|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 7:59 pm
Pazzult groaned. He swore that the man in charge of giving them their morning duties loved to torture him. Pazzult was not pleased that he was once again assigned to work outside with the herders and those of their ilk. It wasn't that he hated the outside part but he didn't like coming back to the barracks every night for the past couple of days smelling like manure and having to scrub himself down.
Making sure his hair was pulled back and pants tucked into boots, he headed towards the east fields where he was told to meet with some girl to find out what he had to do. At least, if he worked hard tonight, then he should sleep well. Brown eyes searched the fields for the worker when he noticed a small, familiar shape.
"Tiepet?"
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2010 9:24 pm
As luck would have it, she'd actually been assigned the pens today! Not only was it a chance to be outdoors and enjoy the warm weather that often came with the lambing season, it was a chance to be with the ovines and bovines that Tiepet had known from birth. Well, their births anyway since she had several turns on even the oldest beast. There was the added bonus of getting to see her parents around, and some of her cousins, meaning all in all today was a good day for the Timid Shepherd.
Skybox flew above Tie's head in a dizzying pattern, her watchful eyes a red-green as she surveyed the area. At her side flew a smaller, darker flitter, his black hide glistening in the sunshine. It appeared as though the Green were teaching the Black the ropes, as she screeched now and then. Much of the early day had been spent in this quiet manner, though the peace was quickly shattered at a male voice hailing the young woman. She knew who he was, not exactly a stranger now, but that didn't stop her from paling.
"Hehehello."
She'd forgotten his name! Tie wasn't really good at names if she'd only met a person once, so it wasn't really surprising but it was mortifying.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2010 9:33 pm
Look at that! A green and a black flit flying around and it seemed like they were keeping an eye on the flocks. Maybe, she was the person he was here to help? But nonetheless, if he was going to work then shardit he would do a good job at it. He liked tedious work where he didn't have to do much thinking.
Not that he didn't know how to think.
But it was so much easier when someone else could do it for you. And so, he continued to walk up to Tiepet and then stopped when he was in front of her, looking down. He smiled and almost wanted to pat her on the head. "So we are to be working together today? What is the task of the day, boss?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 09, 2010 8:05 am
"I..."
Tiepet was pretty unaware that someone else was going to be sent up here to help out. Sure, Candidates came all the time and did their chores, that's what they were for (and why she was here) but she hadn't expected one of them to wander over to spend time with her. The black flitter seemed to feel her unease and he dropped from the sky onto her shoulder, his black hide looking rather amusing against the tan that was her natural flesh. His eyes were yellowish blue, worried yet still content, and the girl raised her hand to stroke his back.
"We...today is.. . .rounding up. For branding and checking for diseases. La...lambing should be soon to-oo, so we check how along the . . . . ewe ovines are."
Not exactly a fun (or very clean/sanitary) task, but Tiepet loved doing it. The sound of all the whistles of her family, the bleating of the ovines and the barks of the herd dogs. Sounds she had grown up with, sounds she loved more than anything else in the world. She even liked the smells the grasses left on her body and clothes, not to mention the feel of mud beneath her feet. It was wonderful, to be a Herder!
"If...if you want to help me, then stay close to me. Skybox will act as your partner in this case, I'll use Caine. We can't...we can't afford to dawdle or we'll get the lash."
No more hesitation came from her voice as she started to walk towards one of the groups of animals, and a shrill whistle from her mouth sent both of her flitters dashing towards the herdbeasts like creatures possessed. When they scattered, so did Tiepet.
"Run! Catch the females!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2010 10:14 pm
Rounding up ovines? They needed rounding? Pazzult blinked once or twice and then nodded. Okay. How hard could it be after all to make them go in one direction? He watched as Tiepet went from shy to in charge. Interesting transformation and he was sure that when he was in his element he was like that as well. "Branding? Like a crafter's mark right? To know who they belong to?"
Pazzult tugged his ponytail a little tighter and made sure his shirt was tucked in. He was a big boy and wasn't sure if he would be able to move as quickly as the flit she called Skybox or even Tiepet herself. But it was nice to be outside and the ovines seemed like okay animals... Untill they started moving.
And they moved everywhere.
He stood still until a shrill yell caught his attention.
"Run! Catch the females!"
Startled, he ran towards what he supposed were females ovines and hoped for the best.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2010 7:01 pm
Tie gave another piercing whistle as she ran, the signal causing the black flitter around her head to respond by darting amongst the ovines. Caine was still so new to this that the young girl had to do most of the rounding herself, though Pazzult should have been having an easier time with Skybox as his aide. The green was older and well trained, none of her motions wasted.
"Round 'em up!" Tie gave a sharp cry as she ght the last of her ewes separated from the flock, her torso muddied and even a bit bloodied. In the course of the run she'd fallen a few times over an ovine that refused to move, but she was generally no worse for the wear. A large grin decorated her face as she watched the other herders get as many of the animals as they could into one of the holding pins, and when it was fully over she stopped to look for the other candidate.
"Pazz?"
She couldn't see him, not from where she was standing anyway, and Tie hoped her shortening of his name wasn't a problem either.
"Caine, get Skybox. Pazz will be with her."
A short little whistle sent Caine on his way towards were Tie hoped to find the others.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun May 02, 2010 8:13 pm
Pazzult was trying to round the males from the females or something like Tiepet wanted. In reality, the ovines were used to this routine and even though the didn't like it, between their instinct and the green overhead, he wasn't doing too bad of a job. Or so he hoped.
He heard someone call part of his name, which he instantly decided he liked, and in that split second was distracted enough to fall into a large mud slick and then get trampled on. "Shards!"
He cursed as the ovine used him as a stepping stone to get back towards its herd.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue May 04, 2010 6:00 pm
Tie stopped in her tracks, as she had been running over trying to follow Skybox, and she clapped her hands over her mouth to prevent herself from laughing loudly. She did not know this other Candidate well enough to laugh out in his presence, but she couldn't help but find it all too amusing. No one looked dignified during the round-up, even Tie fell like an deadglow a few times, but it was the fact that one of the smaller ovine decided to step on him and leave little mudtracks about his back.
"Bueheheh."
She sounded so weird, laughing with her hands over her mouth, but her eyes were bright and merry. There was no hatred in her tone, only mirth, and her whole body seemed to lighten with each chuckle. She could be considered pretty standing there, her face so bright with laughter and her cheeks rosy. It didn't matter that she was covered in mud!
"You...you should see your face."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed May 05, 2010 8:12 pm
Pazzult wrinkled his nose. He was going to stink and to the high skies of Pern. He was going to have to scrub himself raw with soap sand. And he was sure that there was mud and something that wasn't mud in his hair. Looking up at Tiepet, he tried hard to scowl as Skybox fluttered and chattered above his head. However, he could get his revenge.
"I should see my face? You should see yours!" And he slung a handful of mud towards her middle. He wouldn't be so mean as to actually toss mud in her face. It didn't matter that she was just as dirty as he was, the action was all that mattered.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun May 16, 2010 7:28 pm
Tie couldn't or didn't dodge the mud in time, taking it to her lower jaw with all the grace a person could muster when being thrown, and a thick frown graced her lips. Her eyes stayed bright, merry, but she honestly wondered if Pazz knew the challenge he had just issued to the Shepherd. Throwing mud was as good as asking for a wrestling match in the fields, and the Timid Shepherd was strong from her Turns hoisting the ovines and smaller bovines. Caprines she seldom messed with (they kicked too much), but that didn't mean she couldn't toss them around either.
"I hope you know that tossing dung is a challenge. I accept, and hope you're prepared for what is coming your way."
There was no need to stammer and be timid during battle! Tie reached down and grabbed some mud from near her bare feet, and she balled it in her fist until it was the perfect size to be thrown. Pazz had better get running, or else he'd take one to the face!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue May 18, 2010 7:02 pm
Grinning, Pazzult scrambled. He was already covered in mud so shard it! Laughing, he tried to scoop some mud up in preparation for a retaliation that he knew was coming. "Let's see what you got, little girl."
He snickered at this. It was like being with one of his cousin's again. Pazzult stumbled into some ovines that hadn't made quite made it into the pens yet and as a result they took off towards Tiepet.
"Watch out!"
And with that, he tossed another handful of mud, hoping to catch her off guard but leaving himself wide open at the same time.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2010 1:21 pm
The second handful of mud once again caught Tiepet in the face (hey, she wasn't good at dodging!) and she sputtered as she spit out what bits of grass and otherkin she could. The ovines that were charging at her were easily avoided, a loud whoop from the girl sending her two flitters into her aid, and she rubbed her eyes to try and get a better view of what was going on.
"Nice try, but you will need a rock to knock me down."
The way Tie worked with her flitters was amazing, the two of them keeping the stray ovines at bay while she ran around pelting Pazzult with her little handfuls of mud. Her aim was pretty good, never striking him in the head, and when she was close enough to a trough to duck behind it she hid herself.
"I have base! You won't win!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2010 3:18 pm
[I will close it out]
Laughing, Pazzult didn't even care that he was covered in mud. The ovines were in the pen, he hadn't had this much fun since he was younger. It was nice. He watched Tiepet peeking out from behind a trough and shook a finger at her. "I don't think base counts in this game."
Standing up, he was indeed fairly coated in mud and Faranth knew what else. He didn't want to guess. "I think I need to go scrub down before meal time. You win this round. But the battle shall be mine!"
He shook his head with a huge grin and headed towards the bathing pools.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
