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 Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2004 7:39 pm
Flatsale Prompt T'bell yawned one of his usual early-morning yawns. Some told him his mouth could open as wide as a bronze, including his own green Liliath who had quite a mouth on her herself. He had been in training to be a harper, afterall, and so it was only natural for him to have a big mouth.
Klah was the first thing on his tired mind when he headed for the kitchen. Things had been so crazy lately, with Sirana gone and the rest of the weyr dropping like they'd been hit by a ball of thread twice thier size. People had just seemed to waste away, like they were being eaten from the inside out. Then, if they were a dragonrider, there would be the keening. The terrible, horrible keening that chilled you to your very bones.
He shivered and rubbed his neck. His hair stood on end every time he thought about that sound, and it had happened far too often. He'd only been around since one of the last clutchings, and Liliath was just barely out of weyrlinghood. She still got tired if he rode for too long, and being only 17, he wasn't very large himself. But then again, Liliath was a smaller green.
He shuffled into the kitchen, catching the scents of bubbly pies and various other things that had likely been eaten the night before. Everyone had a vorocious appetite, and leftovers were uncommon. When he deigned to raise his eyes from the stone floor he saw another person in for an early morning cup of klah, and was suddenly aware that his curly mess of black hair hadn't been tamed in its usual braid.
"Good morning T'bell." The weyrwoman said with a smile as she sipped the first cup of klah for the morning.
"Good morning Lady Ephia." T'bell asnwered hastily. It was his habit to add 'lady' to the front of any female's name. His sisters had insisted on him playing thier servant boy while he was growing up, and so he had to call them 'lady' this and 'lady' that as they ruled thier imaginary hold and played pretend. It had stuck with him, though the weyrwoman deserved no less honour. "I wasn't expecting you down here."
"As I can see." She smiled again, he green eyes dancing as she took in the state of his untamed hair. "You look as if you've been out for a morning flight. Is it windy?"
T'bells' cheeks coloured and he ducked his head, pulling his hair into a messy braid. "I only just got out of bed, though I like your excuse more." He smiled and poored himself a cup of the thick liquid. "I haven't been sleeping well lately."
"I don't think many people have been." She answered. He long hair hung down her back as she leaned against the counter. Despite how early it was T'bell thought she looked as put-together as always. If this had been hard on him as a new rider, he couldn't imagine how hard it had been on her as the new weyrleader.
"That reminds me," He mumbled as he leaned over the counter. "There have been rumours we're supposed to get a new queen rider in here. Do you know anything about them?" He took a sip of his klah and felt the welcome warmth flow through him. "If she gets here soon things may not be so hard on you."
"It's not happening." Ephia responded, rather quickly T'bell thought.
"I didn't mean anything by it." He added by way of explanation, "I just thought that it might make it easier if you had someone to split the duties with. We all think you're doing a good job, even Liliath and you know how she is..."
"And how is she?" She asked with a smile hidden behind her cup.
"Oh," T'bell laughed and scratched his head, "She has an attitude all right. Bossy little thing. Sometimes I think she thinks she's a queen." He snorted and took another sip of klah. "Listens to Ariath though, just behaves like a new harper...when you get them in and they think they're perfect singers. She's an honest tryer though, not like the ones whose heads are thick as their voices are loud."
Ephia smiled and set her cup down. "Well, I'm glad to know I meet her approval." She slipped a strand of her dark hair behind her ear and looked at him thoughtfully. "But, as I said before, no new weyrwoman will be coming any time soon."
"Just as well." He tipped his cup to her, "Might shake this place up more than help it. But if a new-" He blinked, eyes going unfocused. "I'm sorry, excuse me. Liliath thinks herself gold under all her green scales and would like to have a 'conference' with me." He smiled and stood up from where he leaned on the counter. "Don't tire yourself out."
She gave him a smile and a nod as he left. He took the foot-worn stone stairs back down to his room and pulled on a light leather jacket over his thin tunic before he plodded down to where Liliath was waiting. He was still holding his klah, of course, he wouldn't leave that behind.
"And what did you want, my queen?" He gave a mock bow to his dragon. Her dark green head was held high, almost to the stone roof, and her forelegs were crossed in a most regal manner.
I have gossip. She lowered her head so she was level with his eyes and tilted it to the side. Were you riding another dragon? Is it windy outside?
T'bell put a hand to his hair. "Oh not you too." He grumbled, then heaved a sigh. "What gossip is this?"
We will be having a new weyrwoman soon, an official one. She nudged him with her snout, almost spilling his klah, and he scratched her eyeridges.
"Well Ephia just said they weren't bringing anyone in." He sipped the warm liquid and navigated dragon limbs to find himself a spot at the lithe creature's side. "So I don't know where you're getting your information from." He plopped down and leaned against her. "Unless a drum message only dragons could hear came in."
She turned her head to look at him with big faceted eyes. We aren't getting a new weyrwoman from another weyr. She heaved a dragon sigh, She is to be our new weyrwoman.
"She is the weyrwoman." He said into his cup in the middle of another sip. "Old news, my green-queen."
Ariath is glowing. Her eyes swirled happily and there was a hint of smug amusement in her voice. It will soon be official.
Meanwhile, T'bell was wiping klah from his chin. He had nearly choked at the news. "Glowing?!"
Quite brightly. She looks like a bunch of glow worms, just much more like a dragon. She nudged him again and he patted her nose obligingly while his mind worked around that problem. There will be many browns and greens here.
The dragonrider gave his dragon a sideways look. "And they will be focused on her, not you."
Yes, but I will be focused on them. She answered haughtily. I will have to pick one for my future.
T'bell grumbled. "Yes, my queen."
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Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2004 9:20 pm
T'bell A wonderful day! Really a wonderful day in Rias weyr!
It's been such a long time since so many people have been excited and smiling. There was a small commotion this evening, it was so nice to see everyone happy again.
I suppose I should start by saying that we have gotten a batch of firelizard eggs in, as well as a load of watchwher eggs. The other weyrs and holds have generously donated parts of their usual share to Rias in hopes of raising moral. It's nice to know that the holds and weyrs can still pull together after a tragedy like the illness that just passed.
The whatchwhers hatched today, and I'm not sure how, but I managed to impress two of the little things, a male and female.
The male cracked his egg and came right over. We could barely see since it was in the lower corridors due to their sensitivity. He's nearly white though, and he was all clumsy walking up to me. It was nothing like impressing Liliath, of course, but it's still a wonderful feeling.
I picked the brute up and put a cloth over his eyes so I could take him back to my weyr and shards if another one didn't pounce on my leg. I looked down and it was all over, they had double teamed me. It wasn't enough Liliath coming from behind during her impression, but luckily this one didn't make me fall over, she's not nearly big enough yet.
I needed help from one of the weyr kids bringing them back up to my rooms. They still have the masks over thier eyes, and thy seem to be toddling around fine. They're settling down though, since they ate like ravenous beasts before I brought them up here.
I'm attached, I can't help it. Everyone complains about watchwhers, but I think they're wonderful creatures. They're protective and loyal and even kind of pretty if they're well-keptm, which I plan to do.
Liliath is kind of perturbed at having to share her personal space with them, but I don't think it'll last. I've done my best to convince her that having a personal guard is good for her image, since she believes herself a queen. She insists they're useless right now, but seems to think they have a promising future. I plan to let them stay in the baths during the day until I can find a place for them to stay. It can get quite dark in there. The masks work well so far though.
The other shipment of eggs, the firelizard eggs, were given out as well. I somehow got myself two as well. That's not the most exciting thing though, the thing is one of my now two eggs is bright gold.
If all goes well I'm going to have a queen firelizard! My mother will be so happy for me.
Liliath, on the other hand, is already bitter. I'm assuring her there's nothing to worry about, and that the gold will set of her green hide perfectly. Besides, she'll be way too small and not nearly as intelligent.
It seems to have appeased her. I've oiled her down as well, so she's in a pleasant mood now.
It's been a long and exciting day. Liliath's dozing off and I'm afraid I'm about to as well. The whers are sleeping, probably as tired out from thier excitement and dinner as I am.
T'bell set down the quill and left the book open to dry. The chair made a slight scraping noise as he pushed it back and he quickly looked to the whers, who slept soundly through it on his fur rug.
With no small amount of luck the greenrider managed to pick his way between the pair to snuff out the glowbaskets and candles that lit the room. He carefully manuevered himself back to the bed and crawled under the covers.
"Good night Liliath."
Good night. The dragon replied sleepily. There was silence and T'bell had nearly drifted off when Liliath saw fit to add in her own sleep-tinged tone, Your hair is wet, it will be fuzzy tomorrow.
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Posted: Tue Dec 28, 2004 10:49 am
 T'bell and Kirana T'bell could hear the harper girl following silently behind him. The silence was deafening, aside from the noise of their boots on the stone, and he was about to pipe up with something to say when she beat him to it.
"Is this your weyr?" She asked, looking back and forth. It was certainly rather dark. The glowbaskets must have been dimming, if they weren't dead. "I can't see a thing."
"Yeah, they haven't changed the baskets in a while but I know my way so we-" The last of his sentance was lost in a grunt as something knocked into him. He heard her yelp and made an attempt to catch her, but whether it was the dark or his off-balanced state, he only managed to brush her arm. "Shards!"
Kirana sat at the bottom of them and laughed to herself, "Well, yeah, that makes 25 times this month," She said, picking herself up and dusting off her skirt. "I'm fine...wherever you are..." She said, turning back to the stairwell.
"Are you sure you're Ok?" T'bell hurried down the rest of the stairs and offered her his hand only to find she'd picked herslef up. He supposed living in the weyr gave him better eyesight since he was used to the pitch darkness of some of the lower caverns.
The curtain hanging behind Kirana was pushed aside by a green snout and Liliath's glowing eyes plus the glowbaskets in his weyr-proper allowed a bit more light to see by. You're all very loud. The dragon sent T'bell with an air of humour.
Kirana's eyes suddenly went wide as she skittered backwards. The Green must have been larger than she had expected, she wasn't comfort being this close. "Um, yeah... I'm ok. Really," She said, and T'bell heard her voice waver slightly.
He gave a quiet laugh and waved his hand, brushing off the dragon. "She's not going to eat you, we just woke her up is all."
All of them are as jittery as flitts around me. Liliath said as she pulled her head back and let the curtain fall back into place. Your whers are awake.
T'bell smiled again, "Remember I'm one of 'them'." He nearly stuck his tongue out at Liliath, "She's just struck by your beauty." He smiled apologetically at Kirana for humoring his companion.
Kirana blushed softly, "Sorry... I'm...just not used to dragons. My parents aren't too keen on them, and my brother...well, my brother..." She adjusted her skirt. "He was savaged during a hatching when he was 12... He hasn't been the same since," She said. "But that's not really something I need to prattle on about."
"They've changed the impression practices since then...I've heard horror stories." He pulled back the think curtain and stepped through. "I have two watchwher hatchlings too, just warning you." He said over his shoulder as he scanned the room for the hatchlings.
Liliath watched the pair of humans with her eyes dimmed by one of her eyelids, still in the process of waking up. They will not eat her.
"Aye... I feel sorry for Riran most of the time. He was savaged so badly they had to take him off of the grounds... We heard later that there was a blue that betweened rather than Impress after he was taken away. I really think that did more damage to him than any of the scars he recieved that day," Kirana mused before smiling and nodding. "I doubt they'll hurt me, as long as I don't do anything to threaten you," She said following T'bell into the main area of the weyr. Another creel echoed about them as Verde winked between, landing on top of Kirana's head and burying herself in her bonder's hair. Kirana narrowed her eyes, "If you ever get attached to a flit, hope they're not annoying is this bag of hide and fat."
T'bell just laughed and pointed to the two pots he had by the banked fireplace. "I have two coming. I got rather lucky." He smiled fondly at the queen egg. "Liliath will be prettier and smarter than them all though." He added loudly for the benefit of his dragon.
Of course I will. The green dragon peered at him rather proudly.
"She seems to agree." He pulled out a comfy green chair for her, one seated by the desk, and flipped closed his new journal, moving it to the top corner of the desk. "Have a seat."
Kirana smiled, "Thank you," She said, greatfully taking a seat before she pulled the skin out of her skirt pocket, narrowing her eyes in the dark to try and see if there were any other instructions on it that she had missed. Nope. She'd read everything. Hmmm... Kirana frowned. She really should have brought more supplies. All she had was her normal supply bag... A few skins and what was needed to write on them.
T'bell toured the room and flipped open the glowbaskets that dotted the place. It was much brighter now, something good to write by. "I can't imagine what your brother would be feeling." The emptiness with Liliath when she was asleep wouldn't compare to the emptiness he'd feel were she gone or had never existed. "Maybe he can try again at another search. If he may have been acceptable before he should be again." He grunted as he reached on his toes and pulled out a book from the top of his shelves. The pages were yellowed and he flipped through them until he found where the first toll had been. "It starts here, only slowly." A finger pointed out the part on the page as he set the book in front of her, "Wherever it's written on a single line like this. It gets more common later, whole pages. For a bit there's just one or two every few entries." He leaned back and smiled a bit nervously, "Just...try not to read what's not a death toll?"
A squeak and croon from a curtained room drew his attention and a pale white head peered around the curtain. A blue piece of fabric was tied over its eyes so the light didn't seem to bother it. T'bell glanced over and smiled just as a goldish creature looked out as well. "There they are. Hungry too." He turned his attention back to Kirana with a smile earned from the little beasts' mental images. "There are spare sheets in that drawer and a load of quills and ink. Did you want anymore food?" He took a bite of a meatroll himself and wandered over to the shaft to call up his whers' dinner.
Kirana shook her head, "He's 26 now. Much too old for Impression. And besides, his heart has hardened in the past couple of years. He certainly wouldn't be as acceptable as he would have been as a bright-hearted 12 year old dreamer," She said, eyeing the book that has been settled on the desk in front of her, listening to his explaination of how things were laid out. "Names and dates only," She said, nodding, as she set out the few sheets she had brought next to the journal and pulled out her writing impliments. "No, I think I'm fine," She said, gnawing on one of the meatrolls she'd snatched from the kitchens. "And thank you for all the help."
"Not a problem." He quipped before shouting his order down to shaft. "I know how the Masters get if their records aren't right."
A sigh passed his lips as he waited for the food to make its way back up and he listened to the whers projections as they wandered out of their room and began to roll and play on his fur rug behind Kirana's chair. "Maybe a flitt then? If he doesn't have one already..." Came the suggestion. The story tugged at his heart not only because he was a harper and had the empathy of one, but because of his Liliath listening half-asleep to the goings on.
I am still here. She sent, blinking her eyes at him before settling back into sleep. You have not lost me.
'I know, love.' He thought silently and gave her a faint smile along with the emotion he sent. There was too much sadness lately. It was weighing on him despite his best efforts. Things were improving though...
"I keep trying to convince him they're all not as bad as Verde, but he doesn't believe me," Kirana said, flipping the page. Three names so far. "He's bitter now, though, and doesn't want to let anyone or anything close. It's rather sad how prejudice he's gotten, too. He threw tyrade when he found out our father was sending me to a Weyr. Said something about our family shouldn'y be forced to relate with....well...it's not decent enough to repeat," She said, noting out four more names and turning a page, wincing when she found six in a row.
"We don't always get a good reputation. I suppose it can't be helped though." The rumbling of the food coming up the shaft behind him stirred him from his melancholy thoughts. With a low whistle to attract the attention of the two frolicking beasts he slipped the meat-laden tray from the holder and set it on a nearby table. "Will you need a ride back to the hall or is one already arranged?"
The two little whers stopped in their wrestling and looked up, smelling the meat. The gold one bounded over first, her companion taking a bit more time but no less enthusiasm in his pursuit. Ah, training, a lovely thing. He sent calming thoughts at them, coaxing them into sitting still and waiting thier turns.
"My brother insisted I take a caravan. They're coming in a few days," Kirana said, turning another page and sighing as she scrawled out a few names on the last skin before moving to another skin. "He doesn't trust between. My father doesn't either, actually. He says that men aren't meant to fly or travel in the blink of an eye. Our family is suppose to keep the tradition..." Kirana mumbled to herself. "I doubt I'll make them proud though. Nobody needs a 20 year old apprentice in their family. Shards, nobody needs a twenty year old apprentice. The only assignments I'm given anymore come from my parents or my brother..."
Kirana glanced over, smiling softly at the Whers before looking up as she felt Verde stir in her hair. "It's not for you and don't go trying to steal any. You might end up being eaten rather than eatting."
"My mother was iffy about that at first. I never told her when that part of weyrling training came up." T'bell confessed as he admonished the gold one for nibbling at his fingers. "Your flitt's welcome to some. Do you mind if I ask why you're still an apprentice at twenty?"
Kirana sighed, "It's complicated, really. Riran, well, he went back into apprenticeship after recovering from the hatching fully. He was 13 at the time, and I was almost 7. A few years after that at 17, Riran was almost finished everything for his journeyman ranking. I was 11, just starting my apprenticeship. My brother had always been rather bumbling when it came to his duties that required more dextarity. He'd lost a lot of the control in his hands after the hatching, and no matter how much he worked, and even though he had been able to get enough strength back in them to play again, he couldn't get up enough to be able to finish the construction phase of his apprenticeship. Sooo...my mother told me to do it for him."
Kirana sighed, turning the page in the journal, copying out the next few pages, having to write small in order to get all the names to fit onto the skins, "I had always had small hands, which made it easier to work with the tools and such. So I worked to complete the requirements he was suppose to do. I had to work at night, so no one else would catch me. A drum, a harp, a flute, and a gitar, those were what I had to finish. It took me years to get them all done, having to work when I was really tired.... I messed up repeatively, had to start over all the time. Riran was 22 by that time, and I was 16...." Kirana heaved a sigh. "And way behind on my apprenticeship... I'm just barely catching up now. But with nobody giving me any duties anymore, and having to make sure Riran doesn't get in trouble - a prejudice Journeyman has to have an eye kept on him all the time so he doesn't say the wrong thing to the wrong people - I doubt I'll ever get it done." Kirana snorted, "but what does it matter? Their beloved son is a Journeyman, and their daughter doesn't need a trade. She'll get married eventually, right? Not sharding likely...." Kirana said before clearing her throat and blushing. "Oh, I...um... I'm sorry. That wasn't called for."
T'bell blinked at the minor rant and gave her a sheepish smile. "No, but I bet it felt good to get out..." He laughed quietly and gave the female wher another slab of meat when she nudged his hand. "It was a very nice thing you did for your brother. A very nice thing." For a moment he stayed quiet, thinking about possible solutions, "If you passed your brothers' journeyman test while doing your own work at the time I'm sure you'd be able to pass yours now if you were given more assignments." He caught his lip between his teeth and leaned against the bookshelf from where he sat on the floor, continueing to divvy out food according to the good behaviour of the hatchlings. "The hall has been slow, mother says there aren't many there compared to what they used to recieve..." He tugged the tail end of his thick braid. "What are your talents? Crafting, vocal, or composing?"
Kirana sighed, "I'm only mediocre at each... I have a decent enough voice, but I have a hard time singing parts. I can compose simple structures, but when I try to get more complicated, it just sounds like a mess. I can make decent enough instruments. They'll play, but they aren't good enough to sell. I may be harper blood, but I'm not harper breed."
"My mother may be willing to take you on under her." He offered, thinking about the letters they had exchanged, "She's been bored with so few apprentices and none of my 'antics' to occupy herself." There wasn't a lie in his words, he often thought he'd go home and cause some trouble for a bit to keep her busy. It wasn't so much that he wanted her doing something, but that he was worried what she would do were she bored or listless. Just sit there? It had always been much better when she was doing something, she was cheerful when she had work to do. "The only thing is that you'd likely be concentrating on construction then."
Kirana smiled softly, "I certainly wouldn't mind that. It is the craft I'm best at... I just need to learn how to make decorations without ending up cracking the wood and making them unplayable..." She said, turning another page. "There...were certainly a lot lost..." She said, her voice dropping solemly.
"There were." T'bells matched hers as he remembered, but managed to shake the thought from his head. He'd been pushing those thoughts away a lot, and it was getting a little easier each time. He cleared his throat and divvied up the last of the meat the the now-lazy whers. "I will write my mother about it with the next letter. She might not agree to it, but I wouldn't offer if there weren't a good chance she would. She needs to be doing something." He snorted quietly, "You're a girl besides, she'll love that."
The whers, their pudgy bellies full, curled up around each other under the table holding the now-empty bowl of meat and T'bell pushed himself from the floor with a groan. A page Kirana may have yet to pass contained in hurried script the name J'kin, his dragon, and the time. What made it different was the style of writing, almost wobbly and obviously hurried, and the addition of his full name under it, ending in an ink blotch.
T'bell wandered over to the fireplace and idly turned his flitt eggs in their sand. Another log was put on the embers and he stoked it to stir a blaze as the air grow colder with the lack of the sun.
Kirana turned the page again. "Thank you. Heh, I probably would have been wandering the Weyr blindly until the caravan showed up without your help. I owe you," She said, scrawling out a few more names before pausing as she took care to write out the next name. "This...J'kin," She said, pausing slightly.
T'bell paused in his turning of one of the eggs. Ah, she was on that page...a bit past the middle. "He almost made it all the way through." His voice was low and carefully measured. "Sorry it's written out badly. The dates are seven, sixteen, two-five-four-oh. Time was an hour past the middle of the night. Symptoms were-" He swallowed to get his voice back, "Well, they're written there."
"It's all right. I can read it," Kirana said, finishing writing out the information. "I've seen records written like this before... One of the journeyman's sisters died last turn from a virus going around Ista, and her name was scrawled in the records in a manner the same as this," She said, not really sure how to ask what she wished to. "Was he...a brother, a friend..." Kirana paused. "A lover?" She asked, a little unsure of saying that last bit. But...his dragon was a green.
"An old friend...we were at the hall together and he got searched a few years before me. He searched me, brought me here." He set the fire-poker down and leaned against the bed. "Good enough to be a brother..." The dirt on his pants was suddenly very interesting, "A few mating flights, but nothing besides. You know how greens are anyway..."
You're sad. Liliath opened her eyes from her dozing and lifted her head, peeking through the opening to get a look at him. Thinking of J'kin again?
T'bell looked up at her with a small smile. 'You shouldn't remember him.' He thought bemusededly.
You do, he was important to you. I remember him as well as I remember Fenith. Her eyes swirled calmly and she crooned at him worriedly, You should not wallow like a herdbeast in the mud. You will get stuck, and then eaten.
"Go back to sleep Liliath." He said, a hint of a smile on his lips at her comment. 'I'll be fine, don't worry. I still have you and you'll not leave.' He added through thoughts.
No, I won't. You still need to oil my hide. She gave him a last croon and retracted her head. The entire exchange took no more than a few seconds.
Kirana nodded slowly, "I'm sorry," She whispered, settling down her quill and glancing over at T'bell. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to...well..." She lowered her head before sighing and turning back to the records. "I'm never good at talking about things...even less good at bringing them up. I'm sorry."
"It's Ok, really." He gave her a reassuring smile, as much of one as he could muster. "There's not much that can be changed. Other people lost many more who were important to them. Some who lived here there whole lives lost everything. I'm...I'm lucky to have not lost everyone I care about." He shook his head ruefully. "We're still getting over things, the whole weyr is somber. I'd love to just play for hours in the dining hall, but I'm afraid I'd get pelted with food. People just don't want ot be happy right now. It's passing...it's passing."
Kirana smiled softly, "Time is all it takes. It won't heal the wounds, but it will make them less deep," She said, turning another page over. "And somber will eventually lead into meloncholy, which will lead into content, and happiness will come soon after that. Though...it may take awhile," she said, frowning. "The more devestating the situation, the longer it takes to heal."
He nodded agreement, watching the sleeping whers twitch and kick in the dreams. It was passing, but it still stung like a threadscore when he thought about it too long. Time would be like between...cold and hard to get through, but it would dull the pain. Old injuries always hurt, but wouldn't always sting so badly. "The weyr is a busy place, people can distract themselves." The rueful smile was still there as he spoke, and he rubbed his palms over his wherhide-clad knees. "They've got everyone working. I've done so many runs lately, up all day, we're both beat." He nodded towards Liliath who'd gone back to her dozing, but kept that part of herself awake enough that she was a comforting presence in his mind. "I've got those two now," He gestured to the whers, "and those two coming soon." The firelizards this time. "I'll be busy enough, and it's not like I'll ever be lonely. Liliath's always around." He laughed quietly at the dragons sleepy affirmation in his mind, "And when she's asleep I'll have a handful of other companions."
Kirana chuckled, "Busy you'll certainly be. Firelizards are savage when they first hatch...wanting to be fed every hour on the hour," She said as Verde clawed at her hair, causing her to wince. "Gah...and they like to make perches where they shouldn't." Scrawling out a few more names, Kirana settled her quill down, cracking her knuckles. "I need a break. My hand hurts..." She sighed. "Which isn't a good thing."
"You can continue tomorrow...or we can eat." He gave her a sheepish smile, "I like the food here...if you haven't noticed. You're a little over halfway through."
Kirana nodded, "Food sounds good," She said, standing and stretching out her back. "I've only had a meatroll or two since I got here... Not that I'm used to eating much at the hall. A tuber or two and a slice of wherry a day," She chuckled. "It's annoying trying to keep this figure when you're not very active."
A surprised snicker at her comment caught him as he was standing and he had to steady himself on the bed.
What? Came Liliath's half-annoyed reply. Oh she knew very well.
This just caused him to laugh harder and he had to sit down on his bed. Oh, he wouldn't be laughing so hard were it not for a simple parallel he'd drawn between the two females. It felt good to laugh too, and it was a moment before he was able to even fully breathe. By this time of course, Liliath had poked her head around the corner and was fixing him with a haughty look.
"I'm fat. Just say it," She said, her tone being nothing but joking. "Remember, breathing is a good thing," She said, moving over and offering T'bell a hand up.
T'bell waved a hand at her before clutching his sides. "No! No...!" He wheezed for a moment then managed to wave at Liliath, "It's...she...you!" A snort and then he managed to pull himself together enough that he was able to draw a full breath. "She says...the same thing..." A chuckle passed him lips as he wiped his eyes. "Sorry, sorry."
I understand her problem. You're just a boy anyway. Liliath said haughtily. Nevertheless there was amusement in her whirling eyes as she once more disappeared behind the corner. Wherry.
T'bell chuckled again. "I don't understand because I'm a boy, according to her."
And you're a wherry.
"And I'm a wherry, as she insists." He smiled, an actual smile and not rueful or forced. "And she's a queen, so she must be right."
Kirana chuckled, "You don't look like a wherry..." She said as a grin spread across her face. "And I'm not gonna see if you taste like one," She said, winking at T'bell before offering him her hand again. "Now, we gonna go and get something to eat or are you just gonna roll around on your bed all day?"
"I'll just call it up." the chuckles still seemed to get him. "Liliath already says she hasn't eaten me because I'll taste bad." The bed creaked as he took the offer and also pushed himself up, "What would you like? They should have a bubbly or two left over their willing to send up." He ran a hand through his thick curly bangs and steadied himself on the bedpost. "I needed that, I think."
Kirana grinned softly, "That sounds great. I haven't had a bubbly since the last gather." She pondered slightly. "Some herdbeast roast and tubers wouldn't go astray...if it's possible," She said with a tentative edge to her voice.
"Liliath had herdbeast today. It got a good review." He smiled and yelled another order down. The was a pause, annoyed kitchen staff likely, before the pully system kicked into gear. He leaned back and shook his head, then spotted the wherlings and crouched to take the female and pick her up, with no small amount of effort. She gurgled at him, something akin to a disgruntled coo. "Back in your little weyr, you two, otherwise you'll want more food."
Kirana smiled softly at the two whers, "I've never seen baby watchwhers before. Only ever been around the ancient one that the Hall keeps," She said, biting her bottom lip. "And she really won't let most people get close to her... The apprentices don't tend to treat her well. You know how kids can be."
The gold was deposited in her little room and he came back for the pale one, who was looking at him sleepily when he dislodged him from his spot. "Yeah, I know how horrible they can be. My mother used to set the ones who bothered our wher to copying records for days on end, cleaning the string wax, washing horrible things, even cleaning out the whers' lair." He set the other one down inside the room and pulled the curtain closed, letting them to their darkness. "I think they're kind of cute really...and they're loyal and protective. They're not dumb either." He smiled at the two, "My mother tells stories about a man she knows in the mines from when she was younger. Their wher was well-trained and taken after. They have more uses there I guess, but she sung their praises so I suppose I'm the same."
Kirana smiled softly and nodded, "I can understand. Even creatures that people say aren't smart can be deceptively clever," She said as Verde borrowed out of her hair and peered down at T'bell. She cheeped slightly as her eyes whirled with a soft blueish white as she cocked her head to the side in confusion. Kirana chuckled, "You've messed up my hair. What do you want now?" She asked, glancing up at the flitter with crossed eyes. Verde crawled down to Kirana's shoulder and nuzzled her cheek, cooing. "Don't try and be sweet..." Kirana said, a smile present on her face, despite the threat.
T'bell watched with a curious smile. "What is she like? I want to make sure I raise mine well...." He glanced at his eggs and leanded against the wall waiting for the tell-tale rumble of the food. "I'm not sure how I ended up with a queen...No idea." He smiled fondly, "Liliath is afraid I'll love her more, but she knows she's being silly. My mother will be estatic though, when I tell her."
Kirana smiled, "An annoying bag of wherry feathers," She said as Verde cooed. "But still good company," She said, reaching up to pet the little green's muzzle. "She was really demanding when she first hatched, but she calmed down after a couple months, only asking for food every three or four hours rather than every hour. But, if taken care of well and trained, they can be very handy," She said, grinning. "I've taught her how to carry messages. She's just so stubborn she hardly ever does it when I ask."
"I'm worrying about that." He felt Liliath finally drift to sleep and that odd detachment, "Lili's kind of like that. She has an attitude...I'm not sure I could win against her and a queen flitt." There was a definate chance Liliath would indeed make the little flitters side with her, and T'bell both looked forward to and dreaded that time. It would be like being nagged at by his sisters. "How was your impression?"
Kirana chuckled, "Not too fun," She said, chuckling. "The Drummaster's Queen had had a clutch, and he'd handed out all of the eggs that he figured would hatch. The mini ones that no one expected anything of where left by the hearth in the kitchen. I was in there to get some meatrolls from my father while he was working, and when I was walking past the hearth, this little one," she said, motioning to Verde, "who was actually the only flit to hatch from the five eggs that were left by the hearth, latched onto my leg and tried to eat me," She said, bending over and rolling down her sock. There was a fine row of teeth marks and two claw marks left on her calf.
"Tried to eat you?!" He laughed, "Oh, you seem to have my luck!" A rumble started from down low and the food began its trip up. T'bell was interrupted in his story as he pulled over the table beside his fireplace and swung the chairs into place. "Sorry, I don't entertain much." An apologetic smile was on his lips as he returned to find the food, and carefully slid the tray off and into his hands before depositing it in the middle of the table. "One bubbly pie, we can split it, and some wherry and meat rolls, oh, and cheese." He licked his lips. He always did like the cheeses the weyr got.
"No worries. I'm easy to satisfy," Kirana said, settling herself down and giggling softly. "It all looks so good, and fresh, too," She said as Verde cooed and eyed the platter. Kirana glanced over at Verde, "You ate. You haven't been here long. You just came from the Hall, and the other apprentices stuff you, so don't even think about it."
T'bell took his seat and started dividing the food between them. "I was going to say, before we had the food, that none of my impressions were the most dignified..." He nodded at Liliath. "I was helping another green up and she knocked me over from behind. Got a laugh out of my mother, that one did."
Kirana chuckled softly, "Well, she knew what she wanted," She said, smiling. "And if you ask me, she made a good choice," Kirana said, cracking her knuckles in her writing hand again before snatching up a meatroll and handing it to Verde. "There, be happy," she said as the green cooed and stopped staring at the platter.
A small blush crossed he features and he hid it by bending his head to eat. When he'd finished the wherry (not bad at all for evening food) he looked up again. "My two in there were almost as bad. You have to blood yourself for an impression. I cut a bit too deep with the boy, who I got first, then as I was heading out the girl nearly knocked me over by bumping my leg. I had to do it again, and I...got a little faint." A self conscious chuckle as he took another bite. "Had to have one of the weyr kids help me bring them both up here, fed them myself, and went to bed none too soon for Liliath. She nearly marched in here and put me under the furs." He pulled up the sleeve of his dark shirt to reveal a bandage, "Not serious, but stupid."
Kirana winced, "Well, at least you only got faint and were able to get it fixed up before anything bad happened," She said, taking a bite of the wherry before glancing at Verde. The green had finished the meatroll and had a pathetic begging look on her face...mock innocence. "Meh," Kirana said, breaking off a large chunk of the wherry on her plate and handing it to Verde. "Now, you leave me alone."
The little thing had persuasive powers. He'd be sure to keep that in mind with his. "Not my brightest moment. I just can't wait to see what happens with those two." The eggs on the hearth were still a bit new, they'd be ready to hatch in a fortnight or so. "Liliath will be amused..."
"I'm sure. Hope they don't hatch at the same time. One is enough to deal with hatching. I couldn't think of dealing with two, especially when one is a queen," Kirana said, chuckling as Verde gnawed happily on the chunk of Wherry. Kirana took another bite of hers, slicing a piece of cheese to gnaw on as well. "You're lucky, you know."
"Don't I." He shook his head, humble, "I can't tell you how it happened. The whers were by accident, I was surprised I got one at all...but the eggs? I suppose they had a draw for the queen and I was alotted to get the regular one as well. I...I really don't know how it happened. I need to find out which hold or weyr donated her and thank them profusely after she hatches."
Kirana smiled softly and chuckled, "Maybe they just thought you needed an lot of responsiblity. Maybe someone is trying to keep you out of trouble," She said, grinning as she finished off the rest of her wherry - which wasn't must of a task since she'd given half of it away - and cut herself another slice of cheese.
"Maybe..." He was going steadily at his piece. Food was always a comfort to him, calmed him down and cleared his mind. "Maybe..." A moment of thoughtful chewing passed and his eyes widened. "Yes, I'll have to write my mother."
"Certainly. You've got more than enough to inform her off," Kirana said, chuckling to herself as Verde finished off the slab of wherry and crawled down into her lap, curling up and falling asleep. She looked around the weyr before sighing, "What I wouldn't give to have to write my parents...rather than being under their eye constantly."
"It might change soon enough." He said with a smile. "If the hall requests you your duty is to them." He looked fondly at the flitt as she disappeared into the girls lap and finished his wherry before starting in on the cheese. "I suppose they might put up a fight, but you can't argue with custom."
"Heh, I'm sure they'll find some way to butt in," Kirana said. "Mom always supervises my choral work. Dad always oversees my Construction work. Riran critiques my composition and playing... Family every which way I look. The only time I get away from them is when I'm off duty and can run out into the fields around the Hall."
"It used to be like that for me," A sympathetic smile crossed his features and he offered her the last of the cheese, "I have two sisters. They're not around much anymore...one's in the weavercraft and the other's a journyman harper at another weyr, but when I was younger did they ever bully me!"
Kirana smiled, taking the cheese thankfully, "Heh, I can only imagine," She said, chuckling. "Riran never was one for bullyin, but he used to make up wild stories to try and get me in trouble. One time, he told me that there were a bunch of felines in the storage rooms in the Hall. They were just 'hiding'. I tore up the storage room looking." She said, chuckling. "Course, I was only 5 at the time, so my parents cut me a break."
"I always had to call my sisters 'milady' when I was younger. They made me play their servants and stuff." He shook his head, "Mother coddled them until they left, then realized what brutes they were and I became her favourite since I was in the hall with her and under her teaching. My harper sister went into the vocal bit, I was never too good at singing after a certain age. I can carry a tune, but there was no place for me in the choir." He laughed and slid a knife down the middle of the bubbly pie, dividing it into a half with a bit more on her side before he took his own piece. "They're better warm, but cool is better than none at all."
Kirana grinned, "Yup, sweets are a good thing, no matter what," She said, taking the bubbly pie up happily. "And yeah, siblings can be horrid, especially when they're spoiled and they can get away with it," She said, grinning as she took a bite, yelping as it leaked, spilling on her shirt. Kirana made a face, chewing a bit and swallowing, "That's always the way," She said, putting the pie down and trying to clean off her shirt.
"Careful, your flitt might smell it and wake up, then you'd be out a shirt." T'bell chuckled, remebering how Liliath had tried to eat nearly everything at the impression feast.
Kirana chuckled, "I wouldn't put it past her," She said, giggling as she put the dropped filling onto her plate. "But I think she's rather full after that slice of wherry," She said, grinning and stroking the little green firelizards' neckridges. "I complain, but it is good to have the company when no one else seems to care," She said, in a tone which seemed to be more to herself than to T'bell.
"That's how I feel with Liliath." The fond smile of a dragonrider talking about his dragon crossed his face, "You always have someone there who loves and understands you, even if they tease and make fun you know they couldn't go on without you, and they know it's the same for them..." A short laugh and he finished his pie, then began cleaning up the plates, "I bet it's the same as a flitt, though they can't call you a wherry." The running joke between rider and dragon.
Kirana laughed, "Aye, but at least you don't have your hair used as a nest," She said, snickering. "At least, not yet."
"It looks enough like one in the morning." He piled the plated on the tray and picked it up, sliding it back into the shelf and lowering the rope while mimicking Liliath, "'Did a group of wherries nest in your hair? Have you been riding another dragon in the wind? Why is there a big wherry in my weyr?'"
Kirana chuckled softly, stretching out her back, wincing as it cracked, "Sounds like a hoot."
"Oh it is, the fun never ends." He smiled and stretched as well. "Well, I have a dragon to oil, and you a bunch more 'happy' work to do. The work never ends either, not in a weyr." He gave another rueful smile, though this one was sad so much as apologetic for the workload, though he had nothing to do with it. "I'll write that letter by the time your caravan takes you back to your hall. When are you leaving?"
"Whenever the caravan gets here. Probably a few days," Kirana said, gently picking up Verde in her arms as she stood. "They wanted to make sure to give me plenty of time to get what I needed, so they went to pick up someone from a nearby Hold before coming back for me."
"You'll have plenty of time to take a look around." He winked and lowered his voice conspiratorily, "There's a bunch of secret passageways." a mischevieous smile spread across his face as he almost bounced into Liliath's lair, "Anyway, I'll be in here if you need me!"
Kirana laughed softly, "All righty," She said, moving back to the desk and settling herself back down.
T'bell was bent over the side of the trunk against the wall in Liliaths' lair. A glow lamp gave him light to see by, but he was still searching for that oil pot. Oh! There it was! With a grumble he pulled the container from the corner where it had been neatly stored and let the lid close with a soft 'thunk'. Liliath could be oiled and wake up happy at the attention, and all would be well. Quiet humming was came from the next room as T'bell worked the paddle over every inch of Liiaths' exposed hide. He'd have to do her stomach and far wing tomorrow, because one was on the ground and the other was resting against the wall. The dragon was still sleeping, though she let out a quiet croon as he scratched her eye ridges as he finished off her nose. It always took him a while to oil her from back to front, but she shone so prettily when she was done that he couldn't help it.
He did smell like something between dragon and dragon-oil now, though it didn't reek. A bath would be a wonderful thing when he decided he could do with some rest. Hopefully that decision wouldn't be long delayed. The company was nice, there was no doubt in his mind about that. Some dragonriders could get so boring and macho, only talking about thread and wing formations, so it was nice to talk to anyone who didn't concentrate on the mechanics of flying or the responsibility of fighting thread. Besides, she seemed like a nice girl, and was certainly pleasant company.
"Did you manage to finish?" He called curiously as he put away his things and gave Liliath a final pat on the nose.
"Almost, I think I've only got a page left," Kirana called back, she flipped another page, finishing off by copying the remaining eight names onto a fresh skin. "Ok, there we go."
"Think you'll need anything else like that? You can still check the records if you like...double-checking my times and list of symptoms and such." He smiled as he came back in and slipped into the bathing room to rinse his hands in the warm water.
Kirana smiled, "I'll check them tomorrow. I've still got a few days left, and besides, my hand hurts," She said, cracking her knuckles in her right hand.
The sound made him wrinkle his nose as he came out. "That's a bad habit, my mother says."
"Yeah, it makes your joints weaker," Kirana sighed. "At least, that's what my Dad says. But it's better than having a frozen claw hand."
"Frozen claw hand?" He chuckled and took a seat on the bed. "If Liliath were awake she'd probably equate that to some sort of food."
Kirana chuckled brightly, "Does kinda sound like it," She said, rubbing her hands together.
"Probably'd taste better cooked...but who knows?" He quipped as he bent to his bootlaces and set to undoing them, "It might be the big hit at the next gather."
Kirana chuckled, "Maybe," She said, stretching out her back as Verde chippered, waking up on the desk and ruffling out her wings before alighting over to Kirana's shoulder. "Thanks for all your help," She said again.
"It's not a pro-" A yawn interrupted whatever he was saying and he covered his mouth before shooting her a sheepish grin. "Not a problem. Sorry, it's been a long day."
"That's all right. I should probably go and find a place to stay," Kirana said, yawning herself. "I'm getting kinda tired, too."
"Can you find your way out?" He asked, but then quickly shook his head, "No no, wait, you'll find another set of stairs and I can't have you breaking something...like yourself." He smiled, "I can show you where the rooms in the lower cavern are."
Kirana smiled, "If it's not too much trouble... I don't have the greatest sense of direction. I've lived in the Hall all my life, and I still get turned around."
"I get lost here sometimes too, if I go too low." He looped his half-undone laces around and tucked them into his boots before he snatched a glowlantern. "Here, you carry this."
Kirana smiled, taking the lantern and holding it up. Verde cooed, batting at the lantern, fluttering her wings as she grumbled, curling down on her shoulder.
He pushed himself off the bed with a groan and led the way across the weyr, "You've checked in with whomever you're supposed to check in with, right? Or...someone other than me knows you're here." He waved a hand, "Obviously though, you came a'dragonback"
Kirana nodded, "Aye, not without protest, but it was the quickest way to get here."
He nodded, more to himself. He was afraid he'd assumed too much, and more afraid he'd missed a caravan. The always had interesting things to sell and talk about. "I can't imagine traveling the long way anymore."
Kirana chuckled, "It's not all that fun. Especially whenever there's fall, and we're not near a Hold. Having to run and find a cave and hope that the wagons don't get totaled."
The thought of being unprotected during threadfall made him shudder. "You get dragon patrols flaming over you, don't you? They should be...we always try to keep a watch on caravans coming through." He smiled over his shoulder as the took the twists and turns of the hall, "I was usually sent out on watch. If threadfalls and we protect them a lot of riders know they can get really good deals on whatever they're carrying." He turned back around with a shrug, "I'm not for that, so much, but I can NOT imagine being caught out like that. That'd be...horrible."
"It is..." Kirana said, sighing. "And yes, there are usually patrols over top of us, but it's still always a worry that something will get through."
"Blech...though I suppose the life has its perks." Another stairwell came before them, and he took them slowly in case he needed to catch her. "But hey, I'm biased."
Kirana chuckled, "Of course you are," She said, clinging to the wall with her free hand as she slowly walked down the stairs. "Ugh, I hate not having a center of gravity... No balance, whatsoever."
"Might want to work on that incase you ever get searched." T'bell mumbled, "Had a weyrling fall off during my training, lost his dragon...I can't remember where he is now."
Kirana frowned softly, "that's...horrible," She said, carefully taking the next step.
"I think he was a bit over confident..." He was frowning too, it was horrible losing any sort of dragon, and the keening that resulted scared so many of the weyrlings. "He didn't check his riding straps...wasn't listening." It was the first time he himself had ever heard it up close and it chilled him to the core. It did have the effect of humbling them though, and they all made sure to check and double check their straps. "We lost three in my training I think. One went between...and I can't remember how we lost the third..."
Kirana nodded and frowned, "I don't know why anyone would be neglectful of something that would keep themselves and someone they're connected to so closely out of danger."
"I don't think it was neglectful really...we- er, dragonriders, that is, can never neglect their dragons." He turned a corner and had to double-check where he was, making him pause for a moment, "It was a first flight, and everyone was excited, even the dragons, so I think it was an honest mistake. He was just boasting about how high his brown could fly and never heard. You're always going to get accidents though. Going between is a risk every time, and then there's thread too...it's a great experience being a dragonrider, the best part of my life, but there are lots of risks too...I never realized that when I was a kid...But hey, there were also the times when someone would get pushed into the lake." He chuckled, "I think it was a running gag my year. The dragons were all in on it."
Kirana laughed, "I certainly hope everyone knew how to swim."
"We had one or two cases, but they were fished out quickly enough." He smiled, "It was all just good fun." He rounded a corner to a hall with many dark rooms, "There you go, when you came in and registered they should have marked you off a room, so your name should be stuck in front of a door..."
Kirana grinned, "Thanks. I owe you tons,"
"Not a problem." He smiled, "Maybe I'll see you around here, it's nice to talk to someone who isn't a dragonrider once in a while." He rose his hand in a farewell and turned on his heel, "Keep the lantern, and you're welcome back if you can find your way."
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Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2005 11:41 am
Impression Part 01
Wake up. Liliaths' bright blue siwlring eyes were the only thing that showed in the darkness of the weyr. You silly thing, wake up or they'll leave.
"Leave?" T'bell grumbled and pushed thecovered from his head, squinting at the swirling eyes of his dragon. "Who's leaving?"
Your flitts will. An egg is shaking. Liliath's tone was laced with amusement at her riders' sleepy state.
"An egg?" A rustling sound beside his bed made him wake up with a jolt, the concept of the hatching finally forming in his mind. "The egg!"
He quickly threw the blue furrs off himself and scrambled out of the bed, nearly toppling over. He caught himself on the mantle of his fireplace and fumbled with the glowbasket for some light. It nearly dropped to the floor several times before the pale green glow lit enough for him to see by. Indeed, the grey egg was twitching, knocking against the side of its' brass bowl. It would hatch soon, there was no question.
"Food. I need food. Oh no..." He scrambled over to the shaft to call down his order, hoping the drudges wouldn't all be asleep at this hour. On his way across the floor his foot met with the side of his chest and he let out a yelp. "Shells!"
Don't hurt yourself... Lilaith regarded him with a bit of worry. I'll keep the little beasts here if you don't have enough food.
"Thanks." He yelled down his order and as soon as he heard the affirmative answer began quickly opening glowbaskets. Darkness was hard to move around in, and sometimes painful, as his toe could testify. He tugged the curtain across his whers' room, mindful that the light could wake them, and hurried back to the egg.
The grey shell was beating out an irregular rhythm on the side of the bowl, and twitching more violently. Small cracks were appearing in the shell and T'bell was horribly greatfu when the rumbling of food being delivered was heard. Quickly getting up, he raced over to the shaft and brought out the bowl of meat. Was this enough? There were two of them...unless the gold was to hatch later. Were they even from the same clutch?
The gold will hatch as well.
"The egg's not moving though." T'bell muttered worriedly as he sat with the meat-filled bowl. "Shouldn't it be?"
It will. Her voice was laced with so much confidence that T'bell relaxed a bit. Remember, greens know these things.
"And you're a very smart green, my love." He mumbled, and smiled at her before the egg took his attention again. A small chunk had fallen off, revealing a swirling eye. Inside he warred with the urdge to help the little thing break through the shell, but he knew that it could do it on its' own, it was supposed to.
"Come on, you're almost through." The little creature squawked and he could hear it rustling arounf inside the shell. Another chunk fell into the bowls' sand and a long neck stretched out. "Hey, aren't you hungry, little flitt?" T'bell cooed encourangingly, while sending warm thoughts of love and comfort. He had to work hard to keep worry out of those feelings, but compared to Liliath's impression, and with the practice he'd had with the whers it wasn't as difficult as it might have been.
The little creature pulled himself from the remanents of the shell and landed with a squeak on the warm rock of the hearth. A blue, he couldn't tell at first because of the low light, and he was such a dark blue too. "Hey, look." A piece of meat landed in front of him and the flitt pecked at it once before gobbling it up with relish and looking for more. T'bell tossed him another, all the while talking and sending warm thoughts. "Here's more, just come a little closer. Anotherpiece, look, you have to take it from me though."
The little flitts' wings were too large for its' body, and it stumbled across the floor with impatient squawkings. Each piece of meat T'bell offered was hurriedly taken, and it wasn't long before the creature was clawings its' way up the greenrider's tan pants looking for more food. T'bell handed him piece after piece until his round blue belly was full and the claws slipped from thier clutching spot around his wrist. Orange eyes dimmed to yellow, then green, then a soft blue that soon disappeared as the little flitt curled up asleep in his lap.
T'bell looked down at it quietly for a few minutes. "Lilaith?"
Yes? the green answered.
"Is it impressed?"
The dragon rumbled an amused chuckle, Yes, it is. Silly thing's all fat and asleep now though.
"Oh." For a moment he had to search for the fimiliar feeling, seperating it from Task, Tabesk, and his own Liliath. He found it though, like a small blue gem, dulled by sleep. With a smile he stroked a finger along the little blue's crest and was rewarded by a light coo. "I think I'll name him...Zephyr."
Why Zephyr?
"My stuffed one is named that." He pointed to the little blue plush firelizard on one of his shelves. "Seems fitting."
My name is better.
"Of course it is." He smiled widely at her a picked up the newly-dubbed Zephyr, cradling him. The flitt was very much like a sack of tubers, and flopped over him in his sleep. The flitts' tail curled around his arm and his leaned back against the bed to await the second hatching.
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Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2005 11:43 am
The Impression Part 02 Quite a length of time passed after the first hatching. Zephyr moved from T'bells' lap to the bed the rider was leaning on, and curled up there instead. T'bell didn't mind much, as he himself was dozing, and only moved to readjust the blue's tail about his neck.
Liliath still had her head wound around the corner and rested it on the floor, closing all but one eyelid. The night dragged on, and Tbell went in and out of sleep, sure that the egg was going to hatch. He was finally forced to awaken when Tabesk, the little wher, wandered out of her room after the meat. T'bell rubbed her nose and steered her away from the half-full bowl. She was growing quite a bit. The dim light bothered her though, T'bell could see she kept her eyes shut.
Her gold nose poked at the blue tail around his neck, and then she looked curiously at the sleeping flitt. With a hand on her nose T'bell stopped the forming growl, sending calm emotions and imaged to her. "He's mine, lovely, you can protect him too."
For a moment she didn't seem to understand, but with repetition the fact dawned on her and she bumped his hand, looking for scratches to her closed eyelids. He complied and sent her back to her room, to which she went without much protest.
Another long moment passed and a quiet 'tink' broke the silence. T'bell opened his eyes and sat up, uncoiling the blue's tail from around his neck.
'tink'
There it was again.
He carefully crawled over to the bowl and watched. A minute passed and then, 'tink'. It had moved. Nothing like the other, much more deliberate in it's attempts.
She's ready, I think. Liliath commented, her eyes shielded by only one lid now.
"C'mon, little thing, you're late." He said softly, pulling the bowl of meat over and laying a piece down beside the bowl.
She's taking her time. Liliath said haughtily.
T'bell ignored her, but couldn't keep the small smile from his features. His heart was beating a bit fast again, Likely the excitement of impressing a gold.
'tink'.......'crack'.
A large section of the egg fell cleanly into the sand and a pale gold head snaked out of the opening, looking around before squirming her way out of the shell. T'bell quickly threw a piece of meat in front of her.
She sniffed it experimentally and daintily picked it up before tossing her head back and devouring it in a chomp. The next few pieces went th same way, and she eagerly ambled towards him, he wings making her ungainly despite her asttempts to remain regal.
Quite clumsy, and not nearly as pretty as me. The green snorted.
"Of course not, love, just a miniature." He smiled at the little firelizard and offered her a piece from his hand. Instead of the meat she latched onto a finger and, at T'bells' yelp, gave him a hiss. He didn't yank his hand back, just waited until she let go.
"No no, the meat, here." He held it by its tips and she paused for a moment before taking it. "See? That's better, and not attached to me." He held out another piece carefully, ignoring the sting of the wound. Instead of taking it the little gold scrambled into the bowl and began eating directly from it.
"Wait, no, that's not proper." He carefully wrapped his hands around her middle, and gently lifted her into his lap, earning a n**. "Here, from me, see?" She knew it was from the bowl, and attempted to get back there a few times before she determined the meat coming to her was far more convenient and calmed down to be fed.
By the time the bowl was finished T'bell had noticed the extra presence in his mind that was the little gold. She was round and sleepy on his lap, and gazing about with contentedly whirling eyes. With gentle hands he lifted her up, and relocated her beside the barely awake Zephyr on the bed. Within moments he too was asleep.
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Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2005 1:31 pm
T'bell Dear Mother,
I hope you're doing well, the last letter you sent me made it seem as though you were bored. I know how you get when you have little to do, and it makes me worried. That's why, to begin the letter, I'm going to offer you a possible apprentice to take under your wing. Her name's Kirana, she's already an apparentice and all, and a very nice girl. She's done favours for her brother, which means she remains an apprentice even though she's older than I am. You may recognize her name, but I'd love if you'd think on it. She really is a nice girl.
Now that the business is done, at least until I think of more, I'd like to give you some good news. Good is an understatement though, so 'wonderful' might fit better.
Firstly, I aquired two watchwhers a few days ago. They're a beautiful pair. I meant ot watch the impression, but the male of my pair wandered over to me. I was carrying him upstairs when I was accosted by another. She did not knock me over like my lovely Liliath did though. The male has the most beautiful blue eyes and very pale skin. I suspect we got the cast-offs from the donating Weyrs and Holds, but he seems very healthy. I'm assuming he's a brown, due to his current size and the creamy tint to his skin. The female is a gold, I believe, and more rowdy than her 'brother'. I've fashioned them some masks to keep their eyes safe and they seem to be quite docile. I've begun their trianing already, and I plan to continue it. I do hope the apprentices are treating the old watchwher the hall has with respect. I'd hate to have to scare them into it. They really are honourable and beautiful creatures. I've even heard that they can fly, but only at night.
The second bit of good news is that I've managed to aquire two flitt eggs. You can't believe how estatic I was when my name came up in the draw they held. I was never expecting to recieve one, really, and it was all purely luck. He's hatched now, into a beautiful blue whom I've named Zephyr. Yes, it does sound familiar doesn't it? That old stuffed toy...
Anyway, imagine my surprise when i recieve another egg! This one was a gold...a gorgeous little gold flitt. She's hatched as well, and I've named her Flute. I'm not sure why yet, but I know that flutes have been a very important part of my life and she seems to be able to carry a tune. She certainly is vocal.
I believe I may have been sent the golden egg by someone imparticular. I've not determined who yet, but can you give my regards to J'kins' mother? I will be coming home for a trip soon, when things calm down, and I will give you my regards when I arrive. I think you'd very much love her. Zephyr has become my second head, but Flute has attached herself to Liliath, who started out just a bit jealous but has quickly warmed up to the small menagerie I seem to have obtained.
I hope you are well, and that the klah and bubblies are still as good as when I left. Keep yourself busy mother. I am sending along some flutes for you to sell, if they pass your inspection that is.
Your only son, T'bell
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Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2005 2:24 pm
T'bell Now that there's finally been time to rest, with everything that's been going on, I can finally put down in words my thoughts from the past few days.
Turns end snuck up on my this year. I didn't even realize until I heard the kitchen drudges clamouring over it the very day of. Needless to say, I was surprised. I suppose I've just been caught up in the Weyr business and the recent surge of impressions that have befallen me that it just...slipped my mind.
I was able to attend the festivities in part. I stood on the sidelines mostly, watching everyone and playing some flute music with the other harpers. It was a nice gathering. There was quite a bit of inebriation, but I myself didn't imbibe too much. Liliath refused to allow me, not that I would anyway. It's much more amusing to watch some of the other riders' actions then to be drunk oneself...in my opinion anyway.
The rider of that brown Liliath has been eyeing (more than the other browns she's been eyeing) seemed to come out of his shell a little bit. It was nice to watch everyone happy though, and if those who are typically shy can open up a bit, well...I have more hope for the Weyr in general.
I'm making some new friends around here with the additions of people send by their halls and whatnot. I met a fellow harper the othe day by the name of Lemurrin, and Kirana's become a good friend in my opinion. Not a close friend, I don't have many of those other than my dear Liliath, but a good friend nonetheless. Maybe I should...widen my social horizons? I'm not exactly shy, I just prefer to watch sometimes. I'll make the attempt, I've decided...
It's about time to feed my firelizards. They're growing as much as Liliath did in her first few days. Zephyr's tail is still a bit too long fr his body, but it doedsn't hamper him much and he may yet grow into it. It just means I have to unwrap a bit more of it from around my neck when he perches on my shoulder.
The whers don't need a second meal today, I think. They haven't woken up, and didn't finish all of their first meal. I must write a mining hold and discover some more information about their upbringing.
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Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2005 12:00 pm
T'bell Today brought replies from both the mining hold I wrote, and my mother. Needless to say, since my mother included much on whers from the records in the Harper Hall, I am up to my knees in information to be sorted through over the next few days.
I'm glad she seems to be doing well. She said that in a few weeks she wouldn't mind an aprentice, and to request a letter from her. I'll have to search out Kirana some time soon to see how she feels about the offer. I've also learned, not through admission, but through basic evidence, that the gold egg was specifically gifted to me from J'kins parents. It may take me a while to write up a thank-you note, as I've gotten the impression that they would choose to remain anonymous in this gift, but I do feel there's a need for thanks.
Speaking of the little ones, they've begun to display thier personalities. Zephyr, the blue, has grown into what some may call an extra head. He's forever on me, somewhere, and will not travel far away. He has yet to even go between! Because I've been so busy he's not met any other flitts aside from Flute. And the courage that he faces her with! Really, I've never seen a blue so brave to stand up to a queen, firelizard or dragon. He raises quite a ruckus whenever she tries to push him off my shoulder or infringes on his space with me. I'm not quite sure she knows what to do with herself.
Flute, unlike my little blue, has become quite independant, likely due to the little blue. She's forever off exploring -where, I'm not sure- and returns at meal times and regular intervals, sending me images that are becoming clearer and clearer by the day. She's affectionate, there's no mistake, and when she can manage to squeeze in some room with Zephyr she gets as much attention as he does. She's becoming quite adept at timing her arrivals when he's asleep. Likely as a side effect from the lack of my constant attention, she's allied herself with Liliath. I have a fear of what this will amount to in the future. Privately though, I harbour the idea that Flute assumes she'll one day grow to the size of the green. As of now Liliath is quite amused with the little charge she has.
As for the whers, I've decided to take them outside of my weyr more often, starting tonight I think. They can have a romp on the rim and learn whatever it is whers learn while I attempt to make some sort of connection with them, as explained in the records I have. Apparently they're thought to see heat, not sunlight as I assumed. I'll have to practice with them. The discoveries that they can go between as well as fly are quite shocking to me. There were always stories, but nothing so concrete as the records. If they're written though, it must have been observed. I'll probably seek out the adive of a wher handler once they're large enough to have some sort of attention span.
I should try to learn and teach them some sort of language. In the mines they have specific sounds for things like 'bad air' and 'soft rock', and the whers of each Hall and Hold are able to contact dragons...though I'm not sure I've ever thought about it enough to wonder how they got their message across.
As always, challennges to face and busy myself with. It's nice to be working again, and the weyr's even starting to lose the medicinal smell from all the illnesses. I'll make the trip up to the rim tonight, to practise, let the whers out as I said, and see if any Turnover Ghosts are in the sky.
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Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2005 5:48 pm
T'bell and Kirana Due to the recieving of an answering letter from his mother, T'bell was up and about looking for the apprentice harper Kirana. Along for the ride, it seemed, was a deep blue flitt perched on his shoulder with his tail curled around his neck, looking very much like a scarf. T'bell had some news to deliver to the girl who'd spent a night copying out records in his room, but if he could only find her.
He padded down the stone steps and looked into the kitchen. Seeing no one resembling the brunette he was searching for he made the motion to turn back to the hall. A small coo from his shoulder stopped him and he looked sideways at the blue residing there before slipping in a nicking a few meatrolls. One he passed to the flitt, who held the large object between his claws and began gnawing on it, and another he stuffed in his mouth. A high-pitched trill from above made him hold up the third and, just as quickly as she had come, Flute disappeared with her 'prey'.
Now, back to finding the girl.
~~~
Kirana frowned at the small dark haired girl beside her, "I know where the kitchen is... That was where I was headed..."
Njaria snorted, "Well, sorry. I didn't know. Now, come on. You gonna just stand there, or are you going to move those feet and go where you were going?"
Just as the younger girl finished her sentance a gold flitt appeared from between right above the pair of girls, and let out a squeek of surprise at the hall being occupied before flicking out again. Within another second she had appeared behind them once more, more dignified, and looked at them curiously. Oh look! Flitts...and a blue one, but not that brat Zephyr...with a glance downward to make sure the half of the meatroll that was left was still firmly in her grasp she glided a bit lower.
Verde, the green flitt on Kirana's shoulder, turned her head at the unfamiliar squeek and narrowed her eyes at the queen. She fluttered her wings angrily and creeled at Flute. Kirana yelped at the sudden reaction from her flitt and glanced up, noticing the presence of the queen. The new addition, a small blue flitt Azure, cocked his head at the gold as well before fluttering up, pointedly ignoring Verde's outburst as he twirled around Flute, cooing.
Njaria turned, laughing softly, "Well, there. That'un must belong to someone. Not often you see golds wild, 'specially not in a Weyr."
Kirana blinked slightly, "T'bell had a gold egg the last time I saw him," She said, and yelped as Verde alighted off of her shoulder, winking huffly between. "Little annoying sack of hide and fat..."
Flute ignored the screeching. First another gold, now a green? She was hardly one to be screeched at. However, this blue seemed to know how to treat a lady properly. She tilted her head at him and responded with a trill.
T'bell?
She looked back to the girl who'd mentioned his name and blinked. Yes, she knew him. He was looking for something...she dashed off quickly, a gold blur.
~~~
"Don't get crumbs on my shoulder, Zeph." T'bell murmured, reaching up to stroke the flitts' wing as it wrestled with the meatroll. He was making headway with it, at least. T'bell padded up another set of steps and paused when he got an image of Kirana and another girl he hadn't met. Zephyr's screech at Flute suddenly landing on his opposite shoulder resulted in a wince, and he petted both to calm the possible impending fight.
"Did you find her?"
Another picture in response confrimed it, and with a haughty look at Zephyr she alighted once more, flying gracefully back up the stairs the way he'd come. With a resigned smile T'bell turned and followed her.
~~~
Azure cooed, glad to be rid of Verde for once as he circled back down and landed on back on Kirana's shoulder. He nuzzled Kirana's cheek before tucking his wings across his back.
Njaria blinked a few times at Kirana before huffing, "Are you coming or not?!"
Kirana glared at Njaria, "Hush, wherrychick. You're never going to make friends with that attitude."
"I hear a familiar voice." T'bell called through the hall, with a tint of amusement. "Who're you calling wherrychick? Starting to sound like Liliath."
Flute flicked back in above Kirana's head and peered at the blue once again before completeing a fancy arial maneuver that involved getting what was left of the meatroll to her mouth. Aside from looking slighty odd, she believed it was done with grace, as she gulped the remains down.
Azure creeled a welcome to Flute as Kirana laughed, "Just a weyrbrat."
"I'm a candidate, I'll have you know!" Njaria huffed sharply. "And a Bakerscraft apprentice."
"You're still a wherrychick," Kirana huffed. "A rude wherrychick, at that."
T'bell rounded the corner and smiled triumphantly. "I see you've met Flute." He nodded to the gold. "And who would you be?" Green eyes landed on the other girl, "A weyrbrat and apprentice baker would have a name, hm?"
Flute, having swallowed the meatroll, trilled her response before flying over to land on T'bells shoulder. Hisses were exchanged between Zephyr and her, but they soon quieted down.
"Njaria, daughter of Brownrider E'ros and Bakercraft Journeywoman Njaima," She said, crossing her arms over her chest. "And I resent the implication that I am rude. I may be a little hotheaded and forceful, but I am NOT rude."
Kirana arched an eyebrow, "Whatever you say..." She said before turning and grinning at T'bell. "Looks like you've got two new passengers," She said, giggling as Azure cooed. "Oh, and this is my new shoulder ornament, Azure."
"Hotheaded and forceful can sometimes come off that way." He said with a smile. "You know how important sweetening is to baking, right? Harpers learn it's just as important in speaking." He gave her a wink, "Greenrider T'bell, retired harper journyman." He turned his smile to Kirana. "Yeah, the blue is Zephyr, and the little gold," He rubbed a finger over her eyeridges when she bent her head to him, ignoring Zephyr's hiss, "is Flute." He nodded to the blue perched on her shoulder. "So Verde has a new friend then? How do they get along?"
"Like a Feline and a wherry nest," Kirana said, laughing softly.
"That badly?" He gave her a half smile, "Mine aren't the best of friends either. They'll probably grow out of it, I think."
Kirana giggled to herself, "Verde is a big baby, and I don't think she'll ever like sharing me with anyone, even Azure. He's a sweetheart when he isn't hungry and trying to eat my boob."
T'bell covered up his snort with a cough, ducking his head to hide his smile. "So...uh...oh, right! I wrote that letter to my mother."
The apprentice harper grinned, noticing his amusement at her statement despite his attempt to cover it up, "Oh? What did she say?" She asked.
Njaria leaned against the wall, frowning softly. She was starting to get really bored with watching these two.
"That within a few weeks she'd like a letter from you and she'll take you based on that." The rider announced with a winning smile, "Just the basic stuff: your experience, where you've been assigned, a bit about the work with your brother, things about you."
Kirana grinned brightly, "I'll be sure to write it as soon as I can. And that is, after I feed Azure," she said, stroking the blue flit's head. "Care to walk down there with me?" She asked as she noticed Njaria huffing and storming off. "Impatient child, isn't she?"
"Just a bit." He said quietly, an small smile on his lips, "She might have to calm down a bit if she's a candidate..." Louder he said, "I'd love to join you, the klah is calling me. I swear I can smell it up here."
Kirana grinned and giggled at T'bell, "I'll race you," She said, taking off towards the kitchens. Azure cooed happily, curling against Kirana's neck.
"Race me?!" He ducked his head against Flute and she took off between while he raced after the girl. The blue flitt gave a mild squeek of surprise at the sudden motion and curled tighter around his neck.
Kirana laughed brightly and made a face at T'bell as she turned a corner up the hallway, "Haha, you can't catch me!"
Debating whether or not to actually use his speed and beat her, he eventually decided against it. Nevertheless he matched her pace close enough that if she should take her trademark trip down the stairs he could catch her before she broke something important, like her neck.
Dashing towards the kitchens, Kirana had forgotten about the stairwell, and stepped way too wide and with a yipe, down she went. Azure creeled, digging his claws into Kirana's shoulder and flapping his wings, trying to keep his bond upright.
Ah, just as he had expected. With reflexes honed from fighting thread he reached out and snatched her arm, skidding to a stop in the hallway and grabbing the wall with his other hand. For a moment he wasn't sure if he wouldn't go toppling over the edge instead, but he held his grip. "Woah, careful!" Zephyr's resulting shriek and clawed grip brought out a wince in him too.
Kirana steadied herself quickly, planting her feet on the stair before sighing in relief, "Oh, shards, thank you, T'bell..." She said, gripping the wall as Azure relaxed.
"You really have got to keep an eye out for those things." He chanced releasing her and ran a hand over Zephyr to calm him. "They're everywhere."
You'd best not fall! You woke me up! Came Liliath's snort. Are you Ok?
'I'm fine.' He thought back soothingly, and felt the greens' alarm ease a little.
Kirana sighed, "I'm sorry... I'm just a klutz. Always have been," She said, gently dislodging Azure's claws from her shoulder, wincing at the red spots on her dress. "Little bugger, you went all the way through the shoulderpad.." She said before looking at Azure and nuzzling his cheek. "But it's ok. You were just trying to help me."
"A trip down to the healer barraks is in order, I'd think." T'bell quipped and winced at the red spots. "How bad?"
"I don't think they're deep," Kirana said. "I did have a shoulderpad on."
"Hm...if you say so." He offered his arm, "Shall we take the trip at a slower pace?"
Kirana grinned and nodded, taking the offered arm, "Certainly, sir," She said, grinning at T'bell before yawning. "Meh, I woke up too early this morning."
"Didn't we all?" He laughed and led them down the stairs. "Watch duty is never a fun thing."
"Ugh..." Kirana said, yawning again and laughing. "I woke up to Azure and Verde trying to rip each other apart..."
He made a face at that, "Yeesh, Zeph and Flute only hiss and screech at each other. The whers though, at night, want to play. All. the. time." He'd gotten very little sleep lately because of it. Usually he tried to rememdy it with lots of klah and a few naps.
Kirana giggled softly, "Awww... That's cute," She said, chuckling. "Though, it's probably not cute when you're trying to sleep."
"No...nor is waking up with two flitts trying to take up the most territory they can...on your face." He shook his head ruefully, "The whers are usually watched by Liliath, but if I'm doig morning watch I'm thinking about taking them up to the rim with me for the night and just staying up until my shift in the morning is done."
Kirana grinned brightly, "You've got a varitable zoo, ya know," She said, giggling softly.
"I do, I do." He shook his head ruefully, "It's Ok though, I'm making a bit of headway in training them, so I'll be the best trained zoo-keeper in Pern..."
The apprentice harper grinned brightly, "I'm sure there couldn't be any better," She said, yawning again and crossing her eyes.
"You are tired." He laughed quietly and steered them into the kitchen. "Klah will perk you up. I have a ride in an hour or so." He wrinkled his nose. "Herdbeasts, felines, try and get a pelt or two."
Kirana grinned and nodded, "Klah good," She mumbled softly.
"Go sit down and I'll make you some." He steered her towards the table and absently noted Flute up in the rafters. "They might want a snack too." He nodded to the flitts.
Kirana nodded, remembering her original reason for heading to the kitchens, "Aye... Azure hasn't eatten anything I know of since this morning..." She said, settling herself down at one of the tables.
On his way to the pot of klah over the hearth T'bell slid the bowl of meatrolls down the table for the girl to pick and choose from. "Don't mind Flute, she'll pick her share and eat off where she won't be disturbed. Picky like that."
Kirana nodded, "I don't mind," She said as Azure dipped down and snatched a meatroll out of the bowl for himself, gnawing on it happily.
True to T'bells' word, Flute was soon perched on the edge of the bowl, picking out her meal with a dainty beak. Once she had gathered three she began rolling them to a corner of the table to eat undisturbed.
T'bell returned with a mug of klah for her and himself and sat down. With a good amount of effort he was able to uncurl Zephyr from his neck, and he placed the blue on the table, putting a few meatrolls in front of him. "Clingy thing..."
Kirana laughed softly, "It's all right. Azure's the same way, most times. He panicks if I leave him in the room alone," She said, grinning as Azure fluttered back over and landed on her shoulder, curling his tail about her neck as he gnawed on the meatroll he'd snatched out of the bowl.
"He's gone between already though, right?" T'bell asked with a tilted head before he sipped his klah.
Kirana nodded, "He has," She said, "but he still tends to panick when I'm not right there whenever he wakes up... He's like an insecure little child," She said, petting the little blue's muzzle.
T'bell chuckled softly and rested his head on his hand. "Zeph hasn't gone between...not at all. It's kind of odd I think." The blue flitt peered up from the meatroll he was gnawing on and let out a curious chirp, maybe reacting to his name, or just the mild worry T'bell was leaking. With a small smile he wiggled his fingers at the meat roll and Zephyr turned back to it.
"So..." He gave her a sheepish smile, "Going to see about that position in the Hall? I told you she'd say yes, you know...well, she hasn't yet, but she probably will." a short laugh followed his brief spurt of babbling. "We've certainly gained a few harpers in here, hm? With you and Lemurrin, and me being a former journeyman...I believe one of the candidates is one as well."
Kirana nodded, "I wouldn't doubt it," She said, grinning. "And yup. I'll write her the letter as soon as I get the time. Still double checking the records. There's a lot more in the records room to go over, but everything I've gone through is the same as what I have," She said, grinning as she snatched another meatroll for Azure.
"Did my best." He shrugged and took another sip of his klah. "Lemurrin...how long has he been here? I didn't notice him until just a bit ago...no, wait, he said something about the last impression." He bit his lip and thought for a moment, "Not too long then...did I even see the last impression?" He tugged his braid, furrowing his brow and trying to remember. There was so much going on at that time...it'd been the last time the old weyrwomans' queen would clutch. Of course, no one had known that then.
Kirana smiled at T'bell, "How long ago was the last hatching?" She asked, sipping her klah. "I mean....it had to be before the...outbreak, right?"
"No, about a turn ago..." A short frown clouded his features. "Not very many bronzes, if I remember. Serana hadn't fallen ill yet."
"That...isn't a good thing for the upcoming flight, is it? I don't know much about dragon...anatomy, but...more competition means a longer flight and a longer flight means a better clutch, right?" Kirana asked, furrowing her brow.
"Mhm, that's it." He tapped his fingers on the table in a simple rhythm. "But there are plenty of other bronzes around, older than that. More experienced too...a bronze from the last clutch probably wouldn't fly Ephia's queen...usually they need a bit of experience before they can catch a gold."
Kirana nodded, "Aye..." She said, running her finger over the lip of her mug. "How many bronzes do you think will be ready to chase when the time comes?"
"Four or five, at the least." He nodded confidently, "Whether they'll catch her..." He gave a small shrug and a slight smile, "Some bronzes might fly in from other Weyrs. Could be more..."
Kirana grinned and nodded, "Well, that sounds like decent enough competition," she said, gnawing on a meatroll herself.
"As long as we don't get some upstart." A snort followed that comment, "I think Ephia could keep him in control, but still...I'd prefer somene experienced, especially being in the top wing, myself." He gave a small imperceptible shudder at the thought of what could happen with a badly organized wing. There were too many chances for injury.
Kirana nodded, "I understand that," She said, sipping her klah.
"Liliath would love a new bronze in the Weyr, but..." He shrugged and laughed sheepishly, "Dragon trouble, nothing you'd have to worry about, not unless you're up there."
Kirana nodded again, "Aye. I probably wouldn't completely understand."
"Wouldn't expect you to." He made another slight shrug, his tone not at all acusatory and took a bite of his own meatroll. "I wonder how many dragons will be here to watch though." He frowned again, then became lost in thought.
Kirana nodded again as she sipped on her klah and studied T'bell's face.
You worry too much. Liliath sent with a touch of amusement.It may be a very handsome rider to go with the handsome dragon I'll choose.
'Liliath, really...' He sighed and finished off the meat roll. He didn't want to think about that now, not when he had more things to do today that those thoughts would get in the way of.
Kirana grinned softly, "A mark and a half for your thoughts," She said, cocking her head to the side.
"Hm?" He blinked and looked up, the dazed look dragonriders often get quickly disappearing. "Just wondering how the flight will play out, I suppose..." He improvised. It was true, that was part of what was on his mind.
Kirana nodded, leaving it at that. T'bell was glad she wasn't one to pry.
He ducked his head to hide the blush that formed on his cheeks as aresidual effect of some of the thoughts plaguing him and took a sip of his klah. Zephyr finished his meatrolls and crawled up his impresseds' arm and back onto his shoulder perch, cooing softly.
Kirana chuckled to herself, "So, what are you up to today?" She asked.
"Hm? Oh!" He waved a hand, "A flight in a bit, and then taking my whers out tonight, I think."
Kirana nodded, "Sounds like a day," She said, sipping her klah some more. "I'm going through the records again. And hope I don't sneeze my head off."
"Definately." He smiled over the rim of his cup. "Sorry, I've gotten myself distracted. I can't be the best conversationalist right now."
Kirana grinned, "No worries, T'bell. I'm not the best conversationalist normally," She said.
"Yes, but how often do you hold more than one conversation?" He shook his head, "My mind is a mess right now, that's all. I've gotten so many new impressions and I think I've yet ot organize them...figure them out, you know?"
Except for me.
"Yes, except for Liliath, who's bright green and the strongest of them all...but even so..."
Kirana nodded, "It's quite all right, T'bell. Just stare into space for awhile if need be. I'm not going anywhere," She said, grinning.
"Oh, if only it were so easy." He tugged his braid and tilted his head into Zephyr, who was nosing his cheek, "I get headaches just thinking about it. Keep wondering if I'll forget where I am in the whole mass of...everything."
Kirana set her mug down, reaching out and settling a hand on T'bell's arm, "You just need to time to sort everything out, get used to the extra presenses," She said, smiling. "And besides, if you do zone, you'll have Liliath to get you back on track."
He let out a snort and nodded, "Yeah, she never lets me get off track."
I watch over you....You need it. Like a wherry in a nest of felines.
"I'm not a wherry, Liliath." He mumbled by reflex and took a sip from his klah. "Ugh, I should be going now...I suppose the holders will have a fit if they don't see the typical dragon over thier lands. There hasn't been more felines than usual when I'm set for the flyovers, but they insist they're there."
Kirana grinned, "I understand, T'bell," She said, standing and giggling. "And I have my own work to do. We should be be good little Weyr members and do our duties."
"Yes...yes we should." He wrinkled his nose and made a face but finished his klah and stood anyway. "Nice to talk to you again. You know where I am if you ever need to search me out, hm?"
Kirana grinned, "I do," She said, chuckling. "and you know where I'll be...in the records room," She said, laughing softly.
"Let me know if my times are off, if it's not too much trouble?" With a coo, Flute flapped down from the rafters and alighted on her impressed's unoccupied shoulder. A moment of hissings occured and T'bell rolled his eyes good-naturedly. "See you around."
Kirana grinned, "No problem. See you," She said, moving towards the hallway and down towards where the recordroom was as Azure clung to her shoulder and turned, cooing a farwell to Flute and Zephyr.
The gold and blue stopped their hisings long enough to reply to Azure's farewell and T'bell padded along to his weyr, set to do the rest of his days work.
Liliath regarded him as he pulled on his wherhide jacket to ward off the cold of between. You look like a wherry in that jacket.
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Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2005 12:54 pm
T'bell and Lemurrin - Part 01 T'bell sat atop the cliffs of the weyr, laying on his back and looking up at the stars as his watchwhers scuttled about in the open night air. Liliath lounged against the far wall of the rim, looking down into the bowl with a lazy expression and serving to keep the wherlings from toppling over the wall in their excitement. A blue firelizard curled on the greenrider's stomach, altering between snoozing and nosing around the folds of his shirt.
They're very active. They should be asleep. Liliath regarded the baby watchwhers with amused annoyance.
"They're nocturnal love." T'bell answered, opening an eye, "They stay awake at night."
Hmph. It's a time to sleep. She laid her head back down and looked down at the herdbeasts wandering in their pen. She'd fed recently, but maybe she'd find a goo one for next time.
A brown flit appeared over the cliffs, looked around, then winked back /between/. A few minutes later, a smaller green firelizard appeared and disappeared as well. Zephyr looked up as the first flitt appeared and chirped. When the second one flicked in and out he stood and chirped again, eyes twirling a bit in their curiousity.
The rider lifted his head from its rest on his arms and looked down at the firelizard, who was still looking up into the sky curiously. "See a ghost?" He asked, drawing a finger over his neck. He got an image of two flitts in the sky and smiled, "Oh, we're being visited, hm?" Zephyr turned his eyes to him and tried to crawl up to drape around his neck in his custom spot but he was stalled as T'bell laid back down. "You should go exploring like Flute. You might get to play with them."
He closed his eyes and tried to make a connection with one of his whers. Ah, Task...he could sense him on the fringes of his conscious, and tried to pull that feeling closer to see if he could see the way they did, attempting things he'd heard of from his perusing of the harper halls' records.
Task and his sister Tabesk were rolling about in typical watchwher wrestling, Tabesk easily outdoing her brother, when they both paused in their antics and seperated. Their glowing eyes turned to the stairs leading down and into the weyr and they both let out a quiet hiss.
Tabesk began a slow walk forward, waiting for the person she smelled to register in her heat-sensitive eyes. The edge of the stairs obscured the figure for a moment, but then it was bright red in her vision and she crouched by the top of the stairs with a hiss.
Task had circled back to pace in front of T'bell protectively, sending an agitated mood through they're link.
"What is it?" T'bell sat up again, carefully holding Zephyr to prevent him from tumbling off. The flitt made a squwark sound and crawled up to his shoulder, looking to where Tabesk overlooked the stairs.
Someone is coming up the stairs. Liliath rose her head, They're more protective outside the weyr.
"Tabesk, come back here." T'bell called as he laid a soothing hand on the pale wher's head and watched the queen carefully. "Tabesk..."
Come back, watchwher. Liliath spoke with a grumble when the growing queen faltered. At Liliath's urging Tabesk gave one final hiss and backed up from the ledge, slowly joining her impressed.
Lemurrin's sharp ears heard the hissing, followed by the noise of a brief scuffle and T'bell's voice. A brief image of two small watchwhers intruded into his mind. "T'bell?" he called out. "T'bell, it's just me, Lemurrin!" He tentatively made his way up the last bit of the cliff and bowed in Liliath's direction, watching the whers carefully out of the corner of his eye.
"Lemurrin?" He pushed Tasks' intruding head out of his line of vision and smiled, waving the hand that wasn't holding Zephyr in greeting. "Sorry about them. They'll want to sniff you and everything, but they're really no danger. She," He nodded to Tabesk, "is just a bit more wary outside of the weyr."
He is a friend. Liliath told the pair, and made a small nod of her head before turning it back out over the heights. Do not eat him, or I will eat you.
The whers both looked at Liliath with wide eyes, backing away from the green dragon.
"She's not going to eat you." T'bell muttered. "Go one, go investigate." To Lemurrin he gestured to come over, "What brings you here?"
Lemurrin joined T'bell, still a bit wary. However, he trusted Liliath and T'bell to keep a hold on the whers. He held out his hands to be sniffed. "My firelizards, if you can believe that! I was in my quarters doing a bit of writing when Brownie here," he jerked his head to right, "and Grenna," to the left, "kept flitting in an out, projecting your face. The little devils guided me up here, so... Here I am!" He spread his arms in an expressive shrug, amused at the flits' audacity and ingenuity.
"Zephyr thought he noticed them." He smiled down at the blue, then blinked at the colour of his eyes. "What are you uneasy about? He's friendly." He lifted the little flitt from his neck and the blue nearly attempted to crawl into his shirt. "Woah, woah...shells, little thing!" He looked up apologetically to Lemurrin, who was being quite thuroughly sniffed over by the whers. "He hasn't met anyone, I think. None but Flute, wherever she's gone to." He sat the flitt calmly in his lap and stroked his eyeridges until his eyes turned blue once again. "Hasn't even gone between yet. Odd little thing. He'll calm down though. Come sit?" He patted the ground beside him in an invitation.
Task, having inspected Lemurrin as much as he possibly could (also making a short attempt to chew on his boot) nosed the harper's hand and ran his tongue over it. Apparently he accepted, because he headbutted the gold and raced off. Tabesk quickly squawked and followed.
Grenna chirped in a friendly manner and cocked her little head to side. She glided off Lemurrin's shoulder to hover near Zephyr. Brownie maintained his perch, large eyes whirling slowly with encouragement. Lemurrin chuckled at the firelizards and took a seat, giving Task a quick scritch as he dashed away. "I see you've made some headway in their training!" he remarked, wiping a bit of slobber off his boot, and grinning. Brownie hopped down to Lemurrin's knee so as not to be jostled.
"A bit." He nodded, "I can't hold the whole sight thing with them for long, but they're still young."
Zephyr looked up curiously at the green and chirrupped a greeting, folding and unfolding his wings. He peered over at Brownie too, noticing that they were, in fact, the same size as him! If maybe a different colour. Why, Grenna looked just like a small Liliath.
"What have you been up to?" T'bell asked with a tilt of his head, "I'm not sure I saw you at the Turns' End party. I didn't have much time to stay down, but I did manage to catch K'rel in a slightly outgoing manner."
His brown is quite handsome. Liliath quipped without moving. Yes, that herdbeast would do, as long as no other dragon ate it by the time of her next feeding. Now to pick for the feeding after that.
Grenna flitted her own wings as she landed daintily on a nearby rock. From his spot on Lemurrin's knee Brownie craned his neck around to look up at Liliath and made a movement remarkably close to a bow. Liliath opened one of her eyelids in response to the little brown before closing it so that two were covering her eyes.
"K'rel? Outgoing?" Lemurrin blinked, then added, "Must have had quite a bit of that wine! It was pretty potent stuff, and I only had one glass." He shrugged. "I ran into an old aquaintance from up North, I hadn't even known she had Impressed!"
Zephyr slowly crawled off of T'bell's lap and over to the green, sniffing at her curiously. Grenna stood still, allowing the blue to inspect her. She was remarkably calm for a green-- at least for the moment. Brownie chirped a bit as if commenting on the conversation, the other flits, and the situation at large. After his inspection was complete Zephyr took a few steps away and flapped his blue wings, rising into the air with a curious look behind him to see if he was to be followed before he flitted off around the rooftop.
"It was a sight...not as outgoing as some," He said ruefully, remembering the many drunk, "But still more than usual. Which puts him at sociable level. I barely knew his name until a few days ago. Liliath likes his brown." He nodded towards his dragon. "Who was the girl you met? Does she ride a blue?" He knew there were a few female blue riders about, "Or maybe Moths' rider?"
"She's a bluerider, Kalya is her name. She is, or was, I should say, a healer. Worked under Oldive, so I used to see her around the Hall" He nodded absently. "She had a bit much to drink, so I helped her back to her weyr. It was good to see a familiar face." Lemurrin grinned in Liliath's general direction. "She fancies Siventh?"
"I think her name sounds familiar." T'bell nodded in agreement, bringing to mind the picture of her dragon. He smiled at his next comment and lowered his voice conspiratorily, "Liliath likes several browns, three blues, and all of the bronzes."
Save for one who is no smarter than an upside down wherry.
"Except for one, and she won't tell me which." He gave a shrug and looked over the the wrestling whers for a moment. "So what's it like being a harper? I sometimes forget." A quiet laugh as he gestured to Liliath with a fond look, "With being a dragonrider and all."
"Well, I haven't been very harperly lately, to be honest. I didn't even take a turn at the celebration the other night." He brushed his hair out of his eyes, as usual. "What with the confusion surrounding the Weyrwoman and so many being sick..." He trailed off. "It was obvious a journeyman harper from up North wasn't really anyone's top priority!"
"You're right." He shook his head ruefully and watched Zephyr race off in front of the other flitts. "I used to get the feeling I'd be stoned if I pulled out an instrument." He smiled and leaned back on his hands, looking up, "That's changing now, bit by bitt. Things are getting calmer."
Both Brownie and Grenna took off after Zephyr, chittering at each other. Zephyr let out a squeak of surprise and dipped and dived over the rooftop before circling back. He would never stray far from T'bell...height was no problem if he was above him, but going too far out was beyond him.
"Things are changing. People are cheerful again, or at least more cheerful than before. The Gather helped, even if some were no doubt drowning their sollows with wine. It was good to see people out and about. Even K'rel, apparently!" Lemurrin's grin could almost be heard in his voice. He slipped down and sat with his back propped against the rock. "It's a nice spot you've got here, T'bell."
Brownie followed the blue back towards T'bell, but Grenna flitted away, showing off her independence. She chirped and landed daringly close to her large green cousin. Liliath opened an eyelid again, then another, regarding the little green flitt with the full brilliance of her eye. Was I that small? Do I look like that?
"No, you weren't, and yes you do, but much bigger." He smiled apologetically at Lemurrin and nodded to his dragon by way of explanation. "I like it up here, Liliath too. It's nice to watch the ghosts out...there've been a few this Turnover, have you seen them? There are supposed to be more next week, my mother tells me." T'bell watched as Zephyr flitted around in the air, learning some of the maneuvers Brownie was exibiting and showing some of his own. "It's a nice spot...lots of room for the whers, and a beautiful view." He smiled and tugged his braid, a habit, "If you come up here in the mornings or at night -I'm on watch a lot- then you can see the ocean off that way just above the trees. It blends into the sky sometimes..." He pointed off east of where they sat.
Grenna stared up at the dragon, chirping and squeaking. Lemurrin giggled at the display and leaned his head back so he was looking straight up at the sky. "I've not been out much at night lately. I should make it a habit.. come out and watch the stars.." He sighed softly, turning his head to smile at the greenrider.
Liliath closed her eyelids and turned her head away after her cursory examination. She was much prettier than the little flitt, and much more elegant. Of course, this was her opinion, but then again she was always right.
"You should come out more." T'bell returned his smile, "It's relaxing, I think. Probably kept me from turning into a deadglow over the past while." He looked up again, echoing Lemurrin's sigh. "My spot in the hall, my room before I moved to the journeymen quarters, had a wide window I used to hang out of and terrify my mother. My sisters would tell on me." He laughed quietly at the memory, "I eventually confessed to her that I wanted to see the stars, and so she used to let me go up by the watchwher to see them. I'd come back and write songs..." He ducked his head with a blush, "Not good songs, but songs nonetheless."
Lemurrin grinned at the admission. He could easily imagine a young T'bell hanging out a window and terrifying his mother. "My sister and I used to conspire together. I always was closer to her than to our older brothers." He made a face. "I can only imagine what mischief she'd get into here in the Weyr!"
"I was never close to my sisters unless I was playing drudge." He grumbled to himself and looked back up at the sky, "They're envious now though, since I've got a gorgeous dragon and all they have are husbands and...children." He wrinkled his nose, thinking of his sister in the smithcraft, who had two little ones. "Always my mother, especially after they left."
"They do have every reason to be envious, though. Liliath is particularly lovely, and more suited to you than any wife could be--" with slight emphasis on 'wife.' Lemurrin continued, "My brothers were always too busy with Hold and Craft matters. As the third son, I certainly don't expect to inherit, and Jess even less so. That's why I was allowed to go off to the Hall for training." He nodded slightly and stretched.
T'bell gave a light laugh, "Yes, I think Liliath is far better than any wife. I may verywell be the first to marry a dragon."
As long as I take my pick of the males.
Another laugh and he shook his head, "It would be a weyr relationship. She'd galavant off with anything not gold or green, and I'd play the part of the hold-raised girl, believing that she was my true love."
Bronze, preferably. The green looked up and held her head proudly before shifting her postition and stretching a wing over the ledge.
"Well, the hall has its benefits, I suppose. Harpers have the best jobs on Pern, I think, if one of the more difficult." He tilted his head, remembering all the things drilled into him when he was an apprentice and journyman. Some things never left you.
"You? Passing as a holder girl?" Lemurrin snorted in disbelief. "I may not know you very well, greenrider, but I doubt that role would suit you at all!" He sat up and grinned at the rider, cracking his back in the process. "Ow." He twisted again, producing more loud pops. "Much better. And I do love the Hall, but really I think there's potential for me to learn so much here."
"Oh I don't know...mother said I looked good more likely to marry off than my sisters when they dressed me up in thier gather clothes." He blushed again and snapped his mouth shut, "I was young though, and I had little choice." With a shrug he too sat up, uncrossing and recrossing his booted feet. "There is a lot to learn here, whether you're a dragonrider or not. Even coming from a hall...I'm not sure about a Hold, since I've only ever been to them in passing, but I can imagine it's a sudden change."
Lemurrin raised one dark, slim brow at T'bell's blush and sudden reticence. He eyed the rider critically. "I'm sure you looked just delightful," he grinned, only half-joking. "I was in my family's hold until I had about eleven Turns, but my father was originally a herdsman and a tanner, so I grew up learning the elements of those trades as well. I like to think of myself as fairly well-rounded, and being here only furthers that. Especially as I stood on the Stands but failed to Impress." Even a Turn later, the disappointment was there, lurking. He shook his head and shrugged. "I suppose it just wasn't my time, then."
The blush on his cheeks was fierce and he was greatful for the darkness to hide it, but dipped his head and pulled up his knees, wrapping his arms around them. "I learned a bunch coming here...know enough how to skin a feline, but not much more besides that. Maybe the next time we watch one I'll send down a flitt." He pulled absently on the strings stiching the sides of his pants and gave him a sympathetic look in response to his failure to impress. "There'll be another clutch soon, with Airath waiting to rise like I believe she is...you'll get your chance then. Liliath likes you, I believe, and greens and blues are best for that." He rubbed his neck, remembering his searching with both joy and sadness for later events. "You'd make a good rider, I think."
"I don't know if I'd trust a flit for skinning lessons; it is awfully complicated." Somewhere in the distance, Brownie squawked indignantly. "Although they're obviously quite intelligent," Lemurrin amended. He watched the rider's twitching fingers, his own drumming a soft tattoo against the cool stone they sat upon. "It was a green that Searched me. Her rider died... recently." His sigh made clear the cause of the rider's death. "I'm glad Liliath likes me; I certainly wouldn't want any dragon to take an active dislike towards me!" Lemurrin grinned cheekily, his green eyes glinting in the starlight.
T'bell blinked at him, then tried valiently to cover his laughter at the image that gave. "No no no, I meant send a flitt over to you. You could help me with the skinning." He took a glance at Zephyr, fluttering about above him, and snorted, "Maybe twenty or more, but with just one it'd have to be a really small feline. Or a trundlebug..." His smile faded a little bit and he tilted his head, making his braid fall back over his shoulder. "The rider who searched me died too..." After a moments pause he smiled again, "No, earning the bad opinion of a dragon isn't the best thing."
Lemurrin laughed at his own misinterpretation. "They do a good job with simple images," he winked, referring to the sendings that had led him up the cliff, "but I'd be perfectly willing to help with anything you caught. It's a messy, but useful, skill." The harper grimaced. "And even a fair of fire lizards could do quite a bit of damage, not to mention what an irate dragon could do!"
"They're vicious, the felines are." He shook his head, "We've gotten jumped at a couple times, I've even heard of them attacking dragons if they're sleeping." He frowned at that thought and glanced at Liliath again.
They also taste very good.
With a small laugh he nodded his head, "And apparently they taste good."
Lemurrin nodded. "I've heard that as well. Felines are probably the only creatures on Pern that would dare attack a dragon! Runnerbeasts and herdbeasts are usually terrified of them." He thought for a moment before adding, "I'd think they'd be awfully gamy, since they're wild. Gorgeous pelts, though."
"Oh definately." He made a face and waved a hand, "Taste a lot like fish, really salty and blech. The pelts though...I should find a nice one to keep. I usually sell them..."
"I bet they fetch quite a few marks though, especially if you sell them up north. They'd be lovely sleeping furs: soft and warm." He grinned at T'bell's expression. "That bad? But if the dragons like the taste at least the innards aren't wasted!"
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Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2005 1:16 pm
T'bell and Lemurrin - Part 02 "Depends on the markings usually. I'm fancying a nice silver one for myself...maybe darker markings...doesn't matter for the size. Something to hang on the wall and break up the rock, think. And yes, they are that bad. I suppose some might like them though..." He gave a little nod to himself and looked over. "I don't have any tapestries or anything. Most older riders do, but I got here at an odd time for it, and of the caravans that haven't completely passed us over, I haven't found anything I like."
Lemurrin grinned wryly. "My quarters are ridiculously bare. Just a bed, some writing skins, ink, things like that. A few changes of clothing, my guitar. Even if I did spot something from a caravan, I don't have any marks!" He shrugged. "I suppose at this point my only real possessions are the two flits."
T'bell nodded, "Yeah, a few knickknacks here and there from the shop by the kitchen, but nothing really...mine. Not much that I didn't bring with me or was already here." He gave a small shrug and rested his chin on his knees, looking at him rather than up to the sky. "How's your training with them coming?"
Lemurrin assumed a similar pose, his arms wrapped around his legs. "Pretty well, I think. They clearly look to me, and they'll usually listen unless severely spooked. And they communicate well, sending me images, even working together to send clearer ones. Brownie's are clearer than Grenna's, not surprisingly, but she does provide a boost." His hair had fallen into his face again, obscuring his eyes.
With an understanding nod he gestured upwards, likely where Zeph was. "He's quite attached to me right now, won't get too far. He can send images too, but they're not very clear. My little queen's a bit independant. She looks to Liliath more than myself, I think." He smiled ruefully.
"Your little queen is darling, I've seen her flitting about the Weyr. No doubt she thinks herself queen of the whole place!" He grinned and winked.
"I think she does." a small smile played on his lips, "I haven't had much time to go down to the kitchen lately, or even wander around, so I haven't seen her behaviour. I hope she's doing well." He shook his head a bit, "I can hardly force her to stay about, but she doesreturn for food and attention when Zephyr is asleep."
"As long as it doesn't get to the point where she gets jealous of Liliath, all's well!" The harper finally got annoyed with the lock of hair in his face and flicked it away.
"She looks up to her...Liliath set her place with them from the start though...that and she's much bigger." He smirked and lowered his voice, leaning a bit closer, "I think Flute's just waiting to 'grow up' to her size before she starts exerting her power."
Lemurrin giggled and leaned forward conspiratorially. "I bet you're right!" He waggled his eyebrows with amusement. "And in one swoop... She'll take over the Weyr!" He suppressed a snort of laughter at the thought of one tiny firelizard taking on a whole Weyr of fighting dragons.
T'bell leaned in too, lowering his voice even more for the 'harper' effect. "Yes, and when she reaches the size of great Ramoth, because she will, she will be unstoppable!" He waved a hand, "The worl will quail at the sight of her large magnificence, and the lowly green that she once bowed down to will be no more!"
Very nice story. Liliath snorted, But she will never be larger than me. Flitts don't have the memory to plot, love.
Lemurrin snorted, unknowingly imitating the green. "Of course, of course! And she'll have a bronze consort the size of Mnementh!" He spread his arms and flicked his fingers to indicate the size.
I want a consort the size of Mnementh. Liliath muttered.
T'bell nearly collapsed in a fit of laughter. Between the mental images he was coming up with and Lemurrin was graciously adding to, and his dragons running commentary he had done quite well keeping the straight face.
Lemurrin couldn't help but laugh as well, although he obviously hadn't heard Liliath's comment. "What did she say? It must have been great!" He reached out to support T'bell should he lose his balance completely.
"Aah, she...she wants a Mnemeth-sized consort." He snorted and shook his head, trying to get himself under control, "A bronze that big just might rival her in attitude!"
"Oh, I don't know, T'bell, she might need a couple of bronzes and a brown or two to keep up with her!" In the starlight, the harper's bright eyes danced, his smile revealing a seldom-seen dimple at one corner of his mouth. "You alright there? Don't hurt yourself!"
"Fine!" He managed to gasp, and leaned on the other harper while he gulped down breaths, still struck by occasions of laughter. "I swear it...fine...just...a moment..."
Wherry.
Of course, that started another little fit. Lemurrin thumped the rider on the back, letting him lean against him. The harper grinned and patted T'bell more gently, waiting for his breathing to regulate.
His chuckles subsided bit by bit until he could breath without causing a fit of giggles, and he leaned on the other harper with the fatigue brought on by a good laugh. "Liliath, you're one day going to be my death."
Not if I can help it. The dragon muttered lazily through their link, who would oil my hide?
T'bell snorted again but couldn't manage to summon up another giggle fit.
"What in the world is she saying to you, green-rider?" Lemurrin asked, his eyebrows cocked questioningly. He patted T'bell's shoulder again.
"Just...ugh, she teases me." He shook his head and waved a hand against Lemurrins' curiousity, "I'm not going to tell you, because then it could get around, and I don't need to be called her nicknames by everyone." He chuckled. "She has an attitude."
Lemurrin winced. "Ah, nicknames. Those that bestow them upon us tend to mean well, but... They can certainly be embarrassing!" His nose wrinkled in amusement and he blew a strand of hair out of his eyes. "I won't pry!" he grinned. The journeyman had certainly noticed the green's attitude, and could only imagine the things she might call her weyrmate.
"And I thank you for that, Harper." He stuck out his tongue at him, "I'm only a green rider, you can call me by name, Lemurrin."
'Only a greenrider'?
"Ok, not only, but still, no greenrider worth his dragon forces people to look up to them like the golds and bronzes do because greens are more humble and friendly and the best colour of the dragons." He looked over his shoulder and noted the appeased look of his weyrmate with a rueful smirk.
"Alright then, T'bell," he replied, cheekily emphasizing the rider's name. He followed T'bell's line of sight and grinned, figuring the green had taken offense to something. Lemurrin shrugged. "I have to admit, the bronze and gold riders are certainly intimidating! Even if they don't mean to be."
"They don't, not all the time." He stuck out his tongue at the harper for being cheeky. "Not all of them, anyway. Some of them flaunt it, especially around us green riders, but others are better about it." He laughed and pulled up his knees again. "Most realize that the greens above them keep their hides thread-free."
Lemurrin imitated T'bell's face, sticking out his tongue right back at him. "There's really no point in flaunting rank like that. I may not be a rider, but I've been around enough to know that each color has its strengths and weaknesses." He shifted his weight, his bones audibly creaking as he resumed his former chin-on-knees position.
"Well," T'bell sighed and shrugged, "Bigger dragons sometimes mean bigger attitudes." He tilted his head at Liliath, "Not in the dragons, greens have that covered I think, but in the riders."
"Queens, too, I'd say," Lemurrin added, shrugging. "Not to say that such attitudes are only found in the Weyrs! Holders and crafters do the same. Human nature, I suppose," he mused. Lemurrin bit his lip before continuing, "Your green may have an attitude, but you don't, T'bell. For all your talents, you're remarkably humble. Honestly, you're how riders should be..." He blushed.
The greenrider blinked, then turned his head away to look for more ghosts in the skies, hiding his face and the blush that spread acorss his cheeks at the praise, "I'm not a model rider. I was raised a harper, that's probably why...I think dragons balance their impresseds' attitudes out...keep them grounded, you know? Maybe Liliath's teasing because I'm too strung up." He gave a light shrug and tapped the toe of his boot on the ground, "Could be the riders who most resemble thier dragons are balanced perfectly."
"But the way you two interact is so interesting! Harmony and melody, point and counterpoint... The pairing is so much better than the individuals would be. Isn't that the purpose? the reason that dragons and riders choose each other? They say the dragon always knows..." Lemurrin trailed off and looked up at the sky as well.
"Oh, I'm not doubting that." He looked at him, almost in shock that he may sound as if he didn't appreciate his dragon. "Impression is...final, certain, positive, the only thing you can be absolutely sure of, ever." He shook his head, "No, Liliath is my dragon, and I am her rider, all because we fit each other the way we're supposed to." With a small sigh he looked down, "I just meant that...well, she wouldn't need to tease if I weren't so..."
So much like a wherry. Liliath supplied, Don't know what you're doing, don't know much because you don't think about it. Think about the wrong things too much. You need to be a dragon, no worries, no problems, my rider. You need to calm down.
'I am calm.' T'bell thought back plaintively. Outloud he continued, "So...focused on other things, I suppose." He shrugged and tilted his head down, bangs over his face, "Some dragons and their riders are so similar it's hard to tell one from the other, aside from the typical impression bonding, others have contradicory but complimentory personalities...Siventh and...K'rel was it?" He questioned Liliath without looking up, and got a quiet rumble in approval. "K'rel is very much alone, but Siventh, from Liliath's opinion, is much more outgoing. They balance."
Lemurrin shrugged. "I still think the two of you balance well. I mean, obviously you do, since you're weyrmates! What does she think you focus on too much? If you don't mind me asking, that is."
"Stuff." He gave a sheepish smile and shrugge a shoulder, still looking at the ground. "I admit we match perfectly. She just...well, dragons don't have long memories and humans do."
Lemurrin nodded, although he didn't really understand. "I won't pry then. I'd heard that about dragons though, the memory thing, that is." A chill breeze blew across the cliffs, making the harper hug his knees for warmth.
"Mhm, generally short...and I remember things." He shrugged again, "I think it's too much for her head."
Liliath snorted and opened an eyelid. Not really.
He grinned upon hearing the dragon's derisive snort. "That right there. That's the wonderful connection I mean." He waggled his eyebrows at the greenrider.
T'bell laughed and sat back with a sigh. "Yeah yeah, I know...I just don't want to listen al the time."
Lemurrin nodded, relieved that T'bell seemed a bit less distraught. He reached out mentally, calling for his flits. Brownie popped out of between right away, curling up next to the harper. He chirped as if to say, 'See? I came..." A few moments later, Grenna winged over, her mental tone a bit guilty. Lemurrin scratched their little heads, smiling. "Silly little beasts." He winked at T'bell.
"Oh, they are." He smiled at his blue, who had snuck quietly into his lap, "Flute's off somewhere...I suppose she's making trouble."
"No doubt they'll regale me with stories of whatever they were up to earlier!" Grenna's eyes whirled turquoise as she stretched herself along Lemurrin's shoulders. The brown looked up sleepily, content with his spot at the harper's hip.
"Likely, and you'll have to tell them all that happened while they were gone." He smiled and humoured Zephyr, who neede a bit of help crawling up to his shoulders.
"I should make up stories of my own! I doubt they'd be impressed with, 'Well, I sat around talking to T'bell.' Although it's certainly been fun!" A light snore escaped from the green fire lizard, eliciting a stifled giggle from Lemurrin.
T'bell echoed his laughter. "Tell them how you almost got eaten by a whatchwher...?" He glanced over at the pair, who were stalking something invisible. "You're a harper, you can make it interesting."
"That's true, I did almost get eaten!" He shook a fist, mock-menacingly, in the general direction of the whers. The flits didn't even twitch.
Nor did the whers look up. "She's protective." T'bell said with a proud smile at his two beasts. "But yes, you'll have to brighten up the talking bit."
"Little ingrates!" he muttered, amused. Again, not even a twitch. "Ah well, I'll make something up." He grinned.
"Yes, we...hm.." He tilted his head onto Zephyr, who burrowed into his hair. "We were talking and...all of a sudden...hm..." With furrowed brows he looked up at the sky, "A barrage of ghosts? I've certainly seen a few. Not many though."
"Although that would be very neat, would a fire lizard appreciate it?" Lemurrin bit his lip, thinking.
"Hm...likely not." He smiled, "Well, as a harper, you should first know your audience...so what do your flitts enjoy?"
"Um...well...food! And causing trouble...feeding off emotions, things like that." Lemurrin shrugged. "Normal fire lizard things."
"So involve food and emotions." He nodded with a smile. "Well, you do have food...sort of, since Tabesk was willing to eat you."
Lemurrin winced. "True. But fortunately, I didn't end up with any chunks taken out of me! For which I am quite grateful." He laughed, rubbing his face.
"No, she wouldn't have attacked...I think." He gave a small frown, but brightened up. "Well, fear! And uncertainty and...anything else?"
kimie kitty chan: "Well, relief, once you called her off... And I've had a good time sitting and talking to you, even if a flit wouldn't find it very exciting."
Reena Bat: "We must make this flitt-worthy then, I suppse." He helped Zephyr, who as of yet, had not been able to untangle himself from the black curls he had gotten stuck in. "Silly thing."
Lemurrin leaned forward to help disengage the flit's claws, careful not to disturb the green wrapped around his own neck. "Flit-worthy?" he asked, raising one dark brow.
"Mhm." T'bell held still while he did the work and Zeph chirped a thankyou to the odd man once he was free, but hunkered down away from him nonetheless. "Thank you. He does that often."
Lemurrin smiled at the little blue. "You should be more careful, Zephyr," he remarked, holding out a hand to be sniffed. "It was no trouble, I'm sure it would happen to me if my hair were curly."
"You haven't seen it in the morning, or out of the braid, for that matter." He laid a hand on Zeph, who back so far away he began to slide down his shoulder. "Ssh, lil thing, he's not so bad."
"'Not so bad'? Hey now!" Lemurrin protested, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "And I bet it gets pretty crazy if you don't brush it." His hand went up to touch his own, very much non-curly, hair.
"Alright, maybe ok." T'bell chuckled and allowed Zephyr to scoot back up on his shoulder. "Brush it? I can't even get one through it most of the time."
He looks very funny. Liliath actually bespoke Lemurrin, a hint of amusement in her voice before her presence was gone.
Lemurrin blinked, not sure if what he thought had happened had actually happened. "I...did Liliath...? 'You look very funny'?" he stuttered, still managing to imitate Liliath's inflection.
T'bell paused for a moment, working though his words. "What?"
I did nothing, there is no proof. Liliath sent T'bell with a hint of amusement at the non-rider's reaction.
"Oh." T'bell gave a half smile, it figures his dragon would bespeak another to confirm how much of a fool he was. "Yes, likely. And I do, of course, but I would now like to deny it."
Lemurrin waved one hand. "Then I will banish the thought from my mind!" he announced. "No one has ever said that you look funny in the morning." He grinned and winked conspiratorially at Liliath, rather enjoying that unprecedented confidence.
"Hmph." was T'bells' response, though he hid a smile. "Even my dragon is against me."
"Aww, I'm not against you! Just surprised that Liliath would actually speak to me directly!"
"Only to make fun of me." T'bell cocked his head to the side. "She will drop me again the next time we fly."
That's only happened once, and you were silly. The message, at least, was laced with an apologetic feeling.
"It was only some harmless teasing. I wouldn't make fun of you, T'bell. Honest!" Lemurrin nodded, his eyes wide to prove his innocence.
"Oh, you would, if you had the stories she does." He laughed and waved a hand, "I do myself, I only wish I could pass them on to someone else."
"I'd only tease you a little, and only because I like you. Certainly not to hurt you," he smiled. "Besides, it's a good thing you haven't met my little sister. She'd tell you all sorts of things!"
"I have sisters of my own, so I can sympathize. There are many stories mine would tell you, that Liliath doesn't know." He smiled and shook his head, "I don't remember half of them. But I can be confident that every embarassing moment has been catalogued by someone in my life. I never seem to mess up on my own..."
Lemurrin chuckled. "Although I could tell a story about my sister for every one she'd taunt me with! And it always seems that someone's around whenever I do something stupid as well," he whispered.
"I have a constant witness, not that I'm complaining at all." He smiled sympathetically, "Since I'm sure you'll impress soon, I bet, you'll have a constant witness as well."
"You really think so? I have to admit, not Impressing last time was a bit of a blow." He shrugged, resuming a more neutral expression. "At least a draconic witness wouldn't judge me!"
"They do to!" He blurted, then chuckled, "Oh, do they ever. But you're right, it's never done badly..." He reached over and patted his leg, "It's not a big thing, there's always another Impression. You'll know that no other dragon will have been better."
Lemurrin grimaced. "Well, that's what I meant. Wouldn't judge negatively." He leaned over and placed his hand over T'bell's. "Thanks for the reassurance."
He gave him an encouraging smile, "If Liliath spoke to you then you must be dragon material, or at least a bit closer. She doesn't speak to many, even to make fun of me."
"I suppose that's something, at least!" Lemurrin smiled back, greatly relieved that T'bell hadn't pulled his hand away.
"Oh, it is..." He rolled his eyes, "She makes fun of me quite a bit, but only rarely does she let someone else hear it. She doesn't even like speaking to other dragonriders."
Their dragons are much more interesting.
"Apparently she is more drawn to their dragon companions."
Lemurrin grinned. "I'd gathered that! Especially the browns and bronzes, I assume?"
"Yes, a few blues 'if they're acceptable', in her words." T'bell looked down as Zeph began to crawl along the arm that had his hand under Lemurrins'. The blue flitt, once he neared the ground, flapped down to the stone and crawled under T'bells' legs to nest on his opposite side. T'bell raised an eyebrow and kept his hand where it was, looking over his shoulder down where Zeph had curled, by his hip. "Silly thing."
"They certainly grow on you, don't they," he remarked, glancing fondly down at Brownie by his side. With his free hand he patted Greenie softly. "I wonder what her criteria are!" he mused.
"I still think Zeph is odd, compared to all the other flitts I see. I don't mind him for it, but he's quite different." He looked at the blue quizzically.
"Odd? How so?" Lemurrin followed the rider's gaze and cocked his head at the little blue flit.
"Well, the whole between thing, that he won't go...or hasn't yet, and how he's so attached, all the time, and...I'm not sure. Flute seems normal, I think." He smiled fondly at the blue, who had attempted to curl his long tail around his impresseds' waist, failed, and therefore looped it around his thigh. "I adore him despite it."
"I think it's sweet how attached he is. Sort of disproves all those theories about how firelizards don't really Impress, but just follow people around for food! His aversion to between is strange, I suppose, but I bet he'll do it when he's ready." Lemurrin started to pat the blue, then pulled back, not wanting to frighten him again. "I must say it's a bit disconcerting to have two flits suddenly appear, chittering and squawking!"
Zephyr opened a blue eye and scooted closer to T'bell when the hand came near him, but calmed when Lemurrin thought better."They fight, him and Flute, over my shoulder space." He laughed ruefully. "If she appears they shriek and hiss at each other for a moment or so."
Lemurrin sniffed wryly. "A yes, mine do that. Grenna, especially, makes a fuss if she doesn't get her way!" The flit in question twitched the very tip of her tail, ticking Lemurrin's jaw. "Yes, you!" He tugged gently on her tail.
T'bell laughed quietly and leaned around to get a look at her. "A miniature Liliath."
Grenna opened one eye slowly to look at T'bell then sank back into sleep again. Lemurrin grinned. "She wishes, I'm sure! Brownie is much more calm and remarkably responsible." He scratched the brown's eye-ridges.
"I'm sure he would be a lovely dragon if he were that big." He smiled at the brown.
Brownie chirred happily, sensing a compliment. "He's quite friendly, really." The brown nodded, his eyes glowing a soft blue-green.
"And a fine specimen of the species." He smiled at the brown again and leaned back with a sigh. "So many flitts around now, can't wait until they're trained..."
"I try to keep mine out of trouble, at least when they're around the Weyr. They mostly behave, save for the odd theft of meat scraps!" Brownie squeaked, trying to radiate innocence.
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Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2005 1:20 pm
T'bell and Lemurrin - Part 03 "I think the Weyr, as a whole, will have to grow accustomed to the constant pilfering." He smirked, "Otherwise the flitts'll find another way to get what they like. They're sneaky lil things."
Lemurrin chuckled. "They are little sneaks! Kalya's flit steals anything shiny... and sometimes they're valuable! I'm just glad mine only snitch food." Brownie nodded and nibbled gently at Lemurrin's pants leg.
"Flute seems to only have stolen food so far. She keeps things in my pillowcase. I haven't found anything but flowers and rocks from outside..." He looked down at Zephyr, "He has yet to steal a thing, except my attention."
"That's probably a good thing, at least you won't have the headwoman beating down the door to your weyr!"
"No, but maybe the highest ranking kitchen lady." He chuckled and ran a finger from his free hand down Zephyr's back, earning a coo.
"Although that could be almost as fearsome! From what I've seen, most of those cooks are incredibly accurate with a ladle or wooden spoon." Lemurrin winced at the thought.
"Oh yes." He nodded emphatically, "I believe Imirin, the trader who has a room by there, has felt the flat end of a spoon quite a few times."
"Ouch, the poor fellow! When my brothers were young, there was always at least one of the hold's cooks looking for them." He grinned, "Even if it hadn't actually been them that had been in the kitchen!"
T'bells' laugh sounded like he had experienced the very same thing. "By the time I'd left the Harper Hall I was infamous in the kitchen. Just getting within a dragonlength of it would have me chased off."
"Never said it was me!" Lemurrin winked, radiating innocence. "Although," he leaned forward and whispered conspiratorially, "someone who looks remarkably like me may have been seen several lengths away from the scene of the crime!"
"Stuffing bubblies into his mouth before he could be found, no less." He laughed again, "Not that I ever did that. No..." An innocent look plastered all over his face, "But they do make them especially fresh just after lunch so they can eat them themselves."
Lemurrin snickered, "That they do! I kept a low profile at the Hall though. I figured there were enough other apprentices and whatnot sneaking into the kitchens that the drudges would be watching for them! With you around, especially," he teased, squeezing T'bell's knee lightly.
T'bell squeaked and batted at his hand. Apparently the other harper had found a ticklish spot. "I didn't go in all the time!"
"Uh-huh, sure you didn't!" Lemurrin took advantage of his newfound knowledge and deliberately tickled his knee. "Oh, are you ticklish?" he asked innocently.
"No!" He squeaked again, then squirmed about, causing Zephyr to squawk and flutter off a small distance to watch. "I'm not, quit it!" His requests were somewhat drowned by laughter.
"Are you sure? You seem to be!" Lemurrin kept tickling for a few minutes before having mercy. "I couldn't resist! And," he added, "you're awfully cute when you squeak like that." Brownie scooted away from the commotion. Grenna, who had still been on the harper's shoulders, squawked in protest and joined Brownie a little bit away.
T'bell was left gasping for air, not for the first time that night, and shot him a pouty reaproachful look. "My mother calls me cute, and that wasn't fair." Nevertheless he laughed again, glancing at Zephyr who had tilted his head in confusion, eyes whirling blue and a bit of orange. He sent him a comforting feeling and worked on catching his breath.
Lemurrin raised a brow, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "I doubt your mother thinks you're cute the way I think you're cute." He blushed, rather surprised he'd actually said that aloud.
"Cute is cute, it doesn't...matter...who...huh?" He blinked at him, not at first catching what he said. "Sorry, I didn't hear you right."
The harper turned bright red all over. "I said you were cute," he mumbled. "And probably not the way your mother thinks you're cute."
"Oh." T'bell hid his sudden and quite bright blush by looking down. "I...uh..." Zeph's startled cooing caused him to look up and he beckoned the little flitt over, thankful for the distraction. "Come here, silly thing. It's ok." Zephyr was likely responding to the feelings T'bell was having at the comment from the other harper.
Something wrong? Liliath asked without opening an eyelid. You are feeling odd.
'I'm fine, Liliath." T'bell assured her mentally, and busied himself with brushing imaginary dust from Zephyr's hide.
Lemurrin sat, trying to keep from fidgeting, waiting for some other reaction. He glanced at Zephyr, suddenly aware that his pair of flits were paying very close attention.
The silence dragged on until there was no doubt not a speck of dust on the little blue sitting atop T'bells' knees. "Thank you for the compliment." By Faranth was it a stupid thing to say, but it was all that he could get out.
"You're.. you're welcome," Lemurrin said lamely. Nervously, he brushed his hair out of his eyes, glancing back and forth from T'bell to the ground.
"So...um..." T'bell made a visible effort to stop his fidgeting and busied himself with examining Zephyr's tail. "have you...been...finding enough around here to keep yourself busy?" The last part came out in a rush, a desperate attempt to change the topic.
"I suppose, now that people are out and about again..." He bit his lip, still blushing fiercely.
"Mhm, much more than before." T'bells bangs were curtaining his face, hiding his own blush. "There might even...be a caravan coming soon."
"Really? That could be fun," he muttered, trying not to give into the urge to brush T'bell's bangs out of his face.
"Maybe, if they stay long. Kirana is supposed to be going back with them." Good, the topic was off of him. Talking about other people was always easier.
"Oh? Doesn't she like the Weyr?" Lemurrin's fingers twitched slightly. Brownie and Grenna flitted over to join them again, each curling up against one hip.
"No, not that...she was only sent here for records. Has to go home, I think." He switched from fiddling with Zephyr's tail to pulling at the string on his pants. "Parents don't like dragonriders."
"I see. That's too bad. I only met her once, but she seemed like a sweet girl." He scratched Grenna's eyeridges absently.
"She is." T'bell nodded, still not looking up. "Very nice.
"I'm sorry, have I upset you?" Lemurrin blurted out. Grenna chirped, demanding continued attention.
"N-no." He shook his head, still hiding his face. "I'm not upset." he mumbled. It was true, he wasn't exactly upset, but the admition of a sort of feeling like that had struck a chord in him that he would rather not think about.
Lemurrin felt as if he'd swallowed some rather large rocks. Leaning over, he gently brushed T'bell's hair out of his face. "Are you sure? You seem upset..."
And there was the huge blush. T'bell leaned back, tilting his head foward and looking the other way. "No, I'm just...just tired is all."
"Ah," he said shortly, taking in the rider's blush, and not really believing his excuse.
"Up all day, did that flight too..." He mumbled, looking past his dragon and over the side of the rim, anything not to have to look at him and go brighter. He knew how red he must be, and that made him blush even worse.
Lemurrin smiled, waiting for T'bell to gather his composure, in the meantime trying to control his own blush.
"I think there's going to be trouble with that hold." T'bell muttered, willing the redness in his cheeks away, "I didn't see any today, not really obvious anyway, but they do have felines."
He nodded. "So are some of the riders going to go hunting?"
"In a bit, I think. I'm not sure. I didn't see anything right out there and glaring, but I could definatly tell there were some around." He waved his hand. "A feeling, you know? I have to fly over again tomorrow."
"I know the feeling, certainly. I could almost always sense when tunnel snakes had gotten into the stable. Nasty things, they like to chew on anything."
"Especially feet." He gave a small smile and looked back down at the flitt in his lap, tucking his bangs behind his ears.
Lemurrin winced. "No doubt!" He smiled tentatively, more than a little relieved that T'bell had calmed down some. Or something >.<
"Odd looking creatures." the greenrider muttered, "I mean, I love animals all the same, but they're vicious."
He nodded, "They are vicious, and major pests! Unfortunately, they're also fairly intelligent and don't particularly like being hunted."
"No, they don't. Not one bit." He frowned, "Whers are used in the mining holds. They can always find them."
"That makes sense. It's good to know the whers are so useful; I'd never really thought about them."
"They're really useful in the mines. In the northern holds to, up around Telgar." He nodded, half to himself. "I've been burying myself in the records from Harper Hall."
"Ohh, some of those old records are really fun. I never minded having to copy old records back in my days as an apprentice."
"Old ones...depending on what they're about." He wrinkled his nose, "Got ink all over my fingers, I swear it would never come off. Most apprentices feel the same, but still..."
Lemurrin chuckled, rubbing his hands together. "True, it did get messy after a while. And some of the really old hides smelled absolutely horrible."
"Dreadful." T'bell agreed with a small nod.
"Worse than mucking out runner-beast stalls!"
"I suppose. I've never had to do it..." He looked up at the sky curiously, noticing it lightening.
"It's... less that pleasant," Lemurrin quipped. He followed T'bell's line of sight.
"I should...get going soon. Before it gets too bright out for the whers." He glanced over at the pair to find Tabesk gnawing on Tasks' tail, and both of them more or less asleep.
Lemurrin blinked, realizing how late.. or early, it had become. "Oh my, I hadn't known we'd been out here so long!"
"Probably just got distracted, is all." He lifted Zephyr carefully onto his shoulder, earning a coo, and pushed himself off the ground with a groan.
Lemurrin stood up slowly, his knees cracking in protest. Grenna and Brownie grumbled sleepily but let the harper pick them up. "Yes, it's been an interesting night!" He scrubbed at his face with one hand.
"Mhm, interesting." He flashed him a quick and selfconscious smile before he padded over to his two whers, stretching as he went. "C'mon you two. Best get to sleep in your own weyr."
He followed along, smiling slightly, the two flits snoring. "Maybe even flit-worthy."
T'bell ducked his head at that comment, but quickly pulled out the whers' masks and tied them over their eyes. "I have a watch to do this morning."
Lemurrin hid a grin and nodded. "I suppose I'll be on my way then, and try to get what little sleep I can before true dawn!"
"Good night then." T'bell called, waving as he nudged the gold off the pale brown.
"Good night!" Lemurrin waved back and made his way towards his quarters, exhausted but happier than he'd been in a long time.
T'bell spent the better part of a half hour returning his whers to their room in his weyr before Liliath fetched him for the watch. At least, he thought as he slipped off his green dragon's back and the sun began to rise, he had his journal and a fresh cup of klah to keep his thoughts in order until his time for a nap came around. Flute appeared from between and he made sure not to disturb the sleeping Zephyr as he stroked her golden hide and leaned against his dragon.
You are upset. You are not thinking... Liliath rumbled with a tinge of worry, stretching her head to keep her whirling eyes out for anything they should report.
"I'll think about it soon. Don't worry lovely, don't worry."
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Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2005 1:30 pm
T'bell I took my journal up to the rim today for my morning watch but never actually wrote a word down. I suppose I was thinking too much. I haven't slept much since last night, though I did manage to squeeze in a nap today after a flight over Rias Holds' territory.
This morning I hunted out Kirana to give her mother's reply. Flute found her, and I'm quite impressed by the little gold. Kirana has a new blue to get along with Verde, her green. They apparently fight as much as my pair.
We had a cup of klah in the kitchen before my ride, and talked a bit. I'm beginning to think Zephyr is a bit odder than I previously thought. He's only ever gone between when he's on Liliath with me...
After my nap when I returned I walked the whers up to the rim, where Liliath met us. They had a time, I can tell you. Wrestling and stalking invisible things, stretching their legs outside the weyr. There was a brief moment when I thought Tabesk was about to attack, but she listened inthe end and let the 'stranger' come up the stairs.
It turned out to be Lemurrin. I believe I've mentioned him before, he's a journyman harper. We had a long conversation about a whole range of topics. Liliath even bespoke him, only to make fun of me of course, but it's a marked event. I believe that he'll be chosen at the next Impression. Liliath has a fine opinion of him, and he really is a good person. It was nice to talk about family, flitts, felines, harper business, everything that came up.
Some other things happened...but I don't exactly feel like going into them right now, not until I work them out in my head.
He gave me some more insight into Zephyr, since his two flitts were the ones who led him to me. He has a recently hatched brown and green, aptly named Brownie and Grenna. Zephyr seemed to get along with them well, and was even flitting about playing with them. Flute didn't make an appearance until a few minutes ago, and she's now looking rather perturbed and perched haughtily on Liliath's forclaws. It's amusing, I think, because the two look as if they're conversing.
Wait, I've been told they have, and that it is a private matter. I shant go farther into it.
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Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2005 1:51 pm
T'bell My day was entirely uneventful. I oiled Liliath twice over after her frolic in the pond, then proceeded to bathe the whers.
It was a fun experience...to say the least. I ended up having a bath as well. Neither wanted to wait their turn, and so both were in the pool. Not to mention it was dark and finding them was a bit of a chore.
Liliath had a good laugh.
Anyway, I've decided that I'm going to pass Tabesk off onto Imirin tonight. He's been complaining about possible thieves and firelizards, and so maybe Tabesk guarding his room for a night will let him get a decent night of sleep and maybe put some good mood back into him.
I need her down there for a bit anyway. I'm going to attempt to form a better connection with Tabesk tonight. if I can form one with him, since he's a brown (I'm assuming, since he's so pale it's hard to tell), then it may be easier to form one with Tabesk.
After the bathing catastophe my day was spent fixing and taking care of my riding straps. As I say here on this fur rug, I remembered a conversation I had with Kirana the other day. She was asking about the workings of a mating flight, and it hit me that, if Liliath should choose to be proddy on the day the Arith flies, then there is a very high chance that I will find myself with a bronze or brown rider disappointed when his dragon wasn't flown.
I'm not looking forward to it in the least.
I suppose I still feel some sort of moral attachment to J'kin, and that's understandable I think. I am, however, not weyr raised and I can't take completely to the idea that relations like that don't matter. It will have been my first time with anyone since his death, and my first time with anyone but him. I...wish I had realized how my feelings were leaning before he had gotten sick. I would have abandoned the Weyr, I think, until the sickness had passed, and he would have been with me. We could have lived anywhere here, in the south. There's food on every tree, it seems, and always a herd nearby, plenty of shelter, and grubs protect the ground. We would still fight thread, of course, but...stayed far away from what came over the Weyr.
I know it's a horrible thing, but I think I really had a deep attachment to him. We'd always been friends...
I'm not sure of his feeling though, and I suppose it's for the better.
I went quiet at that part of the conversation with Kirana. It hit me like a full sack of firestone thrown by a weyrling who doesn't have a clue what he's doing. I suppose I'll have to deal with it when and if it happens. I can't stop Liliath from rising no more than I can stop thread from falling.
It's not her fault, not at all, but that doesn't change the fact that I'm still very worried.
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Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2005 1:54 pm
T'bell and Imirin "You want me to what?!"
"Just for a little bit Imirin, I swear." With a winning smile T'bell bent to the head of the gold watchwher at his side. "She's as nice as ever, easy to handle, and she'll guard your wares." The masked gold made a quiet sound of pride at T'bells' praise and stood up taller, "I only need you to watch her for the night. I'll be back right before my watch in the morning, by Faranths' egg I swear it."
"Well, if it's by Faranth's egg..." Imirin's accented voice mocked him and his nose wrinkled in distrust as he turned his back on the greenrider. "And I get what?"
"A free guard."
"And if it-" He rolled his eyes at T'bells' look, "-she decides she doesn't like me or doesn't want to stay?" He gestured at the wher and crossed his arms.
A small sigh escaped his lips at the trader's attitude. "Liliath won't let her. She listens to Liliath. All whers listen to dragons."
"Our trader wher hated dragons."
"Most whers listen to dragons." The greenrider stood and nudged Tabesk forward. "She hasn't so much as growled, so she likes you."
Tabesk made a small rurrll sound and sniffed in Imirins' direction. The darkskinned trader held out his hand for her with a grumpy expression. "Why don't you give me the brown? He's smaller."
"He's also calmer for me to try with" He waves his hand at Imirin's sudden look, "No no, she's calm as well, but she's more interested in guarding from a distance...like the entrances. Taask comes right to me."
"She a gold though, more intelligent." He made face as Tabesks' tongue trailed over his hand and up around his wrist. "Tastin' me for future reference."
"If I can manage with Task than she'll be no problem." He shrugged and patted Tabesk above the tail. "So, we have a deal?"
"I s'pose, greenrider." He made a show of sighing and sitting down heavily on his stool, much imposed upon.
"Thanks Imirin." T'bell smiled and got a 'shoo' motion from the older man in return. "Tabesk," He knelt down to the golds' side and rubbed her nose. "Stay here and guard Imirins' door, Ok?" After a few moments he got a sense she understood him. Nevertheless he stood and gave Liliath directions to enforce that in the young whers' mind. "See you bright and early. When you shut the glows off yo can take off her mask, Ok?"
"Yeah yeah, get goin'" Imirin grumbled.
T'bell gave him another smile, one the trader ignored in favour of his work, and padded back up the stairs and through the darkened weyr. By the time he got to the dimly lit hall Zephyr has landed on his shoulder nad began to coo his daily business into his impresseds' ear. The curtain hiding his weyr from prying eyes also hid Liliath's eyes from the stairwell, and he smiled at the lazy blue orbs as he entered with Zephyr. "Going well?"
She's guarding. Liliath responded, raising her head so T'bell with scratch her eyeridges. He did, and she rumbled happily in response.
"Do you know where Flute is?" He unwound Zephyr from his neck and slid back the curtain for his bathing room. The blue immediatly creeled his happiness and flapped over to the water, diving in with a small splash.
She is on the rim, playing. The green closed all but her last eyelid and watched her rider as he went about his typical nightly chores of tidying.
"Good, I don't need to many immediate distractions." He smiled at the mild snort that came from his dragon. "You aren't a distraction love, you're an important helper in this." He patted her nose as he passed her and dimmed the glowbaskets until the room was cast in mostly darkness.
I will help when you ask. She curled her tail out of his way and laid her head down on her couch.
"Thank you." He smiled at her and carefully moved to take a seat on his rug, that darkness hampering him somewhat. When he had slipped off his boots and settled himself and took a deep breath. "Task..."
A rustling behind the second curtain greeted him and he could make out the pale shap of the wher as he emerged. He looked around curiously and padded over to the greenrider, making a curious murrl sound. T'bell rubbed the oale browns' nose and removed the mask protecting his eyes. For a moment they remained shut, but Taks slowly opened them, judging that there was no light to burn his vision.
"Tabesk is somewhere else." He sent the wher a picture of Tabesk guarding Imirins' doorway and got a quiet chirp in response. Task lowered his head and bumped him with it, earning a scratch for his eyeridges. "We're just going to practice a few things, Ok?" At Tasks' apparent approval T'bell leaned back against his bed and crossed his legs, letting the wher go where he chose. It took a few moments, but Task finally wandered about. The impression T'bell got was that he was at a minor loss without Tabesk around, but whers were solitary creatures to begin with, so it wouldn't be wholly disconcerting for him. He took a deep breath and relaxed, picking out the small glow that surrounded Tasks' presence in his mind. For a bit he simply concentrated on that glow, getting to know it, learning the feel of the wher in his mind, trying to become as familiar with it as possible.
Small sounds of Zephyr splashing about in the water in his bathing room were blocked out, and he concentrated on the sounds Task was making. He could feel him now. He was full, plesantly so, and confused at Tabesk's absence. It wasn't troubling him though, since he knew where she was, and now he could explore instead of wrestle.
T'bell smiled and tried what one of the Harper Hall scrolls suggested. He opened his eyes and peered at one of the dimmed glowbaskets, then closed them and retained the image the light left on his eyelids. He solidified it and sent the image to Task.
Errul? was the response, after a moment. The same image was sent back to him. Ok, he thought, now we have a connection.
There was a sense of familiarity with that image and T'bell sent Task a mental picture of the fireplace, not the afterimage a fire would leave on the eyelids. Task sent back a yellow and orange picture, hints of red in the oranges. It was clearly a fireplace, but much more like an after-image, and T'bell opened his eyes to see that, indeed, it was a picture of his fireplace with the embers unstocked and simply warming the room. Heartened, he once more closed his eyes and tentatively tried slipping into the link between them. A few noises came from Task, but nothing alarmed.
Suddenly the blackness of his closed eyes was filled with vibrant yellows, reds, and oranges. The glow baskets were all a pale yellow, and there he was -an odd feeling, looking at yourself- as a red and orange mass beside the mix of colours that was the fireplace. Liliath's head was just visible around the corner of the wall, and that was bright red as well, the rest of her body behind the wall thrummed an orangey yellow...he could sense heat through the walls! There was a small red bundle in a sea of orange that was Zephyr in his bathing pool. For a while T'bell was simply content to view everything from his whers' poin of view.
He was knocked out of his viewing when a wet firelizard snaked over his shoulder and around his neck. He opened his eyes to the little blue bundle and sighed, rubbing Zephyrs' wings. Task padded over from under the desk and layed down beside him with a rurr sound, and a happy rumble. He must have been pleased with the results as well, and T'bell could certainly feel him a bit more clearly now that he'd spent some one-on-one time with him.
Are you finished? Liliath asked quietly, an air of not wanting to disturb him hung about her voice.
"Yes, love, though it wasn't a long session. It worked well, I think." He gentlt rubbed Tasks' shoulder and smiled at the pale wher as his eyes swirled a lazy green.
You have been there for long. she opened another eyelid and lifted her head from where she'd been watching him. You will need to get Tabesk soon.
T'bell blinked at his dragons' comment and she sent him a picture of the sky outside. The position of the moon made him groan, he'd been at it longer than he thought. "It didn't seem like forever."
You were distracted. She is doing fine. Imirin sleeps. The green filled him in on the gold whers activities as he extracted himelf from the two bodies surrounding him.
"Wake me up before our watch? I have some time to sleep." He set Zephyr on the bed and quickly stripped down. Suddenly he felt very tired, and he was all too eager ot get into the bed. Once the warmth of the furs covered him he allowed Zephyr to find a nice nesting spot. Flute must have realized he was done, or Liliath summoned her, because she found a spot by the small of his back to get herself settled, and not incur the wrath of the little blue. "Good night Liliath."
Good night. She responded and withdrew her head into her own section of the weyr. I will wake you. It was likely the last part was lost to her rider's sleeping mind.
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