself as she leaned forward and wrapped Mixie in a hug. "Thank you." She said in a quiet, timid voice before releasing the large woman and getting to her feet. She then nodded and replied, "I'd love to join you Mixie. My name is Lily. Though I don't know where to go to have food and spend time together. I've never been here before and this place is so crowded I-im not sure where anything is."

(Sorry for short and stuff)

"Ee-eeeeeeeeeeeeeeh?!"

Mixie was quite taken aback and surprised - though totally in a good way - by the girl's hug. She leaned back quickly, belly wobbling as she did so, and smushed her pudgy face with her pudgy hands as she blushed a deep red. She shook her head back and forth.

"M-M-Mixie likes hugs. Hweeeeeee! Heeheehee!"

The now rather bashful Mixie melted into a mess of fluffiness and smiled greatly.

"Mixie appreciates the hug, Lily! It's so fun to have met someone that makes Mixie happy with hugs!"

Mixie stood up slowly - her generous waist a sight to behold - and smiled at Lily again.

"Mixie knows what you mean, Lily. Luckily, though, Mixie found a pretty nice inn place. They took on Mixie as a temporary helper while Mixie is in town! It's nice to have money for new ingredients for cooking! Mixie loves cooking, you know! You'll love Mixie's cooking! It's the best, if Mixie does say so herself."

Mixie blushed at her self-praise and fidgeted with hems of her outfit.

"So. If you'll follow Mixie, Mixie will take you to her work place for some good food. The people there are nice enough for a dangerous place. It's pretty cool!"

Excitedly, Mixie took Lily's hand in her own, and started leading her down the nearby street. The tavern was located a ways down the road, but it wasn't too far and was located in what was likely to be considered the "good" part of town. As a result, there weren't as many undesirables around the establishment as was likely around in the rest of the town. Mixie hummed to herself happily as she and her new eating buddy traveled to their destination.

"Mixie and Lily cooking up something thrilly. Eat all day, eat all night! Eat all the tasty things in sight! HaHA!"

Mixie really was happy to have found someone as adorable as Lily - because she was quite adorable - to eat with. While she wasn't picky about who joined her for meals since it was the food that she cared about the most, Mixie was finding most of her company to be rather boring, dirty, or mean. Being a happy go lucky girl with a very indiscriminate and exapansive appetite, Mixie sometimes came across people who were rude and would call her mean names like "Fat Rat" or "Annoying Tubby". Of course, the words never bothered her -  Mixie loved her body and her interests - but those types of people seldom ever made meal time and cooking more fun than it was by default.

"What kind of things do you like to eat, Lily? It's still a couple minutes til we reach the tavern. Mixie would like to know a little more about you so Mixie can better make food you'll like!"

She couldn't help but let out a giggle at the enthusiasm Mixie showed. She nodded as Mixie explained about the inn she worked at and praises about her own cooking then grabbed her hand and was practically dragging her out onto the open street before Lily managed to process what was going on and got her legs to move accordingly. As they walked through the streets with a destination now in mind Lily took to staying close to Mixie, if not hiding behind her at times due to the anxiety of all the people swarming about. Movies humming helped keep her calm was they traversed. She kept just eyes either on the ground or on Mixie in fear that someone might take her accidentally looking at them as an invitation for violence. Her nerves were starting to get the best of her when Mixie, as if on cue, asked her about what she liked to eat. She thought back to her more peaceful days and said, "hmm, well there was this one thing my sister used to make with strawberries and rhubarb it was like a cobbler. Then there was the drinks that Rholanda made with some kind of greens and bananas. Then there was the time that Leo found that wild boar that died and he cooked it over a fire, it was yummy. Then there is, well basically everything my sister ever made." She got a sparkle in her eyes and an innocent looking and excited smile as she continued on, "Oh, there was this one time that she needed this certain flower that's really yummy when you make it into tea, but the only place it grew was this biiiiig tree that was basically falling off the side of a mountain. I mean like suuuuper high up like when you looked over the edge the river was as thin as a blade of grass. We were climbing the tree when an earthquake hit and she started to fall but then she grabbed onto a lower branch and started swinging around like a monkey. It was so dcary but then she made it so funny, she even started making monkey noises which of course caused the nearby monkies to come over and they all started swinging around with her. After I grabbed a few flowers and we both were back on the ground the monkies took us over to their tree and started going through our hair looking for bugs and the babies kept hanging on our backs and arms it was so fun." She seemed to be lost in the memory as she walked with Mixie with a big smile on her face. 

When she finally stopped speaking about the past she blushed slightly and said,"Oh, sorry for rambling on like that when you only asked me about food." She glanced around unsure of where they were but trusting Mixie to get her to their destination. "What kind of foods do you like best Mixie? You seem to love cooking but do you have a favorite? And maybe I could try and help some way when we get there. I think cooking with you would be really fun." She said, hoping she could be of use instead of just sitting there while Mixie did everything.

"Rhu–rhubarb? Hmmm…"

Mixie strained her thinker trying to think if she knew what rhubarb was. She couldn't think of it, but that just excited her because that meant there was another new ingredient to try and find for future cooking!

"Maybe the tavernkeeper has some rhubarb for a pie? Mixie will ask! Mixie will try to give Lily the best meal she's ever had, so make sure to eat lots! Mixie always eats lots because Mixie's cooking is always tasty. Heehee."

To emphasize her point, Mixie rubbed her generous belly fondly. To her, a large belly meant she was well-fed and happy with food. She was completely okay with her size and never let anyone bring her down, after all. Besides! It meant more room for more tasty food! When Lily asked her about her favorite food, Mixie had to stop walking, and placed a hand under her chin in thought.

"Hmmm…. What food is Mixie's favorite? All food? Yes. That sounds right! Mixie's favorite food is all food! Haha!"

Rather proud of her answer, Mixie began walking again - a peppier gait in her stride.

Eventually, the tavern that was their destination came into view, and Mixie smiled excitedly.

"Almost there, Lily! I just know you'll love dinner tonight!"

Mixie gently took Lily's hand in her own.

"Come on! Let's hurry and get there sooner!"

Mixie egged Lily on, hoping she would jog with her to the tavern. They soon arrived, regardless of jogging or not, and Mixie walked inside first. Holding the door open, Mixie beckoned for Lily to come inside; a brilliant smile brightened her face as she helped Lily inside.

"Come! Come! Mixie will help you get settled in before going to cook our food!"

Mixie walked over to an empty table close to the bar counter at the backside of the tavern. Behind the counter was a tall, rather frighteningly built man. His leather tunic bulged out from his impressive muscles; his bald head spoke of his masculinity in tandem with his surprisingly well-kept handlebar mustache.

"Ah," the tavernkeep's deep, gruff voice spoke up. "There you are, Madam Cook. Here with a new friend, I see!"

Mixie smiled happily. "Yes! Mixie and Lily are going to have dinner together tonight, Mister!"

The tavernkeep nodded briefly; a twinge of a smile played upon his lips.

"I see. Well, any exposure to patronage you can provide is well, welcome, of course. Find anything new at the shops?"

"Yes!" Mixie exclaimed. "There were some new and interesting spices to use at the Spicy Lady's place!"

"Spicy Lady? Ah! You mean the herbalist."

"Who else would Mixie mean?" Mixie couldn't think of anyone else who might sell spices in town, but the tavernkeep snorted in amusement at her answer and turned away to wipe down some mugs.

Mixie turned back to Lily as she pulled out a chair for the girl to sit on while she waited.

"Mixie has to go get ready for cooking. Mixie welcomes your help, but wait for a few moments so Mixie can prepare, okay! Mixie will come and get you when it's cooking time!"

Mixie gave Lily a hug; her belly pressed against the smaller girl tightly and warmly as Mixie's thick, pudgy arms held her in an embrace. Mixie giggled and then ran off.

Mixie hadn't seemed to know what rhubarb was, that made Lily giggle. It meant that Mixie would be able to try something new, and that was exciting. She really hoped the tavern keeper would have some, or know where to get some. Mixie's answer that all food was her favorite made Lily smile. She really was the exact same as Amara. She had taken Lily's hand and started to jog which Lily followed after with a smile. She must be really excited to get to cooking. What seemed to go unnoticed is that they were being watched from afar by someone who could tell innocence and ignorance of the real world at a glance, and that made them grin a dark smile as a plan was put into motion.

Inside the tavern there was a man who it was easy to see was keeper of this tavern. Still he seemed pretty frightening to Lily. She hid behind Mixie only just peeking out so catch a glimpse here and there as Mixie spoke to him about them having dinner and the herbalist she had gone to see. Lily jumped slightly when Mixie pulled out a chair for her. It took her a moment to process what was going on but she said, "thank you." And accepted the seat only to be wrapped up in a warm hug moments later. She returned the hug with a smile and waved as Mixie went off to get everything prepared. 

Two strange people entered the tavern after Mixie had vanished into the back. There was a finely dressed man who walked straight to the tavern keeper and started speaking with him about some business or another. The other was what seemed to be an old man hobbling slowly hunched over a walking stick. He made his way over to Lily and asked politely, "Ah my dear would you mind helping an old man for just a moment, it would be greatly appreciated." He had thrown on a kind smile as he asked. Lily, being ignorant about the ways off the world was immediately smiling back at the man and nodding, "oh sure what is it you needed help with sir?" She didn't notice the greedy glint in his eyes when she answered. His smile widened and he responded, "Oh I just need help moving a box, I think I pulled my back when I tried. It's just outside." She got up and followed the old man, not suspecting a thing. A few minutes after they had left the other man talking to the tavern keeper quickly cut off his conversation and left as well. The keeper noticed that Mixie's new friend was gone and went to let her know…

Meanwhile Lily was carrying a box and following the old man down an alley next to the tavern. Suddenly a dark laughter came from behind her. She looked an it was the man that had been talking to the tavern keeper. She looked back to the old man in confusion but he was smirking, no longer hunched over at all. "Quite the easy catch if you ask me." The well dressed man staggered over to her and took her by the chin tilting her head from one side to the other. "Yes, she'll fetch a good price too. Now come quietly and we won't have to hurt you."

Fetch a good price…. easy catch…

A bubbling rage was starting deep in her belly. Was this what she got when she trusted people? How far back did their plan stretch? Who was all in on this? The tavern keeper? Mixie? Is this why she was brought here? The atmosphere of the alley seemed to grow dark and dangerous. "You think…" Her childish innocence was gone from her voice, it was now filled with a darkness and rage that filled the air "…that you can waltz on in and just say you're going to sell me and I'd just sit by and let you do so?" The air seemed to fill with an electric charge,was it just the tension or something else? The old man took a step back but  young man just reached into his pocket and laughed. "That's exactly what shall happen." The man said. Her temper broke and with a flash lightning shot forth from her and flew at the man. Quicker than she thought possible he drew something out of his pocket and her magical attack bounce back towards her. Her eyes widened in surprise and she was hit with the full force of her own attack. She let out a cry as pain flooded her senses and she seized up, falling to her knees. The man laughed and spun the small disc shaped object in his hand. "See, you're powerless against me. No magical attack will touch me as long as I have this, it'll just be returned right back." He looked down on her and basked in the glory of his triumph.

"Arm Pretzel!"

"Eh? AGH! UGH! GUH!"

The man holding the anti-magic device twisted his face in a contorted pain expression. A rather large, rotund individual had appeared behind him and grabbed his arms - wrapping them behind his back. The individual twisted the man's arms painfully and wrapped them around one another - effectively dislocating, but not breaking, them.

"Pancake Slam!"

The excited, high-pitched voice shouted out once more as both the man with the twisted arms and the individual behind him fell forward.

"Weeee!"

Mixie smiled brightly as she fell forward with the man; her massive weight fell upon him as they both hit the ground. As a result, the man had the breath beaten out of his lungs as Mixie's beautifully big body crushed him.

"You- you fat, ugly, bitch! You've got to pay for what you've done to my partner!" The older, greedy man shouted in anger at Mixie as he approached her - ready to attack in retaliation.

Mixie got up from her first target quickly, and turned aggressively towards the approaching geezer. The man's face turned pale as he saw Mixie's face. Her eyes glinted with a dangerous hostility and anger uncharacteristic of her.

"Hey. Old geezer."

"G-geezer?!"

Do you know what you've interrupted?"

"What? I don't care–!"

"Oh. You don't care, huh? You don't care that you interrupted what was supposed to be a wonderful meal between two new friends for the sake of some sick, disgusting market that only disgusting monsters like you and your idiot partner would participate in. The fact that there are people who would try and take advantage of pretty girls and make money off of selling them to other disgusting people really gets my blood boiling. Why do idiots like you always have to mess with my plans? I'd rather stick to cooking and enjoying time with friends and good people, but I always gotta deal with bastards who think they'll better than everyone else."

Mixie's face bulged in anger as she approached the man who had interrupted what she hoped would be a happy dinner time.

"I really hate having to deal with annoyances like this, you know…"

The old man, both angry and rather thrown off at the same time yelled out as he quickly moved towards Mixie in an attempt to attack and knock her out quickly. Surely someone as out of shape as she would be easy to deal with without the element of surprise?

"Why you!!"

"Pan-fried Retributioooooooooooon!"

Quite quickly, Mixie pulled a long handled cooking pan out of somewhere on her person. It was really quite confusing where she kept it to be able to bring it out on hand with such ease. As the man approached, Mixie grunted with exertion as she swung the pan's bottom side into the man's wrinkled face. With a loud "BONK!", the pan connected, and the man cried out in pain. He collapsed to the ground clutching his nose as blood spilled down his face and covered his hands.

"You've - you've broken my nose!"

"You should consider yourself lucky I limited it to your nose, dumbass."

Mixie's anger was still very apparent in her face and body language as she branished her pan like only a skilled culinarian could.

The man's face was red in anger and blood as he spewed disgusting drivel towards Mixie.

"You're a fat, ugly monster! No man is ever going to want to be with you, you know?! This isn't the last time you'll see me - or my allies!"

Mixie sighed in irritation. "I really couldn't care less if men don't want me. I'm more attracted to women, anyway. They're too soft and cute and pretty and — ahem! – anyway…."

Mixie raised her fist in an angry, threatening gesture.

"Go away and piss off before I use something other than a pan to beat you up, hey?"

Mixie hocked up a loogie and spit it on the old man's unconscious buddy. She turned to Lily who she hoped was still around. Seeing that she was, Mixie quickly smiled and completely altered herself from how she was just a moment ago.

"Lily! Mixie is happy you're okay!"

Mixie jiggle-jogged over to Lily and gave the smaller girl a big hug. She smiled and rubbed her face in Lily's hair.

"Heeheehee! Mixie is happy Mixie could help Lily so now we can cook tasty food and eat a tasty dinner together! HaHA!"

Taking Lily's hand, Mixie smiled at her once more and led her into the tavern again.

"Let's cook dinner, Lily! Mixie's got everything ready for that, okay? It will be fun and delicious! I promise!"

As Mixie smiled at Lily and helped her into the kitchen and the two began to cook together, Mixie couldn't help but hide a frown behind her smile. She had really wanted to never have to resort to violence again. It just wasn't what she enjoyed doing. She was the cute and squishy Mixie! She was supposed to be soft, round, and fun to be with, not mean, dangerous, and hurting other people!

When everything was said and done, however, Mixie admitted that she was happy she was able to protect Lily. The girl seemed so lost and alone, and Mixie took to her right away. She was really pretty - Lily was. Mixie wasn't sure who she was, but she was certain Lily was someone she'd love to be friends with.

"Ahh…."

Mixie's stomach rumbled with hunger and she patted it with a pudgy hand.

"Mixie's getting hungry, Lily! Let's hurry up, okay? I can't wait to eat with you!"

Mixie smiled brightly.

She closed her eyes  and sighed. Was this really what the world had turned into? She let her head hang as she felt sorrow for the loss of goodness in this world. The inhabitants really had fallen so far. Her eyes shot open as Mixie made her appearance and took out her would be kidnappers. They threw insults at Mixie that made Lily 's eye twitch. How dare they say such things! She slowly got to her feet as Mixie dealt with the second man. The age was clear in her mercury pools as it almost seemed like they were boiling. Even as Mixie came over to her and hugged her, Lily's eyes remained glued to the unconscious man that had spoken such horrible things. She seemed coated in an almost demonic aura that matched the rage in her eyes. "How dare he. That pitiful excuse of a creature, saying such things. He is too far lost to be of any good to the world. Maybe I should just end his pitiful existence." Her boiling rage seemed to dissipate almost immediately along with the dark aura when Mixie took her hand and led her back into the tavern. The goodness in Mixie had stopped her from doing something she surely would regret later. Lily looked at the ground as she was led into the kitchen and said, "I'm sorry for the trouble I've caused." She then took to doing as Mixie instructed to help with the cooking. She paused and looked at Mixie when her stomach growled and couldn't help but smile at Mixie and nod. "I can't wait to eat with you as well. Just tell me what to do and I'll do it twice as fast!" She let out a small giggle as she quickly finished her task and went onto the next one. When things were almost ready she set a table before zipping back to Mixie, true to her word on the double speed. The dishes she and Mixie… well mostly Mixie… had created looked so mouthwateringly delicious her own stomach could help but let out a quiet rumble. She helped set out the food on the table she had prepared and lastly brought out a pitcher of water. She looked to Mixie after confirming that everything has been placed perfectly on the table and said with an innocent smile, "it has been really fun cooking with you Mixie, I hope to get to do it again sometime, but now it is time to try this food you have created so beautifully." She waited for Mixie to seat herself before sitting down and she would wait for her to take the first bite. It may be small but it was one of the ways she knew to show respect for this person who had saved her in her times of need.

Mixie smiled brightly at Lily as they sat down together.

"Lily did a good job helping Mixie cook today! Mixie appreciates the help! Please, help yourself, Lily!"

Mixie gestured to the food as she, herself, began to plate her own meal. When she was done picking things out, her plate was piled high. Marmunk women had notoriously large appetites, though Mixie's was exceptionally so. Mixie didn't really get it, but apparently, that was one of the things Marmunk males looked for in potential spouses. It was a mark of health in Marmunk society. Mixie never really felt interested in men - food was much more exciting - but she could see how they might find a woman with meat on her bones desirable. She certainly liked her body and all its fluff.

Looking at Lily with a smile, Mixie giggled.

"Mixie's sorry about what happened earlier today. Mixie knows this town is bad, but didn't think something bad would happen in the area around this tavern, which isn't such a bad place. But Mixie is happy because she could help you! Mixie couldn't let her dinner time with Lily be ruined. Mixie likes Lily a lot already!"

She smiled again, and then continued eating. Despite her large appetite, Mixie was a fairly polite eater. She made sure Lily had everything she wanted before chowing down on what was left herself. She hated leftovers, so, despite making extra because of Lily, Mixie refused to let anything last.

When everything was eaten and enjoyed, Mixie sat back in her chair - hands on her full belly in satisfaction.

"That was good! Mixie and Lily make a good team, Mixie thinks! Nothing better than a warm, happy tummy!"

Mixie giggled again and slowly stood up. She walked around the table to Lily with a smile and gave Lily a soft, gentle hug.

"Mixie will clean everything when Lily is done, so don't worry!"

Mixie began to take her own empty plate and utensils to the back of the tavern's kitchen to clean them. Her full belly bumped into the counter a little uncomfortably as she began to soak the dishes in the tub of water that had been prepared, though she managed to wash everything easily enough. She yawned deeply - eating a big meal always made her a little sleepy afterwards, but she finished cleaning quickly and returned to Lily.

"Mixie's feeling sleepy, Lily. Mixie invites Lily to stay here for the night with Mixie, though Mixie can get Lily your own room if you want it. Mixie just thought Lily might not want to be alone after what happened today…"

Mixie fidgeted with her hands a little bit as she blushed and looked down. She hoped she didn't offend Lily by assuming she wouldn't want to be alone. Mixie already had lots of ideas for helping Lily feel better. Tummy pats, head pats, hugs and snuggles - several of Mixie's favorite non-food things. She wanted to be there for Lily.

When Lily finished eating, Mixie took the rest of the dishes, and washed them as well, returning once more to Lily when she was done.

"Mixie's going to go to her room now. If you want to come and hang out, Mixie's room is the second door on the left up the stairs, okay? Mixie will wait until Mixie falls asleep! Heehee!"