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Post by Administrator on Oct 18, 2007 21:43:59 GMT -5
"Yes, 2-C," Shmee replied, letting it get obvious that she was bored. She would go back to her weyr, she decided, and would stay there for a week, or until Aslath Flew. Whichever was first. She started to walk off, but paused as she realized who Aslath was speaking to. She stopped, folding her arms in clear irritation. "Aslath, you don't need to talk to him," she snapped aloud, but it was too late. The gold crooned. Yes, the voice of a male was nice and soothing in her head.
So he has been following her?[/color] she asked curiously, relaying that intriguing snippet of information to her rider. Anger flashed across their mental bond, and Aslath became mildly worried for Salenth's. Oh dear, Mine isn't pleased about that...[/color]
This thought jolted Shmee back to the present just as Arina informed her that someone was watching them. Coldly, Shmee's dark eyebrows wrinkled into a scowl. "S'rei," she stated in a low voice, sounding like a feline preparing to pounce on unsuspecting prey. She didn't listen to anyone speak as the two men emerged, and she glared at S'rei haughtily. She stared at him like this for a moment, and Aslath shifted uncomfortably.
Salenth, you might want to tell Yours to watch out, because-[/color] Aslath began, but it was too late. The Weyrwoman had raised a hand and swiped at S'rei's face in what she hoped would be an effective slap.
"Where have you been?" Shmee screeched, now raising a fist to try and pound his chest with all the little amount of weight she possessed. "You've been following me, so I hear! Just what is it are you trying to pull off, you deadglow?!" The company of Arina and F'lan was forgotten to her- all she saw now was S'rei, and she was going to make him pay for deserting her.
Couldn't this man see that she was going crazy? She was attempting to come up with a new plan for wing formations as well as many other secret decisions. Her moods were swinging left to right because of this stupid Flight, the entire Weyr was watching to see what her next dumb move would be. Some had even approached her, telling her to tell Aslath to pick some bronze or another. As if she had the ability to do that, and as if she wanted to be told what to do! Working herself up over this, she swung a fist toward his face, desperate to unleash this destructive monster within her.
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Post by evendar on Oct 18, 2007 22:00:30 GMT -5
Arina quirked an eyebrow at F'lan. Seeming to ask, "is she always like this?" It seemed to the former slave that th Weyrwoman was more spasmodic and uncontrolled then some of the worst dragonless she'd seen. What had Benden done to her? Sirca returned to her mistresses shoulder, watching the Weyrwoman blow up over this man, apparently a friend or she wouldn't be so abrupt with him. Kio watched from his perch on a nearby branch.
"I guess, I guess I'll just go to my rooms now." she said rather meekly, though she made no move to leave. She wanted to see the bronzeriders reaction to Shmee's attacks. Perhaps she might learn more about Benden's cruelty through a different, impartial tongue.
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Requiem
Weyrleader S'rei WM M?ta Rider A'nd Harper/Handler Dmitri Weyrbrat Miguel
Posts: 2,861
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Post by Requiem on Oct 19, 2007 1:36:21 GMT -5
F'lan knew immediately, by the Weyrwoman's expression, that his companion was in for it. Somehow that did little more than amuse him. As wild as Shmee was, she could be fairly predictable. The bluerider took a step back and to the side just as the resounding clap of flesh on flesh broke the momentary silence. Remarkably, S'rei didn't seem to respond at all, beyond riding the slap a little. It only made F'lan think, again, that the Weyrwoman was far too easy to read.
Although maybe not so easy, because he still couldn't tell if she cared for the bronzerider, or simply wanted to kill him for being such an idiot. You humans. You just don't do things sensibly, do you? Wrenth commented from his position in the trees.
He'd seen the thunder in her face, and half-expected what was coming, as he'd endured something similar that night when he'd disappeared from the watchdragon's weyr for a few hours. This was far more volatile though. His face still smarting from the weight of the slap, he absorbed the flailing of her fist, returning her glare with something like blank dispassion. The two looked so dissimilar at that moment. And yet, there was something in the way he stood, in his gaze, that was every bit as powerful as her outburst.
Salenth certainly had no intention of warning S'rei about anything. Oh yes. And he's quite insistent that I keep my distance from you. Mine is not very rational lately. Or maybe, the bronze admitted to himself, he was just a little too rational for the rest of them.
The man saw the punch. It flew at his face, and, in his own brand of stubborn defiance, S'rei neither evaded nor countered the blow. He did, however, capture Shmee's wrist as her arm pulled back. The bronzerider's eyes lingered on her knuckles, sprinkled with his blood, as he ran a tongue over the split lip ruefully. "I suppose I deserved that," the man uttered, in a low growl that was indicative of just how much restraint he was showing. Had it been a man...Shards, had it been most women...His grip tightened on her wrist. "But that's enough." The tone and the strength in his fingers brooked no argument.
S'rei no longer cared who saw or what they might say. The bronzerider pulled her into his chest, a gesture of power as much as it was one of comfort. Shmee had to realize that it was only his regard for her that allowed her to treat him as she did. "It's lucky for you you're stunning when you're angry, Weyrwoman, else you'd have a hard time finding suitors." This was spoken in a near-whisper, the man bending to bring his lips to her ear. "I did what I believed was best. I'll continue to do what I believe is best. Even the idiots at Benden understood that."
That was probably harsher than he needed to be. Then again, it's a bit hard to ease up when you've got the taste of blood in your mouth and have been hit repeatedly in the face. Something about the pain receptors skipping the spinal cord and jumping directly to the brain, causing instant anger. He pulled back enough to look her in the eyes, his hands firm on her biceps, his grays hard and flashing with his own temper. They gradually softened. "You should have mentioned it if you needed an ear or company, Shmee. I may be thickheaded and stubborn, but you know I wouldn't deny you that, if you'd just asked." No, his disappearance was no excuse. She knew how to reach him.
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Post by Administrator on Oct 19, 2007 5:57:26 GMT -5
Shmee paid no attention to Arina, not really caring if she stayed or left. F'lan, too, couldn't keep a hold on her attention. She was much more focused on S'rei, her blue eyes narrowed as they watched the blood trickle at his lip. She had hit hard enough to draw blood, but she assured herself that this was what S'rei deserved. He had the nerve to trail her every move without even letting Shmee know of it, so who could expect she would treat him kindly for it? Panting only slightly from the hard movements of her hand, she didn't resist as he caught her wrist. Still giving him a look of hatred as his hold tightened, she expect to receive the same. Her defiant gaze daring the bronzerider to slap her, she could only blink in surprise as he pulled her to him. Once again, she didn't resist. Even though she was mostly annoyed with S'rei, she also was mildly grateful for arms around her, even if they weren't brought to be from compassion for her.
No, Mine doesn't seem to be that rational, either,[/color] Aslath remarked drolly as she had watch Shmee send her fists flying. I don't really know if she's truly completely mad, or if it's the Flight getting to her.[/color] Though Aslath didn't admit it, she probably would have done the exact same thing, for all the same reasons she suspected. The imminent Flight was making her uneasy as it neared. Though her moodswings weren't nearly as bad as Shmee's, she could certainly be pushed easier to snap.
"Stunning," Shmee muttered, her vivid eyes flashing back up to S'rei in his hold. That wasn't what she had expected after hitting him multiple times. Nevertheless, she was to make it clear that he was not getting off the hook. She was still angry, after all. "So, what you thought was best. Hanging around and watching me, never stepping in to even ask me how I'm doing. How do you think that feels, bronzerider?" she snapped, not even calling him by his name. No, he hadn't earned it, so she'd treat him like a bronzerider, the rank he was, not as S'rei.
Even though S'rei's gaze softened on her, Shmee's eyes still reflected her anger and defiance. "As if you would have come had I sought you out!" she countered furiously. "You don't even come of your own free will, how can I expect you'd want to come to me if I had demanded of your presence? You certainly wouldn't have been pleased with it, admit it!" Her voice was turning into a yell. Some curious weyrfolk were looking out the windows to see the ruckus, but Shmee didn't notice or care. She was too busy concentrating angrily on the face in front of her, the shadows slowly darkening her face, but her blue eyes vibrantly evading them, seeming to want to carry on Shmee's rage past the sunset.
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Post by evendar on Oct 20, 2007 12:25:13 GMT -5
Arina was surprised by the bronzeriders actions. She would have stopped the Weyrwoman from slapping her, let alone taking a punch. It would seem to her that Shmee was quite smitten with this bronzerider, though she might be rather annoyed by it. No matter what the reason for the Weyrwoman's anger, Arina wasn't moving, not even for Keliath. Well maybe for Keliath.
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Requiem
Weyrleader S'rei WM M?ta Rider A'nd Harper/Handler Dmitri Weyrbrat Miguel
Posts: 2,861
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Post by Requiem on Oct 20, 2007 13:12:10 GMT -5
He watched her through a narrowed gaze, keeping his grip firm about her wrist in the off-chance that Shmee would feel the compulsion to strike him again. S'rei had patience. He didn't have that much patience. It would be interesting trying to explain the split lip and the bruise he was sure her slap would form as it was.
From F'lan's vantage point, this seemed rather stupid. Not only did he think S'rei had approached all of this wrong...Now, whatever the bronzerider had been trying to accomplish by keeping his distance from the Weyrwoman was shot, the woman's shrieks drawing enough attention to the two of them that, if not already, the whole weyr would soon know that S'rei and Shmee were in the middle of a fight. Nor would it take long for the details of the fight to travel once the ones close enough to hear got a chance to speak of it. Pointless. All of it. Except maybe the part about keeping an eye on Shmee to be certain that nothing happened to her. F'lan supposed that still had its purpose.
His gaze wandered to the woman who had called them out. What was her name? They haven't mentioned it, Mine. That's right. They hadn't. He wondered what she was thinking now, seeing this scene unfold just as she was arriving at Selenitas. He couldn't tell, but something seemed off about her.
Flight has been affecting all of us, Salenth responded soberly. It was at the core of the problem. He curled tighter about himself, having settled onto his couch once the sun had begun it's disappearing act. A flare of amusement rippled through him. You drive us all crazy, Lady Aslath. This was uttered teasingly. There was, however, a kernel of truth mixed in with the light humor.
S'rei wished Shmee would just keep her voice down. It seemed she wasn't responding to the look he was trying to give her, though, perhaps too angry to notice or care. The bronzerider was essentially a pragmatic man. He had taken what had happened at the hold as an emotional reaction, on both their parts. It hadn't really occured to him that the Weyrwoman would take his apparent absence so hard, else he wouldn't have approached the situation quite the way he had. Though he still didn't believe this reaction was warranted.
"Look. Maybe you don't fully understand, but you represent a threat to both Benden and Fort. After what happened with C'leon...I had to be sure he wasn't insane enough to attempt anything in Selenitas. And I'm not well-liked at either weyr, either. I didn't want to give them any reason to feel they needed to attack you, which they would certainly have if they thought we were close. We both know that at least Benden has spies here." He shrugged helplessly, releasing her arm since she seemed to be content with just yelling at him.
"And, for the record, just because I do certain things doesn't mean that's what I desire." She had no idea how difficult it was, simply to watch her. S'rei had wanted to feel her in his arms again, to smell her scent and feel the beating of her heart, to assure himself that she was there and alive. It hadn't been easy. Now there just was no point in keeping his distance. The entire weyr must have heard her screaming, and a good portion been close enough to make out the words. All of that sacrifice was for nothing. It annoyed him, the sentiment apparent in his features.
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Post by Administrator on Oct 20, 2007 13:55:42 GMT -5
Aslath snorted. How could the Flight affect you? It's not as though you Fly! she teased. She stretched, pleased with her glimmering hide. Already it was enough to rival even Faranth, or Ramoth of the old stories! Yes, these dragons would never again see such a remarkable golden shine, she thought smugly. I am glad I drive everyone crazy,[/color] she told Salenth, letting her smugness creep into her mind-voice. It will make all the males in the Weyr want to catch me. Even the most lowly blues will look up, wishing they had the speed and endurance to last me out,[/color] she informed him with another snort.
Shmee didn't care that her voice was rising, or that S'rei was trying to hint at her to be quiet. She was angry, so why not express that in volume? "What do you mean, I don't understand?" she snapped back, her rage flushing her face. "C'leon won't attack, you sharding idiot! All's been peaceful here, haven't you noticed?" she asked wildly, flinging her pale arms around. "I could really care less about those spies. There's nothing to report, is there, bronzer?" she added, her yell making the air around them even more thick with the tension. "Might as well ask for them!" She paused, then hollered, "BENDEN SPIES, COME OUT AND JUST HIT ME IF YOU WANT! SHELLS, KILL ME IF YOU WANT TO!"
More curious weyrfolk were sticking their heads out of their windows of this apartment, and from some on other trees in the river. They were intrigued, to say the least. They had no idea what Shmee was talking about, and several of them attributed it to the Flight emotions. Shmee hadn't seemed right from the moment Aslath first began to glimmer, when she had come back from her work over at Selenitas Hold. Some of them went back into their apartments. Shmee was so obnoxious sometimes. Oblivious to their scrutiny, Shmee didn't hesitate to smack S'rei's arm the minute he let go of her.
"Well, you could have at least stopped in once in a while if you were spying on me!" she barked at him. "Why bother restraining yourself from what you desire when there's no need to, eh?" she demanded, her brow furrowing even deeper. She had no idea what he meant, about doing things even though he didn't want to. He didn't want to look at her at all, is that it? "You didn't have to watch me all the time!" she told him hotly. "You could've just lazed around your weyr, doing nothing and stop your constant spying!"
She clenched her hands into fists, yet didn't swing them at him again, though she was sorely tempted to. No, Shmee didn't want to deal with bloodying him up even more. That was Benden's job. Glowering up at him, she crossed her arms petulantly. Once again, she paid no heed to the fact that she was acting childish, acting more out of anger and stress than anything else. "You are twisted!" she finally snapped, unjust accusations finally managing to slip out. "I don't get how stupid you are! Just watching me all the time, never coming out, recruiting further idiots to come along and help you, yet never telling me anything!" At this, she gestured madly over to F'lan, but that was the only acknowledgement paid to the man. S'rei was to receive the brunt of her anger. "It's disgusting! So just stop it!"
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Post by evendar on Oct 20, 2007 14:16:13 GMT -5
There was something seriously twisted and wrong with this woman. Her call to Benden spies gave Arina chills. Arina knew there were spies with all the Weyrs and Holds. Both of the Northern Weyrs wanted to find out as much as they could about each other and their distant cousin far to the south. She sent Sirca and Kio out on a search of the crowds, telling them to look for suspicious characters. She'd have to get her own network of spies going, that was for sure. Perhaps D'vin would be willing to help her. This bronzerider didn't seem to be much more intelligent, by what Arina could tell. It seemed to her he was being to distant for the goldrider, and she had a feeling that Shmee wasn't to fond of that.
Sirca and Kio came back without a word. They were safe, for now. Maybe she should shift some of the dragonless out to the Holds. Being surrounded by dragonriders every day might cause some of them to go crazy. She knew with Kio and Sirca as a tiny glimmer of light in her otherwise dark world, she would have lost her mind ages ago. Maybe some of the more stable ones would be willing to help her in her fortifications of the Weyr. If this was to be her home now, there was much they needed to do to protect the Weyr from Northern infiltration. Arina had decided it was a good idea to become skilled in the art of throwing knives again. A skill she had gotten rusty with since her days as a rider. She had been able to gain back some of her skill after, after it happened, but she still needed a lot more practice.
These two were the worst. She sincerely hoped this bronze wouldn't catch the woman's gold when that time came. She was calling him twisted? She was the one yelling for the North to come and get her. Why had she moved South again? The actions of her new Weyrwoman was starting to make Arina question her choice.
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Requiem
Weyrleader S'rei WM M?ta Rider A'nd Harper/Handler Dmitri Weyrbrat Miguel
Posts: 2,861
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Post by Requiem on Oct 20, 2007 15:17:28 GMT -5
F'lan glowered at Shmee. There was only one - perhaps two - person here acting like an idiot, and it certainly wasn't him. He saw the tick start in the bronzerider's neck. The man stood silently, arms crossed, enduring the screaming of this woman. Yeah, he might be stupid, but he couldn't be completely stupid. Fighting Shmee wasn't going to get him anywhere.
The bluerider blinked as S'rei suddenly surged toward the Weyrwoman, sweeping her up and stalking a few feet into the river, where he dropped Shmee unceremoniously. F'lan marvelled at the stupidity of that move. Although, frankly, he was surprised the bronzerider hadn't reacted worse much earlier. His voice was dry as he commented, "You need to cool off." Then the man turned on a heel and made for the treeline again. As he passed F'lan, he stated simply, "Keep a watch on her, will you? I have no desire to deal with this harpy right now."
And then he found himself alone with an unknown woman and a very wet Shmee. F'lan cursed S'rei silently. He didn't want to be part of this, at all, but he did understand the bronzerider's concern for the Weyrwoman's safety. Not that much could happen in the weyr where she was surrounded by her dragonriders. F'lan then decided that he had no obligation to obey S'rei, and determined he would slip off, too.
No blue could possibly catch you, Salenth responded, simply. Then he felt the surge of irritation from his and snorted. S'rei's patience must have finally run out. Hopefully he hadn't done anything too horribly rash.
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Post by Administrator on Oct 20, 2007 15:53:37 GMT -5
Shmee didn't even see it coming. She shrieked as S'rei picked her up, squirming in an attempt to get away from him. From the look on his face, she could tell he was not going to be carrying her away like a prince. No, the expression in his eyes was far from loving. It only seemed to encourage the idea that he hated her, which made her resist even more. "Let go of me, you-" she started, but the last of her words were cut off by another screech as she was dropped into the river. How dare he! Flinging her arms, she pulled herself up to the surface, screaming vulgarities at the man. It wouldn't have been a surprise if mother weyrfolk would have clapped their hands over the ears of their weyrbrats at her horrible language.
"I'll fling myself over the Falls, you jerk!" she screamed after she had cursed out all of the worst words she could think of. "I'll fling myself over the Falls and I'm bringing you with me, you... you..."
SHUT UP,[/color] Aslath's voice rang in her head, silencing the Weyrwoman, who was treading water now. She had no desire to come up now, especially now that her own dragon was scolding her. Mine, get over it. You are not being kind. I'm coming to pick you up right now, you hear?[/color]
Still thinking awful thoughts toward S'rei and herself, she let herself sink into the water deep enough to cover her mouth, keeping her grumpy-looking eyes and nose sticking out of the darkening river. She didn't want to come up and have to deal with whoever was still here.
Aslath was holding true to her word. Removing herself from where she lay, she pushed herself up, letting the last of the sun's rays caress her glimmering gold hide. What did Yours just do?[/color] she inquired as she flew to the apartments leisurely. Mine is not happy with him at all.[/color] Her words were mournful, as if she regretted both the behavior of Hers and His.
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Post by evendar on Oct 20, 2007 16:03:10 GMT -5
Arina thought the bronzeriders actions juvenile and stupid. With a sigh that said "am I the only person in this Weyr with any sense?" she began to wade into the water to help the Weyrwoman, unaware that the woman's golden dragon was on her way. Sirca and Kio hovered over the Weyrwoman as they watched their mistress approach.
"C'mon, up you get. You can't stay in the river all day." she said, her mind running over the further things she'd need to do if she was to get this Weyr up to snuff. They'd need watches on the Weyrwoman and that bronzerider, and perhaps even on the blue. These Southerners thought themselves so safe. Little did they know how well infiltrated they already were. There were Northern spies everywhere and it was darned time the South had a few of their own.
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Requiem
Weyrleader S'rei WM M?ta Rider A'nd Harper/Handler Dmitri Weyrbrat Miguel
Posts: 2,861
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Post by Requiem on Oct 20, 2007 23:40:45 GMT -5
In a truly foul temper, the bronzerider stalked through the trees, anger making his back ramrod straight and his eyes stormy and closed off. What, exactly, had set him off that taking a punch in the face hadn't accomplished? Even S'rei wasn't entirely sure. Maybe it was all the insults flying at him at once. Or maybe it was because he was frustrated already, and instead of relieving that frustration, she'd managed to make it run far deeper. Truly, though, the physical abuse had been negligible compared to the emotional conundrum he was now in. And it didn't help that he despised himself for losing control yet again. This time he didn't even have the poison to blame it on.
Why did he even let this girl get to him? Far worse had been thrown in his direction in the last several turns, and he'd taken it in stride. As the man pulled himself through the tree branches to his weyr, settling into a chair with a ragged sigh, he realized just what it was that set him off with her. He actually cared what she thought. S'rei ground his teeth.
"I'm a blasted idiot."
I'd say so. What did you do this time? The barest glimmer of a rueful smile touched the man's lips. I threw her in the river. It didn't help anything - but it sure made me feel better for a few seconds. Salenth was silent for the longest time. Then, slowly, You're telling me you threw the Weyrwoman in the river. No response. Well, I'm glad you didn't let yourself sink to the level of childish behavior, ReiMine. That would just be embarrassing. His tone was heavily laced with sarcasm.
Salenth's response to Aslath's query was just as weary. Apparently he decided to drop yours in the river. Whatever are we going to do with them? The bronze eyed his bonded, who stolidly ignored the chastising thoughts sent his way. S'rei merely let his head fall into a hand, closing his eyes against the headache pounding in his skull. A colorful bruise had already blossomed across his cheek, and blood still smeared his chin.
Whatever were the dragons to do about their riders?
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Post by Administrator on Oct 21, 2007 9:05:31 GMT -5
"I can too stay here all day!" Shmee snapped, glowering up at Arina. There wasn't much day left, after all, she thought. It was more dark than light already, with the air turning into a light purple. So, technically, she could stay in the river all day. "So just go up to your apartment and shut up. Aslath is coming right now to pick me up, got it?" she snapped, blatantly avoiding Arina's attempt to help. Pulling herself up onto the boating dock, she glowered at any spectators. She was drenched, her short black hair hanging in a messy crown around her head. With a dignified look, she rung out her tunic with her hands, as if to prove she were still the Weyrwoman even though she was sopping wet.
Crossing her arms angrily, she looked up, waiting for her golden dragon to take her away from this stupid place and bring her back to her weyr. Making a mental note to kill S'rei next time she saw him, she sourly ignored the stares she was getting. How to kill him, she mused. She was fond of the idea of shoving him off the Falls. Maybe just knocking him between.
Mine. Do not think of such things. Though he did act rashly, do not kill him for it,[/color] Aslath told Hers firmly. Deciding to take her sweet time in getting to the Weyrwoman, she paused at the front of Salenth's weyr. Taking a brief look inside, she hovered outside. Dropped ShMine into the river?[/color] Aslath remarked in surprise. I wish they would just get a hold of themselves. They are acting like hatchlings.
Shard it. What was taking Aslath so long? Shmee wondered miserably, now proceeding to tap her foot. She wanted to get away from this place. She didn't want to talk to anyone, couldn't they see that? Glaring at the people all around her, her eyes found Arina. Her scowl deepened. "You. This is all your fault. Get out of my sight," she snapped.
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Post by evendar on Oct 21, 2007 11:51:13 GMT -5
Arina put her hands on her hips and raised a shapely eyebrow as Shmee attempted to place blame on her. "Seems to me, that you brought this on yourself by being so rude to that bronzerider. What were you thinking by telling him the North didn't scare you? It scares me and I'm from the North." she didn't care that this woman was her superior, in this moment it seemed to Arina that Shmee was the erring child and she the concerned adult. She'd never in her life thought a woman could be so loose with herself. Let her emotions control her like that. She'd never had that freedom in the North. She was a subordinate, but here, this woman acted as if she owned the place, as if women were better than men. And perhaps they were.
"If you want to blame me fine," she said turning to leave. "But remember, you're the leader of this Weyr, so it all comes back to you in the end." she finished. Sirca chirruped from Arina's shoulder and looked disdainfully at the goldrider. And when a green flit looks at you in disdain, you know you screwed up.
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