Simple Joys (Er'ani)

[Rowana]

G'tor sighed gratefully as he leaned against Ruskeath's snoozing hide. It was a relief that even with all that was going on around him, he could still come here to relax and fish. It had been months since he'd allowed himself this simple pleasure, but life had taken a complicated turn after the Wasteland invasion. These days he was lucky if he could spare a few hours, let alone a whole morning. At least as long as he didn't travel too far down upriver into the jungle it shouldn't be a problem.

In fact, G'tor started to grow so relaxed that he began to doze off himself. Ranchan was purring into his neck and Star, curled safely around his finger, was sleeping too. Just about the only member of the little group who wasn't in some state of half sleep was Tervain. She was currently stalking the fish by the water's edge. Let the other beings sleep. She should have known if she wanted fish, she'd have to catch them herself!

[Rei]

Come on faster! Er’ani mentally urged on Lketh as the youth’s feet pounded the ground of the river side. His dragon wound through the tree tops on the opposite side of the large body of water. It was early morning and although the weyrling pair had the day off they still often started their day with a run or some other exercise. Besides Lketh had just gotten airborne and he enjoyed it. The precision with which he flew was starling to his rider. The near misses with trees and other obstacles made him shiver. Just an inch here or there and….but Lketh was unruffled as ever. Apparently his eye for detail and precision carried on even outside of the realm of books and puzzles. Or maybe it was just that the dragon seemed to have no fear. Or if he ever did it was too muted to detect. Like almost all of his emotions. Whatever the reason Er’ani was almost frightened to ride him. Thus he stuck to his running.

As the pair continued on and a large brown dragon came into view Er’ani’s footfalls slowed. Who was this? It looked like they were fishing and the weyrling was all set to just slip into the jungle and go around them when a good look at the dozing dragon stopped him. That dragon had been that the hatching…fighting at it and the rider...he had been with Kaegan. Then this must be G’tor. Er’ani had made a point to learn the names of everyone who had been on the sands that day. So then this was the rider his brother said he could most trust. Along with M’ta. The youth stopped in his tracks and ran a hand through sweat dampened hair. He had wanted to meet this rider one day. Form his own opinion. (Although how E’rro could ever be wrong he didn’t know.)

Thus swallowing back his nervousness the boy approached the rider and his band of mindmates. “Um excuse me sir. Do you have a moment?” On the other side of the river Lketh looped back on himself and burst from the canopy with an amused chirp followed by a croon of greeting to Ruskeath. Only then did the albino backwing to a landing on the other side of the river and tilt his head slightly to watch the scene.

[Rowana]

Tervain spotting the coming pair first. Wasn't that just like males? Flying about without a care in the word. One of these days she'd like to see one get what he deserved and run right into a tree. Still, she fluttered over to G'tor's shoulder and dutifully nibble his eat to get his attention. G'tor swatted her away, but blinked his eyes open in time to catch Er'ani's question. He turned his head and Ranchan trilled happily at the new comer. G'tor smiled, recognizing this as one of the weyrlings. He'd always liked young people and wished he had more time to spend with them.

Stretching, G'tor pulled himself into a sitting position. "I have all morning, even," he declared in a friendly tone. "But just G'tor is fine, I'm no 'sir'." He chuckled lightly at the thought. He could never get used to anyone calling him that. He was just plain, regular, old G'tor and always would be. "You're Er'ani, right?" he guessed. He'd tried to learn the names of all the weyrlings, after what had happened. He was fairly sure he had this one right. It wasn't everyday one saw a nearly white dragon either. "What can I do for you?"

Ruskeath raised his head slightly to watch the young dragon fly through the trees. He was impressed at Lketh's agility and his confidence when he could only have been flying for a short time. He would be very skilled when he was older, Ruskeath was certain. The older brown returned the greeting with a deep rumble of his own. Fair skies, young Lketh. I trust you are enjoying your wings?

[Rei]

Er’ani gave a small smile in return to the greeting feeling himself relax a little at the warmness the man in front of him displayed. “Alright then G’tor.” The weyrling responded cheerfully. “Yep I’m Er’ani and that’s Lketh over there.” Thus saying he folded his legs to sit in front of the man. The brown rider’s question took him off guard and the boy ran a hand through his dark hair before responding. “Well to be honest I didn’t really get that far. I just wanted to meet you.” With a nervous chuckle he looked over at Ruskeath and then back to G’tor. Hmm how to start? A similar topic would be good. Dark eyes going back to his companion he spoke. “My brother knew you I think. E’rro of Ismaroth?” Might as well see what the man had to say about E’rro.

Lketh twitched his wings as he was spoken to and then leapt from the bank to glide to the other side of the river. Halfway through he realized he had somehow misjudged the distance and angled his wings to come to a splashing halt in the shallows upriver, so as not to soak the group downriver from him. Flicking his wings closed the young dragon moved to the bank and started towards Ruskeath and the others. Fair skies to you as well. Picking his riders brain for a name he turned creamy red eyes back to the brown. I am indeed enjoying my wings. I like flying. It was simple as that. Lketh enjoyed it. So he did it. If only he could get his to participate, but for some reason his manner of flight seemed to make the boy nauseous.

Drawing close to the others the pale dragon tilted his head and sprawled out just behind Er’ani. The sun balm on his hide meant Lketh could stay out here in the sun with his for a little bit with little to no risk. He’d have to move eventually, but for now he’d much rather remain close.

[Rowana]

"Oh?" G'tor's curiosity was perked. "Why me?" It wasn't that he didn't like the idea. He just couldn't imagine why anyone would want to meet him anymore than any other rider. True, he was a Wingsecond, but that was hardly special. It was more likely for people to look for him to take messages to Mi'rah, rather than for him personally. The boy's next words made his eyebrows rise. He hadn't realized E'rro had a brother! Now that he thought about it, there was some resemblance, but it was hard to be sure without them both her.

G'tor nodded absently, wondering what E'rro would think to see his brother had Impressed. He hoped the man was well, where ever he was now. "E'rro, eh? He's a hard man to forget." G'tor smiled at the memories. "Saved my life once. Great guy." Ranchan had decided as long as they had company, than someone aught to be paying attention to her. She hoped over the the boy's lap and chirped up at him in greeting. "Don't mind her," G'tor waved at the cheerful green. "Ranchan loves people."

Ruskeath chuckled maybe a little louder than he meant. Lketh had been doing so well until he crashed into the river. The young dragon would get the hang of it soon, though. Flying is nice, the brown agreed, watching the little blue come to sit with his boy. I look forward to the day we may fly together. Though I believe you will be much faster than I. He examined Lketh more closer now that he wasn't moving. He would certainly be an agile one when he was grown, though that hide color was paler than any Ruskeath had ever seen. After a moments thought, Ruskeath yawned and stretched his wings so they would shade the little dragon. It was getting quite sunny, after all.

[Rei]

Er’ani just gave G’tor a light smile and ran his hand through his already messy hair. “Well I never got to thank you and your dragon for your efforts at the hatching.” Not that he wanted to bring up a bad topic but well it couldn’t be helped. “And I guess I just had this desire to see what you were like for myself.” The albinorider trusted his brother’s opinion unfailingly. But even so he did like to make his own decisions about people. The teenager’s shoulders relaxed a little. The brownrider in front of him was really friendly and on top of that he was getting a good vibe off of him. Some people just had this presence about them Er’ani noticed. And G’tor had a very friendly one.

The good comments about his brother helped any remaining nervousness dissipate and Er’ani’s smile became even more pronounced. “Yeah my brother’s always been a good guy.” The other comment given almost with fondness from the older rider had the boy tilting his head. “He saved your life? Really how?” It sounded like a story the weyrling wouldn’t mind hearing if G’tor would give it. As Ranchan hopped into his lap Er’ani chuckled and rubbed at her eye ridges. “Oh I don’t mind her one bit. I have a green too. She’s just as friendly.” As if on cue Snowdrop popped out of between to alight on G’tor’s shoulder with a chirp. That greeting done the stout green then fluttered to land on Er’ani’s knee and trill a hello to Ranchan. Well hello there. “Speak of the devil.” The boy chuckled as he trailed finger’s down his flit’s back.

Lketh crooned up at Ruskeath his pale red eyes whirling slowly. I look forward to that day too my brother. He remarked sincerely. As the brown extended his wings to shade the albino the young dragon tilted his head. He had neither asked for shelter nor told this older dragon of his condition. And neither had his. And yet the offer came, silent and with care. Giving a croon that was soft and thankful the young male moved into the shade provided and stretched his neck to lightly touch his nose against the much bigger brown’s neck. Thank you. With that simple and considerate action Ruskeath had gained Lketh’s favor.

[Rowana]

G'tor shook his head, looking serious for a moment. "You should thank M'ta and Kaegan, not us," he admitted sadly. "I didn't do much in the end." He ended with a warm smile in Er'ani's direction. "But I'm glad for the excuse to meet you." G'tor liked the boy already. It was hard to think of what the other formally Impressed Candidates must be going through, but it was a comfort to see this pair fairing so well. At least they'd managed to save one of them. Ranchan trilled happily to her new friend as the second fire lizard appeared. "Good," G'tor chuckled down at them. Tervain just glared at them, feigning disinterest from her claim on the man's shoulder.

"Let's see now," G'tor rubbed his chin thoughtfully as he began to tell the story. "You remember when the poisoned tithes that killed Weyrwoman Shmee?" His face fell a little at the memory. He hadn't know Shmee well and it had been over four turns ago, but many others from that time were friends that were not lost. "We didn't know what was safe and what wasn't. A lot of us got poisoned before we realized and some didn't make it." G'tor was started to regret telling the story, so he thought he'd better skip ahead to the happier part. "I don't remember what I ate, but I'd gone down the beach to go swimming when I started to feel odd. My memories a little fuzzy after that, I think I blacked out a few times. Ruskeath called for help and E'rro and a weyrling named Saeo came to my rescue. I'd be dead now if it weren't for them."

G'tor smiled fondly at the memory, if a little sad. Saeo was gone now, and E'rro was missing with the others that had fled Selenitas. Still, if Er'ani's brother hadn't acting despite his dislike of working on people, G'tor wouldn't be here to miss them. "You must have some amusing stories to tell," G'tor prompted the boy with a grin. Family were always the best sources for embarrassing tales. As he recalled, both were from Benden, however, so maybe he shouldn't have asked. "Was E'rro always as unsocial as he is now?"

As do I, Ruskeath agreed fondly. The brown purred, pleased that Lketh was growing comfortable. He leaned down to nuzzle the hatchling. You are most welcome. Caring for young people was something Ruskeath was always happy to do. They were the future after all, for when he and His were no longer here. With so many young people passing on before them, it was all Ruskeath could to help when he could. Perhaps, until then, I could teach you to swim? he suggested.

[Rei]

Returning the warm smile Er’ani trailed fingertips down Ranchan’s spine. G’tor could say what he wanted but the weyrling was still grateful for his actions. Even if they hadn’t done much, they had done something. Which, in his mind, had to have taken a lot of courage even if the brownrider pushed it aside like it was nothing. The teen decided that no further comment on the matter was needed however and he simply placed his hands on his knees as the two greens in his lap twittered and interacted. Snowdrop was just tickled pink about having a new friend to play with. Robust in her own right the little green pounced the other chubby firelizard with glee and started to chatter all the louder. The albinorider couldn’t help but chuckle at the two tubby flits, glad that Snowdrop had found yet another friend. She was always happier when she had others to visit.

Er’ani watched G’tor with interest his entire attention focused on the man as he began. Not wanting to interrupt the boy merely nodded about the death of the Selenitas Weyrwoman. He remembered hearing about it but he hadn’t obviously been at Selenitas when it happened. He had still been at Benden but he did remember the story among other things. That had been around the time that the siege was being planned. The weyrling decided it was obviously best to refrain from commenting. With wide eyes Er’ani listened to G’tor’s tale and then smiled a bit sadly. “Wow. That sounds like it was a pretty depressing time for all of you. My brother’s always been a caring guy although sometimes he doesn’t seem that way. I’m glad he was able to save you.” Crazy how things happened like that.

The older brownrider’s question caused the weyrling to grin. “Oh sure I have some amusing stories. I don’t know that he’d be excited to know I’m telling them but eh what are annoying younger brothers for?” With a grin he considered what to tell G’tor. Hmm. Before he could start however the rider asked another question and the teenager shook his head. “Nah. He wasn’t always that way. He was pretty friendly when he was younger but Benden is tough. He was always a bit better around Dad and I but things change especially in a weyr like that.” Not wishing to linger on the uncomfortable topic he pushed past it. “In fact when we were weyrbrats we used to run around creating chaos in a rather large group. On time we were playing some silly game that was kind of like a cross between tag and tackle ball. E’rro was it and we were all running from him he was all intent on getting one of my buddies and I don’t know what he tripped over. Could very well have been his own feet but he fell face first right into a mud puddle. We all laughed so hard. I think that might have been the only time I’ve ever really seen him blush. Though you could hardly tell with all the mud. Needless to say that quickly degenerated into a bout of mud wrestling between us all. Our parents were not too happy when we turned up looking like a pair of pigs.” Er’ani finished his story with a huge grin. Ah fond memories those.

Lketh crooned softly when Ruskeath nuzzled him and his eyes whirled in a slightly lighter shade of pinkish red. Titling his head he looked out at the river and considered that offer seriously. He was pretty confident that he could swim if he half tried but the albino had never really had much cause to enter the water unless he was being bathed. Finally with a small snort he butted his head against the larger dragon's chest companionably and responded. Why not? I would like to learn. Learning was his favorite thing actually.

[Rowana]

G'tor nodded thoughtfully. He'd heard enough about Benden to see the truth in what Er'ani said. Having hardly stepped foot north of the ocean his whole life, G'tor knew he could never truly understand what those people went through. The ones who did make the escape down to Selenitas told him enough to know he was glad to be born a Southerner. The story quickly pushed away any thoughts of gloom, however. G'tor couldn't help laughing at the image of a young E'rro covered in mud.

"I would have loved to see that!" he managed, after a few moments of chuckling. "Not so different from here, after all. I'm sure he'd be proud of you, now that you've Impressed too," he added smiling. E'rro was hard to read at times, but he did hope that was the truth. It was a pity that the other man hadn't been able to see his brother at the Hatching. Er'ani had been brave trying to protect Lketh during that chaos.

Ruskeath's eyes beamed with delight. The water here is too shallow for me to go go far, but you should fair well. He moved nimbly to the water and dove in with a large splash that covered G'tor and Er'ani. "Hey!" his rider exclaimed, but Ruskeath just hummed pleasantly and ignored him. See? he demonstrated a few strokes for Lketh. It is like flying, only you must use your legs as well.

[Rei]

Er’ani couldn’t help but laugh along with G’tor even if it slightly jostled the playing green flits in his lap. “Oh it was quite a sight let me tell you.” The albinorider said with a wide grin. Quite the sight indeed. “I don’t know about it being quite like here but yeah we had our fun too as kids.” The teenager supposed that even in an oppressive area like that kids would be kids no matter what. At least for as long as their innocence remained which wasn’t long at all. The south was different it seemed but now under Wasteland he wasn’t sure how long the easy attitude could continue to hold out. Probably not for much longer.

“I do hope he’d have been proud of me.” Er’ani remarked sincerely. Although protected Lketh that day on the sands had never been a question. It had been a need. There hadn’t been any other option for them. Everyday was a fight to keep him alive in fact. A battle with that damn sun. Maybe they should practice night flying more. Hmm.

Lketh watched Ruskeath spring to his feet and make his way to the water with curiosity. When the large brown dove into it with a spectacular splash the albino lifted a wing to protect himself from the spray and crooned as he watched. It didn’t look all that hard really. Rising to his feet he trotted to the water and also leapt into it, diving below the surface to mimic the brown, dosing the riders again.

Before the albinoweyrling could debate the night life for too long a wave of water doused him G’tor and the flits in his lap. He sputtered shaking his head like a dog to remove the water from his hair and then laughing as Lketh doused them as well. “Well so much for staying dry huh?” He asked his companion with a grin as he started to try and wring out his shirt.