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Superfly
07-08-2010, 11:08 PM
OOC (http://role-player.net/forum/showthread.php?t=4968)

The caverns were quiet in the city of Anima. When the lights went out everybody immediately went to sleep. There were no fear of burglars or thieves raiding your home, as each of the citizens in Anima were lucky enough if they had a home. A short Elf sat up on her mattress. Their cave had been especially cold that night. Tess put her hand above her mouth where she witnessed her breath sink into her palm. She rubbed her hands together quickly trying to heat up while she stared across the small cave towards an older man who was also awake.

Silently Garahl sat staring off into space. He always was awake before she started to stir. He stayed in his corner wrapped in his red coat, sitting alone with his thoughts. Tess had come to the conclusion that her uncle rarely ever slept. She rose to her feet immediately as she saw him and approached the fire he had built. She sat across from him, stretching her legs out, and wiping her eyes.

“You slept well?” He asked bluntly. It was more of a statement than a question. Tess nodded in response, still drowsy.

A comfortable silence passed as she stared at the embers. Her hands hovered over it for a few seconds. It was the mornings that were always easiest on Garahl. Tess’ questions would fly when she had woken completely.

“Where did you get the wood?” She asked him.

“I bought it.” He stated dryly.

“From who?” she persisted.

“A vendor.”

“How much was it? Can we afford it?” The usual string of questions came with it. Garahl was used to it. Ever since he had taken her to Anima, Tess had a very curious nature which was bothersome at times. However, he had come to terms with her nosey behaviour and at times admired her persistence. He poked the fire with another stick, allowing it to engulf more wood.

“Yes.” He said.

“Yes what?”

“Yes, Tess.”

She scowled at him and sighed. She decided to change the subject to easier topics he‘d be willing to talk about. “Where are we working today?”

“We need to finish repairing the boiler downtown. That’s if downtown hasn’t frozen solid.” Garahl said.

They sat again in silence. Both of them watched the fire as it crackled against the wood and spat pieces of debris at them. Neither of them stirred from their seat until the tremors began. They arose startled, but stood perfectly still as they followed the regular procedure.
The quakes shook violently, more rougher than either of them had experienced in their lives. Dust fell on the fire, extinguishing all light in the cave. Garahl grabbed Tess’ wrist and both of the residents suddenly felt as if the cavern itself had tilted, the prolonged screeches of their neighbours could be heard under the loud beat of the earthquake.

TZS
07-10-2010, 03:31 AM
Illta was tending to the few sheep Anima kept in one of the lower caverns; thin sickly creatures that missed a sun none of them had ever seen...

Burde had had given birth to twins the night before, but the ewe was a new mother and hadn't known quite what to do- Illta had had to take over washing the airways of one of the lambs with her own meager water supply before it suffocated.

His. It was still... Illta held hope still, that Jeltri would return someday, but since the loss of the son Illta had personally borne she was by title not a mother anymore, and therefore 'he' again, by default... It was an old ache that Illta knew would never really stop hurting. It was unnatural for parents to outlive their children.

The room shook and he braced his weight against his spear, waiting for the tremors to pass. It didn't. With a deafening crack part of the wall came down with a stalagtite before illta could react, crushing one of the rams. He jammed his spear into a crevice in the wall, the other end supported across the stone tunnel and wound around the ewe and her lambs, crying plaintively at the noise and confusion. A falling rock hit him heavy in the back, just above his tail and he winced- but he could care for his own injuries. Sheep were pitifully stupid but at this point a new generation was more valuable than avoiding a few aches.

When the world stopped bucking Illta rolled his shoulder and uncoiled from around the little family. One of the lambs bleeted in complaint of a scrape and tried to climb over Illta's tail, getting stuck halfway over. Illta rolled his shoulder and scooped the lamb up by the bum to help it over.

"Don't wander off." He murmured. He still had to trim their tails, but it was good to see they were relatively healthy.

That earthquake hadn't been, though. He had never felt the caves shake like that. He wanted to contact Victor but he knew she shouldn't leave the sheep as he counted off waiting for an aftershock...