KA-3436 - FREE FORM COMPETITION BY SNAKIEZ!

Username: Puppymuscles
Kiamara Name: Mnem
What does this Kiamara do for a living?

Creak. The door softly, softly, ever so softly slid open. Dim light slowly washed over the carpeted floor of a pale gold bedroom. In a heap of fluffy pillows, a shape stirred, flicking a long orange tail into the air. The cold rushed up the hallway and leaped into the room scattering the collection of warmth that had accumulated in the space.
“Mnem…?” came a soft creaky voice from out in the hallway. “Someone’s been calling, I think it’s one of those kiamaras you work with…” A dark orange face, wrinkled from a life that had started farther back than most would remember, poked through the door and into the room. “Can you come down here?” the mountain of pillows rumbled as a face with half shut eyes and a disgruntled expression arose from the pile. With a loud thunk, a pale orange and gold kiamara rolled out of the mound and landed on the floor.
“Of course, grandma. I’ll be right down.” Mnem said, trying and failing to form coherent thought. “Did they say what the urgency is?” he climbed to his feet and hurried to the door. His grandmother turned toward him, eyes widening.
“Is it ever not urgent?!” she responded, turning to face him.
“No. I mean yes, I just meant, did they say if a body had been found, or is the ‘mara likely alive and in critical condition.” Mnem said, clumsily removing his jewelry and running his claws through his hair.
“My goodness,” his grandmother said, shaking her head. “I’ll never understand how you do it, the odd hours, the stress, the danger! I could never manage.” Mnem snorted.
“Grandma, didn’t you fight kiamaras for money, how can my work possibly fase you?”
“Well I never had the chance of falling off into a chasm or freezing to death during my work. I never had a father put his daughter’s life in my hands, and besides, I’ve been retired for a long time. I don’t have any of that nonsense in my life anymore.” his grandmother finished, pulling a thick coat out of a closet and handing it to him. Mnem hurried into the living room and picked up the telephone.
“Mnem, are you there?” asked a voice from the phone.
“I’m here, where do you want me?” Mnem responded.
“We're doing a briefing of the situation in ten minutes at the nature center. We've already had a blitz team go through the area and we’re setting up for a type two open grid sweep search. You’ll be on a team with Wren, Cir and Talus. Talus will be navigating, I want you as a flanker. The subject is a young adult with inadequate equipment in a known hazardous area with hazardous weather predicted for several hours from now. You’ll be searching the West Tupelo grove.”
“Alright. I’ll be there as soon as I can. Do I need specific medical supplies?”
“It is likely the victim has contracted one of the bog infections that are so rampant this time of year. Wound cleaning supplies and the new antibiotics might be necessary.”
“I’ll bring them. See you there.” Mnem dropped the phone and pulled on his coat. He hurried out into the hallway and opened his supply cabinet with a bang. He pulled his pack out of the cabinet and tossed over his shoulder. Mnem hurried to the front door and pulled it open.
“Bye Grandma, be back soon!” he shouted as he stepped out into the night. The cold was sharp and it began to dig through Mnem’s coat and into his fur. He ran down the street, the ornaments on his gold collar jingling as he moved.


Mnem arrived at the nature center, panting from his run. His breath came heavily, but at least the cold was less miserable now. He glanced over the gathered kiamaras and spotted Talus and Wren. Mnem jogged over to the pair, he set his bag on the ground, reached into it and pulled out a notepad and pen.
“Updates on the situation?” Mnem asked. “Are we heading out now?” Talus turned toward him.
“We’re still waiting on Cir. Tracks heading west have been found off the Cedar View trail. It’s likely they belong to the subject, but they haven't confirmed it yet.” Talus responded, turning her head toward him. A cold wind picked up and the long branches of the trees above them began to shake wildly.
“Brrrrr. Remind me why we picked this job again.” said Cir, coming up behind Mnem. They flicked their tail at Mnem. “You look like you belong in a carnival tent, reading fortunes to gullible idiots. Who would ever guess your job is to wake up at ungodly hours and go hike five miles to save some fool who forgot a flashlight.” Cir grinned. Talus snorted and rolled her eyes.
“Is everyone prepped? It’s time to go.” Talus announced. The group nodded. Mnem turned back to Cir.
“A psychic’s tent definitely sounds warmer, but I doubt I’ll ever save anyone’s life with a fake fortune. Plus no job gives the same satisfaction as SAR.” Mnem replied. Cir sighed and smiled.
“You’re right. I sure wouldn’t mind if it was just a tad warmer though.”

The group traveled down the long muddy path into the Tupelo grove. The weather had gotten worse and snow was blowing in their faces. Talus called out directions as they went, her eyes fixed on the compass grasped in her paw. Mnem padded through the underbrush, his head moving back and forth as he looked for any possible signs of where the individual had gone. As he stepped over a dry log his gaze landed on something purple in the snow. He leaned down to pick it up and gasped with joy. It was a piece of fabric, torn from a fluffy coat.
“Talus, do we have a description of what the subject was wearing? I think I've found something.” Mnem called. Talus walked over and peered at the piece of fabric in Mnem’s paw.
“That matches the description I have. Good job Mnem.” Talus glanced down at her compass and lifted her head toward the west. “I bet we’re close. We better hurry, if they’ve lost, or torn up their coat there’s a good chance they’ll freeze soon.” The group began to walk again, ears pricked and eyes wide. As they came around a bend, Wren’s ears perked up.
“I heard something!” Wren exclaimed. “It sounded like a moan!” Mnem began to trot, he pushed out of the grove of trees and into a clearing. There, lying half submerged in snow was a pale brown body.
“Found them!” Mnem called out. “Critical condition, immediate aid required!” He ran forward to the kiamara and dropped his bag on the ground. Mnem opened the pack and pulled out a blanket, Cir ran up and took it from him, they heaved the kiamara out of the snow and wrapped the blanket around them. Mnem pulled his first aid kit out and began to check the kiamara for injuries.
“You’ll be alright. Just hold on, you’re safe now.” he said.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you.” The kiamara grunted, barely managing to make the words between coughing shakes. Mnem smiled, it was times like this, when it was so obvious that what he was doing was really saving lives, that he felt so immeasurably glad he had decided to be a search and rescue technician.

2022-10-23 21:21:48 (Edited 2022-10-23 21:24:14)