The Chief Trials
Trial 1 - The Preparation
284/100 words
The general busy buzz of the Kitchen's base camp was slowly dying down. Dinner was over for the day, everyone could finally rest. Well, not quite. Patchwork sidled up to Azay, the head chef busy yelling at her underlings as they tried ot clean up. She wasn't helping anyone at all and was just in the way. "Yo, Azzy, some dude dropped this by way earlier. Dunno if it's important. Looks it, but eh, what do I know, eh?" Patchwork shrugged as he spoke, limply chucking a mildly mangled, rolled up scroll at the head chef. Azay was startled briefly and missed catching it, much to the amusement of those around her. She snapped at the gigglers to shut up and read the scroll.
A few moments of mostly silent time followed, the only sounds being the dishwasher working away in the back, completely oblivious. And then, an explosion. "Patchwork! You should have handed this to me the moment it arrived you buffoon!" She yelled, bonking him on the head with the crumpled scroll. She dithered about for a few moments, the background noise having grown louder as everyone speedily got back to work. "Right! Everyone listen up! Cece is in charge until I'm back. No one break anything or it's coming out of your pay check! I would love to have a celebratory feast with you all but some idiots can't see the importance of scrolls sealed with our clan leaders seal!" And with that, Azay stormed out.
A few hours later, she arrived at the meeting point outlined in the letter. "Right then, 'Almighty Leader of Nightmares', what do you want me to do? I have a kitchen to run, you know."
A few moments of mostly silent time followed, the only sounds being the dishwasher working away in the back, completely oblivious. And then, an explosion. "Patchwork! You should have handed this to me the moment it arrived you buffoon!" She yelled, bonking him on the head with the crumpled scroll. She dithered about for a few moments, the background noise having grown louder as everyone speedily got back to work. "Right! Everyone listen up! Cece is in charge until I'm back. No one break anything or it's coming out of your pay check! I would love to have a celebratory feast with you all but some idiots can't see the importance of scrolls sealed with our clan leaders seal!" And with that, Azay stormed out.
A few hours later, she arrived at the meeting point outlined in the letter. "Right then, 'Almighty Leader of Nightmares', what do you want me to do? I have a kitchen to run, you know."
Trial 2 - A Test of Honesty
195/150 words
Her mind was reeling slightly from what her clan leader had said. He’d stopped by a couple of times? Well, he must have loved the food. Whatever the case was with that comment, Azay stood tall, staring defiantly up at her clan leader. “How I feel about being a chief? Why, it’s the one position I deserve!” She puffed her chest out, a confident smile growing on her face. “I am the one puffkin everyone in my troop should look up to. I am an excellent cook who has learned from the best and I learned all there is to know about leading a troop from my father.” She paused briefly, taking the brief pause to fully inspect her clan leader. It was the first time she’d had a proper look at him. He was certainly a bit… drippy. You’d need a bucket under him constantly if you wanted a clean floor. A short giggle escaped her mouth at the thought of a bucket attached to this magnificent leader before she got back to talking. “Whichever way you put it, I am one of the best chiefs this clan has produced. Perhaps even the best.”
Trial 3 - A Test of Navigation
209/150 words
Staring into the shadowy mouth of the labyrinth’s paths, Azay shuddered. The dark was not her favourite place to be, her night vision was poor. At best. Still, she better get through this mess and prove that she’s the best. Not that that needs doing, of course. But still, there are a few idiots lurking around. Employing her favourite and foolproof strategy, Azay walked forward, staying close to the left wall.
Corner after corner, junction after junction, path after path. Azay slowly made her way through the maze, slowly wrapping her path along the wall of the labyrinth. Her mind was wandering from topic to topic, trying to find a way to occupy the time. A gentle melody of what can only be described as ‘plinky-plonk’ music started dancing in her head. Each note bouncing from one corner to the next, twisting and turning like a ballerina as it continued. Even Azay herself was jigging with the beat, humming along to the music in her head. This eventually developed into a full on moving dance, twists and turns as she made her way around the left wall, eyes closed. As the tune in her head faded, she opened her eyes. She seemed to have escaped the labyrinth ages ago.
Corner after corner, junction after junction, path after path. Azay slowly made her way through the maze, slowly wrapping her path along the wall of the labyrinth. Her mind was wandering from topic to topic, trying to find a way to occupy the time. A gentle melody of what can only be described as ‘plinky-plonk’ music started dancing in her head. Each note bouncing from one corner to the next, twisting and turning like a ballerina as it continued. Even Azay herself was jigging with the beat, humming along to the music in her head. This eventually developed into a full on moving dance, twists and turns as she made her way around the left wall, eyes closed. As the tune in her head faded, she opened her eyes. She seemed to have escaped the labyrinth ages ago.
Trial 4 - A Test of Strength
157/150 words
“A balance of both in one puffkin is just a waste, honestly. Physical strength is good for tasks involving heavy lifting or other such tasks, relatively simple in nature. Not much intelligence required, said puffkins body can devote more energy and resources into physical strength. Mental strength is needed for leaders, organisers. Puffkins like me. We need the strength to make tough decisions. A balance within the general populace is necessary, not within one individual.” Azay explained. Many puffkins needed an explanation as to her belief, it was quite an advanced belief compared to many. So many didn’t understand why every individual having a balance is just a recipe for disaster in the long run. With everyone the same, all that comes is boredom, pure and simple. Stagnant, boring puffkins. She stared at Raven, dead in the eyes, waiting for him to continue. She said what she had to. Just continue this dang thing already.
Trial 5 - A Test of Will
254/200 words
Azay stared at the paths in front of her, one was an obvious choice, the other really wasn’t worth her time. With a short nod of her head, her paws were moving, carrying her body towards her chosen path. She passed by the beginning of the short, steep path and began plodding along the longer, gently sloping path. Humming a tune and at a steady pace, she strolled along this rather plain and boring path to the meeting place where Raven was waiting.
It had been at least a day since she started down the path, yet she refused to stop and rest. Her pace was slowing as she slogged on but still, she grit her teeth and pushed forwards. By this point, she’d forgotten there was a shorter path in the first place and a lack of sleep was slowly affecting her mind. To many other puffkins, even those who work under her at her kitchen, a full day without sleep isn’t too bad. But Azay doesn’t sleep well in the first place. “A test of wills, eh? Ha! I will show them all who has the strongest will!” She cackled, her body swaying from side to side. A few paces further forward and she toppled forward, hitting the path beneath, sound asleep.
After waking, Azay happily continued along the path. Still determined to show up every other puffkin in the clan, she pushed on. Eventually, she reached the meeting point. She stood there, panting, with her chest confidently puffed out. “Well, Raven?”
It had been at least a day since she started down the path, yet she refused to stop and rest. Her pace was slowing as she slogged on but still, she grit her teeth and pushed forwards. By this point, she’d forgotten there was a shorter path in the first place and a lack of sleep was slowly affecting her mind. To many other puffkins, even those who work under her at her kitchen, a full day without sleep isn’t too bad. But Azay doesn’t sleep well in the first place. “A test of wills, eh? Ha! I will show them all who has the strongest will!” She cackled, her body swaying from side to side. A few paces further forward and she toppled forward, hitting the path beneath, sound asleep.
After waking, Azay happily continued along the path. Still determined to show up every other puffkin in the clan, she pushed on. Eventually, she reached the meeting point. She stood there, panting, with her chest confidently puffed out. “Well, Raven?”
Trial 6 - A Test of Courage
205/200 words
Without as much as a warning, Azay was plunged into her very own hell. The jagged claws of her darkest fear dug into her sides. Her eyes widened as she frantically looked around. She couldn’t see an exit. She was trapped. All around her were towering, messy piles of her worst fear. The one thing that haunted her nightmares for her entire life. Socks. A small whimper escaped her as she twisted and turned, hoping that something, anything may let her out of this place. She shuffled backwards, shaking and trying to compact herself into a tiny area.
And that’s when it happened. She’d stepped backwards into one of these sock mountains, sending it flying in all directions and causing a chain reaction to all the other precarious piles in the room. In a few terrifying moments, she was drowning in multicolored socks. Only her head could peer out across the room, her eyes even wider than before as she stared out across the deep sock sea. She froze, whimpering and wailing, and curled up into a tight ball beneath the sock surface. Her eyes shut tightly, her breathing way too fast, her claws digging into her skin. Fear had won. The socks had won.
And that’s when it happened. She’d stepped backwards into one of these sock mountains, sending it flying in all directions and causing a chain reaction to all the other precarious piles in the room. In a few terrifying moments, she was drowning in multicolored socks. Only her head could peer out across the room, her eyes even wider than before as she stared out across the deep sock sea. She froze, whimpering and wailing, and curled up into a tight ball beneath the sock surface. Her eyes shut tightly, her breathing way too fast, her claws digging into her skin. Fear had won. The socks had won.
Trial 7 - A Test of Judgement
305/300 words
Azay stared at the puffkin in front of her. Who was this crazy creature? More specifically, what was it? She glared at it, but its face stayed calm and unblinking. It unnerved her. A few moments passed in silence, neither Azay or the figure speaking. Finally, Azay worked up the courage to speak to this being. “Who are you?” She asked, with a head tilt of curiosity. The pair were plunged into silence for another few moments. “...I am Kyle,” The figure replied, lowering its head. Azay stared back, rather confused, that wasn’t too much like a regular puffkin name. Their parents must have been a strange pair.
“Well, Kyle, what are you doing out here?” Azay asked, it was the best next question for their conversation. Kyle, however, just stared at the floor. It must be rather interesting. She was stumped, Azay had no idea how to continue the conversation from here. Silence resumed for another few moments, before the perfect question hit her. “Are you okay, Kyle?” She asked, closing the gap between them by a few steps. Kyle glanced up for a brief moment before staring back at the floor. His only response was a nearly missable head shake.
Azay considered her next question and actions carefully, gently edging a few steps closer. This creature named Kyle was concerning her. Maybe only for the fact it was designed to by Raven. “Kyle, would you like to come join my troop? Perhaps just until things get better for you?” She asked, a hopefully reassuring smile spreading across her face. Kyle looked up at her again, staring her right in the eyes. It was making her uncomfortable, sure, but she stood her ground, her offer still open. Eventually, Kyle nodded. Azay grinned and closed the gap completely, “It’ll be nice to have you, friend.”
“Well, Kyle, what are you doing out here?” Azay asked, it was the best next question for their conversation. Kyle, however, just stared at the floor. It must be rather interesting. She was stumped, Azay had no idea how to continue the conversation from here. Silence resumed for another few moments, before the perfect question hit her. “Are you okay, Kyle?” She asked, closing the gap between them by a few steps. Kyle glanced up for a brief moment before staring back at the floor. His only response was a nearly missable head shake.
Azay considered her next question and actions carefully, gently edging a few steps closer. This creature named Kyle was concerning her. Maybe only for the fact it was designed to by Raven. “Kyle, would you like to come join my troop? Perhaps just until things get better for you?” She asked, a hopefully reassuring smile spreading across her face. Kyle looked up at her again, staring her right in the eyes. It was making her uncomfortable, sure, but she stood her ground, her offer still open. Eventually, Kyle nodded. Azay grinned and closed the gap completely, “It’ll be nice to have you, friend.”