|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2009 7:00 am
A cool breeze ruffled his hair as he finally drew near the hot springs, causing him to raise a hand and run his fingers through the dark strands absentmindedly. For once he wasn't thinking about anything much at all, the last two sevendays had sapped pretty well all of his energy. Today, however, he had a little time to unwind.
Kannaroth had been demanding he bring her out here almost since day one, and at long last he had found time between her being asleep, lessons, and feeding time to do as she asked. The small green padded along beside him silently, regarding the world around her with dull blue eyes. She was unimpressed by the scenery, and by the other dragons she could pick out lounging up on ledges, in the water, soaring above her. Inadequate, small-minded, and so many of them freely given things that she might never have. She was far more deserving, but that didn't seem to matter. Nobody cared about brains in this place, it was all about your colour, and how good you were at sucking up.
"We'll get what we deserve, one way or another," Y'kar assured his lifemate as they reached the water's edge, "we just need to be patient."
"Pah," the dragonet's eyes flared red with annoyance, "can it be my turn to state the blinding obvious tomorrow please? I know we must be patient, we shall be where necessary. Some things I can have now by taking them, some things we must work on. I'm young, not stupid, try to remember it."
Y'kar smiled slightly, sitting down on the grass to remove his boots. "Certainly, you can do whatever you want to... And I'll try, sorry." He was still adjusting to her in some ways, her sharp mind still caught him off guard.
"You'll get there, eventually," the green dismissed, sitting back on her haunches and dipping a fore paw into the gently steaming water experimentally. "Mmmh, nice," she commented, "I shall enjoy this."
Y'kar had been about to say 'don't wait for me' when Kannaroth got back to her feet and waded into the lake. Well, fair enough then. Smiling again, the youth hastened to remove his outer clothes and followed her in. The water was, as ever, deliciously warm and both rider and dragon resolved to find time to come here as often as possible. Feeling another demand from his lifemate, Y'kar chuckled and reached out to rub her eye ridges. Nothing quite like a nice hot soak with your dragon to make the stresses of life seem more bearable.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2009 7:54 am
Kaya shivered a little as a quick burst of cool air touched her skin. She quickly pulled her jacket in closer to try and warm herself. Then again, she supposed it wasn't anywhere as bad as going between. She and Rumath had only been impressed a little while but they had connected in such a way that she knew she would never, could never, have with anyone else. He was her everything and she meant it. Being a female blue rider at Telgar wasn't easy by any means. Sure, she could have tried to transfer to High Reaches but she was too stubborn. This was her home and it was where she grew up. No one would take that away from her.
The girl felt Rumath nudge her and turned to look at him. She knew Rumath thought she should transfer. At first he had tried to hide hide his thoughts because he knew they upset her, but it just wasn't possible. We've been over this a hundred times. She told her dragon. I won't leave my father and friends, the place I grew up in. Not over a bunch of prejudice men.
Kayamine, I don't like seeing you so unhappy, but I know it's what you want and I won't try and tell you otherwise.
Kaya absentmindedly scratched Rumath above one of his eyes for a few moments and then continued forward. She had over worked herself again. Taking care of Rumath was a full time job, not to mention all the flight exercises they did and she still enjoyed working in the kitchens. Now, she looked like she had brought the kitchen home with her. A good soak in the springs and a change of clothes would do her some good.
The girl only took a few more steps before her heart sank. Great. It was one of them. She hadn't actually met any of the green riders but she had heard of the dragons and they were not a friendly lot. Maybe they're just misunderstood? Rumath interrupted her thoughts. Well, it had been a hard day and she wasn't going to leave now. There was plenty of room for both of them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2009 8:13 am
"Oh look. Company." Kannaroth raised her head to regard the approaching pair, her eyes a steady dull orange. She wasn't really angry yet, but she certainly wasn't pleased. "I do despair at others," she told Hers quietly, "they seem to have little between their ears or headknobs but Thread-dust and wher dung."
He couldn't agree more, but he didn't say it or show it. Instead he offered the woman and her blue a slightly shy smile. "Hello there... umm... is it Kaya?" He recalled seeing her around as a candidate a couple of turns ago, and she was memorable for being a female with a fighting dragon. "I'm Y'kar, and this is Kannaroth" he went on after a moment, rising to his feet and looking faintly embarrassed to be wearing nothing but his underwear. "I expect you know all about us already though," he added with a sheepish smile, internally wondering if he should be scorning her instead of showing a friendly face. He supposed being known to sympathise with female riders could spoil his reputation with some... well it could if he had a reputation anyway. Besides, Roseth's rider was female, and he wasn't going to go around scorning her no matter who might think less of him.
"Please do join us," he gave another shy smile, "Kanna's bark is a lot worse than her bite."
"I don't have a bite," the green retorted privately, "my nature as a dragon keeps me from smacking foolish humans. As for the blue..." she raised her gaze to the adult dragon, and for a moment her eyes flashed brighter orange, "as it stands he's too big for me. Besides, crude violence isn't the way to get what you want."
"I know," Y'kar replied, "I'm just being friendly. It isn't your bark or bite they should be worried about, they should be worried when you don't say anything at all, because that means you're thinking."
Internally, the green grinned. "Yes, and they should be worried about you when you're being nice. They really have no idea what they're dealing with, do they?"
Y'kar shifted awkwardly as he waited for a reply from the more mature pair, and returned the mental grin. "No, they haven't got a clue. Wonderful really, isn't it?"
The razor-minded dragonet's internal grin widened. "Delightful."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2009 8:41 am
To be honest the girl was a little shocked at the rather warm welcome she received from the pair. Perhaps she was too quick to judge the two. After all, she was only going off of rumors.
Mine, I wouldn't be so quick to let down your guard. From what I've heard this is not a pair to mess with. Kaya agreed with the her lifemate. She would give the duo a chance but not without caution.
"Yes I am, and this is Rumath." She said as she scratched at an itchy spot on her dragon. Carefully she slipped out of everything but her underclothes and tossed the disgusting rags to the side. Y'kar might be slightly embarrassed to be in his underwear but Kaya had learned long ago that that nudity wasn't an issue. There would be mating flights and she knew sex wasn't a big issue. It was just another part of life. Just something that would happen when it did and there was no reason to be shy. She did wonder for a minute if he was hold bred.
"If we're intruding we could go to another part of the springs and leave you two be." The girl wasn't entirely sure if she wanted to stay near these two very long. It was a reflex for her, don't trust anyone until you know them better. She wasn't touching that dragon with a ten foot pole. Not that she would touch someone elses' dragon anyway.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2009 8:56 am
"No, it's okay," Y'kar sank back into the water, sighing contentedly at the warmth, and at being able to drop the pretense of embarrassment at being seen mostly unclothed; keeping too many acts juggled at once was quite possible but tended to give him a headache after a while. "Honestly I'd be glad of the company," he went on with a slight smile, "I've not seen much of anyone but the others who Impressed at Kannaroth's hatching and the weyrling master. I know Kanna's a bit... err... well... err... standoffish though so I understand if you want to move off."
"Standoffish. What a charming understatement," the green commented to Hers before turning Rumath. "Make mock of me or Mine and you will live to regret it, stripy leg," she informed him, her mental tones sharp enough to slice stone.
Y'kar threw a worried glance at his lifemate; he had been excluded from her words, but briefed that he was aware that they had been harsh. He was very glad he'd Impressed a dragon willing to keep him up to date with how he needed to play his part. "Err... I hope she didn't say anything too nasty," he said to Kaya, "she's just a bit defensive, you understand right? Things haven't been too easy on her and her sisters so far." That was an understatement. Most of the Weyr seemed to think that they were essentially worthless, after all what use were three greens all alone to the Weyr? A good clutch ought to have a bronze, more than one if possible, a few browns, a good spread of blues, and as for greens... well they could just bulk up numbers, couldn't they? Three greens, three useless wastes of space, the product of a stupid old woman's last gasp for power. In a way he was glad that was what everyone thought, it was always good to be underestimated.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 7:38 am
Kaya was caught in indecision for a moment. She wasn't entirely sure she wanted to stay, however she knew that having these two on her bad side would not be good at all. Well, it wasn't like she couldn't leave if things went badly.
"Well if you're sure." The water was soothing and she immediately felt almost all of the tension in her body flow away. Being a dragon rider wasn't easy but it did keep her busy, and as long as she had Rumath it was all worth it. Kaya worked her fingers through her hair as she listened to Y'kar. She had heard the stories of the green sisters and wasn't entirely sure Standoffish was the word she would use. However, she had only ever heard the rumors, perhaps these two weren't as bad as everyone thought?
Mine, rumors start for a reason. Especially with these sisters. The girl felt her lifemate's dissatisfaction at the warning that he received from the green. Immediately she was on her guard again. She carefully plastered a grin on her face and pretended to pay no attention to the green. Two can play at that game. She thought to herself.
Rumath simply ignored the greens threats. She was still young and small, but Rumath wasn't exactly large either. He knew he'd out fly her but from what he knew of the green and her sister's, she would make good her threat.
"That's quite alright." Kaya told the rider. "Rumath can get a bit protective too. Plus considering your situation I can understand. She doesn't have to worry though. We won't harm you." Now what had she gotten herself into? She wasn't exactly getting a whole lot of feed back from her blue but she knew he would tell her anything important. For now she just needed to be friendly.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 8:04 am
"Thanks," Y'kar gave a lopsided, faintly shy grin, "but I'm afraid she's pretty hard to persuade. She's a smart girl, but she seems to have made her mind up that everyone's out to get us, and changing her opinion isn't going to be too easy... I think it might be better with you than a lot of others though, she can tell that you have it tough as well which should help... Umm... So..." the young rider shifted slightly in the awkward manner of one not too good at starting conversations. "Have you two just come from drilling?" he asked, brightening suddenly. "I can't wait until Kannaroth's big enough to fly, I've only been up on a dragon once but it was amazing, must be even better with your lifemate." If he could gather any useful tips from this woman about drills, so much the better. Information was never a bad thing after all, and the more he could gather on this subject, the better set up he and Kannaroth would be to impress when they took to the skies.
Kannaroth snorted; so the blue did not speak, but the rider spoke for him. No harm, was it? Like she believed that. "Have you a voice, blue?" Kannaroth asked archly, "or do you rely on Yours to say everything for you?... Or perhaps you simply ignore me because you think me inconsequential, a great mistake I can assure you. Mine may be pretty well harmless, but I can assure you that the same does not go for me. My mind is sharper than my talons, and one day all of you who so casually discount myself and my clutchmates will regret your arrogance and short-sightedness." In a lot of ways Y'kar was harmless, he had no claws, was puny even by human standards, and couldn't breathe flame. That made him harmless by a lot of definitions, and Kannaroth was swiftly learning to quite enjoy telling the absolute truth while doing away with honesty at the same time.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 9:32 am
Kaya smiled sweetly at Y'kar. "That's alright. I can imagine it must be difficult sometimes. Being a female Blue Rider makes it hard for me to trust very many people either. You never really know what anyone honestly thinks of you. 'Too bad she doesn't ride a green. A shame some lad missed out on that Blue.' As if I could actually control what color dragon I ride even if I wanted to. Oh sorry I suppose I'm ranting." Kaya allowed herself to blush a little. No, she didn't trust Y'kar or his green but she could at least pretend to until she knew more about them.
"Oh no," she replied to his question. "I actually just came from the kitchens. I have drills tomorrow but It'll be my first one. I'm quite excited too. Rumath and I have been doing some practicing on our own but we were only just assigned to wing."
As Kaya was talking, Rumath finally turned his attention on the green dragon. Perhaps ignoring her hadn't been the best response to her threat. "I did not mean to offend you Kanaroth." He used her name in respect. He did not want to anger her. Not just yet anyway. "I merely did not think you needed a response. After all, I received your warning and meant no harm to you or yours. I know others find you and your clutchmates something of a joke but I can assure you I do not think so." The blue pondered for a moment. He was in a delicate situation. Rumath wasn't sure what would happen if he really did upset Kannaroth but he didn't want to find out, even if it wouldn't be until she was grown.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 9:49 am
"Wow, well good luck with that then," Y'kar said with a nod, "I hope it goes alright for you." She'd have to be better than average to be considered average, and while that didn't actually make him feel sorry for her - he didn't give a flitt's tail fork about her - he could emphasize. Things would be like that for Kannaroth and himself, and the other two as well. Still, at least being better than average wouldn't be an issue for any of them. Physically Kannaroth's sisters were superb and as for his own lady, well her brains could more than compensate for any averageness she might have.
"Who's your wingleader?" Y'kar thought to add after a moment. "I know some of them are a lot better than others about dealing with women on fighting dragons... Don't really get what the problem is myself," he went on with a frown. "I mean, yes women tend not to be as physically strong as men but why should that matter for a rider? So long as you can lift firestone sacks, why would you need to be stronger? Other than strength, I'm not sure I see what women don't have that men do." The issue so far as he could guess was losing out on breeding stock; women on fighting dragons seldom carried children to term. That still didn't make a lot of sense though, there were enough women with emphatic potential who never Impressed to deal with the having babies bit. Tradition was a very peculiar thing, and a pain in the neck when it worked against you.
"Well, at least you've some sense then," the green replied, relaxing a notch but only a notch. The fact that he didn't think they were a joke didn't make him trustworthy in the least. Even if it did, he was an inferior specimen when compared to herself and her sisters; not worth her time. Having nothing else to say to Rumath, Kannaroth nudged her lifemate to start making a fuss of her again; if she had to hang around with these idiots she might as well have some enjoyment to take her mind of them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 1:55 pm
Rumath eyed the green as she took her attention off of him. The blue relaxed just a little. He hadn't made a friend out of her, but at least, for now, he hadn't made an enemy either. Most likely she was bored of him. This was good. It might be best to have as little contact with any of these greens as they could manage. Slowly, the blue nudged against Kaya a little reassuring her. He also let a thought flow towards her. "We are not in any immediate danger here mine. But we shouldn't stay more than we need to. This could be a dangerous pair if they were not on our side."
Kaya absently scratched at Rumath's favorite spot as she talked with Y'kar. Rumath was definitely right. Kaya wasn't sure if Y'kar was just being really nice or if he was actually concerned for her. It did seem a bit odd for him to simply want to get on her good side, after all, it wasn't like she was someone very interesting. Not particularly. Well, she would go along with it for now until she could figure out what the boy was up to.
"Thank you." She replied to his well wishes. Although she was still uncertain of their real intent. "My wing leader is T'pan. I haven't heard too much about him but I have heard that he tends to flirt with many of the female riders. It sounds like it may be any female in general." It seemed a bit of harmless information. She would continue the small talk until one of them became so bored that they finally left.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 8:16 am
"Yea... I guess I'd not thought all that much about how life is for female riders until I knew Jasrai after our hatching," Y'kar gave a slightly embarrassed smile. "I mean... like I say I didn't see why there was a problem with girls on greens and blues, but it wasn't something that really affected me. Now though... well, Jasrai has to deal with being a girl on a green at the same time as a girl on 'one of those' greens. Doesn't seem fair really." It didn't seem fair. It wasn't fair. Life wasn't fair come to that, and you just had to make the best of it. "Still," he brightened slightly, "maybe when we have our new Weyrwoman, things will improve? I'm not really sure how either of the junior gold riders feel about women on fighting dragons but they might be less traditional."
Probably wouldn't make things better for him and his fellows though. They would remain the last vestige of Shatih's reign, evidence that she had tried to cling to power for too long. They would either be scorned as worthless, or outright resented in all probability. Still, they could handle that, it would just be nice if one of their number had a few less problems to cope with. Change like that would take time, but it was possible.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2010 5:11 am
Kaya carefully listened to Y'kar carefully. Nothing that he said raised any alarms and she relaxed. Better to just go along with the conversation and then head out when she could get the chance without being rude. Perhaps if she just steered clear of him from now on she could stay under the radar. Although Kaya wasn't entirely sure what harm a green rider would be to her, one could never be too careful.
"Thank you, I appreciate that." She smiled sweetly and rather genuinely at Y'kar. She did feel rather bad for Jasrai. Although Kaya didn't know the green rider, she did know how it felt to be a woman on a fighting dragon, let alone one of 'those' dragons. "You do have a point. Although I don't really know any of the gold riders all that well myself. I spend most of my free time in the kitchens or taking care of Rumath. It barely leaves time for an occasional bath and socializing. Not to mention that now with the drills I doubt I'll even be in the kitchens. What do you do with your spare time." If she was going to talk with Y'kar she might as well get to know him. Who knew, maybe he'd turn out to be someone she could like. Maybe.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2010 6:43 am
Y'kar gave a slight smile and shrugged. "Yea, I only know them by reputation too..." And their reputations weren't all that amazing. Ice queen, or holdbound power lusting b***h? The former would be somewhat better for female riders he supposed, but neither was an especially attractive prospect.
"It should be me," Kannaroth told him firmly, "I would be better at it than those stupid fat golds. It won't happen though, they're too stupid to see how great I am. I shall show them though, when they can't come back to my quips they'll see that I am much more intelligent than they are. Won't change anything, but it will satisfy me to see the flounder."
Y'kar gave a slightly nervous smile and stroked his lifemate soothingly. "Umm, yea, Kanna isn't too thrilled by the idea of either of them apparently. Still. My free time? What free time!" The scrawny youth grinned and shook his head. "You remember what the first sevendays are like, I'm sure. I just about have time to bathe, sleep, and eat myself... Before I Impressed though I guess I did pretty normal, boring things. Hung around at the springs with friends, listened to the harpers... Oh, I've always quite liked to bake though, sweet things like pies and cakes," Y'kar smiled and nodded. "When I have more time again, remind me to make something nice for you." He did genuinely enjoy baking, so if giving the finished product away earned him plus points with people that was two tunnel snakes with one stone.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 1:32 am
Kaya absentmindedly scratched the ridge above Rumath's eye as she thought. Ah yes the first days with your new dragon. There really wasn't any spare time to give. Though it was all worth it of course. She supposed there really wasn't a whole lot of free time even without a dragon though.
"Oh you enjoy baking? That's great! I always enjoy meeting a fellow baker. I was actually an apprentice baker before I impressed. It was sort of something I got into as a kid after my mom died, but I really enjoy it. Baking just kind of reminds me of her." Kaya's face was lit up with something of a smile. At least she wasn't as tense as she had been. Though she still wasn't too sure of what to think of Y'kar he did seem to be nice enough. Perhaps the rumors were just that. Rumors.
Careful mine. I don't like his dragon, and nice guys don't impress to dragons like that. Just don't count on him being a long time friend. Rumath told her.
Kaya inwardly sighed to herself. Rumath was right. No matter how friendly Y'kar was on the outside she needed to watch herself. "I'd love to try some of your baking sometime." She said sweetly. So long as it's not poisoned, she thought to herself.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 5:41 am
"Great," Y'kar grinned and nodded, "just remind me and-"
"Hungry!"
The scrawny youth blinked and turned to his dragon; indeed her eyes had just shifted from an annoyed dull orange to a hungry red. "Ah," he turned back to Kaya and gave her a more sheepish grin, "looks like I have to go sort of nowish. It was good to talk to you though, and do remind me about the baking sometime." The way he felt his lifemate's needs so intensely still caught him out sometimes, and right now the way hunger thrummed along their link made him get quickly to his feet and move to the bank, pulling his clothes on without bothering to dry off.
Grumbling to herself, she had ended up having to listen to an idiot with an idiot dragon babble which hadn't been her plan at all, Kannaroth follow him up onto the bank. "Take your time," she regarded Y'kar coolly, "not like I'm starving or anything."
"Yes, okay, sorry Kanna!" Y'kar pulled his boots on and shot Kaya a last apologetic grin. "Got to run, see you again sometime!" With these words, he turned away and made swiftly for the Weyr. Frankly he was a little glad to get away from the conversation; that woman really was awfully dull.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
