Eyes in the Dark [Melana PRP]

[Alyx]

Melana and Gold Sularenth
(in the weeks following the Timer's return)

This was getting exasperating. Melana was starting to wonder how Shennah held onto her sanity, given how often it seemed that the drudges and kitchen staff seemed to be needing saving from themselves. With word of Kerrady’s demotion, be it by either stepping down or forcefully removed by her juniors depending on what rumor you overheard, the three juniors were picking up the slack. Not like the woman had done much more than update an occasional record and hide in her stitching, Melana fumed again for what seemed the hundredth time just this morning.

But why are they calling you? Sularenth’s voice was its typical bitter tone, a new regular for the Gold as of late. Melana shook her head, her feet taking the path along the halls that would drop her into the Kitchen and the lower Caverns of the rustic edged Weyr. ‘Because this week I am the one on call for supplies and staff issues.’ Why? Melana side-stepped around a messenger, feeling like she was arguing with a child as the Gold huffed in her thoughts again. ‘Because since the addle-brain did nothing, we have to spread the work out to catch up. Srunae is dealing with the records and Talera is dealing with Az and the other Weyrs. And Aleni is in lessons.’

There was a long moment of quiet from Sularenth, then, as expected. But why you? Melana resisted the urge to rub her temples. ‘Because it needs to be done, and I have the time to do it. Also, if we want to prove we can do a job, we might as well start doing it, correct?’ Another moment, then Sulanrenth rumbled softly. I suppose that makes partial sense. Melana smiled, pushing the door open into the kitchens, and then dodging quickly out of the way as a drudge shot past her into the hall. The woman didn’t even realize she was there and was gone before Melana could so much as frown at her.

‘Idiots. Idiots and ash-brains.’ Melana pushed into the Kitchens, scanning the room. Already, the place was in full swing, the smells of baking bread and cooking meat filling her senses. She was definitely collecting breakfast when she was done she decided as her stomach rumbled a little, the dark-haired woman stepping off to start weaving a path through the chaos toward the storerooms.

“Goldrider! Melana! You’re here!” Melana managed at least a slightly believable smile, stepping out of the flow of traffic that cycled around the kitchens to speak with the near panicked cook’s assistant. “Good Morning, Marone. And yes, I am. What was the emergency?” The woman looked at the door, then back at the Goldrider, then her hands in a rush before the door again. “Um.. there was… a noise? I think there is something in the storeroom.” She locked eyes with Melana, her voice a deep whisper. “Something Alive.”

Melana resisted the smile that tugged at her lips, but barely. “Something… alive?” Marone nodded rapidly. “Aye, I heard it moving in the baskets in the back. And making noise, like spitting!” Riggghhht. ‘Any bets it’s a rodent?’ Sulanrenth’s chuckle filled her thoughts. I think they are all rodents, the way they jump at their own shadows. ‘Perhaps she’s simply scared of the dark?’ Sula didn’t have a quip back as Melana reached up to take the lantern from the hook at the door’s frame. “Very well, stay here. I’ll check on it.”

“Oh thank you... Oh, take this!” Melana gave the woman a doubly doubting look as handed over today’s ‘weapon’ of choice; a dusty rolling pin, still coated with a light film of flour. At least it’s better than the pan yesterday? ‘I suppose.’ “Thank you, Marone. Now, stay here.” Melana left the woman cowering at the door and ventured into the darkened room. Perhaps they could turn over the glows? ‘I think she probably panicked at the doorway at her own shadow and didn’t get that far.’ Cowards.

Melana had just flipped over one of the glow baskets to brighten the room when she heard the noise. She stopped, freezing in midstep. Did it sound like something scraping against the floor? Or the wall? Sularenth’s attention in a breath went from disconnected disinterest to a pinpoint of focus, concern flooding over the link to the woman. There was a moment of quiet for a breath, then again – much like something crawling or clawing against something. Melana, come out of there now. Sularenth’s voice was heavy with the order, and for a second, Melana almost listened.

‘It’s probably just a rodent, like I said. Or a tunnel snake? Maybe a firelizard got locked in a basket.’ I do not care. I want you to come out of there. ‘Just give me a second.’ No, not a second. Come out Now. Melana frowned, ignoring the Gold as she moved deeper into the storeroom, wandering through the stacks of crates and baskets to flip open another glowbasket. You will not ignore me. ‘I’m not ignoring you.’ Yes, you are. Now come out. ‘Just.. hold on, alright?’ The Gold growled, the sound rattling around in Melana’s thoughts as she continued to fret. I cannot help you if something attacks you in there. ‘Don’t worry, I have the rolling pin.’ That does NOT ease my worry. Come out now, Melana.

‘You know, if you quit scolding me, I could hear and maybe finish sooner.’ Or you could listen to me and leave now. Call Az, let him get bit by whatever is in there. Melana chuckled, continuing to wander among the stock, trying to pinpoint the noise. Eventually, the clawing, scrabbling noise led the woman to a line of baskets against the far left wall, most stuffed with flours and rice. And what will you do if it attacks you? ‘Scream, I suppose?’ Hey, she was honest. Perhaps she’d get lucky and it would be a firelizard – she could use one of the little creatures, for messages and so on. She’d planned to acquire one but simply hadn’t gotten around to it.

She stopped short, the basket to her left making noise and shifting a little, nearly causing her heart to leap out of her chest. Palm pressed against her breast, she took a deep breath and blew it out softly. Come out now. ‘Relax. It has a lid if it jumps I’ll close it again.’ Resting the lantern on the basket next to the animated one, Melana caught the lip of the lid with shaking hands, and after a few breaths, lifted the heavy wood up. For a moment, nothing –

Then something scrambled inside, sounding like claws digging into the inside, trying to climb the basket’s inner wall. She dropped the lid back into place with a squeak, jumping backward at least half her body length. Enough. Come out now. Let someone else deal with it. Melana was inclined to agree. She really didn’t want to get her face eaten. She scooted forward, reaching for the lantern… when the basket mewed. A soft, pathetic, muffled noise. Melana stopped reaching for the lantern and returned to lift the lid and set it aside.

Melana, I will not tell you again. If you do not come out, I am sending Fath’s rider after you. Melana collected the lantern, holding it over the opening of the basket for a moment before leaning over to peer in herself. ‘It’s a feline.’ Then close the lid and come out. ‘No, Sula, wait a moment okay?’ In the bottom, covered in dust from whatever had been in the basket before, was a small, fluffy… thing. Eyes, green and gold, reflected the lantern’s light back at her. “Hey there.” The little thing curled up smaller and hissed. “Oh now that’s no way to greet your rescuer is it?”

It took her a moment or two to find a decent sized bit of cloth lying around in the storeroom, and even longer or to wrestle the angry, scared little creature from the basket’s bowels. In the end, she ended up tipping the sharding thing completely over on its side, and crawling partway into the basket to get the cloth over the hissing little monster, and drag it out into freedom. Well, partial freedom. The feline growled in the cloth, wiggling around in Melana’s grip as she retraced her footsteps back to the door; one arm with the bundle, the other with the rolling pin, the lantern dangling from her fingers.

“Well?” Marone was waiting, looking very much like she expected Melana to return dragging something horrible from the darkness. “I found it. Here, take the lantern.” The woman collected the lantern, as well as the rolling pin, and returned the light to the hook as Melana juggled the burlap bundle into a better grip. “What is it though?” Melana pulled back part of the cloth but kept a good grip on it. The little creature froze, eyes darting around as the goldrider pulled a bit of the burlap away to let it little head show. “May I present your troublemaker.”

Marone smiled. “Oh… he’s cute. Or she?” Melana shrugged. “I don’t know, I didn’t get a good look. It didn’t want to come out of the basket he was stuck in.” The little thing growled, low in its throat, its ears folded out and back a little as it looked around; Melana flipped the fabric back over him. “What do we do with it?” Melana hadn’t thought about it honestly? If it was a firelizard, she’d have kept it. A rodent, She’d have killed it. But the feline was not what she had expected to find honestly.

“I’ll take it back to my weyr. Srunae has a way with animals. Maybe she can come up with an idea for it.” Marone nodded as Melana shifted the bundle more against her chest, watching to make sure the little creature didn’t escape and beamed a smile at the young Goldrider. “Thank you so much for coming down. I know you have so much to do.” “Not at all. I was glad to help.” Melana lied, the smile on her lips almost genuine; Marone didn’t seem to notice it wasn’t.

Melana started to step off back into the flow of the kitchen so she could leave but stopped. “Marone?” “Yes, Goldrider?” “Could you have some breakfast sent up to my weyr? Please? Oh, and some milk and a little raw meat for our furry little friend?” Marone smiled, nodding rapidly. “Of course, Goldrider.” Melana left her to fill the order, dodging her way back through the kitchen’s activities to the door.

As she reached the door, Sularenth’s voice flooded her thoughts. You are not bringing that thing back here, are you? Melana didn’t answer. It was best just… not to.

(And Melana get Tao! He's already on her bio, he just needs a little fleshing out! He was okayed by Zen, but the PRP was a requirement for getting him!)