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Princess_Feylin Vice Captain
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 Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 9:06 am
Moving into the weyrling barracks, B'shir had been amused to learn that the bunks were assigned, rather than chosen, and that someone had given some thought to the assignments while everyone else celebrated the hatching and the Impressions that had been made. He and Sakneth were pretty well isolated from the other dragonets and their bonds, and very far from Teharth. It seemed like a very sensible arrangement to B'shir, who had observed that Sakneth's attitude toward his clutchmate had not improved with food or sleep. Whenever he asked Sakneth how it was possible to be born feeling animosity toward someone the bronze had given him one of those looks that B'shir was quickly learning to interpret as, "You poor, stupid creature."
Having completed the moving process, B'shir returned one final time to the candidate dormitory where he'd lived since he was sixteen turns. It wasn't really home. That would be the quarters he'd shared with his family until he was sixteen, even though he had not lived there for two turns and his sisters were no longer living there. Even so, an uncharacteristic sense of sentimentality brought him back to the candidate dormitory. He'd still see most of these people while doing chores, because Impressing a dragon didn't spare him that. He would probably be doing chores until he died.
I don't think you should have to do work at all. You've got me, and I'm important, Sakneth commented. There are others to do the chores.
"I don't think that would go over very well with the 'others' of which you speak."
So?
B'shir looked around. He didn't know what had prompted him to come back here. It wasn't as though he was particularly attached to the place. He'd barely spent any time there, between chores and training and lessons. Mostly he slept and changed his clothes there. The weyrling barracks would probably end up being much the same.
Are we finished here? Sakneth asked. I'm hungry.
B'shir nodded and turned to leave.
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Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 3:09 pm
Dashias had just come back from the Healer patient room. He got his bandages changed twice a day now to keep the wound on his back and left arm from becoming septic. The left arm was sore but he retained moment and feeling which was always a plus. His back injury kept him from any heavy lifting but changing glows, keeping better records and clearing plates. And, his two flits eggs were ready to hatch any day now. Beside his bunk were two large jars filled with hot sands. Even now, Dashias had a sack full of nonperishable foods to feed the little ones when they hatched.
His eyes rested on a bronze dragon and then on B'shir as he entered the Candidate barracks. Breaking out into an easy grin, he greeted his only friend in the weyr. "So who is the bronze now, B'shir. Greetings Sakneth. You may not remember me but you caused quite a few of these wounds. How are you both today?"
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Princess_Feylin Vice Captain
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Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 5:54 pm
B'shir looked up suddenly at the sound of Dashias' voice. Sakneth refused to show that he had been startled, but his eyes changed color just a little from their usual turquoise shade, acquiring a slightly annoyed tinge.
He snuck up on us, Sakneth protested. That's not fair.
You just didn't notice him. And you will behave. It's your fault he's injured, you know.
Sakneth's mental "tone" became interested. Really? I was quite magnificent, just out of the shell, wasn't I?
B'shir wasn't going to dignify his dragon's arrogance with a response. Even if Sakneth was proud of his youthful ability to rend and perforate, B'shir wished he might have chosen someone else to do it to. Dashias didn't deserve to be abused so. It hadn't stopped bothering B'shir that he hadn't stepped forward to come between Dashias and the fighting dragonets at the hatching. He'd thought of doing so, but then decided against it. Thus, his hide had remained intact and Dashias' had not. He felt guilty about that, and Sakneth's assurances that his hide was more important did absolutely nothing to alleviate his guilt.
"Dashias!" B'shir exclaimed. He didn't look pleased to see the ex-harper, but he didn't look displeased to see him. Impression had not caused him to become more visibly expressive. If anything it had caused him to become more guarded, so that no one could guess what scandalous things Sakneth was saying to him.
"I'm in better shape than you. Sakneth says he's sorry."
I did not! Sakneth argued. And I'm not. He probably got in the way. He looks like the type who would.
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Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 9:15 pm
Dashias made a rude noise and then laughed at himself. "Seriously, 'Shir? Don't worry about it. If he hadn't torn me up and launched himself at you, you two might not have found each other. Not a big deal."
He knew better than to approach any dragon, now that it was Impressed, without permission. He was leaning against the doorway, admiring the pair. B'shir seemed as confident as ever and his dragon just as cocky. "I hope that you two do well in your lessons. As for myself, I am just waiting for more eggs to hatch."
Dashias moved slowly across the room to his jar to check his eggs. Secretly, he was glad that B'shir was here. He was hoping to give his friend one of the eggs.
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Princess_Feylin Vice Captain
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Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 9:39 pm
That was one way to look at it. B'shir tended more to view it as violence that could have been avoided entirely if he had just stepped forward and taken charge. Clearly he was not going to become a wingleader any time soon. Sakneth bristled mentally at the thought.
Wingleaders are important, yes? Then you shall be one, because I am important. B'shir didn't respond. He couldn't think of a way to respond to that, really, except to tell his dragon that wasn't quite how things worked, which would only prompt a tirade on how badly things were organized in that case. B'shir was willing to listen to his dragon rail against the system in private, but not in public.
"If you say so. I'll try to feel less guilty. And thanks. About the lessons. I know the first few sevendays won't be anything I don't already know, but eventually the material will be new. I hope." It was a concern of B'shir's that he'd learned too much under his grandfather's tutelage and would have nothing new to learn from his weyrling lessons. He imagined that would not be very good for anyone, but particularly not Sakneth, who did not know all that B'shir did, and ought to pay attention.
"What eggs do you mean?" B'shir asked, somewhat puzzled. His gaze followed Dashias' progress across the room. Sakneth, always self-confident, left B'shir's side and trotted over to investigate.
Those aren't dragon eggs, he announced.
No. I think they're firelizard eggs, B'shir replied.
What's a firelizard?
A small dragon. Less intelligent, more excitable. For Dashias' benefit he spoke aloud, too. "Sakneth was interested in what kind of eggs those were. He's never seen a firelizard."
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Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 12:05 am
"Remember the day I dragged you down to the archives? Turns out that Red Sands Hold wasn't under tithing! I noticed that their steward and our Head woman signed for for the same amount of goods but Gyuarn was trimming for his own gain. So as a reward, I was given two eggs. Probably greens but hey! They are mine!" Dashias was rather cheered for someone who had come very close to being disemboweled. But he was a teen and the thought of immortality was foremost on his mind.
He turned the eggs and noticed that one of them, the slightly larger one, had a rather large crack going across the middle. Excited, he had no explanation as he began to toss aside his belongs and look for the stash of food stuffs he had. The smaller egg began to crack and with a foot, he turned the jar to its side. Sand spilled everywhere and an egg rolled towards B'shir's feet.
Without thinking, Dashias tossed some sort of jerky towards the newly made dragon rider and focused on the other egg. They were nearly identical in size and color but one was a hair larger than the other. His eyes twinkled with anticipation and he got ready. Flit hatchings were not as excitable as dragon hatchings but still! A little creature that depended upon him, that understood him...to an extent. There were several harpers that he knew that had flits... Even his father, Shandarin had a blue. But that was mainly so he could keep in contact with Harper Hall in Fort. A large cracking sound and the egg in front of B'shir started to shake.
"Help me! Don't let either go between!"
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Princess_Feylin Vice Captain
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Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 6:16 am
B'shir had to think fairly hard to remember a time before the hatching. Between chores, lessons, and caring for Sakneth, his memory was mostly useless. They days just sort of blurred together into one unending stream of toil, indistinguishable. He couldn't really recall whether it was two days or seven that Sakneth had declared himself ruler of the weyrling barracks and refused to let anyone else enter without paying him homage, or whether that was only something he was afraid the bronze would do in the future, and trying not to think too hard about, for fear it would give the arrogant creature ideas. Logically he knew there was a time before Sakneth hatched, but it manifested as a distant memory lately.
"Wow. That's..." B'shir was thinking of the ramifications of a hold deliberately under-tithing.
I don't think that's the point he's trying to make, Sakneth said dryly.
B'shir re-evaluated Dashias' cheery statement and realized that the most important part was that the ex-harper had been the one to discover the embezzlement and been rewarded with firelizard eggs. That made much more sense. In the back of his mind he heard Sakneth wondering if a hold under-tithing would mean that he, Sakneth, would have less to eat, and if it would be acceptable, then, to eat Teharth.
No.
"That's great, Dashias. You definitely deserve them." As sort of a consolation for not Impressing, maybe. B'shir couldn't tell if the thought had come from his mind or Sakneth's, and hoped it had been the bronze's. It was not a particularly charitable thought. Or something. Maybe it was an arrogant, slightly cold thought. But B'shir had meant that Dashias deserved them.
B'shir moved a little closer to watch the eggs hatch. Sakneth, absolutely fascinated, nosed at the egg rolling along the floor, looking almost like a house canine chasing a ball. If he put the egg in his mouth, B'shir wasn't sure how he'd get the bronze to drop it before some terrified firelizard hatched there and went between from the sheer fright of hatching into a dragon's mouth.
They're hatching, Sakneth announced unnecessarily. For once he actually didn't notice the piece of food flying through the air. He was as intently focused on the eggs as the human beings.
"But..."B'shir began to protest. He'd caught the jerky instinctively, but he wasn't sure he ought to Impress a firelizard. For one thing, they were Dashias' eggs, and he'd earned them. For another thing, he wasn't sure Sakneth understood quite what would happen if B'shir fed the creature that emerged from the cracking egg, as the bronze was urging him to do.
You have to feed it when it comes out, the dragonet advised. If it's hungry it will be harder for it to concentrate and find its bondmate. It's hard to concentrate when you're hungry, you know. Wait, who is it going to bond to? B'shir, don't you feed that firelizard!
B'shir knelt next to the egg, food at the ready, fully intending to grab whatever hatched and shove it at Dashias.
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Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2009 3:25 pm
The little egg was shaking rather violently now and pieces of shell were starting to fall off. The whole thing was rather exciting and Dashias kept looking over at the larger egg which was still shaking but not cracking. Suddenly, a little green nose poked its way out and the shell crumbled. Squealing in hunger and excitement. As if by instinct it turned and tumbled towards the food that Dashias held out. It snapped up the first piece of dried meat and he shoved more in it's face.
"Wow! Look at her! What a pretty little green!" He rambled for a second as he fed the small flit. Thankfully, she was small and soon her belly filled and she fell forward asleep into the ex-Harper's arms.
The whole thing took place in about three to five minutes. Meanwhile, the larger egg had finally cracked and split into two pieces. Dashias looked over at B'shir and shouted. "Look out!"
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Princess_Feylin Vice Captain
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Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2009 11:10 am
Sakneth's head whipped around when a green nose emerged from the egg by Dashias. His eyes whirled many excited colors and he completely forgot that he'd forbidden B'shir to Impress a firelizard. He was absolutely fascinated by the whole process, and required B'shir's hand on his tail to hold him back. Otherwise he would have charged over to Dashias and his new green to investigate, undoubtedly shoving his snout into the poor little thing's face and terrify her out of her wits.
Is that what I did? Sakneth asked. Ah, dragon memories.
Hardly, B'shir replied dryly, but he didn't elaborate. He, too, was transfixed by the sight of the green firelizard's Impression. It was a sight that never grew old for him.
She isn't saying what her name is, Sakneth remarked. Doesn't she have one?
B'shir bit back a chuckle that might've startled the green in Dashias' arms.
"She's lovely," he agreed. Then he added, for Sakneth's benefit, "What are you going to name her?"
Firelizards' bonds choose their names? Do they choose their personalities, too? B'shir couldn't tell if Sakneth was intrigued or horrified.
I'm pretty sure no one gets to decide another creature's personality, the bronzerider assured his dragon.
Dashias' cry of "Look out!" startled B'shir into looking at the larger egg, which had also split. Once more, Sakneth turned quickly to regard the egg, but this time he was close enough that B'shir couldn't stop him from nosing the thing if he felt so inclined. Fortunately, Sakneth seemed content just to stare at it and announce excitedly and repeatedly that it was hatching. As if the humans present were too stupid to see that for themselves.
"Dashias, come feed this thing," B'shir said. "I don't need a firelizard."
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Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 11:41 am
Dashias would have loved to come feed the other green, his reward for catching a major flaw in the records, but the smaller green and random junk on the floor seemed to be preventing this and he struggled to make his way over. "Shards, B'shir, do something! Don't let her go!"
The normally rational archivist in training was panicking more so than when he had stood on the sands. He could see the bronze dragonet and the look of interest? Amusement? On his face. The flit had woken up with the commotion and was clinging to Dashias and making noises of her own. "Feed it or hand it to me... Something, I am caught here!"
He held out dried pieces of meat left over from the older green.
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Princess_Feylin Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 5:40 pm
B'shir realized that Dashias wouldn't be able to come feed the firelizard without upsetting his own, and even if he could do that much, there was debris making it difficult. Moving extremely quickly, B'shir grabbed at the young green firelizard, but he missed. Sakneth may not have liked the idea of his human Impressing, but he was surprisingly complicit when it came to helping him. He intercepted the green's escape attempt and corralled her so that B'shir could grab her. He was gentle with the tiny creature, but his grip was still tight.
With the firelizard firmly in hand, Sakneth turned his attention elsewhere. The young bronze snatched the proffered meat from Dashias' hand and brought it to B'shir.
She's hungry, Sakneth urged his human. Being more sensitive to these sorts of things than B'shir, he added, And she's terrified. Feed her! Make her feel better!
"I'm trying," B'shir muttered. He took a portion of meat and stuffed it into the green's mouth. In the back of his mind he heard Sakneth acting out of character and keeping up a constant murmur of reassurances to the young firelizard, sending her feelings of love and warmth. A small part of B'shir was jealous: Sakneth never did that with him.
You don't need it, the bronze told him. She does. You should talk to her, too. Let her hear your voice.
"I feel a little stupid talking to a firelizard," B'shir said, but his voice was gentle, almost a croon. "I shouldn't even be the one doing this. You should be Dashias'. He earned you. But he's only got two hands, and an awkward baby dragon between him and you, so I'm who you're stuck with it seems."
After a moment B'shir became aware of yet another consciousness joined to his, though it was a great deal less clear than Sakneth's. Wonderful. He'd Impressed a firelizard. He continued to feed her until she turned her head away and closed her eyes in sleep. Sakneth nudged her curiously, but she didn't stir.
That was well done, for all that you botched the beginning, Sakneth said, pronouncing his judgment on the proceedings.
"I'm sorry," B'shir said to Dashias. "Really I am."
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Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2010 6:58 pm
Dashias was quickly too enamored with the little green to realize B'shir's plight between his dragon and the other flit. The harper was still feeding the older of the two grins thought the slightly smaller. The flits were identical to each other besides the slight difference in size. He cradled the green and had a stupid smile on his face.
She was just perfect.
Dashias was even more pleased that he was able to share something so wonderful with his closest friend. After all, B'shir had been there that day as well. It seemed only fair that the two would go threw another important hatching together. The candidate wondered how the bronze would take to his rider having another charge. Breifly, Dashias wondered if flits could switch owners. But by now, the green was started to doze off and the food was going untouched. Leaving the last bits of dried food, Dashias finally looked around.
And saw the mess.
"Oh dear. Looks like a disaster just went down here... And I guess it did. I should put this little one down and get to cleaning. Don't worry, I can handle this."
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Princess_Feylin Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2010 7:29 pm
B'shir cradled the green creature awkwardly to his chest. He really wasn't much good with anything that wasn't a human or a dragon. Some days he wondered if he was even good with those two. Most people couldn't figure out if he even liked them, and he couldn't always figure out if his own dragon liked him. He was going to make a horrible mess of this. He just knew it. He wasn't sure how he'd manage to mess up having a firelizard, but he surely would.
Stop being stupid, Sakneth said. I'm not dying from neglect. She won't either.
Having said his piece, the closest to reassurance B'shir was likely to get from his young bronze, Sakneth turned around to investigate the green Dashias had Impressed. He snorted in surprise when he saw her, and whipped his head around to look at B'shir's green. He crept closer, suspicious.
You two have the same firelizard, Sakneth pointed out. Is that normal?
"Sakneth says we have the same firelizard. And asks if it's normal," B'shir said for Dashias' benefit. "And I have no idea. I've never really had much to do with firelizards."
Now you will, Sakneth remarked dryly. I better not be neglected because of this lesser creature who doesn't even know her own name.
"I can help," B'shir said, ignoring Sakneth for the moment. "I helped make it. What are you going to call her?"
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Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2010 4:08 pm
Dashias looked up as B'shir cradled his green flit to his chest while he stroked his little green's belly. It was soft and supple. A lovely shade of green no doubt. His back and arm were starting to throb from all the excitement and work. Maybe a whole candle had passed since the events began but considering how things seemed to move both quickly and slowly, Dashias was surprised that it was only a candle. Soon, it would be time to go do what little chores he could... He would need a better sling, one more suited to carry the weight of little...
"Quill. Her name is Quill. And this might be love." He whispered to himself more than as an answer to B'shir's question.
At the mention of Sakneth and their flits looking the same, the young scribe finally did look over and see that they did indeed have the same looking flit. Though B'shir's was slightly larger. "I am not sure. I would have to ask someone with a lot of flits. I know that twins are not common in humans or animals, so I would think not. As for the mess, I don't think either of us made it per say but yeah. The sooner, the better."
He gungerly made his way over to the cot and tucked the baby green in and under his covers. Turning back, he tried not to wince. "I'll get the broom."
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Princess_Feylin Vice Captain
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Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2010 6:04 pm
"I'm glad you like her. Quill. Bit of an odd name for something that doesn't have feathers." Creativity was not B'shir's middle name. Creativity wasn't B'shir's anything. He didn't have any.
He also wasn't sure if what he felt for his green was love. Affection, perhaps. Connection, definitely, but that was the whole point of Impression. He got the feeling this was a very bad idea indeed, and wished he could somehow convince the sleeping thing to Impress to Dashias instead.
Impression is permanent, Sakneth reminded him.
B'shir had never heard of dragons producing twins, and everyone said firelizards were like dragons, but maybe this was one of the ways in which they differed. Because his green and Dashiass Quill certaily looked like carbon copies to him. Maybe they would come out with different personalities. He really knew next-to nothing about firelizards. Did they hatch with their own personalities, like dragons? Or did their personality form based on their experiences? Or was it a little of both?
I am not related to that, Sakneth declared.
I think you might be, B'shir answered distractedly. "Go stand by the door so that you won't be in the way while we clean up."
Sakneth remained firmly where he was. Not even a please?
"Please," B'shir said, pointing emphatically toward the doorway. It was still a command, even though it had been modified with the wording of a request. There was no mistaking the new bronzerider's tone, and Sakneth obeyed, glowering over his shoulder at B'shir.
B'shir ignored Sakneth's dirty looks and put his green down on his cot before setting about the process of cleaning up what could be tidied without a broom. And to think, he'd just come in here to make sure he'd left nothing behind. Oh, how he loved life's little surprises.
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