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There are some people that are naturally good at hiding. Others learn good places to hide as they are growing up or because they have to. There are some though that don't have any reason to hide as they grow up, meaning when they finally do, they aren't that good at it. This was Vanavia's case. It had been just shy of fourteen days since she had arrived at the Weyr and she was miserable. The time spent to do their homework was a lot to someone who could read and write quickly, meaning that usually the new candidate had some extra time. This extra time ever night so far had been used to collapse into bed as soon as she was able. Tonight, however, things had gone differently. Bone tired she had been able to traipse her way back to the Barracks when it had all apparently gotten too much.

That was how the young woman had come to be so poorly hidden behind a bush. Crouched down Vanavia tried in vain to stop the tears that ran down her face, leaving light tracks here and there. Combat training that afternoon had left her a bit dirtier than she had liked, but the girl rarely had time to worry about what she looked like anymore. It was a good thing too, because no doubt it would have set her crying all over again. No, for now the unstoppable, quite, sobbing had everything to do with where she was. Vanavia didn't no what to do and even Smith, who sat on the ground in front of her chattering in confusion, was going to pull her out of this. It had been a nightmare since she'd gotten here. Every night she went to bed sore and each morning she woke up no better. Her pale skin was marked with bruises and cuts, some of which she didn't even know where they were coming from. A particularly lovely scrape could be seen on the right hand side of her face, that had definitely brought tears to her eyes. None of her learning seemed to help, she could read, but everything else here was far beyond her.

To sum all of it up, she was tired, she hurt and nothing looked to be getting easier anytime soon.

Too caught up in her own upset, Vanavia hadn't heard anyone approaching, nor seen it. Even Smith had been too caught up in her emotions to be on guard. So when a voice suddenly spoke from very close by the pair froze. For an instant Vanavia looked like a herdbeast with a glow in its face. Her immediate instinct told her to run, but really that wasn't going to work. Where would she go? Running was not the way she was taught to react to things. Smith crept away from her, sneaking under the bush to poke his head out and look up at the very large person. Maybe he wouldn't be able to scare them off then. That person was very big and he was very small.

Vanavia however had shifted into her default. Turns of training wouldn't be wasted and she may not be at her home anymore, but nobody was going to see her like this. Sucking in a deep breath, the candidate drew her hands across her cheeks, wiping off the tears and smearing dirt a tad. She let out the breath and stood, settling into her upright posture as easily as stepping into a pair of worn boots.

"No, thank you. I'm alright." It was a bare-faced lie and her body did nothing to try and hide that from her. Vanavia might be able to draw herself up, but there was no hiding the redness around her eyes, the tears that swam there or the way her breath shuddered out of her. The rider was an imposing and impressive sight and that only served to push the candidate to hold her act even more. Being seen crying was one thing, but by a rider? That was an embarrassment she did not plan to take on.

It was hard to know which bit to pay more attention to; that she clearly did not look alright or the part about dead men. Just how many had L'ris seen that it became a casual comment? That was a tad unnerving. Best to ignore that part though, it wasn't her business, she had no right to wonder.

Smith however seemed to have no reservations about the woman. The blue chirruped happily as he pulled himself out from under the bush entirely. Jumping into the air he beat his wings so that he was about shoulder level with L'ris and whistled. Just to impress he shut his wings and twisted about in the air, dropping about a foot before he flew back up. The firelizard could be quiet a show off when he wanted to be.

"Really, I am alright." If she could just collect herself then she could put all these emotions away again and continue as normal. Well, as close to normal as she could hope to get here. "The Weyr is just taking some getting used to." That would be acceptable, wouldn't it? Surely the lifestyle was difficult for others, so maybe that would be enough for her to slip away. Even if her firelizard was currently trying to charm the rider.

Happy to comply the young blue settled himself on L'ris' arm, crooning pleasantly at her. Oh yes, he liked this person very much! She was nice. His must be around this person more often so she could keep being nice to him.

A cup of klah might help steady her nerves. That was the reasoning that Vanavia gave herself as she hesitated. She'd spent a lot of time here keeping to herself, but right now she wanted someone around. Somebody who wasn't directly related to the whole mess she was making of her candidacy. Putting away her want to slink away and hide, she wondered briefly if this was Smith's infleuence, she managed to put on a polite smile. "That would be very nice, thank you." The perched blue chirruped his approval of the response.

"He must like you, normally he won't behave for anything," Vanavia said trailing after the rider as Smith drew himself up. The blue was practically posing and the candidate had to feel a bit miffed that he never behaved for her. She loved him to pieces, but actually being listened to from time to time would be appreciated. The blue right now was a picture of innocence, not the little beast that would steal food, trinkets and anything else he found interesting for a moment.

"I'm Vanavia and he's Smith."

"Yes, one of those." The conversation brought a smile to her face. Smith however gave a curious peep. He knew he was being talked about, but he wasn't sure if it was good or bad. His was smiling, but the rider was looking at him very seriously. Smith hadn't done anything. Not recently and certainly not that she had seen. Crooning sweetly the blue did his best to endear L'ris to him some more, do not be so serious, he is so lovely. Isn't he?

"Yes, he was very nice at the Search." He had answered her many questions as best he could. She remembered almost viewing this as a mild inconvenience then. Her perception of coming to the Weyr had been all over the place since her search. Vanavia couldn't say much about his idealism, but then again he had probably stuck to talking facts as best he could. "Are the two of you friends?" Or was who searched whom just common knowledge in the Weyr?

"He told me about squiring. Feels strange to meet the rider he squired for." It was a strange feeling. Riders always seemed so above her. Even S'ol, who had been approachable and easy to talk to that day seemed a world apart. They were bonded to dragons afterall. "It's odd to imagine what dragonriders were before they were riders." It was something that lasted a lifetime, hopefully. Most riders would live longer with their dragons that without, she was sure L'ris would have if she had been the squiremaster of S'ol. The idea that any of them might have gone through what she was now was hard to imagine, they all seemed so unflappable.

Vanavia continued to follow in step with L'ris as Smith kept up his sweeter than anything act. He must have really liked L'ris to be this intent on her liking him, but then Vanavia wondered if this was because she was a rider. She would know how to approach dragons and dragonkind, so maybe Smith picked up on that and found her Vanavia was happy to have him out of trouble for a while.

Vanavia wasn't sure what to say in response to the plague comment. She had been six at the time and couldn't remember anything of when it was happening. Obviously she was well aware of it, the effects and aftermath had been part of her education, but it wasn't something she often thought of. It hadn't had an impact on her personally and it hadn't really come to mind when talking to riders. It must be a very sensitive memory for them and the others in the Weyr. They'd have lost so many friends to it and really Vanavia felt that she had no right to comment on it.

Luckily there wasn't too much time to dwell on it as Vanavia had to put a hand over her mouth to suppress her laughter. "Really?" The idea of a rider doing something so embarrassing. There was embarrassing and then there was throwing up on a ranking rider's boots.