There were so many knives to choose from, a wealth of steel and a display of finesse with it that Asta could only imagine.  Alejandro had to be so talented, so skilled and smart with them to own so many.  Knives like she hadn't ever seen before hid their mysteries behind keen edges and purposeful curves.  It seemed like he wanted her help but she was reluctant to take over, to shake the confidence he needed.  The confidence that was inside of him, part of his gentle soul and incredible intellect, but one he didn't seem to quite believe in.  She needed to reassure him, to draw it out of him.  Asta needed Alejandro to believe in himself so he could help all of them survive.<br/><br/>Nodding, Asta picked out a heavy cleaver, a huge hunk of steel, and an equally large carving knife, big tools suited to breaking joints and separating the animal into quarters.  Asta could do it with no problem, had done it so often in her past that the only issue would be the slightly different anatomy of a pig versus a reindeer, but she needed Alejandro to feel like he was contributing.  Also, after her time with Ingrid she knew that people from the other world were reluctant, not used to, everyday jobs.<br/><br/>For herself she picked out a slender but strong bladed boning knife and made a slitting motion on the animal then pointed to herself.  Mimicking a cleaver, she chopped at the ribs, the limbs and pointed to Alejandri.<br/><br/>Nodding, once she was sure he understood, Asta went to the pig, a female, and made a quick stab just above the anus, below the tale, and then stuck her finger in to feel for the colon, the knife alongside it as she cut an oval around the anus and vagina, careful not to slit the colon.  When it was done Asta gave a quick, hard yank, pulling both free a few inches then twisting them so they wouldn't fall back inside.  Her next cut, again guided by her fingers alongside the knife, split the animal open all the way up past the ribs.  Reaching inside, up to her elbows, Asta swept her hands around to pull everything free and then-<br/><br/>Bloody arms, glistening ropes on intestines, the dark red-blue of lungs and deep red liver and pale stomach all slid out at once.  Asta dumped it at the back of the pig and went back inside, then emerged with the bean shaped kidneys.  From the entrails she pulled out the liver and quickly sliced a thin piece of it and popped it into her mouth.  Rich, rich and dark with taste and nutrition the liver was savory and still warm from the animal and she could feel the nutrition and vitamins in it coursing into her body, nourishing it.<br/><br/>Asta cut another slice and offered it to Alejandro with her bloodstained hands, motioning for him to take it and eat it, mouth a little blood around the lips as she continued to chew.