Plot Drop 1: Search for Hope
Sunday 20 September 2020; Afternoon. You have been approached by a Ten of Spades. She has heard about your ability to transform into a bat and thus, you have been voluntold to survey the wilds outside of Kadeu and made a note of all the bodies of water. If possible, she would also like you to denote whether or not the water is corrupted but understands if your blindness will prevent you from being able to ascertain this information.
The severe water and food shortage plaguing Kadeu was making tensions run high. Eva could smell the anxiety, dissatisfaction, and unease among her Spade colleagues. She could hear the whispers that worried over the rising anger among other factions. She was worried for her friends who did not have a rations system in place like Spade. How long would this last. She wished she could do something to help instead of sitting around handing out paperwork and messages.
Her wish came true in the form of a Ten of Spade. Eva could make out the strong smell of boot polish, the crisp scent of freshly pressed uniform. The shadow that approached her seemed smaller than most. She couldnât be sure. Everyone was taller her. The voice that came from above her confirmed that much.
âMe? You want me to survey the landâs water supply?â The Three did nothing to contain her excitement. She decidedly ignored the implication that this was not an offer but rather a thinly veiled order. I can finally show them what Iâm made of. With an eager nod, Eva agreed to do the survey and report back. They did tell her she could bring someone along, but Eva didnât want anyone to think she was incapable of handling a simple survey on her own. With reassurances sheâd be fine by herself, Eva set out the next evening.
âAlright, Eva, here we go.â With a deep breath, she changed into a bat and took off into the night. Her wings carried her across Spade, over Club, then finally, over the wall into the wild. This was not the first time sheâd been out here, but it was the first time she was here on a Spade mission. It filled her with apprehension and excitement in equal measures.
She used her echolocation to make her way through the trees, searching and searching. Every body of water from the smallest of puddles to the the largest lakes and rivers Eva analyzed. She used her wolf senses to sample the taste and scent. While the water did not smell any different from the safe stuff, the taste offered something else entirely. It was stale, making her spit it back out faster than she had put it to her tongue. Her mouth twisted as the moisture was sapped from her tongue.
The night passed like that, the shapeshifter growing more grim as she took note of her findings. There was hope as the dawn started to come over the horizon. Two small bodies of hope. It wasnât much but perhaps it would be enough for now. She knew she was now a great distance from Kadeu. Exhaustion wracked her body as Eva wasnât used to the long distance and using her shifter powers for such a long period of time. But she needed to report her findings.
The sun was rising now, though. Her bat eyes wouldnât be able handle it. And she had no cane to track her way back home. Not to mention the manabeasts running rampant. With great reluctance, Eva decided to wait for nightfall to return home. Until then sheâd rest near one of the only clean bodies of water sheâd found.
