"But there are berries in these, right?" demanded Kera. He had already begun to pull the pies out and sort them by who got what after cursory sniffs of each treat. Cherries went straight to Shannon, of course, and blueberries were his domain where no one may tread near. Kera allowed the apple to go to Eli and Pip and then placed the meat pie between them.

"I can smell them from here," Shannon said with an invisible roll of his eyes. "There's definitely fruit in those. They're great," he added for Rowan's benefit. "I'll have to pay you back at some point."

"Why?" Kera asked. "He's just doing something useful for a guy who deserves it. Don't be so hard on yourself."