Citizen 1076 Pervani

The creeping silence pounded against Pervani’s ears as she peered into her mother and father’s room, a large lump of blankets- and presumably her mother- lay tangled in the center of the large bed, unmoving. “Mother?” Pervani’s voice waivered, nearly a whisper. It would be impolite to wake her mother up of course, but it wasn't as if they had a lot of time left before they needed to leave the house. The bells had gone off early yesterday morning, signalling the fleet would be returning soon. Mother had been so excited, until a rex had dropped off a letter around lunch time. Pervani wasn't sure what it had said, but mother had excused herself to read it in her room, and hadn't come out after, even skipping dinner.

Pervani shook her head to clear it before pushing the crack in the door open further. There was no need to be cautious, Mother would be furious if they missed the ships arriving, knowing Father would be looking to see them in his ship’s colors. The painting wasn't complicated, just several stripes of bright golds and deep greens along their throat armor’s tines, but Pervani had never mixed the pigments by herself before. “Mother, the ships are coming in.” Pervani tried again, hoping to see even a twitch from the cocoon her mother had spun. But there was only stillness, and that silence that pressed against her skin like water.

“Mother, we need to leave soon if we’re to meet father before the crowds get too rough. Are you coming down to the docks, or shall I collect Father by myself?” Pervani’s tone hardened, pushing the door the rest of the way open to glare at her mother. It was one thing to need to make her own dinner, and entirely another for mother to ignore her at such an important time. Lighting her magic, Pervani grabbed a hold of a corner of the blanket and pulled. The lump barely moved, simply rocking lightly back and forth with her haphazard tugs. Just how tired was her mother?

Pervani growled “Fine! Since you seem so inclined, why not continue to rot in your bed! I shall go mix the pigments myself!” Pervani turned, swishing out of that too silent room as if sharks nipped at her tail. Her scales prickled as she made her way to the kitchen, pulling the glass jars down from the shelves. Shocking herself to realize she was finally tall enough to reach them by herself. Something needled at her as she gathered together the tools, a strange small trowel, a glass plate, and a large glass pestle like object. Her brow furrowed as she grabbed the last ingredient- A bottle of oil from the far side of the kitchen. Maybe it was some sort of test from her mother? Some sort of… a test to prove she was capable of acting on her own, in her own interests?

Pervani sighed. What a strange test it would be- It wasn't as if she hadn't watched her mother do this for years, every time they received a letter that father’s ship would be returning, although it had never been with the entire fleet at once. Settling herself down, Pervani grabbed for the jar with light yellow powder. Pouring a small mountain onto the plate, dimpling it with the tiny trowel, and then pouring in just a bit of oil. Mixing the two for a bit with the small tool, she ended up with quite a thick paste. Furrowing her brow, she added a few more drops to the mixture, before flattening her ears back. It seemed the right consistency now, but there was no telling until it was properly mixed. Grabbing the large pestle, she pressed it down on the mixture, grinding the paint into the plate. A brilliant flare of iridescence sprang up as the paste seemed to melt into a smooth, thick liquid.

Pervani smiled, moving quickly onto the green pigment, which required a bit of color matching. Mixing a bit of green and dark blue, she managed to just about get her father’s ship’s deep, forested green. It wasn't perfect of course, as the dyes used to dye the fabric were much different, but it would be striking enough to be noticed from a distance. Nodding her head in excitement, she quickly reached for two small pots to put the paint in. While her mother might have been a bit hesitant to get out of her bed earlier, that didn't mean she wouldn't later. Pervani searched the kitchen for a brush, as the bells outside rang again- They were here!

–

Admittedly, the markings Pervani had managed to paint along her tines were rushed and messy, but the gold and green stood out prominently against her dark colors. She had tried to wake her mother before she left, but she refused to leave the comfort of her bed, and Pervani refused to let her father be greeted by cold cliffs instead of his family. The crowds were thick already, with families jockeying for positions against the large, long fence to watch the boats head in. Small holes had been cut along the fence, just about the height for a pup to stick their heads through- And many of them were squawking and squabbling for spots as she approached. She was surprised to find she could nearly see over the fence- perhaps if she was a bit closer she would be able to, but she was coming from a side road that sloped down and away from the dockyard fence.

Pervani slowed, unsure where she was supposed to stand. Since it was just her, she could slip through the crowd much easier than before, since her mother always insisted on asking for others to make room, instead of just walking through like most others did. Pervani’s head swiveled as she snuck through the crowd, careful not to damage her nice dress. Her mind buzzed, taking in the riot of colored stripes, fancy outfits, beautiful black shawls, and fancy feathered hats. Everywhere was a mess of color and texture, and pervani couldn't make out much. Craning her neck towards the fence, she found that same, strangely oppressive feeling fill her chest as she noticed the strange, grey clouds swirling above the fence, marring the clear blue sky.

Now… Now that she was closer, those clustered at the fence seemed to be shooing the pups away, and those wearing black shawls seemed to be pushing forward, a strange keening noise rising from one side of the fence as a rex in a shawl collapsed to their knees. Just behind them, another rex called out, reaching over the fence for something. Pervani wasn't thinking as she turned to the rexal next to her, his face grey and freckled with unpainted tines. She watched as he let out a strange noise, lighting his halo and bowing his head. “Whats happening?”

The rex turned his head to her, his ears slicking back as he looked at her tines, then up at her face, his own contorting into an expression of pity. “Where’s your parent? You… should really ask them.” Kreat’s voice broke as he spoke.

Pervani flinched away from his gaze, her muzzle screwing up. Her tines were nearly pointed, she wasn't so young as to be unable to go around town by herself! “My mother is resting, I'm here to collect my father. Can you tell me what's going on?” Pervani’s tone was one of forced politeness as she glared at the dark colored rexal. She jumped as a strange noise started up near the fence, a strange… keening almost, picked up from multiple rexes and carried down through the crowd towards her.

Kreat shook his head, his throat thick as he watched the mourning rexals sing the first note in the song of their grief, the only noise their pain would allow them to speak for many moments. Turning to the young rex, he shook his head “Look lass, this isnt- Its not- Its unkind of me to tell you.” Kreat caught the glare she sent his way, but noticed the poor lass was shaking. It would be terrifying to not understand what was happening. It was more unkind to keep it from her, especially- His eyes went back to the brilliant gold and green on her tines- Colors he knew wouldn't be flying below. “But yes. I will tell you. Sometimes… Sometimes they don't all come back.”

“What do you mean, they don't all come back?” Pervani’s voice wavered as she noticed a familiar tail sticking out from a black shawled rex near the fence- The partner of her dad’s best friend on the ship, their body leaned half over the fence. She managed to pick out their strangled screaming from the cacophony of noise as the grey cloud built in the sky.

Kreat sighed, reaching out with his magic to steady the young rex as her shaking doubled. Following her gaze, he saw what he had seen on his walk up- a sea of gold and green, red and grey, blue and green, and purple and black striped tines, all with heads covered by black mourning cloths. At least four of the ships weren't returning, this poor lass’s father included. It shouldn't be him telling her this- He would take her home if she needed it, but home is where she needed to be. “Lass.. They’re not all coming back. You should go home- Go to your mum. There’ll be no celebration today.”