Welcome to Gaia! ::

Ixiara sat quietly to one side of the door into the barracks, hugging her knees into her chest. There was just way too much going on, and she had regressed to the most basic way she could think of to deal with it. Her eyes were glassy and unfocused, her mind aware only enough to register that she was sitting still and getting slightly chilled. The rest of her was wrapped up in what Ghinath was doing. The young green was only too happy to oblige her rider, enjoying the mental closeness and glad that it was helping Ixiara to forget. Ghinath was playing by herself out in the sun on the practice fields, leaping around at unknown targets, burrowing down into the snow to hide, pausing to delicately clean off the snow before returning to get more of it on herself. Ixiara would add in a suggestion now and then, thinking up newer games for the green to try. It was her idea for the green to pile up snow and then begin target practice on it. It was also Ixiara's idea for Ghinath to make a long low pile of snow that would raise her up higher to catch more sun. Neither of them seemed to have much of a direction or an objective: blissful forgetfulness was the only thing the pair strove for.

Ghinath was rolling around on her back, snuffing happily and snapping occasionally at the snow. She liked the way it felt on her tongue as it melted. Ixiara smiled slightly without realizing it, her eyelids dropping as she focused on objects through her dragon's eyes. The sound of a human voice startled her, and she blinked rapidly before straightening up and looking around. At the same time Ghinath flipped over onto her stomach, looking over at her rider curiously. A boy with red-hair Ixiara vaguely recognized was standing not far off. She'd seen him around before, but they'd never actually met. For some reason she connected him with the hatching.

"Err," she said, not really certain how to respond. He looked about as frustrated as she felt, and a sneaking suspiscion told Ixiara that the source of their frustrations was the same. "What sucks? The weather, or the quarentine?"

Ghinath was watching the both of them curiously. She, of course, knew that L'iam belonged to one of her clutchmates but she didn't know him by name. The young green thought it was mildly odd to see him without his partner: it was especially difficult for her to wrap her head around because Ghinath always tried to be where Ixiara was. She didn't like letting her girl out of her sight. Unwilling to believe that another htachling wasn't keeping watch over the boy, Ghinath turned her head and began searching the practise grounds for a sign of another dragon. She caught the movement created by Zeloth as he came over and turned her head to him, tilting it slightly to one side. Ixiara's attention was caught and she too looked over towards the bronze. A shard of ice slid into her belly as she recognized him from the hatching, and though her face did not change remembered fear surfaced in her mind.

What is the matter? He does not look angry or upset, so why does he bother you? Ghinath seemed oddly puzzled by her rider's reaction.

It's... I just... Oh, you weren't out of your shell then...

Shall I chase him away?

No! Manners, for one thing, made Ixiara unwilling to accept that particular offer from her dragon. Ghinath's reaction made her realize that she had better put the damper on the nervousness she felt. Besides, she had responded to the red-head already and considered herself engaged in conversation with him. It would be very rude to ignore him now. Ghinath, reading the memories in Ixiara's head, understood her reaction a little better. The green, unlike her rider, was not in the least bit worried and waited where she was - watching the bronze.

Ixiara blinked a little, leaning her head slightly to one side. L'iam's facial expression made her cheeks color slightly in embarassment. She knew she sounded a bit like a dimglow, but he had startled her: what was she supposed to do? Ixiara turned her head slowly to look at Zeloth again when L'iam mentioned him, watching with an expressionless face for a few moments. Though she looked back at L'iam when he sat down a fair portion of her conscious mind was with Ghinath. Part of her, a good portion, was wondering how she had gotten into this: all she had been doing was enjoying the sun and now a stranger was talking to her and making her feel embaressed and a shameless sociopathic dragon was...

Was throwing snow at Ghinath.

She frowned and flicked her eyes over at the dragons, still listening as L'iam expressed his hope that everything was just being blown out of proportion. She certainly wasn't going to allow her dragon to be bullied! Not in a million years! "I doubt it," she said darkly, her voice deepening. "Weren't you there when the weyrwoman visited? Ursidaeth was beside himself with worry for his rider, and one of the other weyrlings collapsed during the middle of the Hannele's announcement."

Ghinath had been watching Zeloth with quiet detatchment, supremely unconcerned even as he placed his front paw on her snow pile. She dropped her shoulders and pulled one corner of her mouth back in a gesture that almost screamed "surely you're joking." All it took to avoid his missile was for her to crouch down slightly. The snow trail that dragged behind splattered a little on her hide, but it was already snowy; what was a little more going to do?

And what was the purpose of that little maneuver? Ghinath asked lightly, her voice like ripples spreading in a puddle of water. She tossed her head a little haughtily and turned it sideways to regard Zeloth with one eye - rather like a bird. I will not be drawn into pointless conflict with you. If that is your aim you should find someone else to pester. She raised herself so that she was sitting instead of lounging on the ground, flipping her wings primly back and shaking off the leftover snow. Ixiara would oil her later, she knew.

Well, he was either incredibly confident or incredibly silly, Ixiara thought. Then she berated herself: making fun of him, even in her thoughts, was not the right way to go about it. Everyone was entitled to their opinion, and he might just be right. Maybe this whole thing was being made into something worse than it really was. No one had died from it, as far as she knew, though the cynical part of her tacked on a foreboding "yet" to the end of that sentence. She sighed slowly, deciding that arguing with her companion would do no good. Either it was or it wasn't, and neither of their opinions would change the reality of the situation. She had no way of knowing that, in less than forty-eight hours, she herself would be infected.

As a change of subject, Ixiara tilted her head slightly toward the bronze clambering up Ghinath's snow pile. "He's yours," she said simply, not asking a question but merely presenting the conclusion she had drawn herself. Her hackles raised themselves slightly the closer the bronze drew to Ghinath, but she hid her irritation well.

Ghinath, on the other hand, was not in the least bit irritated. You worry too much, she said to Ixiara, her tone kind rather than condescending. She understood her lifemate's concerns but did not share them. Ghinath was more than capable of handling herself. Besides, she was feeling slightly flattered by Zeloth's comment. Prideful thing that she was, any compliment was likely to stroke her ego and elicit a purr. True, he wasn't exactly easy on the eyes, but maybe she could have a little fun with him anyway. She was pleased, and deigned to inform the bronze so. In her wordless way, Ghinath sent him the feeling of cool but invigorating waters gliding across his hide and the sounds of light rain falling through leaves. His own chilly mind voice did not bother her excessively, she was used to and enjoyed cold. Ideas slowly began forming in her head as Zeloth reached the top of her pile, perhaps a word game would be fun to play? His mannerisms suggested that he could be susceptible, and she hadn't had the chance in a long while...

I tend to have that effect, she said idly, curling her tail around her feet until she looked a little like a cat sitting in a window, or perhaps a sphinx. She let her voice cease, then, silencing the sounds and sensations that accompanied it and withdrawing their enjoyable effects - just to see what his reaction might be.

"Well, I never heard it put quite like that," Ixiara said in response to L'iam's statement about his impression to Zeloth. Her tone was softer, somehow, as she did, though it was difficult to tell how it was. There were no special inflections or, indeed, and different manerisms to her behavior than there had been before. Still, she had eased up some; with L'iam at least. Unlike L'iam she was perfectly happy with the silence that fell like drifting snow over them. Ixiara was friendly, or tried to be, but she did not feel any particular need to fill up silence with constant chatter. Still, she thought that L'iam seemed a little uncomfortable. Maybe she should actually ask his name? She had been remiss so far by not doing so... But then he broke the silence, and she went back to simply listening with polite attentiveness. His use of the word "free" intrigued her slightly. It implied that they were captives. Well, now that she thought about it they might as well be, but it was all for their own good wasn't it? However much they might dislike it...

"Lessons... Lessons lessen your time; I wouldn't call that freedom," She said quietly, making a joke to try and help her companion ease up a little. His tension wasn't exactly helping her own. "Though it's certainly our job to learn as much as we can; we're dragon riders, after all," then, in reaction to the thoughts coming from Ghinath, Ixiara laughed softly.

Ghinath, meanwhile, was stumped for a brief moment. She had never really thought much about why or why not things happened or did not happen. Zeloth's question stirred up the deep-seated assumption Ghinath held that it was perfectly natural for her to be admired. It did not shake her perception, but for a brief moment she questioned it and was confused. Ixiara, who understood a little better than Ghinath did, was amused by the green one's consternation. Deciding to take a leaf out of Zeloth's book, Ghinath pushed everything under a rug and decided to consider it later, ignoring his question about 'why' and focusing on turning his words around. She most definately was not confused, Ghinath told herself, this bronze was not going to beat her at her own game - and especially not so early into it.

If we're going to consider why things are the way they are, she said slyly, regaining her composure, Why don't we ask ourselves why you think only you have a right to be curious or fascinated? Noting his cramped up and uncomfortable looking posture, Ghinath slowly stretched out her front legs and eased back down into a casual reclining pose. Sliding her hind legs off to one side she carefully angled herself so that she caught a good deal of the sun's warmth, and also so that it caught the shade of her hide the right way and brought out her color nicely. Curiousity is not limited to one being and one being alone. For example; I am curious as to why you are digging your nails into the snow and hunching over in such a manner. It does not look terribly comfortable, she flipped her tail lazily to accent this last point, emphasizing her own relaxed state.

"Falling apart?" Ixiara asked slyly, smiling a little, "Just a few minutes ago you were telling me that everyone is overreacting." She left it at that, realizing that, despite his confident words this boy must be just as worried as they all were. "I agree with you about lessons, really - I do. I suppose I'm just not looking forward to those drills they'll be putting us through. When Ghinath joins it might not be so bad. Either way," she sighed, "You're right. And it will be useful to go between one day, won't it? Especially when we'll have to avoid Thread, or get it off before it can hurt us." She rolled her shoulders a little, becoming a little stiff from sitting still for so long. Her attention was caught again when Zeloth swiped his tail so suddenly. "Is he always this way?" She asked, a little bit of her stress showing in her voice though she tried to keep it to a politely interested tone, "Doesn't he ever settle down, even for a minute?"

Ghinath tilted her head a little, considering the bronze's question for a minute or two before deciding to come back to it in a minute - it was not a pleasant thing to contemplate. Besides, she thought with a slight twinge of irritability, if he wasn't going to bother using her name she wasn't going to fall all over herself to give him an answer right away. "Green," she thought scathingly to Ixiara, Honestly. I do have a name.

No one is making you talk to him, love. Ignore him and come over here if he bothers you. I'd certainly feel better about it if you did.

No, no, it's fine I suppose, Ghinath said with a mental sigh before pulling her head up with a business-like air. Regarding Zeloth with a critical eye for the first time, she considered his change of posture. It does, just a little. Your neck is not popping anymore at least. She tilted her head a bit further before angling it the other way, I could almost feel that when it happened. She got to her feet and paced back and forth, regarding him from different angles. Now that she really thought about it he was a skinny thing, not nearly as muscular as the adult bronzes she had seen - or even as she herself was. She made a humming, thoughtful little noise, her meditations helping her find her equilibrium once more. This was something she understood naturally, and didn't have to think too much about. Have you been eating enough? Really, you look a little thin. Not bothering to wait for an answer, and displaying no nervousness or hesitation, she drew closer and nudged his wing gently, observing his hide and the way the light played across it. She was not partiuclarly worried about whether Zeloth would mind the invasion of his space, though Ixiara made certain to broadcast her disapproval to the green. Hmmmmm, I rather think that you haven't been taking care of yourself. Pity, too, your wings have an interesting shade that might work well with your hide, She turned her head around on her neck to look him in the eye, You're so pale; you could use a little color, she said, snorting a little. It was difficult, even for Ixiara, to tell if Ghinath was teasing the bronze or offering advice. Most likely it was a little of both - his refusal to use her name was rankling Ghinath. Turning away she returned to her original spot and settled back down, curling slightly and lowering her head to pick delicately between her front claws. About your other question, now... She thought, allowing her voice to trail off, satisfied that she had made him wait long enough.

What did she fear? An interesting thing to ask, indeed. The answer that popped into her head first was 'nothing,' though the instant she thought it Ghinath knew it wasn't true. What was it that had made her pause, she wondered. She turned to look at Ixiara, who was talking with the red haired boy. It was difficult to say, precisely, what it was that frightened her. Ixiara was afraid of many things, though some of them were only abstract concepts and worries that were difficult for the green to understand. Getting sick, losing her mother, losing that brownrider she was so fond of, she was even afraid of Zeloth. Ghinath understood but did not understand many of these: she knew that they distressed Ixiara and did her best to comfort her, but she couldn't really comprehend the reasoning behind her girl's fears. In all of her short life Ghinath had only known one moment of fear, and that had been in the barracks the other day when Ursidaeth had been panicking. So that Zeloth would not think that she was ignoring him, Ghinath wordlessly sent him the memory of being afraid that day. I was very frightened then, She admitted quietly, Though I don't know exactly why I was. I think... She looked down at her front claws, trying to figure it out herself before answering Zeloth. She had been confused, that had been a part of it. Confusion - not being aware of what was happening, knowing that not knowing could be dangerous. Ursidaeth had been worried for his girl, terrified for her in fact. That was it. I am afraid of loosing my girl. Ghinath concluded out loud, her voice low and toneless as it had not been during the entire conversation. She turned to Zeloth, unsure why she felt the need to impress on him the significance of why the world would end without Ixiara but needing to anyway. She is my everything. She existed when I did not, she cares for me, she loves me. And I love her.

Ixiara listened quietly, her face blank but suggesting strongly that she was still paying close attention. She had not gotten the immediate impression from this boy that he was so eloquent: his answers had been short enough at first. Still, somehow the combination of his words, expressions, and mannerisms made it impossible for her to be surprised: it was like she had been expecting it of him. Intrigued now, Ixiara watched him as he considered her answers and gave his own. It was difficult to read him, she thought, disquieted somewhat by the flat tone he used and his quiet detatchment. He was involved, but not involved somehow. Her curiousity was further piqued when he cut himself off. What was it about his dragon that the boy didn't want to bring to attention?

"I imagine that must be trying for you," She said slowly, watching him and gauging his reactions. Ixiara didn't realize it, but she was beginning to pick up traces of Ghinath's piercing, evaluating gaze, "I've gotten the impression from you, so far, that he is not easy to handle." She stopped then, her head twitching back over to look at Ghinath. "Oh, honestly," she hissed under her breath, annoyance with her dragon bubbling to the surface now as Ghinath began moving.

The green, for her part, had been completely thrown back by Zeloth's lack of response. She was used to attention, loved it and knew how to manipulate it to get whatever she wanted, but a lack of attention? This was completely, confusingly, new to her. She'd never had to put effort into being noticed before. Though Ixiara would never admit it, even to herself, she spoiled Ghinath: shamelessly so. It was in the green's nature to be clinging and controlling, and Ixiara had been only too happy to indulge her. The green was used to getting her way, whether by coersion or through other efforts on her part. She liked it and, moreover, felt that she deserved it. She had been enjoying her conversation with the bronze, it had been hard to find someone willing enough to play her games and even harder to find a challenge. But her opponent wasn't supposed to just walk away before she was done! Not only that, mere moments ago she had confided a great personal truth to her companion, and she was miffed that he was treating the knowlege with such casual indifference. Yet, there he was - heading off without even a glance in her direction. She flipped her tail once, rustling her wings, torn between irritation and confusion, blinking after him. A curious, perverse desire to attract his attention again began to grow in her; a desire for something that seemed unattainable and was all the more desirable because of it. She got to her feet, intending to follow him in whichever direction he was headed and make him pay attention.

Ghinath, don't you dare, Ixiara's fragile patience for the situation had snapped. Don't go following him around and annoying him. Leave well enough alone. Turning her head over at Ixiara, resenting the order, Ghinath blew air down her nose at her girl, considering defiance. I mean it. Ixiara was frowning, her eyes flashing darkly, her mental tone leaving no room for arguement. She softened then, unable to stay angry at her green even if she was unwilling to weaken her resolve, Come over here with me. You don't need him to admire you; I should be enough. Ixiara raised her hand in a silent order and a welcoming gesture. Sighing, Ghinath gave in and got smoothly to her feet. She shook herself slightly, clearing the snow from her hide and leaping daintily down off of her pile. With a short glance at the back of the bronze she bounded through the snow over to Ixiara and wormed her way between the girl and the wall, curling her neck around Ixiara and laying her head in her lap: happy to recieve the caresses her girl supplied.

"Sorry about that," Ixiara said to L'iam, turning back to him and smiling in a rueful way, "I'd rather not have her tagging after... Zeloth - did I remember correctly? - and bothering him." She thought back to what they had been saying, and remembered L'iam's earlier remarks. "Well, his wanting to learn can't be that bad, can it? It's only natural to wonder about your world, isn't it?" She was much more at ease now, reassured by having Ghinath closer to her, and she also had more enthusiasm for the conversation. Ixiara had the feeling that Ghinath wasn't going to simply let it go, and if her dragon was going to be seeking out the bronze in the future Ixiara wanted to know more of what she might expect from him.

I wouldn't be too sure of that, Ghinath said, beginning to feel resentful and grumpy toward the bronze now. A conclusion forming in her mind to explain the bronze's behavior: he was just a jerk. He's no fun at all.

Ixiara smiled and rubbed gently just above Ghinath's eye ridge with one hand, the gesture almost a reflex now, not believing Ghinath for a minute and a little worried. She laughed then, remembering her manners. "I'm sorry, I forgot completely. My name's Ixiara."

(edit: ya, end here. ^^)