Kala Ree

When Kirryllu puts the food down on the table, Nira fairly bolts for it, her stomach roaring afresh in protest at being kept empty for so very long. Showing a modicum of decorum, she looks at Kirryllu and smiles gratefully. "Thank you," she says with the deepest sincerity before she grabs a hunk of bread, a strip of meat, and palms two chunks of cheese, plunking herself down at one of the tables. She does her best not to tear into the food like a starving wolf, taking a nibble of bread and spearing a crumb of cheese with one claw to chase down the bread. "Nuru cheese," she says blissfully to no one in particular, "haven't had this in ages and ages!" Though the fare is undoubtedly simply what could quickly be set out, it's a feast to her after the long day she's had. Content with the food and the fire, she looks around at her fellow hopefuls before the Kyrider mentions wine and ale. It would be awfully nice to have something to wash down her impromptu meal.

Taking a few more pieces of bread and shoving a strip of tough jerky into her mouth, she follows Kirryllu and the others, looking with great interest at the kegs the Kyrider points out. She'd need a cup, though, and luckily they've come to the right place for that. Snagging a chipped mug, she walks back through the door to where the kegs are, gnawing noisily on her jerky. Though all of the casks are untapped,it looks as though someone might have been about to get around to it; a tap and small hammer are conscientiously within reach. Inspecting and then wiping the tap with the edge of her shirt, she drives it into the cask with a few practiced blows of the hammer. Eying the barrels on the racks around her as she sips the ale, she reaches out absently and touches a few within reach. I could make 'em some better barrels, some of these are gonna be leaking soon. Lookit the banding on that one, not good, it's getting rot 'round the edges. Always doing business, me, she thinks wryly to herself, resolving to ask Kirryllu who might be in charge of the stores at some point. Not tonight though, tonight he looked a bit distracted. For now she wanders within sight of the group, familiarizing herself with the surrounding tunnel as she sips at her drink.



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Lesa'ah retreats as Kirryllu emerges from the passage, feeling vaguely guilty in the face of the Kyrider's greeting. Returning to her bag, she begins to unfold the blankets she'd taken out while Kirryllu starts the fire. "I'm Lesa'ah Brookwalk," she says, on the heels of Nira's introduction. Food isn't a concern for her--she never has an appetite when she's anxious, and she's been anxious since she set out for the Kyrider holdings--but she seizes the opportunity, when the Kyrider vanishes, to spread out her bed. She's still fiddling with it when he comes back, not quite liking the way the blankets overlap or the roughness of the one she thoughtlessly put on top of the pad, but she looks up from it as soon as he reappears.

The appearance of the blue feather catches Kuka's attention immediately, and he chirrups eagerly and bats at it with both front feet. It's a disappointment when the child's attention turns from him to the Kyrider, but he takes the opportunity to snatch the feather out of her grip and worry at it for a moment without having it tugged away. Once its edges are nicely rumpled, he dips his head low to rub the side of it against her jaw, then hops off of her and looks around for another target.

"Kuka, come," Lesa'ah hisses, and gathers him up when he scampers over, setting him firmly atop her blankets. She's distracted from commanding him to stay by the suggestion of a drink. Food may not appeal in this state, but ale or wine certainly would. She trails after Kirryllu, and raises one eyebrow curiously when he downs his potion--what are those little vials? That's the second time he's opened one--but she hesitates to question the first Kyrider she's met. That he is the first and only gives her a sense of being around someone of great authority; a greater sense perhaps then he might actually merit, but she has no idea one way or the other. She frowns at the kitchen all the same as he reveals it. Some of the equipment is in poor shape, chipped or dented, and much of it looks like it hasn't been much used. It could be roomier, too, and it's not organized anywhere close to the way she'd set it up. "Is this the main kitchen?" she mutters dubiously as she finds a tumbler, hoping that the answer is no.

It's mostly novelty that makes Lesa'ah choose wine, which she rarely got at home; her kin prefer ale and mead. Her nose wrinkles as she tries it, but while it's sharper than what she's used to, it's not bad. Returning to the cavern, she hesitates at the door. "Does anyone want a drink while I'm up?" she calls in. She's not ready to settle just yet, so she might as well spare someone the short walk if they are.

Karah ignored the Kyrider's sign of annoyance and followed Kirryllu to the kitchen. As they walked, she made a point ti ignore what he said about the wine and ale since she wouldn't be drinking any. Once they arrived at the kitchen, Karah first thanked Kirryllu and then got herself a cup. Then she headed off to the cold springs alone.

Once she arrived alone at the cold springs, she filled her cup with water and drank happily. Once she had her fill, she returned to the kicthen and placed it with the other dirty dishes. Then she headed back to the hallway.

Now back at the hallway, she planted herself on a couch and curled up. Normally she wouldn't go to bed so early, but she wanted to get up nice and early in case either the hatching or Kaarikai returning happened very early in the morning. It took took the child a few minutes before she fell asleep.

[I'm going to drop out for now.]

Kire didn't touch the food. She was used to eating her dinner later than most others would. Mostly around 9 pm, so for now she was content to hear there was drink in the kitchen area. Along with some others she stood up to follow Kirryllu to get herself a drink. The sound of wine drew her mostly. She rarely got to drink it at home. It only proved to make the flavor more desirable for Kire.

Once in the kitchen, the Serra fisherwoman seemed to be impressed. She had no idea what to expect of the kitchen, but she didn't know it would be this big! At home her kitchen consisted of two cooking pots, a keg of fresh water and two barrels filled with salted fish and vegetables."Wow, I never expected the kitchen to be this big."

Her attention immediately turned to the wine. As soon as she got her hands on a wooden cup, she'd attempt to turn the tap open, but with little success."Come on you little..." She grumbles as she eventually gets the tap running... a little too hard. A few splatters land on her and the floor, making the woman take a few steps back.

She angrily grumbled as she filled her cup and closed the tap, probably having made of a fool of herself. She silently joins the others after that little escapade.

Kirryllu shows the Serra around him the kitchen before excusing himself and heading back to the gathering hall. On his way out, he grabs a cup and takes some ale from a keg, drinking it absentmindedly as he makes his way back to the big fire. At least things should settle down for a while, now, he thought to himself, taking the time to settle in a comfy chair by the fire. Kirryllu drank his ale quickly before nibbling on some of the food he brought out; he wasn't particularly hungry, but it would help pass the time.

After a little while, Kirryllu gets up from the commotion around him and clears his throat. "Ahem, good Serra! The hour grows late, and so I will be retiring to my quarters for the night. Feel free to make yourselves comfortable in this hall. If you require, there is firewood stacked near the casks of drink which you are free to use should the night grow colder. Regardless, I bid you dream well and sleep better, for tomorrow could very well be the most exciting day of your lives... good night!" Kirryllu turns to leave, rather relieved to get some more time to himself, if only just to sleep. He walks down the hall leading to the Kyriders' chambers and readies himself for bed, curious of what will happen come the morning.

The gathering hall is peaceful as the Serra settle in for the night. The ground is hard and uncomfortable, but the soft padded chairs and assorted bedrolls help make up for it. The fire doesn't rage long, but when it dwindles into embers, it keeps the hall warm enough to bear.

The sunrise isn't very visible over the tall mountains in the east, but as the western horizon starts to lighten the faintest bit, a sudden bell begins to toll. Five times it gongs, each one thunderous and rung by an unknown bell-ringer-probably one of the few remaining Kyriders. Five tolls, one for each of Sarasha's eggs... now beginning to hatch!

"To the hot springs!" a voice cries, punctuated by a Kyrka's shriek. "To the clutch! Hurry!"

(Show up at the hot springs here!)