Welcome to Gaia! ::

The weyr they had been assigned was nothing spectacular. Yet, it was a piece of familiarity amongst a rather trying time. Ra’fe leaned against Banneth, half meditating, half communing with his bronze. So many things had changed and he could see both for the better and for the worse.

There was women amongst their first wing, not a lot but still, the value of skill over shinny hide had been something he had wished for. Yet, ten turns bonded and over twenty turns of training, he was back down to a green ear novice to everyone. It was frustrating.

Banneth stirred, lifting his head at the greeting. The rather loud and exuberant greeting. The bronze shifted and slowly stood, dislodging his rider. He turned to his rider, pleased to move onwards and to have an excuse to make his rider socialized.

Ra’fe stirred slightly and opened an eye before sighing. He had not been looking forward to being assigned a mentor and he could read between the lines of Ban’s polite talk. He stood carefully, tugging his hair back in its customary tail and slipped the silver hair clasp up, keeping it in place. He buckled his sword, checked the rest of his blades in there various hiding places before swinging up in Banneth’s saddle.

Banneth shifted, making sure his rider was secure before running out of the weyr and launching off, flying to the lake.

Banneth pulled into a neat dive as he saw the brown and pulled up, skimming the cool water of the lake before landing neatly and settling down, letting his rider dismount. he greeted, and tucked his wings back, settling in a relaxed pose.

Ra’fe fell into a relaxed military stance, looking up at his mentor. He noted her gender, rather easily on display, and dismissed it. Instead he noted her musculature and height. He asked dryly.

Banneth gave a displeased noise at this lapse in etiquette.

Ra’fe gave a mental sigh and moved to the rider, briskly and smooth, before offering his hand. “Ra’fe,” he offered simply, knowing that they already knew who Banneth was.

Banneth gave an annoyed noise, mentally chastising his rider.

“I have to admit, it is a pleasure to shake hands with a rider who knows how to weld a blade.” Ra’fe replied, shaking the offer hand with his own well calloused hand. “It is, different. More progressive for one.” He knelt, hands set on his thighs, thoughtful. “It will be nice to work with like-minded people.”

Banneth replied, tone slightly dry at his distaste for such a rude question. Knowledge was all well and good and the brown was merely trying to broaden his horizons.

Ra’fe accepted the mug and jug, pouring himself a drink before setting it to the side. “Igen was progressive in my own time, it is not terribly surprising to hear they have a women weyrleader, yet, it is still an achievement.” He sipped the ale, relaxing slightly. “Was there a reason for the quarantine?” He asked, looking at Re’ka.

Banneth rumbled, wrapping his rider in warmth at the shared topic. The quarantine period had lingered as to why.

Banneth echoed, looping his rider into subject and sent his unease down their link. A plague that had affected dragon kin? He shuddered, dwell on that rather unpleasant fact. Perhaps it was time for a subject change.

On’ya was a formable women, and certainly not one that Ra’fe cared to anger. “Ten turns ago… it did not give you much time to repopulate your weyr before threadfall.” A plague explained quite a bit of things that had lingered as not right. The quarantine had rung an alarm bell. The open weyrs. He drew out one of his concealed blades, this one from his wrist sheaf, and started to cut the loaf of bread into manageable pieces. “What did Ista do?”

Banneth replied, warmth seeking into his tones at the remembrance. And he had been a part of it, they had never rose in ranks but it had simply been.

“People rarely see reason when it affects them personality. Ista choose to isolate themselves, everyone effected, who lost a partner, a lover, wanted someone to blame and you can’t blame sky.” Ra’fe took a bite of bread, tearing a piece off and chewed. Hmm delicious.

Banneth replied and considered the placement. Did they want first wing? Ra’fe was good with his sword. He knew his worked hard and would not care to live on the weyr’s donations for long.

“Bookkeeping has it uses, but no. I don’t think that would be a good fit.” He would be bored in such a wing and was tired of being a courier, escort. Ra’fe started and sent a wave of appreciation as the bronze handed over the information. “Wing two or up,” he said finally. He certainly didn’t care to be sulking around or dealing with long cool or cooling bodies.