Summer 1rst 514 AVA menagerie of colour tittered and chuckled before the boards of the low Labor Aid Office building. It's pale brown stone arched up before her the grass and hedges cut with decisive perfection. Everything about the building was immaculate. Large domed windows decorated each wall with thick wooden bars across each making Jaye twitch with discomfort. Why did Riverians insist on covering their windows? She missed the open wavering flap of the tents in Endrykas, the ever moving air that slid through the door and up toward the typically open peak of the tents keeping them from trapping stagnant air. In Riverfall, as open as everything was and the humid splash of water that coursed through its entirety, the buildings were stagnant.
Many of the foreigners commented on the incredible physical strength of the Akalak but their large colourful muscles had never struck Jaye as unusual. Though much taller than her Drykas family they were as solid and strong as those she had grown up around.
As Jaye pressed her hand to the smooth wax wood of the door she was again startled by the weight of the doors in Riverfall. Slipping into the office she was startled by its uncharacteristic simplicity. Everything in Riverfall was adorned with emphatic detail but here the desk was a solid oak table stretching across one length of the building. Creeping forward tentatively Jaye ran her eyes along the domed wooden and stone roof.
She had never had a job before, in Endrykas she was tasked with small jobs like guarding the herd, hunting, or assisting anyone who needed assistance. Since coming to Riverfall there was little for her to do beyond roam its streets. Slowly her savings had widdled away to practically nothing and reality had slid over her eyes dampening her sight. Father isn't here...family isn't here...if I run out of money...I can't eat...The realization was so shocking and terrifying that she had immediately sought out the patrons of the city for a job and been instructed and directed toward the small and hidden building before her.
She had missed it several times expecting a large building that dominated the skyline and been faintly disappointed and embarrassed when she had asked a faint blue Akalak directly before the building where it was only to be given a weird look and a small hand gesture over his shoulder. "Oh, Thanks..." She had murmured and ducked her blushing cheeks out of sight as she followed the worn stone walkway.
The Akalak was a pale green Akalak smiled faintly at her, a polite glaze frosting his eyes. "Job or Citizenship?" He queried reaching for a pile of papers. "Citizenship?" Jaye echoed. In Endrykas foreigners were never citizens, at least not until they bonded with a Strider. Here all she had to do was fill out a piece of paper and she could be a citizen? How did that encourage loyalty? How did that ascertain their worthiness? They just allowed anyone to be one of them? The thought was ridiculous.
"Yes. Citizenship. You fill out a form and then undergo a weapons test. If you complete it you have status within the city." The man replied green eyes still glazed. He said the same words everyday, answered the same questions Jay imagined. I am a Citizen of Endrykas...Jaye thought, I have no interest in being on of you. "Job." She replied and took the slip of paper handed to her.
Running her fingers over its crisp edges she stared at the unintelligible letters wiggling tauntingly in front of her eyes. "I-I can't read this..." She admitted handing the sheet back to him. Finally, the man looked up at her the hazy cloudiness disappearing. Chuckling he smiled reassuringly, "No problem, I can fill it out for you." He offered drawing a whetted quill.
"Name?"
"Jaye Feathered Fetlock"
"Race?" Jaye hesitated for a moment, everyone knew how the Kelvics were treated in Riverfall. They were pets and servants, she would never get the job she deserved if she said Kelvic, "Drykas." She replied smoothly. It wasn't a lie, she reasoned, I am Drykas.
"Age?"
"15" Jaye replied struggling not to stutter over the next lie. Fortunately the Akalak didn't hesitate in listing off the questions, ignorant of her lies.
"Relevant Skills?"
"Well...I have training in equine leg massage. I was helping out with the horses last season during the festival." Jaye explained. Fortila was away with her eggs leaving Heart dancing in the curls of her braid. Peaking out at the Akalak the fiesty bird let out a shrill trill, threatening the Akalak as he reached out to dip the quill in more ink.
Gasping with surprise the man almost knocked out the small vial in his jerk to retreat. "Oh! What was that?!" His face was slack with alarm.
"That's Heart. I have a couple birds."
Bending down the man kept a wary eye on her hair as he continued to scrawl her reply on the paper.
"You know..." he murmured as he finished the sentence with a small dot, "There are plenty of people experienced with horses but the zoo is in desperate need of an animal care taker for their bird exhibits. Is that something you would be interested in?"
Jayes eyes widened with surprise, she hadn't thought her fascination with birds would ever be useful or desired by an employer. Rapidly nodding her head Jaye grinned with delight. Her love and appreciation of horses was both genetically and culturally bred into her but there as little wonder, mystery or fascination left when all was known. Birds had behaviors and characteristics so keenly different from horses with colours and behaviours so vastly different she couldn't help but wonder at them.
"How long do you plan to stay in RiverFall?" The question threw Jaye, she had never really considered how long she planned to be away from home. As long as Caiyha is here I suppose...Jaye thought to herself though she doubted the answer would appease the Akalak.
"Until my duty here is done..." She replied cryptically, and receiving a puzzled expression in return.
"If they are going to invest time and money into training you...they are going to need an expected time frame..." The man broached carefully.
"I don't see myself leaving any time soon..." She replied very slowly unsure whether this was as much a lie as her former answers.
Name: Jaye Feathered Fetlock
Race: Drykas
Age:15
Relevant Skills:Equine Leg Massage, Aviculture.
Preferred Employment: Zoo (Avian Attendant)
Expected Stay In Riverfall:Indefinite
Word Count1087OOCIs it possible to receive a lore or two about the citizenship process from this?.