Why...? {Saeo/Open}

[Avu]

Why do we have runners, Tr'esnmine?

The green dragon blinked quizzically at the runner in question, a short bay mare that rolled her eyes warily at the dragon, as Tr'esn tied her lead to a wooden post outside the stall so he could clean out the shavings. It wasn't technically his chore, but in passing, the Headwoman had set him to the chore, and Tr'esn, too used to obeying to object, found himself in the smelly, relatively empty stables. Fortunately, the runners at Selenitas Weyr were more or less accustomed to dragons, and as Oquith was sprawled a good distance away, the mare made no move to rear - and a good thing it was, too, for such a movement would undoubtedly have jerked Tr'esn clean off his feet. Oquith, dropping her gaze, oblivious to the fear she incited in the runner, went on, I can carry you. Why do we need them? They're so messy, too...they smell horrible. The comment was accompanied by a wrinkling of the small green's muzzle.

"Some people don't have dragons," Tr'esn pointed out reasonably, tugging lightly at the knot to make sure it was tight, and then absently patting the runner mare's neck and earning a wary flick of her tail as her nostrils flared, her eyes rotating briefly to fix on him before her gaze returned sharply to Oquith, who was busy with something she held in her claws. "Like...the Wherhandlers, maybe the Harpers and Healers...and they're important, too. They need to get to Gather and all..." But why? Oquith pressed, and added sensibly, You said the Searchdragon brought you to the Weyr, right? - right? Well, why couldn't a dragon carry them? I wouldn't mind carrying another passenger once I'm big enough. The green purred smugly. As it is, I'm nearly large enough to fly anyway. It won't be long. Runners don't understand you nearly as well and they need so much leather to put together a - a - what's it called? A saddle. And bridle.

Shaking his head indulgently, Tr'esn returned to the stall and, fumbling for a pitchfork, studied the instrument blankly. It looked more like a weapon than anything else, and Tr'esn did not approve of it. Nevertheless, biting back a sigh and dragging a bucket towards the edge of the stall, he started to dig at the dirtied shavings, thinking - Oquith's right; runners aren't worth it. This isn't a Hold - ! But he set his jaw and continued to dig at the shavings. Suddenly, Oquith's voice touched his mind again. Oh, it's too warm out here, Tr'esnmine. Can I come closer to the stables? Where it's shady? I like to be sunned, but it's getting in my eyes and I can't see. Tr'esn jerked his head up just as a runner's panicked whinny met his ears. "No, no, no, don't, Qui!" he called without thinking, dropping the pitchfork. "Go - go to that tree, over there...it'll do for shade, won't it? You'll scare the runners!"

Oquith whistled her bewilderment, but obediently turned, her tailtip bobbing lightly behind as she hopped on three legs - her right foreclaws were cupped around something - towards the tree in question and plopped herself down, turning her head to glance for approval at Tr'esn. This is fine? she queried hopefully. The runners were calming, and Tr'esn glanced around the stables again before he stepped into the sunlight, and nodded slowly. That's fine, he agreed, and had turned to go back inside when Oquith called suddenly, a plaintive note in her voice, Tr'esnmine, come here please? I want to show you...it's a present, it's for you, maybe? It's lovely and shiny and I made it all by myself... The green dragon flared out her wings emphatically. I think you would like it, Tr'esnmine.

"I'm sure I will," Tr'esn agreed, curiously blinking at Oquith. "Can't this wait, Qui? I'm - I've got chores." They're not /your/ chores, Oquith pointed out sensibly, and Tr'esn shrugged. Nobody would mind if he just took a quick break - ? Of course not. He had long since abandoned his shoes, and took off across the sandy ground towards Oquith, quirking his eyebrow curiously when he reached the green, who uncurled her claws happily to reveal the shiny: A small stone, gleaming with crystals. Oquith had managed to poke a hole through the flat sheet of it, and a small vine had been stuck through the hole and dangled. I can't tie it, she stated forlornly. But you can? It's one of those - those - She flicked her tail, trying to come up with the proper word. "Necklace," Tr'esn supplied, picking up the ornament and grinning at the dragon. "Thanks," he said softly. "I'll...I'll put it on in a bit, okay? After I finish. I don't want it to get dirty." Oquith crooned cheerfully. Oh, that's fine...

[nightingale]

"Hark! Who goes there?"

Saeo barked, her voice thick with theatrical viciousness as she lowered the point of her sword directly in front of Tr'esn's nose - or at least it would have been the point, had it been a sword and not a stick. The girl was draped across a low-hanging branch, chin propped up by her elbow as she glared down at her hapless victims with melodramatically arced eyebrows.

"Thy knots speak of the dragonkind young sir. Pray, speak the names of thou and thine that I may call thee proper as I run you through...er, thee through...or smack you about a little I suppose, since my sword is away being polished at the moment." Badpest! Green badpest GO! Go NOW! Freckle added with a hiss, frilling her displeasure from atop the girl's left shoulder.

"Now Freckle"
She scolded, tapping her 'mandyr on the nose in a gently chiding gesture.
"There's no need to be rude. We can't very well gut them if they leave, now can we?"

Mine, do not be unkind. Cherilith groaned plaintively, circling around the tree trunk until he could see the others. For whatever odd reason, the little blue was wearing a silk kerchief tied about his neck. He offered Oquith and her rider an apologetic look, crooning softly. Mine is only playing friends. Please do not be frightened of her.

"Oh but they must be frightened of me!"
Saeo insisted, giving her head an emphatic nod.
"I'm a vicious tree-dwelling bandit after all. Freckle is a miniature talking wherry and you're a tunnelsnake, remember?" It is not fair to force people to play with us Mine. Saeo sighed defeatedly, lowering her sword and fixing Cherilith with a sulky look.
"Oooooh, but I was just getting into that one..."

[Avu]

Tr'esn had just reached out to rub Oquith affectionately, pleased by the green's gift, when there was, quite suddenly, a stick - a nicely polished stick, but a stick nonetheless - was abruptly inches in front of his nose, the Greenweyrling freezing instinctively, going cross-eyed to make sure the stick didn't get too close to him. If it had been only a stick, Tr'esn could have possibly dealt with it. As it was, the stick was accompanied by a voice, a girl's voice, melodramatic, but very much giving the impression that she'd like to gut the Greenweyrling. Tr'esn blinked stupidly at the end of the stick, and took a step back, blinking again as he uncrossed his eyes, staring up at the wielder of voice and blade. A girl she was - or, more precisely, a young woman - who was lying upon one of the tree's branches, glaring down at them.

As she went on, demanding in what Tr'esn supposed was fancy language his name and Oquith's, threatening to whack him, the Greenweyrling took another surreptitious step towards Oquith, the green eyeing Saeo in clear surprise and interest. The 'mandyr's addition to the tirade had Tr'esn's mouth half-open as he struggled to find speech again, his large gray eyes widening further as Oquith huffed softly at the green Salamandyr, who the girl called Freckle. Can't gut them if they leave - ? Tr'esn started to speak, uncertain exactly what he was going to say - he wasn't afraid of the girl, not really, even if he had been startled, because Oquith was there and the green would protect him should anything happen, but the way she was speaking just bewildered the boy.

The sense of confusion was only heightened as Oquith moved softly behind him, rumbling wistfully as she wrapped her tailtip protectively around Tr'esnHers, just as a blue dragonet wearing a silk handkerchief around his neck emerged from around the tree's trunk. His words made Oquith huff quietly as she rustled her wings uneasily, Tr'esn too busy watching Saeo, suspicion clear in his eyes and in the slight pout of protest forming on his lips, to answer. The suspicion drained away, and was replaced by a slightly irritated amusement, at the girl's explanation. Vicious tree-dwelling bandit, miniature talking wherry, and tunnelsnake? And - oh, she was sulking because the blue had interrupted her game? He grinned indulgently as Oquith blinked brightly at Saeo.

Tr'esnmine, they aren't going to hurt you? Oquith asked after a pause, studying the Greenweyrling's expression and then arching her neck backwards to stare curiously at Saeo and Freckle. The little wingless cousin is really very rude, isn't she? the green added, a hint of surprise in her tones as she snorted softly at Freckle. "They're just playing," Tr'esn answered aloud, his cheeks coloring slightly as he dropped his gaze to Oquith, who returned his glance with one of supreme confusion. I don't understand. Tag is a game. Hide-and-seek is a game. Scaring people is not a game. Her logic made Tr'esn grin feebly, and he shrugged as he leaned against Oquith's shoulder, forcibly trying to make himself relax. Shells, but the girl had scared him..."I don't know..." he answered.

Apparently, the green felt the answer was inadequate, for, rearing back to poke Saeo lightly with her muzzle, Oquith stated, Scaring people is not a game. You scared Tr'esnmine, and I don't think that's very fun. The young green dragon paused, and then added, If you wanted to know our names, you could have said so without threatening us. I'm Oquith and this is Tr'esn. Who is the rude little cousin? Tr'esn's cheeks reddened as the green's words registered upon him, and the boy shook his head slightly, biting his lower lip in embarrassment. "They didn't scare me that badly..." he muttered, though his tone was far from convincing.

[nightingale]

The girl watched curiously as the large green had rose to her eye level, ignoring the prickle of claws through her shirt fabric as Freckle danced with agitation at Oquith's proximity.

"This is Freckle. I wasn't actually threatening you and Yours Oquith."

She explained, sitting up both so that she could speak more easily and so that she could put some distance between Freckle and the green before the little 'mandyr got any violent ideas.

"Cherilith and I were just pretending to be tree pirates. It's a game called make-believe, where you pretend that something is what it isn't...or the other way around I suppose. Had I know that Yours was so easily frightened I would never have considered waving a stick at him, but most who happen by this way don't mind much." Jaymith even played with us for a while. Cherilith added happily, inching his way toward the boy and his dragon with a small coo of greeting. He was a swimming feline and Ke'rin was a ramora fish who lived on his back. It is lovely to meet you Tr'esn and Oquith.

Saeo grinned down at the boy, not so much reveling in having caused him distress as finding him perfectly adorable in his embarrassment. He was like a canine pup hiding under the kitchen table during a thunderstorm...but that would make he the thunderstorm, wouldn't it? She certainly hadn't been aiming for that...

"I'm Saeo, of blue Cherilith."

She offered by way of formal introduction.

"I'm a blueweyrling, not a tree pirate, so you can rest assured that I'm not going to gut you."

All traces of excessive enthusiasm and nautical accent had dropped from her voice, leaving it bright and friendly. She didn't want to scare him again after all -as it was, the poor boy looked as if he wanted to melt right into his dragon's hide.

[Avu]

Freckle? That rude thing was named Freckle? Oquith huffed her bewilderment. Rude things like that...and the green eyed the little 'mandyr warily...did not deserve cute names like Freckle. Such a misnomer...the green dragon dropped back to all fours, blinking placidly at Saeo now that she'd recieved a clear statement that the girl did not intend to hurt Hers, scared though she might have made him. Circling her tail around the boy's feet in a clearly possessive gesture, Oquith uttered a slight croon, her eyes settling back into calmer shades of green and blue as she glanced down at Hers, nudging him affectionately. She did not scare you too badly? the green queried anxiously. The Greenweyrling grinned slightly, the slight curve of his lips meant to reassure both Oquith and Saeo that the Blueweyrling hadn't, as a matter of fact, scared him as much as Oquith had expressed.

The other Weyrling's explanation of their game made Oquith blink, cocking her head slightly. Make-believe; it wasn't a game she'd ever heard of before, nor had Hers ever played it in his memory. Now that the "emergency" was over, the green felt no need to speak directly to Saeo, and so she glanced at Tr'esnhers. Ask her, please, what's a tree pirate? Pirates are for oceans. The dragon gave an emphatic nod. Aren't they? she added, curiously. Tr'esnHers rarely indulged in games, and it clearly showed as the boy flushed slightly, uncertainly. "Oquith wants to know," he said, "How a pirate can be in the trees - she says," and an indulgent smile touched the boy's lips, "that pirates are for oceans." He blinked up at Saeo, resenting how...vertically challenged he was. Of course he wouldn't be able to see her much better even if he was a bit taller, but it would help; as it was, the back of his neck was decidedly uncomfortable, and he rubbed it wearily, dropping his gaze in slight embarrassment again. "I wasn't expecting to be challenged by a tree pirate," he added, a bit defensively.

Cherilith, meanwhile, had stolen Oquith's attention, and the young green crooned sweetly at the blue dragonet. Jaymith? Oh, yes, Jaymith, the bronze from Aslath's clutch. It's fun, to make-believe to be a tunnelsnake? - or a swimming feline, or a ramora fish? the green asked curiously, her tailtip twitching lightly as she furled and unfurled her wings restlessly, still not quite over Hers' shock or the Greenweyrling's humiliation. She added, with more politeness than truth, It's nice to meet you and Yours, as well, even if it was...ah, rather startling in nature. The green glanced up at Freckle again, and added, Are they all like she is? She had heard no favorable reports for the Salamandyrs, while many were forthcoming for the fire lizards, but Oquith was simply too kind to create a stereotype for any given creature - 'mandyrs included.

Saeo's introduction only made Tr'esn turn redder as he shifted uncomfortably, biting his lip shyly. "Well, Oquith...introduced me already, I guess," he mumbled, "And no...I don't think you'll gut me, but...um, thanks?" The words came out more questioning than he'd intended. "I...I was just startled, that's all, and Oquith...she overreacts a bit, sometimes...I - I'm not really as scared as she makes me out to be." An awkward grin stretched across his face as he cocked his head upwards to peer up at her.

[nightingale]

Saeo grinned down from her leafy perch, even white teeth desperately attempting to cage a bubble of laughter that was rising in her throat. Oh goodness, this little fellow was just precious! Has she not been so concerned about having his dragon maul her, she wouldn't have been above hopping down and giving him a little bit of a squish, just to see what he felt like. True though, that it probably wouldn't do to frighten him again so soon after having threatened to cut him open...well, imaginings aside, she supposed that resisting the temptation wouldn't be too much of a hardship.

"Well I imagine that a tree pirate would be quite like a regular pirate."

She mused at Oquith's transposed question, carefully letting her stick fall to the ground, then easing herself over the side of her tree branch. She didn't let go if it however, and simply hung several inches from the ground as if undecided weather she actually wanted to be there or not.

"Except that a tree pirate would sail in a tree instead of on a ship...I suppose some sort of magic spell would have to be involved though, as trees are not prone to wading out into the tides...but I think it would be quite to one's benefit to pirate from aboard a tree. Nobody really expects to be attacked the the occupants of a tree after all, especially when the tree itself is a thousand miles from shore."

She smiled, a faint, empathetic blush showing behind her freckles as Tr'esn attested to his dragon's overprotective nature. She wouldn't have guessed that he was a weyrling just by looking at him, much less one who's dragon was at least one clutch senior to Cherilith. He had a look about him she read about on occasion, in that he was just so small and sweet that one would need a tunnelsnake's heart to resist the urge to dote upon and protect him. She could well understand Oquith's endearment, even disregarding the empathic bond between rider and dragon.

"And just what are you doing this far out to sea Tr'esn? Is there an island nation in need of rescuing?"

Her arms finally growing tired enough to prompt her return to earth, Saeo released her grip on the branch and dropped the remaining six inches. Her landing drew a squawk of alarm from Freckle, who's lack of balance would doubtlessly have sent her flying had her claws not been so deeply embedded into the fabric of her humanpet's blouse.
Mine mine mine... She chirruped plaintively, awkwardly righting heself and wrapping her tail about the girl's neck as protection against further jostling.


Oh, make-believe is quite fun. Cherilith crooned emphatically to Oquith, nodding his little blue head with obvious enthusiasm. It is not always the same story though. This morning I was a lake dolphin instead, and my Saeo was a lily flower. The little dragon's eyes widened in a decidedly human gesture of confusion as Freckle was brought into the conversation. Who are all like Freckle is? Miniature wherries?
He paused for a moment, considering what the answer to such a question might be, then realized that the green had been asking something entirely different.
Oh, you mean to ask if all salamandyrs are like Freckle? I do not think so. Dorava's Val is quite pleasant, and G'tor's Star does not speak at all. So much as he hated to think that encouraging Saeo to attend the hatching had been a mistake, Cherilith was beginning to think that a fire-lizard hatching would have been a better choice. One rarely heard unpleasant stories about flitters.

[Avu]

He. Was. Embarrassed. By being so surprised, and though he wouldn't admit it, because of Oquith's very transparent anxiety for his well-being. Were dragons usually this - this - motherly? He didn't think so, really...Tr'esn sighed, outwardly managing to keep his head tipped back to keep Saeo in view, squinting slightly against the sunlight streaming through the trees. Eventually, the Greenweyrling raised his hand to shade his eyes, blinking a few times as he focused on the Blueweyrling, though the hand cupped over his eyes had a second purpose: It hid the red flush that stained his cheeks. Luckily, his curls covered his ears entirely, or they probably would have been red, too. Great gray eyes peered anxiously at Saeo, wondering if the grin she wore was meant to be reassuring, or if she was grinning at him. The latter intensified the blush, and Tr'esn rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly with his other hand, brushing his hair out of his eyes in the same motion.

Oquith, meanwhile, had been quite distracted by the other Weyrling's explanation of a tree pirate. It was a concept that the green had never heard of before, or had ever imagined, and thusly, when it was offered in such a casual way, it caught her interest immediately. As the girl dropped her stick, though, the green instinctively stepped back, pulling Tr'esnHers with her to avoid the falling stick, uttering a soft huff of disapproval as the length of wood dropped to the ground, watching in silence as the girl dangled by her hands from the tree's branch, her toes a few inches above the ground. No, no, what if she fell? However, the green, kind though she was, didn't want to leave Hers alone, and besides, he was leaning against her shoulder, head tipped back and sideways to rest gently against her neck ridge, and Oquith definitely didn't want Tr'esnHers to fall.

Magic spell? Trees? Who in their sane mind would ride a tree thousands of miles into the sea? Nevertheless, the green let it pass with only a mildly protesting huff. This...was slightly amusing. The mental image being provided by Hers, tentatively, clearly, was an amusing one, at least: A span of glittering blue water, a ship, and alongside it, a tree, swarming with people and - Oquith knew this was for her - a green dragon, along with a few green fire lizards. Oh, yes, amusing indeed, though...funny, but Tr'esn's picture of the sea had always been brilliant and glittering, but Oquith had gone through his memory before in curiosity as many dragons did, and there were stormy oceans there, too. How did someone on a tree survive through a storm - ? Are there real tree pirates? the green asked Tr'esnHers after a pause as she considered the concept.

"Umm, no. No. No real tree pirates..." Tr'esn answered aloud for Saeo's benefit, offering the girl a weak grin. Her question made one fine eyebrow rise slightly in his surprise, the pale gray eyes widening slightly. "Um...I came to clean the stalls?" A faint smile quirked the side of his lip as he realized how feeble the answer sounded, but he didn't have a chance to correct himself before Saeo dropped to the ground, stepping back automatically in case she stumbled forward upon the landing, something he'd done quite a few times dismounting from Oquith when he forgot to let his knees bend to take the impact of landing. There was apparently no need, and Tr'esn dropped his gaze, momentarily abashed by the fact that Saeo was - wouldn't you know it - taller than he was. Older, too, but he was too used to being dwarfed by people to notice that, leaning against Oquith again, one arm snaking around the green's neck loosely.

Aforementioned green paused from listening to Cherilith's explanation to croon reassuringly, butting Hers lightly with her muzzle, her eyes wheeling in affection before she returned her attention to Cherilith. Oh, make-believe...it sounded strange; the green couldn't understand why someone would want to pretend to be something they weren't. She was extremely happy the way she was, and had no desire to "make-believe" to be anything, really. And Hers...Hers had never had any memories of play, or of this make-believing, and so Oquith had accepted, cheerfully, that he had not played, and, thus, she did not need to play either. Not that he hadn't offered to, and while she was younger, Oquith had accepted, but lately she'd been more content to simply lay around, or make little presents for Wymeth, Qualuth, and the other dragons she called friends, and for Hers. Do you often - ? Make believe? the green asked curiously of the younger blue.

The misinterpretation of her question drew an amused croon from Oquith, who started to correct Cherilith, head tilted to study the younger dragonet indulgently, but then he apparently understood the question. I see, she decided slowly after the blue finished. What color is Star? I have never heard of a Salamandyr who did not talk before...is there something wrong with him - her - it? So many stories seem to sprout out of 'mandyrs being horrible. I don't think I want one. Maybe a little cousin instead...they seem quite pleasant, no?

[nightingale]

Oh yes, we play make-believe all the time actually. Cherilith replied with a small coo, his tone conveying the fact that he didn't find the activity abnormal in the least. And why would it be abnormal after all? His Saeo was often telling him how important dreams and make-believe were. In fact, he could recall her saying rather poetically that without dreams, people would only look into the sky to check the weather.

...but surely he thought, they would still look up to watch for Threadfall? And if they were expecting a dragon to land nearby, they would certainly look into the sky to await their arrival? Lost as he was in that thought, the little blue completely missed everything that Oquith had been trying to say to him. It was the sudden quiet, or perhaps the influx on that last syllable that tipped him off to his own distraction. A band of flustered yellow rippled across the dragonet's eyes. Oh! I am sorry Oquith, but I must ask you to repeat what you just said...I...Saeomine says that my mind travels...

"You're cleaning stalls?"

Saeo repeated in a questioning tone, tilting her head slightly to one side.

"Is that part of the general Weyr service? I was under the impression that they had drudges to do that sort of thing..."

She pouted slightly, eyes dropping to one side as she considered weather or not that was so. She had always thought that it was the drudges that did work that wasn't directly related to the Weyr...but then, she supposed it wasn't really that important. maybe he had a runner stabled there and liked to care for it himself.

[Avu]

He said it so casually, and it surprised Oquith. She had never considered imagining, really. As a hatchling, she'd been playful, yes, but never this; and her goals were focused mostly on flying, when she and Hers could finally feel that wonderful, limitless, stomach-dropping, adrenaline-producing, incomparable ecstasy of being supported on dragonwings, on her wings...distantly, she'd known that such ecstasy would be accompanied by her maiden Flight, and that Hers was not very happily anticipating it, but she'd ignored the inevitable event. Was that 'making-believe'? Purposely refraining from thinking about it, going about her day without thinking about it even the once, so that Hers wouldn't be agitated? The green, settling onto her stomach, crossed her forelegs as she considered it. Was it? Maybe. She supposed it could be considered thus; she had never thought of it as 'making-believe,' though. The green didn't respond, too busy mulling over the implications.

Would it be a lie, to say she had? Or to say she hadn't? Inadvertantly making-believe - it didn't count, did it? Her tailtip twitched lazily as she half-lidded one eye, dismissing the problem. She'd ask Hers later, when he wasn't being distracted by the girl, Cherilith's, and she didn't have a conversation to uphold with the little blue. It seemed, though, that the blue dragonet himself was distracted by...his thoughts? And no answer to her comment was returned. She blinked one eye, amused by Cherilith's flustered admittance to his mind having "traveled". Aha, so he had been lost in his thoughts. At least, Oquith assumed that that was what the statement had meant. She crooned reassurance, her eyes distinctly amused as she cocked her head at the blue. He was so small, yes...it was lovely, to have a clutch younger than Oquith's, for the green was the smallest of her clutch, and that meant she was almost constantly dwarfed by the other dragons.

I said, what color is Star? I've never heard of a 'mandyr who didn't speak before. Is there something wrong with Star? So many stories have come from 'mandyrs being horrible. Here, the green paused, considering. She supposed that perhaps people thought stories of 'mandyrs being horrible were more exciting than stories of them being good, but then...well, there certainly were a lot of stories. I wouldn't want one. Maybe a little cousin instead, but I don't think Mine wants one of /them/, either. Oquith huffed indulgently. She wouldn't mind sharing Hers with a little sister or brother...but Tr'esnHers showed no interest in acquiring a little f'lizard...he had no marks, to buy eggs at Gather - nor any way to get to Gather - and he'd never showed any desire to go to the Hatchings of the flits or of the 'mandyrs. Maybe after she'd grown, he'd get one.

...was she so surprised, that he'd Chores? It seemed that half of what a Weyrling did was chores. Enjoyable chores, some of them, like oiling and bathing and feeding their dragons; making Flight straps and keeping them well-oiled and checked; but the other chores were quite despicable sometimes. At least he'd never had to do chamberpots yet; Tr'esn pitied the poor Weyrling - or Candidate, he amended - who got stuck with those chores. "Um, yeah..." he answered uncertainly to her first query, shifting and blinking owlishly up at her, in complete confusion. "General Weyr service...? Oh, yeah...I'm not on General Weyr Service, but the Headwoman passed and..." He shrugged, signifying his helplessness. He didn't despise physical labor; he was capable of it (and becoming moreso), but he much preferred working in the kitchens. A soft smile quirked the side of his mouth and he blinked again. "I think the Headwoman's suffering under the delusion that we are Drudges..." He shrugged lightly.

"But I don't really mind. I haven't got anything else to do anyway." Tr'esn hesitated, and then corrected himself, "Or rather, I didn't. I guess I do now...?"

[nightingale]

Saeo was not quite succeeding in her attempt to hide a giggle behind a decidedly effeminate hand gesture.

"The Headwoman came by and...you let her put you to work?"

His next statement affirmed it, and it was all Saeo could do to keep her giggles from reaching an octave unfit for human hearing.

"Well, if you'll cheerfully take extra chores from the Headwoman just because she casts you a sour look, I suppose it's just as well you're not a pirate! I imagine you'd end up sending letters to all your prospective targets ahead of time, asking them if they wouldn't mind being pillaged!"


Well, Star is not really a colour actually...at least, not a dragon colour. Cherilith explained tentatively, carefully sidestepping the use of any word that might label the tiny ‘mandyr as either male or female. Star is white. My Saeo says that means Star cannot speak, and that Star will neither rise nor chase. The little blue held his tongue when the question of salamandyrs being poorly behaved came up. He dared not speak ill of a creature with whom he shared a mind for fear of putting the little beast into one of her moods. Instead, he jumped on the chance to shift the conversation toward flitters. Oh yes, the flying cousins are quite nice! Ebolath’s Raylin and Frosstyth’s C’oar both have little flying cousins. Perhaps if you asked yours for one, he would stand at the hatching of a clutch? He almost finished by saying ‘that is how I got Freckle’ but decided that the statement might put her off more than encourage her.

At almost any given moment, Saeo’s thoughts could be read as if they were written across her face. Right now however, the ink was smudged, leaving the reader to guessing anxiously at what the catlike grin creasing her features could be hinting at.

"You certainly do!"

The girl chirped, responding of course to the boy's claim that he now had something better to do than cleaning stalls. Setting her sights on the branch above her, she jumped, catching hold with both hands and hoisting herself upward with a soft grunt.

“Come on then! This ship is still in need of a first mate! I’ll help you aboard and Oquith can swim along beside with Wave the tunnelsnake. Freckle, weigh anchor!” Freckle cracker! Cracker!

Saeo's words were spoken with breathless enthusiasm as she extended a hand toward the boy she had left grounded, soft laughter following in their wake. Saeo was about as far from strong as a wher was from handsome, but she was convinced that pulling a tiny thing like Tr’esn a few feet into the air would be very little trouble.

[Avu]

Tr'esn was wondering if he looked as embarrassed and decidedly awkward as he felt. The Greenweyrling shifted from one foot to the other, swaying uncertainly as he eyed Saeo. He didn't quite know what to make of her, now that he thought it over...she didn't seem like the type who would purposely hurt another, either emotionally or physically, but...she was very spontaneous, it seemed...and a bit childish, too. Friendly, overall sane, but...probably not someone that Tr'esn could feel particularly comfortable around. Far too energetic, and - well, she was giggling at him, and though Tr'esn was too well-trained to point it out, his cheeks still burned as he leaned against Oquith, dropping his gaze, slightly abashed by the blueweyrling's laughter. She wasn't exactly roaring, but some small, self-conscious part in him recognized that it was he whom she found funny. And he didn't like, wasn't used to, being the center of attention.

Thus, he didn't want it.

The Greenweyrling kicked absently at the ground, dug his toe at the dirt, and then flushed darker as she spoke. Let her put him to work? Of course he'd let her. She worked alongside the Weyrwoman; that was just the way rank worked in the Weyr. And - well, it had been ingrained him to obey, and not to question orders. Old habits died hard, and, as a result, Tr'esn simply couldn't reject an order that had been put upon him. A sense of responsibility, he supposed, to finish the chore, had been put upon him, and if it had burdened him, he'd never recognized it. It was just the way he was. "I...ah, I guess so," he faltered uncertainly, blinking large, luminous eyes at Saeo. Her jibe about pirating drew a faint, awkward grin as he considered the thought. Him, a pirate? Well...okay. Sure, why not? "I'm sure if I were a pirate I'd be a lot less..." He waved one hand vaguely, as if the gesture could make Saeo understand. "...obedient," he stated tentatively. "But I'm not..."

Oquith had, at first, been completely confused by the way Cherilith chose to explain the 'mandyr. Not a color? Of course she was a color; everything was a color. There was no such thing as no color; there simply had to be color, be it bright or faded or even - ah! Oh. Not a dragon color, because she - no, it, Oquith amended mentally, was white. A white 'mandyr? Curious. Oquith tilted her head, surveying Cherilith brightly, pleased by the idea of an un-obnoxious, silent - praise Faranth! - 'mandyr. Oh, yes, I've heard of those; there is another one, yes? ...somewhere, she added vaguely, realizing she was unaware of who said 'mandyr looked to. Hers had mentioned it in passing, she remembered, when she'd commented curiously on why greens were the smallest. He'd said...what? "There're white 'mandyrs, that are smaller than greens, but greens are the only small dragons pretty enough," or something like that...

It didn't really make sense, now that she thought about it, but it hadn't mattered to her then. Oh, yes, though; the green brightened at the thought of the little sisters and brothers. They were very nice, usually. Sweet-mannered and generally not nearly as raffish as 'mandyrs were...if Hers had to get a little pet, she would much, much prefer that he got a little sister, a little green like her perhaps, over a silly, short-tempered, attention-seeking Salamandyr. Horror stories were told by some dragons about what horrible, embarrassing situations they put their Bondeds into...and Oquith couldn't understand why. Didn't they love their mindmates...? He doesn't want one, the green responded matter-of-factly to Cherilith. She wasn't upset by it - it was a simple statement of fact for the young green. He says that he doesn't need another one, because I'm enough for him - but I think he just doesn't want to accidentally Impress a noisy one, because he doesn't like attention and a noisy one would /make/ him draw attention.

And that, the green completed, Is bad. She glanced curiously at Saeo, catching the girl's invitation, and nudged Hers lightly on the shoulder, affectionately. Go on, Tr'esnlove, you should have fun. Make-believe you're a pirate with Cherilith's and I'll be whatever Cherilith wants me to be. "Ah...okay..." Tr'esn answered slowly, blinking up at Saeo. How quickly, how easily, she'd hoisted herself up. He supposed he could do the same, now, considering the rigorous exercise Weyrlings were put through, but he still probably couldn't reach the branch in question without a bit of a struggle. Her offer to pull him up was slowly accepted, and Tr'esn started to take her hand, but Oquith interfered, knowing Hers was not altogether comfortable with physical contact. The green crooned softly, offering her foreleg, and Tr'esn, nervously clasping Saeo's hand to help guide him to the branch and for balance, stepped onto Oquith's foreleg like a step, and the dragon lifted him up cheerfully until Tr'esn could scramble onto the branch, throwing Freckle an anxious glance.

"Now what?" he queried. "And...Oquith wants to know what she should be," the Greenweyrling added, teetering slightly before he gained balance, one hand pressed lightly against the tree's trunk as he gestured with the other at Oquith.

[nightingale]

“Obedient.”

The girl echoed, a few thoughtful lines gathering beneath the fringe of her bangs as she considered the word. It wasn’t a word the blueweyrling particularly liked. It sounded stuffy and boring to begin with, and it carried with it many associated meanings that she wasn’t comfortable having too near to her.

“Tr’esn...you’re a dragonman.”
She said, a confused attempt at a smile shimmering in the corner of her mouth.
“Honor those the dragons heed in thought and favor, word and deed...haven’t you heard the old songs?”

She paused a moment to help him onto the branch, the soft leather of her slippers allowing her to balance with relative ease as she inched backward to make room for him.

“People idolize dragon riders! The only people who can demand your obedience are bronzeriders, Weyrwoman Shmee and your weyrlingmaster.”

Casting her eyes about until she found a low hanging branch, the girl set about climbing up higher into the old oak. It would seem that she visited this particular tree quite often, as the bark was worn away in places that looked as if they would make serviceable hand and footholds. Freckle drew her tail tightly about the girl’s throat, clinging to her humanpet like some hideous piece of breathing jewelry.

“I think we’ll sail west, toward the setting sun.”

The girl called when she finally reached the branch she had been aiming for. A small piece of white fabric -possibly a napkin- had been tied to one of the smaller twigs so that it could flutter in the breeze. Now, the girl produced from the neck of her shirt a black piece of fabric, similar in size. She untied the white fabric, replacing it with the black which proved upon closer inspection to sport a smudgy white image of some sort. When she was finished, she returned her attention to the greenweyrling perched a few feet beneath her.

“Oquith can be whatever she likes! The entire point of the game is to use your imagination after all.”

Mine? Oh, I mean Captain Moretta? Cherilith called, his thoughts easily heard by all within his proverbial earshot as he craned his lithe blue neck up at her. There is a strange vessel approaching. What are your orders? Descending to the large branch which Tr’esn occupied, the girl leaned precariously over the edge, one hand outstretched. Her eyes were glittering with malicious excitement.

“My blade, good tunnelsnake!”

She called, pointing toward the stick she had forgotten to take up into the tree with her. Carefully, the blueweyrling grasped the fallen ‘blade’ in his mouth and offered it to his rider. She accepted it with a pulse of thanks, crouching low on the branch in an attempt to catch sight of the ‘incoming vessel’.

“Alright, now... would you like to do the raping or the pillaging this time around First Mate Tr’esn?”

She murmured quietly, watching as Cherilith prompted Oquith to follow him behind the trunk of the tree where they could hide. Come Oquith, we must wait until they get close so we can jump out and surprise them! Have you decided what to be yet? The little blue cooed pleasantly as he crouched down in the warm grass, the tip of his forked tail twitching with an almost canine excitement. While he didn't like upsetting people, the little blue really did like this game when it turned out well. This human who was approaching them now did not seem at all to be too easily frightened to play with them. It would be fun to surprise them, he was sure!

[Avu]

Obedient...yes, he was precisely that. Tr'esn didn't mind admitting it, really - it was obvious, and he'd already stood to many worse insults than "obedient" before. Actually, at Lighttower Hold, being "obedient" had been a good thing. As thus, he'd tried to be more obedient, and he simply hadn't gotten used to giving out orders yet - it just went against his nature. And Oquith didn't mind, so that made him even less likely to change. Had the green asked him to be more - more forceful, he might have considered it, but Oquith assured him cheerfully that she didn't mind - so all was fine. Saeo's rather confused explanation made the Greenweyrling wrinkle his nose slightly, kicking at the trunk of the tree, rather absently, blinking at her. Obviously he'd heard the songs - one would have to be blind and deaf not to - but some part of him still didn't accept that he, Tr'esn, former kitchen drudge, was actually a dragonrider.

Besides, in all fairness, he was still a Weyrling. In response, he gave a mild shrug, not answering it as he peered down through one closed eye at Oquith, the green blinking happily back up at him. West, towards the sun...? That way, Oquith supplied cheerfully, jabbing her muzzle in the coresponding direction, rearing up onto her hind legs and touching Tr'esn's bare leg with her muzzle affectionately. I like this, Tr'esnminelove. You have a playmate now, and I can be friends with Cherilith.] Tr'esn nudged her muzzle with his foot, and she snorted at him. Yes, that's right...go with Cherilith, now. The half-grown green dropped to all fours as Saeo's answer came, and she uttered a pleased croon. What should I be, Tr'esnmine? the green queried, clearly mulling it over as she glanced over in the direction Cherilith mentioned. Tr'esn, too, after peering up warily after Saeo, wondering if the girl was going to fall - it seemed awfully precarious up as high as she was going.

The person who was approaching looked...distinctly unaware that an ambush was lying in wait for them, and for a moment, Tr'esn teetered on the edge of guilt. He recovered quickly, though. It was all in good fun, after all, and Oquith was so happy that he was making friends. So...that was all good. He blinked at Saeo as she came back down to a sane level and grabbed her stick, and, wobbling slightly, rose to his feet, absently. He needed a weapon, too, or something to brandish around a bit, right? Latching onto a branch, Tr'esn wriggled up, pleased by his own strength - a strength that he had not had months previously. Quickly stepping across the length, he snapped off a piece of wood that fit comfortably into his palm and, swinging back down to the lower branch, rubbed the smoothest section to snap off some of the extra twigs.

He nearly choked at Saeo's - ah, interesting question, throwing her a quick glance with an arched eyebrow before he answered. "I'd rather the pillaging, but...uh, thanks for the choice?" The Greenweyrling's lip twitched into something vaguely akin to a smile, but he couldn't quite manage it - he'd never heard rape or pillaging discussed with such ease, such - offhandedness, before, and no doubt the 'approaching vessel' would be fleeing for his? her? life if they'd heard the question. He watched silently as Oquith followed Cherilith behind the tree and crouched next to him, head low in the same predatory way she posed before striking her prey in the Feeding Grounds. Only her tailtip, twitching lightly, gave away the fact that she was, indeed, rather than hungry or murderous, merely excited, playful. The blue's question made her head come up slightly, and the green pondered for a moment. I don't know yet. What do you suggest? It has to be - to be piratey, doesn't it? I'm afraid I don't know much, really...

But it sounds like a good plan. What will Ours be doing? the green finished curiously.