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 Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2011 12:00 pm
When S'kagi had been younger, the size difference between the dragons had given him no small amount of pause, especially when you had the two breaths between this errand and that to consider just how big the adorable little hatchling that was so easy to bathe now, would be when they grew up.
Luvith had been a good example of that, an unexpected and wonderful treasure, but when she'd been broken free of her shell, wobbly and weak, she'd been so small that he'd been able to carry her from the sands.
He wasn't sure how he'd be able to lift more than her toe, which made it particularly fortunate that she was in the mood to cooperate with bathing, half submerged in the lake with her rider perched on one of her forelegs as he scrubbed the spot just in front of her wings.
Mmm. Right there. That's good. she approved, though it was more of an metaphorical back pat than any necessity to point out if he'd gotten the right spot. One of the benefits of the bond was that touch of empathy which made it almost as relaxing to bathe her as it was for her to be bathed. Look, the new lady of the Weyr. She added, seeing approaching from behind him, the young new queen and her bonded.
Oh? S'kagi paused to lean his weight against the Crimson's side, steadying himself so that he could turn around more easily on her water slicked skin, a task she didn't make easier as she casually made a show of lifting her dark wings out of the water and stretching them slowly to reveal the elaborate patterns hidden on the underside of her wing membranes. She loved to do that, especially for audiences who hadn't seen them, or who she'd forgotten already had.
Little Queen She added in greeting, as S'kagi managed his footing, adding his own greeting out loud as he juggled the brush.
"Morning!" He hadn't met the girl personally yet, but he'd get a feel for her soon enough now anyway, and get the first taste of what she might be light if she stepped into the role of Weyrwoman. Not a job he envied... nor was Weyrleader. Those particular fantasies had been set aside and forgotten with Luvith. "Can we help you with anything?"
She surely knew the routines of bathing a dragon by now, but it didn't hurt to ask.Politeness didn't cost him anything.
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Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2011 1:33 pm
The day was going just the same as the previous days. She had a routine to follow that was becoming more and more familiar to the previous vintner craft girl. Now a goldrider, she had chores just like before, but also had the care and tending of her dragon added to the mix. Something she felt she was getting better at having come to the Weyr with no dragon experiences of any kind. And Cepheith had been very helpful with this.
Speaking of the young queen... "Have you had your fill for this morning?" Narisa asked the gold she'd just fed another few small pieces to, after cutting them down to size. Here would be one of those tasks she was getting better at. Not feeling so squeamish around the meat as she had the first few days.
I think I am done. The gold sighed, licking along her lips to get anything that might be leftover. Her stomach was happily distended and she was feeling slightly drowsy now. And itchy. Always itchy.
Narisa could feel the nagging annoyance her bonded felt towards the itching and scratched gently along her eyeridges. "Down to the lake then. So I can bathe you before oiling that golden hide of yours. To help with the itching." She smiled when the gold leaned against her. "Sadly, the itching is only going to get worse until you have matured." Or so she'd heard and been told.
Cepheith huffed at this, but knew it was true. I know, I know. Can we take care of this itching though? It's annoying!
Laughing and giving her bonded an affectionate pat, Narisa walked with Cepheith back to their weyr to grab the scrub bucket and it's contents before heading down towards the lake. It was nice out and both girl and dragon walked easily along to the lake, where it appeared they would not be alone today. Curious, Narisa watched as the crimson spread her wings to reveal an absolutely gorgeous pattern. She'd never seen anything like it on other dragons. Smiling, she waved at the rider standing along the crimson's foot. "Good morning!" Narisa called back and gave the pair a warm grin. "We're just here for daily bathing is all. Nothing too straneous right now. Thank you though." She added, admiring the much bigger dragon now that they were closer. "Wow. This is the first time I've gotten to see a crimson this close up." Blinking, Narisa realized she was forgetting her manners. "Oh! I'm Narisa. And this is my bonded, Cepheith."
The gold looked up at her crimson counterpart with wide eyes, curious eyes. Crimson one. She offered a dip of her snout in a sort of bow for a greeting, tilting her head to look over the larger dragon. Then the itching came back with force and she crooned at hers. Narisamine! We can chat while I bathe, yes? It's itching so much!
Nodding, Narisa nudged Cepheith towards the water, where the young queen slipped in and ducked her head under before surfacing and moving back over to where Narisa could begin to scrub. Looking over at the other pair, she asked, "Do you mind if I ask, what's it like having a crimson?" She couldn't help but be curious.
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Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2011 3:25 pm
Luvith was, understandably, enormously pleased at receiving a polite reply from a queen, even a small one, since a fair share of the color tended to also come with an salting of innate arrogance, and the reaction from her human partner didn't hurt her feelings either.
"She was hatched when Benden came." He offered her, to give her some reference. She'd been one of two crimsons on the sands that day, one from the gold clutch (his Luvith) and another from the ill fated Crimson who had impressed to an extremely LOUD girl in the stands. Ofelia, he remembered her name was, remembering her being not only loud but a grand-stander with difficulty following orders, though they'd managed not to cross paths for some time now.
He tugged at his bangs slightly as he considered her further question, a habit Luvith had never cured him of, even turns after they'd formed their bond.
S'kagi She chastised, shifting her weight slightly and leaving him catching his balance all over again.
"Oop!" He shifted again, nearly sliding off her foreleg as Luvith's eyes whirled with amusement. "That's... a difficult question." He admitted. "I know it's unusual, men don't usually ride Crimson, but she's a fighter, through and through." He patted her huge shoulder with one wet hand. "...And a joker." He added.
S'kagi needed me. Luvith added, to the pair, feeling the need to add her two cents to the conversation, and making her rider redden slightly, which made his scars stand out more.
"...And honest, very honest. She won't clutch because of Firestone, but she'll be at least the equal of any brown in the air. If not their better. She's pretty sure she can do better." He grinned, a little sheepishly, but proudly, and Luvith lifted her head from the water in pride.
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Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2011 6:26 pm
The gold spread her smaller wings out in a stretch before letting Hers start scrubbing along the joints. Her eyes hooded over slightly as she kept one turned towards her crimson counterpart. She had picked up from other dragons, as well as Luvith herself, that crimsons seemed to go through a hard time. <Why though?> Cepheith's light blue eye flicked towards Hers. Perhaps you should ask? I have some idea from what I've picked up from the others. But maybe hearing it from a crimson herself would be more insightful.
"When...Benden came?" Narisa paused in her scrubbing of the much smaller gold (though she wouldn't always be smaller). "I..." The vintner girl frowned slightly. "Forgive me, I'm still very new to the Weyr in general. I've heard talk about something that happened with the last clutch, but I'm afraid I haven't heard the full story." Resuming her work, yet another question surfaced. Would it seem rude to ask so many?
Cepheith didn't feel the same and freely asked the questions she gleaned from Narisa. Narisamine and I are confused. Why is it unusual for a man to ride a Crimson? We choose Ours because they are Ours. Why does it matter who it is? She directed her question to both dragon and rider, not having any problems speaking to others that are not Hers. And Narisa didn't mind in the slightest.
"What she means is, if a Crimson can choose male or female, then why should it matter?" She felt bad for asking such questions, but her bonded thought they were legitimate to ask. Neither of them were as schooled in things about the Weyr and other dragon colors as they could be. And how else were they supposed to learn if they never asked! Still...Narisa couldn't help but apologize. "Please forgive us if we ask such difficult questions. We are still learning about everything." She smiled kindly to the pair.
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Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 7:12 am
"It was a few clutches ago actually." S'kagi admitted. "I don't know if you're aware that some of the traditional Weyrs were having trouble producing clutches of any size... but they were, and Trine and Malvren weren't, and not just because we hatch our A-types."
He rather thought they were fools not to. Without Luvith he might never have bonded, and he wondered how many others had gone their lives without their partners because of the stiff necks of proud old Weyrs.
"I don't think it's much secret now that it turned out to be the Mistweed plant, but at the time no one understood it, so Benden sent some of their riders here to investigate what the secret was... and one of the bronzes they sent, no thanks to his rider... killed a Crimson with a clutch on the sands. It will be quite a while before anyone who was there forgets that. I doubt many have forgiven then, though Benden did their best to cover the mistake. Supposedly the man was punished, but I don't know the details."
He scowled a bit at the thought, finding it difficult to imagine that they'd sufficiently punished him by any standard. Benden saw only the death of a 'Runt'. People with eyes saw the death of a breeding dragon. Not a 'true' golden queen but, perhaps a princess if you would. Warrior princess certainly in the case of Luvith and those like her.
"Anyway, both the Crimsons clutch and a Gold Clutch hatched just fine, with Benden watching, and we had a Crimson from each. Luvith was from the Gold Clutch."
It felt a little odd being the more informed one, when sometimes he felt ignorant himself still.
Crimsons have the power to clutch, if we don't chew firestone. Some think this means we should only choose women, but they're fools. The choice is ours, the same as weather or not to breed or fight. Luvith pointed out, proudly.
"Like Luvith said. A lot of Crimson riders are female, probably because they are a fertile dragon, unlike greens, but unlike golds they can still choose at whim. Male riders are just... less common. We stood out a bit on the sands. I suspect we still do, but I like to think it's because of what we do, not just because we're a surprising bonded pair." He quirked the corner of his mouth in a half smile, another trait he'd gotten better at over time. "If it makes you feel better I was more or less in your shoes too. I was Hold born, my mother's a weaver. Thankfully I was searched, because the only thing I can produce on a loom is a tangle."
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Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 11:36 am
Still scrubbing at the golden hide, Narisa nodded a little in response. "I've heard something about that. And the Mistweed plant." She could recall one of her fellow candidates at the time telling them about it while they waited for eggs to hatch. Both dragon and girl looked up at the crimson pair. "K-Killed a Crimson? With a clutch on the sands?!" She had not heard this before and the shock that any Weyr would do such a thing rattled her. "Thank Faranth that at least the clutch hatched alright." But the crimson had still been killed.
<Is that how a traditional Weyr, like Benden, views the A-types? As disposable or not worth the time?> Maybe she was too young to fully understand it, or too naive. But Narisa could not comprehend how any rider could kill a clutching female. It is good we are not at such a Weyr then. That warm honey voice slipped through her mind like a summer breeze, bringing with it warmth, love, and a point. <You are right. But I still can't believe it happened in the first place.>
"Really? There were two Crimsons that came from the clutches? That had to be a good sign!" From what she understood, they weren't very common. Or at least she didn't think they were.
We do not have such a choice. We cannot chew firestone. Crimson sisters should be respected in their choice, as it is a difficult one to make. Cepheith said simply, nudging hers to finish scrubbing so she could rinse off.
Smiling, she agreed with her golden beauty, and obliged her with finishing her scrubbing. "That does, actually." Narisa grinned over at S'kagi. "I'm from the vintnercraft. I was good at that, but feel like a toddler again being thrown into a whole new world, it seems." She pat Cepheith's snout affectionately. "But I wouldn't change any of it. And we're both doing better, learning new things every day it seems." A quirky grin flashed across her face. "Like how much this gold hide keeps growing over night! I imagine, I should be enjoying the fact she's easy to scrub now." Her blue gaze glanced at Luvith, grinning at the crimson. Cepheith snorted before waddling out to dive in the slightly deeper portion of the lake and rinse off.
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Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 5:26 pm
"It was definitely easy to put a superstitious spin on it." He admitted. Two new crimsons for the blood spilled. "For obvious reasons I don't keep much contact with Benden, so I don't know if they've grown in their views, or even if a few of them have. I think a few of them might have, out of the handful that came, but it's hard to know."
It's a choice it would be nice if even queens could make, but the fact that we can perhaps is only an indicator that our larger sisters have shouldered such a deep responsibility. I admit I think I always knew.Our destiny is off the sands. We'll be here to make things safe for you and the strong dragons that you'll bring to this world. If they are as wise as you, the world can only improve.
Aren't you being friendly? S'kagi ribbed, gently, though he rather liked this little queen so far. Hopefully time wouldn't change her too much. A hold born Weyrwoman could be a strong force down the road, if she took the role. She could be the bridge between the alien lifestyles of Weyr and Hold.
"I think you'll do fine.We were hardly short of candidates and she picked you, didn't she? And of course I doubt much of the Weyrs minds any extra ties to good vintners." He added, jokingly.
She's a good gold. I have a good feeling. Perhaps you need to cool your head and think about it? Luvith suggested, impishly, as the tiny gold swam deeper to rinse herself clean, shifting her leg subtly as soon as she was sure everyone was clear, which caused S'kagi to slip neatly off her slick hide and into the water with a surprised yelp and a splash.
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Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2011 9:52 am
Narisa nodded, a small smile appearing briefly. "I can't say that I blame you too much. What Benden did was unjustified and an insult of the highest kind. But, I would be curious to know where they stand now." Surely not everyone in the Weyr felt the same?! There must be at least a few who realized what fools they were! And the crime they had committed in the death of a crimson. Not just a crimson either, but a crimson who had successfully clutched. That much, she at least knew about the crimsons.
It is a deep responsibility I will fulfill to the best of our ability. The gold one said nonchalantly. She appreciated the Crimson's thoughts, but she knew Gold's were not meant to flame. Cepheith didn't mind though. She had Hers and they would do the best that either of them could do to be a good gold pair. Perhaps that is why Crimson's are allowed to make the choice? You understand what it is like to be able to clutch. Understand that responsibility. But you can choose to flame. To protect those who cannot make that choice. In a sense, it makes you stronger for you know more than others what it is you are protecting. It made sense to her, at least. And Cepheith liked Luvith. She had some wit to her and was fun to chat with.
Blinking, Narisa thought over what S'kagi had just said. But it was true, wasn't it? A warm smile appeared, though there were still doubts in her. Doubts that could be proven wrong with time as she and Cepheith grew stronger as a bonded pair and learned what they could. "You're right. Well, about both actually." Narisa giggled at the last. And then she really laughed when Luvith sent her rider slipping into the water. She tried to stifle her laughter as it was rude, but the look on his face before he'd gone under was pretty amusing.
Cepheith swam over to the man, golden head nudging him playfully yet gently. There was an air of amusement around the young queen as well.
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Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 5:28 pm
"I think you're right where you need to be." S'kagi offered, when he recovered from sputtering and tried to shake the water out of his hair, though he reached behind him and gave Luvith a rather futile slap on her enormous shoulder, which only made her look more amused. He offered another of his half smiles to the paddling Gold as well as he treaded water, cautiously offering her a scratch behind the headknobs. He didn't have all that much experience with Golds up close, so he wasn't, he had to admit, fully sure that they'd accept this from anyone but their bonded.
"Sorry, she thinks she's hysterical and that I need to lighten up."
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Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 4:43 pm
Even with her doubts (which Cepheith would get on her for later), that didn't stop the small dusting of pink that tinted Narisa's cheeks. Did he really think that? She felt like he was correct, that she was right where she should be. Something that the gold one seconded. "I...thank you. For saying that." Narisa finally got out in a polite yet small voice. Time would help her to really believe it.
And Cepheith. Who was currently quite happy to be getting scratches from S'kagi. She graced him with another gentle nudge and a nuzzle before paddling back towards Hers. Once her feet were able to touch the bottom again, Cepheith waddled over and sloshed water around Narisa. The itching is not so bad now. But it will come back! She really didn't like the itching, but understood quite well that it was just part of growing. Directing a blue eye towards Luvith, the gold asked with amusement, Did you itch all the time too while growing? It's so annoying. And Narisamine will have her work cut out for her as I grow. That last was shared privately with the Crimson, as she was sure her Crimson counterpart would understand the amusement.
"I'll have to oil you as soon as you are dry." Narisa added, rubbing the wedge shaped head that butted against her middle. Looking back over at S'kagi, she smiled. "It's alright. We're both enjoying your company!"
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Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2011 12:19 pm
"It's alright, sometimes it's hard to believe it when people say that Dragons don't make mistakes. Give it time though. She knew what she was doing." He promised. He always worried a bit that saying that he thought Luvith had made a good choice, but it was less because he thought he was the most skilled or qualified Crimson rider, and more because she'd been there when he needed her most. "I'm glad I'm not a bother. Much as I hate to admit it, Luvith is right and I know I can be a bit of an wet blanket."
Lots of itching, ridiculous amounts of itching. Luvith agreed, sympathetically. It had been all S'kagi could do sometimes to keep up with her growing frame, and it had been frustrating for both of them at times. She didn't envy the gold one bit, knowing that she'd grow even larger. It will be a lot of work, but good for her. Time to think, learn, and grow.
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Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2011 9:02 pm
Narisa gave the Crimsonrider a warm and thankful smile. She really did appreciate what he had said. Yes! I knew exactly what I was doing, Narisamine. You are mine. And are the only one that was perfect for being mine. There is no other Narisamine. The gold nuzzled against her and, blue eye tilted up to blink at her rider. Narisa smiled down at Cepheith as well, letting her loving thoughts answer how that made her feel.
Looking back at S'kagi, she giggled. "Well you have been very amusing and quite nice to chat with! Definitely not a bother." She was quite glad that she and Cepheith had run into this rider and dragon pair today. Not only did she get to meet a Crimson, but also an experienced rider that knew something of the sort of pressure she would find herself facing with a Gold dragon.
Quite out of the blue, a new thought struck her. One of absolute curiosity. "Say, if you don't mind me asking...." Narisa gave S'kagi a sheepish smile. "What's it like to fly with your dragon?" She had been on a dragon all of once. And that had been when she'd been Searched and brought to the Weyr.
Eww. I guess there is not much to do about it except suffer through it. The young Queen wrinkled her nose and snorted, moving slightly to guide the hand rubbing her to juuuust the right spot. Yes. I will remind her of this. Though I don't envy all the work she will have to do. But it's necessary. And I have to admit, I quite like the private time we tend to have during oiling. Cepheith knew they didn't have to make it 'private' time, but it usually just worked out nicely that way. Though once she got even bigger, her bonded might have to enlist help every now and then. A thought that amused the Gold.
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