Fireflies [Ithanna]

[Ruby]

Hinsero wasn't close with Ithanna - he'd run in to her a few times, in the jungle and at the gather, occasionally at meals - but what with him being a wherhandler and her being a dragonrider, it wasn't that surprising that they weren't best friends forever. Still, this didn't stop him from plopping down next to her while she was eating dinner, a scavenged breakfast in his own hands. Generally up before the rest of the Handlers (and before the kitchen staff was willing to prepare any reasonable breakfast foods), Hinsero had taken to eating what he could find, even if it was somewhat... odd. Today, he had a piece of redfruit, a few slices of bread toasty from the oven, and thin slices of whatever meat there was for dinner, which he had tossed in a pan to crisp up before a drudge chased him out.

Glancing out a window - almost dark, not quite; Hinsesk would be up soon - he smiled at his impromptu dinner companion, feeding a tiny bite of crispy meat to Heart. "Hey Ithanna, how's it going? How's Chicky, and Iwyrth?" He gave her a moment to answer while he picked at his food, listening carefully to her answers, filing the information away for future use. He didn't get to see her enough, he thought, and he liked her. Oh, she was pretty of course, but that's not what he meant, lots of girls were pretty. There was something about her, some brightness, that was a welcome relief after the endless night of a Wherhandler's life. His roommate Kahlat was a sweet kid, but he was exactly that: a child, and as much as Hinsero loved Porita - she was quickly becoming something like a sister to him - she could be... well. Challenging.

Suddenly, an idea occurred to the Wherhandler. He wanted to spend more time with Ithanna, and the Weyr had been dreadfully boring of late. Hinsesk was old enough, now, to go beyond the Weyr's boundaries without supervision, although technically Hinsero wasn't allowed, and Ithanna certainly wasn't allowed out at night, as a day-person. But when had that stopped Hinsero before?

"What are you doing tonight? Let's go camping."

[Tashe]

Poking at her meat, Ithanna shrugged mentally and physically to Iwyrth in response to a question she had asked. The Greenpair had gotten eerily good at all forms of Dragon/Human communication, pictures, memories, mind to mind, verbal speech... Iwyrth made everything easier to understand. But, oddly enough their favorite form of communication was a mixture that flowed seamlessly between verbal and mental. One moment they could be having a silent conversation and the next Ithanna would start from the middle of a sentence. But for now, they bespoke each other mind to mind.

I don't know. How should I know. You should be the one that knows, you're gonna be the one that Rises Kitten, not me. I suppose. But you will be tellin' me if I'm startin' to glow and what not? Of course I will. She poked at her food some more. I bet you'd notice it on your own anyway. Ithanna wasn't too happy about the fact Iwyrth was mature enough to Rise. Some of her sisters had already Risen, so it was only a matter of time before the large Green took to the skies to mate. Plausibly. But I think that -

The GreenWeyrling was startled from her conversation as someone sat down beside her quite promptly, effectively cutting the Dragon off midsentance until they reestablished contact a few moments later. Iwyrth's mental presence never left for long. "Oh, Hinsero. Hello." Dark brown eyes wondered over to the man, brows unknitting and softening because of the change in topic. She'd much rather talk about her Partners than talk with one about Flights. "Chicky picked up a stone in her hoof today and bruised the frog, the fleshy bit near the back of the hoof, of her left front leg. But its a cinch to heal, so she's just resting and stealing oats from the stable. Other than that she's pretty and healthy. Iwyrth is rumbling up a storm about flights, but I can't quite tell whether she's looking forward to it or not. Otherwise she's about as Dandy as a wherrie who's found a nest of grubs." She pushed her food around her plate. "I have another Runner now. His name is Tidus. Huge and black, he's a beast. I got him from the Weyrwoman, who said I could have him if I looked after him. His previous owner died in the..." Ithanna paused, not particularly wanting to mention the takeover. "Well, anyway, she couldn't spare much time for him. What with work and two other Runners... I'm just lucky he's a young Stallion, otherwise breaking him to listen to me wouldn't be possible."

Nibbling on some of the grains she had been given, Ithanna blinked when Hinsero not only asked if she was doing something tonight, but also if she wanted to go camping. "Mmmpphsfs?" Realizing she still had food in her mouth the Greenling quickly swallowed. "Camping? I don't know if thats allowed for Weyrlings." Tapping her fork against the plate, the girl considered the proposition. She didn't particularly like or in fact, hold any love for C'zan. To her, he was both a traitor and a Wastelander. Normally Ithanna wouldn't have even entertained the idea of going camping with Hinsero not just because he was a) older and b) a guy, but he had also come over with the Wastelanders. Who she was inherently against. But, he'd been nice to her every time they had met and he was quickly challenging her emotions toward their kind. "I dunno... don't you have Wherling lessons? If you do you shouldn't skip them..." Hinsero was flat out, going to have to convince Ithanna to go with him.

[Ruby]

"Aww, poor Runner," Hinsero sympathized, then added, "At least she gets a bit of a vacation? And congratulations on Tidus." It was warranted; Runners were expensive, which was exactly why Hinsero had never had one. Well, now he figured he'd never need one, what with Hinsesk looking like he'd have no problem getting big enough to be ridden. Little Faolask might not make it, but Hinsesk was solid enough. "I'll have to come see him sometime." Iwyrth got a series of nods and affirmative noises, but honestly, Hinsero knew about as much about dragon mating as human mating, which was to say he knew how it worked mechanically but had never tried it. He wouldn't be much use to a Weyrling worried about her dragon's first Rise, and honestly, he hadn't thought at all about Hinsesk chasing. At least the Brown would likely give up halfway through, figuring he'd expended too much energy, and would now have to make up for it with a nap.

That thought brought a smile to Hinsero's face, which luckily coincided with something Ithanna was saying that it would be appropriate to smile at. Wouldn't do to seem to smile at Iwyrth's indecision where flights were concerned, or the almost-mention of the takeover. That wouldn't help his camping case much, and it looked like he had his work cut out for him. "Hmm, you have curfews, don't you? Technically I'm breaking mine now, we're not supposed to leave the apartments before sundown, but I get special consideration for my infirmary shift. 'course, none of the healing staff was able to teach me today, and all the basic chores were done, so they let me go early. I'm supposed to go back to the Apartments, but I didn't," he explained. "It can't hurt anyone, can it? And as for camping, I figure everyone needs a break every once in a while. People get sick, I never do. This'll be my sick day."

The reminder about lessons made his smile fall for a second, but just as quickly it hitched back in place. "Well, here's the thing about Lessons. Hinsesk's been giving me endless trouble the last few days - he claims he can't go to them all the time, that's not even, and he's all about evenness. A couple of weeks ago I convinced him that going late meant his attendance only counted halfway, but he's a smart little beast and I think he's figured out that just being the last one at lessons doesn't really make him late. Taking a day off would give me fodder for weeks." Eating a big chunk of crisped meat to give Ithanna a second to consider, he added, "Well, I've convinced myself. I'm going either way - there's this one valley, where night flowers bloom if the moon's out. I was going to set up a tent there... or maybe keep going, see what's beyond it."

Heart, done with her own breakfast, twined herself through Ithanna's fingers, vibrating slightly as her eyes whirled a green nearly as pale as her hide. Do request that she join us, my love, she purred at Hinsero, gently licking one of Ithanna's finger joints. She interests me, I wish to know more. With a bark of laughter, Hinsero passed the message on. "In case you didn't notice, Heart wants you to come too. And how can you say no to that?"

[Tashe]

"I don't know... C'zan isn't a happy camper when we're out past curfew." Thinking, she nibbled on the end of a tuber. I do not know littleMine. Is this a good idea? That is what I'm trying to decide. You don't know him very well. No, but maybe this will be a way to get to know him better? Silence. But I get your worry. Going camping alone with a man, kinda sketchy. Indeed. Well... you're going to be there. Obviously. I would na' leave you alone. I'm not a little Dragon anymore. "Hahaha." That you are not. Realizing her laughter probably seemed out of place, Ithanna offered Hinsero an apologetic smile. "Sorry, Iwyrth said something funny." Consuming the rest of her tuber, she listened with interest to the Wherling talk about his Wher. A little confused about the even and odd business, but decided not to pursue a line of questioning. She'd probably figure it out eventually, if not she then Iwyrth would. More than likely Iwyrth. She was the smarter of the two... in some ways of course, in others not so much.

"Moonflower meadow?" Ithanna grinned. "I've heard about that place but I've never gone there. Its a little ways from the drumheights right? I've wanted to go there but I've been told its kinda a Wherhandler place." Looking down as a Salamandyr nudged at her fingers, the Greenweyrling relaxed her digits so the Mandyr could have an easier time twining herself through them. Putting down her fork, Ithanna rubbed behind Heart's head, letting her bangs fall forward to obscure her eyebrows. She knitted them trying to decide. "Well... hmm." She did want to go if he was going to go to the moonflower meadow... but the things that held her back still weighed heavily on her mind. So she took a moment to see if she could convince herself.

If you go, you tell that man that if he be trying anything funny I'll eat 'im as a midnight snack. Covering a smile with her free hand, Ithanna snickered into it. "Iwyrth says, and I quote, 'You tell that man that if he be trying anything funny I'll eat 'im as a midnight snack.'" She started laughing again. It was funny, if only because her Green had sounded so serious. "Well, ok. I'll go camping. But I'll need to be back early tomorrow morning, I've got Infirmary shifts too you know. Kalierre probably wouldn't be too happy if I skipped out on lessons, especially when she can tell I'm not sick."

[Ruby]

"It kind of is a Wherhandler place," Hinsero conceded thoughtfully, but added, "But that doesn't mean we don't take others there, sometimes. I've heard some of the older handlers talking about it, that's how I found it. I think some of the females like to start their runs there, or end them -" Hinsero blushed momentarily, voice going gruff. "Not that I meant anything by that, of course, just pertinent information. I'd never -" He was just digging himself a worse hole, he realized.

Luckily, Iwyrth chose that moment to make her comment (Hinsero had no idea that Ithanna had been busy talking to her Dragon instead of listening to him making a fool of himself), and he was saved, letting out a laugh. "You can tell her I would never. I'm no lusty Rider to try and lure a girl off to the forest to do what any upstanding man should do in a bedroom, after he's Joined himself to her. She has nothing to fear, I promise, nor do you. Great Faranth knows, I mean you no harm, nor disrespect, just thought you might enjoy a night out of the Weyr." There, that was much better, and much more succinct. Hinsero let out a silent breath as she laughed again, relieved, then joined her. Much, much better.

And it seemed to work. A big, friendly smile broke over Hinsero's face when Ithanna agreed, and he set to his food with a vengeance. "Early in the morning is fine by me, me and Hinsesk usually get to bed before the sun rises anyway. Early birds, I guess, or as much of an early bird as you can be when your mindmate is only awake at night." Pausing to finish another bite, Hinsero furrowed his brow. "Er, I usually do this sort of thing al fresco, no tent, just a couple of blankets and maybe a pack of food. Is that ok by you, or should I see if I can't find some sort of shelter? I think there's enough of a moon tonight that we could probably build one ourselves, but... well. I want you to be comfortable."