|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 7:27 am
Everything had calmed down. A few good nights of sleep and, though the ill feeling of the warped hatching still hung in the air over some people's heads, the Weyr was almost entirely back to its old self. After all, terrible things could not hold people down for very long.
Not most people, at least. But, though Zafir had resolved, on the sands, to make more friends and learn more names, he had done very little of that. he'd attended candidate lessons, a fulfilled his chores with little interest. He had even begun work on a new tunic for Raedue, choosing colors and nabbing scraps of fabric that presented themselves. He was sure he could request real bolts of the stuff from someone, somewhere, but where that was he did not know. Besides, he didn't feel like imposing himself on the Weyr. Not with what he was considering.
Leaving.
He had given up his apprenticeship to come and stand on these sands, and look what had happened! Oh, of course, it was just coincidence, just chance. It had nothing to do with him, and it should not discourage him so heavily. But it did. The only thing he had ever been any good at was working with fabric. He didn't have the head to stay calm and focused when dealing with weird catastrophes, like dragonriders had to do so often. How many times had he said, in jest, that someone who had so much trouble with wind that he couldn't even sail had no business on dragon wings? It had stopped sounding like a joke, now.
Maybe this was a phase that every candidate who didn't Impress on their first try went through. But, the worthy would pull through and stand again, even if it meant- like that girl whose name he hadn't even asked for- they might have to be ignored and unchosen a second or third or fourth time. Zafir doubted he was one of the worthy. People had always fancied him a flirt and a leader, and where that image had come from, he did not know. There was not a bone in his body that had the strength to lead.
But, the day was growing old, and he had yet to take Raedue's measurements. He couldn't start sewing anything together without proper measures. Especially when someone as tall and twiggy as the runner was concerned.
Zafir gathered his scraps of fabric- almost enough now to cover what he imagined he'd need- in a little basket he'd borrowed (with permission, this time) from the kitchens, and left his own depressingly empty room, headed towards Raedue's, and his endless energy.
It did not take long before he was standing at the entrance, wondering whether pounding on the thin door was necessary.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 2:28 pm
Raedue blinked when he returned to his shared room and saw Zafir standing there. He smiled though, glad to see his friend. It had been some time since he had been able to spend any amount of time with him, and whatever the reason. he was glad the other candidate had shown up.
"Hey, Zafir! Where ya been? In a place this crowded, I thought i'd see more of you than I have. Glad you're here though. Would you like to come in? The other guys aren't here right now, they're off doing assigned chores. You know, I think they plan it like that, so that despite how many people are in the rooms, there's always at least a little bit of time each day when we can all have the room to ourselves."
He looked a little closer at the other boy as they entered, and noticed that he seemed a little down and depressed about something. Hmmm..... Maybe he could pry it out of him later.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 6:36 pm
Zafir jumped, startled by his friend's sudden appearance. Apparently, knocking wouldn't have been effective at all, since he'd have been beating on an empty room. He was suddenly grateful he hadn't been caught making a fool of himself, pounding away at the abandoned cavern.
The weaver followed his friend in, head lowered, but his voice did not reflect his depression. Instead, he sounded almost nervous. "Mostly, I've been hiding out and doing drudge-work, just like everyone else."
Even with his mind stuffed full of failure and sadness, he could not help noticing that this was the first time someone outside his family was willing to trust him enough to make a real, honest to goodness piece of clothing, rather than to patch, or weave, or mix dyes for hours on end.
"I've been collecting these fabrics, though. I thought I'd come and take your measures..." He gestured to a twine cord on top of the little pile in the basket. It wasn't, probably, as accurate as the tapes and notetaking pads at the crafthall- or necessarily even a particularly good idea- but between a cord of nearly two dragonlengths and some clever knotting, he could take good enough measures for a simple tunic.
"You knwo... since I promised I'd make us new tunics for the next Gather. I need something to fill up my free time." He paused, realizing how silly that sounded. There was nearly no free time to be had, if it wasn't late at night. "Besides, practicing your craft is important!" Again, it sounded a little strange. Candidates were practicing a craft, in a way, whenever they attended lessons. The craft of Dragonriding.
He shook his head, hair flying wayward with the motion, and grabbed the cord up, readying to pull it taut against whichever limb Raedue thought to offer. Each arm had to be measured separately, after all, or the sleeves might come past the wrist on one side, and just short of it on the other.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 4:04 pm
Raedue tilted his head at his friend's attitude. Maybe he should.... but..... No. Not yet. He held out an arm for measuring while grinning. "You're really gonna make me something? I bet it will be awesome." And it would. Because... he had never actually really had anything made for him that was purely frivolous. His parents had never really been into going to gathers, and neither had he. Never really had occasion to do so. He'd always rather been training.
He nodded at the latter statement. "Oh yes. Practicing is very important. I have to make sure I get some serious running and stretching in every day." He didn't really realize how silly it sounded to be practicing you old craft when you were trying to become a dragon rider. After all, running was his craft, and it was such a part of his daily life that it seemed natural to still be practicing it. So why not others.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 5:24 pm
Zafir's nervous smile widened at Raedue's unabashed confidence in his skills. He only hoped it would, in fact, be as good as Raedue as imagining. After all, it was mostly patchwork pieces of fabric. But, with a careful eye, he could undoubtedly make a nice, clean pattern out of them. What kind of well-practiced apprentice couldn't?
"I don't know how awesome it will be, but I'm sure it'll fit at least. You're much taller than my usual assignments. Apprentices only seem to get clothes for little children..."
Zafir took a moment to try and grasp when Raedue might do his running. Did he wake up unreasonably early? Or was he insane enough to run in the blazing sun and heavy humidity of Ista? Perhaps he ran around inside the caverns of the Weyr...
"Indeed. And there's nothing like crafting to take your mind off things, and just relax. There doesn't ever seem to be enough relaxing time for us. But, then again, I hear its ever more hectic for the Weyrlings." His smile paled, but he carefully kept his tone unchanged. "Though I doubt they complain too hard, what with their dragons and all."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2009 10:00 am
"Well, I suppose I am taller than most people around holds and weyrs. But then, we'll just say its good practice for you, right?"
Hmmmm..... Zafir still seemed to be rather upset about something. Should he keep waiting, or should he ask him about it?
"Yeah. It probably is very hectic for weyrlings. But probably only until their dragons get older. I would think that when they don't have to dance attendance on them near all day, every day, it will get better. And you're right. The benefits far outweigh the difficulties." He chewed his lip as he stood there getting measured. "Sooo....... you seem...... I don't know...... Upset about something. Is anything wrong?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:14 am
Zafir's hands tightened around the long string as he took the measure of Raedue's left arm. His knuckles were turning a bit white from the pressure, but it least he was steady. He tied a deft knot where the string met Raedue's wrist, and moved towards his right arm, before finally replying.
"It's nothing important." He began, not sure how to phrase this. It wasn't something he'd come here intending to talk about, but he wouldn't turn down the chance either. Who knew when he'd find a sympathetic ear again? And decision making always came easier when he had to rationalize and explain his choices to someone else. When he had to actually use some semblance of logic, rather than running entirely on vague emotional concepts.
He glanced down as his stomach, where the bruise from the betweening blue's crash into him was beginning to fade to yellow.
"I've just been thinking... I'm not sure I'm meant for this. For turns, I was certain that Weavercraft was my... my calling in life. And then, I up and abandoned it to stand at this hatching and... Well, look how it ended? Two dead dragons, injuries everywhere, and I'm still left alone. I wonder if I'm meant to be alone? If I stay here until I'm too old to stand... Then, will I even be allowed to return to the crafthall?" He paused, wondering if Raedue could even follow the twisted logic of those words to the proper destination.
"I think... I think I am going to leave. Go back home, where I belong."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2009 12:22 am
Raedue's brain stuttered to a halt. "Whoah, woah, wait. You're gonna leave? But.... but why? I mean, sure things were a little bad this time. But.... they aren't always..... Things just... happened. People weren't careful enough, and.... Eggs don't always hatch. I have heard of it happening." He was going to leave? But.... Why even come if he was going to give up so easily. Oh. His friend had gotten hurt, right? Maybe that wasn't the best thing to say. "I mean, not that you did anything wrong, but... No one died, and everybody is allright.... I.... Accidents happen, right? And... i'm sure you could go back to your craft should something happen. You could probably even get some, I dunno. Take home assignments or something. Like, they give you some tasks and you complete them here and then they test you. I dunno how those things work though. I...." He shut up and shook his head. He was babbling, and he knew it. Not good. "Either way, i'm sure that if things don't work out here. But... they will work out. You just gotta give it time. I don't know how a dragon wouldn't want you. You're a great guy. I... you should stay. Really."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
