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 Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2007 12:02 pm
N'tren woke up to the changing of the watch dragons. He was pretty good about waking up when he wanted to but sometimes he could sleep through the drama of other weyrs. His green eyes came into focus as he sat up and looked around. Datiath was not inside so he must be outside sunning himself.
Do not forget. We agreed to meet the girl by the big rocks for cleaning and oiling.
N'tren smacked his forehead. Tossing the fur off to the side, he practically jumped up and tripped over his boots. Grinning at himself, he remembered that after staying up late talking to Caleten, he stumbled into bed and passed out.
Which explained why he was still in his gather clothes.
Stripping quickly and with no shame (having been brought up in a small hold but large family), N'tren tossed on his normal open vest and leather pants. No shoes today as he would be in the warm waters of the inner coast. Grabbing a bucket that contained several scrub brushes, oils and other dragon cleaning materials, the young bronze rider went out to the ledge.
Ready when you are... Is she there yet? She will hold it over us if we are late.
The sun is still rising and we will be there in time. Flying straight has made me strong.
Scrambling more than climbing, N'tren mounted his beastie and they took off for the Inner Coast.
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Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2007 12:39 pm
Caleten awoke before the sun, a normal habit of hers. She took advantage of the early wake up by a nice long bath. With a hungry golden firelizard used to eating before the sun fully peaks over the horizon, her bath and packing preparations were cut short. Gem chirped at her insistently as she gathered what she could find in the weyr to take with her.
She dressed in a sandy colored long wool dress that, like every one she wore, covered her whole body from just under her chin to her toes. It was wide enough below her waist that she could still ride a heardbeast if she needed to. With a heavy pack, she went to the kitchen to feed Gem. With the help of the drudges, that task was done relatively quickly.
She let Gem go ahead so she could find a nice spot on the beach, it also gave her time to pack up the heardbeast she took with her and set off. By the time she made it to the meeting spot, the sun was peaking up, dancing acrossed the water. Looking around, her hazel eyes searched for the bronze dragon and his rider.
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Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2007 6:50 pm
Datiath spotted them first. Bugling loudly, he flew low with confident sweeps of his large wings. Eyes whirled happily as he sent a hello to Gem and the small gather of wild fire lizards that had suddenly appeared.
Hello little cousins!
Whooping wildly, N'tren waited until Datiath was just above the water before he jumped off his bronze's back and into the warm coastal waters. It was a stunt he had pulled many times much to the chargrin of some of his other friends. But he had learned by now where the deeper waters were... Living by the coast had made a strong swimmer out of him.
Bobbing up out of the water, he waved to the person he was sure was Caleten. "Morning!"
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Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2007 5:16 am
Gem flew off to fly with her wild kin; she trilled her greetings to them and to Datiath. She really was delighted to spend time with some of her own kind and played little games with them. Also, she showed off her acrobatic skills in the air.
The loud bugle was her clue they had arrived and she quickly looked to the sound. Her eyes followed the bronze, then N'tren's plunge into the water. It had been many turns she had actually swam in anything bigger then a lake, but at one time she was strong enough to swim in most currents. However, the ocean she hadn't seen since leaving South Hold all those years again and she was in no hurry to go back.
Giving N'tren a slight wave, she just waited for him to come ashore. Shifting her feet slightly, she could feel the sand shift from underneath of her through her shoes.
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Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2007 12:47 pm
He dragged himself to shore and looked her over. Giving her a funny look, he waited for Datiath to come to shore. Then he would be able to get his bucket of supplies.
"Won't you get all hot and soggy in that thing?" N'tren blurted out. She had to be nearly covered from head to foot in what he assumed was a dress. He had come to clean, N'tren was not sure what she had come for...
"I mean, we are scrubbing down a hulk of dragon in the water. There is only so much you can do from there unless you just wanna watch?"
Meanwhile, said hulk of dragon sent calming thoughts to Gem and the other wild flits. One queen was clearly trying to impress on him to be careful where he stepped. She had a clutch nearby.
Good day. It is good to see you again. Datiath rumbled happily. The dark gold warns us of her eggs.
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Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2007 6:20 pm
Caleten crossed her arms and looked away to Datiath, a slight scowl on her proud features. Looking back to N'tren she says, "I am used to wearing this, the heat won't bother me. I'll be fine. I am more capable then you give me credit for." It had been turns since any part of her body was shown to anyone, and it would be turns more she was sure.
Gem talked back to the queen and other flits, knowing her friend’s friend was interested. Caleten had wanted it enough to impress the mission upon the little queen. After avoiding getting into a fight, she flew to Caleten and nuzzled her cheek.
It sometimes made her nervous to be around other golds, wild even more so, she had heard tails of horrible fights when one queen is ready to fly, thankfully that has yet to happen for Gem. Not sure she wanted to be nice, she finally said, "There is a chance the eggs might be ready to hatch, keep food on you, N'tren. If you feed it the moment it hatches, then you'll Impress it." He may have known that, but it never hurts to explain the important things. Besides, after his comments earlier, she had no trouble stating what she saw as a bit of common knowledge.
She couldn’t help but wonder about the impression of dragons, what made them so different from their kin. Her best guess was that their minds were bigger and required more the just food.
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Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2007 8:41 pm
N'tren shrugged at Caleten's protests. He knew by now better than to argue with her. Perking up at the mention of flit eggs not only by Datiath but by his companion as well, he walked over towards his bronze and scrambled up to get his supplies.
"If you say so. I just don't know if you have ever been in those clothes in the ocean. We will definately stay in the shallow areas... Datiath will make sure nothing happens to either of us. Luckily there haven't been any feline spottings lately."
Looking down, he motioned for Datiath to move closer to the large rocks which jutted up from the sands like broken teeth. Managing to stay steady, he tossed the bucket and a small bundle down to the ground. "I don't have fresh meat. Meatrolls and some fruit. Will that work? Or should I ask Datiath to try to catch a fish?"
Fish? Was Datiath's reply.
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Posted: Sat Jan 27, 2007 8:46 am
Now, he was annoying her, doubting what she could do, short of telling him she never wore anything else, she was ready to prove him wrong. "I have swam in an outfit similar to this. I grew up in a Hold right near the water, being an excellent swimmer comes with the territory." She raising her chin a bit, in proud composure, she tried to ignore the fact that she had given away a little bit about her past. At least, she caught herself before she gave the name of the hold.
Walking over to the rocks, she hardly noted her dress darkening a bit as water hit it. "Fish would be the wisest choice, and if you plan on getting a gold or bronze, you'll need at least two fish, they are more ravenous then the smaller flits." She looked around for something they could use as netting, after all, the fish need to kept somewhere of the paws of their flock.
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Posted: Sat Jan 27, 2007 3:40 pm
N'tren sensed that he was stumbling his way to the wrong end of the conversation. Rather than press the subject, the young rider opted for neutral ground and merely nodded.
"My father's hold is a small hold to the south and west of here. Well, sort of ... Anyways, there was a swimming hole and a river but nothing this big. I'm not sure which I prefer but I know that ocean waters are warmer."
Datiath had gotten into prime cleaning position and was making noises at the wild fire lizards to help scrub his hide. Several of the golds and bronzes there chirped inquiringly at him but did not get close to the humans. The blues and greens, being more simple and not so cautious, were getting within inches of the rider and his friend. Be careful with your claws!
Turning to N'tren, the bronze continued. I can ask the little ones to gather fish. I am not sure my claws can catch something so small.
"Sounds like a plan. What do you think?" N'tren did not realize that Datiath had not included her in the last bit of the conversation.
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Posted: Sun Jan 28, 2007 1:43 am
Caleten did not peruse a fight and nodded back to what he was saying, trying to think of geography, if he was part of the South Hold, she was out of there fast! However, she did spare a moment to think of what her family might do if she showed up after all those turns with a Bronze rider who happened to be a holder's son as her friend. She'd fake a relationship just to see their expressions!
However, she restrained any show of emotion and did not ask about the hold or near locations. Instead, she watched the flits as she put one hand out to touch Dataith's side. In a tone that didn't have all the pride she used with every person she met, she told them, "I mean you no harm." Wild flits were always a sight to see and she did like there company.
Gem trilled out to them, instructing them on how to approach the humans, hissing in a threatening manner as a green came far to close to what she saw as threatening Caleten. Though with Daitath's warning, there was little need for her to be on her guard. Otherwise, she was nice enough and also informed them that the humans were nice.
Caleten looked back to N'tren as she got the feeling she was getting the trail end of a discussion. What an odd switch, before she was angry about the dragon going into her mind, now she was annoyed he hadn't. "I think I would like to know about what plan I am giving my opinion on before I give it." Her eyes were on N'tren, and her expression was nothing less then the normal cool proud look.
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Posted: Sun Jan 28, 2007 7:00 am
Must I ask every time to talk to you? Datiath asked in what could be considered a meek voice. He looked down at her and then to the wild fire lizards. I merely said that my claws might be too large to catch fish. Perhaps I should ask the little ones too.
N'tren blushed as well. "I am sorry, I didn't realize he had not spoken to you. I am used to him speaking openly in your presence. Sorry."
Using the brush he had kept for himself, N'tren went to work on the back ridges around the bronze's neck and shoulder joints. That was one of the worst places for dry skin and as he scrubbed, flakes of dried dragon skin fell to the ground.
"You know, you are the only person he talks to a lot. Even with the other riders, he tends to bespeak to their dragon and not them."
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Posted: Sun Jan 28, 2007 11:49 am
Caleten looked to Dataith, and moved so she could scratch his eyeridge, 'No, you don't, and I know I shouldn't have been as harsh on you for when you did it before. I was just startled, though when we met again after parting, a little warning before you come in to my mind would be very appreciated.' When she finished 'speaking' to Dataith, she was listening to the plan she missed and hearing N'tren the moment later.
She almost wanted to smile, with the reputations Bronze riders and their dragons get, and the way most holds viewed them, it was a bit comical. However, keeping her expression as it was, she shook her head and told them both, "The plan is a good one, I am not sure how well the firelizards will listen, but its worth a try. It is alright, N'tren, I got the information in the end." Watching what he did for a bit, and remembering what seemed the worst on Gem, she picked through the tools N'tren brought. A lot were ones she was unfamiliar with, but she picked a good stiff brush, a rag soaked in oil.
Setting to work, she went right to scrubbing and seeing to the oiling of Dataith's head and neck area. Gem loved to be pampered, so she was treating Dataith the same way, taking care to make sure the area was oiled properly, but also giving lots of scratches and attention to the areas she knew Gem liked. Every once in a while, she'd look up to the dragon's back, still wondering what it was like.
What N'tren said grabbed her attention just then. She took a moment to come up with an explanation and finally offered, "Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that I do not have a dragon of my own. If he tried to give Gem messages, there is no telling what I would get." After all, it really couldn't mean that Dataith liked her. Well Gem likes him, but then her flit was friendly, so seemed Dataith.
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Posted: Sun Jan 28, 2007 9:21 pm
The bronze's eyes picked up in speed with Caleten said many nice things to him. He crooned softly at the scratching of his eyeridges. I am sorry. I shall let you know how?
Meanwhile, N'tren was slowly working his way down Datiath's back. That was what the stiff brush was for... Taking his time so he wouldn't miss a single spot, the teen looked for flaky patches. His arms were starting to get a little tired but all the effort would be worth it in the end. It was slow going but worth it.
"Hopefully between Gem and Datiath we can get the point across. Fish it will be or at least, cold meatrolls."
The wild fire lizards had taken up the challenge of cleaning the lengthy bronze. Their fierce talons scrubbed hard at the skin while other drops piles of sand on his back. At the rate everyone was going, Datiath would soon be clean.
Abruptly, the golds and bronzes fly off towards a crevice in the large rocks. Eyes whirling fast, they began to hum in unison.
"HUMMING!" N'tren looked over at Caleten. "Do you think?" He hopped down off of Datiath's back using his back leg and scrambled for his pack.
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Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2007 12:46 pm
Caleten thought about it and looked to her little Gem, who had joined the others and helping to clean Dataith. 'How about telling Gem, she'll warn me then I won't be surprised." She herself was working her way down Dataith as well. Careful as she was, she was not used to cleaning such a big creature, but Gem was right there to get the parts she missed or alerts her other ways.
Gem understood how irksome itchy spots were, and was good about spotting them and trilling at Caleten. She sent images of the times it bothered her and that was enough to get her friend to re look over what she was doing.
This was hard work, she decided; even for her strength from what she had to deal with on her own, such as climbing cliffs, this was a lot. She did not complain, just kept working. The activities of the golds and bronzes almost went unnoticed, but Gem's behavior did not. She knew by instinct what was going on and joined the others in humming.
Caleten looked then told N'tren, "I think you had better hurry, they are tenaciously hungry when they hatch and will fly for food if you don't get there soon enough.
In her case, she had Gem with her, having taken her egg off the hands of someone else. However, she had seen hatchings before and listened to tales from other who had flits.
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Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2007 9:10 pm
Datiath merely dipped his head in acknowledgement to what Caleten had said to him. He looked over to the group of small humming golds and bronzes; by now, even the lesser colored flits had stopped scrubbing and went to join in the welcoming song.
Hurry beloved.
Moving quickly, one had full of meatroll and the other gripping the slick rocks, N'tren scrambled. There was a semi-circled of bronzes and one queen in particular, a large golden beauty, trilling must faster as the eggs started to crack and hatch.
Jumping down, the teen slipped and cut his knee open. It bled as he rushed to reach the eggs in time. Bright green eyes alighted on a large egg close to him that was rocking violently.
"I think, I hope I can do this." He said outloud, not only to Caleten but to himself as well.
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