Ooh! Shinies! [Jewelry Stall]

[neeuqtar]

Uu'n wasn't entirely sure why he was at the Gather, but he was certainly enjoying it. Adith had pronounced that His was required to go and "buy something pretty with all those useless wooden disks you have." And so Uu'n had hitched a ride to Blossom Hold (after going to bed hours early so he wouldn't be entirely dead for the Gather) and was wandering about, looking for something pretty enough to appease his blue dragon.

Which was when, of course, he happened upon a jewelry stall. Which had earrings. Lots of earrings. Uu'n grinned. He already had plenty of earrings, most which actually belonged to other people, as he had obtained them from Dael (who's sources were questionable at best)... but maybe they did piercings? And maybe he could get more than one done...

The bluerider leaned on the stall's counter, squinting from the light. Shards, but daylight was bright! "You wouldn't happen to pierce ears, would you?"

[Tashe]

Come on Styth! Lets go to the Gather and get our shopping done early. Well... one third of it at least. /I'm ready, I shall be there momentarily./ Grinning as he wiped his palms on the sides of his trousers, the Brownrider stepped toward his cats, itching the top of the Female's head with his finger. Her belly had expanded two fold, the tell tale sign of her being pregnant, and F'rah knew exactly who the father was. Sliding his body onto the bed, the Weyrlingmaster inspected the white Male as he waited for Styth to arrive. "You know. We wont be able to keep any of your kids." There was little reaction to his deep voice, save for an ear flick, for the cats had gotten used to him. They had even gotten used to Laurie and Miguel, and most shockingly of all, Shaur'ri had gotten used to Zolten's presence. Scara on the on the other hand, was unsure about the boy, just as F'rah felt deep, deep down inside. /I'm here! Sorry to interrupt your thoughts!/ "Its fine!" Leaping up from the Bed and darting past his desk, the Weyrlingmaster hit the breaks just long enough to grab his dark olive jacket in passing. Swinging it around his shoulders and cramming his arms through, the Brownrider hopped up onto Styth's leg then shoulder, vaulting up into the leathers a few moments after. "Up, up, and away!" F'rah had secured the last of his straps when the Brown launched himself off of the Weyr ledge, dropping a few feet in the air before lifting the both of them up into the sky. You know where to go! Sending an image just in case, the Weyrlingmaster concentrated on the image as they side slipped into the Between. Two seconds passed before they reemerged into the world of light and warmth...

---

"I don't know why you want to tag along with me. I'm not the most interesting person to be with." Tucking his hands into his pockets as he weaved his way through the growing crowd, F'rah looked down at the young Blossomian, his shoulder knots proclaiming him a second level Journeyman. "I mean, I'm going to be shopping for things, haggling and the like. Very boring stuff, very boring." The lad looked to be either in his later teens, or early twenties, although since he was a level two in his craft... The Brownrider was opt to think he was older. He had met the Blossom Holder after having tripped over a stray Canine and literally almost bringing him down with him. Even after they had pulled themselves up to their normal mammalian postures, the boy tagged along like the puppy the Brownrider had almost crushed.

"You're a Dragonrider from Selenitas, I've always been curious about you guys, can't help but be a little intrigued when we only get to see a Rider at Gathers. Other sightings are few and in between." Shaking his flaxen hair so it flew every which way, the Dolphineer happily tried to keep pace with the Dragonrider, his stride was longer than his. "I don't really mind, I can help carry your bags and things. I... just kinda want to observe a Rider from each Dragon color." He really did just want to shadow a few Selenitasites for a day, and since the Gather was spread over a couple days, he wouldn't miss a lot of the festivities. "I'll leave if you want me to. I can find another Rider, I don't want to bother you at all."

Pausing for a second to look the boy over, F'rah flashed him a grin before continuing his pace, slowing it down so he could keep up. "Well I suppose I can offer my services as a Brownrider, so long as you don't mind getting dragged just about everywhere." The Weyrlingmaster glanced at the Flitter that had crawled out from inside the Journeyman's shirt, her little mint colored head swung toward him with a chirp. She was a pretty Green, and very feminine looking, unlike a few Green's he knew about. "By the way, my name is F'rah. I'm the Weyr's W--"

"Weyrlingmaster. By your knots, I could assume you were either the Weyrlingmaster or the Junior Weyrleader, but since you are a Brownrider, I took the path that was most logical." Tilting his head to the side, the Journeyman motioned to the knots on F'rah's shoulder, smiling slightly as Fianne nestled herself against his neck. "I'm Cavelieran, Journeyman level two, Dolphineer by Craft and Trade."

---

Entering the stall with a grin, F'rah moved off to the side to let the Dolphineer in after him, nodding at a few of the other shoppers who had been there before him. This was only the first stop on his trek through the Gather's stalls, but it was generally the most important one of them all. "So... you know about Jewelry?" Clapping the boy on the back when he nodded, the Weyrlingmaster swung his attention around as he heard a familiar voice from somewhere in the shadows. It was the voice of one of his former Weyrlings, one that had Impressed a special Dragon, one from Fath's last clutch. "Ho, Uu'n me'boy. What brings you out into the sunlight on this fair day? This is Cavelieran, Lier for short, or so he says."

Peeking around the thick frame of the Dragonrider, the Blossomian gave the other man a wave before letting his attention stray to the trinkets all around him. Silver, Gold, Steel... each piece of Jewelry sparkled like they had just been polished. Stepping backward, Lieran eyed a large ring with a purple gem fitted in it's center, it reminded him oddly of his Raidy's lidless eye. How he wished he could bring his partner along with him to these Gathers, he knew she'd have loved all of these colors and people. But alas, Dolphins had to stay in the water for a reason.

[reqqy]

The woman was sauntering. Yes. Sauntering. She'd quite nimbly lost her good (and chatty!) friend in the crowd, which proved to be quite fortuitous when she caught sight of the towering giant brownrider lurking near one of the stalls. Hard not to recognize one of the people who'd taught the dragonhealer and her Phremath so much. Hard not to recognize him anyway, as he was Laurie's weyrmate. Definitely good that she'd managed to lose the older woman. F'rah would certainly have his weyrmate at his side if he wasn't being sneaky. Yes, Kalierre was convinced he was being sneaky.

In a rare good humor, the greenrider decided to be a little sneaky herself and see just what he was up to. Pulling down the boyish cap on her head to conceal her face, she affected what she hoped was a manly swagger - and probably just looked a whole lot more like an inebriated woman. Kalierre actually had a practical reason to be dressing like a male today. Her purse was almost ridiculously large, and the silly vendors always liked to push their prices up with her, as if she were too stupid to know when they were trying to cheat her. Vendors. Always thinking that a feminine frame meant a weak mind as well.

Of course, trailing a short distance behind, she saw another familiar figure and changed course, F'rah mostly forgotten. She hadn't seen Uu'n in ages, and here he was out in the middle of the day, of all things! Her first instinct was to dropkick him for coming out in the sun with such pale skin. He was going to burn something terrible. Probably peel all over the place, too. Silly men. And they claimed they were the logical ones. His question to the vendor, however, immediately picqued her curiosity. "Shells, bluerider. If you're not having holes punched into you violently, you're looking to get more holes."

She smiled at Uu'n and seriously considered handing over the cap so at least he had some protection. He'd likely protest, though. Oh well. If he protested, he protested. Sweeping it off her head, she stood on tiptoe and settled it on top of his. "Maybe this way you won't turn into a flake monster," she added with a grin, tossing her head slightly to get some of the blonde out of her face that had come spilling out the moment she removed the cap. F'rah's voice broke in on her. She turned to him with a pleasant smile, having to lean out past Uu'n just to see him.

"Awfully cheerful today, Weyrlingmaster. Hello Cavelieran." She didn't bother giving her own name; F'rah's companion seemed enthralled by some pretty gem. Kalierre resisted a snort. She'd never been much for this type of jewelry. It seemed quite foolish to pay so many marks for a rock, though she did have to admit that some of the pieces were nice to look at.

[neeuqtar]

"Ayup," the woman in the stall replied to Uu'n, pausing to eye Cavelieran and F'rah momentarily before letting the duo browse. "Five marks."

Uu'n grinned at her. "I even brought earrings," he said cheerfully, digging through his beltpouch until he found the purloined shinies. Probably not what Adith intended when he said get shinies but it was close enough... maybe he'd splurge and buy a dagger. Or shards, just trade in his gaudy jeweled dirk for a plain wire-wrapped hilt which would be more useful anyhow. he turned to F'rah as the shopkeeper replied.

"You get a plain pair," the woman informed him with a raised brow.

"Yeah, uh... I'm getting my ears pierced," Uu'n told his former Weyrlingmaster with a quirk of his lips. "You?" He turned back to the woman. "I'd like to get one set for these," he informed her, pointing to a pair of silver-wired dangles made of black stone, carved like thorny vines woven together. Or was it a long, snakey beast? He couldn't tell, but he liked them. "Then, on the left, another one, and one right here with a simple hoop," Uu'n finished as Kalierre came up, pinching his cartilage where Dael had left her mark months ago. The woman gave him an incredulous look.

"Eleven marks," she informed him. He flashed her a grin and pulled out the sum, placing it on the table infront of them. She gave him a look but took the marks.

"I've come to like holes," he told Kalierre with something of a silly grin. Uu'n missed Kalierre, but he supposed that was the trouble of being nocturnal. Not that he would have it any other way, but... still. "Hey!" he yelped as she dropped her cap on his head, messing up his carefully coiffed platinum locks. Or, rather, platinum bristles. The tousled inch or so refused to lie any sort of flat, so he'd just left it floofy. But it was clean! And floofier than normal, too. "I did put on sun lotion, you know," Uu'n informed the healer without any touch of ire. "I'm not that stupid."

The stallkeeper beckoned him behind the counter, wielding a red-hot needle. Uu'n eyed it carefully, then sat on the proffered chair. Wouldn't do to wimp out now... With deft skill, the woman threaded the needle through Uu'n's right ear, making him go even paler from the sudden hot pain. At least he had experience at the hands (teeth) of salamandyrs... She threaded through the bauble he'd indicated, then did the other side. Uu'n exhaled a quick, panting breath as the shopkeeper cast a glance at her other patrons before spiking another hole next to the second, putting in the proffered small silver loop.

"You know, I have something for youUUOWCH!!" He had NOT expected the one in his cartilage to hurt so sharding much! Mercilessly, the woman inserted the stud, then put her needle back in the small fire and took off the leather glove which had protected her hand.

"You wanted it," she muttered, handing him a small paper satchel in which his second stud resided. Uu'n winced slightly, then stood up and wobbled out of the stall to go lean against a tree.

Funny how he could face gore easily, but a little piercing made him all... woozy.

[Tashe]

"Oh good day Claire! My, its good to see you're doing well. Between paperwork, Lessons, Laurianne and Miguel, I never have enough time in the day to drop in on some of my older students. Wonderful coincidence that both of you are here!" Looking from one former student to the other, Farah continued. "Well that certainly is an admirable feat. I have a thing for needles, especially red hot... poky ones. But, fortunately for me, I am not here for myself. If you two can kept a secret... I'm getting something for Laurie. Though I'm a horrible judge of Jewelry... the things I have belonged to someone else." Stitching his brows together as he glanced about him, the Weyrlingmaster sighed before placing his hands upon his hips, looking rather like a confused bear. "Oh! Hey... Claire. Would you help me? I know its er, a bit one-sided stereotype but... I really need to get her something pretty."

---

Looking up from the ring as the woman greeted him, the Journeyman flushed slightly, realizing he had been entranced by the eye like gem. "O-oh. Hello Miss, its nice to meet you." Pausing for a moment to shift his stance, Cavelieran smiled softly, watching the woman with his blue eyes. "Is it true? Did Master Farah teach you as a Weyrling? How was it? What color do you ride? Was it exciting? Were you --" Embarrassed, the Dolphineer screeched to a stop, he was asking too many questions again. It had suddenly become an unwanted habit, and it was driving him, and his Masters crazy. "I'm sorry Miss. I don't know what came over me." Grimacing slightly as he crossed his hands behind his back, Cavelieran groaned inwardly, he was making a fool of himself in front of an important Rider and a pretty one. How he could get himself into these situations was beyond him, it seemed as though it would be and is part of his destiny.

[reqqy]

He was looking much better than expected for a pasty night-owl who'd been torn up good and proper by a weyrling and had only just recently come out of a coma. Kalierre had to admit at least that much. Although it was probably the grin that made it, she decided. Almost definitely. She reached up to poke him lightly on the nose. "Never hurt to have a little extra protection. Sun lotion only goes so far." The woman smiled lightly. Also gave them a reason to meet again - or hang around each other for a bit. Since that wasn't an unsavory notion, she was well-pleased with the whole state of affairs.

It took her a moment to realize that F'rah was talking to her. Kalierre blinked, then chuckled dryly. "You really should drop by more often. You're beginning to forget things, Weyrlingmaster." She glanced back toward Uu'n, but he seemed rather occupied with the needle right about now. Kalierre had no piercings, herself. No real desire. The woman saw enough of needles that she really didn't see how it could be fun to jab yourself with them for no reason. The healer in her, no doubt. "A thing for needles," the greenrider repeated contemplatively, unable to entirely resist a smirk.

Lauranna would probably like jewelry. She usually was wearing one piece or another, after all. But..."It's Kalierre, by the way. And you'd probably have more luck with your young friend over here, or Uu'n. I don't own a single piece, myself. If you wanted advice on rawhide, boots, or a good, sturdy blade I could probably set you up - but if stereotypes are to be believed, you probably wouldn't need the advice," the woman returned with a playful smile.

"He did, at that, though it appears I wasn't memorable enough for him to remember my name," the woman replied, not unkindly. "Phremath is my beauty...hatched about two and a half turns ago, now. Lovely little green with tiny wings. You may have seen her if you were watching the skies earlier. I'm sorry, I can see that you're a journeyman, but I'm not familiar with the craft?" She could have answered all of his questions, but that would likely take the better part of the afternoon, so she steered the conversation away from that.

Uu'n's voice caught her attention, though. "Excuse me a moment, boys." Nevermind that F'rah was older. Kalierre strode for her friend, pausing for a moment, though, when he slumped against the tree. She took the sack from him, pressing a flask of water into his hands instead. "Come, help with this jewelry. I know nothing about pretty stones." Kalierre threaded an arm through his. It was a normal enough gesture, but it would allow him her support if he needed it without arousing suspicions. She'd rather stay out here, actually, but that would be fairly rude, so she urged Uu'n along instead. It would do him good to walk it off, anyway.

At a softer volume for Uu'n's ears only, "Something for me? I have nothing for you, bluerider, but don't think I'll let you leave without telling me what it is."

[neeuqtar]

"I do know a bit about sparkly rocks," Uu'n agreed, flashing her a less-than-feral grin. Unusual for him, but Kalierre seemed to bring out a slightly more playful side in him, oddly enough. He accept her arm, needing a little stability at the moment and thankful that she was offering him tacit help without fawning over him or anything. It was just a couple holes, after all, not anything major. But she was right about the sun and he was thankful for a hat. He could feel the heat of the sun on every bit of exposed skin--hence the long sleeves and gloves. And pants. And calf-high moccasin boots. Etc etc.

"Here," Uu'n said, pausing for a moment and rifling through his belt-pouch, which always seemed to be full of useless things. It certainly did contain a lot of glittery things stolen by Dael and never returned, but Uu'n was almost as bad as his salamandyr at keeping shiny things. He pulled out a simple package, plain hide with the image of tens of tiny leaves burned into it. Scrap leather, for certain; what was inside was his gift. Uu'n hadn't really known what to get a woman who was his friend, so he'd made her something that he thought would suit her. A spear of quartz about as wide ad his thumb and a little over an inch long was secured with a narrow leather thong to another leather thong, this one braided. Feline canine teeth, tips towards the quartz, were plaited into the necklace, four on each side in decreasing size. It secured with a simple loop to go over a knob of a knot.

"I didn't make it with the intent to get something back," he said with a raise of one eyebrow, proffering the 'package.' "After all, you gave me my life back after I was pretty enough to attack weyrling sharding dragons," Uu'n concluded with a smile halfway to a smirk, at his own idiocy. At least there were probably some interesting rumors about him. He'd settle for that. The bluerider turned back to the duo in the jewelry stall.

"I hear you're looking for jewelry? Kalierre seems to have captured me for my knowledge about shiny rocks." He grinned at them, the usual touch of ferality back in his expression. He liked when people were a bit at his mercy. And, truth be told, he kind of liked the idea of being Kalierre's captive, too.

[Tashe]

"Oh... Oh I'm sorry Kalierre." Crossing his arms, F'rah frowned as he thought quietly to himself. "Huh. I never get names wrong... unless I'm getting sick. Oh dear, I really hope that isn't the case, I wouldn't want to have to appoint a temporary Assistant to take over my classes while I'm out. Plus, I can't risk getting Miguel or Laurie sick, and then theres my students and Zolten..." Mumbling mainly to himself and partially to the Healer, the Weyrlingmaster quirked a brow as she left the tent to go after the Bluerider who had to step outside. The young man really was handling it better than a few people he knew, at least he could say he hadn't passed out. Turning to look at the pendents behind him, F'rah was rather content to just browse until the two younger Riders came back in, Kalierre had said something about Uu'n knowing more about jewelry than her.

The display of jewelry before him ranged from between gaudy and exceptionally intricate, with everything in between, the colors were almost as extensive. "Oh, yes, Uu'n. I'm looking for something for Laurie, but knowing me, I'll pick something horrible looking." Grinning as he turned to face the Bluerider, F'rah shoved his hands into his trouser pockets. "I want to get her something silver and Green, preferably a necklace."

---

"I see... and I do think I caught sight of your Phremath earlier. Though, I can't be sure, I was helping my Master with moving things around the stall." Bobbing his head as the thought about it, Cavelieran smiled as the Greenrider asked about his craft. "I'm a Dolphineer, Miss. My partner's name is Raidy, a female of around three turns." Watching as she excused herself to go speak with the other Rider, who he had yet to discern what color he rode, the young Journeyman returned his gaze back onto the Brownrider. He seemed nice enough, maybe a little forgetful, but even that he had seemed sure there was a reason. Tapping a finger to the side of his face Cavelieran thought about how young the Weyrlingmaster looked, striking him off the list of possible candidates, he wasn't old enough to be related to him.

He was determined to find the Dragonrider who, biologically, was his father. But he knew it would take a very long time, it was just that his hopes were so high, and gathers attracted a lot of he Selenitas Riders.

[reqqy]

His muttering was entirely lost on Kalierre, which was probably just as well, given that the dragonhealer likely would have scolded him for inviting trouble. She was of the school of thought that the mind ruled half the illnesses of the world, and that most people would never get sick at all if they just took proper care of themselves and didn't entertain negative thoughts about their health. As Kalierre herself had only been sick once in the past five turns - and then due to infection after the weyrling massacre - it was unlikely that she could be disabused of this notion.

No, she didn't catch his mutterings. Instead, she strode along at Uu'n's side, watching him curiously as he dug about in his belt pouch. Taking the pouch from him, she pressed closer to his side in order to move her arm forward in the crook of his elbow so she might free both hands to peer inside the sack. Seeing the gleam inside, she frowned slightly as she withdrew the piece, turning it over in her hands delicately. "You made this?" she questioned, running the tips lightly along the braided thong. It was not something you'd expect to see at a stall like the one they were at now. It was...strong. Feline's teeth. Uncut quartz. All angles and sharpness. She couldn't possibly see herself wearing any of those delicate - much less gaudy! - chains that so many seemed to prefer, but this? Kalierre couldn't quite conceal the delighted look that passed behind her eyes.

On a whim, she lifted up on tiptoe and planted a kiss on his cheek, taking the time to fashion the necklace about her neck as they walked. Her hand flattened it against her neck, still marveling at the sensation beneath her fingers. "It's lovely. You'd best not make a habit of it, Uu'n, because I'd much prefer you stay out of my infirmary, but...it is lovely." And, despite the scolding, there was a soft smile on her lips when they rejoined F'rah and Cavelieran.

With Uu'n helping F'rah - although she didn't relinquish the bluerider's arm, telling herself he may still be woozy, though even Kalierre wasn't fully convinced by that explanation - the greenrider turned back to the young dolphineer and picked back up on their interrupted conversation. "Raidy, you say? She sounds about the same age as my beauty." Kalierre flashed him a friendly smile. "I'm afraid my knowledge mostly lies with dragons and firelizards, and a few of the other related species...do you share a bond with your dolphin?" She vaguely remembered something said along those lines, but her attentions had been caught up elsewhere, particularly in the north, such that she'd never pursued the topic.

[neeuqtar]

"I have a lot of free time at night," he informed her with a grin. "I've gotten pretty good at leather braiding." Uu'n was lucky he didn't blush easily, or Kali's whim might have embarrassed him. Instead he fought back the urge to rub his cheek in surprise, and smiled down at her. "Don't worry, I only intend on being in your infirmary as a healer, not a patient," he informed her cheerfully. "Though I can't speak for accidents." They reached the stall, and Uu'n turned directly to F'rah. Kalierre showed no sign of relinquishing his arm, and he wasn't about to claim it back. He could probably (definitely) stand on his own, but touching Kalierre was particularly... nice.

"Hmmm..." Uu'n contemplated the spread of jewelry before them, a bewildering array of colors, metals, and designs. Though Uu'n did have a lot of shinies, that was mostly Dael's fault. He was decent at judging the worth of jewelry, and passable at guessing what people would like, but he didn't know much about Laurie except that she was apparently very... excitable. And loud in the mornings, waking up the weyrlings. "Well, the first thing is, what impression on her do you want to make? Some of this is too fancy to wear to anything but Gather--like this pretty bit," he said, indicating a silver chain necklace with series of delicate chain loops, and tiny pendants of what he suspected were rough emeralds.

"If you want it to be something she can wear all the time, then you'll want something a little more simple, with a less rare stone--peridot for bright green, jade for different shades, or maybe even some green tourmaline." Designs he might not know as well, but stones? He was an expert. He was a miner's son, after all. And metal was another thing he knew well... "There's also a metal to choose. White gold is more lustrous than silver, and won't tarnish, but it's softer. Platinum is pretty rare, and whiter than silver... I'm not seeing much of that, though. And silver itself comes in different forms. You could even steel, if they have it, but usually that's torcs, not necklaces."

[Tashe]

"I'd like something simple, something Laurie could wear everyday if she wanted to." Turning slightly to face Uu'n, F'rah gave him a smile before speaking again. "Though, both of you have to keep quiet about this, I intend it to be a surprise for her, and so far only you three know about it." The necklace the Bluerider was holding up was pretty, but it just wasn't the type of jewelry Weyrlingmaster was looking for, yet Laurie was a whirlwind. He could envision the Greenrider wearing daily just because she wanted to, then again he could see her rarely wearing it like Uu'n had said. Speaking of speaking, the his old student was talking again, explaining to him the pros and cons of the different jewels and metals. "You certainly do know your way about... Silver and a Dark Jade, I think, would be good. A normal gold chain would get lost under her hair, but silver won't... I hope." Rubbing the stubble on his chin, he was trying to go for a scruffy look, F'rah looked over the individual pieces with interest. "I was thinking a silver chain with a pendent of Green, though now thinking about it, I think I'd like to find something with an engraving on it. Like this one." Lifting the ring so that Uu'n could see what he meant, the Weyrlingmaster pointed at the outline of the open flower, it wasn't terrible detailed, but it was rather charming.

--

"Oh yes Miss. It takes a long time for a Dolpineer and their parter to fully Bond, but when they do, the Bond is the closest thing to a Bond between any of the Dragonkin and Kind. I mean, I've been with Raidy for two Turns, give or take a few weeks, and our Bond isn't fully complete like any of the Master's are. Soon though I hope. I'd love to feel what Raidy feels, like I can do with my Fianne, though my Dolphin can speak better than my Green can." He was proud of how far along he was with his Dolphin, in fact, not being close to her always made him anxious. Which was the reason Cavelieran enjoyed Station House Duty so much, he could sleep near the Lake and Raidy every night without people yelling at him to go home and make himself useful with other things.

"But any Dolphin will come when they're needed, no matter if they're Bonded to you or not, they like helping people. Raidy says its because their fascinated with us, like we are with them, the lot of them are just nice little things. Smart as a whip too. The Bonded ones have to learn the different Dolphineer calls on bells and Whistles, but any Dolphin in the area will come to an emergency." Great, he's rambling again, it was just something he couldn't help. He was too in love with his Craft /not/ to talk about it when asked a question, even if it involved subtly transferring the answer to the question into related facts... no matter how random they were. Scuffing the toe of his boot on the floor, Lier ran a hand through his blond hair before stuffing it back into his trouser pocket, looking slightly embarrassed once again. Drat his friendliness.

[reqqy]

She clipped Uu'n lightly on the shoulder. "I'll hold you to that," the woman commented, only half-jokingly. Quite at her ease in the crowd of men, Kalierre's arm finally slipped from the bluerider's so F'rah and her friend wouldn't have to talk over her.

Cavelieran could hardly have a more apt listener than the dragonhealer. This sort of information was the type that Kalierre yearned for, her curious streak arising instantly. A bond that took turns to form to the point of empathy? Were the dolphins part of the experimentation that had led to her dragons, or was this just a natural part of the marine creatures? Her eyes grew distant as her mind mulled over the questions rearing up.

Tapping her nails lightly against her teeth, Kalierre's gaze lifted to the boy's eyes with a startling intensity. "They come? Does that mean the empathy always works in one direction?" Realizing that this question may not have been entirely clear, she restated. "I mean, are dolphins capable of picking up feelings off of humans regardless, and part of being a dolphineer is to be able to connect on that level with the dolphin, too?" Clearly, she hadn't noticed his nervous behavior or, if she had, she certainly didn't seem to mind his eagerness.