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A stomach growl.
It was audible throughout the entirety of their small home. This could be due to the fact that they were the only two in the ruins, sure, but it was most likely because of their hunger. Alula hadn’t eaten in 2 days, Calamus in 3. Ever since the sun went out, food has been getting more and more scarce.
“Calamus, I’m hungry…” Alula mewed, leaning her head up against the wall. She hugged her fox plush closer to her chest, and quietly whimpered.
“I know, Alula, I know, but so is everybody else. They’ve been trying to stock up whatever grains we have left in that abandoned farmhouse.” Calamus sighed, trying to comfort his nervous sister. “I’ve asked if we could get some more fish to stockpile for a while, but they denied me.”
“What are we going to do, big brother?” Alula asked, staring up at him. He didn’t have an answer, but judging by the tears forming in her eyes, he needed an answer quickly. He got up to poke his head out, and watch out for any nearby listeners potentially hanging out in the ruins.
Nobody. It was the perfect chance. “Alright, Alula, listen…” He placed a hand on her shoulder, and hushed his voice to a whisper. “I think I have an idea. Do you want to eat?” She nodded her head rapidly.
He let out a quiet sigh, and proposed his idea. “When the village goes to sleep tonight, I’m going to try and take some supplies from the farmhouse. Just enough to supply us for the next week or so.”
Alula jolted back in surprise. “W-Wait! You’re going to steal? Isn’t that illegal?”
“...yes.” He muttered, looking away in shame. “I really don’t want to, but if it’s what we have to do to eat, then…” He stopped himself mid-sentence, trying to quell the sadness rising in his chest.
“What will happen if you do, Calamus?” She cried. “I don’t want you to get in trouble!”
“Look, I’ll be okay.” He attempted to reassure, standing up slowly. “If anything happens, I’m sure Magpie will let you stay in his wagon for a little while.”
“But I don’t want you to-” Alula’s whimper was suddenly stopped by Calamus pulling her into a gentle hug. She could feel tears dampening her shoulder as he tried to speak without bursting into a bout of sobbing.
“I know. Alula, I know. Mom and dad had to do something like this a few years back during a rough situation.” His voice wavered as he softly pulled away. “If I have to steal some supplies so you can eat something, then that’s what I’ll do.” As he finished his sentence, a bell chime could be heard in the distance.
In the Glen, bell chimes indicated a few different scenarios. The first bell chime of the day always rang out at 8:30 AM. This was morning time. Any sleeping Glenfolk rise out of bed and go about their daily duties during this time. The second chime occurs mid-afternoon. While nothing important occurs during this one, Glenfolk tend to use it as a signal to take a break from work or eat a meal. The third and final bell chime is the most important one. It is used as a sign that nighttime is soon approaching, usually around 9:30 PM. Most of the Glenfolk begin to wind down at this point, with the only exceptions being individuals who are usually up most of the night.
Fortunately for Calamus, this was the final bell chime. Silence lingered in the air, as he tucked Alula into bed. The two stared at each other quietly, until Alula broke the tense atmosphere. “Are you sure you’re going to be okay? What if someone stops you?”
“If they stop me, I’ll take full responsibility. I’m only doing this so we can eat.” He replied, preparing to walk out of the ruins. “I’m going to come back, I promise.”
“...okay.” Alula mewled, turning over in her bed. Quiet whimpers could be heard as he walked out of their small home. While it hurt Calamus to hear, he knew what had to be done. On his way out, he gathered a small couple of leather sacks to store his findings. Anxiety swelled in his chest, as he began the trek.
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The walk from the flooded ruins to the farmhouse was a bit of a short one. A few minutes, at most. For most people, a blessing in disguise. For Calamus? A long walk to reflect on what he was going to do. His plan was simple. Grab some oats and other small grains, potentially find something larger, and try to subside on the materials until their situation improves.
“It’s going to be okay.” He repeated to himself, hoping it’d be true if he repeated the ideal situation enough. “Mom and dad did this when I was a kid too, it’s okay, it’s okay…”
He knew deep down, though, that it wasn’t going to be okay. He knew that his parents wept the entire time. They expressed to him how badly it hurt them, and hoped that he wouldn’t have to do what they did. Unfortunately for Rachis and Arboreal, Calamus’s hands had been tied. He cried like his mother did, in utter silence, like he was terrified that would be caught doing something awful.
Eventually, he made it to the farmhouse. Using the time to reflect, he ultimately swallowed down his paranoia and creaked the door open. Inside, dozens of pots full of sorted grains and food rested all across the ground. Calamus didn’t have time to lose. Quickly, he stepped down and began peering inside the pots, hoping to find something that could sustain them.
One pot contained various types of grain. Another stored heads of wheat. However, the pot that Calamus could use the most had oats. Oats. They could be used for oatmeal, or it could be eaten plain. While not ideal, it would absolutely settle them for a while. After some careful consideration, he took a pot and began filling a bag with the oats. Some oats spilled out onto the floor, which he chose to ignore.
Calamus began to settle his fears as he poured. Nobody seemed to be coming, everything seemed to be fine. His momentary bliss stopped, however, when a dim flashlight flickered on from the doorway. The light was enough to make out a silhouette of something, but not enough to identify anything.
Standing there was Magpie, flashlight in hand. “WHO’S THERE?” He shouted, attempting to get some answers. No response. He tried another callout, stepping inside. “I’m going to give you 3 seconds to drop the grains!”
Calamus didn’t know what to do. He didn’t know what Magpie was going to do, either. He remained motionless, stuck in a never-ending cycle of wanting to throw up from stress, holding back sobs, and going numb.
“One!” Magpie’s brash voice echoed off the farmhouse’s walls. “Two!” Calamus was trapped in a scenario where, no matter what he did, he was going to get some kind of reprimanding. Deserved reprimanding, sure, but still reprimanding. Eventually, Calamus set the objects on the ground and raised his hands up in the air.
Magpie used this as a sign to step forward, and quickly grabbed his wrist. “Now, just what in the world do you think you’re doing? I have every right to hand you over to-” His voice trailed off as he heard quiet sobs coming from Calamus. “...kid?”
“I’m sorry, Magpie, I’m sorry!” Calamus cried, collapsing into Magpie’s arms. “Alula and I ran out of food, and we were getting desperate to find something, and this was the only thing I could think of doing! Please don’t turn me in!”
Magpie was surprised at the immediate remorse, as he felt a tinge of shame rise in his chest. “K-Kid, I don’t… I didn’t realize that…” He was at a loss for words. On one end, what was occuring was a crime. On the other hand, he completely understood. Slowly, he let go of Calamus, and began to step away from him. “Kid, if you’re going to do something like this, please ask around before stealing. I get why you’re doing what you’re doing, but I was a short bit away from placing you under citizen’s arrest.
Calamus was shocked. Why was he just letting him go? Was he going to report him? Nevertheless, he slowly picked up the bag full of oats on the floor and picked it up. “I-I’m sorry, Magpie, I-”
“Don’t apologize.” He replied. “Just take what you can. If someone asks, I’ll tell them I spilled something trying to stop a rodent.”
Calamus nodded solemnly, and walked out of the barnhouse. Magpie stopped him, and quickly added one last reassurance. “If you and Alula need anything, ANYTHING at all, don’t be afraid to ask me. You two are my favorite people in this whole village. Don’t forget that.” Then, he began to walk back to his wagon.
Calamus stood in awe at what went down. After a short bit of contemplation, he decided to count his blessings, and began his trek back to his home.
Even though he felt guilt for what he did, at least Alula had something to eat. It wasn’t much, but it was something.