Little by little who you are ~ (Tags E’rro)

[Rei]

“Ow. Ow. Would you stop?” Er’ani voiced to the little creature that was scampering around in his already messy hair. Tch. So much for attempting to tame his hair at all. That was a waste of time. Especially now that he had a worm burrowing in it. Well salamandyr Erilena had said. He still didn’t know why the little blue wanted him instead of the older healer girl. She had come to check Lketh once and he’d been promptly assaulted by the little creature, who then proclaimed he smelled like someone and refused to leave. At first the blueweyrling had tried to get the greenrider to take her pet back. But the little blue had just surprisingly showed up at his door hours later. Thus when the little creature started to make himself at home Er’ani hadn’t really protested all that much.

Lketh liked the little talking thing anyway. So he had allowed it to stay at least for a few days. Yeaaaah. Now he was wishing he hadn’t caved. Maybe he could find Erilena and give her mandyr back? She hadn’t come looking for the self proclaimed Nuisance but she must be worried by now. It had been three days already. Then again she had stated that the little mandyr tended to do what he wanted and just appear randomly…so maybe he wasn’t her pet at all? Could mandyrs go stray like felines? The teen admittedly didn’t know much about them yet. All he knew was that those little claws hurt. Sorry. Sorry. "Sure you are." Wrinkling his nose he kept walking, adjusting his gather clothing every so often. Er'ani wasn't much for formal attire. Or even really nice attire. He preferred comfort and ease of movement over anything else. The weyrling should have never caved to his classmates. The only reason he did was because Caden had said that Lketh could stay with Nitrath. That and he needed to get out of that place before he screamed from anxiety. Er’ani trusted that the gold wouldn’t let anything happen to the albino. Golds were golds, hatchling or not right? It still made him nervous, but at least it was tolerable.

Hmm where to first? The weyrling had some marks. Not a whole lot but he had saved up some from the odd job at Benden. Probably could use another knife. His was okay but it wasn’t spectacular. Really the teen would much rather spend the marks on something else. Er’ani hated battle. More because he was terrible at it than anything else but….well he had to make exceptions obviously. Lketh had to be protected. Sighing the boy ran his hand through his hair, to force Nuisance to his shoulder, and then made his way towards the Blacksmith stall.

Not much for crowds Er’ani almost balked and turned around when he saw the number of people grouped loosely around that particular stall. Nuisance however seemed to have other ideas. The little mandyr gave a sudden squeal and dug claws into the boy’s shoulder. STOP! Erminelovelovelovelovelovelove. Wincing the blueweyrling tired to grab the mandyr to possibly calm him down. People were starting to stare. However he missed the grab and the mandyr flung himself into the air and glided to a tall figure who had his back turned. Slipping down said figure’s shirt he started loudly broadcasting more excited nonsense as he used the man like a human jungle gym.

Er’ani was actually quite horrified. For a split second he debated running away. But that was cowardly. Even for him. So blushing, what he was sure was a spectacular shade of red, he closed the last few feet of distance between him and the man and spoke. “Faranth Sir. I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s gotten into him. I…” The words died on his tongue the minute the figure turned around and all the color drained from Er'ani's face as he merely stared in shock. It…it couldn’t possibly be. He was seeing ghosts? Yes that was it. He man resembled him....but his brother was dead. Rubbing the back of his neck he swallowed and found his voice. "I uh. Can I have my mandyr back?"

[Tashe]

His face itched. Itched something fierce actually. He couldn't scratch it, lest he rub off the skin colored make up he was wearing. If he hadn't have left Nuisance behind, the Brownrider would never have needed to wear the shard blasted stuff, but he did and now was stuck with it. He wouldn't have even come to the Gather if it wasn't for the hopes that he'd bump into someone who had picked up his little Blue. He had hoped the girl who'd he had given the Mandyr too still had him, but the Blue was crafty enough to survive without anyone looking after him. E'rro twitched his nose in an attempt to relieve some of the tingling, of course it didn't work but he had to try something. Tucking his hands into his pockets, the Councilman continued to search the crowd in vain for his little Blue speck. Or at the very least, a person he knew and trusted. Surely one of his... 'friends', would know where Nui was.

His black cloak fluttered behind him as he walked, the hood was drawn up over his head but the shoulder folds were pushed back so the material didn't obscure the front of his clothing. Being as a Gather was a festive type of thing, he had opted to blend in with the crowd rather than wear his typical all black or dark colored attire. His tunic was a pleasant sort of red with white trimmings and his cloak had a white border to it. Well... he was trying and he did it just well enough that so far, no one had even given him a second glance. The makeup was actually doing what he had needed it to do, mask his most recognizable feature. Tucking his thumbs into his belt, E'rro glanced from stall to stall trying to discern the type from a distance. He didn't need very much, it had been fortunate that all of his weaponry made it to Burimyu with him and he couldn't exactly buy anything for comfort... the few marks that he had had on him when they fled were going to go toward clothing. Or food. Farnath was he hungry for something other than rationed food. In any case, he supposed it didn't mean he couldn't go look around. As if that was the motivation he needed, E'rro moved to go hover momentarily around the Smithy stall.

And then, he heard it... STOP! Erminelovelovelovelovelovelove! ... the one voice he'd been hoping to hear, the one he'd probably be missing the most. Frantically shifting his head side to side, E'rro attempted to locate Nuisance it the crowd. Against his neck he felt the familiar pricking of claws and his mind was flooded with love and excitement and joy and a whole mess of other emotions, but mainly love. Ermine! ERMINELOVE! I stay! I safe! You be proud! Me smart. Me stay with Erigreen. Me then find you smell boy. Stay with him! I MISSMISSMISSMISS. It took E'rro nearly every ounce of control not to smush the Salamandyr against his face in relief. The grin, the blatantly unguarded grin that cracked his was totally lost on him as he whispered happily to Nui, asking him to lower his voice because they could be caught. The Brownrider was in the midst of stroking the Mandyr when he was addressed from behind, he let the Blue perch in his hood against his neck before turning around.

The grin, the happiness, it all just... froze, as if in suspended animation. Although the color in his cheeks stayed the same, the shock registered clearly across his face. Those eyes, that face... it couldn't be. It wasn't possible. There was no way that this could be who he thought it was and yet... and yet the boy looked about as pale and as shocked as he felt. Nuisance broke the silence that he himself couldn't seem to break. No yours. You nice, but no Mine. You smell like Mine, but no Mine. This E'rro Mine. The Blue rubbed his face all over his human's cheek. He here now. No need you more. Thankythanky.

At least the Blue had remembered what he'd just asked of him, broadcasting to only to Er'ani and himself. But, he had also used his name. Which was bad, very bad. Immediately the Brownrider shifted into action, he spoke softly and directly. "I need you to come with me. Right now. Make a fuss and I will silence you." Grabbing the young man's arm, he nearly dragged him between the sides of the stalls and around to the back were there were considerably less people. Once they were in a relatively safe spot, he let his captive go an spun to face him flicking the hood off of his head in the process. "You shouldn't be here. You should be in the North." Anxious? Confused? Yes, inside there were a million thoughts and ideas rattling around his brain and his inner turmoil managed to leak into his face.

A few moments passed before he was able to wipe the emotions out of visible sight, but when he did, he reached out and roughly pulled the boy into a hug. Nuisance had basically confirmed the younger man's identity to him in private. "Eroiani..." He quickly pulled away, just in case. "... rather... Er'ani now I guess... you're a Rider... you've... changed. A lot. Still shorter than me, I see." His hand was on the knife at his side, the only one that was completely visible. He had others, but they were hidden in key locations around his body. Although he was almost as happy to see his brother was alive and well as he was about finding his Mandyr, he couldn't completely trust the younger man. For all he knew, Er'ani could be a Wastelander, whose allegiance would fall to them rather than kin. If that was the case then E'rro really and truely wished he'd never run into the teen... Nuisance flicked his frill up and down washing the brothers with a sense of being content. He was with His again! They could be together all the time now and he wouldn't have to worry! Sooo happy...

[Rei]

The interaction between the blue and the familiar man was…touching. Er’ani just wished he could stop seeing ghosts in the man’s face. Standing there, pale and almost trembling, the teen managed just barely to raise his gaze to the cloaked figure again. He was then struck by how similarly shocked the stranger looked and it was then that the weyrling again lost his voice. It was as if he was paralyzed. Couldn’t speak, couldn’t move. Stiffly, the movement almost mechanical, Er’ani’s hand lifted to run haphazardly through already messy hair. He was being silly, this guy was probably wondering why he was standing here staring. He should just apologize again and leave…Yeah run. Except the boy’s legs didn’t want to obey. His release came in the form of Nuisance’s broadcast.

The weyrling heard the blue mandyr’s words but only up until the name. E’rro. This…was…it couldn’t be. But it was. He wasn’t a ghost. “E’rro? My…” The sentence never finished because E’rro had started speaking. The voice….the voice was just all too familiar. Er’ani’s eyes had started to water even as his arm was seized and he was roughly led away from the stall. ‘Make a fuss and I will silence you.’ It was the same voice. He didn’t think he’d ever hear that voice again. When they were safely cloistered between the stalls, the teen hurriedly ran a forearm over his eyes to remove any moisture and tried to get a handle on his emotions. Couldn’t cry. Shouldn’t cry. Men don’t cry. Especially not in front of E’rro. His brother shouldn’t ever have to see him as weak.

When the brownrider flicked back his hood Er’ani took in a sudden breath, eyes roaming the older rider’s face. It was E’rro. Even with the makeup to conceal it he could still faintly see that familiar scar. His eyes, the shape of his face,…all the same. The emotions that played across his brother’s face weren’t all that hard to read. The older of the pair was confused, obviously worried as well. Some of the other emotions were admittedly harder to pin down and before Er’ani had gotten to them all his brother had put his mask back into place. Gone back to gruff, serious, slightly cold mode. Although inwardly the teen was disappointed he did well enough to keep that feeling from showing. Instead he looked pale and shocked and damn it if he still wasn’t still trembling a little. What kind of seventeen year old trembled? He was still as pathetic as ever it seemed.

Before Er’ani could open his mouth to say anything or explain he was being pulled into a rough hug. E’rro’s arms around him and squeezing him momentarily had the tears springing back to his eyes. The weyrling might have even cried again had his brother not pulled back so abruptly. Managing a faint smile for his stoic brother the teen ran a hand through his, now quite hopeless, hair. “Er’ani…of Lketh. He….was born almost three months ago now. They…..they…tried to murder him at birth. He survived…Some of them didn’t. He still has problems….I don’t trust them.” The weyrling was babbling, his voice cracking at points. Needed to relax. Would be nice if he could get something warm to drink, sit, get rid of the shock. But his brother needed some answers right? As his is voice trailed off he tilted his head to catch the brownrider’s gaze. Kinda unreadable but well that was vintage E’rro wasn’t it?

“Yeah…still shorter.” The smile widened a little as Er’ani tried for a bit of humor, an attempt to lighten the tension. “But still definitely better looking.” Tossing his head back into a sort of hair flip he managed to still his trembling, until his eyes caught on his brother’s hand and it’s placement on the knife and they widened. “Uh… E’rro…You aren’t going to stab me are you?” Wide eyes fixed on his brother’s face as he subconsciously took a step back. The weyrling himself wasn’t armed. At all. Suddenly he almost wished he was. “Where. Where have you been? I thought you were….dead. You never came back to Benden.” Maybe if he could keep him talking they could avoid any knives? Was an idea anyway.

[Tashe]

"Lketh..." His little brother was a rider, well, a weyrling. It was almost hard to believe, the last time he had seen Er'ani was before he was sent off to participate in the Dominance Display. His younger brother had been, what? 11? 12? Something like that. "They tried to murder him at the hatching?" That had to be the Wastelanders, no Selenitasian would ever hurt a hatchling. "He was born with a mutation?" It would make sense, since Millieth had been due to rise anyway... and Bendener's were known for culling mutated or unfit for battle. The best part of the news was that Er'ani didn't trust the Wastelanders. It made him considerably more relaxed. He smiled slightly when his Brother tried to claim the better looks, something that had been so common place when they were younger... those little contests between the two of them. Not that many could choose between the both of them, E'rro himself was good looking and now that Er'ani hit puberty... well E'rro could actually consider him a rival. "You look like a weed farmer. Your hair is like a forest."

He was reaching out to ruffle his younger brother's hair when the other noticed his previous movement. "Hm? Oh... no. Sorry." The Brownrider removed his hand from the sheath of his knife. "Its become... a habit I suppose." E'rro made sure to keep his hands in sight as he moved to put a hand on the Weyrling's shoulder. Nuisance skittered down E'rro's arm just to lick the boy on his face before returning to his perch within the cowl of His's hood. "Its a long story. Lets sit down somewhere, get something to drink..." Pulling his hood up, the Councilman motioned for his Brother to follow him, as they walked he began his story in hushed tones, made possible with the close proximity in which he walked next to Er'ani.

"What is it now... sevenish years since we last saw eachother?" His eyes moved casually across the crowd. "Isma and I were sent with my Wing to this Continent to preform in C'leon's Dominance Display. We arrived, taking out a few selenitas watchriders and helped secure the hatching grounds and the people that were herded in." E'rro dug around in his pocket, feeding his Salamandyr the piece of wherrie that was left over from his sandwich earlier that morning. "Everything was going according to plan, until the Selenitas Riders began to fight back. I was ordered to attack a particularly large Brownrider by one of my superiors, the usual threat of killing Isma was attached to the command should I choose to disobey." They arrived at the Stall that sold food and drinks. "I'll continue in a minute... Do you want something?" E'rro motioned to the stall's entrance.

[Rei]

Er’ani’s gaze stayed locked on E’rro, almost as if he was afraid that his brother would disappear if he turned away. Swallowing at the seemingly unmovable lump in his throat he managed a nod. “Yeah they came at us as soon as everyone had impressed. Four of the other ones with problems were slaughtered right on the sands before they came for him.” His eyes took on a slightly haunted quality as he thought back on that day. The smell of ichor, the screams and keens, the heat from the sands and the murderous look in that rider’s eyes as he came for Lketh. “Lketh is…he’s supposed to be blue I think but he’s completely without pigment. Albino they call him. Pink eyes. Can’t be in the sun. He was…sick until R’wign got him some supplements. He’s…doing well right now but.” The weyrling shrugged in a gesture of helplessness. In a sense he was helpless. At the mercy of the higher ups. But if it came down to fighting, fleeing or Lketh’s death? He’d fight and he’d run.

E’rro’s small smile had a similar one flitting across Er’ani’s face although his gaze still did occasionally travel back towards the knife at his brothers side. “Weed farmer? Gee bro. That’s so nice of you.” He managed in a slightly lighter tone. The teasing made things better. Softened the tension a little and the weyrling was grateful. It had been so long since he had interacted with his older brother at all. It was almost surreal still. The hair ruffle made the teen actually smile and it didn’t falter as he brownrider removed his hand from his weapon, no it only widened. “It’s okay. I get it. I’ve slept with a knife under my pillow since Lketh was born.” Trailing off as Nuisance approached he gave a chuckle as the mandyr licked his cheek. He liked the little blue, maybe he’d try for one next clutch. Mandyr’s didn’t seem as bad as everyone claimed they were.

Nodding Er’ani accepted his brother’s offer happily. “That sounds good.” Something to drink and an explanation sounded great really. There were a lot of things to cover still and although he was still a little nervous about being away from the albino it was kind of overshadowed by the desire to stay close to his older brother. The teen had always borderline hero worshiped E’rro and that didn’t seem to have changed all that much. The blueweyrling listened with rapt attention as his brother began sticking close to the other’s side so that he could easily catch all that was said. The Dominance Display. He remembered talk of it. Remembered how it felt to know E’rro was going. How worried he had been about his older brother the pain he felt when he hadn’t returned. Pushing the memories aside for the moment Er’ani gave a lopsided smile. “I’d love something. I can pay though. Got some marks. Not that many but enough.” Purchasing some warm spiced cider the weyrling waited for his brother and then headed for a table towards the back in a rather secluded corner. Shouldn’t gain much attention here.

Wrapping his hand around the warm drink for the small comfort it provided Er’ani turned his attention back to E’rro. They still had a lot to cover. Including how the display had ended and why E’rro wasn’t at Selenitas anymore. So many questions circled his mind about…well everything. “So did you get stuck at Selenitas then? They just told us that you all had died.” The last sentence was offered quietly. That had been an emotional day.

[Tashe]

I would have liked to meet Lketh... the circumstances are not favorable, for which makes me unhappy. One day Isma. One day. Perhaps I can spirit Er'ani off to see you, if it wouldn't risk revealing your cover. He felt a gentle wave of understanding come from his Dragon. E'rro bought himself a small cup of redfruit juice, he tended to stay away from alcohol if he could help it, since Er'ani was able to pay on his own. The table at which they sat down was isolated enough to offer them privacy but not suspicious enough to warrant attention. The Brownrider had become well versed in the ways of finding the average and the median. "I'm getting to that, don't worry." Shifting his position so that he was comfortable, E'rro took a breath before taking back up his story. "Honestly, I was in a hard position. This rider was about twice my body mass, and although I was confident I knew hand to hand combat better than he did... it was still daunting. Nevertheless I attacked him as commanded. It was a short grapple. Within a few moments I was knocked out cold. What I hadn't known was I had been fighting the Weyrlingmaster who had easily taken down three others before me." The Councilman tapped a finger against the rim of his cup. "The next thing I knew I was in the Infirmary under surveillance. Rather, what they called survailence... I wasn't dead, though by all rights I should have been killed. The first chance I got I tried to escape, but it wasn't the Selenitasians who stopped me. Ismaroth refused to go back to Benden. He said that we had a chance to heal here in the South. That he didn't like what they had turned me into and what we had become. I tried repeatedly to get him to take us home, but as the months passed I knew that if I returned then... I would probably be killed."

It was odd, telling his history to someone, even if it was his brother. It brought up stored memories and fleeting glances into his past self, it was... unsettling at times. He'd come a long way from the person he had been. "So, I was stuck at Selenitas. The Weyrlingmaster, F'rah was his name, put me with the Senior Weyrlings despite Ismaroth's age. As you know the Weyrlingwing was almost dangerously advanced... anyway. I graduated and became a Selenitas Rider. I propositioned the WeyrHealer and Dragonhealer of that time to let me start learning Dragonhealing, something I'm still working on. When Benden attacked again I was honestly afraid I'd have to kill some off my old wingmates... it turned out I did." He paused, the memory the young man's face popped up. The betrayal was and had been clear as day. "I became a Wingsecond after that. I was still a Wingsecond when C'leon was killed by Kaegan." By that time he had been glad to see that man die. "When the formation of the Wings changed again and Selenitas became more involved in the war I was promoted to WingLeader, charged with training younger riders how to fight both on the ground and in the air. Fort attacked before my wing was ready... but somehow I was able to keep my wing alive. It was partially due to teaming up with my old Wingleader's Wing. Ismaroth got injured distracting a large Brown from the others. It took months for him to recover fully." He left out names on purpose. E'rro was giving up a lot of information for the sake of reconnecting, but he didn't want to endanger people in the process.

"The Wings changed again and I was handpicked for a special wing, lead by my old Wingleader. I became his Wingsecond again. Between Drills and Infirmary shifts, I was leading a busy life." The Brownrider took a sip of his juice, trying to think of what exactly to say next. "Since arriving at Selenitas, I've impressed Nuisance here..." He itched the Mandyr's eyeridges. "... he's been with me the longest. And Feather, who I've left back at... home." E'rro had to stop himself from saying Burimyu. "She's a Green Firelizard. Yeah, I know I said I'd never impress a critter, but things happen. Both of them literally landed on me. I really couldn't do anything about it." Nuisance puffed up and flicked out his frill, showing off. He had picked right, yes he had! E'rro grew somber again after a moment. "The Wastelanders attack came out of no where. We had gotten no intelligence of their movements and the entire Weyr was caught off guard. They managed to kill Savitri, her Gold, an entire wing of Riders and many of our Bronzes before we could do anything. Everyone who could evacuate did, according to plan. Isma and I were able to escape, just barely. They were searching for Wingleaders and Wingseconds. We were nearly cornered before we could Between, the Wastelanders after me had enough time to slash my leg with a throwing knife. Got a nice scar across my thigh... just another in the book of E'rro." What he had said was a mixture of truths and lies, he couldn't tell Er'ani the whole story despite wanting to. "Thus, here I am with make up on my face, hiding in plain sight... and the reason I couldn't come back to you and Dad." The exile looked down at his juice with a sigh. "I'm sorry I left you there, all on your own. But things... happen like this." The trust he was putting in his brother was almost unsettling. He knew first hand that the War could turn brother against brother, but for some reason, his brain wanted to ignore all the bells and whistles. E'rro just hoped that the trust wasn't misplaced. This of course, was one of the reasons he hadn't disclosed certain information in his abridged life-at-Selenitas story.

[Rei]

Er’ani’s eyes widened as he took in his brother’s story from start to finish. It was like some storybook tale almost. At any rate he was mostly glad that his brother was here and okay. Not dead like they had told him at Benden. M’ta had told him that E’rro had been alive but at the time the weyrling wasn’t sure they were talking about the same E’rro. Nor was he sure that his brother was even still alive after he fled. Now that he had mostly the whole story from the brownrider’s own mouth it was better. When his older brother finished the teen gave a lopsided smile. “Wow. That’s…a lot to take in.” Still nursing his cup he ran a hand through his messy hair. “You shouldn’t apologize. It’s not like you left us on purpose. Kind of sounds like you really had no choice.” Life was like that. Didn’t always seem to want to give you clear or easy choices. Even when you think you deserve them. “I’m just. I’m just really glad your still alive. That I got to see you.” Raising his gaze Er’ani gave his brother a warm smile. He was really happy, relived that he got to see his older brother. To see him with his own eyes. Even if deep down he knew it’d probably be a long time until he saw him again. That part was sobering.

He supposed it was his turn now. His story was not as long nor involved as E’rro’s. Not really. Still he was probably wondering just how he had ended up at Selenitas. Clearing his throat he smiled. “When you didn’t come back and they told us you were dead I guess I got kind of depressed. Oh I still went to lessons and all that but well I missed you. Father did to. I obviously stood for the clutches that came up but I tried to make excuses to avoid any hatchings where the queens were drugged. You probably understand why. I didn’t want to take the risk. Didn’t want to be bonded to something they’d just take from me. Even if I knew why.” He still felt like a hypocrite now. A big one. Then the Siege happened and C’leon died and Baith brought in J’lorin. Things got bad fast. There were little pockets of resistance that quickly got quelled. And then there was talk of Wasteland. I stood for Baith’s next clutch and failed again. Lots of the others talked of how bad J’lorin was, and you know he’s from Fort. I guess even though things were getting better I was guilty of the prejudice to. Why should a Fort man lead us? So when this rider came to the barracks in the middle of the night, offering some of us a new weyr? Saying there was gold with eggs ready to hatch? Saying it was Ja’kin who led the weyr. Well, I jumped on the chance.”

The weyrling gave a humorless chuckle. “Imagine my surprise when he took us to Selenitas. When I was standing for Millieth’s babies. I tried not to pay much attention after the first mutation. I hoped that would keep me from impressing one. It was so tense, the air, the people. The way they had everything set up was suspicious, as pale as the Weyrwoman was I knew something was coming. I just knew. Then I impressed. I couldn’t help but love him. Even if Lketh was one of them. Mutated. So pale he might as well have been transparent, weak and wobbly. I knew what they were going to do. Then the keening started, the blood, the cries. It was one massive blur of ichor, blood, and fighting. They tried to kill Lketh too, came after him. I tried to defend him and then suddenly Millieth was charging and we were in the way. Behruth got messed up trying to protect us too. Then Millieth suddenly stopped it all. But it was too late. Most of them were dead. There are only six in my class now and out of all of them the only one with a really noticeable mutation is Lketh. I still don’t know why they are letting him live. Maybe they think they have no choice now. But the others…seeing them die. Knowing it could have been Lketh? I don’t know. Before I thought it was okay the cullings. I understood it. But now after being on the other side? I see why the Selenitas people find it so horrifying. The thought of losing him… I’m scared E’rro. I’m scared for him everyday. I don’t trust them. I don’t know what’s right anymore. Who I can turn to.”

Er’ani stared down into his cup. It was a short quick version of what he had gone though. But he knew they didn’t have time for everything. Maybe eventually. Maybe one day but not now. He felt a little bad for expressing this all to his older brother. E’rro seemed to have a lot on his plate himself. But the brownrider had always been the weyrling’s hero. The one he looked up to. Guess some things never changed despite turns of time between them.

[Tashe]

He did his best to stretch out the amount of juice he had, but by the end of Er'ani's story E'rro had consumed most of it. It didn't matter that much, but damn, it was good. There was a few times he had wished it was something stronger, perhaps something that could dull everything for a little while. But then again, this was something he wanted to remember. The Brownrider wanted the image of his brother, safe and healthy, to remain crystal clear. His eyes moved from the cup to the Blueweyrling as he finished speaking, unsure as to what he should say. Leaning forward, E'rro rested a hand momentarily on the top of his brother's head before moving it down to his shoulder. Even with the many Turns that had passed, the Brownrider was relieved that his body still responded to Er'ani as it did with the rest of his family. He had always been able to tolerate touching or being touched by his imitate family, it was a weird thing, but he had always thought it was because he lived so closely with all of them for so long. Either way, he could rest assured. "As for the mutations... I went through the same thing. At first I was all Benden all the way and I didn't understand why Selenitas saved the mutated ones. But then I met some, Isma grew close to a few, and I became a Dragonhealer... through the Turns I realized it was a waste of life." He sat back and crossed his legs under the table. "Albinism isn't the worst mutation a Dragon can get. I'm sure Lketh will be fine."

In short, it was both a lie and the truth. As far as he could determine as a Dragonhealer the Blue's condition was something that could be dealt with easily, but as an ex-benden rider... well, he could see a possible "accident" happening in the future. "The easiest thing to Er'ani, is trust your instincts. If you feel like you can't trust the Wastelanders, then don't." He shifted forward slightly. "If you are to trust anyone at Selenitas, trust M'ta of Behruth. I've trusted him with my life many times. He was part of my Wing before Wasteland split us up, he is strong and reliable... despite being so... short." The Brownrider smirked in amusement. "There are others, among the original Selenitas population, like G'tor, that you can trust. But most importantly, trust in yourself and Lketh. If what I know of you still applies, Lketh has to be some sort of genius to balance off your clumsiness." Although he tried his best to look serious, the humor was obvious.

Draining the rest of his cup, E'rro paused and added; "And me, of course." As an afterthought, the Councilman removed Nuisance from his cowl so he could get at something around his neck. Lifting the thin leather straps over his head, he pulled the necklace out from inside of his clothing. "Here. Courtesy of Thross, my Razorwing." E'rro handed it to Er'ani, letting it dangle slightly from his fingers. Bound to the end of the leather was a brown tipped feather with off white base , there were two black beads on either side of where the feather was attached. "If you need to talk, something you don't feel comfortable talking to anyone else about, take that necklace to the Starfruit tree with the huge treehole on the banks of the river where it starts to run into the ocean. Its easily found if you know what you're looking for. Leave it there and I'll do my best to respond." E'rro crossed his arms. "I suggest you enlist a flitter to help... it would make it less suspicious." He didn't want Er'ani falling into an easily trackable pattern. Not if he was going to risk Feather and Nuisance like this. "On the flip side, I think it's pretty stylish? So... even if you never want or need to use it, you can keep it with you." He glanced down at his Mandyr. "Also... why is Nuisance wearing these colors?"

[Rei]

Er’ani closed his eyes as E’rro leaned forward to place a hand on his head. When he moved to touch to his shoulder the weyrling opened his eyes and smiled for his older brother. It was comforting. The touch, his brother’s presence all of it. He missed this. Missed just sitting and talking. Sometimes laughing. The easy camaraderie the easiness of it all. It simply wasn’t fair. He had just found E’rro again and although he wouldn’t trade this moment for anything, he still wished he could go with his brother. Stay with him. But that was impossible currently wasn’t it?

Nodding as the older man spoke Er’ani looked down at the table. “It was terrible and it does make me wonder. If some of the ones I’ve seen around the weyr can over come their difficulties and thrive. Like Phremath, Feyrianth, and some of the others that even look different. Then Lketh’s brothers and sisters could have too. It’s not fair that they weren’t even given that chance.” And that was the truth of the matter wasn’t it? It was a waste of life. The teen hadn’t understood that before but seeing the full grown dragons and looking at Lketh and how hard his dragon tried… Now he saw it.

The reassurances about the albino were accepted with a light smile. “He’s healthier now. Growing stronger. There are people who have helped me.” Erilena, M’ta, R’wign, Kalierre, and even his fellow weyrlings helped in a way. He was grateful to them all. Gaze traveling back to E’rro he gave a somber nod. “You’re right and I don’t trust the Wastelanders.” Not one bit and not since the hatching and the outrage he had witnessed from the original Selenitas population. Some of the original population had become accepting yes but there where still those who treated the invaders with suspicion if not outright dislike. “M’ta of Behruth? Yes. I know him. Behruth protected Lketh at the hatching and paid a high price for it. I met M’ta a bit later in the infirmary.” If his brother could hold such trust for the short man then he had to be trustworthy. E’rro had never trusted lightly and Er’ani doubted that had changed. “G’tor. I’ll have to remember that name.” The blueweyrling trailed off then as E’rro continued. “Hey!” He said with a trace of a chuckle. “That’s not funny. He is smart though. Very smart and I’m still as clumsy as ever.” That sure hadn’t changed either, despite the continued hope that one day he’d just suddenly get better at fighting and things of that nature. “So I guess yeah it still applies.”

Watching his brother as he removed something from his neck and offered it to him Er’ani blinked. Reaching out he carefully took the necklace. “Thross. Your Razorwing.” He repeated. The teen had no idea what a razorwing was but, considering the feather, it had to be some kind of bird. As he listened to E’rro he examined the necklace slowly, running his fingers over the feather before slipping it around his neck. “I understand and if I need you I’ll follow the instructions. Thank you.” His voice almost broke on the last words. It was getting close to goodbye. Er’ani knew that but he didn’t want to believe it yet.

“It is pretty cool. I’ll keep it with me.” Unless he needed it this necklace was not leaving his neck. It was almost like having a piece of E’rro with him in a way. Tucking it into his shirt he blinked at Nuisance and then snapped his fingers. “Oh yeah. The Wastelanders are making everyone band their pets with those colors now. It’s mostly for the firelizards but most mandyrs are banded too now. Those firelizards not wearing bands are killed on sight. It’s sad. I don’t see any wild ones around the weyr anymore. They’ve all been frightened away.” It was a good thing E’rro noticed the bands or he might have forgotten to tell him. Which wasn’t surprising considering all he was feeling. But still.