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 Posted: Sun Jan 04, 2015 3:20 pm
'Are you sure about this? Truly?'
'Yes, I am sure.'
A shadow could be seen overhead, circling over the area of the candidate barracks. Pelgalath was flying in the air and he was almost ready to land, by the look of things. On top of him sat his rider, Til'lene, her golden hair tied up in her usual braids for when she was working. The pair of them were on their way to meet their newly picked candidate -- a farm girl named Gelsana. Although his rider was sure of her decision, the large brown was still a bit unsure of what to make of it.
The pair of them had spent many turns together. Through thick and thin, sickness and times of health, they had been at each other's side, just the two of them. What need did they have for a squire? Wouldn't she just slow things down? And beside, Til'lene's line of work wasn't exactly the most ideal of jobs. Gruesome and bloody work, dealing with murders and the like. What if the new squire wouldn't be up to it?
Yet Til'lene was sure she was making the right decision. Once she had made up her mind, there was no use in trying to sway it. Over her years as a rider, she had never taken a squire; not once. It was time to change all that, and perhaps the two of them would benefit from it. Pelgalath would enjoy a good pampering. He just didn't know that yet.
With a rather awkward swoop, the brown dipped down from the sky and landed outside the barracks. Too large to go inside, he knew he would have to wait until Til'lene returned with the girl. Oh, well. That was probably for the best. It would give him time to think about how best to address her upon meeting her. His rider, however, dismounted without hesitation, and straightened up for a bit before giving her dragon a wave.
'I'll be back,' she told him, making her way into the barracks.
The time had finally come: it was time to meet her very first squire!
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Posted: Sun Jan 04, 2015 3:49 pm
Gelsana had initially been surprised when she had been pulled away from a bustling and busy lunch by the candidate master and informed that she would be excused from group lectures. Instead she was report back to the brackets and wait there for further instruction.
She had been at the weyr long enough to be familiar and comfortable with the military habits of the weyr, she was not expected to question her orders, just follow them so despite burning curiosity she bit her words back and nodded.
Little time remained of the lunch break, most of the half candle mark had already burnt away, never the less Gel spent the rest of the time restless and impatient which only made the time drag out even longer. She was the first at the wash bowel to clean her things and then when the bell rang she was the first out of the door. Her long legs carried her with briskly away from the gaggle of candidates to the brackets.
As the silence of the empty room forced calm over her mind she was able to think and the reason for her strange call from routine became clear. She was to become a squire at last! Or at least meet the rider and dragon that would be taking her under their wing. She felt a swell of pride and satisfaction at the thought. She was moving up in her training and her goal. One step closer to the sands. All those hours spent agonizing over her letters and going to bed sore and bruised after combat class would be worth it in the end.
She strode to her bunk, drawn back to the familiar chest and bed. Straightening lines on the blankets that were already so crisp and straightedged the fabric looked sharp. She had almost talked herself into fetching the brush and sweeping around it again when she heard the sound of the door opening. After a brief flutter of panic and indecision she set herself up, standing, straight backed and facing the door.
When Til'lene entered she bowed her head politely. "Rider." She used the title as greeting, acknowledgment and show of respect all in one. She was pleased to see it was a women. She had mixed feelings about the competence and attitudes of many men within the weyr and the mark of her high ranked wing on her uniform was promising. "Candidate Gelsana reporting as requested."
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Posted: Sun Jan 04, 2015 4:17 pm
Well, well, well. She was quite the formal one, wasn't she? No doubt that was the candidacy training that had been drilled into her. Candidatemasters and even weyrlingmasters were fond of the militaristic style. It was clean, crisp, and uniform, just as a military should be. While Til'lene herself had been quite fond of that sort of style, normally, she didn't deem in necessary today. It was their fist meeting, after all, and there would be more than enough time for formalities later on. "At ease," she told her, a smirk on her face. It was good to know that Gelsana had a mind for such behaviors, at the very least. Some candidates could be so unruly and disrespectful.
'She seems decent enough,' the rider commented mentally to her dragon. Til'lene's eyes scanned carefully over Gelsana's living area. Good, good. Everything seemed neat, put together, and in its place. She liked to see that, as she, herself, kept her own weyr in similiar conditions. Both of them were perfectionists, or so it seemed. At least she wouldn't have to worry about her squire not meeting the standards of neatness she would require.
'I won't know it until I see it.' Til'lene couldn't help but roll her eyes outwardly at that comment. Not at Gelsana, of course, but the brown waiting for the two of them outside. It was clear that he was a bit impatient, and rightly so. He wanted to meet the newly appointed squire as much as she did. She would have to grow accustomed to both of them, after all, as they were a pair. Sighing at Pelgalath's blunt impatience, all the wingrider did was turn, wave her hand in a motion for Gelsana to follow, and make her way out to the open. "C'mon," she said as she went, not even bothering to glance back. "Someone is eager to meet you."
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Posted: Sun Jan 04, 2015 4:50 pm
Gel rolled her shoulders at the command but that was as much relaxing as her body displayed. She couldn't help being on edge when presented with such an important milestone. As she studied Til she took in more of her features and committed them memory, even if that blonde hair made her stand out from the majority.She raised her hand and ran her fingers back through her own short wisps that had started to grow back and would soon need to be cut back again to keep to the code of her training.
Gelsana was very well suited to the strict routine and rigors of her new life and she found comfort in its mannerisms. It presented itself as the easiest way to communicate with a new rider of substantial rank, especially if (as she suspected) she needed to make sure she made a good impression.
She followed after Til'lene when she was bid, jogging the remaining length of the brackets till she was able to keep in step a few paces behind her. When they stepped outside and Gelsana found herself face to face with the very large brown dragon she froze. She had been at the weyr for a turn, she was used to seeing dragons but it was always a shock to see them so close, especially the larger colours. She gathered her wits and bowed her head to the brown in the same way she had greeted his rider. Then she turned back to Til'lene. "I don't think there is much of a question now, but I take it that I am to be your squire? The candidate master didn't bother to make the purpose of this meeting very clear. If that is the case I would like to have your name." A bit blunt, but she didn't see the point of mincing her words.
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Posted: Sun Jan 04, 2015 5:10 pm
'I like this one. I like this one a lot.'
Til'lene couldn't help but laugh at a combination of her squire's bluntness and her dragon's response to it. She grinned happily, but then nodded her head some and placed her hands up dismissively. The candidate was right, of course. She probably should have started with that, in all honesty, but a certain brown creature was a little too eager.
"My name is Til'lene," she said, bowing her head respectfully in Gelsana's direction, "of brown Pelgalath." Upon introducing her dragon, she motioned to him. Pelgalath took this time to dip his head downward so he was eye-level to the young candidate. A green orb studied the young girl, blinking once or twice, and the brown allowed himself to sniff his rider's new squire, as if it would give him an idea of what kind of person she was like. Finally, after a few more moments, he pulled his head back and let out a rumble in response.
'Tell her I like her.'
"He likes you. From what I heard of you from Venk, I'm certain I will like you, too. I wouldn't have picked you if I didn't think so."
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Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2015 2:18 am
Gelsana blinked sharply when Til'lene started to laugh, it still took a second for her to reason that the rider was in all likelihood talking to her dragon. She knew riders forgot how much like raving mad men they appeared to an outsider most of the time, walking around laughing or pulling any number of expressions with no visible prompt. Thankfully she was getting used to it.
"It is a pleasure to meet you Til'lene, Pelgalath." She turned to the acknowledge the brown just as the dragon put his head down to inspect her. Some base animal instinct tried to make her back away, after all the dragon was a powerful predator and she was barley a mouthful. Logic and knowledge fought with those instincts and won to make her hold her ground and meet the dragon's gaze.
When Gel was told she had already met with the dragon's approval she actually smiled. She put a rough hand out and rested the flat of it against the dragons nose. "I am glad to hear that, It will make it much easier to work together if we like each other." She rather not try and picture how oiling the hide of such a large dragon who didn't like her would play out. When the dragon sniffed her the first impression was soap. She was very clean and neat like the rest of her ordered life style. She also smelt in general of the weyr. She had been within it for over a turn after all. Under that, her natural smell was surprisingly earthy and comforting. Not unclean, just natural, built up from years of working around beasts and untainted by cosmetics.
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Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2015 6:53 am
Pelgalath agreed with Gelsana's words, nodding his head some to show his agreement. He was glad that Til'lene had picked such a squire. Not only did she smell well kept up, but she seemed to have a good head upon her shoulders. Some candidates could be unruly, disrespectful and mischievous. Some would even argue with their squiremasters just for the sake of arguing. Taking on a squire such as that would have been not only troublesome, but annoying in the brown's eyes. It would take all his patience to deal with someone like that. Luckily for he and his rider, Gelsana was not like that at all, or so he saw thus far.
"So, tell us about yourself," Til'lene went on to say, sitting down by Pelgalath's side. While the three of them could have flown off to her personal weyr, the rider had decided against that for the time being. This was just a time to get to know one another. She hadn't had any things planned out for Gelsana to actually do in terms of work. That, she would save for tomorrow and onward, as it would be the official start of their time together. There would be plenty of work for her to do then, whether it was serving food, tending to Pelgalath, or accompanying her on jobs with her wing.
Having settled in next to her dragon, who had curled up lazily in the grass, the blond patted the spot next to her. "Venk tells me you grew up on a farm," she went on to say, a faint smile on her lips. Farming was decent and honest work, though she knew it could be met with scorn from some. The trade was for simpletons, or so said the stereotype. Til'lene never really understood that one. Stereotypes were annoying, in her opinion. Those who believed in them were the sort that didn't even bother to look past the surface of things, anyway.
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Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2015 2:22 am
Gelsana smiled in delight when the large brown dragon nodded his magnificent head in a show of understanding and agreement. It was her first time actually communicating with a dragon. Of course there were always dragons around the weyr but a candidates life was made busy and wondering around talking at random dragons wasn't the done thing. To see the dragon's gesture and know he understood every word really was a wonder.
Soon the dragon moved away to make himself comfortable on the grass with his rider. For a moment Gelsana considered that might be the end of the meeting, but no. Question time. She sighed a little to herself. She had never enjoyed talking about herself. She liked to show who she was through actions not words but today it was necessary to make a good impression. She crossed the space between her and the blonde haired rider and settled at her side.
"Yes, I grew up on a farm with my family for 17 years, we raised herdbeast it taught me a lot of useful skills like some small level of carpentry for fences and things and butchering skills. And of course I can take care of a house, sew and cook But it does not really matter now because I do not intend to go back there. I am quite confident that I will impress a dragon in the turns I have left to stand, but if I do fail then I will put myself forward as a wherhandler. I know it is looked down on for aged out candidates to do so but I do not wish to waste all the skills I have developed over the last turn." she announced stubbornly. "And I find weyr life agrees with me." she added. It was militaristic, but that meant, neat and ordered at all times. Which suited her down to the ground. Add the daily tests of fitness and chores and she started to enjoy herself.
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Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2015 5:33 am
'She talks a lot,' Pelgalath commented, his tail swaying from side to side rhythmically as he listened. 'Oh, hush, you,' his rider retorted, thankful that Gelsana couldn't hear her dragon's blunt words. The brown's opinions could be a little biting at times, and as this was a first impression, that was the last thing that the newly appointed squire needed. 'I will say one thing, however,' he went on to say, peeking over at the young girl with a gentle croon. 'Herdbeast are simply delicious.'
Til'lene, although she didn't say it, was quite impressed by Gelsana's description of her home and things she was familiar with. Carpentry, butchering, sewing, cooking and caring for a house -- all of that was quite a lot to know, even for a seventeen year old. Despite all the useful things that she was familiar with, the wingrider could also understand the candidate's desire to not go back. Before she was a candidate, she was a simple fisherman's daughter, a far step backward to the job she held now. It wasn't that she didn't love the trade her father's practiced; she did, and she was quite good at it, in her time. Being a rider just offered way more in terms of not only possibilities, but status.
"You seem quite set in the paths you have decided for yourself, should circumstances arise," the brown rider commented thoughtfully. That was good. At least she wouldn't be too disappointed upon not Impressing a dragon, should that be the case. Gelsana already struck her as quite practical, and it had only been a few minutes since the three of them had started talking with one another. "You've got a practical mindset. That is good. I've made the best decision in terms of a squire."
Now it was time for the brown to pose a question to the young girl. 'What color dragon do you hope to Impress,' he wanted to know, his large wings fluttering some at the inquiry. For some, the color of their dragon did not matter. A color was just a color. Yet for others, color was one of the most important things about their potential lifemate. Some individuals would not settle for any less than metallic. Pelgalath, obviously, was trying to gauge what sort of person Gelsana was by asking. Was she a colorist or perhaps colorblind? Inquiring minds wanted to know! To make things easier for her dragon, Til'lene relayed the question, and waited to see what the girl's response was. It was clear she was just as interested as the brown.
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Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2015 5:58 am
Gel sat a little straighter and her eyes flashed with quite confidence when she was complimented, she was not above pride and the rider was praising the very core of her character, if that was not something to be proud of she didn't know what was. If she had heard Pelgalath she would have told him he was talking nonsense and he only felt that way because he didn't talk nearly enough.
Despite that she opted to respond to the brown riders commentary with a simple nod of her head. Yes she was set on her path, there was nothing else to say about the matter. And she could not think how to respond verbally to Ti'lene's pleasure at her choice and practicality of her squire. But when the question was at last delivered she wetted her lips and settled into silence to consider her response. Of course she had thought about it, what candidate hadn't? But she had never had to put it into words before.
"A brown or a bronze would be best." she responded at last. "You know, although it is not proper, I can not help but question the competence of many of the wing leaders here. Not all of course, but a few. It would be best if I can gain a high enough rank I don't have to follow foolish men. A bronze or brown would make that easier. But getting a blue or a green will just mean that I have a extra challenge. But yes, a brown or a bronze would make my plans easier." Again, her tone was blunt and her outlook practical.
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Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2015 8:25 am
That sort of answer was one that Pelgalath would be looking for. If it were up to him, everyone would be partnered with brown dragons and brown dragons only. As prideful as he was toward his own color, he and his rider knew what Gelsana said was true. Most individuals in positions of power, at least within their Weyr, were brown riders at least. Bronze generally made the majority of those in power, so it wasn't necessarily colorism that drew the candidate toward those kinds of dragons; it was practicality.
'She'd do well on a brown,' the dragon commented, moving his head to Gelsana's level so he could give her a gentle nudge, if she allowed. 'Even a bronze, if she were so lucky.' Impressing a bronze, however, would be a lot more difficult than a brown, the pair of them knew. The shiny males were quite rare when it came to hatchings. Evmeth and Malcarreth were lucky enough to sire three of them at the latest clutch, however, so perhaps fate would be on her side when her time to stand came.
Til'lene saw a bit of herself in her young squire. While Gelsana hoped for a prominent position when she rose to join the ranks of the other dragonriders, so, too, did she. She had run for the position of weyrleader, after all. Even if she hadn't managed to snag the position for herself, others in the Weyr were well aware of the brown rider's desire to have a higher rank than she already had. Should she Impress a dragon, Til could see Gelsana going far in her dragonriding career. She had the mindset for it.
"Both Pel and I can see you on a brown or a bronze, should you get so lucky," she went on to say with a smile. "The last clutch produced two browns and three bronzes, so who knows. Things might be in your favor when it is your turn to stand."
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Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2015 2:54 pm
The young candidate felt the nudge to her side and took the hint. She raised her hand and rather boldly offered a small scratch just under his eye ridges, she had noted many dragon riders doing it before and the dragons seemed to enjoy it. "Of course I would be very lucky to have a brown like you Pelgalath." A little flattery never did any harm and his size really was quite impressive for a bronze let alone a brown.
To Til'lene she offered a small half smile. "Thankyou and I know, I was in the stands." As a candidate, but not a fully trained one she had not been permitted to present herself on the sands at that time, but she had watched and secretly wished for a rare stands impression, for one of the dragons to turn to her and call her.
Of course that had been quite a foolish wish and she had scolded herself for it after. She would get her chance. "Now thanks to you. I can stand next time there is a clutch." Even if a gold rose in flight that day it would still be several turns before the eggs were ready and she had done well enough in her lessons she would be granted a place with the rest. However the young girl was already growing restless, she stretched each long leg, curled it under her and the pushed them out again, unable to get get comfortable. "Ti'lene, it would be my advice we move soon, the candidates will be returning from their lecture, we are blocking the entrance." Or rather. Pel was blocking the entrance.
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Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2015 4:38 pm
Standing for hatchings was always both an exciting and nerve-wracking time. Exciting for the fact that eggs were hatching around you, and that candidates would be paired up with their lifelong partners. On the opposite end of that spectrum, however, it was nerve-wracking because not all candidates Impressed right away, and there was no way to know if they would or not until it happened. Til'lene was lucky when she was able to Stand. The moment Pelgalath hatched from his egg, he almost took out a few of her peers trying to get to her. It was a momentous meeting, and the two of them had been inseparable ever since.
"You're going to do great," she said with a smile, noting the squire's words that candidates would be back soon. Awww, shard it! The spot they were in was comfortable, too. Yet Gelsana was right; her peers would be back soon, and if they didn't move, it'd be nigh impossible to get past the behemoth of a brown. Not wanting to bar the young hopefuls from their barracks, Til'lene allowed herself to stand, stretch some, and then move over to her dragon's side. Pelgalath didn't miss a beat, and instinctively stood when his rider came over. He knew what time it was, and he was fully prepared to move the pair of women.
"C'mon, then. I suppose we can head to my Weyr. It'll be more private, anyway."
'This should be interesting.'
The blond wasted no time. In one fluid motion, she slung her leg over the saddle where she sat upon Pelgalath's back, and then motioned for Gelsana to sit behind her. Flying to their Weyr would be a lot quicker, and she was sure the candidate was bound to enjoy it. Such were the perks of being a newly appointed squire!
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Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2015 5:38 pm
Gelsana didn't say it but she was sure Ti'lene was right, even if she didn't impress she would be the perfect example of what a candidate should be on the sands. She would set the standard and maybe, that would have to be enough. She followed her new patron into a smooth stand, unfolding her limbs with the awkward grace of a long legged spider.
It was natural that Gel assumed they would be moving to their new location by foot. After all that was her primary mode of transport. it had been her only one in the last turn. She was used to it. She brushed herself down and straightened her uniform with care. By the time she looked up Til'lene was already on dragon back.
Gelsana started and licked her lips. "You'll have to excuse my hesitation Til'lene, I have not been on a dragon since I first came to the weyr." she told her. In preparation Gel took a slow step back and studied the straps running over the browns body with a critical eye.
Once she was sure she had mapped her path she took a small jump, caught the straps and tried to pull herself behind Til, there was one brief foot slip but then she was on. She wasn't quite familiar enough with Til'lene to wrap her arms around her waist yet but she did grab great handfuls of her jacket material, digging them in far enough to make her knuckles turn white. Yes she was nervous, but the way she held her head up proudly suggested she was not going to admit it. "Okay, lets go, wherever you think is best rider."
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