Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2023 1:44:34 GMT -5
[ For Eirwen & Yule ]
It was early in the morning, but in the middle parts between the light touching Elderkeep and the dark still lingering seemed to be the best times to scavenge. The Eldouir were usually holed up in their fancy estate, and many of the Dresmondi didn't like to traverse the streets in the dark for fear of the Eldouir or their Dresmondi turned soldiers. For this reason, Rhidi often retired earlier the previous night to get plenty of sleep so he could wake up early and forage.
Ermir was the kind of person who would give you food every day if you wanted it, and after the most recent tribute he'd seemingly had even more rations to distribute. But they had to be divided between a lot of people, and Cypha was never satisfied. She often got the bulk of whatever food was given to her and Rhidi, leaving him much thinner and her much fatter, but she was the one with the power, so he obliged.
Rummaging through the taverns trash, Rhidi tossed out half a head of cabbage that had begun to go bad, followed by some stale bread. Ermir didn't waste much, though, so that was all there was. He climbed out of the pile of garbage and tumbled onto the ground, handing the cabbage to Cypha and picking up the bread for himself. He picked a few spots of mold off the bread, tossing it aside, and as he stood up he took a bite out of it. "I could really go for some fresh water," he thought to himself, smacking his lips. "But he hasn't opened yet."
"You're always complaining," Cypha said, chomping on her cabbage. "Let's go by the big fire. One of the men there has water sometimes." Nodding, Rhidi grabbed Cypha up slumped her over his shoulder. Chittering angrily at him, she positioned herself across both shoulders so she could continue eating her cabbage. He continued eating his bread, and began to walk toward the center of the village.
About halfway there, he took a big bite of the stale bread, bit his tongue, closed his eyes briefly against the pain, and bumped into someone. In doing so, he dropped his bread, and then quickly leaned down to pick it up and hug it close to his chest as if the person might steal it. "Sorry, but it's mine," he said quickly, looking at the wisp of a girl he'd bumped into. "I need it."