Azura smiled at his admonition as she brought out the stone knives she used for cutting tough hides.<br/><br/>“Sometimes a woman has to have a way for a man to understand the depth of her emotions. You understand how important it is to me when the old ways are used.”<br/><br/>She made the belly cut, from the anus through the belly to the breast bone. There was little blood since Black Stone had taken a while to bring it in, so the mess was minimal. She brought in baskets to catch the entrails, sorting out which ones to cook and which ones to wash out to use for storage. The stomach and bladder always made nice water bags. The intestines made fine cordage with which to lash small branches together for drying racks. The hide came away from the meat with ease, only calling for a few swipes of the sharpened flint knife to completely tear it away. Azura rolled up the hide and set it to the side for working with it later.<br/><br/>It had been sometime since she had had the opportunity to butcher a whole large animal and then Lily had still been around to help. Soon she was sweating and covered in blood. She didn’t finish until she had carved out a large roast and put it on spitted branches to cook over the fire. Finally,, she came to a good stopping place in the work and stood up, easing her back with her hand.<br/><br/>“That is enough work for the day.” She said, tossing the knife to the mat. “The hot springs are calling me and the answer is yes. Would you enjoy a soak in the warm birth waters of the Mother? If memory serves me correctly, you used to enjoy it quite well.”<br/><br/>Azura gathered her worn cloak and a fresh wrap made from many rabbit furs tied together with small laces and knots. While it wasn’t serviceable as her everyday wrap, she would feel clean and fresh with it on. They would be coming back here after the swim so it would be enough for that and tomorrow, she could put the old one back on to finish cutting thin strips of meat to dry.