45th of Summer 514 AV (Morning)
As much as Jaye adored the Sun Goddess she was rather annoyed with her constant and unyielding presence. Her rays ran like hair along the corners and valleys of the city, reflecting off the water that trickled and dazzled throughout blinding both forms uncomfortably.
The City Council had announced this morning that sunshades were to be erected throughout the city streets, creating at least the semblance of coolness though the long fabric lengths could not drain the air of its oppressive heat and humidity. However, as Jaye slid through the streets hiding out beneath the sunshades that had been erected that night when the city did much of its activities she was marvelously glad for them. Though the fabric could not stop the heat from sticking to her stomach and legs, crawling up her body in as oppressive a manner as the sea had done last season it dimmed the weight of sunbeams that typically scorched her back during her walk to work.
Most of the Riverfall denizens had taken up awakening during the night when the city was the coolest to do as much of their activities and errands as possible and sleeping throughout the day but Jaye could not adjust as easily as they. In her human form she was blind in the darkness of night, and only in her equine form could she find solace from the ignorance night presented her eyes. I must be careful to trod around as a horse in Riverfall...this isn't Endrykas, a horse is not simply left of its own accord here... She warned herself. Thus, she was left to the day.
The stone pathways throughout the city were largely empty but for the volunteers and workers that worked throughout its length erecting the sunshades. Gazing at their sweat lathered chests and red faces Jaye smiled appreciatively at each and every one. Though they were not out fighting the Zith forces that always threatened Riverfall they were warriors against the Sun that at this moment was the largest known threat to Riverfall and Jaye could not help but gaze bedazzled by their generosity of spirit.
Rounding the corner the Zhongjie Warren appeared at her right, its colourful and wavering tents so reminiscent of home she forcefully stilted her gait to keep from pelting towards it. Workers had leaned long ladders along the tall trees that framed the area tying and strapping the wavering belts of fabric to several as the stretched it out over the broad road. Several workers lay stretched beneath trees panting heavily. Even a few minutes work in the blazing sun was enough to leave anyone exhausted, even the resilient Akalak couldn't continue endlessly.
A deep orange Akalak at the far side of the street was the only one wasting his energy with hand motions that seemed frivolous considering the heavy heat, motioning and calling out orders to several people at once he seemed at his wits end as his work force slowly dwindled as several more workers succumbed to the heat and sought the slight respite of shade.
Sauntering slowly towards the man, his deep orange face tinted red with effort and heat she offered her hand awkwardly. Loathe, in part, to help and endanger herself with the threat of sunstroke Jaye bit her own lip in defiance. As Asher would say, she wanted to be a hero didn't she? And being a hero required work and effort at ones own expense for others. She couldn't stand idly by when there was so obvious a way to help.
"I am able bodied...If you need more workers I would lo-," She cut herself off for a moment as she considered the sentence, only someone insane would love to help in these conditions, "I can help." She finished lamely releasing the surprised grasp of the tall leader.
"W-well, yes of course we could use help." He blinked silently for a few moments before pointing at one of the long sunshades. "Each corner of the fabric has a reinforced hole. The fabric needs to be stretched over the street by two people and tied to a secure fixture. We are tying them to the trees there and to building beams there," He motioned to the right and then the left as he spoke, "You'll need a piece of rope to thread through each rung. Then, you climb down and pick up the other end of the fabric with your partner and climb the next ladder and continue fastening them. We are trying to cover as much of the city as possible so you'll need to make sure you aren't wasting fabric overlapping the shades." He instructed briefly.
Though the gaps will allow some sunlight to wander through the streets it will also allow some air movement so the streets don't become too stagnant... Jaye though remembering asking her father why the tops of their tents had holes in them letting the elements they were supposedly trying to protect themselves from into their abode.
Meeting the eyes of a young Konti whose partner had taken too the shade both Jaye and the young woman mutely nodded at each other moving to fetch a large slate of the fabric from the cart alongside the road. In this heat, words and waves were frivolous and the two settled into a routine with the minimum of gestures. This form of communication suited Jaye who spent more than half her life as a horse playing an awkward and unhappy game of charades with humans.
Reaching out she snagged two pieces of pre-cut rope. Placing them and the fabric in one hand she began her slow ascent up the ladders and towards the leafy roof. Swaying uncomfortably near the top Jaye clung to the tree trunk as she gazed down from what she perceived to be a great height. Don't fall...Don't fall...Don't fall... she chanted to herself as she threaded one piece through the tarp.
Her partner was long practiced through the morning it seemed and was already patiently waiting at the top of her own ladder. Tightening the fabric between them Jayes heart hammered as hard as the sun beat on her shoulders as she wrapped the rope around the tree.
The only tie she knew from her childhood was the slip knot used on horse leads. Slipping the rope about itself until she had created an oval through which to tuck the tail Jaye felt the ladder wobble beneath her legs again. Almost done...Almost done...She begged the ladder as she finished the final yank.
But the ladder didn't care.
Beneath her clumsy teenager legs the ladder began to lean to left threatening to release its tenuous hold on the bark of the tree. Struggling not to scream and holding the tree tighter Jaye blanched.
...I can't get down....She whimpered to herself watching her Konti partner wave to her from the ground. The ground. the far far far away stone pavement. Her stomach lurched.
Word Count1158
seemed apt for the happenings.