Even Endals suffer from Hunger (Taln)

[Sira]

Even Endals suffer from Hunger Timestamp: 65th of Winter, 511 AV If anybody in the aerie thought they were getting sleep that night, they were wrong. Little Natalie just would not fall asleep, and she would not stop crying. No matter what Sira did, she couldn't get the little one to stop. Sira even worried that perhaps Natalie had gotten sick, but after a quick once over with her gnosis Addy had assured the worried mother that the baby wasn't. Not that Addy was any less distraught than Sira over the state of their daugher, but the healer had had a busy day, and was very tired. Sira didn't blame Addy for her inability to help, try as she might. Addy had practically passed out already, despite the ruckus their little child was creating. Sai on the other hand had simply retreated to her office for the night, though not before trying her hand at calming the little one too. To make matters worse, Sira was hungry. Very hungry. Yesterday's hunt had proved completely fruitless, and not just for Sira. None of the endal who braved the cold that day returned with any foot, not even a single fish. Tempers were running high, people were hungry, the dek were causing problems, and suddenly Sira realized that maybe that was why her baby was so rowdy. Maybe she was hungry? Sira was running thin on energy though, the work of hunting and coming back empty handed, plus the act of feeding her child, was draining her body dry. Sira was thinner than she had been in seasons, perhaps thinner than she had ever been, but her child needed to eat more than she did. Sira would survive. Poor Natalie was crying her heart out, Sira felt like if she squeezed out another drop of milk she would die of starvation, but still she pulled off her shirt and held Natalie up. The crying child latched on and for a moment there was peace, but Sira's drained body was having trouble producing enough milk to keep the baby happy. Natalie quickly let go and started crying again, and so Sira tried again, and again there were a few moments of peace. The problem with a baby when it was upset though was that even when they finally got what they wanted, they still were upset, and still kept making a fuss. They didn't just let things go, they had to make you regret not feeding them before they ever started crying. But.. the moments of silence were still a blessing, even if they were short lived.

[Taln]

Food was extremely scarce and tempers ran high at this point in the season. Dead bodies were hoisted into macabre piles in the extra storeroom in the farthest end of the Warrens. This had to be the worst food shortage that Taln could ever remember in the history of his two decade life. All the pinions in the world couldn't buy what there was no supply of, which left even the wealthiest of Inartans to suffer. The Dek stood in Reech's old nest and took out the dried marmot strips he'd saved from his trip with Drusilla Avora a couple seasons ago. He'd been allowing himself a single daily meat strip for winter rations. It was just barely enough to keep him alive, not much more than that. Not even allotted a coat for the winter because of his low status, his ribs stuck out plainly with his spine clearly outlined down his back. Taln shivered and took a drink from his waterskin, hoping it would ease the unceasing ache in his stomach at least a little bit. Somewhere not too far off, a baby cried hungrily in the still, late night air. He looked thoughtfully at the meat strips, contemplating how much longer it could last him. All things considered, if he hadn't hoarded the marmot, he would surely have starved to death by now. Maybe he could afford a bit of generosity to a nursing mother. Removing three, long precious strips of dried meat, the Dek wrapped them in an almost clean skin and put them in his pocket moving off to follow the strident call. It was farther away than he'd originally thought and before he knew it, he was near the Endal's quarters. Part of him was surprised, while the cynical half was not. This was Wind Reach in the winter and starvation didn't take note of status, age, gender or wealth. With emerald eyes, he looked over one shoulder and then the other to make sure no one was around to see him. He tried to listen around carefully, but the infant's cries were all consuming. Swiftly and silently he laid down the small leather-wrapped bundle, knocked hard on the door and then ran to the corner of the building to hide in the deepest of the night shadows. And waited.

[Sira]

Had Taln come a moment later Sira might not have heard the knock, for little Natalie began crying again. Sira had given up trying to feed her and was now just trying to rock the little girl to sleep. At first she thought she had only imagined the knock, but then she thought better of it. Sira wasn't so hungry that she was hearing things, was she? No, she couldn't be, someone had knocked on her door. But who would come calling so late in the night? Perhaps another Endal complaining about the noise? Well if it was they'd get the angry end of a kelvic fist if they dared to bitch at her for something she couldn't control. Sira set Natalie down and pulled back on her shirt. Surprisingly the baby quieted again and Sira was able to sneak away for just a moment to investigate the knock at the door. There was no one to be found on the other side and Sira perhaps thought that the Endal who had come to complain about her had thought better of it, but then Sira caught sight of the little bundle on the ground. "What's this? Sira stooped and picked up the meat, unwrapping it. The moment she realized what it was she held in her hands her mouth started to salivate, but Sira didn't immediately dive in. Who in the world would part with such a treasure in these times, especially to give it to an Endal who surely got more meat than most. Yes, Sira was hungry, very hungry, and yes she was suffering because of the strain feeding her child was causing on her body, but still.. she did get to eat every day, even if it was the blue mold. Not everyone could say that. Sira looked about but she didn't spot Taln hiding in the shadows. Her eyes were eagle eyes, not owl eyes, and though they were still better than a humans she couldn't penetrate the darkness. "Well.. if you're still out there," Sira said as she turned away, "You'd better come on inside because I refuse to eat alone." Sira walked into the main room of her aerie, leaving the front door open. Natalie had finally fallen asleep, it seemed, and Aidara was passed out in the bedroom. Sira considered waking her, but she could always save the meat for her to enjoy later. Taking a seat on one of the large comfy couches, Sira made herself comfortable as she waited to see who would come through the door. If anyone.

[Taln]

Taln stood quiet and tensed, waiting to see which of the women would answer the door. They'd been so kind to him at the baby shower so sharing his meager food was the least he could do. He hadn't even given them a gift. The Deks bouts with kindness were so few and far between that he could remember all of them on a single hand. It was Sira! She looked not just thin, but exhausted. Motherhood must be even tougher in winter from the looks of it. He'd heard she'd given birth recently, but he'd never seen it or her. Ready to turn away, he stopped abruptly and exhaled in surprise at the Kelvic's command. Trained from an early age to do as he was told, Sira's order was to be obeyed without question. No matter how terrified he was of her. Reluctantly, he stepped from the shadows with his head bowed. Taln kept his eyes on the ground and covered the distance quickly. It wouldn't due to keep an Endal waiting--especially one that happened to be an exhausted mother Kelvic. The tall, red haired man walked barefoot into the luxurious home. The floor was warm under his feet, giving small comfort in such an awkward situation. Against his better survival instincts, he closed the door behind him cutting off his only means of escape. If Taln didn't, she might scold him for letting out the heat. He raised emerald eyes just high enough to see Sira's tiny feet at the soft couch. Would she punish him for his impertinence? Beat him to find out if he stole the food? She'd appeared so aloof to all others at the party a while back, but that was probably just a eagle thing. Her Kelvic eyes were eagle sharp and he dared not meet them. He hovered nervously by the door, not daring to take a single step closer. Why did she call him in here anyway?

[Sira]

Sira's eagle eyes bored into Taln as he entered the room and shut the door, and even if he refused to meet them. Sira vaguely recognized him as the winner of the eating competition from the party, a fact that amused her since he was now the one giving her free food. The fact that he wouldn't meet her gaze didn't surprise her in the least; few Dek would meet the gaze of any Endal without being ordered to. But Sira was experienced with such people, she wouldn't force him to look into her gaze when she knew it would make him uncomfortable. Strangely, showing too much kindness to a dek seemed to terrify them. Sira casually examined the meat, it's strong scent almost overpowering her attempt to refrain from eating it. Sira wanted the meat for herself, it was true, but before she could eat it she had a few questions. She wasn't really concerned about how or where he had gotten the meat. If he'd stolen it, it really wasn't her problem.. unless he had stolen it from her and was just returning it, but that seemed very unlikely. Sira didn't have any meat to steal anyway. After a chime Sira decided she had kept the poor dek waiting long enough. When she spoke her voice was firm, so as not to freak him out kindness, but not angry. "Why would you give this to me?"

[Taln]

Taln stared down at his filthy feet, feeling the Kelvic's piercing eyes burning into him. He stole a swift glance at her through his long hair and looked back down at the floor just as quickly. She looked puzzled. What Inarta didn't know what to do with food--especially with this brutally harsh winter? Maybe she thought it was poisoned or stolen and refused to take it? One didn't usually convey gifts or gratitude unless forced to do so. Maybe Sira just didn't remember him from the party. It would be presumptuous to assume she did with all the Deks that had attended. The delicious meat scented the room in the cozy warmth and Taln tried not to drool. He swallowed slowly and self-consciously, trying to keep some semblance of self control. When Sira finally broke the silence with her question, he exhaled quietly in relief before answering. This wasn't just an Endal; it was a Eagle Kelvic Endal and he kept his tone as respectful as he could. "All the guests at your party gave you a gift but I didn't have anything to give that you needed or wanted. When I heard the baby crying, I remembered the gift debt that I owed you."

[Sira]

Sira's face softened at Taln's words. He was simply trying to repay a kindness, nothing more. That wasn't something she saw often, especially not in such trying times as they were having that winter. He must have truly been a good person at heart to offer up his meat, probably the last bit of meat he would have all winter, just to give her a gift. "Gifts weren't a requirement, people just brought them anyway. Nobody was expected too, you do not owe me a debt." The meat was tempting though, and Sira did have a baby to think of. Plus.. she was just really really hungry. Like.. really hungry. It had been days since she'd eaten anything other than the mold, so the thought of returning the meat hurt almost as much as the thought of taking it from the poor man. But perhaps there was a way. "I appreciate the gift though.. all the same, it would be a shame to each such a fine piece of meat by myself. I'll accept it on one condition. We share it." Sira stood up and walked to a shelf across the room, picking up one of the eating knives she'd left there at some point, and began to slice the meat in half. When she was done she returned to the dek. "Sit down a share a meal with this weary mom," she said as she handed him the larger of the two halves before she motioned to one of the large comfy chairs in the room. "I always hate to eat by myself."

[Taln]

Taln looked at her in shock for the briefest of chimes, his emerald eyes wide in shock before looking down again rapidly. It was too much to hope for! Now that the meat was left unwrapped this long and exposed to such unaccustomed warmth, it was highly scenting everything in the room. He swallowed convulsively, knowing how good the meat tasted. He'd been living off a quarter of a strip every three suns. Just enough to survive without using up the food too quickly and the limit of food deprivation he could withstand. She cut the succulent meat in half--handing the larger one to -him-!! Wait-sit and eat with her? In a chair? Sira was an Endal! But he couldn't refuse a direct order while his mind wrestled with the once in a lifetime occurrence. Taln promptly moved to the chair she motioned to and sat swiftly before she rescinded the offer. The motion held years and years of practice behind it, showing immediate obedience. Not to mention, the warmth in Sira's quarters were a luxury in the winter that the Dek rarely got to experience. The stone floor was more than warm enough for him and his bare feet had thawed quickly during the brief conversation. It had always taken extreme measures for him to be cool even in the slightest degree. Thankfully nature had given him a warm-blooded gift that had probably helped to keep him alive longer than a regular Inarta. The six foot man still held the food in his large hands, not daring to even look at it until Sira started eating first. This whole reaction was the last thing he expected and it made him very nervous. He peered covertly at the Kelvic from beneath the tangle of long hair over his eyes.

[Sira]

The scent of the meat was filling the room, and to hold off on eating it was agonizing. Sira waiting until the dek sat down before tilting her head and holding up the meat as if she were holding a glass for a toast, then brought it back down to her lips. Her lips parted and her teeth closed down on the meat, it's succulent flavor washing over her tongue. She closed her eyes as she ripped off a piece and chewed in absolute pleasure. It had been days since she'd had a good piece of meat, and it was a marvel Taln had managed to hold on to this one for so long. Sira chewed and let the juices was over her mouth, trying her best to take her time and not tear into another piece. Her stomach groaned hungrily and Sira finally swallowed, letting the rest of her body enjoy the meat that her mouth had been hogging. Surely it was her imagination, but she already felt better just from one bite. Sira tore off another piece and chewed it more rapidly, hunger finally getting the better of her, and within half a chime all her meat was gone. Licking her lips and fingers for the last bits of the food, Sira spied a glance at Taln to make sure he was enjoying his meal as well. It was true Sira didn't get to eat as much as she usually did, but she was still better fed than any dek could hope to be. True the meat was a luxury she hadn't had in days, but she still got some every now and then. The endals were going hungry, but not quite as hungry as the lower castes. That was why Sira shared the food, because she knew if she had eaten all the meat she would have felt guilty. She wasn't the biggest dek-lover out there, but she did try to treat them kindly when possible. Especially since she moved in with Aidara, who was almost too nice to the lower castes. Sira waited for Taln to finish, watching him chew and quite obviously staring as he did so, though she didn't realize she was doing it. It was just mesmerizing to watch, for some reason. When he finally finished Sira seemed to realize what she had been doing and snapped out of it, standing up and wiping her hands off on her pants. Not sure what to do, if she should let the dek stay longer, or send him away, Sira just stood there awkwardly for a moment. Sira briefly wondered why he was even a dek. He didn't seem frail. Perhaps he was mentally challenged? Curiosity getting the better of her manners, Sira decided to ask. "So.. why are you a dek anyway? There doesn't seem to be all that much wrong with you?"

[Whimsy]

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Experience Award

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Sira

Exp
+1 Observation

Lores
Malnutrition
Sharing Meals
The Kindness of Strangers
Food Rations for the Castes

Comments
I'm sorry I couldn't give you more. It was interesting to read the beginnings of the caste interaction. If Taln returns, he can PM me for his xp and lores. PM me if there are any questions or concerns.