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[Azira]

36th Summer 515AV
The situation in the mountain was getting worse with each passing day. The previous night had brought one of the worst cave-ins thus far. The tunnels tote Aeries were blocked up making it nearly impossible for anyone to get a lift with one of the Endal. The only way up was to climb via ladder to the Aeries above. It was sure to be a nightmare. It was going to make life more difficult for anyone who wanted to get there. To make matters worse, an area had been blocked off that had no alternative entrance, trapping the occupants: the Inclement Weather.

Apparently, lava had broken through and headed for the dance club. The talk among the denizens of Wind Reach was that a reimancer must have thrown a stone wall up to protect everyone from the lava and had trapped them all in the process.

The huntress had decided to see the truth for herself once she had completed her work for the day. She had been working on a disaster crew, investigating and trying to dig through the mess that now blocked the path up to the Aeries. She was filthy, covered in dust from the rocks. It clung to her clothes, her skin, her hair and she could even see stone dust caught in her eyelashes. As curious as she was to see the flow of lava, it could wait until after she'd had a well-deserved bath. Azira didn't even care about the attention she might draw to herself; she was just desperate to get herself cleaned up. When she managed to get herself covered on mud on hunts that was one thing but this dust was another thing entirely. It was horrible.

As she drew close to the Tisuma Baths, she was surprised to find the passage full of people. She'd heard the noise of the crowd as she approached but i hadn't occurred to her that there could possibly be so many gathered there.

She moved to the back of the crowd, roughly pushing her way through a group of Chiet. An exclamation of "Hey!" from one of them was met with a glare from Azira before she continued her way forward. The crowd was thick and when she encountered a group of Avora, they shoved back. "Get back there with the others, Chiet!" a man snapped, slamming her into the people behind. An elbow stuck in her back, her own elbows making contact with flesh and eliciting groans and cries of pain. She caught her balance, charging forward again to smack her palms into the man's side.

"I'm Avora, you stupid chick!" The man looked taken aback by her attitude and she saw his expression darken. "Now, what is going on and I won't try to shove through again." He patted her on the head, sniggering.

"I'd like to see you try... chick. You're one to talk with the size you are." She ducked out from under his hand as the people around them sniggered. She was sure that she heard stifled laughter behind her coming from the Chiet. "You're definitely a chick. You haven't grown yet," the other Avora added nastily.

Azira might not have been hunting that day but that didn't mean that she was lacking her hunting knife. She pulled it carefully from its holster, trying to be stealthy about it. The blade was kept low as she moved it to press the tip against his stomach. The laughter died on his lips. She pressed a little into the soft flesh and watched as he winced. "Do... not... insult me," she spoke softly, each word holding venom. "Now be polite and tell me what's going on." She pulled back the knife slowly and the other breathed an obvious sign of relief.

"Take it easy, uh..." He looked down at the knife. "Huntress?" She nodded in response and he proceeded to tell her what she wanted to know, doing his best to take a step away from her. There was no way a fight was going to break out here. The space was too tight to allow it but he was obviously stung that the "chick" had humiliated him and made him back down in front of his companions.

"The Baths are closed. Apparently the waters are too dangerous because of all these ground quakes. Don't know if it's because of heat or something else but it doesn't really matter. Closed is closed."

Closed? The huntress groaned. It was never a good thing when their access to the hot springs was cut off. She started pushing her way back out of the crowd, the man she'd threatened calling out behind her. She took no notice.

This was not the way she'd wanted her day to end. Needless to say, she was pretty pissed off although there was nobody she could direct her anger at, which only made matters worse. She was going to have to wash in drinking water, a prospect that was far from pleasant. In the meantime, she could at least take a look at this lava. Maybe something would go right for her this evening.

Nari | Common

Template courtesy of Khara

[Sira]

There was a resounding crack as Sira smacked the man on the side of the head with the broken leg of the chair she was holding. She didn't have her talon sword, but the chair leg seemed to work well enough. The man stumbled back, and his friend stepped forward to take his place. He was holding a dirk.

"Turrin! Where the petch are you with that sword!?"

Sira held the chair leg defensively in front of her. Where was Turrin? Her eyes darted around the crowd. Only a few of them were actually being aggressive, but if more decided to join, Sira wouldn't be able to hold them off, even if she had all the talon swords in Wind Reach. The man with the dirk lunged, and Sira dodged to the side. He wasn't skilled with his weapon, but neither was Sira with her chair leg. Still, she had more fighting experience than he, and dodged easily, swinging the chair leg and cracking him on the back of his head.

"All of you stay back!"

"We just want the food. Give us the food!"

"We have to ration it, you dek licker. This is a night club, not a larder. There's barely enough food to go around. We have to make it last."

The "food" they had was little more than garnishes for drinks. Lemons, limes, salt, a few olives. Nothing substantial. It was Sira's job to guard the food at the moment, and it wasn't going well. The idiot chiet just couldn't understand. You'd think that Winter would have prepared them for rationing. But they were trapped in a small, enclosed space and they weren't thinking right.

An Avora ran up, this one armed with a straight sword, a short sword actually. Luckily, Sira recognized him. He was her relief. She'd been guarding the room all day. Where the petch did he get a short sword? Sira could have used that.. well, she wouldn't take it from him now. He'd need it more than she would.

Sira glanced back into the room, her stomach rumbling slightly. It was too early to start eating. Nobody knew how long they would be trapped in the Weather, the plan was to wait as long as possible before they started eating the food stores. Sira traded places with the Avora and pushed her way through the crowd, searching for a place to sit down and rest. She chose an alcove near what was once the entrance to the club.

Sira leaned against the wall, noting its warmth. Was there still lava flowing out there, on the other side of the magically created wall? How much was there? Would anyone come to save them? She had no idea. Dying in the Inclement Weather was not an ideal place to die. She would have preferred to be outside, under the sun.. but, at least there was plenty to drink down here. If things became hopeless, at least she could be out of her mind drunk when she died.

Stop it, Sira. Thinking this way isn't going to help. She sighed, staring up at the ceiling above her. She could hear arguing over by the food stores. She ignored it. Sira closed her eyes, reaching out with her mind. It had been some time since anyone had communicated with them. Did they have a plan? She hoped so.

"Anybody out there?"

Sira sent out a short range burst with her mind to the other side of the lava. She didn't really expect to get an answer. If she wanted to talk to someone, she'd have to link up with one of the eagles directly. Not easy from this deep in the mountain. If she still had Addy, she could easily communicate with her. But without an endal, it was harder. Turrin was doing most of the talking, able to speak with his eagle easily, but Sira had no one to lock on to.

"It's getting bad in here," she sent, not actually expecting to get a response. "We've only got a little bit of food. It wont last long. People are trying to get at it already. Several are dead already. It's only going to get worse.."

Sira sighed again. What was the point of sending messages to no one? It certainly wasn't making her feel any better. She'd might as well just stop trying.

[Azira]

Her stomach grumbled. She couldn't hear it but she could feel it, her guts seeming to writhe within her. The idea of heading straight to the Kitchens and leaving the lava for later, or maybe even the next day, was tempting. She was on the move already though, her destination stubbornly set in her mind. It was only lava; it wouldn't take long for her to see it. Just take a quick look at a bit of runny rock and then she'd be on her way to get a bite to eat and then head back to her room to try to relax a bit before sleeping.

There was a noticeable emptiness to the Warrens near the Inclement Weather. Compared to the packed passage outside the public baths, it was eerily quiet. Those who were in charge of the problem had probably gone to dinner, or maybe there just wasn't anything they could do just now. Other than them, there was no reason for anyone to be down there because there was no club to go to and so it wasn't interesting. Nobody would be interested in seeing lava, no doubt. Yet, Azira was going to look at it but it seemed that she was the only one that it held any attraction for. Perhaps she was mad but it just seemed like too fascinating a sight to miss.

She felt the temperature change, felt the heat that came from the molten rock. The mountain was always warm but this heat was thick in the air and grew thicker as she got closer. It reminded her of the heat that filled the Glass Reverie, which made sense because the four batch ovens were heated by lava flows beneath. This lava flow was much closer, albeit smaller than what must run beneath the glassworks. It wasn't anywhere near as hot as she expected though seeing as it was supposed to be so close to the club.

The flow finally came into view or rather the part that was still fiery did. Glowing brightly, the liquid rock flowed from a split in the rock, cooling as it got further from the original heat source and darkening until the point where it met the barrier in front of the dance club. There it became far more solid and almost matched the colour of the stone that had been hastily thrown up to protect the club's occupants. There was enough of still live to make it a breathtaking sight and the teen stood marvelling at it for a few chimes. How could such a thing live in the same mountain as them, how did they coexist with this fiery substance? It didn't seem possible but yet she was looking at the proof of it right here in front of her. It was truly amazing.

The grumbling of her belly reminded her that she had other concerns and seeing as she'd seen what she'd wanted to, it seemed like the time to reassess her priorities. Turning to go, she managed to take a few steps away from the club and the lava flow before a voice reverberated in her head. The mental communication was unexpected and the huntress almost thought that she'd imagined it because who could possibly be communicating with her? The only answer was a Wind Eagle--they communicated by mind after all--but she couldn't understand why one would have opened up communication--and a general seeming one at that. Azira waited, hardly daring to breathe (even though sound wouldn't make any difference to "hearing" a mental message) as she waited to see if there would be more.

The information she received made her frown in confusion before the realisation struck her and she turned to look at the stone wall that blocked the entrance to the dance club. There wasn't anywhere else that she knew of where people were trapped. If the communication was coming from within the club though then it couldn't be coming from an eagle unless... it was a Wind Eagle Kelvic. For some reason the possibility excited her and she was glad that she had chosen to take this little trip so that she got to have this privileged insight into what was happening in the Inclement Weather--bleak picture though it seemed to be.

I hear you! You're in the Inclement, aren't you? she threw back, remembering how she had talked via two way mind communication before to achieve it. She hoped that she had gotten through but she couldn't be sure unless a response came. The Avora chewed her lip as she waited impatiently, the mental silence too much for her. She kept trying. Who is this? Are things really as bad in there as you say? I don't know how long until a rescue will come because the lava is still flowing outside. I should know, I'm looking at it.

She contemplated the situation for a few moments, wondering if she should try once more to get through but worrying at the same time that everything she was saying was being heard and that she'd sound as if she was babbling. One more thing couldn't hurt though.

It's being said that a reimancer blocked the entrance. Is it true? Are they... still alive?

Nari | Common

Template courtesy of Khara

[Sira]

At first Sira did not believe it. It was quiet, barely a connection. She was so tired, and her stomach was grumbling as if she hadn't eaten in days. She certainly had not slept since they'd been trapped in the club. Surely her mind was playing tricks on her. There was a pause between the first and second reply. Sira looked out of her alcove, watching the man who took her place swing his sword and shout orders at the hungry club goers to keep their distance. The second reply came, more clear this time, but Sira was busy thinking.

They weren't going to last much longer. Inarta were good at surviving when they had the caste system to keep them in place, but there was no caste system down here. She and the other endal were trying their best, but they only had one, no two now, swords among them, against an army of hungry and tired people. It was already bad, but things would get worse, she knew it.

A third reply came, and Sira sat up. It was a response, she was sure now, and her mind locked on.

"Yes! I hear you. We're in here."

Was she going crazy already. How could someone be talking to her? She would have to be right outside. Did that mean the lava had cooled? Was rescue on its way!? No.. No.. She said she didn't know how long it would be, but she was out there.

"This is Endal Sira. Who is this?" The voice sounded familiar, but she was too tired to figure it out yet. I'm trapped in here with.. I don't know, a couple hundred others maybe. Yes, the reimancer blocked the entrance, but he went crazy. He's dead now.

Sira winced at the thought. He'd saved them, and he could have saved them again, but he went mad from the effort. The bat killed him.. Sira hadn't been fast enough. They could have knocked him out, or used him somehow.. Pointed his madness at the walls to dig them out. Too late now. Other reimancers would have to save them, if there were any others left.

"A lot of people are dead. We only have a little bit of food, people are already fighting over it. I don't know how long we can keep them under control. It's going to get bad in here really soon.

Sira fell silent, waiting for a reply. Was there really someone out there, or was she just losing it from exhaustion? Not sleeping for a day was one thing, but not sleeping for a day while fighting to keep a hundred people from killing each other was not something she could keep up. Tears came unbidden to her eyes, streaming down her cheeks. Her fears and exhaustion were starting to get the best of her, and her link to the person outside meant they could literally feel the emotion rolling off her. Normally she blocked that sort of thing, but her mind wasn't focused enough for that. The fear and worry came rolling out.

[Azira]

The teen stood tensely waiting for a response, anxious that she hadn't managed to communicate with the voice in her mind. What if her message didn't get through? What if she was a useless chick who couldn't talk well mind to mind? The girl was literally sweating as she waited, her position to the lava too close for comfort. There was no way she could remain here for long but she also didn't know how far away she could risk going. If she moved away from the heat, would she be able to hear a reply if there was one? Would she be heard on the other side or would she go out of range? Azira didn't know and while she moped the moisture from her forehead, a response came and she found herself laughing, delighted that she had managed to get through after all.
She stayed still as she waited for more words to come.

The huntress gasped when she had confirmation that it was Sira's voice and said a prayer of thanks that the Endal had managed to survive the disaster. However, any joy she felt quickly soured as the details unfurled, the teen placing a hand to her mouth as she tried to comprehend the numbers that were now trapped behind the wall of stone that sealed off the Inclement Weather. There were hundreds of them in there in what was a relatively small space when you considered it as closed off and separate from the rest of the city. There would be little to eat and little to drink besides alcohol, while the time frame for a rescue remained uncertain. If a reimancer had gone crazy already then what was to stop others from going the same way? The fact that the man was dead made something flutter nervously in her stomach, wondering if he had killed himself or had had to be put down like a rabid animal.

The Kelvic only confirmed what she'd thought about the food situation and she wondered how long it could last, even if enough order could be established to ration it. If the food ran out then they would be left to starve. The bodies that were in there would grow ripe quickly in the heat and people would probably become sick as well. The thought of the bodies made her remember an incident from a few winters before and wondered if those in the club would grow desperate enough to eat their own brethren. Yes, she imagined they would do such a thing but the question was, how quickly?

Azira recoiled from the waves of emotion that crashed against her and found herself retreating down the tunnel, trying to find a point where she could deal with the despair, the fear, the exhaustion, the feelings of a person already pushed to breaking point. She moved back enough that the oppressive heat faded but the feelings still battered her mind. The girl found herself sobbing, cradling her head in her hands as she sank down against a wall. The only thing she could do was try to communicate with the woman, beg her to stop hitting her with all of this.

Sira! It's Azira! Please stop! You're killing me here! You're giving me too much emotion, please! she pleaded, flinging out her desperation as she continued to sob into her lap, hands pressed tightly against the sides of her head. I can't do anything to help, I'm no reimancer but I can pass on information. Why is it I can hear you? Can you talk to other people this way?

Nari | Common

Template courtesy of Khara

[Sira]

The emotions ended with a surge of embarrassment, and then silence for a moment followed by a quiet, Sorry.. from the kelvic. Sira took a moment to compose herself, calming her nerves and making sure she didn't send anything unexpected over their link. She didn't usually loose control like this, but she was in an extreme situation, locked deep beneath the ground, far from the open skies. She lived in the mountain, but she always knew she could go out into the sky any time she wanted. Now she would never.. Sira! Get control of yourself, damnit!

Sorry.. I've got it under control now. Her mental voice was much calmer, more like Sira's normal voice. She stared down at the glowing light in the palm of her hand, letting it's warmth fill her and restore her courage and hope. Yes, I can talk to anyone like this, all Wind Eagles can. But it's easier with you.

More signs that Azira was the right choice, but she couldn't think about that right now. Too risky, especially if Sira didn't make it out alive. It wouldn't be fair to Azira. Sira knew what it was to lose a rider. It was supposed to be even worse for an endal to lose an eagle. Some of them went mad. The bond was powerful, and it seemed a lot of endal weren't strong enough to endure losing it.

Azira was right, she wasn't a reimancer, but she could pass on information. But what information could she pass on? Sira glanced around the cavern again. There wasn't anything all that useful to say. They were trapped. They were starving, or well, they would be soon enough. They had... they had air. How did they have air?

Sira looked up at the ceiling. It was dark up there, but she thought she could make out.. grates? Were those air vents? Too high up, and too small to squeeze through if they could get anybody up there. But maybe.. maybe they could get water or food down the vents.

There are air vents! I think.. they look small, but maybe they could get food or water down here through them. That's something, anyway. But..

Sira realized that if Azira went to go tell someone about the vents she would lose contact with her. It was pure luck that she happened to call out when Azira was nearby. She might not get that lucky again, she had no way to tell what time of day it was, and she couldn't actually hear what was going on outside. If Azira left now she'd be alone again, or, as alone as one could be in an overcrowded chamber full of desperate and scared people.

You don't have to tell them right away though. It's.. good to have someone to talk to that isn't demanding I give them what little food we have left. What's it like out there? Was anything else damaged in the quake?

[Azira]

The onslaught of imagery and emotions sputtered out, embarrassment seeping through the link before it seemed to go dead. The huntress waited with bated breath, expecting something more to come and when it didn't do so right away, she began to panic, believing that something awful had happened to the Kelvic. Relief washed over her as soon as Sira's voice reached her again and she probably unwittingly sent the emotion through the connection. The woman seemed a lot calmer now and it was better to hear the other talk in more natural tones. The shapeshifter was usually pretty easygoing and in control of things so to feel her lose it like that had been too much for the Avora to cope with.

Wonder filled the young woman at the notion that it was easier for Sira to communicate mentally with her than with others. Her thoughts took an interesting cue from such a statement, wondering if the two had established a bond of sorts. She didn't believe that it was a soul-deep bond as occurred between a Kelvic and mate, or Wind Eagle and Endal, but she wondered if they had connected on some level. Such thoughts sent a thrill through her, a burst of excitement as she questioned what was between them. Azira did her best not to allow such thoughts or the feelings that accompanied them to seep through to Sira. It was neither the time nor the place to think of such things, besides which she had no idea where they stood with one another. The relationship between them was an odd one and the Avora was worried at the notion of giving her all and risking deep heartbreak for her troubles.

Instead, the huntress tried to quell such thinking and focus on the situation at hand. She might be the only link that those in the Inclement Weather had to the outside world and it wouldn't do to be distracted right now. There was no telling for how long they'd be able to maintain such a connection, especially as the tensions in the club seemed to be running high. If something were to happen to Sira... such a possibility didn't bear thinking about but it meant she had to treat each moment as precious as she might lose contact at any time. The sooner she gained useful information, she could run off to the Valintar and allow him to do what he would with the knowledge. It wasn't her place to decide on a course of action but she could perhaps help in that small way. The sooner those trapped in the club could be saved, the fewer of them would have to die from dehydration or at the hands of others.

Vents? So that means you can still get air. That's something at least. It's a small thing but it makes sense. If you didn't have vents, you wouldn't still be alive. I'm sure that someone will know where the vents are positioned. I'll tell the Valintar and he can... she trailed off, cocking her head as Sira's plea came through to her. She chewed her lip, debating what to do. It was better if she acted as quickly as possible but the Endal's plea was compelling. It felt like cruelty to tell the woman that she was acting selfishly. Azira didn't have the heart to tell her that she couldn't stay but the same time, she had doubts about whether or not staying was the wisest choice.

I will stay for a little while but the Valintar needs to know. I can always come back although... it's late, the huntress explained. She lapsed into silence then considering how to respond next. There has been some damage in places but no one else has been trapped. The city is still running okay although people are worried. We do not know if or when another quake might come. We are expectant and afraid. There is fear that something like what happened to you will happen to more. We might go to sleep and wake up trapped in our rooms, slowly dying from the lack of air but we do not know, we can only wait.

Nari | Common

Template courtesy of Khara