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 Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2007 10:14 pm
"Caleten, you are the only person I have ever given my word to since becoming a rider. And that is quickly approaching two turns. Though I am only sixteen turns, a babe in most people eyes, I do have some experience to go on."
N'tren settled and checked the few straps and buckles that remained. His green eyes had been somber for a moment before they began to dance merrily again. "But I appreciate the concern. Thank you."
Datiath gave a few flaps of his wings. It is good to trust someone, yes? We will go /between/. You will barely catch a breath.
N'tren's nodded at Caleten's approval. Lightly, he placed his hands around her waist so as to be prepared to catch her just in case. He did not say what just in case might entail because the stubborn woman might insist on walking to South. Instead, he gave Datiath a little kick and settled with Gem on his shoulder.
Between. He told Datiath.
With a few wingbeats, the great bronze was up in the air and ready to take off. He hovered only for a moment before moving towards South Hold. N'tren had sent a strong image of who the Hold dragon was and what the hold itself looked like... Now that they were allowed to go /between/, the young rider took no chances about being caught up in the darkness.
"Hold on and try not to scream." N'tren shouted. And in less than a breath, Datiath had taken them /between/ with South Hold in mind.
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Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2007 11:10 am
Caleten didn't say it out loud, but she was thinking that if he said so, then she hoped he was right. You learn a lot about how rotten men and some woman can be when holdless, how much they can take advantage of others who are more honorable.
Only a nod of her head came as answer when he thanked her, she let a small smile slip through but it was gone a few moments later. She heard Datiath and got a bit excited at the idea of going /between/ everything she never thought she would get the chance to do was done with them. Answering the dragon she says, 'Its harder then anyone could imagine. Trusting a luxury I never thought I could afford.' Did she just think she trusted N'tren? Well, she kinda had to, he trusted her to help her without knowing what it was she needed him to do. Just maybe, she had some trust for him before he showed it in her.
Her stomach tightened when she felt his hands on her, but with a breath, she relaxed. Looking around at the view, her attention taken back by N'tren telling her to try not to scream. She had just enough time to start to form a thought about how observed that was, until the impossible darkness and coldness engulfed her. Holding on to what she could, not even able to scream, or think for that matter. Was N'tren and Datiath still there, she wondered because it felt like she couldn't feel anything.
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Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 6:38 pm
Black, blacker, blackest...
/Between/ was the ultimate lack of everything. N'tren had managed not to panic like so many others on his first time going into the blackness. But he had seen others who did not take to disappearing into nothingness so well.
Suddenly, they were coming out about South Hold in the brilliant sunlight and lightly forested area. N'tren let out the breath he had been holding and gave himself a little shake.
That went well. Are you okay? Datiath asked Caleten. I am Datiath. He told the dragon on watch at South. They started to turn so that they could land at the hold.
"I never get over that. The nothingness... But we are here and we are safe." N'tren nodded to Caleten even though she couldn't see his actions.
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Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 10:20 pm
Caleten shook a bit, using her arms, even the one that was hurt to try and warm her arms a moment before putting them down and calming herself on the outside. She answered Datiath, 'I don't think anything you could have said could have prepared me for that.'
One edge of pride, she didn't scream, even if it was because she couldn't, she still didn't. Caleten looked at the runnerbeast on the far end of the Hold and answered, "Safe is a matter of opinion." Her heart thumped in her chest. She was back where she started, it would probably be a matter of time before her mother found her and started to berate her.
Then again, there is a chance no one will reconize her, it had be years and she was scard now where as when she left, she was not.
Gem's eyes whirld and she clung tighter to N'tren, reacting to Caleten's anxitiy.
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Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 10:38 am
Nothing prepares you for /between/. It just happens. Datiath replied to Caleten. Splotch shivvered and buried his head into Caleten's hair.
N'tren looked over the courtyard as they came in for a landing. "Courtyard or Heights? Where do we need to be?"
He held her loosely as the moved in closer to the Hold. The young bronze rider frowned at Caleten's statement. "What do you mean, matter of opinion? Would someone hurt you here?"
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Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 2:24 pm
Caleten rased one hand to stroke the bronze on her shoulder, wishing she felt free enough to try any hide against someone. That was foolhardy though, she was far too many turns and too hardened to turn and hide. Its better to face life head on, as she had learned. Feeling the air hit her face, she could also pick up a few scents that were uniquely South Hold, smells that when she picked it up other places, she would turn and go another direction.
Hearing his first question, and assuming it was sent to her, she says, "Where ever you need to be, I don't care much myself." It wasn't like she was going to seek out her childhood home after all, and there is no where in that hold she felt safe.
To his next statement, she had to mill over what she wanted to say to him, just how much more she would open up. "Yes, I think they will try, probably nothing more the verbal abuse they spewed at me my whole life, though seeing me with you might curve that, being Hold people whose livelihood is out doors, reverence for dragonriders is high. If they try anything physical, which I doubt, I could take on my own father and come out a winner." She could fight her own battles, she was strong, but even she knew she needed back up, and a show of support, even if she was going to be the one to call insult.
At the worst, she expected they demand she pay for what she stole, maybe even try to take her back, but she was old enough now to reject and leave on her own, hold rules be fed to the weyr watchers.
Gem hissed at the memories she picked up from Caleten.
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Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 4:53 pm
The bronze continued to shivver into Caleten's hair, practically making Caleten vibrate. He was picking up on Caleten and Gem's distress and being a young and silly bronze did not know what to do about it.
Calm, little brother. Datiath told the flit sternly. Splotch chirped sadly and tried to still himself.
Datiath landed lightly on the Heights. It would give them all a chance to settle their nerves as they climbed down to the main part of the hold. The sun was quite bright and beat down on their backs. N'tren was glad he had worn his light riding clothes. Datiath looked down at the both of them.
His eyes were tinged with the yellow of worry even though the main part stayed green. I shall be waiting. Just call for me if you need me.
N'tren let go of Caleten and waited for her to dismount. So as not to seem cold and callous, he responded. "If they treated you as such, it's because they realized that you were better than they. And no one is going to hurt you while you have Datiath and me."
He purposely put Datiath before himself. "Are you ready?"
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Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 6:21 pm
Caleten continued to pet the bronze even when he was working on stilling himself. In away, she felt better working on calming someone else. The sun was normally calming for the young woman, and it did a deal for her now. Over the turns, she had gotten a level of used to the heat on her heavy choice of clothing, though that level wasn't past discomfort. Holding up her sleeve a little past her wrist a moment, she dismounted the bronze, patting his side in thanks.
'I know, thank you.' Most of her wished this will end without action, that no one will care and all her efforts were for nothing. No matter how much she would regret all that she went through, it made her stronger and it would be less embarrassing then a scene in front of N'tren. If the whole Hold saw, she wouldn't care; she did care if N'tren saw
She didn't miss him putting Datiath before himself, and wondered if he did it because she mentioned that he was a dragonrider, thats why she asked for help. "My mother was one of the hold's beauties when she was young, I was and am not, thats why it started, I am not going to try to prove her wrong, just face her now that I have support, thats all. If I don't see her, oh well." She shrugged a bit, feeling so weak because she even looked for help. Just this once, her pride was taking a bit of a back seat to fighting a inner threadsore that ate away at her for the longest time. Befitting that a dragonrider would be the one to help her incinerate it.
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Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 9:42 pm
Splotch calmed under Caleten's touch and trilled softly into her hair. He liked having hair to bury into... His own kept his hair way too short. There was no chance to play in it.
Datiath looked down and waited as N'tren dismounted. He kept a careful hand on Gem so as not to dislodge her. Soon enough, he might have to get a rope ladder or something to climb up on him. Waving his bronze off, N'tren turned and looked at Caleten.
"If your mother only cared about how you looked, then pardon me saying so, but she really was no mother at all. Mothers should care about their children no matter how they look or act. My mother threatened to put me out with the herdbeasts every night because I was so active but she tucked me into bed every night." N'tren's face took a funny look because for a moment he was reminded of his own confused feelings towards his family. But that look passed as he remembered that he was here to help Caleten.
"Lead the way. And let's hope we stay away from childhood demons, huh?" All of this had amazingly come from the carefree lad of sixteen turns.
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Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 10:52 pm
Caleten didn't mind Splotch playing in her hair, Gem loved to do it and she had grown used to it. It was actually because of Gem's habit that she took such care to make sure that her hair was very well kept. Can't have a flint get stuck and struggle in there, after all.
To N'tren said, she remarked, "I don't disagree, she was no mother at all, my brothers were no brothers and my father was a sad excuse. We can't all have happy begainings. You grew up with herbeasts? The family I was born into owned the second largest ranch in the hold when I was growing up." Maybe they might have seen eachother when they were younger after all, though she can't recall, not that it mattered.
Lead the way, huh? How was she to do that, "You must have had a reason to come here, don't change on my account, I haven't been here in so long I don't even know where anything is anymore." Some times he really amused her, a male, but he was really alright.
Gem trilled, nuzzling N'tren's cheek with her wedged shapped head, happy with the turns of events.
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Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2007 7:34 pm
"We had some herdbeasts. Our hold was more a farming and some woodcraft than anything. It is south of South and southwest of Rias, called Swalern Hold after my mother and father. Minor Hold Swakeal and Lady Neteria..." N'tren tampered off when he realized he had been rambling about his family and childhood. He was really trying to learn more about Caleten.
Splotch, by now, was poking and playing in Caleten's hair trying to see where it all went. He chirped his curiosity at Caleten then looked at Gem and chirped again. It was so much fun and there was so much of it!
"Second largest ranch, huh? I bet that meant a lot of hard work. I'm sure that also helped you get the knack for taking care of yourself. It's a shame your family is your family only by blood. I have two brothers, three sisters." N'tren started to walk down the heights, still not sure where he was going. He had only been to South on training exercises. Datiath simply sat up on the Heights enjoying the sun.
"I have only been here once or twice for training. I just wanted to stop and get some food and some new leathers for straps."
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Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2007 9:47 pm
She nodded, feeling silly for assuming he was from South Hold. She guessed it was because she wouldn't come here for anything and only assumed he was coming here to go home.
Being home drained what humor she had, so she didn't laugh at what Splotch was doing, although she wanted to. All she did was pet him.
Gem trilled to Splotch, chirping out her and Caleten's humor as well. She couldn't play like he was, because of N'tren's hair lenght, but she didn't mind Splotch having fun.
Hearing about his family, she told him, "There was a lot of work, being the youngest of seven children, six being my older brothers. Some people may tell you all my family had were seven sons, because of the boy work, no drudge work, I did." There was no resentment, she was just proud she survied it all. Let the world think she was an ugly boy, they were all wrong. She didn't think she was a beauty but she didn't doubt her self.
Her mental map of the hold, the only place she could think of would be her family's ranch for leather. However, she was sure he had to have a better place to get the items.
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Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 7:02 pm
By now, the little bronze was so enthralled with the hair and cloth that he was exploring every dip and crevice there was... He leaned into Caleten's petting and trilled lightly at her. It was all great fun to him.
N'tren gathered up Gem and began to rub her belly and sides. As they walked down the heights and to the main part of the Hold, N'tren couldn't help wonder if he would get to meet any of Caleten's family. He kept that thought to himself and focused on giving Gem some love.
"One of the things I admire most about you is the fact that you take care of yourself. And if you can handle more than others, then it is their loss not yours for being so free." N'tren kept to the compliments he knew that Caleten would appreciate. The bronze rider said nothing about how he thought she was pretty; he didn't want to ruin the friendship they were just starting to have...
Once they reached the bottom, he did look to her for guidance. "I have some whole and half marks. Do you think you can lead me to a place where I can buy some leather? Splotch! Calm down now!" N'tren used his order voice on the little bronze.
Splotch looked up from having stuck his head down the back of Caleten's shirt and his eyes tinged with embaressment. Sitting up straight, the bronze tried to look like he was the most well behaved flit in all of Pern.
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Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 3:51 pm
The flit amused her she found his antics humorous. The only thing that kept her from laughing or smiling was herself, he was certainly inspiring it. Not once did she stop petting him, and on the inside, she smiled at the trills.
Gem was one of the happiest little flits at that moment. She chirped and trilled as she soaked in the rubs and affection she was receiving. For the most part, she was gold putty in his hands. Her eyes whirled fast with happiness, both hers and a bit of her firend's.
Caleten heard the compliment, and saw it as it was intended. Granted he was wrong in some ways, being free was a loss in many ways, just one she was willing to shoulder. "Thank you." That she wasn't afraid to say, but she did what she could to make sure he didn't see her smile. For a few brief moments she almost forgot where she was.
Reality was back as she tried hard to remember the leather store she was sent to often as a child. Before she could answer, he was ordering his flit around. It was something she was going to ask Gem to do, but now didn't have to. The little bronze's action afterwards were amusing though. "There is a place my family dealt with a lot, the owner is nice enough, and a fair man." Well, he was a little nicer to her then her brothers, one of the reasons she got to go so often.
Looking around the corner, she spotted the store she was talking about. A man walked out, looking about thirty turns, and almost like a mirror image of Caleten, only his eyes were a deep brown and full of humor. A smile sat on his clean shaven face, until he saw Caleten, with a frown of almost thought, he looked at her a moment before turning away, waving at the shop owner then heading away without a word.
For Caleten's part, she walked forward, but towards him, even after he left, she did not pause or hesitate.
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Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2007 8:52 pm
N'tren followed Caleten's words and eyes as he looked about for the store. He knew that he had done something to make her a little happier, especially now that Splotch was behaving himself. For some reason, N'tren was glad to be wearing his knots and riding gear as they hit the lower levels of the Hold.
"Anyone whom you speak decently of is definately someone I would trust. I know you really don't vouch for many, do you?" It was a rhetorical question and he expected no answer to it.
The bronze rider said nothing as a man came out of a building in front of him. His eyes widened as he noticed the similarities between Caleten and the man in front of him. Wisely he said nothing about the man, instead, "Is this where we need to be, Caleten?"
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