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 Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2010 4:57 pm
Ashmere felt her legs buckle as she left the sands, the heat of the hatching grounds had caused sweat to gather at the nape of her neck and soak into her white robes. Emotionally the thin framed harper felt drained, physically she ached to be near someone to have someone hold her with warm arms.
”Brrrrpt?” Mesmer chirped questioningly, the little green swooped down and affectionately found her favourite spot in Ashmere's hair. Snuggling with her snout the little green firelizard abruptly stopped and slowly edged away from the brunette's messy tresses, if the little flit could express emotions like her larger cousin she would convey 'ugh'.
“Oh hush,” Ashmere fussed as she lovingly stroked the neck of the little creature. “You wouldn't smell too good either if you were all hot and sweaty, my little lady.”
Tilting her head at the small framed harper the flit nipped the young woman's ear before fluttering off with a sudden sense of urgency, rolling her soft gray hues Ashmere ambled further away from the hot sands, she needed a bath, and maybe even a hot cup of klah.
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Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2010 5:49 pm
Wykla had left the sands feeling a bit broody. There had seemed to be so many candidates moving among the eggs. She would have said twice the number of eggs. That meant there was going to be a fair amount of disappointed candidates. She had already been there once before. The odds were in favor of her being there again.
Now the Touching was over and it was time to start her day. First order of business was a bath. After all, that heat and sand couldn't have been good for her hair. She whistled for Boreal, knowing if he couldn't physically hear her call, he'd get it mentally. A warm bath wouldn't hurt him either.
Confidence lead her towards the bathing chambers. Wykla wanted to get out of her white robe and make sure it got well cleaned too. Everything should be perfect for this hatching. A bronze flit appear with a blast of cold between and she smiled. "No cold bath for us this morning." It would also be a good place to ponder the eggs she'd felt.
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Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2010 7:30 pm
Dragging a pale hand across her face as the warmth of the water eased the tention in her lower back, Ashmere sighed deeply and lightly began to hum a soft song that she had wrote roughly one turn ago.
'Those eggs, all so beautiful---what if I don't impress? Shards, what if I do impress---' the almost gaunt harper splashed her face with her cupped hands, the feeling that gnawed at the back of her stomach almost made the young woman gag. She wanted to touched the eggs again, to feel the alien emotions wash over her being through her fingertips.
The feeling was something near pleasure that verged on pain as she reflected back on the one egg that stood out to her and had caused her to weep opening on the sands. What had she been thinking crying like that, had others seen it? What would they think of her now.
The low tenor that rose from deep within the thin woman echoed loudly in the bathing chamber, her words strong and clear as she sung without realizing it.
"Atop the mighty Weyr
Ocean wave crashing ever so near
With thread fall, the fall of man
The dragons flame and dance blaze the skies clear
O' hear the bells, and strong wing flaps
Thread fall came and went
Atop the mighty Weyr"
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Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2010 3:26 am
A voice came up from behind Ashmere. "Hey, that's pretty good." Wykla had paused at the entrance to listen to the girl singing. Ironically she noticed Boreal humming along from her shoulder. "S'almost like you were a harper. Wha's it about?"
She paused behind a low wall to strip her dirty robe off and hop into a tub. The hot water felt relaxing and she sighed. "Were you out at the Touching?" Wykla peered curiously at the other from over the wall. This wasn't like her to be so talkative and inquisitive. The song had peeked her interest and she couldn't recall seeing her around the Weyr often.
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Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2010 10:03 am
Ashmere couldn't help but grin at the much younger candidate, pushing herself up onto her elbows so that she could make better eye contact with the person she was speaking with.
Lightly clearing her throat the slender woman spoke directing her statement at the black haired girl. "The song is one that I wrote when I was much younger, it is about the loss of life during Thread fall and how our Weyr stays strong no matter how difficult things get or how much is lost. But above all else, the song is to honour those that brave the Thread, rider and dragon alike---" closing her grey eyes for a moment Ashmere tilted her head back so that her neck rested fully on the edge of the tub. "When Thread falls we all rise. And---" Ashmere chuckled lightly as she cracked open one eye almost playfully at the younger girl and her firelizard. "I am a harper, a journeymen in the craft actually."
Taking a few moments to shift her weight so that she could grabbed a nearby wash cloth. Bringing the rag to her neck the petite framed brunette began to rhythmically scrub her pale skin.
"I was on the sands today, I have never been to a Touching before it was the most joyous thing I have ever exprienced." Pausing for a moment the slim built harper lowered her washcloth and leaned over the lib of the tub. "By the way, my name is Ashmere, if we both Impress we will be wing riders together." Sweetly worded the older girl.
The icy chill of between gave an audible pop as the green flit swooped lovingly towards Ashmere holding something of a decent size in it's snout.
"Mesmer!" lightly squealed the woman as the green perched on the edge of Ashmere's tub. "What have I told you about doing that when I am in the bathing chambers, you near scare me between every single time." Her tone had already lowered from the near girlish tenor back to sweet and calm.
Chirping as best it could with it's full snout Mesmer lightly fluttered her wings, as if to say 'stop lecturing me and lookie at what I have for you.'
Blinking for a moment Ashmere stroked the side of Mesmer's neck before taking the item in her mouth.
"Ohhh Mesmer, you darling little beast---" Taking the meatroll the slender girl shook her head causing long wet bangs to fall into her face. "Thank you Mesmer, I will eat it right now."
Puffing herself out the small green made as pleased sound from deep within her small body. Lightly chuckling the doll-like harper gazed at the small girl in the tub next to her.
"This is Mesmer, she is always bringing me bits to eat at the most oddest times. As if she thinks I am too thin, almost like a mother babying me. Would you like to split the roll?" Offered Ashmere sweetly without hesitation.
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Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2010 5:29 pm
Wykla made some waves in her tub for Boreal to paddle through. Watching the happy flit, she brought her hand up under him to tickle his belly. Boreal squeaked and tried to get away. Clearly playing along with His girl's playing. She looked back to her bathing companion. Wykla tried to discretely memorize her face so as to recognize it later. She'd certainly keep an eye out for her now.
Her head tilted slightly at the explanation for the song. "I see," she replied solemnly. Indeed, everyone heard of the dangers dragon braved. And the riders were a part of that. The girl nodded. "I kinda like it. We will be strong." There was a slight pride there.
When the woman said she really was a harper Wykla felt her cheeks turning pink. "Oh, I um.... didn't realize. That must be why the song is so good then." She didn't seem too upset about it and Wykla relaxed just slightly. Some people could be really strict with rank. "So are you here for harper training? Why were you a the Touching then?"
Wykla grinned. "If you thought a Touching was joyous wait til you see the hatching!" She wondered what songs the harper might come up with then. "Oh, I'm Wykla. Do you really want to Impress?" Perhaps she was being a bit nosey, but Ashmere didn't seem to mind answering. Her expression darkened a moment at the mention of wing riders.
"Maybe. There's so many candidates and half as many eggs. There's going to be a lot of disappointed people." The tone of her voice hinted that she expected to be among the number left standing. The pop brought her head up in surprise. She watched the green flit land on Ashmere's tub.
"That's pretty nice of her. Boreal does stuff for me too." She grinned. "Sure beats braving the chefs though. Only problems is its cold by the time they get it here." She giggled. "Sure, if you want to share or think she'll allow it."
Wykla quickly wet her hair down then vigorously applied sweetsand to it. It frothed up as she scrubbed and some suds fell into the water. Hair clean she gave it a good rinsing then propped herself up on the side of the tub.
Boreal paddled over to the fall out of suds and proceeded to give himself a good washing. With a quick dip, he was clean and climbing out. He perched on the rim and flipped his wings, sending water droplets flying before he settled down. With a trill he greeted the green.
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Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2010 7:09 am
Ashmere rubbed the corners of her right with her free hand, the scarred tissue donning her skin seemed brighter with the heat of the water and grew irritatedly more red every moment that she soaked.
Smiling towards the younger girl the harper broke the roll in two and whistled for Mesmer to fly it over, puffing up her chest as she out stretched her wings the green snagged the meatroll and flew high towards the vaulted ceiling before swooping at the younger girl and lightly dragging her clawed feet over the skim of the water's surface. Landing next to the handsome bronze, Mesmer waited for Wykla to take the snack.
"Originally I came here for harper business, yes. Training and teaching. I am one of the few Harpers that wasn't born into the Weyr." Pausing for a moment Ashmere eyed the sweetsand but didn't reach for it just yet.
"At first Wykla," Ashmere began slowly. "At first I thought it was a mistake for me to be asked to stand, I thought it was a mistake, I really did. But then---" the slim built woman paused as she lightly touched the spot near her heart. "I saw all of the eggs, I felt the heat of the sands. I knew, there was no mistake, I was meant to be there. As for wanting to Impress, I do. I would give up everything I have learned as a harper to be a rider if a dragonet chose me."
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Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2010 3:17 pm
(Boreal is a bronze. ^_^ )
She was scarred too. An odd part of Wykla's mind noticed. Where and how did a harper get scarred? She squeezed the water from her black hair slowly. Would she get another scar this hatching? A hand slid into the water to lightly touch her leg. No. Not this time. I'll be careful.
She blinked and smiled as the flit came over. "Thank you for that." Wykla held up her hand for the meatroll. Maybe she should try this again with Boreal some time. It was rather funny to have food in the bath. Taking the roll she broke off a tiny piece and gave it to Boreal.
Her arms leaned on the edge of the tub as she took a large bite. She listened to Ashmere, interested. Wykla cleared part of her mouth. "But if you came here for that, ho'd you get able to stand? You have to be Searched or born to the Weyr to be able to do that." Her two different colored eyes held confusion. How could a mere harper get the rights to stand?
"I guess we all have our doubts at first," she said slowly. Her mind was clearly on her own past. "How.... Why would they single us out? But then you're there, and you know its right." Wykla shook her head. "Not everyone gets picked though. Some will have disappointment."
She gave the older woman a shy smile. "Everyone would want to Impress if they could. I hope you do. More songs like that one would be nice. You're going to leave right? If you don't Impress I mean." Her head tilted slightly in inquiry.
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Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2010 4:20 pm
(Oooopsie....)
Wrinkling her nose slightly at all of the questions the thin framed harper tilted her head while sighing with relish. It had been a long while since anyone had talked to her in such a way to make her focus on a situation fully.
"Well, on a technicality I was searched. It just so happened that I was already here when they sought me out." Ashmere lapsed into silence for a long while. "Isn't it funny how things are, normal one moment then the next you are pulled into a room with people that you normally don't speak to and they explain that you have been chosen. It was odd for me when it happened...." Turning her gray stare towards the girl Ashmere gave her a weak smile.
"If I fail to Impress, this is my home, I am a harper here I belong to Malvren Weyr I was chosen out of all of the senior journeymen harpers in the craft hall to have the honour of being this weyr's harper, all of the other harpers that are here expect for the masters are only in training and will go elsewhere once that training is done. I am part of Malvren now, this is my home." Fiercely stated the brown haired woman, her normally neutral sweet tone replaced by something that verged on an upset pitch of outrage.
Clearing her throat and lightly cupping her mouth Ashmere lowered her body into the water of the tub as if trying to hide from the younger girl.
"You were born into this weyr weren't you?" Her voice wavered lightly as she inquired towards Wykla. "You are still young, you will understand when you are older about how much some sacrifice for their craft. I gave up everything when I became a harper and I worked hard to earn a home here at this weyr." Her tenor cracked as she spoke obviously crying but trying to hide her sobbing behind her hand.
"I am so sorry, Candidate Wykla."
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Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2010 5:03 pm
(Lol, its ok. ^_^ )
"Ah." That made sense. Wykla relaxed in the water. "I wouldn't know, but I've seen the faces of some of the kids they've brought in. They look scared. I guess its cause the Weyr is such a big change for them." She eyed Ashmere. "This has always been normal for me, so it doesn't bother me much. I always knew I'd stand."
She had to consider that for a moment. "I think that's good. It means you wont have to leave after this Hatching, and you'll be around for others." Wykla couldn't place it. There was something about this harper that she liked. It made her slightly uncomfortable to warm up to someone so quickly. She looked away and watched the two firelizards.
Her head nodded at the question. "I donno. I haven't decided what I'll do if I don't Impress." She pretended not to notice the harper crying. "For what? And you don't have to call me candidate. Nobody else does. Well unless you count the CandidateMaster, and that's just to yell at us." She injected some humor into her voice.
"Say, Harper Ashmere. What did you think of the eggs?"
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Posted: Wed Dec 01, 2010 1:26 am
It took Ashmere a long while to sooth herself before she spoke again towards her bathing partner, lightly clearing her throat she finally managed words that weren't breathy.
"The eggs---" she lightly lisped for a moment at the end of her sentence with the S. "I really feel my lifemate is out in that clutch, waiting for me. But there is no way that I can know that for sure. Certainly everyone thinks that." Gazing over towards the girl the harper began to suds up her jagged uneven hair with the sweetsands. "What is your thought on the eggs? I have been to a Hatching before, but I was just watching, I remember you there Wykla, about a turn ago it was." Ashmere shook her head for a moment trying to keep the foam from getting into her mouth as she spoke.
"You were so upset that day on the sands, I hope that we both Impress."
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Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2010 10:10 pm
"Yes. I think everyone believes their lifemate is in one of those eggs. Who wouldn't want to be chosen? They want to believe it wholeheartedly no matter the odds." She gave a long sigh. Even she wanted to believe, but honesty was the better sense of valor. Wykla didn't hold more than a smidgen of hope that one would be for her this time. "Perhaps you could write a song about it."
"I hope you're right and one really does pick you." She munched on her half of meatroll. "There's ten good eggs out there, would be my first impression." She smiled at the irony.
"I.... To be honest, I don't think one of them is for me."
There. She'd said it. Moving on quickly, "There's a couple of eggs that I really liked, and some I'd rather keep away from." She blinked in surprise. "Oh, I didn't realize you'd been there." Her hand slid through the water in her tub to lightly trace the scar on her leg. "I'll admit I was. My friend had Impressed to a green."
What could she say? Wykla fumbled for words. "I would like it if we both Impressed, but I went through that once already. I will certainly hope you Impress Harper Ashmere."
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Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 10:58 am
Popping the meatroll into her mouth the thin harper chewed in silence as she milled the girl's words over in her mind as she sat in her tub, her brows knitted into a tight scowl.
Finishing the bite Ashmere opened her mouth to speak. "Wykla, that is no way to really view the situation at hand. You should always go into things with optimism. If one of us didn't Impress, I would bet my last mark it would be myself, I am two turns away from aging out and I am just now standing. It is highy unlikely that I will find my lifemate in this clutch, but I have to be positive about things." Standing from her tub with lack of modesty Ashmere threw her legs over the lip of the wash basin before toddling over to where Wykla was. Smiling down at her without asking Ashmere slid her slim frame into the same tub as the younger girl. Pulling the girl into a light hug the harper soothed her as best she could.
"Don't be so sad my little candidate, you are far too young to be so grim."
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Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 11:31 am
"Optimism? I donno. It just sounds like you're waiting for disappointment. Who wants to have that at every turn?" She splashed water around nervously.
Wykla tilted her head. "But if anyone should Impress it should be you, because as you say you're just a couple of Turns from aging out. Me I still got Tuuuuurns left of standing." She wasn't sure how to respond to being positive while knowing you were in danger of aging out. At least the Harper had a craft to fall back on. Her worst fear was being in Ashmere's position with no craft.
As the Harper hopped into her tub she blinked in surprised. Wykla was distantly amused that Ashmere wasn't put off by her own defensive attitude. Usually it kept people away from her. She hesitantly leaned into the hug.
"I just have a healthy dose of skepticism."
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Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 11:46 am
"Healthy dose," she laughed softly and she pulled away from the hug lightly and rubbed the girl's arm with affection. "You are a silly girl, is what you are." Ashmere chided in a mock scorn.
Rubbing the corner of her right eye Ashmere rested her hand on the scarred spot almost wincing. The marred flesh was growing a deeper shade of red with irritation due to the sweetsand she had used only a few moments prior. The smallest things would set off the burning on the long mark that donned her near beautiful face.
"How about after our bath we go to the kitchens and get a proper bite to eat and a bit of klah?" Ashmere removed her hand from her scar and lightly splashed some water towards Wykla's neck. "How does that sound? And no worries about the cooks, I'm a thin harper, they can't resist giving me an extra helping."
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