|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2009 7:31 pm
Unusually for Ista, the sky outside was very nearly overcast. At least, it was an overall tone of gray, a dreary color. In other words, it was the sort of day that made C'ren want to just stay inside his weyr and lurk. The fact that it was also a rare day off for Candidates made the idea doubly attractive. But, alas; duty beckoned. In this case, it was making sure Ceylith got to the feeding pens alright. He hated watching her eat----far too bloody for his stomach---but the idea of leaving Ceylith alone was even more disgusting. And, to be honest, the Green wasn't fond of leaving her rider alone either. He needed her, she firmly believed.
Ugh. Candidates… the Weyr was positively crawling with them right now. It wasn’t that C’ren had anything personal against the kids; he was one himself at one point. He just didn’t like it when they decided that ‘Greenrider equaled friendly’ and went on to bother him. Or, even worse, they would touch Ceylith! Without her express permission! The Green was just as uncomfortable with physical touch as her rider was, but she was a good deal less vocal about it and would quietly stew in distress. And that sort of thing always annoyed C’ren. In fact, even now the pair had been accosted on their way to the feeding pens. Or, more particularly, Ceylith had. The Green dragon’s eyes swirled anxiously and she tried to back away tactfully from the reaching fingers.
C’reeeen. They won’t go away! What should I do? I don’t want to hurt them! she asked. Not a single one of the little girl Candidates could’ve been over the age of fourteen Turns; too young to know better than to reach out to a full-grown dragon and too old to not be in awe of the creature. Ceylith’s freshly oiled hide posed a particular temptation.
I think eating them would be perfectly acceptable. It’s natural law. If they’re stupid enough to actually touch you… C’ren didn’t get a moment to finish that thought as his dragon’s undeniable anxiety leaked into his own. Not to mention, it was getting closer to feeding time. It wasn’t as if each dragon got all the time in the world to eat. Feeding was based on a fairly strict schedule, especially with all of this overcrowding. With a sigh and an eye-roll, he went to work. “Come on, clear off! Don’t you Candidates have something important to do like, I dunno… existing somewhere else? Ceylith needs to eat! Leave her alone!”
“She’s going to eat?!” one particularly small girl piped up. Her wide brown eyes went even wider, testing the capacity of her face. “What does she eat?”
“Ponies.” The answer was very honest and point-blank. “She loves eating ponies. Wanna watch?”
As soon as C’ren mentioned the magic word----ponies---the girls gasped and scattered. The rider grunted and hoped that they were traumatized for life. Honestly… giving Ceylith an affectionate and, to the Green, calming pat, the pair continued their way to the wide feeding pens in the Weyrbowl. Vox curled around his owner’s neck, happy to be included. The fat blue firelizard always liked to accompany the larger dragon to the feeding pen; she always left plenty for him afterwards.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2009 7:51 pm
Girls ran past her in tears, sobbing about ponies of all things. Baffled she let them go only giving a back glance as she continued down to the feeding pens. Were runnerbeasts sick? She made a note to go and double check them in the feeding pen.
Her duty this day was to check the animals out to make sure they were all healthy. Learning to heal dragons started with their food source, apparently. She was just glad they didn't want her to learn about the soil and the grass that fed the food source, plants were not her thing.
There was one type of green creature she did like, though, and those were Dragons. Stopping in her tracks, she looked at the green dragon in awe of her beauty. Walking silently closer, she stopped half a dragonslenght from the dragon and her rider. "Greetings!" Smiling she watched them both to gauge their temperament. It would have been better to observe, but she was hardly a gawking child, so she didn't dismiss the dragon's intelligence and just made herself known.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2009 8:07 pm
Did you have to scare them so badly, C’ren? Ceylith asked, once she had calmed down a bit. It wasn’t as though they were dangerous… they looked pretty tiny and all. Harmless, really…
No. I didn’t have to scare them so badly. But it is funnier this way. Besides, they had been bothering Ceylith! As far as the rider was concerned, the girls had gotten off lightly for committing such a crime. Ceylith might’ve been feeling badly about her behavior, but C’ren did not. As yet another Candidate popped out of the woodwork, he barely suppressed a groan. Seriously, where were all these Candidates coming from?! Sure, there was a Gold egg on the Sands and all, but that was no reason to allow some hundred young kids run around so freely. Whatever happened to discipline?
Whatever happened to courtesy? Ceylith asked.
Exactly, Ceylith. Exactly what I’m wondering…
No, really. Whatever happened to courtesy. She gave you a greeting. It’s only polite to return it. The dragon herself had given a sort of greeting, although it would probably only be recognized as such by other dragonkind. A soft bugle exited her throat; somehow, it carried her personality with it, a sort of shy undertone. C’ren nearly didn’t answer the Candidate’s greeting but Ceylith prodded him in the back with her nose.
“Um. Yes. Greetings,” he said stiffly, clearly not wanting to be here. In a not-so-subtle move, he glanced beyond the girl towards the feeding pen before continuing the path; it was pretty obvious where the pair was headed. “Remember, Ceylith. You just get two today. And you, Candidate. If you've come to watch a dragon eat, you better hurry it up.” It was as close to an invitation as Raena would get.
Vox, however, had other ideas. He perked up immediately and chirped cheerfully at the newcomer, apparently delighted by her very presence. On some dim level, perhaps, he recognized that she had a firelizard. But, more likely, he simply recognized her as a person who might be easily charmed by a fat flitt and give him food.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2009 8:17 pm
She didn't have to ask the dragon's name, her friendlier rider did that for her. Her measuring stick was F'sey in friendly. Looking to the green she complimented her, "You have such a beautiful sound, Ceylith, it is an honor to meet you." She had to be the prettiest green ever, but to say so risked other greens hearing and getting herself into trouble.
Moving quickly, those farm Hold legs didn't let her down as she got closer to the pair. She chose to keep her distance, picking a place close enough that the dragon could reach her with a few movements, but far enough that she didn't feel she was in the other's personal space.
Not just a candidate she corrected the rider by saying, "Healer, Apprentice." She was also a Candidate, yes, but her interest went beyond that, she was a Healer and wanted to be a dragon healer.
She saw the little blue flit and knew the way to its heart, into her belt pouch she went and out came a little bit of meaty morsel. Laying the food flat on her hand she held it out to tempt the little flit to her just like she would Keek
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2009 8:39 pm
The Healer’s kind words had a wonderful effect on Ceylith. The Green dragon let out a light rumble at the compliment, a clear demonstration that she understood the words and appreciated them. Did you hear that, C’ren? She says my voice is pretty! I like her already. And she isn’t trying to be all touchy. It honestly didn’t take much to make Ceylith happy.
The mere fact that she had made Ceylith happy inclined C’ren to at least tolerate the girl for now. Besides, there was only one of her; he and his dragon could handle one Candidate or whatever she was. She said she was an Apprentice Healer, but he got the feeling she was a Candidate; most of the girls of the right age were, honestly. The Gold egg had brought out far more Candidates than he would’ve thought possible.
As soon as the food came into sight, Vox became the new girl’s best friend ever. He let out a delighted trill and flapped away from C’ren. Perching on the girl’s arm, he happily devoured his new treat before rubbing his face against her hand affectionately.
“The stomach with wings is Vox. Don’t mind him. He’s harmless.” As if the girl hadn’t been able to figure that out for herself already. By now they had arrived at the feeding pen, a large fenced-in area to keep the herdbeasts from running away. The herdbeasts themselves were kept in smaller pens for now, nervously pacing as they could smell the blood on the ground not too far away. C’ren took a moment to look the creatures over since he didn’t want to let Ceylith eat anything inferior.
Ceylith, as dainty as ever, simply waited. Deciding that she wanted to impress Vox’s newfound friend, the dragon flapped her wings a few times and soared into the sky. With her small and sleek form, she was faster than average, even if her stamina suffered. But it was her agility that truly set her apart; just the slightest tilt of her wings and Ceylith could change directions faster than some folk could think.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 10:58 am
Raena's eyes seldom left the dragon as she observed from her respectful distance. Smiling a little, she payed extra attention to the dragon's response. Seeing the dragon happy allowed her to connect a happy dragon with a happy flit. It probably wouldn't make a dragon very happy to be compared with the firelizards, but it was the best she could do.
Going right for the eyeridge, she scratched and petted the little blue. Laughing lightly at the rider's description of his flit, she responded, "I have a blue just like him, named Spearkeek." Her little flit was basking in the sun after a good meal, or so she assumed. Pulling out another of her stash she shared the pieces of meat.
The creatures in the feeding pens looked very uncomfortable; one couldn't blame them for it either. After Ceylith eats it will be a while before she could enter and check them out again for health. Just by eye, they looked healthy with no obvious signs of problems besides stress over the dragon about to eat one of them.
Ceylith didn't have to try very hard to impress her, just by being she was impressive. As the dragon moved, she couldn't suppress a 'Wow'. Following the stunning green with her eyes, she marveled at how she moved. The grace and the speed, was there ever a more marvelous dragon? She did have a job to do, though, and her observations were as clinical as possible.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 5:49 pm
Spearkeek. C’ren recognized the name, but didn’t comment on it since it didn’t seem too important at this point. He did, however, make a note of it, just in case it should become important. He was, in some ways, the mental equivalent of a little old lady who saved bits of string because you never knew when something could come in handy. However, his ego did puff up considerably at the obvious awe on the girl’s face. If he had a fault----and this was phrased in a way that made it clear this was completely hypothetical----C’ren felt that he didn’t compliment Ceylith enough. It was simply awkward… he looked up towards the careening Green before returning his attention to the herdbeasts, giving them a cursory examination.
Well, it was definitely a cow. He could tell that much because it looked like one: four legs, hooves, a tail, and horns. A bull technically, he supposed, but he doubted that Ceylith would really care. Mostly, C’ren tried to examine the beast from several feet away so he wouldn’t get too close. The smell alone… ugh. These herdbeasts were nervous and the ground was, to be polite, paved with their anxiety. Ceylith’s play didn’t help the matter. Once satisfied that the beasts were healthy---or at least healthy enough for something with a severely limited lifespan---he attempted to shoo the bull into the feeding pen.
With much prodding, clicking of the tongue, and vague hand motions, C’ren eventually convinced the creature to take a few steps into the feeding pen before closing the holding pen. And then he did his best to ignore everything that soon followed, turning his back on the feeding pen.
The Green dragon flapped her wings lazily a few times, taking her sweet time about this. C’ren’s distress was in the back of her mind for now. This was Ceylith’s time and they both understood that, even if it struck an uneasy chord with the rider. Although she was tempted to play a little more----or at least listen to the Candidate’s oohs and ahhs a bit longer---her stomach prodded her into action. Tucking her wings close, the dragon went into a steep dive, talons outspread. It was a risky move, this close to the ground. At the last minute, her wings spread out once more and her claws tightened around the unfortunate bull. The end was quick at least, and the dragon pulled her kill to the other side of the pen, so C’ren at least wouldn’t have to hear the bones crunching or smell the blood.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 7:00 pm
Taking mental notes, she watched everything the pair did. Paying special attention to the wings of the lovely green, it was an area of extra concern. That was where most of the injuries took place, next to the neck and face, and said injuries could end the pair's chances of ever flying again. That sort of life was no life for a proud dragon. When the sun hit her wings, Raena was able to get an idea how thin they were by the sun's ability to shine through them.
Admiring everything the dragon did, Ceylith floored her completely. Resisting the urge to call out how wonderful she was, she just watched and stood in awe of her. The eating didn’t turn her stomach at all, she was Hold born and a farmer’s daughter.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 7:22 pm
Are you quite finished? C’ren asked, more than a hint of peevishness in his voice. Out of the corner of his eye, he vaguely noticed that the girl didn’t seem all that disgusted by the gore. But that was only to be expected; Healers had to face far worse than a hungry dragon in their time. Not to mention, a Candidate shouldn’t be afraid of a little blood and guts. He pointedly ignored his own dislike of such things, of course.
Ceylith, however, didn’t. She snorted a little, catching the tailend of that thought. It was days before you were willing to feed me without using gloves, she pointed out mildly. And you squealed.
I did no such thing! The rider huffed at apparently nothing and pushed his glasses up further on his nose, a known signal of his annoyance. Well, one of them. Remembering that he and Ceylith weren’t exactly alone, he shot a glance towards the Candidate. Luckily for her, she seemed to be too entranced by Ceylith to notice the rider. That wasn’t unusual. When there was a twenty-odd foot dragon running about, the rider often became a mere cursory detail. Another herdbeast was released into the pen, where it stumbled around in some confusion before the scent of blood hit its nostrils full-on.
The Green ignored it for a moment, since she still had to finish her first cow. Now that the initial hunger pangs were gone, she paced herself more slowly, almost daintily. She even attempted to leave most of the hide intact, just in case the Weyr tanners needed more leather to work with. A rumble exited her throat, the draconic equivalent of a chuckle, although poor Raena would be a bit in the dark over the dragon’s amusement. You should talk to her, C’ren. You’re both standing there anyway and you could use the distraction.
…No. She hasn’t spoken to me. Clearly she doesn’t want to talk. And, come to think of it, I don’t have anything I’d want to talk to her about.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 7:38 pm
Watching the particular habits of Ceylith, she was greatly impressed by how much personality she had. It was particularly neat how she was avoiding the skin of the beast, but she didn't get the reason which was even cooler. Looking to the rider she asks, "Does Ceylith not like the skin of Bovine?" If anyone knew what a dragon did or didn't like, it was their riders.
Observing was the first way to learn, asking questions should always come to clarify, as she had been taught, or a tool of the impatient to know before it was time.
Blinking at the almost laugh like sound the lovely green made, she decided that if she wasn't told then it was between them. What was between dragon and rider was sacred and she didn't want to butt into that world.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 7:45 pm
Shards. Figured that the girl would speak up just after C’ren had mentioned he didn’t want to talk. Ceylith found this particularly amusing, making her chuckle some more. Well? Go on and answer the nice girl, Mine. You should at least try to help her. If she does Impress, you wouldn’t want to be responsible if she ends up as a shoddy rider, would you?
That’s the responsibility of the Weyrlingmaster, not me. came the stubborn response. But… well, he might as well answer. It wasn’t as if he had anything else to do. “No. She doesn’t like the taste very much and, besides, it doesn’t hold much nutrition in it. She likes being useful and making things useful. The hides will go to the tanners later, to see what they can make of them. There’s always uses for small scraps of hide.” Most likely, this particular hide would end up as many small scraps for writing surfaces. Paper was far too valuable and rare to waste on notes being sent home.
Vox, however, was tired of being ignored in favor of the dragon. Once he had eaten all the treats Raena had to offer, he began to search for more. He could smell the blood of Ceylith’s kill, but he was certain there was food closer. His first place to look was up Raena’s sleeve because you never know! Maybe she did have something hidden up there.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 7:51 pm
Ceylith was becoming more impressive by the minute. "Wow, beautiful, graceful and thoughtful, you are truly lucky to Impress such a magnanimous dragon, what a partnership!" She wasn't discounting C'ren's role in everything, the key reason to add in partnership, because without a rider there would be no dragon, no dragon and a rider would be half a person.
Sadly, her attention was taken from the dragon quickly by the actions of the little blue flit. Almost calling him Keek, she reminded herself this wasn't her flit and fished out another piece of meat for the little guy. This time she wouldn't stop petting him.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 8:10 pm
Well, Raena certainly knew how to get on Ceylith’s good side! Despite her natural inclination to be shy, the Green still preened proudly, pleased to be recognized as a gorgeous being. She wasn’t too certain what ‘magnanimous’ meant, but, from C’ren’s reaction, it had to be good.
“Yes. I am lucky. Ceylith’s the best thing that ever happened to me,” C’ren answered honestly with a shrug. “If you Impress, you’ll… well, you’ll find it too.” It wasn’t an easy feeling to explain, especially to someone who hadn’t experienced it. Those who had experienced it knew what it was; those who didn’t would simply never know. And they didn’t really need to know either. “Either she’s the best thing that ever happened to me, or there was this one time when I went to a small Hold. Most delicious pancakes ever.”
It was all said in a very deadpan voice, as if food was honestly a serious consideration. Ceylith let out an unmistakable snort and turned her back on her rider in a huff. She knew, full and well, that C’ren was just joking around in his own way. But that didn’t mean she couldn’t have fun with it.
Vox let out a surprised squeal as Raena pulled him out of her sleeve, but he didn’t struggle. After all, she had food! For food, he would do just about anything.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 8:33 pm
Smiling warmly she listened to C'ren talk about something she knew nothing. Touching the eggs gave her a shadow of a clue, having Keek also gave her a clue, but without Impressing she could never really know. What it would feel like, to know there was something so deep and wonderful that she would never experience, the pang hit her at that.
Not willing to show the sadness, her ears stayed open. Though her head about came off her shoulders as she quickly looked to C'ren to see if he was teasing. Pancakes better then a dragon? Not knowing him at all, in fact they hadn't even exchanged names, she had no idea of he was serious. Laughing lightly, she had to assume he was joking, no what he could really think any food was better than a dragon. "She has to be one of the best things to happen to Pern. I am sure the feeling between you two is mutual." Hard to think Ceylith didn't feel the same way about her rider, even when he teased her so. It was impressive he found a hold friendly to dragon and rider, most places sadily were rude and resentful.
Vox would nose his way anywhere, she feared, poor thing wouldn't know if an area was mortifying to humans or not in its search for food. Handing over another treat, she petted the little blue to see if she could keep him from poking around without depleting her stores.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 9:21 pm
Well, the girl had to have some idea of what it was like, C’ren realized. She said she had a firelizard after all. It was somewhat similar; the basic idea was there, even if the experience itself was completely different. If Vox died, C’ren would certainly be sad and would mourn the little lizard’s death. But if, by some stroke of horrific luck, Ceylith was taken from him… well, the rider knew he would be soon to follow. Hopefully it would never come. Suppressing a shiver, he glanced back over at the girl and Vox, making sure that the flitt wasn’t being too much of a bother.
“As far as I’m concerned, she is the best thing that ever happened to Pern.” Not just ‘one of the best’, but the absolute best. “She may be nothing but a troublemaker at times, but it’s what I deserve.” Not that he thought he deserved the best dragon ever or anything, of course. He simply deserved her troublemaking nature. He had to admit, his ego swelled a little at the girl’s compliments, but his more suspicious nature had to wonder what exactly she was after here… there were quite a few female Candidates who would happily insinuate themselves into a dragonrider’s bed, but… seriously. A Greenrider? Even a newbie Candidate had to know better than that.
She could just be nice, Mine. Not everything is a conspiracy or proof of humankind’s dark nature… Ceylith started. The conversation had only just begun, but her mental voice already sounded exasperated. This was, after all, a continuation of the same debate she and C’ren had had many times before. Feeling considerably better about herself---horray for self-esteem----the Green stalked over to the remaining bovine. The beast ran away as fast as its legs could carry it, but Ceylith simply followed in a rather amused way. But she could never stand to see her food suffer so. The kill was merciful and, once again, she dragged it away from the two humans so C’ren could keep his own dinner down.
So long as the treats kept coming, Vox was perfectly happy to stay in one place. Once the treat had vanished, he nuzzled into Raena’s hand; she was his New Best Friend Forever! Or at least until C’ren wanted him. Or she ran out of food. Or Ceylith had food. Vox’s friendship was, unfortunately, rather food-based.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
