Submission (#2109) Approved
User
Prompt
Submitted
20 February 2021, 19:15:54 PST (3 years ago)
Processed
21 February 2021, 09:07:38 PST (3 years ago) by tatter
Comments
Bonus - [For written entries] Word count reaches 1200: 2EC per submission
Regional Affinity: Zevija
Elnin: https://worldofeyre.com/character/ELN1076
Regional Affinity: Zevija
Elnin: https://worldofeyre.com/character/ELN1076
Content
Running errands for Dad was nothing new. Vincenza had always been a bit of a Daddy's girl, though her mother took pride in her as well, and she had been assisting him with little tasks for quite some time. She was praised frequently for being clever and dependable, but this was her biggest task yet, and nerves were gnawing at her.
She glanced back at her pomu, and relaxed a bit. Big Frank never let her down, and even though he wasn't his usual self, even now he was looking out for her. The light coming from the lantern behind her was soft, but enough to illuminate her path in the dim caves she made her way through.
This was the first time her parents had let her go as far away as Hadaven on her own, though she had been a few times before for Daddy's work. Still, the sight of the elder tree, the blazing leaves against that stark trunk, was something she always loved to see. It was even more stunning considering the lack of foliage in the surrounding areas.
She had not been sent to admire the view though. No, she had been trusted with a special mission. Their usual gem supplier was getting cagey, and there was reason to believe that he may not take a kittom as a threat. Perhaps he would even feel guilty lying to her, and she could work out the truth from him. If he was changing his loyalties, they would see to that. If worse came to worse, there were plenty of others that worked in the gem trade here, surely they could find someone else to strike a deal with. It would be annoying though, she did not have the authority to bargain with a new supplier, and she would have to to bother Daddy into coming. Soon, soon she would be able to make those sorts of arrangement all on her own, once she took over the business.
As she moved through the cave she practiced moving silently. It was filthy in these caves, something she wasn't used to as her mother kept their home in impeccable order. Still, the location didn't bother her. She would much rather have Big Frank at her side than illuminating the way, though she did move a bit faster with him by her side.
Perhaps when she was finished she could enjoy one of the hot springs the area was known for. Some were hot enough to boil her alive, but some of them were soothing enough, and at least she could get the dirt out of her fur.
Eventually the path she was on opened up, light brightening as the way widened, and she found herself on a street of sorts. She had entered a large cavern, which contained a bustling little town. This one was a short distance away from the Capital, and wasn't quite as industrious, but there was still activity on the streets. Here space was not wasted, stores and homes crawling up the sides of the cavern walls, hewn from the stone itself. Streets sometimes bordered sheer drop offs though, or crossed over the depths beneath, giving the illusion of space in the little mining town.
From her information she knew she needed to pass by the main market, with the legitimate shops and retailers. She was looking for the shabbier part of town.
Not for the first time she wished that Big Frank wasn't hibernating. She'd made sure he wouldn't go far, plaiting some dark blue and gold string together and decorating the lantern holder with some sparkly rhinestones for some extra pizzazz, knowing he'd appreciate the royal treatment, but it wasn't the same as her underling swaggering along at her heels, glaring at the curious eyes glancing her way as she passed. She supposed it was odd, a strange kittom out and about by herself, but she was trustworthy enough to complete this mission on her own.
Her head high with confidence, and Big Frank bobbing along behind her, she strolled through the marketplace, acting as if absolutely nothing was wrong with her being out on her own. Confidence was half the battle, people looking for something wrong would not expect to see someone being so bold as they did it.
Even as she passed through though, she kept her ears open. Some of the chatter was about the mundane, rumblings from one of the volcanoes, and whether or not it was actually dormant. Most of the talk though was bartering, and she listened to that more closely. It would be good to know what the current rates of gems are. From the talk, it did not sound as though the mine was running out of the precious stones everyone was after, though there did not seem to be a heavy surplus either. The rates were stable, just as they had been for the past several months. None of that added up to why the supply being sent their way was drying up.
Before long, and two flights of stairs, she found the small cave her father had told her to look for. It was almost lost in it's surroundings, a small tunnel curving to hide the light from inside, but Big Frank lit the area well enough for her to find it as she knew what she was looking for.
It did not take long before she emerged from the cave, her mission completed. Her fur no longer lay as flat and smooth as it had before, and she felt slightly exhausted. A loud whistle sounded in the distance, signaling the end of the work day, and Vincenza frowned. Perhaps more time had passed than she had realized.
None of that mattered though, she had completed her mission, and not only would the gems they were expecting arrive on time, the missing shipments were in a pouch she had brought with her. If Big Frank had been in his usual form he could have stored them for her in her shadow, but as it was he had been a nice help for this task, the lantern quite useful in the darker parts of this little town.
Considering how late it was she backtracked to the nicer part of the city, looking for a room for the night before she headed back home.
As she walked, she took note of the other ways the cavern was illuminated. It was dim, nothing like Hadaven which was open to the sky and had far more natural lighting, but there were still a few shafts of pale light that filtered in far above. Most of the light came from the windows of the homes and shops she passed by though, and the other hibernating pomu accompanying their respective elnin on their tasks. But there were large crystals as well, which seemed to catch the light and almost seemed to glow on their own.
It was almost enough to make her curious about night time in the little mining town, but now that she had thought about sleep, it seemed to be her only desire. She found a respectable looking inn, paid for a meal and a room, and before long she was dreaming of what it would be like when she was in charge.
As she slept, Big Frank never faltered, continuing to send out a gentle light to illuminate the little Doña.
Rewards
| Reward | Amount |
|---|---|
| Elecite Coins | 8 |
Characters
ELN1076: Vincenza
| Reward | Amount |
|---|---|
| AP (Zevija) (Currencies) | 1 |