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 Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2009 2:49 pm
She had been in the kitchens all day- deliberately- on a day when she had been supposed to be pitching dung. The Head in the kitchens had come over to her to ask why, and Sellae had quietly pointed at self-inflicted wounds on her arm and legs- obviously from trying to scrub- that were being left open to air.
The woman took a few moments to ponder then decided not to say anything- the wounds wouldn't affect the food, but if she got dung in them, they could heal poorly. She made a noise of disapproval though, and whisked away agreeing to make Sellae's excuses- for one day only.
One of the kitchen girls that Sellae was usually so friendly to was brutally rebuffed with a verbal violence Sellae usually only saved for the worst of sinners in her mental book- youngest children, the ones who had taken a life in being born. That had gotten quite a few looks. Was she sulky, from not Impressing? But when the question was laughed, Sellae only laughed hysterically. Ah, so it had been the deaths that so unnerved her.
A few of the girls could remember seeing Sellae covered in the blood of her fellow candidates- from running to help Panata and Dashias- and it quickly spread that THAT was where the wounds had come from- scrubbing off their blood. Everyone who knew Sellae knew her aversion to dung, appeased by gloves and clothing that covered almost every bare inch of her skin from the neck down, and they added butchering to the list of things Sellae was not to do when she was working the kitchens.
Finally she was assigned to the sweets. She made excellent Bubbly pies, from training in Hold kitchens; they were as elegant in appearance as a bubbly pie could be, with intricate swirls in the crisp golden crust and extra sweet without being cloying.
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Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2009 9:27 pm
G'ail had rather enjoyed the Hatching - it was full of excitement and drama and some of the strongest personalities he'd seen in dragons in a while. Such a display of promise it was - it made him proud of their Weyrwoman and her Dorath. At the same time, however, he was sad for the Candidates that had lost their lives... it wasn't all that common but the danger lurked at every hatching where a mauling could be so fast and sudden you don't know what hits you.
With the Hatching on his mind and Senoth comfortably tucked away in their Weyr, he was making a kitchen run before retiring for the night. Playing fingers across his scars he smiled - this Hatching would be one that was not forgotten for a long while, not only had there been two Stands Impressions but a handful of fatalities and the golden dragonet had chosen someone he'd never even seen before. The coming years would be interesting ones, to say the least.
Once at the kitchens, G'ail went about selecting his meats and some choice tidbits that Senoth rather enjoyed. With a box full of rolls and slices of meat and vegetables, he paused near where the sweets were set out and glanced over at Sellae. She looked troubled....
"Hey..." He asked, setting his haul down on a free counter, "Are you alright? I know we're strangers but you look tense." She seemed familiar, for some reason.
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Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2009 10:14 pm
She glanced up as food was set down on the counter next to him and glanced up at the older man. He was one of the riders, if she was right, but she couldn't place who it was. "I... suppose." she said finally. Self-consciously, she shifted her legs, to try and hide them behind the counter. Gave the rider a shadowed smile.
Sellae looked young- she was. Her mousy brown hair was pulled back tightly and her blue-grey eyes stood out against the circles under her eyes, puffy from tears and lack of sleep. She was as tall and skinny as a boy her age; barely like a girl at all, but it was obvious in her face and voice. "It was an exciting Hatching yesterday, wasn't it?" she tried to sound friendly, but she just ended up tense.
She examined the contents of his box, then passed him three of the best-looking bubbly pies on the table. They were still warm, lightly crisped, and small enough to be held in a hand.
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Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2009 10:39 pm
He noted the shuffle and the shadows under her eyes and sighed, "Yes, yes it was... 'tis a shame about the casualities. Is that's what's bothering you...? Was it your first Hatching?" He could guess, really, about the tension he heard in her voice. Goodness knew he was quite glum the day after his first Hatching - with face wrapped in gauze and being told he was lucky to have his eyes.
G'ail smiled brightly as she handed him some bubbly pies, "Thank-you! Senoth quite adores these. Are you the chef that makes them? What's your name?" He spoke gently, obviously worried for her welfare.
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Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2009 11:09 pm
"And my last." she muttered. "And yes, I made these." she looked at the pies almost proudly. "I'm going to take some later, to the candidates, and a few more to the new weyrlings. I... figure they deserve a treat after yesterday."
She looked slightly red at a rider's direct attention for pretty much the first time since she'd come to the Weyr. "I'm Sellae, rider." And she gave him a ducking little bow and scurried over to grab two more. "I know dragons can eat a lot, so..." she turned a bit redder. "Something just in case he tries to take the last pie."
She looked him over, her brow furrowing slightly at the scar she saw on his face. What had happened to cause that, she wondered. Had he been attacked by a hatchling as well?
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Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 12:25 am
"He?" G'ail blinked and chuckled, "Goodness, no. I'm a greenrider, Senoth's my plucky beautiful green. You're welcome to come find us and say hello, if you like Sellae." He smiled with amusement.
Though it faded as he regarded her solemnly, "Your last, hmn? Why? You're hardly too old to stand anymore. And not everyone Impresses at their first Hatching. I Stood for five years before Senoth chose me, nearly aged out." Taking the offer of more pies, he bobbed his head in thanks.
Noticing her staring at his nose, he surmised she was looking at his scars. Glancing around for moment then leaning forward as if to tell a secret he gestured for her to come nearer, "Hey... you know, these scars? They're from my first Hatching. There were casualties at that Hatching too..." He smiled, "And I was depressed after too - they said I was lucky to keep my sight, after all. Who wants to tempt fate twice right? But I'll tell you a secret, Sellae, I sat down to think after that - to really decide if I wanted to do this or not. Was it worth it?"
He stood back up and nodded, "It was. I wanted so much to be a part of the Weyr, to defend my comrades and enjoy the company of a dragon. What they describe it as doesn't compare, I tell you. All of the danger... it's worth it. Those who stand at the sands present themselves to the dragons and in so doing ensure the Weyr's continued safety, the more there are the more dragons survive." G'ail smiled, "I don't know about you, but I do not think their deaths were in vain."
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Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 4:09 am
"I'm sorry!" she said immediately, shaking her head. "I didn't mean to insult or anything, I'm just..." addle-brained, at the least! Her nose scrunched up in self-reproach. But his invitation has her eyes wide with delight. "I... I'd like to take you up on that offer, rider of Senoth." it was a gentle reminder that he'd yet to name himself to her. There were a lot of dragons and riders to learn, and she only had the benefit of perhaps four sevendays under her belt.
"I'm not... upset... that I didn't Impress." she said finally. "These dragonets all seem to have very strong personalities. I'm not flashy like that, they would run me over. I... just don't want to die." she admitted finally. "Seeing all those people hurt, and being helpless to do anything about it- I don't know how I even managed to do what I did." she seemed to be turning green even thinking about what she did; her hands moved instinctively to rub the bandaged legs briskly as though it would rub away the remembered blood.
He was right. Who wanted to tempt fate twice? But a death to be worth it? "Are you saying it is fine to send people to die for the greater good?" she was confused by the thought of that sentiment. Who knew what those two who had died could have done with their lives? "What if that girl was going to impress a queen, who is now going to go between rather than Impress because a blue mauled the only person who would have completed her?" She knew, clearly, that being there was part of Impressing as well; the clutch had been lucky that none of the dragonets rejected all of the available candidates. "Would that happen?" she sounded anxious now, the thought of it disturbing. "I mean what if the little queen hadn't found Hers... dragons don't do second best before they've Impressed, do they?"
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Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 11:04 am
“Rider of Senoth…?” That was an odd way to-oh! Haha. Running a hand through his hair, he smiled at Sellae, “I’m G’ail. Or Gabrail – whichever is easier to remember. Most everyone just calls me G’ail … or You.” Laughing softly he trailed off into silence as she continued to speak and shuffled things around so he could sit at the counter and listen properly.
He nodded slowly, understanding the fear in her voice, “You were one of the Candidates helping the wounded? Doesn’t say something about your character? I would much rather someone flying alongside me who can move and function when crisis hits then to have someone who freezes. You’re a brave young lady, Sellae, to have helped the way you did. What do you think would have happened if you hadn’t been there? Being clawed by a hatchling leaves deep gashes… they could have easily bled or out or gotten something bad into wounds if you hadn’t been there.” G’ail smiled, “They might have been helpless but I don’t think you were.”
He sighed and shook his head, “No, dragons don’t wait for a second chance. But, remember that bronze? He waited until the very end to Impress, and that little Queen too. And no, I don’t believe in sending people to their deaths but I believe very strongly in protecting and guiding those who need it. If Thread falls, Senoth and I will face it – as will the rest of the Wings – to protect the Weyr and Holds. We are the only ones that can fight it. If we did not… if I was too frightened of the Hatching, I would not have Senoth and High Reaches would have one less dragon to help defend its skies.” He reached out and patted her shoulder, “Yes, people get hurt and tragedy happens but their injuries and deaths are only worthless if you let them be. Does that makes sense?”
His expression was soft and his smile mild as he finished and waited, hoping that his words did indeed ring true with the girl.
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Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 2:41 pm
His smile was soothing, and relaxed the tiny knot that had been building in her stomach. "An honor, G'ail." She wouldn't call him Gabrail, though the name would be remembered. Pale eyes watched him shuffle things about and she assisted as she could. "The main help was Aiyisha." the girl who had Impressed Ptoth. She'd been so self-assured, where all Sellae could do was be frightened and alarmed. "They would have been okay, and the Weyr wouldn't have been down half a candidate's robe." she'd torn the white cloth for makeshift bandages- not that they'd helped when Panata got himself mauled a second time.
She bit her lip, listening as he spoke of the reason it was so important to not be afraid. Pern and her people were protected by the dragons and their riders. Wasn't that why they had come for her in the first place? Hoping that she would be able to Impress one of the dragonets? Giving her a chance to protect her family.
Even the little child she hated so passionately.
"I suppose it makes sense." she said finally. It was one way of thinking: of over 30 people (if her math was right) who had stepped onto the sands, two had died of their injuries. But all of the dragons had impressed safely and were healthy-seeming... So at the cost of two people, countless others would have new defenders and the chance at new life.
Was that what he was trying to say? Or was she over-reaching, grasping for something she could understand?
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Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 6:24 pm
"You were still there, you still did something when many more simply stood and watched. That's an honourable thing in my opinion and I don't lie." He winked as he rose and gathered up the boxe and bubbly pies - Senoth would be thrilled!
"And I haven't once said not to be scared. Everyone's scared and nervous at a Hatching, but you can't let that fear rule you." He shrugged as he gestured for her to follow, "But I don't think that's a problem for you - you've already shown you don't let that happen. Would you mind coming with me? I think you need some company for the time being. We can eat out in the Weyrbowl and watch the sky as the sun sets, the moons should be rising soon."
Senoth? Could you meet us in the Weyrbowl by the entrance to the kitchens? I've found a cook in need of some cheering up and I think you'll help.
<<Of course, Mine. Do you have bubbly pies? You said you'd try to bring one...>> From her place in the Weyr, she shifted and padded out to the ledge, slipping easily into the air before setting down on the ground as asked.
Mmhmm, I even found the person who makes the ones you like so much.
<<Thank-you!>> The green seemed particularly pleased by that and stood by the entrance, somewhat excited.
To Sellae he smiled, "Coming? It'll be worth your while, I think."
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Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 10:18 am
"Of course..." she sounded curious. "Give me a moment to let someone know where I am going?" She moved over to one of the kitchen mistresses, pointing at the rider and speaking in a low voice. When the older woman nodded, Sellae scuttled over to grab two meat rolls for herself and a bubbly pie.
She wrapped the pies into a packet and moved back to the rider, eyes bright with curiosity. "Thank you, G'ail." she spoke his name shyly, embarrassed but pleased that he'd chosen to speak with her. And then her mouth formed an 'o' as she connected an additional dot. "Will I get to meet Senoth?" she sounded absolutely delighted at the thought.
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Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 7:18 pm
He nodded as she went and told the kitchen mistress her circumstance and pinched a few more meat rolls for himself. Senoth had a penchant for human food and he often found himself sharing the treats with her when they ate - little snacks that they were for her whereas they might be a meal for him. It amazed him sometimes, that dragons rarely ever got fat... especially considering how much his own gregarious green ate.
"You're welcome." He flashed a winning smile at her, and shrugged when she asked her question, "Maybe."
It was a few minutes before they found their way into the Weyrbowl and Senoth stood there waiting, neck arched gracefully as she watched the stars above. They fascinated the green, so sparkling and beautiful and yet... it was from that very same sky that death and pain rained from.
When she saw her rider draw near, she shifted and pranced a little, trotting over to bunt him with her nose and sniff the box.<<Ooh! That smells good, Mine! You've got a few in there too. Thank-you.>> Offering a draconic grin, she lifted her head to look over G'ail's head and peer curiously at the youth behind him. <<Is that her...? She's a pretty one, G'ail, but young...>> Her tone was thoughtful but not disapproving, entirely misunderstanding his actions here.
Sputtering, he shifted the box to one arm and reach to pull her chin back towards him and peered into the visible eye, I know she's young. I'm not interested like that, Senoth. I'm a teacher and a rider, remember? I help people - that's what I'm doing here. Now be nice and say hello hmn?
Whuffling a laugh, Senoth pulled her head away and bobbed it in some semblance of an affirmative before padding past G'ail to stop before the girl. She was small in comparison to her... it made Senoth feel like a great big dragon and she grinned as she settled onto her stomach to even the playing field some. Extending her neck, she stopped just shy of the other's chest and whuffed at her in greeting, blinking curiously as she scented bubbly pie on this one too, <<Oh! She brought crumbly pie too! Are they for me, G'ail...?>>
G'ail laughed and approached, running a hand along his bonded's side as he did so, "It's bubbly pie and not crumbly pie and I don't know... I thought she brought them for herself..." He glanced at her, obviously letting the girl choose for herself what she wanted to do.
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Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 2:04 am
As she saw the dragon for the first time, it would be easiest to say she grew... starry-eyed. The dragon looked at her! Only for a moment, but that wasn't the point. G'ail seemed to be saying something to her, looking into her eye, and then...
Sellae forgot to breathe as the green dropped to her belly in front of her, mouth in a surprised 'o' shape. And she stared for a moment, until G'ail said something that she hadn't quite heard. Her face immediately went red and she sputtered out a greeting. "Hello, Senoth." her pale blue eyes were almost shining at the large head in front of her.
Adult dragons weren't scary at all! Why were baby dragons? "I... apologize, G'ail, I didn't catch the question." she flushed, biting her lip as she looked up at him. "I... Senoth is so pretty!" she turned back to admire the dragon again. "May I stroke your head?" she sounded so horribly wistful.
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Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 9:26 am
Senoth smiled at the girl when she was greeted but remained where she was, rather amused by Sellae's star-struck reaction. It was so flattering! She wasn't anything particularly special but this girl seemed so taken with her! Rumbling pleasantly, Senoth bobbed her head slowly in a 'yes' motion at the question to touch.
G'ail watched Senoth with a smile and shrugged slightly, "That's up to her and she seems to have said yes. Senoth rather enjoys being stroked. As for my question... she wanted to know if those pies are for her or you. I thought you might have brought them for yourself."
Senoth glanced to her rider then as she pressed her nose into the other's chest, <<She was afraid of dragons? She doesn't look like it now now, Mine... Are you sure you are not being taken advantage of? Did she make you promise anything?<< Ever concerned for her sometimes gullible rider, the green made it a priority to watch and approve of every - lest G'ail be hurt, which she wouldn't allow.
G'ail sighed at that, No, Mine, she has not deceived me. I am certain. She was in need of cheering up and so we are trying to cheer her up. He padded around the side of Senoth, towards a small incline in the Weyrbowl then, gesturing for Sellae and Senoth to accompany him.
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Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 10:20 pm
Her hand was shaking as she started to reach out to touch the green. Started, never finishing it before she took a few steps back from the green, shaking her head. "I... don't mind sharing." she said finally. The shine of her eyes was gone, taken over by caution, reminder of the dragonets that had so accidentally killed. Not that she thought Senoth would do that... so why was she backing up?
She bit her lip, reaching into the packet to offer the green one of the bubbly pies with a shaky hand, holding it so that the dragon would not need to engulf her hand to lip it off. The eagerness seemed to be flickering off and on, by some switch of curiosity and amazement prevalent in a fifteen-turn child of any gender. Even one who thought herself so grown-up as Sellae did.
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