[flashback]Exit one dishwasher. Enter a replacement (solo)

[Sunny]

Spring 20, 512

It was a sad day indeed. Sunny was literally dragging her paws, or feet as it were, as she rambled through Alvadas. Nello was well and truly gone. She had searched and waited for many days, but he had disappeared, along with that monstrous thing that had shown up. With a long face, Sunny had walked and pondered, considering what she should do. She couldn’t very well go back and live in the mountains. For one thing, there was no telling what was out there, after the storm. For another, she didn’t want to go be by herself. That would be far too lonely. And she didn’t really have the skills to live on her own. She had been learning, with Nello, but even in her dog form, she might have a very hard time feeding herself. Eventually, her feet took her in the direction (at least for today) of the Wolf’s Den, and when she came upon the almost cave like entrance, she paused. If she was to stay in the city, she’d need to support herself somehow. She couldn’t go back to her parents. She was old enough by far to be on her own, and take care of herself. However, her hunting skills wouldn’t really be of use here in town, and she knew little else.

Well, faint heart never won…a job.

Approaching the entrance of the inn that seemed especially well suited to its clientele, Sunny tried to look a bit more perky and positive. At the boulder that served as front desk and hostess station stood a pretty young woman with golden brown hair and a kind face, though she seemed preoccupied too. Encouraged by what she saw, however, Sunny smiled too and walked with more confidence to the boulder.

“Hello,” the woman said in a pleasant tone, turning her attention to the girl. “Do you need a room? Or are you here for a meal?”

“Neither,” Sunny replied with a now eager tone to her voice. “I was wondering if you need anyone to work for you. You see…”

“Oh. Oh!” The woman looked distracted again and held up a hand. “Could you wait, just a moment.” She seemed to be listening, perking her ears in the direction of the many hallways that gave into the large common room beyond. Sunny too gave her attention to what she could now hear was a faint commotion going on, farther within the inn, it seemed. There were some yells, and more growls, and snarls. A yip, a yelp and a howl finished off the cacophony and then, silence. The hostess was still turned towards the interior, her eyes fixed on a far hallway. Sunny looked too. Within a moment, a young good looking man appeared, with something dangling from his hand.

“Got it!” he called out to the young woman, who now had a relieved look on her face. The man went on towards the back of the inn, and the lady turned her attention back to the girl.

“I’m sorry. Ever since the storm, well, you know, strange things running everywhere.” She looked apologetic, as if it was somehow her fault that monsters, even little ones, were running amok in her inn. “Now, what were you saying?”

Sunny’s smile had dropped quite a bit. “Yes, the storm was bad. I, I lost my master in it. Nello. He disappeared. Well, I think a monster got him. I haven’t been able to find him.” Her voice was quite mournful.

The young woman looked quite sympathetic. “Your master? You are a servant then, or…” Of course, with their more sensitive senses, it wasn’t difficult for one kelvic to recognize another, usually.

Sunny looked wistfully at the other woman. “I am kelvic. Like you.”

The woman smiled gently. “I see. And… you said you were looking for a job?”

Sunny nodded. “Yes. I don’t have a home now. I can’t go back to the mountains, So, I was wondering…this seemed like a place that…maybe it would be a good fit for me?”

The woman frowned a bit, her brow knitted as she obviously considered her reply. “Well… I don’t know. We don’t really need any more help at the moment. What, um, what exactly is it that you do, dear?”

Sunny tilted her head a bit to the side, thinking. “I can hunt, track, cook…a little, but not very well, um, trap…” She paused, considering what else she knew. The rest of what Nello had taught her probably wouldn’t be of any use here.

The woman must have been thinking along the same lines. Smiling gently, she said,”I don’t think….”

Suddenly, there was a yell from the back room, and a name being called out, possibly by the young man who had walked through with that thing dangling from his hand.

“Micah? I think this…whatever it was got into the kitchen before it got into the guest rooms. Better come have a look...the dishwasher….”

The rest was inaudible, and the young woman, apparently Micah, said to Sunny, “Wait here dear. I’ll be right back.”

She hurried away and Sunny leaned against the boulder, feeling sad and quite dejected. She missed Nello so, so badly. It took more than a few minutes, but she waited patiently, as she had been told. Finally, Micah reappeared.Her face looked strained but she said in a falsely hearty tone, “It looks like we’re in need of a new dishwasher. The one we had…er….well, he’s gone. So…” She clasped Sunny’s hand in hers. “You can wash dishes right? And help with the laundry? We go through any number of sheets, blankets, towels. That, um, is now the vacant position. If you want it, it’s yours!”

Sunny had straightened up and gripped Micah’s hand back excitedly. “Oh, yes, I can do that! Soap, water, clothes line, right? That couldn’t be too hard, could it?” She was smiling happily. “I can start today, right now, if you want!”

Micah cast an apprehensive look back over her shoulder, and then said hesitantly, “Perhaps you should come tomorrow, to start. It’s a…bit of a mess back there. Let us get it cleaned up and then, you know, a fresh beginning and all that?”

Sunny nodded, clueless as to what had happened to the other dishwasher-laundress.

“Alright, I’ll be here first thing in the morning. Thanks!” Impulsively, she threw her arms about the other kelvic. Luckily for her, Micah was one of the nicer wolves that manned the inn.