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Post by TearsOfNightfall on Sept 26, 2009 3:01:11 GMT -5
Suddenly realizing that she was unsure of where to start after Miss Jane left, Alice glanced around, before deciding on the small passage that was nearest to the entrance. She looked down at Tessa first, who was still in her arms, before briefly walking back towards the exit of the mine. She bent down and gently sat the cat on the ground. "Alice has to work now, Tessa, and so does Kalas. Wait here, okay?" The cat just meowed, licking a paw and wiping it across one of it's ears. Alice smiled. "Alice'll come check on you in a little bit." She assured, before heading back inside. She didn't like leaving her alone like that, but Tessa always waited wherever she left her - she was unusually loyal that way.
There wasn't any cart at the opening of this tunnel she'd previously selected to start with, so maybe the workers would need someone to push it there soon. Switching into her +anima, she spread her wings, and took off into the passage.
It was darker inside these branching off tunnels, she realized. The passage she was currently in was still lit by the warm, orange glow of fire, but the torches placed on the wall were fewer in number and farther in between. Nevertheless, she could easily make out the silhouettes of a couple of men after a few minutes of flying. They were facing the wall, loud, echoing clanks sounding as they smacked it with shovels and pickaxes.
"Umm..." She started as they turned to look at her. "Alice is new here, Miss Jane told Alice to see if you needed anything delivered back to the main tunnel." She explained somewhat nervously.
One of the men briefly gave her a weird look. "Oh...a new +anima, huh? All right, go ahead and take the cart back - we did find enough to fill it half way."
"O...okay..." She nodded eagerly, grabbing the handle of the cart. Luckily it was indeed very small, and so was the load it carried. It felt heavy at first, but she managed to still fly while she was pushing it, which made her progress quick as she hurried back. Maybe this job wouldn't be so bad - it was simple enough, she decided.
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Post by Ruko on Sept 27, 2009 9:42:44 GMT -5
Kalas loaded some more mined rock, though he really didn't have a clue what it was, into the main cart. There weren't very many there, for some reason, so he could work pretty fast, moving through all the carts. Kalas was on the last small cart that was there, when he heard the sound of flapping wings and a rolling cart.
He looked up, surprised, and saw Alice pushing a small cart while flying. Even though Kalas took a small step back, he thought he was getting slightly used to her wings, if that was possible. And besides, she looked really funny pushing the cart like that. She should've just walked, and then she wouldn't look so absurd.
"Hey, Alice!" He called, smiling. Even if she was just coming in and dropping stuff off, she'd be doing that all day, so he wouldn't be completely alone in the main cave. Though people were continually passing through to get to the other caves.
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Post by TearsOfNightfall on Sept 27, 2009 22:23:32 GMT -5
Alice waved as Kalas came back into view, the girl placing the cart at the front of passage. He looked busily at work too, but everything seemed to be going smoothly so far.
She flitted by, flying into the next tunnel up. She introduced herself, but the people in the passage where still digging - they said they didn't have enough have enough for it to be delivered yet. She headed back out and into the next tunnel, this time getting a cart to take back. She kept repeating the process, going down the tunnels and getting carts to push back in about half. She found herself getting a bit more tired as she continued, making her wonder how much time had passed, but she kept going, wanting to do the simple job as efficiently as she could.
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Post by Ruko on Sept 28, 2009 21:41:22 GMT -5
Kalas piled all of the rocks into the main cart, but, after many stops with Alice coming by, and his arms and face getting covered in black coal dust, and his arms beginning to ache, the large cart was full. He couldn't get any more rocks into it without it overflowing.
He cast his eyes around, and spotted Miss Jane by the entrance to the cave. "M-Miss Jane! M-Miss Jane!" He ran to her.
She looked up from her clipboard, frowning as she took in his disheveled figure. "Yes? What is it, lad?"
He caught his breath, internally get angry at himself because he was so weak. Being sick was not that much of an excuse! "I-I filled u-up the w-whole c-cart, M-Miss J-Jane."
She smiled. "The day was almost done anyway, so it's perfect timing." Miss Jane made a note on her clipboard, before turning back to him. "I'll ring the bell, and you make sure all the workers are in."
Kalas nodded, before sprinting off down the first tunnel on the left. A bell clanged. If it was that loud, why'd he have to get people? Sighing, he kept running. He'd meet Alice when he was done.
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Post by TearsOfNightfall on Sept 29, 2009 0:19:46 GMT -5
A loud bell suddenly rang through the tunnels, echoing nosily though the passages.
Alice startled, coming to an abrupt halt in midair and stumbling to her feet. The bell... The work day was over.
That was just as well - both her wings and arms were aching now from carrying the carts - she wasn't sure how much longer she could've gone on without a break.
The bell kept ringing, somehow making her shiver. The imposing sound somehow made the mines seem...uncomfortable. Suddenly eager to get out, she took the air again and hurried back towards the main tunnel. She smiled when Kalas' form suddenly came into view, along with the figures of many other people heading towards the exit - she was surprised at the number, it looked like almost everyone was already out.
"Kalas!" She called, waving as she came up behind him.
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Post by Ruko on Sept 29, 2009 17:09:58 GMT -5
Hearing his name, Kalas turned around, and saw Alice flying towards him in the air. "A-Alice!" He answered, smiling. Before either one of them was able to say another word, Miss Jane came up behind Kalas, and he spun around, startled.
"Lad, did you get everyone out of the mines?" She demanded, her eyes boring into his. "I don't seem to see everyone."
Kalas hesitated, then shook his head. "N-No. T-There's j-just a f-few t-tunnels l-left, th-though." With her angry eyes staring at him, he took a step back. "I-I'll check th-them." With that, he sprinted away down the tunnel.
Seeing Alice, Miss Jane's dark look lightened considerably. "Girl, come here!" She demanded, motioning her over. "I need to talk to you." Her tone and stance indicated that she had no patience at the moment.
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Post by TearsOfNightfall on Sept 29, 2009 17:58:36 GMT -5
"...Huh...?" Alice blinked as Miss Jane reprimanded Kalas for the absence of some of the workers, watching him hurry away back into the tunnels in bewilderment. Since when was that his job? Didn't everyone always come out when the bell rang?
"Girl, come here! I need to talk to you."
She spun back around at the sound of Miss Jane's stern voice, the woman's intense, impatient gaze making her tense up. Nevertheless, she forced herself to start walking over when the boss motioned for her to come.
A sudden meow diverted her attention, though, Alice's gaze moving again to see Tessa peeking in from the entrance to the mine. The cat looked slightly perturbed by the loudness of the bell and the recent surge of activity by the mine's exit, but it looked too nervous to come in closer. "Tessa!" Alice smiled in relief, not having been able to have checked on her as much as she'd wanted to. She briefly hurried over to her, taking the cat into her arms and giving her a few strokes until she felt Miss Jane's stare from behind.
She abruptly turned around again, shrinking under the woman's frustrated, almost angry eyes. "S...sorry..." She sputtered, quickly hurrying over now with the cat still in her hold. "What...is it...?" She asked, her voice smaller than usual under her intimidating presence.
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Post by Ruko on Sept 29, 2009 20:10:11 GMT -5
A cat. Of course. Miss Jane glared at the girl, waiting for her to hurry up. She wasn't mad, just impatient. "Lass..." What was her name? Alice. That was right. "Alice, I mean." Both her face and voice softened. "What would you say to staying on permanently? All of our previous +Anima have... quit. We could use you, and you'd get a steady pay. What do you say?"
Remembering something, Miss Jane quickly added. "Oh, but the lad can't stay. He's too weak. But you are just companions, after all."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kalas sprinted to some of the last branches of the mines, the ones that had many forks and branches. He gasped for breath, before calling out in the loudest voice he could muster. "H-Hello?" He understood why he was sent. For all its loudness, the bell couldn't be heard back this far.
Hearing no one, he turned around, and found himself facing a fork in the road. Crap. Taking the left one, he made his way through the tunnel, staying to the left when the road forked. After walking for a bit, he came to a realization. He was lost. Crap.
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Post by TearsOfNightfall on Sept 30, 2009 0:47:48 GMT -5
"U...umm..." Alice sputtered, her eyes opening wider at the unexpected offer. "Well...Alice..."
She wanted her to stay at the mines, permanently? She would have a home, a permanent job...she could be like everyone else. She'd never been given such an offer... But...
"But...I...I can't. I'm...just a wanderer..." She shook her head, her usual way of speaking disappearing. She subconsciously took a step back.
That's right...she could never have a home. That was why she'd become a wanderer. ...Or could she? If she was a...+anima...then did that mean she'd been lied to when she was growing up in her village? Was...what she'd always believed, not true?
Miss Jane frowned slightly at her response. "But is that really what you want? I could help you find a home here. I could give you a livelihood. It's been a gift to many +anima. Surely you'd live better that way."
"I..." Alice chocked out, the suddenly realization that she might be able to have a real home, and that now one was being dangled in front of her, making her heart pound. "But...Kalas..."
They'd only just become companions. True, that's all they were, but... She recalled the way he'd begged for her to come with him, even after he'd seen her wings, and the smile on his face as he'd wrapped his arms around her afterwards...
A thought suddenly came to her, making her forget the offer for a moment as she suddenly glanced around. "Wait...where is Kalas?" Shouldn't he have been back by now if all he had to do was call out for a few people?
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Post by Ruko on Sept 30, 2009 20:53:51 GMT -5
Miss Jane waved a hand dismissively at her. "It's hard to hear the bell in the very very back, so I sent him to get them. He should be back soon. It's a bit of a distance to the end, so don't worry."
She smiled. "About that offer, then? We could really use a +Anima on our team. All of you contribute so much to the mining effort. And, I'd bet you like to settle down, get a place of your own, huh? So what dod you say?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kalas wandered through the mines, unknowingly trying to find his way through the mines that were like a maze. "Hello? Is anyone there?" He called out, trying to locate the miners that Miss Jane had sent him to fetch. If he could find them, they'd know the way out, right?
He called again. "Hello?" And then he was seized by a coughing fit. Doubled over, fits racked his lungs, and it sounded as if he were hacking his guts out. His breath wheezed out, before he sank to the ground, coughing.
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Post by TearsOfNightfall on Sept 30, 2009 21:48:06 GMT -5
Alice stared down towards the tunnels for a moment longer, unconvinced, before turning back to Miss Jane as she spoke up again with words about the offer.
"Umm..." Alice sputtered, shuffling anxiously on her feet. It was all so abrupt - she didn't know what to say. "I don't...know..." She started uncertainty.
Miss Jane frowned just slightly, looking noticeably disappointed. "Are you certain? I know working in the mines might not be particularly glamorous or exciting, but it's a good, steady life I'm offering you here. Most +anima would jump at the opportunity."
Most +anima would take the offer? Was such an opportunity rare for people like her? She suddenly realized that she didn't know.
"I'll...think about it." She finally decided, letting her eyes move away from Miss Jane's. It was just too big of a decision to come up with now. That was the best she could do.
Miss Jane gave a sigh. "All right then. I can't force you, but do truly give it consideration. Not doing so would be a mistake. It would admittedly be unfortunate for both of us if you were to pass up this opportunity."
With that, the boss started to walk away, but Alice stayed in the same spot for a moment, her eyes staring blankly down at the ground. She absently stroked the cat in her arms. "What should I do Tessa...?" The cat just meowed, nuzzling up against her with a purr.
She smiled briefly, before starting to get restless. She was ready to leave the mines for now, but where was Kalas? She wanted to wait for him, but he still wasn't back yet... "Umm..." She started again, her voice loud enough to hit Miss Jane's ears as she was leaving. "How much longer do you think Kalas will be?"
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Post by Ruko on Oct 4, 2009 10:22:05 GMT -5
Miss Jane looked back at her, shrugging. "Who knows? He should've been back by now." Then, noticing a nearby man who was helping to clean up, she frowned slightly. "And it seems like Tirea and his group are back... He probably got lost or something." Yet another brat, lost in the mines. She wasn't surprised in any way.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kalas's coughing died down, though his throat ached horribly now. The coal dust had triggered his asthma. Joy. Standing gingerly up, Kalas continued through the tunnel, before it broke out from how pitch-black it was to a light gray. He must be in the main tunnel! Thank goodness!
Kalas took a few more steps, before stirring up a load of dust. His deep, hard coughing began again, echoing throughout the tunnel. Leaning against the wall, and falling to a sitting position, his asthma was getting the better of him.
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Post by TearsOfNightfall on Oct 4, 2009 17:47:55 GMT -5
"What?" Alice looked back at her surprise. "If you think that he might be lost, aren't you going to help look for him? You're the one who sent him back there!" She accused, taken aback by her casual, dismissive tone.
Miss Jane was silent for a moment, but just as she opened her mouth to respond a slight sound drew Alice's attention. She looked back down the main tunnel, straining to hear. She wasn't quite sure, but she thought she could make out what sounded like a cough echoing from farther down.
"Kalas?" She called uncertainly, hurriedly taking to her wings and heading in the direction the echo had come from without looking back to see what Miss Jane was doing.
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Post by Ruko on Oct 4, 2009 18:09:07 GMT -5
Miss Jane was surprised at Alice's accusal. He was just yet another brat lost in the mines... There were so many of those these days. Why was he any different? Shrugging in uncaringness, she walked off. The day was over, and her job was done. She didn't want to hang around this place any longer than necessary.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kalas heard a voice call his name, though he didn't know who. Unable to respond with the coughing that racked his body, he leaned forward, his knees against his chest, with his throat and lungs on fire. It usually wasn't this bad. Probably from all the coal dust around, and the fact that he hadn't had medicine for over a year. Where could he get something like that? It was probably really expensive...
Unable to continue his thoughts, Kalas trembled as he continued to cough.
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Post by TearsOfNightfall on Oct 4, 2009 20:31:03 GMT -5
Alice continued rushing through the tunnel, following the sound of the coughing as it grew louder.
"Kalas?" She called again, but still received no response. She continued until she'd almost reached the back of the tunnel, glancing around. Even with the greater number of torches in this passage, it was a bit hard to see, but, finally, she thought she could make out a small silhouette crouched against the wall near one of the tunnels that branched off. She squinted, quickly recognizing the small figure and the pale hair that stood out against the dark walls.
"Kalas!" She rushed over, a feeling of urgency hitting her as he continued to cough. "Kalas! What is it? What's wrong?" She asked worriedly, stopping and kneeling next to him.
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