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 Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2009 2:04 pm
"We did well today!"
C'mor smiled a weary but satisfied smile and nodded to the ever-growing bronze by his side. "Yes, we did." In the morning there had been their chores and lessons, then lunch, then more chore, then caring for Naedreth. After that, however, he had been left to his own devices. Naturally he had headed down to the beast pens to help a couple of candidates with mucking out. He was, to be frank, exhausted and he didn't feel much like going to dinner. Luckily he had anticipated this mood earlier on, and secured a bread roll, a meat roll, and some fruit for himself. The bag was on his bed, above Naedreth's ledge... And that had been a hint.
Gilden, who had been dozing on his shoulder, gave a surprised cheep and raised her nodding head. Bag? On bed? Yes! Okay! The miniature queen gave another squeak before spreading her wings and leaping into the air. A moment later she was gone, and after only a few more she returned, flapping hard against the weight of her burden: bag! C'mor took it swiftly, thanking the flitt with an affectionate thought and a stroke as she settled onto his shoulder again. Slinging the strap over his free shoulder, C'mor continued towards the lake; at this time in the evening there wouldn't be too many other people around, it would be a lovely spot for supper.
On reaching the lake he dumped his bag, removed his dirty boots, and rolled his trousers up past the knee before wading in a stooping to scoop up handfuls of water to cool his face and quench his thirst. Gilden and Naedreth needed no further promoting to hurry on into the lake; they weren't hungry and he wasn't going to be very interesting for a while so they might as well go for a swim. Straightening up, C'mor stood and watched the pair for a moment. It was good to see them happy; recent events had been weighing on them, especially on Naedreth. That was the trouble with thinking you were great and powerful; you tried to take responsibility for things you couldn't control... Come to that even if you didn't have such a giant ego, but were a little bit bright and insanely dedicated you tried to take responsibility. Shards but he was tired.
Sighing and dashing his face free of water, C'mor waded back to the back and dropped down in the grass to investigate his bag. Today, it looked as though the food was alright; the quality was hardly amazing, but the bread wasn't burned, the meatroll was the right colour, and the redfruit wasn't overripe. Taking the bread first, C'mor started to eat; he might be exhausted, but that could be forgotten for now as he also happened to be absolutely starving.
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Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2009 2:23 pm
Today has been remarkable. He had gotten worried when the other eggs from the betting had hatched, but his had not. He had known it was not fromt he same clutch, but even so! Still, it had remained warm, and grown hard. This afternoon had been the big event, shortly after lunch. An amazing tiny life had rolled out of the rocking egg and directly into his square hands. He had been flabbergasted, staring at the little thing as it stared back at him. Neither moved for several moments, and one of his roommates had guffawed and declared that Berjint had a clod of dirt for a flit. The implication that the firelizard was just as stupid and useless as said clod of dirt was obvious.
Berjint was both stung and peversely amused. Little did that idiot realize just how useful clods of dirt were to his fattening waistline. Already he'd had little respect for the older boy, but now he had none at all. With an aloof smile, he'd informed the other boy that that was exactly the perfect name for such a clever little flit. So Clod he had become almost immediately upon hatching. His moment of attempted superiority was ruined by a sudden squeal of demand from the now very alert Clod. Dazed no more, he was hungry, and there was nothing in this world more important that eating. Now.
With nothing on hand, he'd had to rush for the kitchens with a screeching flit-baby cradled in his hands. Someone had shoved a dried bit of jerky at him on his way, which gave Clod something to worry at for the time being, but heavens knew that wouldnt last long.
So it was that Clod had filled up over several feedings, and Berjint had been not only excused from his afternoon chores to tend the newborn, but also given his own dinner early.
Not particularly in a mood to linger around his room for his unpleasant roommate, and without much else to do during the dinner hour, he'd ventured out into the evening air. Clod was curled in the crook of his arm, belly bulging comically. He'd been amazed at how the tiny thing could put away so much food! Bemused, he really didn't pay attention to where his feet were taking him. Loud splashes, however, dredged him out of his thoughts and examination of Clod.
Well, at least it was the lake and not the ocean. He'd had a hard time putting even a toe in the salty water since his experience with the girl and the flit that drove him to 'save' her. Lakes were better. No waves, and no salt. Curious as to who might be enjoying the water, he moved closer, calling out a generic greeting as he drew nearer, so as not to walk in on something potentially private.
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Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2009 2:41 pm
Ah, so he wasn't alone. Honestly that was quite a nice surprise; though he had been around other people the whole day, he hadn't had a chance to actually talk to anyone really. He wasn't the best a smalltalk, but company was welcome and the only way to improve at smalltak was to practice in any case.
C'mor sat upright and turned to see who had called to him. He didn't recognize the other young man, but he guessed he was a candidate. He also appeared to have a flitt which was pleasant common ground. "Hi there," he called in response once he had swallowed his mouthful of bread. "Please, come join me, it's lovely and cool right beside the water."
Maybe if he was lucky he'd be able to talk this boy into joining his... whatever it was. Movement? He supposed so, but really it wasn't his, he just organized things. Not that there was a lot to organize with so few people on board, but surely that was all the more reason to try to persuade him to join up. Much as he might want to, he couldn't keep doing as much as he was right now; he'd collapse from exhaustion before winter came and then he'd be no good to anyone. It was hard to remember sensible things like that when he spotted someone who needed a hand though.
"He looks quite strong," Naedreth commented, pausing to regard the newcomer. "He will be useful if he is willing to help us. Do try to persuade him Mine... I will come over too if it looks as though my presence might help." People without dragons tended to be impressed by him, and no surprise! They could see greatness when it stood before them, they knew he had near limitless potential, and that he wanted life to be good for them. That and the fact that he was quite handsome; maybe not the most stunning in the whole Weyr but very good looking all the same.
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Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2009 3:13 pm
THe welcome called back was music to his ears. Wandering around with a sleeping flit was... well, a little odd, he had to admit. A bit of human company made more sense and seemed a bit more grounding for his wandering mind. He nodded his gratefulness for the invitation and carefully lowered himself to the ground. He had the ginger movements of a new flit owner, unaware that as full as Clod was, he could practically play toss with the sated flit and not wake him. He settled himself with cautious eyes on the sleeping form in his arm, and only then looked up and around himself.
The first thing he noticed, predictably, was the dragon. Out in the water was a young bronze, peering at him intelligently. He froze with wide eyes, completely missing the little golden flit that also played nearby. His mouth formed an o for a moment before he looked back at his companion. "Ooooh, you're a weyrling!" he exclaimed. "Congratulations!" It seemed a bit bizarre to be making congratulations so late in the game, but that didn't stop Berjint from showing his delight in the other's good fortune.
"I'm Berjint," he offered his free hand for a shake. "I'm still waiting for my chance on the Sands," he added, a wistful glance at the other boy's dragon making clear his meaning. And who didn't feel that way? His attitude lacked jealousy, only a potent wishfulness that someday he would be in the other's shoes. Somehow the fact that the other boy didn't look much older than himself was promising too. Right now, he'd take any encouragement that he would Impress. The sooner the better!
He paused to let the other boy introduce himself, but a sleepy chirrup from the crook of his arm reminded im he had someone else to introduce now too! "This is Clod," he added hastily. "Today was his Hatching Day!" His pleasure in this fact was clear. Tender he stroked the little brown's belly and tucked a wingtip more securely against his chest.
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Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2009 3:29 pm
C'mor grinned and shook the extended hand gladly. "I'm C'mor," he responded with a nod, "glad to meet you. That's Naedreth, he's glad to meet you as well, and we both wish you luck with finding your lifemate." He wished everyone luck with that, truly. It would be wonderful if every candidate who came to the Weyr could bond to a dragon. Having to go away again having never found that amazing connection had to be horrible..
A flitt wasn't the same thing as a dragon at all, but he remembered how much having Gilden had comforted him after the hatching he had failed to Impress at. Of course they weren't dragons, but that didn't mean that you didn't love them, or that they weren't important. "I remember when Gilden was that size," he said with a grin as he looked down at the sleeping brown. "I couldn't believe how much she ate and slept, or how fast she grew."
Aware that she was being discussed, Gilden trilled happily and zoomed across the water to land in C'mor's lap with another happy squeak; new friends? A human and another flitt; he was so little! Did he need looking after? Was he hungry?... No, he looked full and happy, he was fine and didn't need her to look after him. C'mor grinned and tickled the little queen's head as he looked back at Berjint. "And here's the lady herself, she says hello too."
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Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 11:10 am
His smile of thanks was genuine. It helped to know that even dragons were rooting him on! He turned and gave a little bow from the waist to the young bronze. "Thank you kindly, Naedreth," he said solemnly. The Candidate lessons made it clear that being polite to dragons was a must. Berjint was a by-the-book sort of guy, at least when it came to things he felt were important. You didn't disregard wisdom about planting crops, nor did you disregard wisdom about how to deal with dragons.
His reaction to the little gold was significantly less thrilled, however. He gave her a wary eye, despite her cheerful manner. Who could blame him, after his last encounter with a gold flit? "Is she friendly?" he asked uncertainly, unconciously cradling Clod just a little closer. Rather than protesting the tighter grip, the brown gave a mumbled coo and buried his face between the boy's arm and chest.
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Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 11:31 am
Naedreth paused his swimming to give Berjint an amiable bugle, but soon returned to his exercise; His would update him on anything important, and he might as well make use of his time. Building muscles up was a must, the time for real flight was drawing ever nearer and very soon after that he and His would fly together for the first time; he did not intend to struggle under his partner's weight.
C'mor took another bite of his roll and nodded as he stroked Gilden's head. "Yes, she's friendly," he clarified with a smile. "She's curious and can get a bit boisterous if she's excited, but it doesn't happen often and a firm 'no' calms her down. I've never known her to get worked up enough to scratch or n** anyone on purpose, but she's nicked me by mistake when clambering over me on occasion. Ha, she tends to be less careful with me than other people though, probably knows I won't swat her if she accidentally sticks a wing in my eye."
Gilden gave another happy cheep and settled more comfortably into C'mor's lap; it was nice to be noticed and talked about even if the new human didn't seem entirely thrilled with her right away. Maybe when he saw how good she was he'd like her and let her look closer at the little brown; he was little!
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