The Unbroken Chain

06:02 - 10/12/1006 - Ursagrad, Chiropterra

Abdaz walked into work with a smile on his face that night.

Strong lights buzzed over the yard while a windy chill swept through, but that did nothing to dampen the sparkle in Abdaz’s eyes. As was common, he was one of the first workers to arrive. The few others who waited around the entrance were clouded in a fog of steam from hot beverages and smoke from cigarettes. Some nights Abdaz might’ve needed a cuppa or a smoke to take the edge off, but not tonight. Even as he went to sit down on a low wall, he couldn’t stop kicking his legs like a foal on a swing set.

When the bell rang, signalling the start of the shift, Abdaz hopped to his hooves, giddiness bubbling inside him like a pot ready to boil over. His steps were light, almost jaunty, as he pranced into the factory with a barely contained excitement. He even inserted his card into the clocking-in machine with a bit of bouncy flair.

Merzaal trailed behind, watching with a raised brow. They navigated the dim, industrial interiors toward their department with the factory coming alive around them, not a peep between them. Merzaal finally broke the silence between them. “Alright, I’ll bite. What’s up, Daz?” His voice held a hint of amusement as he trotted closer.

Abdaz looked back, his grin broadening. “Not until everyone’s here!”

Merzaal stared back, shrugged, then carried on quietly.

They soon passed through the entrance to their department, greeted by the familiar clunk of machines coming to life as Zalid was getting everything ready. Already a stream of music flowed from the department’s new radio and speaker set, paid for out of Zalid's own pocket.

“Morning!” Zalid called, climbing down from the mixer to meet them at eye-level. “You seem right chuffed, Daz. What’s caught you?”

“Well…” Abdaz’s voice lifted as he looked around. “I’ve got an announcement, when everyone’s here.”

Contagious anticipation crackled in the air. Merzaal and the others trickled in, one by one, sensing something out of the ordinary. Spicka entered last, sulking by the entrance. No one moved toward their stations. They all stood still, eyes on Abdaz, waiting for the words he had been holding back, the air in the room thick with expectancy.

Abdaz pulled in a breath. Five and a half years of honest work, two hours out of every weekend attending a temple to the Chiropterran’s goddess, almost a decade of keeping his head down and not stirring up a fuss, all leading up to this achievement. And he was ready to share it.

“I got a letter last night,” Abdaz began, his voice dripping with giddiness that drew every eye in the department closer. “It said my application for citizenship…” He paused for effect, his chest swelling with pride before delivering the final punch. “...has succeeded! I’m officially a citizen!”

For no longer than a heartbeat, the words hung in the air. Then, an eruption of cheers and shouts. Joy blazed through the gathering of workers like fire through a pool of petrol.

Zalid was the first to react, throwing his hoof up in celebration. “Oh, mate! Congrats!” he called. Abdaz threw his own hoof up to meet his, the sound of their hi-hoof snapping like a firecracker.

Merzaal wasn’t far behind, coming in from the other side with his hoof raised high. “Come here, mate!” he called. Their hooves met with another solid smack, the force of it punctuating the excitement that crackled through the department.

“You know what this means, don’t you, Merz?” Abdaz slung a hoof over Merzaal’s shoulder, pulling him close. “I can sponsor your citizenship application now!”

Merzaal’s face split into a broad grin. “Aw, hell yeah!”

“And,” Abdaz continued, stepping forward like he had the world at his hooves, “I’m throwing a party at the Whirling-In-Rags this Moonnight, and you’re all invited! Booked the function room and everything! Got a marefriend just dying to meet you!” His words sent another ripple of cheers bouncing through the room, voices raising in excitement.

He glanced around, his eyes landing on Spichka at the edge of the group. “And I mean all of you!” Abdaz declared, his gaze locking on Spichka. “Even you, Spichka!”

“Ehh.” Spichka cringed, stepping back. “I would prefer not to.”

Laughter spun around the group like a whirlwind, the good-natured ribbing filling the air as Spichka quietly slipped toward his workstation, distancing himself as he had ever since Abdaz’s promotion.

“Do you want paid time off for that?” Zalid asked. “I can get you an extra day, this is a special occasion!”

“Hoho! Maybe the night after!” Abdaz strapped a pair of safety goggles to his face. “If all goes well, I know I’ll need it!”

The rounds of congratulations circled again and again, hoof bumps, slaps on the back, and wide smiles exchanged going on and on before eventually the department settled, the excitement still buzzing beneath the surface as they finally turned to their workstations.

That Moonnight, Abdaz held his promised party, a good time had by all. Merzaal showed up, Zalid showed up, a few other coworkers showed up, and they got to meet Abdaz’s templegoing friends. They even met his marefriend, all of them bringing along their own partners, too. Well the ones that had them anyways. All through the night, the venue was full of music, laughter, drinking, disco dancing and karaoke.

The Firstnight after was a night off. Though it felt more like a collapse after the nonstop energy expended in the party. Abdaz slept in for another hour or two that morning. He had a few errands to run during the night, such as taking care of some extra citizenship paperwork.

The night after that, work. He woke up earlier than he would’ve liked. He hopped on the bus. He arrived at the factory for ten hours of strenuous manual labour. All under the same conditions. All with the same people. All to receive the same hourly rate.

It was much the same the next night. And the night after, and the night after. And the week after, and on and on for the following weeks and months.

All as it was before.