To Clean and to Feed

by **Syveris** on February 4th, 2014, 6:36 pm

8th of Winter, 513 AV

Her slow steps finally led her to the Tisuma Baths. In truth, all she wanted was to go to her room and sleep. She reeked of fungi, she was tired, and it was late. And the stupid Inarta was still following her, although Syveris couldn't know if it was because of his duty or only because he too wanted a bath. The Avora was angry, frustrated and sad, and the emotional turmoil left her even more tired.

But she was stinking, and she didn't want her bed to reek of fungi, so the Tisuma Baths was her only real option right then.

Syveris entered the locker room, noticing that the people around her seemed to take some steps back. The Avora knew all too well that people came in there reeking all the time, and while she agreed that her smell was almost insupportable, she also knew the real motive for them to leave as soon as they could. And this knowledge was maddening.

"Don't think." she whispered under her breath, angrily. Normally, Syveris didn't mind bathing in the Tisuma Baths. She wasn't embarrassed about her body, and she couldn't care less about what others thought of her appearance, but right then, all she wanted was a private bath, so she could take her time and relax, without the accusing stares.

Raising her hands, the Avora untied her vinati from behind her back. before doing the same to the straps around her neck, letting the piece fall into the ground. Then, she took of her boots and bryda, looking at the ruined cloth before growling with anger once again. At the time, she hadn't mind, but now, the thought of needing to go out and get new clothes seemed just a hindrance, more than anything.

"Come here." she waved for an attendant, while taking off her undergarments. Syveris looked at the Chiet, and scowled when she saw that the woman hadn't moved an inch. "Come. Here. Now." it was more of a growl than actual words, but it made the woman take a few steps toward her, hesitantly.

Syveris controlled her anger only enough to take her fallen vinati and her boots. Then, she turned at the Chiet, her eyes burning with anger.

"Now listen here." she took a step towards the woman, using all her height to intimidate her. "I might be an accused, but nothing has been proved, and I'm still an Avora. I don't give a shyke about what you think of me, but if I order you to do something, you will petching do it." the Avora didn't even wait for a reply before shoving her clothes and boot on the woman's hand. "Clean those until they aren't stinking anymore." then, she dropped her bryda at the Chiet's feet. "Throw this away or whatever. I don't care."

She then stomped out of the locker and into the baths, grabbing a towel on the way. Syveris knew she had been rude and bossy, things she usually avoided, but then, she was angry, and she only wanted to bath and be done.

by **Syveris** on February 9th, 2014, 9:25 pm

Syveris looked at the baths for a tick, before deciding on the second one. She still had some fungi on her hands, but she wasn't dirty enough for the first pool. The Avora entered the bath, scrubbing her feet on the sandy floor, before sitting and starting to scrub her hands, picking off pieces of fungi. Luckily, she kept her nails short, so there wasn't much beneath them, but she still needed to scrub thoroughly to make sure. She then proceeded to scrub her body, mostly to take off the sweat, before submerging in the water and allowing her hair to get wet.

She pressed her fingers against her scalp, and moved them, taking off the dirt. The Avora saw a piece of fungi fall, and tried not to get sick at the fact that she managed to get the petching thing on her hair. She scrubbed even more forcefully, until her head ached. The Avora then ran her fingers on her hair, untangling the knots and making sure there was nothing left on it. Only after that did she raised and went to the next bath, ignoring the drops of water that fell in the stone floor.

There was where the work really began. Syveris sat down on the water, taking a sponge and rubbing her arms until they got pink. It was hurting, but Syveris wouldn't be smelling of fungi any longer, not if she could help it. She scrubbed her body and her legs, until the salts of the water neutralized all the smell.

Going on to her hair once more, she rubbed strongly, letting it under water most of the time, so the salts could fully take away the smell. Syveris let out a sigh. Her arms hurt from all the scrubbing and effort, and to make things worse, she wouldn't be able to tell if the smell had gone away or not. She couldn't feel the smell of things very well right now.

Running her fingers on her hair one last time, she noticed they were getting longer, almost reaching the middle of her back. Well, she hadn't even thought about cutting it for the entire season, so it wasn't a surprise. And Winter would be the same, it seemed. There were more urgent matters than to think about hair length. Maybe Syveris would even think about letting it grow.

She raised again, and went straight for the last bath. Hot and heavily scented, it was everything she needed right then.

by **Syveris** on February 14th, 2014, 12:28 pm

It took a while for her to be able completely enter the bath, but when she did, her muscles relaxed almost instantly. Syveris closed her eyes, enjoying the hot water around her, and submerged until only her nose was out of the water. A strange position to be, but she needed it right then. And she would only stay a few chimes, anyway.

---

It was a whole bell before she finally left the pool, running and slipping in the wet floor of the bath. The Avora had completely lost track of time, and now, she had probably lost dinner. Well, she could always demand some, but then, Syveris had enough trouble for one day. Maybe the best would really be just returning to her room.

Groaning to herself, she dried her body, hastily, before picking up clean clothes and putting them on. She hadn't brought a change of clothes, so she would just borrow them and return them later. Or not. Syveris wasn't one to take things without paying, but she surely felt like she deserved it right then. After all, Wind Reach was surely giving her a lot of trouble.

When she was ready, she rubbed the towel on her hair, trying to dry it fast. Virat was taking care of the baby falcon, and she hoped her mentor had enough sense to go eat on time. The bird could handle itself for a while, after all. But knowing her mentor, Syveris knew he could very well have lost track of time, just like her.

When it was dry enough not to wet her clothes, she threw the towel on the floor and took some sandals before running out of the Tisuma Baths, and towards the Darniva Commonroom.

It was cold, and she wasn't wearing a katinu, which made her sneeze a couple of times. At least she wouldn't sweat. By the time she reached her room and opened the door, though, she was panting, hard, and her chest was hurting with the effort. And she was incredible thirsty. Skipping dinner didn't seem like such a great idea anymore.

Looking up, Syveris saw Virat reading a book, although she knew very well that her mentor had heard she entering the place. After all, she wasn't exactly silent. Which probably meant he was angry at her for being late.

Panting, she tried to catch her breath, before fully entering the room and closing the door after her.

"I'm sorry." she said, tiredly. The baths had been relaxing, but now, the worry had returned. People kept staring at her and giving her passage out of fear in the Inner Warrens, and she was hungry, and the bird was now chirping like there was no tomorrow, probably because she had made so much noise when entering the room. And Virat was mad at her. "Look, something came up, and I got late. I'm sorry. I lost track of time."

"Something came up." the older glassworker said, closing his book and looking at her. Syveris shuddered. He was really mad. "You know, I have a life too, Syveris. We had an agreement, and yes, I gave you the bird, but it's your responsibility, not mine. And if you can't keep up with the task, then I'll take the bird away to someone who can. How about that?"

Syveris looked at him for a moment, before she felt the tears falling from her eyes. Why was he that angry? It didn't even make sense. Yes, she was late, but he could have eaten and left the bird unattended anyway. A sob escaped her lips, and she buried her face in her hands, unsure about what to say. What could she say, really?

Suddenly, arms were around her, and she clung to her mentor's katinu, mumbling weak apologizes. Virat grunted, and Syveris knew he was still annoyed, but at least he wasn't going to scold her anymore. She hoped.

"Where were you?"

"The baths..."

"Before that." he interrupted, and Syveris sighed. She should have known.

"The Deep Warrens." the Avora could practically see the older man scowling, and she had to chuckle, although it was more of desperation and stress than amusement. "Don't want to talk about it. Not now." that wasn't entirely truth, but she wanted to be alone more than she wanted to share the experience with anyone.

"I brought you some food." Virat released her, and exited the room, leaving the Avora with a chirping bird and a confused stare.

by **Syveris** on February 16th, 2014, 6:51 pm

Syveris took the plate from the table, looking at the small wuantity of mashed potatoes and the piece of meat, still whole. The Avora bit her lips, and smiled, knowing this was Virat's meal. He wouldn't be able to sneak some food for her with his food token alone. He had eaten most of the things, but had left her the meat and some of the potatoes. A smaller plate also contained some pieces of raw meat, and Syveris knew they were for the bird. She would really need to thanks her mentor sometime soon.

But for now, she focused on eating the meat, ignoring the chirping bird for a while. It was only after she had finished that she picked up the small tweezers Virat had lent her and grabbed a small piece of meat, going to the crate and looking inside at the hungry falcon.

As soon as she appeared with the food in her hand, the bird chirped even louder, not stopping until she lowered the tweezers with the meat in them, offering it to the bird. The small falcon grabbed it with the tiny beak, before gulping it down and then beginning to chirp again. Syveris sighed, the desperate sound annoying and unnerving, before she grabbed another piece and offered it yet again to the falcon.

It wasn't long before the bird quieted down, fumbling with the still undeveloped legs before finding a comfortable position and finally laying down to sleep. The Avora smiled at the bird, still surprised at how much she loved the little thing, no matter how annoyed it was.

After a while, she put both plates on top of each other, deciding to take them to the Kitchens in the morning. She was already too tired, and she could barely keep her face straight. Without even taking off her clothes, she fell in the bad, yawning and closing her eyes, hoping that the nightmares would leave her alone for now.

by **Una Tanta** on April 8th, 2014, 10:26 pm

Syveris :

Please don't be afraid to PM me with any questions ^-^ and please don't forget to edit your grading request to "graded".

Completed To Clean and to Feed