Idle Work, Idle Time

[Zamora]

 
February 5^th, Year 1
 

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There’s a low, almost... stubborn huff from the water’s edge, clawed hands working diligently in the wet clay that made up the local soil. Zamora couldn’t really blame anyone; it didn’t seem like anyone in camp had ever been in a situation where one would need to build a proper, non-mobile shelter. Sure, the cloth ones around were... serviceable? But they were hardly ideal. They blew easily in the wind, they weren’t prepped for any sort of rain, and they were very small. Well... probably only to her. But still!

It was idle work, really. Even in her newly-acquired position as a Peacekeeper, Zamora was still limited by her injury. Every time she attempted to do any heavy lifting or brawling, she was often kept from trying, or stopped shortly thereafter. It was... a bit irritating. She understood, of course, but it was often that she felt almost useless to their cause. And when she wasn’t keeping busy, the ghost pains could sneak in... So if she wasn’t allowed to fight?

She was going to build.

With a slightly soppy thud!, the clay plops into the large bucket at her side. She’d start with the bricks, and bake them over fire. Then the under-floor canals, the supports, the floorboards... There was much work to be done.

A low, lovely tune pulls from the blind Pit Beast, tail curling idly around her kneeling form.

[Mulan]

  There was a special kind of serenity to be found in the mundane.

 
  Yes, there was the thrill of adventure, and yes, there was the adrenaline of a battle. Mulan found something worthwhile in both, when the situation called for them. But as she hoisted the feed bag onto her shoulder, Mulan couldn't help but feel the stresses of her day fall away, worries slipping quietly into the back of her mind.


  As she headed out to where her horse Khan was grazing, she caught the sweet notes of a song from somewhere nearby. The melody was pleasant, though Mulan couldn't help but notice it was a voice she didn't recognize. There was no great sense of urgency today, so she took her time and meandered in the song's general direction. It wouldn't do, after all, to go without at least introducing herself to what she could only imagine was a new recruit.

[Marahute]

Marahute had been gliding through the clouds, her crimson hues scanning the ground below her. She wasn't hunting, she had no need to do so now, but instead simply investigating this new land and getting to know where everything was.

As she soared over a pool of water, the giant eagle caught sight of Zamora and Mulan far beneath her and decided to join to two for a while, curious about what the two women were doing and if there was something she could do to help although as Marahute swooped down and noticed Zamora apparently playing in the mud she felt a strong desire to scoop Zamora up in her claws and hold her under a waterfall for a thorough bath before snuggling the fellow Freedom Fighter under her soft plumage to keep her from getting into further trouble. Perhaps she would treat Mulan to the same fate; from what others had said the woman was prone to finding trouble too.

[Zamora]

Zamora notices Marahute first, song stopping abruptly. It was rather hard for a large shadow passing over to be missed, as it were. And for Zamora, it takes a moment for her to realize it's safe. For the Pit Beast, large shadows could mean danger, even for her. On her planet, Marahute rivals only the smaller of troublesome predators, most of which spat fire, or poison, or were just an outright nuisance...

An ear flicks upwards as Zamora goes tense, only to relax when it's the sound of feathers that greets her, not leathery wings. Just an ally, that's good. Though, it's here she hears someone else approaching, by foot this time. The Pit Beast sits upright, glancing away from her work and towards Mulan. It was... not someone she recognized outright. Though, they seemed to be peaceful enough...

There's a chirp here, one of gentle greeting. While Zamora couldn't offer any interesting conversation, company didn't seem so unpleasant.

[Mulan]

  As Mulan approached, the rush of wind caused by Marahute's feathers was enough to give her pause, at least at first. It had taken some time for her to adjust; when she had first arrived in the Serengeti Mulan knew she would be greeted by all walks of life. But occasionally it would still surprise her. As she looked over the great eagle and the almost intimidatingly tall woman, Mulan couldn't help but recall that fact. All walks of life, indeed.

  It took a moment to register that the larger woman's chirp in her direction was meant to be Zamora's version of a hello.


  "Oh!" Mulan straightened. She suddenly became very aware of her own presence, and her back straightened on instinct. "Ah, hello!" Her hand lifted in a friendly wave towards the both of them. "I don't mean to intrude." Her hand lifted in a placating gesture. Mulan hadn't had much opportunity to socialize until now, and they both certainly seemed friendly enough.


  "I don't believe we've met yet. Officially." She quickly added with a smile, setting down the bag of feed. Khan wasn't going hungry; he could stand to wait for just a moment. Mulan gathered her hands and bowed in respect of her peers. "I am Fa Mulan."

[Marahute]

As Mulan and Zamora exchanged pleasantries, Marahute focused on finding a spot near the water where she could land and still remain relatively clean; a feat that was far easier said than done.

Eventually, the great golden eagle settled for resigning herself to muddy feet and set down as carefully as she could. As her taloned feet sank into the mud, Marahute drew her body up away from the ground her beak clicking in slight disapproval. Crimson hues settled on Mulan and Zamora after a moment, large head tilting slightly as Mulan introduced herself.

The great golden eagle pondered for a moment on how best to introduce herself without scaring the two smaller beings in front of her before an idea came to mind and she twisted her head to preen two golden feathers from her body. Careful not to bend or otherwise harm the pristine feathers clutched in her beak, Marahute offered them to Zamora and Mulan to indicate she viewed them as friends and allies.

[Rapunzel]

"Zaaaam! I found a bunch of reeds!" Rapunzel called out as she goose stepped through the mud. She had chosen to wear pants for today's work, and had the cuffs rolled up as high as possible to avoid getting them coated in mud.

Zamora wasn't 100% healed, it'd still be about another month or so before any of the medics would feel confident in Zamora being fully healed. She was, however, more than healthy enough to engage in physical activity, provided she didn't strain herself. When she managed to communicate her desire to gather resources for her building project, Rapunzel had volunteered to go with her. It was partly to supervise Zamora to make sure she didn't over strain herself, and partly because Rapunzel genuinely want to help.

Playing in the mud was just a bonus.

Her arms were laden with a large pile of the aforementioned reeds that she had cut with the sharp work knife belted to her side by her medic kit. Rapunzel looked for a relatively dry spot and put the bundle down. When she stretched up right again, she glanced about at the new members to their little party.

"Hello everyone!" Rapunzel wiped at her brow with her arm in attempt to avoid smearing mud on her face. An attempt that had failed, but at least she had done her best.

[Zamora]

“Fahmuyahn.”

Well, it was close... ish.

A muddy hand presses against the stranger’s chest, and she gives a short nod, “Zamora.”

Blind eyes drift from the new woman to the new... bird? This is a very large bird. Zamora wasn’t used to this, admittedly. On her planet, her people were the most bestial thing to have a sense of sentience or self-awareness. But here, there were cats large and small. People who could turn into animals. Giant birds! All of them were intelligent.

Zamora has a moment here, as a question about what they’ve been eating passes her mind.

She’s drawn from her bewildered thoughts when the large, feathered being offers her something. They’re... feathers? Large ones, glimmering in the light. How lovely!

There’s a noisy, deep rumble from the larger as she turns to the water. Apparently satisfied with... something, she reached forward to rinse her hands off before taking the feathers delicately. One hand offers the second to Mulan, while the other two delicately investigate the gift. There’s a soft coo here, one of awe, before Zamora carefully tucks it among the strange shafts standing in as her hair. It fits perfectly among the similar shapes, and stands out brightly against her deep green mane. Hands press neatly against her lap, and she gives a deep, thankful bow. What a friendly bird.

"Zaaaam! I found a bunch of reeds!”

One ear goes up, and a wide smile crosses the creature’s face. Reeds! Perfect. They’d be fantastic for her project.

A hand raises to greet Rapunzel, and there’s a chatter here in that strange language. It seems she’s making friends!

[Michi]

Two small, very muddy balls of fluff came bounding up to the group only a few moments after Rapunzel.
"And we found rocks!"
Michi and Shani carried the rocks behind them on a makeshift sleds of sorts, made from large chunks of tree bark and twine. It took both of them to pull the one sled, which had many rocks piled up on it, in many different shapes and sizes.

The two skidded to a stop in front of Zamora, spraying mud with their already dirty paws. Shani let out a small huff of breath and flopped down on the muddy ground, she was already dirty, so what was the harm.
Michi meanwhile, looked at the others who seemed to have arrived in their absence.

Her whiskers twitched before she asked Zam, "So, where do you want these anyway?"

[Mulan]

  Mulan leaned forward with interest, watching as Marahute seemed to be reaching for something, and stood in surprise when one of the eagle's shimmering feathers was presented to her.

  "This is... a gift?" Mulan gingerly accepted the feather as Zamora passed it to her, turning it over in her hands. No matter which angle she held it, the feather caught and danced with the light perfectly, as if Marahute were born of the sun itself. It was a humbling gesture of good faith, and Mulan felt a little silly for worrying in the first place. She beamed up at the large bird. "Thank you!"

  It was here that more voices approached, and Mulan looked in time to see a collection of faces she did recognize. "Oh, hello!" Mulan's arm lifted in a wave, and took note of scavenged materials that everyone had been gathering. "You all seem to be having a lot of fun." Mulan smiled good-naturedly. "What are you building?"

  "And would you like an extra pair of hands?"