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 Posted: Sat Mar 27, 2010 7:14 pm
"She helps me...keep watch over the flocks. She catches anything that might snap or bother at them, like trundlebugs or tunnelsnakes. She can also round up the ovines for me when they get too far apart. Very much useful, more than others I have seen."
Saying that she'd seen others with flitters was rather exaggerating. Flitts were rare, she'd only seen less then a handful total, which is another reason why she was pleasantly surprised to see the Brown. She didn't think there were many at all around the Weyr.
"Perhaps you should t-t-try to teach him whistles. Browns are sm-smarter, right? Skybox is only a green and she knows well."
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Posted: Sat Mar 27, 2010 7:17 pm
"Sounds useful," she replied with a nod. She could appreciate what her little green was capable of, for sure.
"Oh, he's smarter than is good for him," she said, though her tone was light. As if he knew they were talking about him, her appeared above their heads, chirruping loudly at them before settling down Rhilira's shoulder, looking none-too-pleased. "I sometimes wonder who Impressed whom," she said sourly. "Though being able to call him by whistles would be convenient, certainly."
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Posted: Sat Mar 27, 2010 7:29 pm
"If...if you want to learn I can help teach you. You can teach whistles to your runnerbeast too, it will help that way and makes it easier than having to call. Plus, I t-t-think that animals le...learn sounds mu-much easier than wo-wo-words."
She really only spoke from what she knew. As if Tie had any real reason to say anything to anyone about what animals could and could not learn, it wouldn't be right. Tie could actually show that she could care for animals and often knew the right way to tell their moods, but anyway.
"My...my Pippin knows whistles too. It is interesting."
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Posted: Sun Mar 28, 2010 12:38 pm
Rhilira noticed that it had started to rain outside the pens. No, rain is certainly an understatement... The girl was grateful that Tiepet had stopped her from going out. This was clearly just the beginning to a much worse storm, and the runner that occupied the stables shifted and stamped their hooves uneasily against the noise. However, it looked like she wasn't going back to the caverns until it at lest let up. She didn't want to go back soaked and have to work in a wet tunic all day. "Would you?" she replied, surprised by the offer, really. "Animals aren't really my specialty, except maybe getting a burdenbeast to move when it seems less inclined... I'm better at dealing with people."
Prah chattered near her ear, not pleased by what the girl had offered. She ignored him annoyed chirping, and he eventually stopped, less-than-satisfied, but rest his head down and closing his whirling eyes. It was too early for this.
"Who's Pippin?" She wasn't sure she had mentioned having another firelizard, and she clearly didn't have a runnerbeast... So who would Pippin be?
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Posted: Sun Mar 28, 2010 12:55 pm
"P-P-Pippin is my o-o-ovine. He's a sire ram we u-use for breeding so-some of the stock. I...I have had him si-since I was about se-seven turns. His pen is out over there."
The girl pointed out into the blinding sheets of rain, glad inside that she had stopped this other person from going out. They most certainly would have had problems riding in the dark to start with, but riding in the dark with sheets of rain pouring around sounded like a bad idea getting worse. Walking around in the rain wasn't much of a problem for Tiepet though, seeing as she spent lots of time running around trying to help the flocks during storms. Animals had to be protected after all.
"Aaand I will help you train for whistle. Perhaps it...it would be best if Prah and Skybox...stayed together for a while. I...I have heard that f-f-flitters lea-learn better when wi-with one another."
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Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 7:32 pm
"Oh, huh," she said, glancing in the direction she pointed. "That's a pretty special ovine then, I'd assume." Really, Rhilira didn't see the big deal about ovine. They were good to eat, but she didn't hold them in the same light as she did burdenbeasts or runnerbeasts. Then again, it's probably the same feeling that she has about burdenbeasts. Neither us of really has a use for them.
"Yeah, that would probably be a good idea. Prah could use another firelizard to spend time with. Maybe she'll make him more personable!" Prah opened one eye at this and huffed, shifting his wings on his back before going into his pseudo-doze. In truth, they had a good relationship, but she wasn't going to deny that he was cranky and stubborn.
Wow, it's really coming down out there... She glanced outside. Even though the sun was due to be rising, it was still dark over the bowl. Not a good day to get caught outside - even the dragons probably wouldn't want to be out in it, even if it meant a good scrub.
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Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 8:05 pm
"I don't know special...but....important yes. One day we will h-h-have to k-k-ill him for fo-ood, but until then I raise him. He has done well."
It was oddly easy for Tiepet to say she was eventually going to kill her pet, as she did so without even flutter her eyes. Her natural stutter stayed of course, though it was weakening as she grew more used to the woman before her. She still considered her a stranger though, so it wouldn't be good for the Trader to get her hopes up for anything.
"Um, though....Skybox doesn't understand verbal commands, so her going with you would be a bad idea. Do you think....you...your Prah would stay with me for a while? Skybox...is best at showing the ropes if I am around. Since I use whistles instead of words."
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Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 11:45 am
The trader couldn't help but cringe at the thought of having to kill a pet. True, they had done it to injured burden beasts if they couldn't heal them at their location, but she couldn't quite find the likeness in that. It would be like killing Epaulet, she considered, glancing at her runner. It amazed her that it didn't bother the girl at all.
With the request, Rhilira stroked Prah's head, and he looked up from his nap, eyes whirling, and chirped in anticipation of a request. "Think you could spend some time with Tiepet and Skybox?" she asked, gesturing over to them with a glance. He looked over, examining the girl, then returned his gaze to Rhilira, chirping his confusion. "She offered to teach you whistle commands," she said quietly with a smile. "So I don't have to demand things from you without your understanding." He was smart, but the amount of miscommunications they had was, in her opinion, ridiculous. He looked over at them again, then back to her, then unfurled his tail from around her neck and joined the pair, hovering over them, refusing to land. He chirped again at his woner, though it was one of acceptance and, really, content. He got to meet a new flit.
"Well, it doesn't seem like he has a problem with it," she said with a shrug. "But he might forget that he's with you sometimes... He doesn't have the greatest memory."
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Posted: Fri Apr 09, 2010 7:50 am
"That...will be okay. It's not like I can force him into doing anything he doesn't want...anyway - and Skybox should be able to hold his attention somewhat. She is not very bright either, though she knows well enough."
Most people would be slathering praise on their pets - firelizard or ovine or whatever else they had - but Tie had been raised as a Herder. Pets were pets, not amazing blessings from Faranth or whatever else, and they shouldn't be treated as though they were the best in the world. Sure, secret pride over things could be had, but not to the point where bragging came in to play. Unless your beast really was the best of the best, then you didn't broadcast them that way. End of story.
"I will do my best to teach him for you though. It sho-shouldn't be too hard, Browns are naturally sm-smarter than Greens. If Skybox could understand, I think he could too."
A loud peal of thunder echoed above their head, having followed a massive streak of lightining that had lit the sky up brightly. The room shook as the ground boomed, and Tie felt her legs start to get antsy beneath her. She wanted to go check on Pippin, to make sure he was alright for now. He was in a pen with an Ewe he was to be siring for, so. . . .oh, Shard it.
"Pippin."
She barely spoke the word before she darted out into the sheets of rain, uncaring that they came down hard on her skin and her bare feet sloshed in the mud that was growing thicker with each drop of water that saturated the grounds. If the other girl wanted to follow (it certainly wasn't safe for either of them!) then so be it, but Tie knew these grounds. Skybox gave a shriek before darting out the door as well, not going between, her eyes red as she moved to catch up with her running master.
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Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 11:13 am
"Shards!" she shouted as the girl fled from the cover of the beasthold. She must be pretty easily distracted, to leave a conversation for an ovine. Maybe she would do the same for Epaulet, but...
Cursing again, she pulled herself on her runner's back, fingers entwined on the mane going down his neck. He huffed angerly and pranced momentarily, but her boot heels in his side persuading him forward. "I promise nothing will happen to us," he whispered in his ear, bending low. He exhaled heavily, as though he understood - though Rhilira knew better than that - and he dashed out into the rain.
They became immediately drenched, but pressed forward in the direction that she figured the girl would have run. A clap of thunder caused Epaulet to hesitate, but she persuaded him again with her boots. It wasn't safe for either of them to be out - but it was better than the girl being out alone!
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Posted: Sun May 02, 2010 6:53 pm
The rain had no effect at all on Tiepet finding her way to Pippin's pen, her body knowing the route hundreds of times better then her eyes or mind ever could. She knew each rock when her toes came into contact, each patch of brambles that she needed to turn at. Running barefoot so many Turns here on the land had worked so well, and soon her hands found the wood that was serving as the door to where the ovines had been penned for the night.
"Pip!"
Tie opened the door, or rather let it blow open with the force of the wind and rain, and she slipped inside. All the animals were safe and sound, as to be expected, and the small girl gave a sigh of relief as she waded in amongst them. The stable was warm and slightly damp, the smell of beast and dung amplified by the humid air, but Tie shrugged it off as she found her beloved ovine. It seemed like all was well until Skybox chirped over her head and flashed a warning - that brown and that larger person were still outside. Tie gave a whistle to send Skybox back out, the green having no problem with wind and rain.
Hopefully she would find the others!
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Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 2:59 pm
Rhilira had her head low and her chest close to Epaulet's neck, occasionally whispering in his ear to persuade him forward or try to calm him down when he reared in response to a crash of thunder. She had lost sight of Tiepet on one such occasion as her runner had reared back, she holding tight to his reins, and danced in place a moment before settling back down in another direction. Luckily the other girl had left footprints in the mud, but if there was a rocky patch it was impossible for her to follow.
The pair was drenched. It was lucky that her boots was fitted very well, otherwise she figured they'd be filling with water right now. Another flash of lightning and crash of thunder panicked Epaulet and he nearly threw her off - luckily she was a good rider.
"Shards! What a mess!" Once she had gotten him to settle down again - at least to the point where he was standing restlessly - she tries to make out the terrain through the sheets of rain. She had been to the herdbeast pens before, a few times actually, on her rides. She knew where it was. The problem was, she couldn't see where the path was leading more than a few steps ahead of her.
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Posted: Sun May 16, 2010 7:24 pm
Skybox burst from between very close to the woman and her runner, her chirps calling her attention even over the pouring sheets of rain. Mostly the Green was sending images the best she could - Tiepet, this way, shelter -, and she chirped again loudly to try and make at least the Brown flitter follow. A human normally followed the flitter, or so Skybox believed, and she started back towards the pens at a pace easy enough to keep up with yet strong enough she would not be blown off course.
Meanwhile inside with the animals, Tiepet had managed to get into a comfortable seated position, her hands resting on some of the heads and backs of the ovines lowing around her. She felt at peace despite the storm, and even when the thunder shook the building she felt nothing against it. She was safe in here, and now all she needed to do was wait for that other person to show up. When that happened she'd likely say sorry for running away, but for now. . . .
"Please be safe."
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Posted: Sun May 16, 2010 8:02 pm
It was a relief to Rhilira when she saw Skybox, and heard her chirping over the storm. She started following the flitter when Prah appeared as well, apparently at the other's calling. He attached himself to Epaulet's mane and was churruping in his ear, which seemed ot be calming him down some. Rhilira could control him more easily now, and soon she could see the building through the sheets of rain. This would never happen with a dragon... Her thought was unnecessary, but it of course crossed her mind...
When they finally got to the pen, she slid from the seat of her soaked saddle and pushed the heavy door open, leading Epaulet inside after Skybox. She was absolutely drenched, her curls handing limply down her back and letting water trail down her soaked-through shirt. Epaulet had water running from him, forming a puddle around his hooves. This rescue mission had certain gone very badly, especially considering that Tiepet was here, safe and sound and looking very comfortable...
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Posted: Sun May 16, 2010 8:10 pm
Forget being comfortable - Tie was asleep! The sounds and smells of the herd around her had long since lulled the young girl into a drowsy state and soon her head could barely keep itself upright, her eyelids having grown heavy against the warmth. Eventually she just propped her elbow up against a feed trough and laid her chin against her palm, though soon her hand had slipped from beneath her ad she was snoring softly. A few of the ovines had taken to laying down right in front of or next to her, creating something of a sheep blanket. They were all beasts born under her watch, and they knew her so well.
Skybox was not amused with the sudden sleeping, but she stayed silent. A smart Green, she flittered over and landed next to her person, rather than on her, and she curled herself in a ball to prepare for resting as well. She lifted her head to look at the woman in the door and the Brown that was with her, almost as if questioning why they were still around.
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