91st Day of Winter 513 AV
Scarce. Everything was scarce. Everything was so unsettling ever since winter had come upon them; things coming in the worst of times. Game was already hard to find in the winter, but ever since the beginning of winter, all citizens were restricted thanks to the Famine now looming over them. How dangerous it was, but as soon as the restrictions were set, it was only a slowly but surely building panic that would settle within the Inarta.
As Winter days passed, Azalia would begin to notice all the tempers of other Inarta, all of them quickly growing short-fused and angry at the smallest of things. It became even more noticeable during meal times when the Chiet and Dek castes would send glares towards the Endal and Avora as if they had no need to work. The Hunters of the higher castes tried their best to find game to be able to feed the nation, but they still complained despite the fact that they had at least two meal tokens, with even the opportunity to earn another if they worked. At least they got to eat. A scowl formed along Azalia's pale features at the reminder of the lower castes lack of gratitude, but there was so much pressure now.
Azalia's anger was quickly growing within her mind that it had to take her a moment or two to compose herself, only just noticing how tightly she had been gripping her fork when it had scraped along the plate, leaving a harsh sound emanating through the room.
"Avora Azalia, how many times have I told you not to play with your food?" Chef Davoid scolded her firmly, her tone immediately bringing Azalia back to attention. The fiery-haired girl almost smiled sheepishly, but had a feeling that it would only look sarcastic, so she chuckled wryly instead, looking up at the older Inartan from under her lashes, sparkling with a hint of mischief that seemed so half-hearted as a smirk curled her lips.
"Too many to count." Azalia replied, loosening her grip on her fork and taking a bite of the vegetables placed on her plate.
"Exactly. Now stop it, because you know I can easily take that away from you." Chef Davoid threatened with a falsely bright smile on her lips. It was enough to get Azalia to eat her food properly at that point, because she knew how lucky she actually was to even have meat on her plate despite how short of game they were currently bringing in.
Azalia's thoughts drifted once more as soon as Chef Davoid went back to ordering around the numerous kitchen staff early that morning, and the first thing she thought about was her last hunting trip just the day before. What an awful day it was. At the start of the day she could rarely find anything; winter, of course… but the famine had made it worse. Near the end of the day, she had nearly given up, but had in the end managed to find a deer roaming through the forests. Azalia had disguised her scent to get as close to the deer as possible, and the fact she managed to shoot it with her recent focus had shocked even her.
Pressure… so much pressure. It wasn't only the fact all the hunters were put to work and had to double their efforts to find game, but now hunters were required to train two apprentices. Azalia felt her hand shake, to which she dropped her fork and press her palms against her eyes. Spring. When would Spring come? When would this Famine end?
Azalia wished things wouldn't get worse, and that the tension would just stay where it was at the current point in time, but anybody who wished that wasn't that lucky.
"Oh, what is all that noise…" The young Avora heard Chef Davoid mutter as the chef walked passed her towards the entrance to the kitchens. Slowly turning her head, Azalia's bright green eyes followed the head chef, her stomach suddenly sinking as a feeling of dread washed over the young Avora. She could hear her heartbeat start to quicken as she heard the loud, angry yelling of other Inartan, and the noise was only getting louder, and louder.
"Shut the doors… Shut the doors!" For the first time, Azalia had heard Chef Davoid raise her voice; to which suddenly the rest of the kitchen staff were murmuring with another growing panic. Stop panicking… stop panicking! Azalia scowled, and it took so much for her not to yell, but there was no time for that. Her defenses went up immediately, her food forgotten as she quickly grabbed her bow and quiver full of arrows.
"Chef Davoid, what is it?" Azalia demanded, only just catching a glimpse of the angry crowd just before the doors had shut tightly. Kitchen staff pressed themselves against the doors just in case and the young huntress had gotten one of her arrows ready. "Chiet and Dek…?"
A dark glare had made its' way onto the head chefs' face, making her already stern looking visage seem even harsher, "I always thought something would happen, and sure enough... it has begun."
.
As Winter days passed, Azalia would begin to notice all the tempers of other Inarta, all of them quickly growing short-fused and angry at the smallest of things. It became even more noticeable during meal times when the Chiet and Dek castes would send glares towards the Endal and Avora as if they had no need to work. The Hunters of the higher castes tried their best to find game to be able to feed the nation, but they still complained despite the fact that they had at least two meal tokens, with even the opportunity to earn another if they worked. At least they got to eat. A scowl formed along Azalia's pale features at the reminder of the lower castes lack of gratitude, but there was so much pressure now.
Azalia's anger was quickly growing within her mind that it had to take her a moment or two to compose herself, only just noticing how tightly she had been gripping her fork when it had scraped along the plate, leaving a harsh sound emanating through the room.
"Avora Azalia, how many times have I told you not to play with your food?" Chef Davoid scolded her firmly, her tone immediately bringing Azalia back to attention. The fiery-haired girl almost smiled sheepishly, but had a feeling that it would only look sarcastic, so she chuckled wryly instead, looking up at the older Inartan from under her lashes, sparkling with a hint of mischief that seemed so half-hearted as a smirk curled her lips.
"Too many to count." Azalia replied, loosening her grip on her fork and taking a bite of the vegetables placed on her plate.
"Exactly. Now stop it, because you know I can easily take that away from you." Chef Davoid threatened with a falsely bright smile on her lips. It was enough to get Azalia to eat her food properly at that point, because she knew how lucky she actually was to even have meat on her plate despite how short of game they were currently bringing in.
Azalia's thoughts drifted once more as soon as Chef Davoid went back to ordering around the numerous kitchen staff early that morning, and the first thing she thought about was her last hunting trip just the day before. What an awful day it was. At the start of the day she could rarely find anything; winter, of course… but the famine had made it worse. Near the end of the day, she had nearly given up, but had in the end managed to find a deer roaming through the forests. Azalia had disguised her scent to get as close to the deer as possible, and the fact she managed to shoot it with her recent focus had shocked even her.
Pressure… so much pressure. It wasn't only the fact all the hunters were put to work and had to double their efforts to find game, but now hunters were required to train two apprentices. Azalia felt her hand shake, to which she dropped her fork and press her palms against her eyes. Spring. When would Spring come? When would this Famine end?
Azalia wished things wouldn't get worse, and that the tension would just stay where it was at the current point in time, but anybody who wished that wasn't that lucky.
"Oh, what is all that noise…" The young Avora heard Chef Davoid mutter as the chef walked passed her towards the entrance to the kitchens. Slowly turning her head, Azalia's bright green eyes followed the head chef, her stomach suddenly sinking as a feeling of dread washed over the young Avora. She could hear her heartbeat start to quicken as she heard the loud, angry yelling of other Inartan, and the noise was only getting louder, and louder.
"Shut the doors… Shut the doors!" For the first time, Azalia had heard Chef Davoid raise her voice; to which suddenly the rest of the kitchen staff were murmuring with another growing panic. Stop panicking… stop panicking! Azalia scowled, and it took so much for her not to yell, but there was no time for that. Her defenses went up immediately, her food forgotten as she quickly grabbed her bow and quiver full of arrows.
"Chef Davoid, what is it?" Azalia demanded, only just catching a glimpse of the angry crowd just before the doors had shut tightly. Kitchen staff pressed themselves against the doors just in case and the young huntress had gotten one of her arrows ready. "Chiet and Dek…?"
A dark glare had made its' way onto the head chefs' face, making her already stern looking visage seem even harsher, "I always thought something would happen, and sure enough... it has begun."
.
