It hadn't taken Hekate long to track down Z'fer and the large form of Calanoth though between stopping to check on her other friends it had delayed her in circling around the edge of the lake where the man was working. Well more like lounging in the shade from the looks of things. Not that she could blame him.
I do hope Calanoth has not taken the loss to hard. His was an impressive display. Devith rumbled im compliment to his bronze friend as they approached bugling out a greeting to the two to let them know they were coming.
"I'm sure he'd be pleased to hear your thoughts on his flying." Hekate replied shifting the large covered platter she had tucked under one arm and shooing away her greedy little greens with the other. Silly creatures had been stuffed full this morning, but you certainly wouldn't know it with all their begging.
"Good morning Z'fer. Care for some breakfast?" Hekate asked with a smile setting the covered tray down on a tree stump. "You did promise to share a cup of klah with me." She added removing the tray top to reveal a plate stacked up with meatrolls and a still hot covered jug of klah and two cups.
Hello dear friend. Your hide is looking quite nice today. Devith added in a pleasant rumble trotting over to take a seat a little ways from his bronze companion carefully checking the waters of the large dragon's mood.
Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2012 4:01 pm
You'd think he'd never lost a flight before with the way the bronze was moping. He lay curled up on the ground, nose tucked under the leading edge of one drooping wing. His outer lid opened a hair as Devith addressed him, revealing dull grey and orange eyes with hints of purple still tinging the edges. He grunted and tucked his head deeper in. Sure his hide looked nice, for a scarred mess. Apparently greens here preferred younger fresher hides than his ugly rump.
Z'fer reclined against the trunk of a tree, legs stretched before him. Roughly he peeled away at the bark of a broken stick. Each piece he tore off he chucked away from him as if it had offended him in some way. Stormy eyes turned on Hekate and her all too cheerful voice. He was almost tempted to turn her away. The last thing he needed after a failed flight was to be tormented by a woman he could not have. Instead he just gave a resigned sigh, she was young, attractive, and most importantly a silver rider. She'd never understand just what it was like to be bonded with a male during a Flight.
Even Z'fer didn't normally react this way but recent circumstances (including encounters with a certain red head) and his dragon's exaggerated gloom had had it's effect on the man. "So I did." He said ruefully, getting to his feet and joining her by the trunk she'd selected. He caught both cup handles on one finger and deftly poured them full. Offering one to her he returned her greeting. "Morning Hekate, Devith." While not exactly his easy going self, for the sake of appearances he tried to hide the tension in his voice and body. Nothing could hide the desolate bronze though.
Devith frowned or as much as a dragon could frown and settled himself flush against his large companion's side giving the bronze a gentle nudge and a croon. Mine has brought some meat rolls and the sweet smelling bitter drink for yours. She thought you looked quite handsome in the air. Almost as good as myself. Devith complimented as gently as the usually egotistical silver could. Glancing over at Hekate he hoped His was having better luck with the two-legger then he was with Calanoth.
Hekate frowned at Z'fer's rather rueful and terse tone, the disappointment not showing nearly as clear in him as it did in the sulking bronze. That did not, as she reminded herself, however mean he was not sulking as well and the stormy look on his face was a far cry from the usually cheerful if not frustrated looks he usually gave her. Taking the cup she sipped it letting out a low pleased hum. "That was quite the impressive flight. Are green flights always so acrobatical?" She questioned in a gentler tone then most were used to hearing from her as she offered the plate of meatrolls to him. Should small conversation not succeed in cheering Z'fer up she would turn to a topic she felt rather confident would.
"Calanoth certainly had Pipith riled up! I was afraid he might try and rake Calanoth with his claws at one point until the green interfered. It seems you certainly have his number." She spoke in a tone just loud enough for the poor sulking bronze to hear. "Why I'd say Calanoth certainly showed Trine who the bigger bronze was." Hekate added hoping to perhaps lend Devith some aid in drawing the sulking dragon from his funk.
Mine is right you know. The greens judgement, though hers alone, I felt was rather poor with such an impressive dragon like yourself among the ranks. You certainly flew circles around the others. Very impressive. Devith added nudging his friend gently.
Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2012 9:22 pm
Z'fer took a deep draught of the hot liquid, ignoring the way it burned his throat. "You saw that huh?" Not that it was easy to hide a green's flight. He was surprised to know that she had not only watched but noticed that Calanoth had flown. Maybe she had more of an interest in him than he thought? There was a little voice that even suggested she might be jealous. "That was nothing. Sure the smaller colors can put on a pretty display but if you want Impressive you should see a Queens flight." The comment had the unfortunate effect of reminding Z'fer of his last Queen flight, Feynath's last Flight. Calanoth had lost that flight too, costing Z'fer his chance at being Weyrleader. Now Eirlyn was dead and who know's where R'hix was? He stared into his cup, a sour expression on his face.
"Pipith? Was he the other bronze? Bah. He stood no chance against Calanoth. Had that brown not slipped underneath us I'd be bedding that green's rider right now. At least it was another Malvren dragon that won."
~ Hatchlings...~ He growled almost as if it were a curse. Calanoth wanted to stay upset, he wanted to sulk and throw a fit but Devith's attentions brought a mental smile to the frustrated bronze. Without moving the rest of his body from it's dejected position he did withdraw his face and touch his nose to Devith. ~ Give her my thanks, it is nice to know someone appreciates me. ~
"I'm sure a Queen flight is quite the sight to behold." Hekate replied giving the irritated man a small smile that she didn't really feel. For Hekate Golds and their riders brought up very complicated feelings. On one hand she resented them and their bronze consorts that she and Devith would never truly be able to rule so long as the other metallics had their sway. On the other hand she distinctly pitied them. Bronzes and their riders were gold crazy and Hekate always had to question if the men courted the Weyrwomen and Jr. Golds for love or just because they hoped that by bedding the rider come flight time the gold might show their bronze favor. At least with Devith such worries would never come to pass along with the likelyhood of her ever being noticed by such men as anything more then a passing partner and certainly not for love. At least she wouldn't have to deal with their false romantic drivel.
I love you more then any two-legger could ever dare to try Mine and unlike them. My attention will not be stolen away by the dancing promise of pretty hides and temporary pleasure. Devith assured her in a low dark croon in her mind his voice a mix of predatory possessiveness and love.
Blowing on her own klah she took a sip letting her eyes downcast to the rich dark brown liquid when she pulled the cup away frowning slightly down at her own murky reflection. She wasn't here to daydream though and when Z'fer mentioned Pipith she looked up. "Yes that was Pipith his rider is Set'al, he's one of Trine's bronzes." She replied her voice a light cheery purr as she took a meatroll taking a small bite of it and chuckling as Z'fer mentioned the green rider.
"I'm sure had the situation been different you'd have given her quite the ride." She joked and was even kind enough to keep all, but the tiniest touch of amused sarcasm out of her voice. "And oh the brown was from Malvren? I knew he wasn't from Trine, but I didn't spy the rider about so I didn't know if he was one of yours or from Benden." Hekate added with a touch more interest. The brown had flown well. . .she was simply disappointed that the end had come down to looks rather then skill. It was probably for the best Devith was not to fly flights. Had she been chosen by a green, crimson or gold only the most skilled flier would have caught the likes of her. This she would have been sure of.
Ha! I would still out fly them all! Devith added to his rumbling in amusement at the thought of HIS glorious rider on a green or worse one of the more stuck up crimsons. True he could admire them, but other then Luvith the only other Crimson he knew Tessth tended to be a touch stuck up, always thinking she knew better then everyone else and never feeling the need to prove it. At Calanoth's words though Devith was distracted from his thoughts turning to gently touch his own nose to Calanoth's. Mine Calanoth thanks you for appreciating him. Devith added lifting one paw to gently pat the bronzes nose as Hekate occasionally did to his when Devith was feeling dejected. Which surprisingly did happen on the rare occasion. Tell him he need not thank me. He was quite amazing up there. If I were a green I'd have chosen him in a heartbeat. Hekate replied smiling quietly into her klah as Devith puzzled over her message, but decided to pass it on anyway.
She says were she a green, which she's not she's my two-legger, she would have chosen you in a heartbeat. She says you were very impressive. Devith replied his tone a bit touched with confusion and he made it a point to emphasize that HIS was HIS and not a dragon or a green, but HIS. He liked Calanoth, but he wasn't about to share his rider with the bronze.
"So. . ." And Hekate broached the topic with care. She had never really had been called to comfort others too often, children yes, sometimes the elderly, but they were easy. They weren't Z'fer. "How are you feeling?"
Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2012 11:52 pm
Z'fer raised an eyebrow. So she was familiar with this rider? He wasn't quite sure how he felt about that. The fact that she spoke of this Set'al with such familiarity didn't please him. All he knew about the man was that his dragon was sharding small and neither were Wingleaders or Seconds. Both points in his favor. Better get off the subject of other bronze riders. Instead he jumped on her greenrider tease. "Wouldn't you like to know?"
He took another burning swallow of klah, the drink helping him feel a little more awake and less fog brained. "Yeah, Nachith of B'ram. He's not in my wing but I remember he flew against Calanoth when Feynath last rose. Don't know what we would have done with a brown Weyrleader though." He shook his head as he found himself unable to shake the thoughts of Feynath and Eirlyn. It's not like he'd even had any sort of relationship with the woman beyond that of a professional one.
A bit of color returned to Calanoth's eyes as he opened them a crack wider. Before he responded to Devith he sent a small thread of thought to Z'fer. ~ Devith says His says were she a green she would have chosen me... ~ He didn't expect a response but he knew it was something his rider would like to hear. To Devith he whuffed. ~ Thanks again, but as you say she is not a dragon and you are no green for me to fly. ~ He rolled his head to the side, exhaling deeply as he cast his eyes towards His. If only Velath's ardor had set another green off. But then again she may not choose him either. Maybe these new greens weren't interested in the same traits those from Malvren valued.
Z'fer paused, a calculating look crossing his face as he examined Hekate with this new knowledge. Had she just said that to comfort his dragon or was there more hidden within her words? The young woman was difficult to read at the best of times. He'd find out though. Z'fer set his cup back down on the tray and scooted around the trunk to come up along side her. He didn't waste a moment wrapping his arms around her and lifting her into his lap. He pressed his face into her neck. "Need you ask my little flit?"
There are other greens though, much prettier then that one. I'm sure they will want to race you as well. Devith rumbled cheerfully up at his friend happy that him and Hekate's comments were slowly drawing the bronze out of his sulk if only a little.
Hekate could honestly say she was taken by surprise. True Z'fer tended to be flirty and she tended to flirt back enjoying their little game, but today she had though Calanoth's sulk might dampen his mood somewhat. Therefore she was unprepared as he slid beside her pulling her into his lap his arms wrapped snug around her. The low rough tone of his voice against her skin drawing a shiver from the young woman before she could regain her composure.
Half turning she looked at him with the corner of her gaze where his head sat tucked flush against her neck his slightly earthy scent tinged with the smell of leather and something purely male surrounding her. For a moment she simply sized him up before reaching a careful hand to tuck a stray strand of black hair behind his ear tracing gentle fingers over the scar just below it on his neck. "Believe it or not Z'fer I am not quite the cold hearted tunnelsnake most of the Weyr thinks me to be." She replied choosing to remain in his lap turning back to take a bite of her meatroll as if nothing had happened. "And I unlike others can be bothered to check on a sulking bronze or two. After all Devith is the closet thing to a bronze any woman will ever dare ride and I in fact do know the bitter taste of defeat and have sympathy enough to try and ease it's sting." Hekate added leaning back against Z'fer's chest content to use the man as a chair as long as he saw fit to keep her there.
Devith merely eyed the two and was very sorely tempted to intervene a low rumble rising from his throat. Let it be. As long as be behaves himself I'm not opposed to allowing him this at least. Besides we don't need to antagonize poor Calanoth. She warned and reluctantly Devith settled down turning his attention back to his large bronze companion.
You should see my sibling Courath. She is the prettiest green in all the Weyr. I don't think she can race you right now though. Her wing was injured. That's all right though I suspect she favors blues anyway. She has this thing for underdogs. Not that that wasn't a sound investment in myself, but she really does deserve better then a blue for a racing partner. I suppose though if he treats her right it's ok. Devith added making idle conversation in an attempt to draw Calanoth's attention away from his loss.
Salvage Operations
USEABLE - Icon #010
Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 1:11 am
Calanoth did not feel like trying to explain flights to Devith right now. Maybe after he'd actually won himself one...but not right now. The silver was still barely a hatchling and probably wouldn't get it anyways. It was Calanoth's only hang up about the atypicals. Being a bronze he had no need to fear them displacing him, even as Wingleaders, but it just didn't seem natural that a dragon so distinctly male should be disinterested in flights. Whites at least had an excuse in that they weren't equipped to fulfill either role of the mating process but silver's and blacks? Crimson's were able to breed and lay eggs. Why not them?
He wondered if any had ever tried...Calanoth himself didn't know but maybe His would. Devith's rambling about his sibling green was confusing but at least it hinted that the silver had a rough idea that the 'race' was more than what it seemed.
Z'fer felt her shiver, his callused hands gripping her tighter. His skin tingled and flushed where her hands brushed and he took a deep shuddering breath. Talking was the last thing he wanted right now. He didn't want to be reminded that she was a weyrling, that she couldn't allow herself to follow through with her body's responses. If she hadn't Impressed she could be his right now. It was unfair to blame the dragon but Z'fer wasn't feeling fair.
If she hadn't Impressed then she wouldn't be here. He accepted her weight easily, loosening his arms but keeping them around her as she reclined into him. Why did he tease himself with her? He should just turn her away and forget about her, find himself a more mature rider who wouldn't pose such a terrible dilemma. Every time he saw her though he was reminded of their dance and it was near impossible to keep himself from dragging her away from whatever she was doing.
"You're too warm blooded to be cold-hearted." His attraction to other women hadn't waned, but she sparked something more than his normal reaction. It really was just making this morning that much more unbearable. He wasn't about to let her go though.
Hekate felt his shuddering breath, his heart thudding in his chest as she fought to control the rythmic beat of her own. No. No she would never risk Devith, not for a man who she did not know where she stood with. Leaning back further into him she tilted her head catching his gaze with her own her rich amber gold eyes staring into his deep hazel gray ones. His mention of her being to warm blooded to be cold-hearted drew a smile from Hekate. This one though was different then the others she had shown him. It wasn't sulty, or teasing, it lacked the bite or sharpness of her other smiles nor the vain touch of victory. It was a soft gesture, a sweeter expression then had ever been turned to another living being other then Devith. For just a moment it was as if Z'fer had been gifted a rare glance through a keyhole to an entire world beyond the door he'd yet to see. A world very much different then the look of the door might belay. Lifting a hand Hekate pressed the tips of two fingers to her own lips before gently pressing the same fingers to his in a chaste little gesture of a kiss. "You'll find Z'fer that I am fire and ice and everything nice." She whispered softly to him.
Devith finally had lasped into comfortable silence content to sit leaned against his large bronze friends side and sun himself. After all it was such a lovely afternoon, it really was a pity Calanoth had to lose the flight it was a perfect day for a swim. Maybe later he could talk the bronze into paddling about the lake with him and even draw their riders into it. Right now though Hekate's mind was worryingly hazy and the silver turned his gaze back to the sitting pair. Mine? He called questioningly his voice acting as a lifeline for the young woman as she grasped onto the sound and the quiet moment between Z'fer and Hekate was broken. I'm all right Devith. I was merely distracted. Hekate replied sitting back up straight and reaching for her cup of klah taking a large sip and letting the slight burn draw her back to reality. Letting out a small cough she shredded her half eaten meatroll offering the rest to her fair. "I'm sure next time a green rises you'll have better luck Z'fer." Hekate replied her voice just a bit too chipper as she tried to change the subject holding out a piece of the meatroll to the silver flit of hers and drawing Prince into her lap to be petted on. He was far from pleased at having his favorite sitting disrupted, but his insisted that there was too great a risk of putting a wingtip in the other two-leggers eye so he was content to have attention lavished on him by his owner even if it wasn't his customary place.
Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 5:36 pm
Her look caught him by surprise. He'd never expected to see something so open and gentle from the young woman he thought of a sharp as a dagger and more volatile than dragon's fire. He caught her fingers in one hand as she touched his lips, pressing a more urgent kiss to their tips, eyes still locked on hers.
Calanoth raised up again and eyed Devith, giving him a gentle reassuring nudge. He touched Z'fer's mind quietly but firmly. ~ Mine, stop that. Devith worries. ~
It wasn't exactly a cold bucket of water but his dragons admonishment was enough to bring Z'fer back to himself. He let her go, leaving one arm draped gently around her waist but not restraining in any way. He turned his face from hers and reached for his klah as well. While she was content to stay, he was more than happy to leave her there. The after effects of a green flight would be hard to ignore for some time still.
"With the surplus of green's here it shouldn't be too long till Calanoth claims one. Till then lonely men will have to suffer." He tried to mimic her light tone of voice, even with his mind a fuddled confused mess.
Fellis, sensing her bonded's calming mood had snuck up quietly, peering up over the edge of his lap with a quiet peep. She'd been banished from his presence far too often recently and was beginning to feel neglected. Klah hadn't minded so much, with so many new people it was easy for the chubby little black to find someone who'd give him a treat...then someone else...and another after that.
Hekate's fingertips still tingled as she picked up her own cup draining it to carefully refill it a moment later taking solstice in such common actions. Devith had calmed somewhat content to lay by his friends side though his eyes still observed the two with care. Prince, the vain little beast had gobbled up the piece of meat offered too him and now sat preening in Hekate's lap. Spying the little green though he let out an inquisitive chirrup.
Glancing down Hekate smiled offering a bit of meat to the little green. "It seems you've already caught one." She joked giving the man a playful wink. "And such a pretty little thing too." Hekate added Prince thrumming encouragingly at the little flit. Hekate's own greens were currently content to sun themselves on the branches of a nearby tree and only eyed the other little green flit with mild sleepy curiosity.
"Is she yours?" Hekate asked tilting her head back to look up at Z'fer with a grin.
Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 8:51 pm
"Her name's Fellis." Z'fer scooped up the dark green flit, letting her perch on the back of his hand and circle his wrist with her long tail. She trilled happily at the attention, rubbing her head vigorously on his raised thumb. "I've got another one, a fat little black named Klah." The distraction of the flit was welcomed. It was something to think about that wasn't flights or the woman in his lap.
Fellis chirped as she caught sight of Prince, holding onto Z'fer's hand tight as she stretched her neck down to him. Z'fer didn't seem to mind his presence so she let herself be curious. She kept up a small stream of chirps and chirlls, chattering nonsense at Prince.
"I'm not exactly fond of flits. Klah's a pain in the neck, but she's alright." He rubbed his thumb along the leg he could reach, not bothering to lift his other hand from Hekate's side. He couldn't deny she was right, for a green Fellis was a rather pretty little flit.
"Well Fellis aren't you a cute little thing. The silver here is Prince." Hekate complimented smiling as Prince chirruped and burbled right back at the little green giving out the latest gossip or other flitter nonsense. Who was to tell what flits talked about in their spare time after all?
"While they certainly can't hold a candle to dragons~" Hekate began Devith letting out a low pleased croon. "They do make rather good companions. I have three greens, a brown, and this handsome little silver here." She replied chuckling at how affectionate the little creature was towards Z'fer. Despite his admission of not being too fond of flits it seemed that flits were plenty fond of him.
And of course you have my glorious self dearest Mine. Devith rumbled his tone a touch more pleasant now that Z'fer was being a touch more careful of his.
"Of course Devith, but trying to compare flits to you is rather unfair to the little creatures." Hekate added with a grin to her lifemate. "In truth I wasn't too keen on flits myself at first, but now that I have them I really can't imagine life without them. I could say the same thing for my handsome silver there. Most wonderful surprise of my life, but I can't imagine how I existed a day before that fateful hatching." She explained with a gentle smile cast towards Devith who shifted his wings slightly posing regally under his rider's attention.
Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2012 12:56 am
"Five...I think I'd jump off a cliff..." Z'fer shook his head in disbelief.
~ I'd catch you. ~ The blunt response made Z'fer hang his head. Fellis crawled back up Z'fers arm and cheeped into his face, little eyes whirling yellow with concern.
~ Cal that defeats the purpose. ~ "I might be able to live without flits but there is nothing like finding your dragon. That feeling never goes away." He urged Fellis down from his arm and to the trunk, handing her half a meatroll when she turned a pleading look to him. The other half he munched as he reminised.
"So how did that come about by the way? You Impressing Devith?"
Chuckling Hekate shook her head her light chuckles turning to laughter as Z'fer hung his. She could only guess his dragon's response. "Oh they mean well really. Lady and Maiden aren't too bad, Countess is a little. . .overly friends, but even then she tends to behave once she's greeted someone in her own special little way." Hekate assured him lifting a hand to pat the top of his head with a bright smile her eyes seeming to sparkle with laughter. "I rarely have any trouble out of Prince or Baron." She added with a grin her grin fading just a touch to be replaced by a soft somewhat surprise smile. Well he knew she was a drudge, he'd called her such last time they met. Did he not know about the impression though or had he only heard bits and pieces?
"Well I~ When I left my father's small trading caravan I went looking for work. Got a bit tired of the unsteady lifestyle and wanted something I could call my own you know? Hold after Hold turned me away though and eventually I wound up here at Trine. They hired me on as a drudge and I was planning to work my way up to the kitchen and maybe into the staff with time." Hekate explained taking a sip of her klah and smiling over the brim at the little green.
"The search dragons probably never thought to look among the drudges. After all what were they expect to find there." She continued a touch of bitterness in her voice when she mentioned how she was so easily overlooked. So easily dismissed and left unseen, Z'fer could practically see the emotional chafe marks such social shackles had left on the fiery young woman. "I worked day in and day out down there trying to claw my way up and out of that life. Make something of myself, but then the Weyrwoman was hurt and while they wouldn't outright kick me to the curb no one trusted an outsider. It seemed like a twisted joke that the Weyr would go to such lengths to bring in candidates, outsiders, into the Weyr to ride dragons, but they couldn't bare to let a none-weyr born drudge move up to staff. Then the eggs were laid, the touching happened and you know how that goes. The day of the hatching came and everything went as it should." Hekate replied with a shrug casting her gaze over to her life mate.
Devith no longer remembered the day. His was His and had always been His and would always be His and that was that. "That is until it came time to crack the last egg and Devith came rolling out onto the sands." The mere memory made Hekate's heart warm as she recalled catching a glimpse of the dusky silver coming from the egg. "I was in the stands. All the preperations for the feast had been finish ahead of time and I wanted to see the hatching so I managed to squeeze through the crowds. The candidates were just starting to crowd around Devith here when he utterly dismissed them all. Just turned his back on them. Then. . .Then he found me. I leaped the wall to the hatching grounds and we've been together ever since." Hekate explained smiling softly at her beloved silver.
As if I would choose a rider less then my equal. Devith added with a snort of disgust. The very nerve that some among the Weyr questioned his choice riled him to no end.
Reply
