Holding the paper from the town's board in her mouth, Tunda glances over the small building in front of her with curiosity and more than a touch of wanderlust. The itinerant soul has felt this coming for some time now. The town has been kind to the zebra mare, providing her with new experiences, new friends to share them with, and importantly: new stories to tell to those she meets in her next home. And the idea of that, of thinking of the next place she'll live before she's left the current one is natural to the mare. Her goodbyes have been made, something she's grown practiced at, and ponies have been promised that they'll be remembered and visited if she can help it. With all of her arrangements made, Tunda walks to the door and raps on it, then sits back on her haunches to wait.
A short pause is rewarded with the door gliding open to reveal a lavender feathered griffon. He adjusts his glasses and appraises the zebra momentarily. “Yes ma’am, how can I help you?”
She gives him a warm smile, moves the paper to her tunic, and holds out a hoof. "Hello. If I may be so bold, are you the griffon they call Isolde?"
Mild amusement plays across his face as he accepts the hoof for a shake. “No, but I can point you the right way. Miss Hookbill is just inside. I’m her assistant, Egon Proudfeathers.” He steps back and gestures for her to come in. “Right this way.”
"Tunda. And I'm pleased to meet you, my feathered friend." Tunda steps inside after him, and explains, "I saw the call for hooves and thought I should attend."
“Ah, very good. Yes, we’re looking for many qualified people of all sorts. Just a moment.” He steps back toward a door and gives a little knock before peeking inside. “Ms. Hookbill, there’s another candidate here to see you.” He nods at some unheard response and turns back to Tunda. “You can go in, Ms. Hookbill will see you now.”
Tunda nods and goes into the room, smiling still for the griffon inside. "It's nice to meet you, Miss Isolde. On the job offer, I admit I'm already sold."
The peach and pink griffon smiles back and stands, offering her claw to shake. “And it’s good to meet you, miss…?”
"Tunda," the zebra answers, holding out her hoof.
Isolde shakes the hoof once firmly and waves a palm to a chair positioned in front of her desk. “Have a seat and let’s talk. You’re here about the fliers we’ve put up? About the upcoming expedition? What sorts of skills do you have? What sort of position are you looking to fill?”
She takes a seat as offered, settling comfortably on her haunches, then clears her throat. "I have many talents, accrued across a life. Foremost among them, I can tend the land. I'm afraid if you need soldiers, I'll be no use in strife. Though if you have need of farmers, my assistance would be grand."
The griffoness nods quickly. “Oh, a farmer? Yes, we can definitely use someone for that. We’re going to take some guards too, of course, but they’re little good if we don’t have any food. We can’t rely on supply caravans throughout the year, so we’ll have to grow or find as much as we can.” She tilts her head. “How much experience do you have? We’ll need to grow a large variety of things and might have access to some unusual foreign crops. The destination isn’t quite set yet, so I can’t tell you what specifically right now.”
Tunda waves a hoof, dismissing the concerns. "In my travels I've come across many a plant. Give me seeds to grow, and I promise you'll find few I can't," she assures.
“Good, good. Where all have you worked then? Private farms? Did you own one yourself or work for a larger farm?”
"No, never land of my own, but various plots where many crops were grown. I've worked with ponies, zebras, and griffons as well. All left me adept with enough skill to sell."
Isolde smiles again and nods. “Excellent, that’s the breadth I was hoping for. We could be working with supplies from almost anyone.” She pulls a notebook over and jots a few things down. “Do you have any experience with working with animals too? I’m not sure yet what all we’ll be bringing with us, but we’ll probably have some for wool and milk.”
"Shearing and milking are things I can do, but I'm more used to green, growing things, it's true. But I can always adapt and learn. Going along on this expedition is something for which I yearn,” Tunda tells her with an air of sincerity.
The griffon notes a few more things down. “That’s okay. We may have someone else who is more experienced with that. Just having a dedicated farmer will be a huge help though.” She looks up to Tunda. “I’m glad you’re so enthusiastic about this. Is there any particular reason you’re so anxious to join us? I just want to be sure that you understand that we’ll probably be away from any significant contact with your friends and family for a long time. It may be years before you see them again, and likely many months before you can even write.”
If the prospect bothers the serene-seeming mare, it doesn't show. "I understand if I'll be out-of-contact for some time, and I promise it's something I find fine. So long as there are new people to meet, I find my adjustment to a new home is neat."
Isolde nods and makes an approving noise. “Alright, that’s a good outlook to have.” She holds an open palm toward the zebra. “Do you have any questions or concerns for me? Are you familiar with what we’re setting out to do?”
“We’re setting out to found a colony, yes? I understand the idea, though there’s one thing I must address,” the chocolate-striped mare tiles her head curiously as she asks, “You said the destination ‘wasn’t quite set’? Do you know in general where we’ll be going yet?”
“That’s a good question, and the answer is that we’ve got some good candidates.” Isolde slides her chair aside to give Tunda a better view of the map behind her. The griffoness points to a few circled locations on the map. “We’ve got a few candidate locations picked out, mostly along the southern trail. We’re hoping to set up somewhere close to where a lot of merchant caravans cross trails or travel. It’s good business for us and them.”
Tunda stands and moves closer to the desk, to lean over it and look at the map. She doesn’t spend very much time examining it before she’s apparently satisfied. “Trade is good for a small outpost, and being out there gives us room to breathe,” Tunda contentedly comments. “Now for what I’d like to know most: when must I be ready to leave?”
“Also something we’re not positive about yet, but… in a couple of weeks at most. Are you staying in the city?”
Tunda nods. "I am, yes, and my home is not far. But I'm ready to leave whenever you are."
“Alright then, can you give me your address? I hope you understand that we’re not going to give out definitive yesses today, but there’s a very good chance that we’ll want you aboard.” Isolde grabs her quill and finds space on her growing sheet of notes.
"Twenty-three Gemstone Lane," Tunda recites, looking pleased. "I look forward to being on the road again."
Isolde nods as she writes. “Twenty-three Gemstone Lane, got it.” She looks back up with another smile. “That’s good to hear. It takes a certain caliber of person to want to go out on the frontier like this. We should be making our decisions within a few days, so expect to hear something one way or another soon. Did you have anything else you wanted to ask?”
Tunda takes a moment to visibly consider, but shakes her head, setting her braided, dark-brown and white mane moving. "No, I have no questions Miss Isolde. Thank you for welcoming me into the fold."
“You’re welcome, and thank you for expressing interest in our little business venture. We’ll be in contact soon.” Isolde stands and offers her claw to shake again.
Uncurling and standing as well, Tunda offers her hoof to be shaken in turn. "Until we meet again, in good health remain."
“Thank you, and the same to you,” Isolde replies.
The zebra takes her leave, giving her farewell to the secretary as well on the way out. She makes her way back home, humming as she trots.
Author
Topic: Shadytrails (My Little Fortress) (Read 39884 times)