Baking

In a small cottage in the middle of a forest, one would wonder how the oven still worked, even without a definite source of power. Sure, it wasn't Tank's and Forest's usual home, but the small lodge where they stayed for the night seemed unusual, to say the least.

         So, in the dim candlelight, they decided to bake cookies. "It will make us feel more at home here," Forest said, collecting all of the bowls and measuring cups in their arms. "Can you please get the eggs from the fridge?"

         Tank opened the small fridge, no larger than a nightstand, and searched for an egg. It was right in the back, but when she held onto it, she realized it was the last egg they had.

         "We only have one left," she said. "I guess we don't have many ingredients to work with, huh?"

          Forest averted her eyes for a moment. They lingered on the mostly empty pantry.

          Tank continued, "I guess we won't be able to bake here, after all. Some lodge this is!"

          Forest lifted her gaze towards Tank again. "Dear, I think I might know what we can do with so little. I haven't made them in a long time, but we have an egg, right? And we have peanut butter in the cupboard. Do we have sugar?"

          Tank dug around in the back of the pantry. "We have sugar," she said, pulling the paper back from the back of the cupboard.

          Forest's eyes lit up. Her enthusiasm was nearly contagious, and Tank found herself smiling before she even knew what Forest had in mind.

          "Do you like peanut butter cookies?"

           "Okay, okay. Maybe we can bake, after all. Should I preheat the oven for you?"

           "That would be lovely," Forest beamed. "Would you please preheat it to 350 degrees?"

           Tank walked over to the oven and turned a few of the dials, while Forest cracked the egg into a delicate bowl. She added only a cup of peanut butter, and an equal measure of sugar. "Want to help me mix it?" she asked Tank.

            Forest would have had no trouble mixing the dough on her own, but when Tank took the handle of the whisk, and Forest wrapped her paw around Tank's cloven hoof, it made the baking a little more... personal. Maybe she just wanted an excuse to hold her soulmate's hand, even though all she ever had to do was ask.

            Together, they mixed the dough and put it in small lumps on the parchment paper on their baking sheet. Forest put the sheet in the oven. "It will take eight minutes to bake," she said.

             "Well," said Tank. "Isn't that just eight minutes I get to cuddle with you?"