|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 5:13 pm
"Really now? Dreadful to hear." Chavel seemed rather aghast at her confessions, brows arching high and face twisting into a most pitiable look-- even if it only lasted a few seconds. "Romance, as they say, is the spice of life as we know it! In my experience, there's nothing better to ignite one's deepest passions!"
But who were they? And what did he know about romance? Seemed like Pavo was his one and only love anymore.
"... But there's a first time for everything," he digressed just as quickly, but to nothing but smiles and skipping and all-around cheer. "There's really something special about this time of day-- ... or night, rather. Perhaps it's that electric tingle in the air, or the mystery of what lurks in darkness we cannot see beyond..."
Tolo, apparently growing rather tired of his rambling, hiccuped and butted him in the neck to draw the man's attention, earning a light scratch on the head for his efforts.
"We'll have to do this more often, the two of us," he added as an afterthought, glancing back up, and ahead, to the blue flit gliding just ahead of them. "Your company's charming beyond measure."
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 5:36 pm
Ohhhh compliments -- taken with a pinch of salt, of course, but really it was nice to be out of the kitchen and have someone to converse with on matters that didn't involve what she was making for dinner or lunch or baking or whatever it was they were doing. But no matter.
"Perhaps ones that are better timed following the evening meal so we don't spend several hours walking, yes?" I WOULD LOVE TO GO ON A WALK WITH YOU AGAIN IF IT WASN'T STARTING SO LATE AT NIGHT TO BEGIN WITH YOU SILLY CHARMING MAN. No really, he was charming in his own twisted delightful way.
She enjoyed his company at least.
No matter, though. "Well, perhaps my passions are buried too deep to me to even know that they're there yet." she joked, sighing lightly while looking up to the sky with a slight frown.
Alas.....
"But it is pleasant... taking a break, that is."
Yes.. yes, she could make time for this kind of a break more often.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 6:34 pm
"Perhaps." Just one word he replied at first, and for a moment it almost seemed like he was only parroting right back at her, grinning brightly still. "Though I think there's a certain thrill in the passive rebellion, too, don't you agree?" He didn't even wait for her to respond before he laughed-- which got another hiss out of Tolo-- and shook his head.
"... Either way, we're here and now and it's still a beautiful night in my book." He had total and complete confidence in her passions being kindled yet! It would just take some time and a bit of sensitive tinder, that was all. "Everyone needs to distance themselves from the usual here and there... I was starting to feel rather cramped in the Weyr myself, actually."
Sure, there was a certain charm to the thick aroma of weyrhide, sweat and firestone that permeated every hall and room in the giant complex, but the salty ocean air seemed to purify his senses, lift his spirits and, he could've sworn, even put Tolo in a better mood than usual.
Speaking of, the tiny little bronze had finally decided to leave his 'perch' in favor of launching off and flapping after Tolo, still hilariously diminutive to the blue he should've otherwise dwarfed. Two firelizards, wheeling about the sky...
"... How long exactly have you been at Ista?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 8:30 pm
"Ah, but I don't trust the help in the kitchen a stone's throw, really." she answered. "Unless we want everybody to get food poisoning." OH YES, BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE FANTASTIC, NOW WOULDN'T IT? Because then Mirelle would get a bad reputation from it and thus make her obtaining of 'Master' rank that much more difficult.
Nothing she could do about it at that point unfortunately.Then again, it hadn't happened yet, so there.
......................However...
................................................................................................
..........
That question just didn't sit right with Shalaera who actually frowned at having been asked it, but ended up sighing and scratching the end of her nose. "My parents were both riders stations at Ista."
...
......... Yeah, way to remind her how hard she FAIIILLLEEEEDDDDDD. Then again, she was moping. It wasn't as though now she'd be able to just magically fix her situation with some frowning and reminding herself what she didn't have. "So I've lived in the Weyr my whole life."
"I plan to remain there my whole life as well....but I can't predict circumstances at this point."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 1:43 am
... Well, seemed he'd run across a particular sore spot in his dear companion's psyche, studiously taking note of her reaction before he allowed himself to feel a twinge of 'guilt', grimacing lightly, and then slooowly letting out a sigh of his own. Hmm, the salt of the air was tangible on his tongue whenever he did that. How pleasant.
"Now, now, remember what I said earlier," he practically sang out, voice taking on a funny, lyrical quality as he gave her closest shoulder a pat. "This beach has some very empathetic residents, so keep your chin and spirits up!" Notwithstanding the beautiful scenery he'd mentioned repeatedly, either.
"... I was a holdbrat, myself," he added, "... it was nothing terribly exciting out there. The greatest thrills I suffered from day to day were needlepricks from sewing."
Hold on a minute-- ... he'd just admitted that he sewed?
Meanwhile, the firelizard pair ahead of them-- Pavo at the lead, and Tolo whining at the rear-- had risen higher still, using what must have been some quiet sea breeze to carry themselves upward. Pavo in particular was looking strangely intent... and Chavel felt a sudden burst of surprise from the little blue, glancing up just in time to hear him let loose a most peculiar shriek and whirl off.
Hold on-- who'd lit a fire under his tail so suddenly!?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 1:22 pm
......What a strange comment, but something about it made her feel better in general. Then again, so did Pavo -- who was still flying ahead of them (with Tolo in tow now! Oh my!). She still wasn't sure what it was they were up to yet. However, that shriek caused her to frown immensely.
Oh dear..........
"Why did he make that sound?" she asked, looking to Chavel as though the Mindhealer would have some sort of an answer for her. It wasn't like she knew anything too intricate about the Firelizard breeds -- yes she knew their basic habits, but having never impressed upon on, she had never known their more.. personal habits.
...
.....Which was unfortunate.
However -- "Did you pick up sewing from a family member or was it out of some personal need to know it?" -- DID YOU RIP YOUR CLOTHES A LOT FROM ROUGH HOUSING YOU SILLY SILLY CHARMING MAN?
butttt...
...
She really did have to wonder what had happened with the blue.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 6:16 pm
Even Chavel himself seemed visibly baffled by the little firelizard's outburst-- and that was saying something profound. Pavo was usually so quiet and amicable, rarely vocalizing more than trills or croons of contentment... but that was definitely not a happy sound, and he was picking all sorts of peculiar empathetic sensations: confusion, excitement, urgency...
"My mother was a seamstress, actually..." he muttered, though his attentions were obviously elsewhere, and suddenly his steps began to quicken, giving Shala an unusually serious look despite his half-smile.
"I believe we need to hurry and follow them," he stated, already practically jogging at that point, with his weyrhide pack bouncing heavily across his shoulders. "So let's move along as quickly as we can. Pavo's not about to wait on us!"
... Okay, something was most definitely going on, and it seemed dire if the flits were anything to go by-- but what exactly was it? Tolo, still apparently not catching on, was lagging behind his 'brother' a good half dragonlength, and his complaints only grew more obstinate as the blue suddenly arced his wings and turned, heading straight for what looked like a cluster of jagged, gnarly, oversized stones sticking up from the wet sand like razor-edged mountains.
Those looked downright dangerous for a human to navigate!
"Looks like we have our work cut out for us," the mindhealer sighed, but didn't miss a beat, and actually mustered up a grin. "So... Just how adventurous are you feeling tonight, Shalaera?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 8:07 pm
Alas, a little jaunt was in their future, as Shala was right on Chavel's tail to follow Pavo along. Huuuh, this was sort of special outing, now wasn't it? Good thing her second wind was kicking in for this sort of a romp! Because it was just enough to help her keep up instead of trudge along like the dead -- as much as she'd wanted to a few minutes before. Hmmmmmm...
But it seemed it was..
......
........................................Oh dear. Shala wasn't sure how confident she felt about those jagged rocks they'd just been led to, frowning lightly at the idea of actually going into them.
"Well, we'd be better off if it was brighter out..." she admitted unsure of the idea, sighing a bit before shrugging her shoulders.
No matter...
......................................A little daring, but no matter....
"Better we go in before anybody else does.. just keep an eye out."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 9:47 pm
"Well unfortunately, my dear lady, we haven't that kind of luxury right now," the mindhealer had been quick to comment-- unusually quick, as it were, before giving an equally speedy nod. "Come along, then! And make sure to step gingerly-- we can't afford a slit foot in such conditions!"
With that, he was off, practically vaulting over a low sharp stone (surprisingly agile for one so willowy) and taking off, weaving through the broken forest of sharp edges. The sand was rather soggy around there feet, and it was obvious how close to the tideline they were...
And right then, Pavo let out another wild shriek above their heads, tucking his wings in and plummeting for the ground. The moment he touched down-- hopefully NOT by a crash-- there came another volley of angry cries, and Chavel was hit by a sudden feeling of ANGER in his gut. Defensive, prickly anger...
His heart threatened to skip a beat, bordering on visible concern and practically forgetting to look behind him for Shala as he called out. "Pavo? Pavo?!"
SKREEEEEEEEHISSSHRIEKSNARL
"Pavo!"
Tolo was still circling behind in a haze of hissing confusion, but finally the man had caught up, and in an instant, it all clicked.
The little blue was caught in a brawl with not one, but three tunnel snakes, hunching over what looked like some disemboweled hole in the sand that would've been innocuous enough otherwise, except...
Except that there were broken shells everywhere, and even the scattered remains of half-developed, half-eaten firelizards.
... Now, Chavel prided himself on being a compassionate individual and lover of all life-- but there were rare moments when none of that mattered anymore, and he didn't hesitate to charge up and immediately crush the nearest scavenger's head beneath his boot, grabbing another that was tearing at Pavo's forepaw and throwing it into the nearest rock
(HE WAS A MOTHER ON A MISSION, SHARD IT.).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 11:27 pm
Having followed Chavel into the rocks, Shala only had a secondary notice of the fate of the eggs and was too busy actually kicking up the last of the vermin into the dangerous 'edges' of said rocks at realizing they were attacking her little blue friend.
SHALA SMASH!!
Mother on a mission paired up with ONE WHO DOES NOT LIKE THE SOUND OF THE UNHAPPY! But really, it was after that the realization of what had fueled the flitt struck her -- that was right... an unattentive green would leave their clutch in the sand to be eaten up by the pests of Pern.
Really, she was only so-fortunate for the cleanliness of the kitchens. There would still be an occasional tunnelsnake -- unfortunately.
But still, something about this whole incident actually made her very sad -- perhaps because the little things had never really gotten a chance to live themselves. Even the eggs eaten were never 'growing' in any shape or form.
Alas...
..........
"Is he okay?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 11:45 pm
Despite the torn skin and dripping ichor smattering his tiny frame, Pavo remained unbudging from his spot throughout the whole ordeal, hunched over the gaping hole that had once been a nest and continuing to hiss until the last tunnel-snake had finally stopped its death convulsions. Nothing seemed capable of budging him-- very nearly lunging at Chavel himself until he realized just who that hand belonged to, and recoiled instantly, creeling pitifully.
Even Tolo, finally having landed, could only sit there in silence from a jagged stone perch, seemingly having forgotten to whine.
The whole scene was pitiable... Those tiny bodies from the eggs were almost completely formed, too. They'd very nearly made it to hatching before...
"... Hardly," the mindhealer's voice belied a genuine pang of concern, actually frowning as he reached over to pluck Pavo up, speaking softly, kindly, to the grey-eyed heap of distress. "Shh, Pavo, it's alright... they've all perished now--" He winced in unison with the flit as his fingers accidentally brushed a wound, but, rather unusually, the blue was persistent. He didn't want to move. "There's nothing left for you to-- ..."
He paused. Contemplated something for a moment, and made a face. Seemingly struck with some idea, he finally lifted his poor tattered firelizard with a swift yank and cradled him in one arm, encouraged by a feeble creel as he dug a bit deeper in, eyes widening ever so slightly...
Well, he'd be damned between.
 
(HAPPY EARLY BIRTHDAY, LOVER! <3 ... Ahaha I told Nata you liked Jellies.)
"... Shalaera, dig the extra fur out from my rucksack." There was nothing singsong or joking about his tone; it was simply deadpan, and entirely serious... but then, he did smile, if not slightly, and bitter-sweetly.
"It seems we may still have a pair of survivors in the bunch."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
