Solo Nests for the Cliff Queens

Making Nests for Cliff Swallows in the Zoo.

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Built into the cliffs overlooking the Suvan Sea, Riverfall resides on the edge of grasslands of Cyphrus where the Bluevein River plunges off the plain and cascades down to the inland sea below. Home of the Akalak, Riverfall is a self-supporting city populated by devoted warriors. [Riverfall Codex]

Nests for the Cliff Queens

Postby Jaye on June 18th, 2014, 5:07 am

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29th of Summer 514 AV


Lugging and refilling the heavy bucket of water to all the watering bowls was tiring and difficult work. With so many there were many times she would lug the bucket to a watering dish she thought was empty only to find she had already filled it and had to waddle elsewhere. Even more frustratingly was when she filled a watering dish and on her way to fill the bucket again found one she had recently filled dirty from a particular filthy birds bath, or tipped over from squabbling birds or a rambunctious child playing too rough unattended.

"Good thing they have so many..." She grumped as she lugged the final bucket to the final watering dish wedged between two weeping willows. The Zoo Keeper she had been introduced to on her second day had told her to meet her in the work room as soon as she was done and Jaye imagined that after having to refill so many of the water dishes she was probably already late.

Green tunic marred by dirt smudges and patches of darker green where she had spilled water Jaye jogged toward the word room, not that jogging will make up for much time...she bemoaned as she opened the only light door in the place. Several large bolts had been crafted into the other side, a quality that made Jaye both nervous and comfortable. With all the dangerous creatures and remarkably shabby craftsmanship of the cages a bolted room was hardly a bad idea.

"S-sorry I'm late...the birds were ridiculously dirty today..." She explained halfheartedly, excuses wouldn't matter to the woman before her. Surrounded by animals Jaye struggled to understand why everyone who worked here always seemed to be in such a fowl mood but everyday she trudged across the road here they were with the same firm flat lines.

As usual all she received was a grunt of acknowledgement as she took her seat on the long bench. The one room was used for both mixing seed, making and fixing nests, and eating lunch. Having only just been introduced to her flock a few days earlier Jaye had been assigned to clean up, watering and coincidentally watching. While physically demanding it left her mind free to wonder and watch the flighty creatures.

Heart was the only bird who dared enter the building with her, obviously delighted and excited by all the activity and plentiful food and daring the carnivorous sniggers of some of the less palatable clientele of the building Jaye had seen. She had seen less and less of them since entering the city and wondered if they fled back to the Sea of Grass while she was away or wandered the city. With abundant orchards and gardens they were more than content to feed themselves and relied less and less on the Drykas woman.

The thought made her vaguely anxious as she took a seat, Will they eventually treat me like the birds here do? As an outsider? Struggling to draw herself out of the dark thoughts Jaye gazed at the Myrian before her. Dura had hardly bothered to introduce herself upon meeting Jaye, proclaiming that hired help never stuck around for long and introducing herself to wandering waifs was a waste of her time.

Dura never explained anything to the Drykas. She would merely begin her work and expect Jaye to observe closely and copy. This was relatively sufficient when it came to filling the bird baths, or more importantly finding them, but the bird seed always seemed to be shuffled around each day and without labels it made it very difficult to distinguish between each type.

Today they were making nests for the Cliff Swallows. The heat from the sun had dried out many of their own causing dangerous cracks in most and several had already fallen apart dashing baby chicks across the pathway. A gruesome and heart wrenching mess to clean up and obscure from any curious onlookers.

Several cracked and damaged nests lay before them having been pried from the wall for repairing. Leaning over the Myrian Jaye watched curiously as the woman took a long thin flat stick about the length of her hand and carefully picked up a dabble of brown mud from the bucket between them. The mud was quite dense and supported itself in a small round lump along the fissure where she had applied it.

"Fix the fissures. If the opening has broken open then close that up tighter. Shouldn't be able to fit your fist in." Was as much explanation as she gave before resuming her work. Picking up one of the many slender sticks Jaye fumbled with it awkwardly. Having never been taught to write, as the culture in Endrykas oriented around oral tales, she didn't have natural control over the long utensil. Carefully taking a piece the size of the Myrians Jaye picked up her own nest.

It was relatively large and sat awkwardly in her outstretched hand, flat on on end where it had obviously been attached to the wall the nest stretched out like an oval and tapered on the opposite side of the wall attachment forming what was supposed to be a small hole. The edge of the hole was damaged from both the sun and the birds talons and had slowly crumbled away. Instead of a three finger sized hole like the ones she had seen on her first day the Drykas could almost fit her entire hand inside the structure.

Word Count920

Last edited by Jaye on June 28th, 2014, 4:26 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Jaye
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Nests for the Cliff Queens

Postby Jaye on June 20th, 2014, 12:03 am

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Placing it on the flat edge carefully hand braced against its side Jaye leaned in closely slowly turning the dried mud sculpture until she noticed the faint beginnings of a crack. Dabbing the wooden instrument against the nest she covered the micro-fracture. Not so hard afterall....

Continuing to spin the nest slowly Jaye scooped up small pieces of mud to place over the beginning cracks. However, as she did her last turn she noticed a crack running the length of the nest. Fortunately some longer strands of grass had gotten stuck in the formation when the birds had first made it acting as a hinge and keeping the structure together. Taking a large chunk of mud Jaye grinned as she began spreading it along the scar.

Suddenly the red-brown hand of the Myrian clasped her arm forcefully making her yelp in equal parts surprise as pain and displeasure. "Smaller. Dabs, do not smear like a filthy babe..." The vehemence in her voice outweighed the violation in Jayes opinion but she nodded obediently and continued. This time she carefully measured each scoop and placed it carefully along the line. Each created a tiny wet muddy bump until the line was complete and shone up at Jaye like brown shiny eyes forcing goosebumps to rise along her arms.

Peering over the Myrians shoulder Jaye watched as she repaired the mouth of the nest. A small round dab was placed along the edge of the mouth until it had made a complete circle and then the process was repeated atop the last series. Drawing out the stick herself Jaye tried to place a small dab on the edge only to watch it deflate. Placing small dabs along the edge was easy since a small amount of smearing still held it to the surface and volume was't required. The edge however had to be exacting.

"Why can't the birds repair it themselves like they do in the wild?" Jaye murmured, not really expecting an answer. "They can. They usually do. But with the heat there isn't any mud to make the nests from." Cheeks flushing at her own stupidity Jaye focused back on the task at hand ...of course..that makes sense. In the wild they are cliff birds and can dive down to the base of their nesting area to get mud. Our nesting area is much smaller and there is far less water and mud for them to use...

Pursing her lips in concentration Jaye scooped a small ball from the bucket and gently tried to roll it into a firmer ball along the edge. Slowly the thick mud took on the shape she needed, moving to draw it from the bucket her clumsily handling of the utensil sent the drop splattering against the top of the wet mud, deforming its careful architecture. "Petch!" Her voice was louder than she intended in the small room forcing a small arrogant smirk from the Myrian at her side.

Fed up with the inadequacy of both her skill and the clumsy stick Jaye reached a finger in pulling a small chunk of mud from the bucket and rolling it into a ball with the utensils she knew best, her fingers. The squelching sound of the mud and mucky filthy residue left a bad taste in Jayes mouth, a discomfort that showed blatantly on her screwed up face. Though she didn't see the Myrian chuckle she caught an echo of it in the curve of her ear, she had finally capitulated and Jaye couldn't help a savvy grin tickle her lips.

Placing the ball on the end she continued the work for several bells rolling and layering small balls of mud. Several bells passed, the Myrian having moved onto her second nest long ago making Jaye frown with frustration. Her nest wasn't getting any narrower...just longer.

"Place them on the edge..." The Myrian instructed without averting her gaze from her own work. Glancing over at the woman, her fingers moved in rapid well practiced efficiency compared to Jayes bumbling thoughtful process. This time when she rolled the small ball she pressed it on top of the previous ball at a small angle. Slowly but surely the structure began to take shape and eventually tapered shut until triumphantly, only three fingers could permeate its entrance.

Word Count718

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Jaye
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