Blacktail Deer Plateau Smashing pumpkins

In response to Finley's quip, Peregrine asked, "Have you ever tried eating the mushrooms around here? I tripped balls." The Alpha paused for effect. "Which could be fun, in the right context. You'd be fun to trip with, for example. My company at the time was not so suitable." He grimaced, slightly embarrassed. He hadn't known, though!

His eyes followed Finley as she located a choice pumpkin and looked it as if she didn't quite know how to approach it. She likened it to a turtle, though Peregrine just didn't see it. He studied the pumpkin closest to him and pondered her question, even stretching out a paw to touch it. It felt hard and smooth.

"I'm really not sure how this is supposed to be done, but..." He trailed off, exchanged a look with Finley, then bent down, opened wide and locked his jaws into that thick orange peel.

For a second, his fangs didn't seem to do much good, though the pumpkin was softening and rotting, so continued pressure forced them to sink into the strange flesh of the plant. He bore down, grinding the exterior into a thick pulp, then yanked. A large chunk of the pumpkin came away in his jaws, leaving a hole. He spat out the rind, then touched his nose to the lighter orange flesh, which suddenly gave way. He almost fell snout-first into the pumpkin's unexpectedly hollow interior.

He withdrew abruptly, a smear of pumpkin guts on the tip of his nose. He went cross-eyed looking it, then frowned, shook his snout and sneezed. The stringy stuff fell to the ground, clotted with what appeared to be little white seeds. It looked utterly disgusting, though it smelled strangely sweet.

"Do you dare me to eat it?"