Flashback Demanding Labour (Krisa)

[Azira]

   

34th Spring 510AV

It had been a fair day of hunting. She'd been out with Si'ira and the pair had managed to bring down a young doe and Azira herself had also managed to catch a brace of rabbits. It had left the young huntress in high spirits, convinced that this hunt would be further proof to her mentor that she was ready to be released from her apprenticeship. She hoped that the woman would release her soon, she was so desperate to be a proper Avora but she was being to get a bit impatient.

The pair had carried their kills back to the city, leaving them in the processing center before Si'ira had allowed her to go off for the evening. The girl didn't know quite what to do with herself. Going outside was one option but it was getting late so the girl wasn't sure if that was the best idea. It got her thinking though. What if she went out to hunt alone? If she came back with more food wouldn't that convince Si'ira that she could be let out on her own? It seemed like an excellent idea to the young woman and she hurried back to her room to collect her gear again. 

When she hoisted her gear back onto her shoulders again, they protested painfully. It had been a long day and that deer had been heavy. She'd been intending to go to the baths to wash off the grime of the day and to ease her sore muscles as well. She hadn't though and now she was regretting it. The first few steps outside of the room almost made her give up on the endeavour but then she had another bright idea. What it someone carried the gear for her? Under normal circumstances, she'd carry the stuff herself but these weren't normal so letting someone else do it was allowed.

The young huntress shifted the weight on her sore shoulders and set off into the Inner Warrens in search of some Dek to carry her burden. It took longer than she would have liked and she realised that was because it was mealtime for the drudges. She made her way down to the kitchens, the pain in her shoulders making her want to scream. The Dek were there yes,  she scanned their ranks as she crossed to the counter to get some bread and meat to bring with her on her hunt. Wrapping her supplies carefully, Azira placed them in her bag and glanced over the Dek once more.

She was looking for a female (no way did she want a male) but she needed one that actually seemed able to carry her stuff. One young woman among the rest caught her eye and she found herself striding purposefully towards her after dumping her gear beside the counter. The drudges seemed to shrink as the young huntress approached, their gazes on their meagre meals and their shoulders hunched over.

"Hey you!" she called pointing at the young woman. "I have a job for you."

x

[Krisa]

“No, No, No, Not again. I can’t be late again!” The poor girl had missed the meal offered earlier in the day due to the carelessness of the last person she’d worked for. All day she’d been scrubbing half the population of pots and pans found in a cook’s kitchen, his stone floors, his bench tops, his hearth, all carried a thick layer of grime that had been a nightmare to get off. Her hands contained blisters that had opened up and were wet with pus. Her whole upper body ached from repeating the same circular scrubbing motion over and over since the break of dawn that morning.

Finally the Dek was able to make it to the kitchens before all the food was gone. She felt her stomach complaining loudly and obnoxiously about being empty. The food wasn’t great, but Krisa hadn’t really registered it’s taste for a long time. Food was fuel to keep going for at least another day. She passed the counter and gratefully took her share, plowing into it as quickly as she could.

There wasn’t usally much talk going on amongst the Dek during meal time. Everyone was simply concentrating on eating as much as they could before their next job, and even those who had finish only muttered a sentence or two between long silent pauses. Krisa was no exception. Her head was hunched over the bread she was eating, and she didn’t look or speak to anyone. But even in such a hushed place, the fearful silence could easily be noticed upon the entry of a higher caste member.

Krisa barely noticed her arrive. She was so hungry that she didn’t see the change in body language around her. The fearful expressions of the other drudges. Not until she was directly called to. Krisa nearly jumped out of her skin, whirling around so fast that whatever she was still holding fell to the floor. Krisa just stared at it dumbly and it took all of her efforts not to burst into tears right there in front of the huntress. Voices inside her head laughed at her “Stupid Petch dropped her food!”, “How wasteful!” “How Clumsy”

She’d barely eaten any of it. Another night and all she’d eaten was a slice of tough bread. The rest was upside down. Without a word another Dek gave her a look that said ‘I’ll do it’. Krisa couldn’t say a word, but she thanked the woman with her eyes. Turning her attention to the huntress, she bowed deeply and awaited instruction. “What…whatever you need.” She replied, deflated.

[Azira]

   

The Dek girl that she addressed started in surprise, knocking her meal onto the floor. The bowl landed facing downwards but some of its contents managed to escape and splattered lightly across her boots. Wrinkling her nose in distaste, the huntress took a step back from the spreading puddle under the vessel and shook her feet in an effort to get most of the liquid off. The drudge had made a mess that needed to be cleaned up now but Azira almost apologised for startling the poor girl in the first place. It was her fault that the girl had no dinner now but she decided against an apology.

A brief but meaningful look passed between this Dek and another before the girl agreed to do whatever Azira wanted. She nodded, satisfied. "Good. I need you to pick up that stuff over there." She waved a hand to indicate her backpack, bow and quiver by the counter before continuing, "And carry it for me. Do be careful with it, it was my dinner in it you know. Hopefully you aren't always that clumsy because that would be unfortunate." 

The teen turned on her heel and marched up to the counter to see if they had a damp cloth handy. When she was presented with one, she ran it quickly over her shoes to clear them of the Dek's dinner. She handed it back across and ordered a glass of water which she gulped down eagerly and placed down on the counter with a soft thud. Without a glanceto the side, for she assumed that the Dek would have complied with her orders, the young woman strode from the kitchens and out into the Inner Warrens, winding her way to the Sanikas Gate.

When she reached the Gate and stepped out into the open light, she discovered that the light had faded and that soon it would be dark. She rolled her shoulders to relieve some of the tension in them and spoke to the Dek without looking around.

"Make sure that you have a good hold on that stuff but make sure that I have easy access to the bow and quiver. I might need them at a moment's notice. Whatever you do, don't make a sound." Her orders given, the Avora strode away heading for the trees.

x

[Krisa]

Still battling the sounds of laughter that only she could hear, Krisa nodded slightly. The Dek didn’t acknowledge comment about her clumsiness; she simply walked towards the gear that the Avora had left for her to pick up. Her back and shoulders were sore and achy, but that would be nothing compared to a night with nothing to eat. Especially since the last time she ate was yesterday morning. Krisa didn’t look at the girl; instead she focused her eyes only where she needed to. She placed the backpack on her back and slung the quiver over her shoulder, and held the bow in her right hand. Running her other hand through her fringe, the Dek waited by the door for the Huntress to finish cleaning up and lead the way.

Once outside, she said nothing the entire way. She just followed mutly, shoulders drooped slightly, having conversations with odd versions of herself inside her head. None of them good for her mental health, but what did it matter. She’d be dead in the next ten years most likely. She could speed that time up by being disobedient, or acting up, but she was far to scared. Eventually they reached the gate, and Krisa realized she was accompanying the avora hunting. Her paranoia had a new best friend. The Dek heard the huntress speak again without looking at her. She shifted the quiver so it sat in front of the backpack. It was more uncomfortable to hold this way, but it would be easier for her to access.

Being silent was one thing the Dek was good at. She never spoke unless she had to anyway. It was just easier that way. Sometimes she fooled people into thinking she was a mute, then she’d never have to speak to them.

Shyke

Krisa had fallen to far behind the huntresses long strides already. She jogged to catch up, trying to tred lightly as she did so. They were making their way for the trees now, and her mind screamed at her “Big animals… everywhere… stalking you” “Do you really thing SHE’S going to save you?” “You’ll be left for dead, and then thrown into the fire!” “DIE DIE DIE” Krisa shook her head violently, asking them to stop, and leave her along, but it was no good. She had to put up with it. Whatever they said… was wrong. It wouldn’t happen. What did they know?

She stiffened her shaking hands, balling them into fists. If she kept that up she’d say something out loud, or drop the avora’s bow. And THAT would be bad.

[Azira]

   

The huntress didn't take the slightest bit of notice of the Dek walking dumbly behind her, she had more important things in her mind than the lower caste member. One was where to go hunting. It'd have to be somewhere with terrain that was reasonably easy for her to negotiate in the dark. Her footing was sure enough and when she actually got into the trees she'd slow down anyway do it wasn't as if she was going to go twisting her ankle. 

A brief glance behind her showed that the Dek was struggling to keep up with her. The Avora rolled her eyes and wondered how the drudge would manage even simple terrain in the darkness. The girl wouldn't have any experience of mountaineering so crossing the terrain would be hard for her. She couldn't afford to have the girl stumbling all over the place while she was trying to hunt; that would be problematic. She'd just have to hope that the girl would manage because otherwise she'd have to abandon the hunt, something she definitely didn't want to do.

When the huntress began to walk through the forest, she slowed down greatly, making her steps light and careful as she progressed forwards. Her ears strained for the natural sounds of the forest but she was all too aware of the footfall of the drudge. She would have thought that those of the lowest caste would have perfected the art of silence but apparently not. It couldn't be helped she supposed.

She continued forwards, slowing her pace slightly in the hopes of reducing the noise level. If her helper had to slow down too then perhaps she'd be quieter as well. Perhaps it was too much to hope for but it seemed reasonable to Azira.

It was about a quarter of a bell or so to a spot where she knew that rabbits frequented. A journey that was filled with uneven terrain, treacherous tree roots and old, hidden rabbit burrows. It was terrain that she was used to traversing, easy really if you allowed your feet to be flexible, for your soles to mould to the surfaces you walked on. Whether the Dek could manage it or not though, the young woman didn't know.

x

[Krisa]

Slow down… watch your step… Krisa, you are not Petching falling over, havn’t you screwd up enough already? It was so dar now, and there were so many places with the potential to take away her firl footing. The Dek was gald when the huntress slowed down even further. Krisa managed to move quietly, all too aware of the scrutiny she must be under and it made her nervous. At least the scrutiny wasn’t communicated verbally. Tree’s surrounded them now but Krisa didn’t stop to smell the flowers. Instead she stared hard at the ground, and felt ahead with her foot before stepping. All was going well. Far too well, apparently.

Her foot suddenly disappeared into the ground and became stuck. She lurched forward with a tiny exclamation and caught herself with her hands on the trunk of a tree. A pain shot through her ankle as she tried to pull it out of the hole and she suppressed cry of pain. Gingerly she wiggled her foot out of the burrow.
“…S-Sorry, won’t happen again…” She whispered, and placed her foot in front of her carefully. She almost cried out again as she attempted to walk.

For some unknown reason, Krisa decided in that moment to be proud… even though she was nothing. She pretended like everything was normal. Each step brought new pain, but she walked as if this wasn’t true. She didn’t want the huntress to think that she would give up. Petch her, Krisa was a-okay.

The Huntress wouldn’t care, so long as she didn’t mess up her hunt. Carefully goes it… you’ll be fine… nothing you can’t handle, what’s a little pain like this compared to the rest of your life? So onwards she followed the huntress, at the speed of a turtle, feeling for every obstacle so that she wouldn’t stumble again.

[Azira]

   

The teen stopped and turned her eyes skywards for a moment when she heard the drudge stumble behind her. She turned, crossing her arms across her chest as she waited impatiently for the girl to tug her foot from what seemed to be a rabbit burrow. Was the incident in the kitchen a sign that the drudge was naturally clumsy? Should she have left her behind and chosen another? Probably but it was far too late to do anything about it now. If she had to return to the city to look for another, not only would she waste time but she'd also lose her nerve. So she was stuck with a clumsy Dek. Great.

The drudge apologised and she seemed unhurt so Azira turned to continue moving through the forest. Hopefully the girl wouldn't find another place to have an accident or she might actually hurt herself. It would be very unfortunate, not to mention inconvenient, but if it happened at the wrong moment it could be disastrous. Suppose she lost game because the Dek was a clumsy idiot? No, it was best not to think about that.

Chimes of pushing quietly through the trees brought her to the edge of a clearing. It was a place that she had been a number of times with Si'ira. She was pleased with herself for being able to find it herself and in the dark too! Squinting in the dim light, the huntress searched for shapes in the short grass of the little clearing. It was hard to see really and she'd be glad when Leth's light appeared. Frowning, she looked at the dark sky in search of the pale orb. Assuming that Leth put in an appearance anyway. Turning back, she caught the movement of something in the grass. It only looked like a shadow to her but she thought she might be able to hit it.

Creeping back a little, she approached the Dek and gestured to indicate that she wanted her bow and an arrow.

x

[Krisa]

Step, wince, repeat, step, wince, repeat
Krisa trudged on feeling hungry, in pain, and rather pissed off. She’d watched the huntress cross her arms and look annoyed when she’d stumbled. As if she was somehow magically supposed to know how to navigate difficult terrain like this when she’d never even done it before. As if she was a waste of her time. Krisa wondered, just for a moment, what would happen to her if she just dumped the huntress’s stuff and turned around to walk home. Most likely she’d find an arrow wedged into the back of her skull. No way was she giving up. She was going to complete the treck without faltering again.

The pain in her ankle was getting stronger, but Krisa just wasn’t in the right frame of mind to give a shyke. She could barely feel anything over her own insane choir of voices in her head. Her mind just drifted off to think about several things at once, and she had to keep making herself focus on the ground again and again. Finally it seemed the tree’s were thinning. Soon there would be a clearing. She could see little speckles of moonlight on the ground now. Leth was out, and at full moon too.

The tree’s ended completely, and the huntress crept forward, keen eyes searching the grass for her prey. Krisa loosened the quiver from her back and handed it to her along with the bow when she was asked. Finally, they had stopped waling. Krisa favored her left, unhurt foot, lifting her right slightly off the ground to take the awful pressure off.

“You’ll never make it back, Petch!” Krisa brushed the hurtful comment the voice had paid her aside “Are you ignoring me?“ “You’re useless!” “Did you really think you could do this? She’ll find out!” “She’ll find out and hurt you!” “She’ll leave you out here to die!” Krisa whimpered quietly, shaking her head from side to side as if she could rattle the voices out of her ears and step on them. “You’re nothing! Who would notice if you didn’t come back?!”

[Azira]

   

The Dek was quick to comply with her signed orders, handing her the quiver and bow. The arrows clacked off each other lightly as she swung it over her shoulder and she winced at the sound, hoping that she hadn't spooked her prey. No, it probably wouldn't hear something like that, a sound quieter than her footsteps. Azira drew an arrow from the quiver and nocked it, holding it in place pointing downwards as she stalked forwards.

Leth's light had escaped from whatever cloud had been keeping it hidden, rays of pale light falling on the little clearing to illuminate it. By the new light, she could make out the rabbit more clearly hunched over to nibble at the grass. She could see the movement of its small jaws and the twitch of its little nose as it munched away contentedly. Raising the bow, she drew the string back, aiming at the flank of the small creature. Her arms shook slightly with effort as she tried to ensure the shot would hit its mark. When the huntress was sure it would hit she released.

Unfortunately at that moment the creature gave a few short hops, presumably to reach fresh new grass and so the arrow hit wrong, only grazing it. It shot off at top speed, other rabbits that had been more obscured running with it.

"Petch! Stupid, little petching shyke!" she hissed, kicking a nearby stone with her boot in annoyance. There was no harm in the noisy movement now that there was no prey to risk frightening. "Shoot rabbits in the dark. What a bright idea that was!" she muttered to herself as she unslung the quiver and thrust both it and the bow into the hands of the drudge. 

Turning on her heel, she crept quickly out into the clearing to collect her arrow. To her dismay, it had snapped in two. She crushed the pieces under her heel, grinding her teeth at the same time. Moving into the forest on the other side of the clearing, the girl went off in search of more rabbits.

x

[Krisa]

Miss the shot! Krisa chanted silently inside her head, watching the huntress aim for the rabbit she could see illuminated by the light of Leth. She didn’t particularity hate this woman. Her resentment was for the whole of Wind Reach, usually including herself. So her angry and unkind thoughts went on until she let the arrow fly. And it missed. And Krisa hid her smile, smothering a tiny giggle behind her cupped hands. How wonderful that she wasn’t the only one who had messed something up. She’d always thought a hunter should be a calm and level headed person. Krisa had that under her belt, but she lacked any kind of focus.

The Bow and quiver was shoved roughly into her chest, forcing her to quickly change her expression as the avora got in her face. Then she walked off across the clearing and Krisa felt karma hit her. She sighed deeply and stepped forward ‘Petch this hurts...!’ she thought as fire burned through her whole leg. She struggled to catch up with the huntress as she made it to the tree’s on the far side of the clearing. How could she let something like this happen? She wasn’t usually this prideful! Look where it had landed her. She should have told this girl earlier. It was so agonizing that she couldn’t keep the grimace off her face.

Gods... thinking about the trip back home made her want to throw up. It was lucky she couldn’t see her ankle in this darkness, because if she had, she might have cried. It was very swollen. Just looking at it, one could imagine her pain. So she had to ask the avora how much further that they had to walk, and hope she didn’t get eaten alive. “Um, S-Sorry, but how much further are we going to walk...?” She asked finally catching up to her and falling into painful step beside her. She just wanted to find somewhere to crash for the night and sleep as best she could. She didn’t want to traipse around in the darkness with this woman.