PM to join Rats in a Flood

[Urkut]

60th of Summer, 515 AV

Normally, Kitshoon loved the rain. She had been raised to praise Makutsi each and every time water fell from the sky, as it was a glorious gift that gave the inhabitants of Mizahar the ability to grow food, and therefore, it gave them life.

But this? This was a bit much.

It had been raining for at least two days straight, and it showed no signs of letting up. Though it had been a wonderful reprieve from the blistering heat at first, it was well past that stage now. Now, it was a nuisance. The steady fall of rain had grown into a full-blown storm, with winds so monstrous that several homes and businesses had been damaged. Rain swamped the city, filling and overfilling any pocket where the water might gather. Pots that had held flowers were nothing but birdbaths now. The streets served as streams and the ocean tide was higher than ever, leaving little to no beach.

All those who were sane had taken shelter and hunkered down to weather the storm. Men, women, children, even pets hid from the ominous-looking skies. Unfortunately, those without homes also needed refuge. Not people; no, all people had found a place to stay, even if only an inn. But the rat population of Zeltiva? They had to impose upon others.

There had been problems with rats since the storm had begun. They had invaded any dry areas they could find, and made their temporary homes indoors. Kitshoon was fully aware of this. But somehow, when she saw the first tail disappear under her armchair, and heard the skittering of feet on the hard floor, she was still surprised.

Surprised enough, even, to let out a shriek.

Kitshoon hastily climbed atop her table, perching there, watching for the next vermin to creep out into the open. She couldn't count how many there were, as they kept moving, and worry clouded her mind. Was there one rat under the armchair and one behind the bed? Or were they one in the same? Were there more she couldn't see? How long had they been there?

A chill ran through Kitshoon's body at the thought of sharing her home with the rats. Their long, ugly tails and beady eyes were the thing of nightmares, and their tiny squeaks were chilling to the girl. She knew she would have to face the rats eventually, but she did not have to face them alone. Still atop her table, Kitshoon took a deep breath to gather her courage. She gave the floor a once-over to check for pests, and then, with her heart in her throat, lept for the door.

The Chaktawe rushed into the swamped streets. She ran against the onslaught of rain, trying her best not to slip on the smooth ground. Turning her head so that the harsh wind would not be in her face, she headed off in the direction she thought her mother's house would be. But the downpour was still going strong, and it was difficult to see where she was going.

After being outside for what seemed like bells, but was probably only chimes, Kitshoon reasoned that she must be getting close now. The girl nervously began to peer into windows, desperately trying to find the home of someone she knew. So far, nothing. She didn't even recognize any of the houses nearby.

Kitshoon grabbed the corner of her shirt and wrung it as she trekked on- partially to get the water out, but mostly because she was anxious. What would she do if she couldn't find her mother's house? Or more importantly, what if she couldn't find her way home?

Makutsi, please, she thought, her face warped with nervousness, Give me shelter.

[Firenze]

c

Summer on the seaside was the best. It was even better now that the temperatures had started to cool off a little bit because it’d been raining for the last few days. The windows were opened just slightly and Fire sat next to it enjoying the cool breeze that wafted through.

Pulren’s dove sat in the cage nearby, cooing. She wondered if he was ever going to name it or if it was always just going to be “bird”. Her head cocked as she watched it nestled on it’s perch. It may have a name but she’d never thought to ask if it did.

Getting up from her own perch she walked over to the cage to check if it was clean. It didn’t appear too bad and thought it might be best to change out the bottom when things weren’t so mucky outside.

While she waited for the rain to let up she resigned to the fact that she needed to do something with her hands. Glancing around the room, clothes were laid out on chairs, some needing a wash. There were dirty dishes on the table and the pot from when she’d tried to cook the other night sat next to them. A layer of dust was beginning to layer itself on the shelves and the hearth was in a serious need of soot cleaning.

Sighing she changed into her grubbiest clothes that she had. The ripped pants that still needed mending and the green pull over, one of her other shirts she tied around her head to keep the dust from getting in her hair, securing it at the nape of her neck. Grabbing a rag of cloth from her chest, and both of the bowls, she sat them outside just past the porch to gather some of the rainwater to use toward the cleaning, instead of their drinking water.

Turning back she grabbed the pitcher too and sat it outside next to the bowls. It might help to have some back up water if the bowl water became too filthy. It was going to take them at least a half bell to fill so she began by gathering her and Pulren’s dirty clothing together, laying them in a pile near the bed to be washed.

Plates and silverware were stacked into the cooking pot and sat outside to fill. The pan following right behind it. Might as well clean it all if she was going to wash them. Sticking her arm out the window she waited for the rag to dampen. Fat raindrops hit the cloth, hand and arm, cooling her skin. Gooseflesh ran up her arm and gave her a shiver.

Once it was to her liking she began with the shelves, wiping off the layer of dirt and dust. Next was the tabletop, wiping all the food scraps to the corner of the table and into her hand. She wasn’t exactly sure what she should do with the dried bits that had fallen from cooking. She glanced over to ‘bird’, could it eat the scraps? Unsure she didn’t want to kill it so she threw the bits out the window that was open.

It was at that moment, as her hand flew out the window that she saw something, or someone, run past the cottage. They were soaked to the bone, dark hair plastered to their skin. Their feet sloshed through the quickly running streams that went down the hill and toward the bay.

Running over toward the door, throwing it open, her eyes followed the person. It was actually a woman. Her clothes were stuck to her skin and gave the obvious show of her figure. Fire put a hand up to her mouth and called out, “Hey! What’re you doin’ out there? Don’t you know it’s raining buckets!” A shake of her head she waved at the woman to stand under the porch. “Come here, get out of the rain, you’ll catch your death!”

She didn’t want to let her in because of the promise that she’d made to Pulren and hoped the cover of the small porch would be sufficient. “Wait here.” She held up a hand to the woman and slipped back through the door, latching it behind her before she ran over to get some of the ragged furs from her chest.

Returning with the furs, slipping back onto the porch, her back to the door, she handed them over to the woman, “What’re you doing? Are you okay?” That was the moment that she saw her eyes, they were pure black, just like the healer in Sunberth. Fire didn’t know what race she was but recognized eyes like that anywhere.

Others | Firenze | Thoughts

c

[Urkut]

Kitshoon shivered, accepting the furs from the woman without a thought. Though she hadn't been listening to exactly what the woman had said, it was easy enough to guess what she meant. "What the petch are you doing?"

Kitshoon looked the woman up and down, carefully taking in her and her surroundings before responding.

The porch had a short overhang, which was currently protecting the two from the majority of the rain. Although it was not ragged or worn, it was also clear that is was not part of a terribly affluent quarter of Zeltiva either. In fact, it much resembled Kit's own neighborhood.

The woman herself, however, was quite a rare sight. She was tall- much taller than Kitshoon- and she held herself proudly. Her long, straight blonde hair was a color that most only achieved after paying much money for their beauty, and wherever she looked, her eyes twinkled and sparkled. Only when the woman locked eyes with Kitshoon did the Chaktawe notice a change in her otherwise neutral or even friendly expression. Though it was slight, it was one that Kit was intimately familiar with. The woman had most certainly recognized her race.

However it irked Kitshoon to know that the woman was already judging her, she had to take into consideration that the woman had essentially just rescued her. So, Kitshoon decided to play nice. Wiping the water from her face, she tried to explain.

"I was looking for my mother's cottage. You see, there's rats in my house. I need her help to..." Kitshoon trailed off the sentence, shaking her head. This woman didn't care about her rat problems. Instead, Kitshoon started down a different track. "Anyway, my mother lives in the Ancient Quarter. Can you at least tell me if I'm in the right place? Or close?"

[Firenze]

c

Fire watched as the woman started to wipe down with the furs that she’d given her. Rain poured in streams off the corner of the porch, splashing as it hit the ground behind her. It wasn’t the best cover but it worked.

The woman said she was looking for her for her mother’s cottage. Fire didn’t know the woman before her and certainly didn’t know her mother so she wouldn’t be able to help point the woman in the correct direction. However, she’d mentioned that there was a rat in her house and that was the reason she’d been running through the downfall in search of her mother’s place. That might be something that she could help with.

She’d then mentioned that her mother was in the Ancient Quarter and that was quite a ways from where they were standing, “You’re in the Old Quarter, the Ancient Quarter is quite a bit away. I’m not sure that I could help you get to your mother’s house but I might be able to help you get the rat from yours, if you’d like?” A smile and then a nod.

There wasn’t the issue of mice or rats in their house. Thankfully Pulren hadn’t noticed that they didn’t have the same issues that others might be having during the downfall of rain. Fire wasn’t complaining though, it made for a nice lunch. It made things easier for her too so she didn’t have to go out into the downpour to get something to eat, instead the food came to her.

Taking the furs back from the woman she turned and went back inside, throwing the furs into the pile of dirty clothes. Grabbing her cloak off the hook she went back out and locked up. “I don’t have another cloak but I can share with you if you want,” she wrapped the cloak around her shoulders holding it up so that the woman could duck under the fabric.

Others | Firenze | Thoughts

c

[Pulren Marsh]

A Grade is Coming
Your Wave

I'm not going to worry over the changed person. Sorry I couldn't give more. PM if necessary.

 

Firenze

XP

• Observation 2
• Organization 1
• Planning 1

Lores

• Zeltiva: Old Quarter
• Zeltiva: Ancient Quarter
• Planning: Using Rainwater to soak dishes

Your Grader,


Pulren Marsh