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 Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2009 11:41 am
The day was like any other at Ista Weyr. The sun hung high in the sky, pounding the Weyr with heat and light. Most of the Weyr's residents were accustomed to the weather, though, and M'zaji was one of those. On days like today, he relished in the opportunity to cool off in the waters of the Weyr's man-made lake. It was often reserved for those dragons who could not fly the short distance to the beach, but today, the lake was empty.
<< Ugh, my hide is disgustingly dirty, >> Kaedrelath complained, lifting his head to peer at his rider. "Why don't you just say 'M'zaji, bathe me!'?" The bluerider inquired of his dragon, playfully bopping him on the nose. The blue warbled with delight, hop-bounding towards the lake. << Use lots of soapsand, M'zaji, I like the way it scratches AND cleans me! >> the blue instructed his rider with glee. M'zaji laughed; his blue said just about the same thing every time he was bathed. "Kae, I think after bathing you for ten turns now, I know how to do it!"
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Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2009 11:56 am
Dhiren, like most of the Weyr-folk, was use to the heat beating down from the skies. He just wasn't use to the amount of work that came with living there...and being the chores that piled ontop of candidate training! The lad was starting to think that this was child labor! Slave labor!
Huffing slightly, Dhiren deposited his last load of coal by the kitchens and abandoned the wheelbarrow somewhere close by before scampering off towards the lake. As he attempted to wipe off the coal dust covering his body and clothes, a flash of brown winked into existance in the corner of his eye before a weight took perch on his shoulder. A light chirp around the meatroll clutched in it's mouth told Dhir just who it was.
"Elsu!" A scolding and big blue eyes whirled unhappily; mental pictures revealed the kitchen ladies chasing him with brooms and pans, calling him a little devil and whatnot. Dhiren started to comfort his Flitt, had the familiar voice not reached his ears. With a whoop, he was off like a shot towards the water with Elsu flying to keep up with twelve-turn-hyperness. "M'ZAJJJJJJJIIIIII!"
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Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2009 12:19 pm
Maranan had just been looked over by the Healer and was on his way back to where the candidates were, when he noted the Blue. "Hmm. I really shouldn't, but I guess I'll peek." He was tired of learning about dragons and junk. He wanted to go fishing and work on the docks. But this was his life now. He sighed and walked up to the water. He put his feet in the water and watched the others.
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Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2009 4:54 pm
Having finally found a few moments for himself, Dusen had made his way to the lake. There were only a few people there, including a blue and his rider, and Dusen wondered if he would mind some help.
He watched amused, as a younger boy sprinted towards the rider, a pretty little brown firelizard darting after him. That reminded him, where had his little scamp gotten off to? He probably could use a bath, it had been a few days since he had last done it.
Almost as soon as he had thought about his little blue, the firelizard popped into the air above him, chattering happily, covered in a light coat of dust.
"Where have you been?" Dusen muttered. "You're a mess." He shook his head in amusement, and moved towards the water. "Come on. I'll bathe you, and then we'll see if the rider will let us help him wash his dragon."
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Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2009 6:17 pm
Maranan noted the other young man and his flitt. "Hmm." He walked over and greeted him. "Hello there! Nice little blue you got there." He smiled at the other guy.
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Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2009 10:01 pm
"Hello!" Dusen replied, grinning. "Thanks. He'll be even nicer once he's had a bath. I don't know what he gets into.""
The little lizard chirped, and hovered in front of the other male. He did a few flips in the air, to show off, and then returned to hovering, watching Maranan curiosly.
"You're welcome to touch him if you'd like, he likes the attention. So, are you a candidate? Or just a visitor? It's hard to keep track, what with how many of us there are."
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Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2009 10:36 pm
Tseka was used to hard, strenuous labor. Compared to the physical work of smithing, doing chores here...was nothing. And although it wasn't as satisfying, to see she had made something by the end of the day, it made her feel better, inside. The smiles on people's faces as she delivered things, the words of gratitude when she helped out. She wasn't used to praise and thanks. It was...lovely. It helped to loosen her up a little, too. Before...she was a little more uptight, reserved. Here at the weyr...she was more relaxed. She could smile and laugh, and talk a little more. She wasn't perfect, but...she felt better. And that meant a lot. The weyr had done more for her than she could ever imagine. If she never impressed a dragon, she wouldn't mind staying here still. Just to...to feel like people wanted her. Like she was useful.
She had just finished brining in a load of wood to the kitchens. She was assigned a lot of manual labor, considering her build and previous craft, it was often heavy hauling and other physical labor that was assigned to her. Not that she minded. She would much rather be doing this than cooking. She could burn water. The afternoon chore round was just getting under way, when a very excited green flit sent her an image, M'zaji and Kaedrelath down at the lake. They were taking a bath. Xythe was practically begging her to come. <>
The little green popped into the air above her, chittering madly, swooping in circles around her head, but never quite within arms reach. Xythe, quit it!>> Xythe sent her a picture of Kaedrelath and M'zaji again. "Fine! If you're that determined...I...I guess we could go," Tseka decided out loud. After all...she didn't have any particular or specific jobs. She was no headwoman. Surely no one would mind if she took an hour off? No one would miss her. She was just a lowly candidate, after all.
It didn't take long to get out of the weyr, and the stroll down to the lake was quite nice. Xythe perched happily on her shoulder, wiggling with excitement. What kind of mischief did she have planned now? Daeok, the bronze flit, popped in above Tseka a few moments later, flopping down onto her shoulder rather animatedly, he nuzzled his head against Tseka's ear, crooning his affectionate hellos. "Stuffed as usual, I see!" Tseka laughed, noting his swollen tummy. "It's a miracle you aren't a little ball of fat with a head by now," she teased. But Daeok didn't seem to mind.
A couple dozen yards away from the lake, Tseka cupped her hands to her mouth, yelling out, hoping to get M'zaji's attention. "Hey! M'zaji! Mind if we join you? I bring helpers!" she gestured to Xythe and Daeok. Whom she could only hope actually would help, and not get into trouble.
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Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2009 10:23 am
Maranan looked at the flitt with interest. He kinda wanted one. Many of the others aboard ship had em, but he hadn't been lucky enough it seems. He reached up and gently rubbed the ridges and smiled. It was much different then he expected.
"Hmm. Oh I was a visitor, but since all the big ones were starin' me down. I guess I'm a candidate now. I had gotten sick, but I'm much better now. One minute I was working on the docks and fishing, and the next I'm a candidate. not sure exactly why." He smiled and laughed. "The name's Maranan of Tillek. Where do you hail from?"
He noted the others around the dragon now. He wasn't sure what to do now. He wanted to run and hide of course because the Dragon was looking at him.
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Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2009 6:03 pm
The little flit chirped happily, before swooping around and landing on Dusen's shoulder.
"I'm Dusen, of the Merchant ship, the Ocean Runner." He grinned at the other boy, reaching up to scratch his little blue. "And this is Spring. It's kind of different being a canidate isn't it. I don't think I've spent this much time on land since I was old enough to be useful on the ship."
He noticed the boy looking over at the dragon. "Kind of pretty isn't he? I was thinking of going over to see if he wanted any help, but it seems like he's already got some."
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Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 8:22 am
Doing as he had been instructed, M'zaji emptied nearly and entire bag of soapsand over Kaedrelath's back. The blue warbled softly as his rider began to scrub up and down his spine with a long-handled brush, its bristles stiff and scratchy. It was peeerfect for getting that spot, right there!~ Kaedrelath's eyelids drooped with pleasure as M'zaji itched a spot between his wing joints.
<< We have company, >> Kaedrelath said quietly. He lifted his head slightly, opening his eyes to scan the lake shore. M'zaji laughed, Dhiren's yell reaching him across the water. The bluerider waved to the young boy, surprise apparent on his face as his eyes widened. "The boy's gotten himself a 'lizard," M'zaji remarked to his blue with a laugh. Kaedrelath lifted his head higher and bugled out a greeting to his little, brown cousin. Unlike some dragons, Kaedrelath enjoyed the company of the little firelizards; he seemed to know that without them, he would not exist.
Then, M'zaji watched as a few more people joined up at the lake's edge, watching as he bathed Kae. He'd never really had an audience before, and M'zaji was not entirely sure what he should do. << Invite them to help you, of course! >> Kaedrelath urged, warbling excitedly he realized just how many more hands there were eager to help scrub him. The blue nearly quivered with delight. M'zaji laughed and slapped Kaedrelath's shoulder affectionately. "Alright," he conceded defeat and waved at his audience. He recognize the voice that called out a question to him; it was that smith girl, right? << Her name is Tseka, >> Kaedrelath gently reminded M'zaji. The blue had an uncanny ability to remember the names of all the candidates he Searched.
"C'mon, Kaedrelath says he'd love some help!" M'zaji hoped that they all took it as an invitation to join them~ the more, the merrier!
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Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 8:31 pm
Tseka smiled, practically bouncing the rest of the way over to the lake. Kaedrelath's hide glittered, the cleansing sand catching the sun's glare in a blinding way. She had to avert her eyes a little. Xythe and Daeok chirped, clutching the fabric on her shoulders tightly to avoid being thrown off as Tseka picked up speed. Not that she was running, and it wasn't quite skipping, but...she was happy. Happy and excited.
She came to a halt at the water's edge, slipping off her shoes and rolling up her pants so she could wade into the water. It was a tad cold, but she could hardly focus on that with the majesty before her. Kaedrelath was so pretty. She loved the darkness on his head. But of course she loved him. She owed him. He had changed her life! "Hey there buddy," she adressed him, patting his leg affectionately. "D'ya remember me?" she asked teasingly. Not that she really thought he would. Dragons had notoriously short memories. But she was curious how that worked. Surely they remembered ideas, concepts, right? Was it only individual details and events that they forgot? She wasn't sure. Were she lucky enough to bond to a dragon, she would be eager to see the concept demonstrated.
She gave a little respectful nod to M'azji, barely containing her grin. She took a handful of the cleansing sand, and worked it on the blue's hide eagerly. She hadn't a brush to bring. She didn't know where they were kept, either. Why would she have need of one? She had never bathed a dragon before now.
Xythe and Daeok were eager to help too. They took firelizard portions of the sand, fluttering up onto Kaedrelath's back, and scrubbing along his spine, working with tiny fingers to get into all the grooves, to itch all those places they knew from experience to need scratching.
Tseka worked with a relaxed sense of purpose. She hummed quietly while she scrubbed, noting all the anatomical similarities between dragons and Flits. Not that she would ever directly point that out to a dragon. They were proud, she had come to gather. They might not like to be reminded of the fact that the little nuisances were their clones, only smaller. Oh well.
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Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 7:05 am
M'zaji laughed as he watched Tseka take the lead, her excitement plainly visible in the way she moved with purpose and direction towards them. Not even the surprising-cold waters of the lake could stop her! "Afternoon!" He greeted the girl warmly, smiling at her. Kaedrelath offered his own greeting, lazily lifting his head and peering back around his shoulder to sniff at the girl. << She's my candidate, right? >> the languid blue checked with his rider before warbling a pleasant 'hello'.
"Of course he remembers you," M'zaji told Tseka, though it was only a partial truth. Kaedrelath recognized the girl as he had seen her, but if M'zaji had brought Tseka up during a conversation, and the candidate was not around for a visual reference, the blue would've likely drawn a blank. But M'zaij was sure that knowing Kaedrelath remembered her would boost Tseka's high spirits, so he kept the other little tidbit of knowledge from her. It was interesting, how a dragon's memory worked, but M'zaji did not want to give away ALL of a rider's secrets!
Kaedrelath loved being bathed, and with an extra pair of hands (three extra, if you count Xythe and Daeok!) the blue was ready to die happily. Figureatively, of course! But he crooned, even as he let his head droop beneath the surface of the lake. Bubbles formed and popped at his nose; the blue pulled up his head suddenly, then dropped it back down to make bubbles again. << Look! Look! They tickle when they burst! >> Kaedrelath explained to his rider with the absolute delight that a toddler might have at figuring the same process out.
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Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 8:19 am
"Afternoon yourself, M'zaji. Isn't it just beautiful today?" Tseka glanced quickly skyward, as if testing her question, before looking back to M'zaji, and then to Kaedrelath's hide. "It seems he likes this quite a lot," she mused, looking at the blue with an almost motherly sort of affection.
Oh, the marvel that was dragons. despite living at the Weyr, she didn't often get to be that close to dragons. She didn't usually have a reason to get close to one, and it would be presumptious of her to just march over to one. The last thing she wanted was to appear rude to another rider. After all, what if she ended up impressing, and somehow got on the same Wing as the other? No, it wouldn't be good to go making enemies. Especially not now, when she wasn't valuable enough to keep if she screwed up. She'd been to the touching, to be sure. And what an event it was! But she hadn't impressed. She was still just another candidate. She was...dare she say it...expendable.
But overall, Tseka was happy. It was the happiest she'd felt in a long time. A long long time. She loved the Weyr. It was her home now. Her passion for smithing had never died, but she was so happy here...she was able to ignore it. Mostly. It was a secret fantasy of hers that, if she impressed, she would be able to go back and visit her father, and get back to the forge for little periods of time.
She marveled at the softness of the blue's skin, the slightly sweet aroma of it. It's slight give and stretch as she pushed on it with careful fingertips. It was a nice feel. She grabbed another handful of soapsand, applying a little bit more pressure this time as she worked. She wanted to see him shine! She reached down, pulling up her pant legs a little more. She didn't want to get her clothes wet. Tseka hated wet clothes.
<> The pair were obediant, and hopped over to his neck, working at the joint of her wings and shoulders, and a little on his neck. Waiting to pounce on him when his head came up. Tseka knew that firelizards loved it. Eye-ridges were a favorite. But it would be interesting to test if that was a trait shared by dragons as well.
She laughed as Kaedrelath blew bubbles, looking excited. "He looks just like a little kid!" she exclaimed, amusement dancing in her eyes.
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Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2009 2:33 pm
Gee, C’ren… are you sure you have enough brushes there? It wasn’t usually in Ceylith’s nature to be sarcastic, but she felt fully justified in this instance. The Green turned her glance on her rider who walked along side her; the poor man was probably carrying more brushes right now than most people owned! There was the soft one for proper oil application, the tough one for getting rid of stubborn spots, the coarse brush for applying soapstone… and that wasn’t even touching the oils or soaps he had brought along. Ceylith chuckled a little in amusement before relieving her rider of one of the brushes, carrying the long-handled coarse brush in her mouth. And that wasn’t even counting the bucket of oils and soaps the man was carrying as well. Well, Ceylith would’ve been lying if she said she didn’t like the attention!
C’ren grumbled. It was possible that he actually said something, but it was mostly muffled by the brush in his face. Luckily, he didn’t need an actual voice to talk to Ceylith. You’re the one who decided to go swimming in the sea earlier. I am not going to let you get salt all over our weyr! I just cleaned it!
You always just cleaned it. Still, C’ren had a point; salt still clung to Ceylith’s smooth hide in a rather grating way. Patches of green appeared lighter under the crusty salt and it was annoyingly itchy. Vox ‘agreed’ with a chirp. Or maybe he was chirping his disagreement. It was hard to tell with the chubby firelizard. Tiring quickly, the blue flitt rested on Ceylith’s head; the dragon herself didn’t seem to mind at all, since she rather enjoyed Vox’s company. It was soothing, in a way, listening to his idle chatter. Besides, flits were tiny and cute!
It’s not my fault it just happens to always need cleaning. C’ren paused for a moment, frowning as usual. Actually, it was almost more of a pout than a frown; at this distance, it was easy to see that the lake wasn’t as abandoned as he had hoped; there was at least one Blue there and, most likely, several others. He didn’t recognize the dragon, but that wasn’t too surprising. Ceylith wasn’t the most outgoing dragon in the Weyr and C’ren was little better. Still, that was no reason to stop, the blonde figured. After all, Ceylith’s hide was still all scratchy, as she kept reminding him.
Ceylith paused as well, feeling a little shy in the presence of another dragon. Still, it would be rude not to say hello, so she bugled a hesitant greeting to the blue. It was mostly awkward because of the long-handled brush in her mouth, but at least she tried.
Vox, however, had no such concepts of shame or shyness. The chubby blue flitt perked up at the sight of several other firelizards and leapt off of his perch. After a short drop, his wings started working again and he flapped his way over to the Blue and the accompanying flitts, chittering happily. He wasn’t the brightest creature around, but he loved being with his own kind.
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Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2009 5:23 pm
For once, Kallista was not assigned to kitchen duty. The day was beautiful, the weyr folk were out, and candidate lessons were doing well. Whistling a random cheery tune, the runner headed for the lake. The waters were clean and clear. Surely, there would be someone she knew or something she could do to pass the time.
As she looked around the banks, Kallista noticed Tseka talking with a group of people. And she also saw C'ren approaching from the opposite side. Suddenly, a chubby blue flit flew past her and towards the others of its kind. Wait... Chubby flit? Kallista did a double take and started to laugh. How silly was that?
Giving a shy wave to C'ren and Ceylith, she moved to a towards a vacant boulder to watch what daily weyrlife was like.
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