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 Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 3:53 pm
She had been, all things considered, quite lucky. At least, that's what the Healers had told her. Astri couldn't say how lucky it was to be hurt by a dragonet in the first place, but apparently her wound had been mostly superficial. The wound had bled a lot, but it wasn't deep. There was a large possibility there would be a scar, but her leg would not lose one whit of functionality, and she could continue to stand as a Candidate for as long as her age allowed. And, as the Healers had said, "You could have been hurt doing something stupid. As it was, there was no way you could avoid that green. No one blames you, lass." Then there had been a friendly pat on the shoulder, and she had been dismissed from the Infirmary, with clear instructions to come back once a day to have her dressings changed. They told her to take comfort in the fact that she was exempt from most chores, but Astri had been relying on said chores to get her mind off not Impressing.
Heaving a sigh, the young woman straightened herself out. It wasn't like her to mope around and be utterly useless. There were plenty of Candidates who had not Impressed- far more than who did, actually. And given that Astri hadn't formed any close friendships among the girls her own age, it wasn't as if she had lost any friends. She could need some right now though. Without even a fire lizard to talk to, she felt lonely and isolated.
Ugh, self-pity would get her nowhere. Skipping a rock against the surface of the lake, Astri used the one crutch they had provided to get awkwardly to her feet, tottering a bit before she could find even some semblance of balance. Having missed most of the Hatching (how could she have passed out? How embarrassing!), she was curious to see who had Impressed what. Everybody had come out whole and hale, and there were no dud eggs, which was apparently a blessing. And hers had been the worst injury, which was just one more small thing to be thankful for.
Shrugging her shoulders, the young woman sent another rock skimming across the surface of the lake. She wasn't very good at it- it bounced once before it sank like... well, like a rock. It was difficult to get used to Weyr life, which seemed to operate on a more relaxed principle than that of her previous occupation. There was no getting up with the sun and going to bed early. Candidates had to get up fairly early, but they were allowed to sleep in on weekends. They worked hard, but not nearly as hard as Astri was used to. And they stayed up as late as they wanted! Would this new lifestyle turn her into a complete laze-about? No, she would continue to work harder than the rest, proving her worth, if only to herself, until she Impressed. This mauling had knocked her down, but had not taken her out of the game. Not yet.
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Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 4:02 pm
Water is dangerous, Mine! Are you sure you can swim?
Brynne couldn't help but chuckle at her Dragon's worry, causing Ixtabth's forehead to furrow, eyebrows creasing downwards in a frown and a pout that only brought the chuckles to giggles instead. It was quite a comical expression, especially on suhc a young Dragon. The Green waddled after her Rider, only just keeping up as Brynne walked briskly around the water's edge, breaking into a skip every now and again. It was Ixtabth who spotted Astri first, instantly flattening herself to the ground - and, to be fair to her, from far away she might look a bit like a bush. ...If you were partially sighted?
A person! Be careful, Mine. I don't want you to get hurt~ came the telepathic voice of Ixtabth in Brynne's mind, a hint of concern clearly audible. Brynne paused, turning back to watch her Dragon with a worried expression, moving back towards her. The pair were in full sight of Astri now, and if she'd looked to her left she would've spotted them. Brynne crouched down, cupping Ixtabth's small head in her hands, pressing a kiss to the tip of Ixtabth's nose, which aroused a purr in the Dragon, Brynne feeling the telepathic affection that eminated from her Ixtabth. "How many times do I have to say it, hmm? I'll never let anyone or anything hurt you, Ixtabth. You're safe."
Ixtabth made a crooning sound, fondly pushing her nose into Brynne's. At least once more, Brynnemine.
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Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 4:22 pm
A full day's worth of contemplation had left Lahar no less solemn. A heavy meal did little more than upset his stomach, and a restless night kept both eyes and body aching. This was not unusual behavior after a hatching. In fact, post-hatching introspection had become somewhat of a ritual for the young man. This gray washed day of negativity was always accompanied by a trip beyond the Weyr. The sobs and moans of his fellow candidates did little to brighten Lahar's spirits.
Kneeling down before the wide mouth of the lake, hands prying and kneading at one another thoughtfully, one would think he had suffered a great loss. A wavering reflection danced weakly upon the water, pulling heavy expressions. This discomfort was not physical. There was an emptiness in his heart, a sinking reminder of failures both familiar and foreign. But this wasn't self-pity, for Lahar refused to entertain the lesser emotions, save for an occasional bout of arrogance. This was a devastating brew of shame, guilt and rejection, and no matter how his mind protested, his heart continued to drink.
It simply wasn't his turn...the mantra circled full-force as Lahar dipped his fingers into the gently pulsing waters. What other reason could there be? He was a man of fair age and strong constitution. He had brought an eager mind and an open heart with him on the sands that day, and not a single hatchling looked his way. His dragon wasn't there...and it was as simple as that. What else could a dejected youth tell himself? He surely wasn't going to give up. Not when facing three more turns and countless hatchings. He was ready and able to fight and there was no way in hell he would stand aside when Thread once again fell to Pern.
So deep was his contemplation, the faint plops and skips of stone across the murky surface went unnoticed. That is, until his black-topped head rose to survey the scenery. By his luck this lake was shared, and by two younger girls, no less. And the healthier of the two had a new dragon by her side. Sinking deeper into the sands, lazy hazel eyes watched the young green curiously.
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Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 4:25 pm
Hurry, hurry Emori! We’re almost there! I can see the water!
Emori groaned as she struggled to carry her green down to the lake. Inannath was fast enough to keep up with her, but the poor little thing tuckered out so quickly. And she got heavy quickly, too. I see some friends down there! Inannath chirped, leaning toward their destination and flailing her tail with excitement. Emori nearly dropped her. “Calm down, you silly thing!” But there is my sister! I recognize her brilliant hue!
Her tired rider gave up and put her down so she could run there herself, if she was in such a hurry. And she did! Emori had to trot to catch up with the galumphing, but surprisingly speedy baby. "Slow down, Inannath! You'll get hurt!"
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Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 5:28 pm
Lo and behold, yet another lass and her green came rumbling down the way, straight towards the present pair. This green seemed far more brash than her sibling, who was cowering before her rider in the most innocent of postures. Lahar felt a grin tugging at his lips, but the sinking sensation in his chest quickly halted the joyous expression. He pushed through the - was that jealousy, he felt? - holding a large though proportionate hand to his chest. At least they had found one another and there were riders ready for the future of Pern. Still hidden in his secluded little sand trap, half obscured by a decent sized rock and his own sandy-coloured clothing, Lahar did little to attract attention. This proved a decent feat, this dour mood pulled Lahar into himself, but there were hatchling right there. The temptation to go over for a pat or two was intense...
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Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 7:16 pm
Astri wasn't allowed to wallow in self-pity anyway. Life wasn't going to let her, as the introduction of two dragons, complete with riders, showed. They were obviously from the latest hatching, judging from their not quite steady steps and small size. Both the Weyrlings appeared to be female, though another soon joined them- a boy, at this point. He didn't have a dragon with him. Was it sleeping, or had he also not Impressed?
Feeling as though she should be social, even if it was just to be polite, Astri rose to her feet, waving at Brynne, Emori, and Lahar in quick order. They didn't look like they were all socializing, but it would be awkward to be standing all so closely to each other and not at least say hello.
"Lo everyone! Did you all Impress at the hatching then?" Astri peered around Lahar again, as if looking for a dragon that was slightly too small to see. Of course, could dragons get any smaller than Inannath? That was a very, very tiny little green dragon.
Trying to recall their names, Astri was able to bring up at least one. She made it her business to remember names, didn't she? The one who Impressed the frightened green was... Brynne? Yes, that sounded right. She couldn't recall Emori's name, but she remembered that Emori was holdbred. She didn't know Lahar at all, though some sardonic part of her mind noted that Lahar was rather plain looking, and that was why she had never noted her name. Shut up brain, she told herself sternly. They all looked to be roughly the same age, right? All around eighteen to twenty Turns. At nineteen Turns, Astri worried about not Impressing, but knew that in two Turns, much could happen.
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Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 7:27 pm
Taken aback by his sudden spotting, Lahar was quick to rise, making himself appear as stern and straight as possible. He was a touch lacking, the strain of his current situation showing in his eyes and the gesturing of his hand as it offered a very weak, very false wave. He didn't remember this girl, but then again, he never tried to place faces with names. It would be considered a miracle if he ever asked for anyone's name. He did know she must have been present at the hatching, and she must not have impressed due to her current activities. Anyone with a new dragon wouldn't be found alone, skipping stones. They would be up to their ears in lessons or dragon babe.
His attentions faltered, eyes cast upon the other girls before settling back upon the one who had called to him. It was obvious by his lonesome that he hadn't impressed, wasn't it? What was she, thick? Or was she being coy? Uninterested in her motives, Lahar gave a simple shake of the head, folding his arms over his average sized chest. "No, not this turn. It would seem your fate stands the same." Not so much a question as a statement, his tongue rather bitey today.
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Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 8:08 pm
Oh, great. Another chance to stand around and be uneasy in the presence of others. Emori was already regretting her giving in to her dragon’s desire to splash about in the lake. With little choice in the matter, as she and her baby had already been seen, she managed a smile and waved back to the girl who’d called out to everyone. She didn’t feel a need to speak yet. Surely it was obvious that she had Impressed.
Speaking of Impressing… Inannath looked like she was about to barrel straight into the other green and cause an ‘impression’ of the painful sort. She sped up and caught her beast by the hips, and when she had brought the dragon to a full stop, she scooped Inannath into her arms.
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Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2009 1:43 am
The sudden appearance of others didn't do wonders for Ixtabth. The frightened green squeaked at the sound of someone behind her, scrambling forwards to get behind Brynne, cowering there with the occasional frightened mew. She hid away from Innanth, despite the tiny size of the green, afraid by her seemingly rambunctious attitude. She'd nearly crashed into her - that might've hurt! Why did the world always want to get her?
Brynne made soothing, calming noises, hand reaching down to allow Ixtabth to press her nose into it.
"I did - this is Ixtabth. Say hello, c'mon~" she gently instructed her Green, but Ixtabth was having none of it. She gave another frightened cry, only cowering further behind her Rider. Brynne frowned a little, but soon turned back to Astri with an embarrassed smile. "It's...Astri, right?"
That boy gave her the creeps a little. Had he been spying on them from behind that rock?
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Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2009 7:55 am
<> protested Haanyath, as T'ka picked her way down to the lake.
<>
<you had to swim. I said I wanted to. You didn't even have to come. It's not my fault you would rather tag along than take a nap>>
<> T'ka laughed and rolled her eyes, casting a glance back at Haanyath over her shoulder. The little green was firey and straightforward and, despite all the odds, actually cared about her human. T'ka knew that they previous comment was only a sign that Haanyath cared. Haanyath was concerned about T'ka's safety, even if she was too stubborn to admit it.
<like swimming. It's good excercise, you know. And it gets you clean.>>
Haanyath stiffened a little, bristling.
"What's wrong?" T'ka asked, outloud, too startled to remember mindspeak. She wasn't overly worried, because just about everything set Haanyath off, but still...she couldn't help but feel a little twinge of...concern? More at this point for the object of Haanyath's anger. The little green was ruthless!
<> Haanyath declared, her lip twitching, threatening a snarl.
"Calm down, they're your sisters!" T'ka chided, rapping her dragon on the head a little. Not enough to hurt her, but enough to get her attention. "Play nice or we'll leave."
Haanyath glared at the distant shapes of the other greens, and a few humans to boot. Yuck. Haanyath didn't much care for company. <> T'ka frowned, and shook her head. Haanyath was awfully difficult. At this rate, she would never make friends. But then again, Haanyath seemed to be under the assumption that she didn't need them.
Xythe and Daeok, the green and bronze flits, circled overheard, squeaking and chirping, minding their distance from Haanyath. Neither had much fondness for Haanyath, but that was a given, seeing as how Haanyath hissed and made a fuss whenever they approached her.
T'ka, unable to just turn around and leave, due to her pride, simply moved forward, and sat at the edge of the water, not feeling in the mood to swim, knowing she'd have company. She pulled her shoes off, letting the water lap at her toes. Curious, Haanyath moved forward to do the same, watching the water warily as it rolled forth and ebbed back. T'ka patted Haanyath's head, one of the few gestures of affection that Haanyath didn't overly protest about. "Calm down, the water's not going to bite."
But while they both pretended interest in the water, their eyes were really on the figures in the distance.
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Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2009 7:42 pm
Miiiiiine~ I'm so dirty and my sisters are getting baths. I want a bath too! Coatlicueth had demanded of her rider, which led to the pair heading towards the lake. With the beach so close to the Weyr, the older dragons preferred bathing in the ocean. But the new hatchlings were of course too young to fly there and couldn't manage the walk there. So they used the lake.
And as they grew closer, R'dan realized that... yes, there were others there. And all of the other hatchlings were greens. A quick count showed that there were more humans than dragons. Getting even closer, he thought he recognized the girl who didn't have a dragonet beside her. His eyes fell on the crutch and it clicked in his head. She'd been the one hurt in the Hatching!
Stop looking at them and come bathe me! The young green trumpeted from the shallows, where she'd already splashed her way in, ignoring her clutchsisters, their bonded, and the other two humans. It was time for her bath and she must be pretty~
R'dan gave a bit of a wave to the others as he kicked off his shoes and waded into the shallow water after his dragon. No point in trying to stand around and talk... Coatlicueth would just throw a fit if he didn't start washing her NOW.
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Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2009 10:03 pm
Emori saw how Ixtabth cowered. It was obvious how scared she was, even to this newcomer to dragon culture. “Sorry,” she said to Brynne, trying to hold on to her struggling dragonet. Inannath did not want to be held at all. She wanted to play! The young woman hurried over to the edge of the water, hoping it would distract the tiny one from bothering Ixtabth anymore.
The pair had come close enough to where Astri was standing that Emori felt obliged to smile and nod in greeting before letting her little imp loose. Inannath plunged right into the shallows, warbling and making various chirping sounds as she splashed with feet, wings, and tail. Come play with me, Beloved! The water feels divine! Casting nervous glances toward the other girls, Emori shook her head. She really needed to learn how to be social, but it looked like she’d have to come to terms with her status as a rider first. That might involve a visit to certain relatives… the thought made her shiver. That wasn’t going to be pretty.
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Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 6:07 pm
Haanyath stiffened, hunched down a little, as her lips twitched up, showing off her fangs. A little growl rumbled in the base of her throat, as she glared off at the distant figures whom she refused to admit were her sisters.
"Hey, Haanyath. Calm down, what's wrong?
<> T'ka sighed, rubbing her temples with her indecx finger and thumb.
"Haanyath, please. Sit still for a little while. Don't take offense. Why would they notice you, when we're so far away, and quiet?"
<>
"No, I didn't me-" but it was too late. Haanyath reared up a little as she inhaled, and let loose a shriek fit to beat the cry of any larger dragon. It was grating and hurting on the ears. Not a happy noise, not a bugle or even a death keen. It was vicious, primal. T'ka would go so far as to venture that it was terrifying. Haanyath rushed forward, plowing through the water as she made a beeline for her siblings. Not bothering to try and figure why her green was so angry, T'ka gave chase.
Haanyath was so frustrated, so angry all of the time! T'ka felt some of her pain. Haanyath hated the fact that she was looked down on, degraded because she was green. T'ka had felt the same way, felt the same prejudice for being a girl smith. But she'd found some of her solace. If only she could pass some of her content on to Haanyath. Unfortunately it was not that easy.
Thankfull, Haanyath was young, had shorter legs than was typical of even a green, and T'ka had quite a stride. She was able to catch up to her dragon, throwing herself at Haanyath, wrestling her arms around her neck, and trying to calm her down. "What's gotten in to you? They're not hurting anyone!
<>
"No one's saying anything about you, you paranoid little wherry brain. They are talking. They are having fun; you should try it. Calm down. Stay here. They're green. Do not think of mockery. You said yourself a moment before that they hadn't noticed you. So how could they be harassing you?" Haanyath huffed, frowning, but thankfully, she at least seemed to be getting a little logic into that thick skull of hers. T'ka was trying all the time, unsuccessfully to teach Haanyath the meaning of tact. Up until now, it had been a losing battle. But at least she had calmed down now, right? Rather than running over and flipping out, challenging her siblings and strutting herself. Honestly. Haanyath had the biggest ego ever. She rivaled any gold in that regard.
T'ka smiled at Haanyath, watching as some of the red faded from her green's eyes. <sure they are not mocking me?>>
T'ka was tempted to say that they were. For now they looked a rather silly pair. T'ka with Haanyath's neck held in tight embrace, up to her knees in water. But she refrained. Haanyath didn't really understand joking or humor. "I'm positive. Just...listen to me. You can't be respectable if you don't trust your own rider enough to follow advice." Haanyath shuffled in place a little, avoiding responding, but obviously wanting out of T'ka's grip. She put up with very little touching or affection, other than the mandatory oilings and bathings, and the occasional eye-ridge scratching or patting.
T'ka stood up, feeling a little awkward. If they were unnoticed before, it seemed unlikely that the other people hadn't noticed them now. She glanced over, offering a wave, and hoped that the people might dismiss it was...a rambunctious bath? She could recognize the bright dragonet, such a strange shade of green, it seemed to light up, almost. But the other she could not recognize well enough to distinguish. Trying to muster as much dignity as she could after having had to wrestle with her dragonet, she called out, trying to keep the laugh from her voice.
"I don't suppose any of you have soapsand?"
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Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 6:34 pm
Oh...kay. So Lahar was a bit hostile, wasn't he? Or was he just not used to people being polite? Astri wasn't about to try and figure him out, though she responded in a stilted, subdued way. "No, it was not my turn to Impress." She didn't know what else to say, and was glad that there were others to keep the silence from becoming too awkward.
Speaking of which... Emori hadn't said anything. She looked as uncomfortable as Astri, but her little green was simply adorable. So small! Astri felt a twinge of regret that she hadn't seen that particular Impression- it would have been interesting to watch the lively little dragon make her bond.
She found herself liking Brynne and Ixtabth though, even if the dragonet was scared. She was rather cute. "Yah. You're Brynne, right? And your dragon is very pretty. And adorable. She's so shy though!" Astri would have dearly loved to give Ixtabth a scratch on the head, but she wasn't sure what the etiquette of patting a dragon was. Furthermore, she seriously doubted that Ixtabth would take a scratch on the head right now. She looked too busy avoiding the other green to be doing that.
"Is she always so shy?" Astri had to ask. It was just so strange!
More and more people had came and joined them by now- all greenriders. Astri waved to them all, feeling a bit overwhelmed. Something looked rather familiar about one of the greens, but when she tried to wrap her mind around it, it bounced away, slippery as a packfish. How did she know Haanyath? Oh well. It didn't matter now. Maybe she had seen Haanyath with her newly made rider the day before. Either way, all Astri could do was shrug her shoulders and grin. The newborn dragons were just so intriguing, in everything they did.
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Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 10:41 pm
Lahar could sense his exclusion, but who should he blame but himself? And what would they ever have in common other than their candidacy, failed or not? Girls, and even women, had little more to talk about than their own affairs - things which didn't interest him in the slightest. Still, he couldn't bring himself away from the group, not with his head so muddled and the dragonets prancing about so closely. A welcomed distraction from his troubles, despite his feelings towards aversion, sometimes he just wanted to let it go.
He held out his hand, gesturing toward the squattest of the greens, his eyes falling then to her impressed. It just so happened the ornery hatching's rider was just as thick in stature. He found this comparison comical. He hadn't any soapsand, but he did hold a high opinion of the Hyena egg's innards. "The headstrong one looks to you?" Again, this was less of a question. "I was most impressed by her egg at the Touching."
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