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 Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 7:32 pm
Veyes laughed as he watched L'thor brutalize the first crab. "I think you showed that one whose boss!" He fingered around with his crab for a moment adjusting to the heat then finally tore into a leg. He sucked out the meat with just a little juice dribbling down his chin. "Delicious!!"
Grabbing the skin out of midair he opened it and took a swig. "I think has got to be the best night I've had in so many sevendays." He knew he would be stuffed by the end of the feast but he was going to take his time and enjoy it. Certainly, he wasn't wanting to race back to the boys' dorms and deal with that crowded space. Being out here felt like freedom in so many ways.
"Hey L'thor, did you ever think of what you might have done if you hadn't become Raith's rider?" he said with a curious but thoughtful look on his face. "Out here, it's so peaceful away from the noise of humanity." And for the moment as he looked up at the sky that was fast becoming star lit wondering what would happen to him in a few turns. His eyes drifted out to the pure waters and he smiled when he saw Raith's body poking out. "She's sure is quite a dragon, L'thor...I hope that one day I can say that about mine." He sighed just a little relaxed...just a little lost in that dream world he could sometimes drift to unexpectedly.
And soon he leaned back on a big rock and watched the fire for a moment then peeked down at the little egg as his thoughts started to take him away. The little egg seemed content in the sands at least but then his eye started to focus again...something had changed. Sitting up, he put down his crab leg and closed in on the egg. It was then he noticed a small hole in the shell then a tiny crack. "L'thor, I...I think its Hatching!"
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Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2009 9:51 am
What would he have done? It was such a strange, horrible idea he could hardly get his mind around it. "I suppose I would have gone back to my family," he said eventually with a shrug. "I was pretty good at trading, I could have contributed to my caravan's success... I suppose I would have been happy too. I imagine most candidates who never find their dragon go on with life just fine after a short while." Because they didn't know what they were missing, not really. Words could never convey what it was to be a dragonrider.
It seemed that Veyes' flitt egg had a wonderful sense of timing; just as L'thor was trialing off, unsure of what else to say, it decided to start cracking. L'thor took one look at it and began attacking the crab he held in earnest. "I think you're right," he said with a nod as he fought with the tough shell. "Keep a close eye on it, once it hatches I'll pass you food to give it, alright?" The crab meat was uncomfortably hot, so as he tore it up into tiny pieces L'thor blew on it to cool it down. Last thing a hatchling flitt needed was a burned throat.
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Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2009 10:26 am
"Hmm...I really don't know if I want to go back to farming. Although I don't really want to end up as a drudge in the Weyr if I don't impress. I think I could do more than that with my life. I really do. I'm just not sure what." he said as he tucked another piece of crab into his mouth. He didn't want to be a nobody all his life and watch others advance...remembering his reasons for trying to leave the farm even when the opportunity at being a rider wasn't even the first option. Yes, he would have to find something more than just farming. Life was too full of mystery for him to root to that life.
The egg wobbled a little more and Veyes watched as a nose started to poke through the small opening then stop for a moment with a small rustling noise in the egg itself. "Gee...this reminds me of eggs on the sand...in a smaller scale. " His voice trembled as he got a little bit more nervous while waiting and wondering what color might finally appear from the shell. His fingers carefully took the cooled crab from L'thor's fingers when it was offered while bits of shell fell to the ground.
Then suddenly, the egg shattered everywhere as the little flit's blue wings stretched dramatically out of the shell with a minute trumpet of a noise as if to say, "I'm here!" Its small face cocked around as Veyes's fingers appeared in its field of vision with the crab. When the fingers drifted a little closer, the tiny blue flit snorted then sneezed and freestyle waddled right up to the white meat quickly gnawing on it with small razor sharp teeth. Veyes grimaced just a little when the teeth missed the crab and got his finger instead but the smile still remained plastered on his face. "Look L'thor...its a blue...and he's Mine!"
The tiny blue flit paused for a moment an looked up at Veyes, who suddenly felt the strangest and most wonderful personal sensation of color and pictures...from Mine. It was a moment of pure rapture for the boy who hadn't thought he'd ever get a flit or dragon. But here it was - a warm pleasant feeling that seemed to anchor itself forever to Veyes' mind. Then, the realization came to him as he focused on the ideas of names. "Oh my...L'thor...I think he thought Mine was a name!"
Mine burped in agreement and then scooted over to the next bit of crab in Veyes fingers and finally scooting into Veyes' hands to get closer to the crab. Mine's attentions fixed on each morsel as his small tail flicked back and forth behind him.
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Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2009 2:33 pm
A blue! Shards but he was glad it wasn't green or he would have been awfully jealous. L'thor grinned as the tiny creature set about devouring crab and took another swig of wine. "Looks like it," he agreed with a nod. "Ad flitt names go it's not bad, I've heard some terrible ones in the past." Finally - after what two turns now? - Veyes had a flitt of his own. Maybe the little creature would take his mind off the Weyr's conditions, he hoped it would.
"He's lovely," L'thor added, noticing that his four had returned to him and sending them feelings of affection as they crooned at the new hatchling. "They seem to think so too!" he chuckled. "Mine doesn't need to worry about nasty bullies, he had four big brothers to look after him!" Yes, it was a good thing Veyes hadn't got a female. If he had, one of the terrible quartet might have caught her one day and while the feelings from a flitt mating flight were nothing like as intense as the feelings from dragon mating flights there was still something there and... Well, it was Veyes; he was far too young. Not too young to be doing such things, but too young to be doing them with him. Flitt flights might not force you into bed with your opposite, but they did put rather insistent thoughts in your head. Shards that would have been awkward.
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Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2009 3:03 pm
Mine looked up from Veyes hands and peered over at the bigger flits. For a moment the little eyes blinked at the larger flits then he puffed up just a bit and squawked. Not in a mean manner but more like trying to become larger than he was. Mine attempted to walk out of Veyes hands to get closer to teh other flits but it turned into more of a waddling with a plump belly while stumbling on its own feet before huffing and sitting at Veyes' toes as if tired.
"Well I guess the name isn't too bad. I just didn't expect he'd choose something from what I said straight away." He grinned a bit more. " Yes, he's adorable and so small! I bet when he's bigger he will be hanging out with his older brothers!" He really hoped the little guy would take to the other flits. It would probably help him learn things faster and have friends too.
Veyes could feel the mental yawn of the tiny flit and laughed. "I think he wore himself out, L'thor" Mine laid his small head on the inner arch of Veyes foot and took a small breath. Then curled up its wings contently while its eyes watched the other flits closely.
Veyes might have had something to say about L'thor's thoughts if they had been spoken aloud since he was rather attracted to the man but could never figure out the right way to express it to his mentor without worrying that he might alienate himself from him.
"Hmm...he seems pretty gentle so far. I'm hopeful he doesn't turn into a toe biter like Mal's flit." said Veyes as he gently moved his other foot close by in a cobbler pose so the flit had a place for his tail to drape as well. "Gosh, I didn't think he'd take to me so easily but he's like...really relaxed and easy going. Did yours start out like this?"
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Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2009 4:42 pm
L'thor smiled and nodded to the question. "Yes. They are... a little like dragons. Once they've bonded to you, they're your and you're theirs. Some will try to push you around, and - haha - some will become nippy but they love you in the end even if they pretend not to sometimes." River chose this moment to clamber up onto L'thor's head, and the rider sighed softly. "Sometimes," he said with a wry smile as the little blue clung to his hair, "I almost wish for slightly less overt displays of affection. A flitt on the head is not the best of looks, but of late he seems to like that perch best."
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Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2009 7:52 pm
Veyes grinned back for a moment but then was distracted by the little flit's sleeping pose between his feet. "I guess so. I see some of what he's thinking but...its not like words. He's seems like a little determined guy. Well, he's the lucky one from his clutch to live so I'm glad your flits are around for him. I'm sure he'll have his own questions that I can't answer in time." He wanted to stroke the little mite but was content to leave the tot between his feet even if it proved to be an uncomfortable position.
I guess when we go back home we won't be able to go between. I don't think this little guy is ready for that. How do they learn to go between L'thor? I mean we don't ride them like dragons."
Veyes laughed when he looked up at River. "Oh boy, that might be a problem. I've got a lot of hair. But he does look rather cute on your head. All clingy and almost a blue hat with ...tail tassel." His imagination filled in all the clever details that he couldn't describe unless he put it in the course of a story.
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Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 6:34 am
Cute looking or not, River had those sharp little claws digging into his scalp. L'thor frowned and lifted the excitable creature down into his lap. "Stay there, good hat. Humm... I agree, better to fly back; it won't take us all that long even if we take it easy. Best not to give the poor little thing such a shock to the system so early... I don't actually know how they learn," he went on with a slight shrug, "they just start doing it, the same as they just learn to fly. Now, Rust and Dancer learned both a bit faster than River and Dusk did, possibly because the blues didn't have older flitts around to teach them, possibly just because browns are brighter, it's hard to say. Still though, it comes naturally to them, that at least isn't something you need to worry about."
"I am sure it would come naturally to us as well," Raith decided to put in to her rider, "if we didn't have silly riders confusing us at any rate. That's why we need weyrling lessons, to learn to mostly ignore you silly lot!"
"Oh, thank you Raith," L'thor snorted, turning his head to look at the sleek green head that had just popped out of the water, eyes glittering mischievously. "She said dragons could learn everything by themselves if not for their stupid riders confusing them," he passed on to Veyes with a grin. "I do hope your dragon is a little kinder to you than she is to me!"
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Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 7:10 am
Veyes giggles just a little as L'thor called River a 'hat'. River really was a sweet flit if not a bit over snuggly. It was rather cute to watch and certainly Veyes enjoyed the entertainment each time he saw L'thor's 'sons' demand personal attention. "I betting it just happens. They sneeze end up in between and think to themselves 'Oh Shards!' and pop out back in place." he said with a continued grin. At any rate it didn't sound like to Veyes he'd have too much to worry about since it seemed some of it was instinctual for them.
He broke open another crab leg as they spoke and began to eat it. They were a bit cooler now since Mine had taken all his thoughts away from eating. "Ha! She's probably right! But then again, you can tell Raith that she was the one who chose you, L'thor." He had a feeling that the comment might get the dragon going just a little but he did think that it might give L'thor a good reply at any rate. "I don't know...Raith's pretty sweet but yeah...you never know what you might get on the sands. Hopefully something that gets along with me is what I can wish for."
Veyes glanced back at Raith as her impish look wasn't lost to the boy. "You know if she were a woman, I'd be really afraid about now. Even so, I am sure that if little Mine had not been born just moments ago, she probably would be dousing us with the ocean at the moment." He turned back to look at L'thor. "Did you show her, Mine yet? She should see my little flit!"
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Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2009 6:34 am
Raith's head promptly vanished again at Veyes' comment, and all L'thor got from her was a mental mutter before she went silent. "Ha," L'thor grinned, "foiled! She heard what you said and now she's peeved. She's seen Mine, too, and she thinks he's very sweet. She does like flitts, which is good I suppose or she'd have lost patience with me a long time ago." If she had hated flitts, she wouldn't have chosen him he suspected; hatchlings seemed to be very discerning, she had probably sensed River and Dusk the moment she first looked at him.
"As to getting on with your dragon, everyone does really. Some are perfectly harmonious, some snip at each other like Raith and myself, and some pairs disagree on how hard they should be working, but in the end it's always the best and closest relationship you can have. Not to say that dragons and riders can't argue, but it all comes out alright in the end." What kind of dragon would choose Veyes, he wondered? A fellow dreamer? A more down to earth dragon? A serious dragon? A joker? A tease like Raith? He couldn't begin to guess honestly, but he did hope Veyes got a green or at least a blue; they were the best after all!
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Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2009 8:15 am
Veyes couldn't help but laughing a little more when L'thor told him. "Good. You have to win sometimes, L'thor. But I'm glad she likes Mine. He's really....wonderful." In time so short he had become sincerely enraptured with the little mite. Oh he had to avoid spoiling him somehow so he didn't become a problem! "Yes, I guess she would have lost patience because you're a magnet for Flits! I swear I must have been lucky that Mine chose me and didn't waddle all the way over to you instead."
He nodded slowly while his thoughts drifted along L'thor's comment, "I guess you're right, something that fits me in some way will show up. I just wish he or she would get around to becoming an egg so I could finally meet them. But..." he sighed, "...my dragon seems to be taking his or her sweet time." However, even as he thought about it, Mine rolled on to his back between the two feet bringing a smile to Veyes face again. "Yeah, well I guess I really won't have time to think to much about it though. This little guy is going to be keeping me busy for awhile I bet." Stretching his arms out he leaned back again the rock behind him. "Mm...I think if a hatching is soon, I might have to leave Mine with your boys. You think they'd be able to take care of him?"
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Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2009 8:04 am
L'thor smiled and nodded. "Of course. They can keep him out of the way when you go to Touchings and Hatchings as well. Having one more flitt around the weyr won't be a problem, and V'kain would be delighted. He loves the little things as much as I do, but he's never managed to get one. I meant to give Rust to him, but the little devil hatched while he was out drilling!" Aware that he was being spoken about, Rust gave a rare, quiet croon and bumped his head against L'thor's leg.
"I do hope your dragon arrives soon," L'thor went on, taking more crab for himself and fending dusk off as the lazy blue roused himself in an attempt to steal some. "If it doesn't," the rider grinned, "well with all I'm teaching you, you'll have almost nothing to learn in weyrling lessons! You'd be bored out of your mind until you got to the bits with actual flying involved, and that takes a little while." He remembered his first flight with Raith; it had been perfect, not in execution, but in feeling. It had been completely and utterly... right. It was what they had both been born to do.
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Posted: Fri Sep 18, 2009 8:46 am
Veyes watched his tiny flit as took another drink from the skin, "Thanks, I don't think I'd want Z'nal to see me with a flit on the sands. Ren got into a little trouble when his showed up so I'd rather not get in anyone's sights." Setting the skin down he adjusted his seating position just a little as his feet began to tire of being in the same position for the baby flit.
"Awh, Rust is being so cute. He really does love you, L'thor. Maybe that's why he cracked before V'kain came home. He had already chosen you." The flit's head bump reminded Veyes more of a dog than a flit which made the action ever more endearing. "If Mine turns out as affectionate as your boys, I will be very happy." He reached down and carefully moved the tiny blue to spare his foot a cramp then continued to speak.
"You know I don't mind being really far ahead of the weyrling class. I'm going to view it as a refresher course for me and a means to be more prepared for my dragon who will need weyrling lessons. I'd rather be ahead of my dragon in skills at first because I want to be useful to him or her rather than stumbling around trying to figure it all out at the same time. And well, sometimes people in the Weyr aren't all that friendly so I'd rather not have to ask others too many questions." He pulled another crab out of the pot and broke off a leg to suck out more meat. "Really can't wait for my dragon to come find me. I'm sure it will happen one day." He still had hope even if the Weyr hadn't turned out to be the glorious place that he envisioned when he had first arrived.
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Posted: Fri Sep 18, 2009 9:25 am
Hearing his name Rust turned his head to Veyes, eyes swirling brighter green again. It always took him a good while to get used to anyone new, but once he did of course he couldn't remember ever being shy of them.
"Maybe he'll learn by example," L'thor suggested with a grin as he passed meat out to each of his flitts and drank more wine. "He certainly doesn't seem snappy, ha, Dusk was awfully snappy when he was young. Always seemed to be convinced that he was starving to death even when he was almost twice this size of River." Dusk, who was gulping down his piece of meat with great enthusiasm, looked up at L'thor and scowled as much as a flitt ever could; he was being teased, he knew it... but then L'thor passed him more crab, and all was forgiven.
"There's something to be said for being ahead of the class," L'thor agreed with a nod, "in my class, in most classes I imagine, the weyrbrats had a considerable advantage over the rest of us. I expect you'll be on a par with them at least, probably above given you can even mend riding straps. I've no doubt that by the time there's another clutch on the sands you'll be able to make a decent set from scratch." In the rider-dragon areas, everyone was on a level footing at least to start with, but in other areas Veyes would certainly have a nice head start. Maybe when F'sey noticed that, he'd want to know why and Veyes' idea for candidate tutoring could take off.
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Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2009 7:27 am
"I hope he does because I surely don't want him turning out like some of the other flits I have met that aren't yours." He didn't want a biter or one that did nose dives upon every person that greeted the person they bonded too. He just really wanted a reasonable flit for the most part. With just a few quirks that made him all the more adorable. Well, he couldn't exactly tell the little mite what sort of personality to have, he hoped the little guy could learn some good habits and hopefully they could avoid the bad ones together.
"Indeed. I haven't been at the head of anything in my life so if I'm possibly ahead of most weyrlings when my dragon arrives it won't bother me a bit. I want to be the best rider that I can be. And I want to be able to make sure that I'm ready for the dragon rather than trying to figure out stuff while the dragon is figuring it out too. I can't wait to try my hand at making my own straps even if I've no dragon to put them on. But maybe Raith will be my dragon model again? At least you could get some use out of a new pair if I made them?"
He really wanted to reach the next level of the weyrling objectives. Even without a dragon he found that there were so many things to understand about them. Since he hadn't really found that many friends in the Weyr, his complete attention was able to be devoted to pursuing the dream rather than distracted by trivial things. It kept him out of trouble as far as he was concerned. Ever since Con and that incident by the lake he was much more thoughtful about some things and maybe less tolerant of others. The Weyr had taught him several lessons in life so far...none of them the ones he had been expecting but he was wiser for it.
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