While outside the stormclouds gather. (Tags A’nd)

[Rei]

Sydney and Sydsk roamed though the darkening and snow lined Benden streets. Darkness was rushing in faster and faster due to the heavy and black roiling storm clouds that had started to press in from the north. The pair had been out for hours now. The light had not bothered the androgynous looking green wher at all. They had long since discovered that Sydsk could tolerate higher levels of bright light then most other whers. No she still could not take full on sunlight but she could exist longer into the morning and earlier in the evening then any other wher they had come across. Maybe it had to do with her being half a wilding but even some of the wild ones could not tolerate as much light as Sydsk. It seemed that the female was just different. Regardless it meant that Sydney could exist with some of the daylighters a lot more easily. It made things not quite so difficult. Not that the handler was really in the business of getting to know tons of people. People were all hurtful creatures in the end. And she had had a rather rough time fitting into this northern hold at all.

Peace my Sydney. We are changing perceptions here. Our work is far from done but we have made great improvements. Nyx soothed quietly, just her head peeking out from the warm confines of Sydney’s thick scarf. The woman couldn’t help but smile as she raised her hand to gently trace the halfmoon marking on the green mandyr’s head. “I know Nyx. We do good work.” Sydsk huffed in the affirmative as she turned down a side alley to head closer to the main part of the hold. Sydney allowed the conviction and tranquility of her mandyr fill her. To be honest even if she had tried to fight off Nyx it would have been pointless. Their bond was too powerful. When you could feel every heart beat and every breath things like which moods were your own ceased to matter. They were one entity by this point. There was hardly a need for words. Which was probably why Nyx was mostly silent the majority of the time. They didn’t need words. They both simply knew.

As the threesome moved into the main street Sydsk watched the remaining people trickle off quickly to the comfort of their homes so that they might ride out the storm in warmth and safely. It was then that the green wher caught sight of a man moving in the wrong direction. Towards the outskirts of the hold. A brush of alarm was given Sydney before the wher moved fast a bullet shot from a gun. She passed the young man by and then neatly cut in front of him her body blocking his part as she lifted her head and wuffed once to him, the noise clearly a request for him to stop.

Sydney trotted up quickly from behind then. “Sydney of Sydsk. Watchwher pair from Benden hold.” She introduced quickly, her cheeks flushed from the cold. “I’m afraid that you’re going in the wrong direction sir.” He looked younger then her but she didn’t know his name so sir would have to do. “There is a bad storm brewing.” She gestured to the clouds that had just started to pass the walls of the hold the wind picking up in the next moment to usher the darkness in faster. “If you leave the hold in such a storm you will surely freeze to death. Sydsk and I can show you to the nearest inn?” As she finished she smiled slightly. “Sorry if she startled you. She takes her job very seriously.”

[Requiem]

It was usually left to the younger riders to pull courier duty. Apart from really important super secret messages - or those delivered in person - there were plenty of things that needed to be relayed between the Holds and the Weyr, to include minor changes to tithe requests and information on when Thread could next be expected so that Holders could be warned not to be caught out travelling at that time. (Though naturally the dragonriders who sweeped the area prior to Threadfall invariably found strays anyway.) Sometimes these messages were relayed via the Hold Watchdragons. Other times, though, it was felt that the information would receive more attention if it was delivered in written form. A'nd loved courier duty. It was an excuse to get out to the other Holds...sometimes even to Selenitas Weyr, which was far enough away to preclude mind speech and the big cheese people didn't always have the time to go visiting. Normally the messages he carried between the Weyrs were to set up times to meet at a later date.

He'd just delivered a message regarding Threadfall as well as a large tropical storm spotted not that far off the coast, and naturally had taken full advantage of the Hold kitchens when they were offered to him. Content, with the pleasant feeling of warm food still sitting on his stomach, A'nd tightened the scarf about his neck to make sure that a dozing Cootie neither got too cold nor lost her hold on him and fell, and strode for the outskirts of the Hold where Xinatenth awaited him. They didn't have long before nightfall and should leave before they ended up stuck here for the night...though with the rains that the storm was bringing inland the skies were darkening quicker than usual.

Then something was dashing past him in that blur of movement that could only be attributed to a predatory animal, and the young man was stumbling backward while fumbling for his dagger with a soft curse. He wasn't one of these war veterans and frankly no one was likely (unless they were a Holder in one of the peaceful Southern Holds, and sometimes not even then) to find him very intimidating. But he'd lived in the south long enough to have a healthy respect for wild animals. His brain caught up to his movements, though, in time to note that this was a green weyr and she probably had no intention of hurting him. A'nd's posture bled tension as he straightened and tilted his head slightly at the wher, imitating the huff with surprising accuracy. "Sorry, greenie...can't say as I know what that means." What seemed to be clear was she had little interest in letting him pass. The bluerider's gaze lifted impatiently to the gathering clouds. He really didn't have that much time to play get-around-the-wher. Now where was the-

Handler. "Sydney," he greeted with a smile, turning his body enough toward her that his knots were clearly displayed. Inverness bluerider. In other words, what the fuck? "She seems to. Freezing to death sounds quite serious. Not a Holder though, as you can see." His eyes flicked toward Sydsk. "Kind of in something of a time crunch if we're to leave before that storm front hits or it gets too dark. While I'm unlikely to freeze to death if I leave, Xina will find weathering this storm without any shelter pretty uncomfortable. So if you'd kindly call off your wher...or tell me where Xinatenth might stay...I'd appreciate it. Miss." Because, yes, even as they spoke the wind picked up even higher, and the first bit of preciptitation could be felt teasing exposed skin. Oh, he should probably introduce himself, seeing as how that would be the polite thing to do. "I'm A'nd. A'nd, like Andy." Something he'd had to explain often, obviously. Another wry smile. "Xinatenth has an interesting sense of humor."

[Rei]

Sydsk’s tail coiled in an s curve as the boy huffed back at her. Was he literally mocking her? Surprise colored her gaze for a moment and her tail lashed once before the whirling orbs returned to their placid shade. He had offended her yes, but the green was not a perverse or confrontational creature. She would treat this man with distant politeness. At least he had not raged at her as some of the drunkards often did. Sydsk shifted her weight slightly, her muscles rippling under her hide. The fact that he had correctly identified her gender did not escape her and it was almost curious. With her build and teal coloring most thought her male. The wher’s attention moved to Sydney as the woman approached and from there it flicked to Nyx who’s darker mood had been awakened.

The green wher growled softly under her breath but she knew nothing could be done. The female had long gotten used to the fact that Nyx had pretty much taken her bonded over for the most part. Sydsk couldn’t save Sydney from Nyx. She had tried in the beginning but the little creature bonded too tightly. The green knew that by this point without Nyx her Sydney would be lost to her so she was forced to put up with the small phosphorescent creature. For better or worse.

Sydney blinked openly at A’nd her friendly smile dying a little in response to his words. At first she wasn’t quite sure why they died and then she felt a wave of clear irritation fill her and immediately after it the reason became clear. Oh so he was one of those was he? Judgmental riders who thought they were highborn just because they rode a dragon? They continued to stomp all over the ‘little people’. Simply take what they wanted with nary a thank you. Expected people to get out of their way and simply ‘understand’ that they were beneath them. All because they impressed to some supposedly ‘great beast’ some of which had the mentality and personality of a spoiled and ignorant toddler. While the thoughts all came from Nyx the minute they were thought they blossomed in Sydney’s mind so strongly that she couldn’t help but think them too.

Nyx poked her head out of Sydney’s scarf and her large body followed, her large and functional wings gracefully folded over her galactic speckled back. Her body and especially the white crescent moon on her forehead glowed with an inner phosphorescence as the light dimmed due to the quickly approaching black winter clouds. There was no doubt that the large green mandyr was beautiful, there was no escaping the fact and more then one person had been caught staring at her in an attempt to take in every breathtaking detail. As the first flakes started to drift down Nyx flared her frill, the tines gracefully twisted upwards to give the frill a shape of a halo, only further cementing her deity like appearance. Our apologies rider. She commented to him privately, though her mental tone was cold as ice. Your business is no doubt of utmost importance. The great fault falls at our feet for slowing your departure. No doubt our folly deserves such disrespect from one as highly regarded as you. Her tail wound though Sydney’s scarf, the woman’s face reflecting the coldness of her mandyr’s speech, her emerald colored eyes fixed unblinkingly on the bluerider.

Sydney was aware that Nyx was speaking. Got the emotion if not the words and she snapped her fingers at Sydsk. The wher moved away from the young man without so much as another glance, though she did brush a quick and warm sense of apology over his mind to try and temper Nyx’s cold irritation. The mandyr seemed displeased by the wher’s interference though Sydsk herself hardly cared, the barest flash of teeth being displayed by wher to the mandyr. Sydney interjected then, a hand reaching to caress along Sydsk’s muzzle even as her head turned to regard Nyx. She struggled to wrest some part of herself from the creatures all encompassing presence. Finally the mandyr relented but only because she had said her piece and displayed her irritation with this judgmental one.

He seeks to under value our purpose Sydney. Thinks us in a place much beneath him. His behavior should be brought to his attention. This A'nd obviously did not understand that they were just as important to the grand tapestry of life as he himself was. They all had a part to play and without everyone you could not complete the grand picture. Everything in life deserved respect from the smallest insect to the most massive creatures on the planet. This rider would do well to learn the lesson. Nyx shifted her regal positioning and fell silent. However her eyes stayed fixed on A’nd, their color a mix of placid green with faint flecks of a shade that was near indescribable. Sydney’s eyes flicked to A’nd too but they lacked the majority of the cold irritation they had displayed before.

Finally she spoke. “Of course we would not seek to delay you further rider.” Obviously he expected respect, though none was obviously given her in return. To use his name would seem too familiar. If he wanted such polite respect she could certainly accommodate him. It was sad really. He was unlike her brownrider brother. Au’st was lazy yes. But at least the brownrider treated everyone as if they were his equal. Though the handler was already used to such not being the norm. Handlers did not often receive much respect or acknowledgement from riders at all. A thing that made Nyx far more irritated then it made Sydney herself. “You are free to leave. If it is too late for your dragon to safely fly I can show you a place were he might stay until the storm is over. You may follow me or not as you please. I need to check on Neurneth’s rider. She came down with a terrible chest cold that I have been treating.” Her eyes flicked to his. “Your dragon may stay there is he would like. There is plenty of room and Neurneth is a friendly and unassuming blue even if he doesn’t talk much.” With that Sydney turned from A’nd and began to walk to a massive stone structure just past the hold’s main gate.

Sydsk paused for a moment to offer A’nd a soft wuff that was slightly apologetic. With that she turned to pad silently after hers, though not so fast that the bluerider could not catch up with her if he sought to. The wher rather wished that that had gone a bit better. But she was used to Nyx’s interference and Sydney herself? Well her handler had become a rather closed and bitter person since coming to Benden Hold. It was rare anyone saw the real Sydney anymore. Au’st, some select holders, and perhaps Vivano were treated to such a Sydney and that seemed to be it as of late.

[Requiem]

What the? Sarcastic giant green salamandyr? He just kind of stared at the creature and wondered if someone had mistakenly taught her that she was some sort of goddess because of her admittedly sweet markings. Certainly the way she talked down to him made it seem like the green had an ego the size of Pern. "Disrespect," he echoed blandly. What was disrespectful about asking politely for this Sydney to call her wher off so he could get to Xinatenth and they could leave before the storm hit? The friendly smile had faded, more because it was clear by the wherhandler's face that she was in full agreement with that mandyr of hers than anything the green herself had said.

The brush of the wher's mind against his didn't really ease A'nd's confusion much, but at least it allowed him to consider the possibility that he really hadn't done anything all that wrong, since the woman's wher didn't seem upset with him. Maybe Sydney was referring to the huff at Sydsk? A'nd was just teasing the wher for addressing him that way rather than with the more familiar collection of images that he was more used to. He really didn't understand huffs, please thanks.

Rubbing at the back of his head, he frowned slightly. "It's just that I wasn't cleared to stay here, and our Wingleader will ride us if we could have gotten out of Benden but didn't and that's why we're not there for drills tomorrow." Which...was already pretty much a done deal. He eyed the horizon and sighed softly. Whatever. "Though I suppose it's too late now." The cold, wet wind was now blasting at them nearly full-force, and he knew Xinatenth too well to expect the light male with his overlarge wings to be able to fight this sort of storm long enough even to go Between.

Sydney was ignoring him, though. Well, not precisely ignoring him, but making it very clear that she didn't give a flying fuck one way or another what he did or what he said, because she was already moving away. That was just rude. Not exactly unexpected from holders...a lot of them had biases against dragonriders and probably for good reason. But she had a 'mandyr, which meant she must have been at Selenitas, at least for awhile. She'd probably also Impressed Sydsk there. So why all this animosity?

The form of Xinatenth struggling against the wind could be made out briefly as he raced the leading edge of the storm toward the weyrledge, the young blue grasping at the ledge itself and half-dragging himself up there with a polite croon to this Neurneth when an errant gust propelled him suddenly practically into the rock rather than to the smoother landing he'd intended. A'nd pressed his lips together, but followed the prickly wherhandler and her uppity green 'mandyr anyway.

"Something I said?" he questioned Sydsk with a touch of wry humor as he came up beside her and scratched behind her eyeridges, figuring if he had an ally it was probably best to try to keep her.

[Rei]

No Sydney wasn’t paying him much attention. But that had more to do with the fact that she had already made her decision on the matter and less to do with a lack of desire to hear him explain. She already knew the bluerider had sought to leave. Didn’t really matter much what the reason was when there was no doubt in her mind that the rider would blame her for the fact that he was now trapped at the hold. The handler gritted her teeth slightly but said nothing. With A’nd behind her the expression would be lost to him anyway. Nyx had turned so she could regard the rider with an impassive gaze as he moved along behind them. No words were offered the boy as she sized him up silently, just the queer stare. Finally however the wind proved to be just a bit too uncomfortable for the small green creature and she quickly made her way back to Sydney’s scarf, wiggling into it and curling about her neck to warm herself again. The handler wrinkled her nose at the sudden feeling of the mandyr’s cool hide against her skin. A brief brush of apology was offered the woman but it was already forgiven really. It was pretty much impossible to even get angry with Nyx.

Sydsk stalked in her precise manner after her bonded and the green leech, her pace still kept purposefully slower so as to allow A’nd to catch up should he so desire. An amused thread ran through her sedate gaze as the man finally did move with the snow laden and chilled gale. Too cold for him eh? The wher’s amusement suddenly turned to slight displeasure however as he simply reached out and touched her as if he had right to. The teal colored female ducked her head and gave him a mental brush of rebuff. As a rule she did not like ‘speaking’ to anyone not hers. But there was no other way to communicate with this male. He already had made it clear that he did not understand her vocal cues. A brief question was offered the man. Would he touch a strange canine or dragon so familiarly? He was asking to lose his hand if he did. Not that she would ever do such a thing of course but the point stood. A bit impulsive this young man seemed. Sydsk was touchy about being touched. She simply was not a cuddly wher really in the least.

However the female did take pity on this young one. He was like a young hatchling. All bumbling with little in the way of grace or poise. The bluerider was very lucky she was such a patient teacher and encouraging as well. With a snoft snort she finally answered his question as well as she was able. Whers communicated differently than dragons and she wasn’t so sure the boy would understand what she was trying to communicate. Technically it was not him. Something he said upset Nyx and she was the problem honestly. The little one bonded strongly. Stronger then the wher herself. Sometimes…sometimes Sydsk wondered where her handler had gone. She had not bonded to the leech but had gotten stuck with her afterwards. Much to her displeasure. All this was carefully made private but really Sydney hardly paid attention to her anyway when Nyx was awake so it mattered little that she concealed it at all. It only mattered if the little demon overheard anyway. Her head tilted up to regard A’nd, not sure if he had understood it all. It was more than Sydsk had ever said to any person not hers. In fact it sort of surprised the wher herself in truth. Maybe she had just needed someone to finally vent to.

Neurneth crooned back as the blue suddenly appeared on his ledge and then gave a concerned brush as the other male crashed into the rock. Before long however he had suitably welcomed the other blue and was making space while exchanging pleasantries. It had been awhile since the other dragon had had much in the way of company.

By this point Sydney had reached the watchdragon’s quarters and she turned back to regard A’nd, slight surprise evident in her expression. So he had chosen to follow after all. Sydsk stood beside the bluerider, her muzzle reaching to nudge him forward towards her handler before she bowed her head against the wind. She would stay out here until they were done. She was not welcome inside. The other rider did not like her. He should go in and warm himself.

[Requiem]

The bluerider hadn't made his presence known to Sydney, it was true, and still didn't despite the fact that he continued to converse quietly with the wher. Even if her mental rebuff caused the young man to flush and quickly pull his hand away, almost as if he'd been burned. He hid it in his pocket where the wind wouldn't be able to chill it too much. There certainly was a childlike quality to the way the rider walked to one side and slightly behind Sydsk, half-trailing her and dipping his head against the strengthening wind, eyes on the ground ahead of him. Deflated. He hadn't meant to offend these people (and yes, Nyx and Sydsk were included in the generic 'people' here) but it seemed that he had. It wasn't entirely a new thing for him, either, but he didn't really meet a ton of new people. For the most part, his wide range of friends had all known him for turns and rarely were offended, making it even harder to understand why he kept on stepping on the toes of strangers. It was easy to just assume holders had a bias against him...but Sydney wasn't really a holder, and Sydsk certainly wasn't.

Sydsk did explain herself though, after a moment...if only indirectly. His gaze shifted to her, mild confusion coloring it. "I guess it depends, but I have before, yes." A note of questioning in the response. Because, well, he did touch strange dragons, strange whers, strange flits, even strange canines if they seemed kindly disposed toward him. A'nd wasn't so oblivious as to just touch anything or anyone indiscriminately, but he had no qualms about it when they seemed friendly enough. "Lots of draconids like being scratched there," he muttered, by way of explanation. He was just trying to be...nice. Friendly. Something of that nature. Somehow acknowledge Sydsk's kindness in talking to and tolerating him despite her handler's rather obvious distaste and upset. He knew bondeds often went along with their bonded's feelings almost indiscriminately. But trying to explain all that would have been hard, because A'nd didn't actively think about why he did things. He'd just...felt...like it was okay and, more, like he should. So the prickliness didn't make much sense to him when he hadn't intended anything bad by it.

That perhaps was the crux of the bluerider's problem. His friends knew him too well to hold it against him, but his concept of boundaries wasn't precisely normal. A'nd was a friendly, playful young man and somewhat indulged by those closest to him, such that he didn't really think about the effect of that almost intimate way of interacting with near strangers. He was not a naturally suspicious person, nor cynical. His world had been (for the most part) well-insulated from the war and the close-minded nature of the holds, even though he'd been born to one. In many ways A'nd was a very innocent youngling, something perhaps amplified by Cootie's impression to him when he was still very young; he was genuinely good-natured and didn't understand that this was not necessarily the norm or expected. That lack of trust was what made so many of the things he did and said out-of-place.

He almost made the same mistake again, even, the bluerider overcome with empathy for the wher who must feel as if she'd lost her bonded. The bonded she'd chosen, now overtaken by this salamandyr. A'nd could readily admit that the salamandyr made him uneasy, and that he didn't particularly like her. She'd been very sharp with him, after all, and the staring was disconcerting. He got the distinct impression that she would not at all mind it if he did freeze to death, and that just because he'd somehow insulted her ego. Unknowingly. Yes, A'nd almost reached out to touch the wher soothingly when she looked over at him to see if she understood, but he caught himself, the hand falling back down by his side. If he did it again, she may get mad and stop talking to him entirely...and it wasn't like he wanted to offend her or make her uncomfortable anyway. "That's sad," he murmured to Sydsk. Two seemingly arbitrary words, but the emotion behind them was there. He was thinking about Cootie, and what it would have felt like if she was suddenly to change personalities on him. A'nd could hardly fathom it. Personalities changed naturally over time, and normally you felt the same about the person or creature, but a complete shift was something else entirely.

The bluerider halted suddenly when he saw that the wherhandler had stopped ahead of him, suddenly feeling like he'd invaded her privacy a little with what Sydsk had told him and very conscious still of the fact that she didn't like him. He glanced back at the wher, a mild form of panic stirring in his eyes. "But...that's not fair. There's nothing wrong with you." The words came out a little louder than intended, and his eyes flicked toward Sydney, feeling self-conscious. "Can't I just stay with you?" He knew that the wherhandler didn't like him, and as for the rider...well, if the rider wouldn't even let Sydsk inside, A'nd wasn't sure he wanted to meet that person. They probably wouldn't like A'nd any more than they did Sydsk. At least the green wher seemed to tolerate him.

Xinatenth, for his part, returned the greetings with a friendly croon, not speaking. He was very particular about who he spoke to and on which topics, but somehow he managed to remain silent without seeming standoffish. Mental touches of reassurance, welcome and gratitude were hard to fake, after all. And the male was grateful for the other dragon's willingness to share his ledge, considering how bad the storm was growing outside.

[Rei]

Sydsk snorted softly to A’nd her tail sweeping a bit of the powdery falling snow off the ground where it had just started to collect. Silly boy. He could stay out here but it would be uncomfortable for him. Why would he want to stand out in the cold when he could get warm? The female couldn’t really understand why he would be willing to discomfort himself with her when he clearly had a choice not to. A brush of gentle encouragement was given the bluerider’s mind and she nudged his hip again. Go on silly one. It would really be okay. Hers may be prickly but she would never eat him. Sydsk crooned softly to Sydney and the woman gave her wher a half smile before her gaze returned to A’nd. Supposed she should explain seeing as how he was still here and seemed borderline worried by the fact that the other rider would not allow Sydsk into her quarters.

Moving back towards A’nd and her wher she shrugged. “Of course there is nothing wrong with Sydsk. But Lidia was born Fort and before that she was a miner’s daughter in Crom. Her father’s wher was a nasty and unpredictable thing and he scared the living daylights out of her though he never laid tooth or claw on her. She has a bit of a fear of them and Fort weyr of course never had any whers. She herself made her way somehow into the smithcraft and that’s why she ended up at a hold.” Sydney reached out to touch Sydsk’s nose. “Not all of us are as privileged as some you know. You are lucky you never took a craft as a child or you would be ostracized and ignored like the rest of us all are.” There was a bitter note in her tone that she couldn’t completely hide and her emerald eyes flicked back to his face.

Nyx poked her head out from the confines of the woman’s scarf and though they were predominately a calm shade a thread of bright crimson wound their way through them like a bright ribbon caught by a high wind. Can you blame one for developing a slight bitterness? She asked the boy directly her eyes fixed upon him with eerie intensity. They lived with what they were given. Made the best of what what they were forced to do and tried to make a place and position for themselves in a place that was prejudiced against them simply by sight alone. Every little shred of respect they had gained had been hard won and fought for. The pampered dragonriders couldn’t understand. They lorded over their high mountain strongholds untouched while some of their former brethren were forced to fight for a place and shred of respect amongst what they had once thought of as simple commoners. We are forgotten by the lot of you. Your leaders care not for those they cast off, all simply because they sought to better themselves in some way. But such is the penance we are forced to pay it seems. The green finished, the tip of her tail flicking one of Sydney’s earrings.

The handler covered her mandyr gently with a hand and snorted softly. “You wonder why we treat you as if you don’t exist. We fought and bled beside you and you now cast us off and forget about us as if we were never there in the first place. Treat us as if we are nothing better than the rest of the commoners put here to serve and bend to your will just because you demand it. That rider is why we are just a bit unsympathetic to your plight. The holders give us more attention than our own kind do and even then we are not really accepted by them completely either. We live in a world of prejudice and struggle, and the lot of you turn a blind eye to it.” Bitter yes. Completely and it was entirely true. They holds seemed to get no contact from the weyrs besides to be told what need to be tithed or changed in the hold they called their home. It really was no wonder that the majority of the holders disliked the riders. Sydney couldn’t help but form a certain bitterness towards them as well. She felt like a bastard children cast off because she couldn’t be acknowledged. All because she had wanted to be more helpful to the weyr that she had once been able to call home.

[Requiem]

"I know she won't eat me," he murmured to the green. How did he understand what she was saying so easily? Obviously, he had at least one wherhandler that he spent time with...although the less logical assumption from an outsider's perspective might be that he just was good at talking to whers. "But she dislikes me so much that I don't imagine the dragonrider who won't let you near her would feel much different, and I'd rather stay outside." Rather stay outside with Sydsk, really, but even if the wher left...he'd rather stay outside. A'nd usually shrugged off open animosity. Couldn't be liked by everyone. It tended to distress him when he was trapped with it, though, and he could already feel his anxiety rising as Sydney moved back toward him.

The bluerider watched her in silence as she continued to speak, frowning slightly at the words. He really did feel bad for her, even if she didn't exactly...well. Her perspective was very narrow. A'nd had been looking at a life of drudgery - no matter how you looked at it he'd have been looked down on way more than a wherhandler with a craft at a hold - because he was too old to start a craft and if he even tried he couldn't stand anymore. It hadn't exactly been stress-free. Standing for over six turns and not Impressing was enough to make anyone doubt themselves and their decisions. But this wasn't some sort of contest, and if it was she'd definitely win the 'who is more miserable' prize. Even when he had been worried, A'nd hadn't been miserable. Nor was he sorry for being happy about things working out as they had and Impressing his blue. That was like regretting having the use of your eyes because someone else was blind. Unnatural.

None of this was spoken. She looked so upset standing there, with her wher, that even though there was a hint of accusation in the last of her words...he let it pass.

Then the salamandyr was speaking again and he straightened slightly, his back having hunched against the chill buffeting of the wind. That...that wasn't true. But, just as if the 'mandyr's words had pulled the handler's mind firmly over into whatever train of thought Nyx had taken off on, Sydney continued, and now there wasn't any way to ignore the harsh accusations. "I don't know you," he stated, at barely above a whisper. A'nd couldn't help but feel bad...but this time he didn't like it. Because he shouldn't be feeling guilty. Because what she was saying wasn't true. "And you don't know me." An edge of defiance had entered into his tone, but it did little to mask the distress beneath it.

They weren't right, and he wasn't going to hate himself just because they said he should. Not when he hadn't done anything wrong.

It wasn't quite an impulse. Instead, it was more like a flash of inspiration. He suddenly took a step forward and wrapped his arms around Sydney, snugging her close. Everything seemed to erupt around him. A'nd stumbled backwards, releasing the wherhandler and barely saving himself from falling flat on his seat. Okay, so maybe the inspiration wasn't quite so inspired as it might have initially felt. His eyes were wide as they took in all the trouble he'd caused, then he looked down. "I'm sorry your friends don't come to see you." His words weren't very loud, and maybe they wouldn't even be heard, but even the most cycnical person would have trouble denying how genuine they sounded. "I don't understand why you're mad at me, though...It seems clear enough that I can't repair what they've done or step in for them, so why are you making me pay for them. I still see my friends." Eyes flicked up briefly to her, then down again. "The dragonriders made the world hell for the Holds. Forced them into situations worse than yours...blame them if you like for agreeing to the Holds' terms and sending you here, but it was done to prevent worse pain from coming back, not to make you feel abandoned. Your friends suck. Maybe it's time to get new ones."

He was quick to turn, walking off and back into the streets, even though snow was beginning to be flung about by the flurries. When he thought they couldn't see him anymore (though he didn't check and was likely dead wrong) A'nd broke into a run. He wasn't even sure why he was so upset at what this Sydney had done and said, but the urge to get away was strong, and he gave into it.

[Rei]

A’nd was speaking too quietly for the pair to hear him, though Sydsk did and she wasn’t sure what to make of his words. The wher’s head tilted up to regard the young male who was obviously becoming a bit upset. His upset only seemed to further spur on Nyx and the mandyr’s tail lashed at the air once, her gaze however was outwardly calm. Deceptively calm really for the green wher could feel the mandyr’s slight irritation roiling just under the surface. It was making for a confusing mix for Sydney and in fact the handler was frowning slightly as she struggled to work out what was her, what was Nyx, and what was Sydsk. Poor hers. The wher would have taken a step back from her mind but she didn’t want Nyx to take advantage of that. The mandyr already had hers tightly wound about her consciousness as it was.

It was only when A’nd moved to hug her that Sydney finally did freeze. A large part of her wanted to give into the contact. To cling to him and apologize, for what she wasn’t sure. Maybe beg him not to hate her. But before that impulse could be completed, before the woman could even barely lift the arms that had hug loosely from her sides, a flare of irrational fury sprang up in her mind along with a flare of protection towards the rider that held her. It was as if her mind was being torn in two. One half wanted to harm A’nd while the other sought to protect him. And Sydney herself was simply caught in the gale confused and not sure what the hell was going on. All she knew was that it battered her mind with pain.

Nyx hissed, her eyes flashing momentarily crimson before they went cold and she darted from Sydney’s shoulder, frill flared and talons ready, completely willing to slash the boy across the face. Aiming for his eyes in fact. The mandyr’s body lunged quickly for him but thankfully her strike was rendered moot by the man suddenly stumbling backwards. Sydsk had interjected her body between the handler and the rider, pushing A’nd backwards with her shoulder so Nyx could not get to him. The wher stood there stiff and posed her unhappy eyes regarding the mandyr with cold anger. Enough worm. The green dared to order the small bioluminescent creature her teeth just barely showing in a display of threat. Leave it alone. You are distressing ours.

But Nyx simply flicked her frill back and turned to A’nd ignoring the wher. Infidel! Bastard of a rider. How dare you touch her with your filth. She hissed, her voice cold as ice. You are not wanted here. Go back to your high and mighty palace where you belong. We are not your pawns to be played. With that the mandyr turned back to her bonded her body arching along the woman’s chin as she crooned soothingly pouring her own return to calm back into Sydney. Peace my love. But a minor set back, he is not worth your upset. We are in the right. She soothed privately with words and emotion her gaze only flicking briefly back to A’nd as he started to speak her frill half rising in warning.

Sydney’s hands were on her head her eyes squeezed shut as she tried to work out the utter turmoil of her mind. Each mindmate was pulling her strongly one way while she herself tried to find some piece of what she herself thought. A’nd’s soft words then were clung to in a desire to ignore the pulls on her mind. Her eyes fluttered open as they sought to regard him, each word falling upon her like a blow. What? Making him pay? Not meant to make her feel abandoned? Even if that was true it didn’t change anything. And he wasn’t right anyway was he? No. He is not. His perspective is all wrong. He is but a pawn of greater evil and does not understand. Nyx’s words crashed into the woman’s mind with the force of a hurricane, seizing Sydney in that moment and holding tight to her as she wrested her back into the comfort and sureness the mandyr was exuding. Nyx knew full well that Sydney would cling to it to escape the pain and confusion and true to prediction the woman started to settle as they melded again. A loving croon was offered hers, the mandyr curling about her neck like a jeweled and celestial necklace. If the mandyr could have smirked at A’nd’s retreating form she probably would have. Yes run. Run and don’t come back.

Sydsk was irritated and upset and at that moment she really didn’t care much what trouble her actions might get her into. Sydney as she was under Nyx was not her bonded anyway. Not the woman she impressed to and so it made the decision easy. A growl was directed at Nyx, the noise carrying more threat then it usually did, as the wher turned to bound away from her handler and the small creature. She heard Sydney’s call for her to stop, felt the mental pull to turn around and come back, but she ignored it her stride only lengthening as she raced after A’nd’s retreating form.

As fast as the rider may be he was no match for Sydsk’s speed and knowledge of the area. Racing around in front of him she whipped her body to the side, her tail reaching out to snare the man around his slight waist and pull him against her midsection. She half coiled her body carefully about him then, her mind brushing across his soothingly much as a mother might in an attempt to soothe. She was careful to keep the mental contact light as well as give him plenty of room to escape her physical proximity should he so choose. The wher had no desire to offend the man’s dragon or cause it to believe that it needed to attack her to protect the rider. Peace silly one. None of this was his fault. Besides…he was going the wrong way again. A light sense of amusement colored that image. He didn’t really want to be frozen did he? The wher huffed softly, her breath steaming in the air before her mouth and nostrils as she patiently waited for the boy to calm himself enough to listen to her. It was very silly to let Nyx upset him so. The parasite would do as she wished and nothing would stop her. None of this was his fault.

[Requiem]

The bluerider was running as fast as he could. It still managed to be an awkward run, though, with the wind whipping him in the face and tugging at his clothes. It drew moisture from his eyes, which further blinded him. Half-stumbling, he darted through the narrower byways in an effort to disappear as quickly as possible, not really thinking much beyond that. The young man was rather surprised - though perhaps he shouldn't have been - when Sydsk was suddenly in front of him and winding about him in a fair imitation of a giant tunnelsnake going for a strangle hold.

It wasn't so much that he was concerned for his safety as she'd surprised him, and the rider stood dead still within the circle of the wher's body (after having run into her at full speed and probably bruised himself in a few places, anyway) as he tried to calm the racing of his heart. As soon as her 'words' entered his mind, he began to feel awfully silly. Of course. Of course he was going the wrong way. What was he doing running from a near stranger and her 'mandyr, anyway?

Xinatenth's presence in his mind was soothing as well, though apparently the male had lost his ability to form words for the moment, as it was merely an emotional presence. A'nd wiped at his watering eyes and peered around at the hold dwellings surrounding them. "No," he murmured in response to Sydsk. "Getting frozen sounds...not terribly fun." He couldn't hide that he was still shaken, though, at least not very well.

It was the force of the cold hatred and anger from the 'mandyr. He didn't really know how to put it into words, but A'nd was sensitive to it, the emotions behind the words and thoughts of draconids when they contacted him. To the bluerider they leaked like sieves, and all of that spite directed at him had been overwhelming. He was quickly regaining his equilibrium, though, because the 'mandyr really didn't mean that much to him and her hatred wasn't really something he cared that much about. "She's...there's something wrong with that salamandyr, Sydsk. I've never had contact with a salamandyr with such an evil mental presence as hers," he commented worriedly.

A'nd almost wanted to snug the wher for his own sake, but he remembered she didn't like being touched and so didn't. "I'm sorry...where...exactly are we?" he asked the green, still looking around and fighting off a shiver that threatened.

[Rei]

Sydsk was patient as A’nd regained his control and when he finally did she brushed agreement against his mind. She did not like the parasite either but she really had no choice but to tolerate her. There was naught that could be done. To sever one’s life would be to sever them both you see. She could only endure then. What else could she do silly one? With that the green wher nudged her head under the bluerider’s hand. Permission then to touch. She did not normally like to be touched no, but under certain circumstances she was okay with it and the female had not missed the signs that the young man needed something more concrete then words currently. He was allowed to touch if he wished she sent along serenely and then glanced about the area to get her bearings even as A’nd asked where they were. Huffing in mild amusement she glanced up at him. She would tell him in a moment. Patience. Sometimes things looked all the same when they were covered in this much snow and visibility was getting worse you see. The wind stripped most scents away as well.

Still Sydsk had been here long enough to memorize certain structures and it was that she decided to navigate with in the end. He was apologizing why? She asked A’nd curiously even as she strode forward, the end of her tail still snugged partially around his waist though it fell away once she was sure he was moving beside her. They really were not all that far away from where they needed to be she was pleased to note. The bluerider was a fast runner but not near as fast as the wher herself and the green quickly found an alleyway that linked up with a main thoroughfare further along. Where then did he wish to spend his night? She asked him curiously, padding along and through the driving snow, her body angled in such a way as to serve as a windbreak for her human companion.

There was an inn off the main market that had pleasant rooms and as a rider he would probably be given accommodations. Sydsk explained. Or she could take him back to his dragon? However she should warn him, hers and the parasite were likely still there. It was doubtful that they would venture back out into the storm without her to guide them back to their dwelling after all. They could go back to the place she shared with hers then, if he would like as well? Hers would obviously not be there. It was completely up to him. The wher fell silent then and slowed in her forward progress to give him time to decide though she did not stop. Movement kept them warm after all. Sydsk had decided that she rather liked A’nd. It was a shame that this might be their only meeting together, she thought to herself, especially given how hers and the parasite had treated him. She got lonely too sometimes after all.

[Requiem]

"I don't know," he responded to the wher's question, clearly taking no offense at how often she was calling him silly. Though why he should when there was absolutely no chance of misunderstanding her meaning given the emotions surrounding the 'words' would have been something of a mystery. "It just sucks, I guess," the bluerider added with a frown. He stroked the green's head almost absently, the cold really beginning to get to him. This blizzard had hit so suddenly that it was frightening. Already, visibility was greatly reduced...and it wasn't that great after dark, anyway. Snow had even already begun to accumulate on the ground and it couldn't have started more than a quarter candlemark ago.

Waiting patiently, he was suddenly half-tugged along until he found his feet and fell in more naturally beside her. A'nd was almost getting the sense of being catered to like a hatchling, in how protective this wher was of him. Still, he didn't find it nearly as irritating as he might have thought. His mother had died in childbirth, after all, and his father given him to his uncle directly after, unable to be near the child who'd killed his beloved wife. A'nd's aunt had been nice, but his uncle's dislike of him made it hard for her to do much, so a little mothering was strangely...comforting.

That and he was pretty sure that he would freeze to death if left out here to his own devices.

The option of Xinatenth would have been the obvious choice had Sydsk not mentioned that Sydney and that beastly salamandyr would be there. For a moment A'nd wavered. He wanted to touch Xina, but the male was still a very solid presence in his mind, and he liked Sydsk. Finally, he nodded to himself. "I"d like to stay with you." Another thought came to mind, and that blossomed into a pleased smile. "They probably would not be happy to know you brought me back to your place." So maybe it was a little petty - not to mention a rather pathetic form of revenge because they probably wouldn't care that much - but it still appealed to him. And at least he could stay with Sydsk, who was the next best companion after Xinatenth. Win/win.

"Where do wher pairs sleep in this hold?" he questioned out of curiosity, just as interested in the conditions this handler and her wher enjoyed as he was the actual location of where he'd be spending this blizzard. He was half-tempted to mention all these crafters left out in the holds to someone when he got back, anyway. He still didn't agree with Sydney, but why couldn't the Weyr acknowledge them, show their support for these people publically to the Hold. And if their living conditions were subpar because of bias, improve them.

Of course, he almost didn't want to do it just because of Sydney and Nyx's attitude. They might even think it was an admission of guilt, which it certainly was not. "Have you both been here ever since the Summit, then?"

[Rei]

Sucked yes. Sydsk could agree with that. But it was what it was she supposed. Everyone had their own burdens to bear. Padding silently through streets and alleyways that were starting to fill with snow the female blinked her transparent lids often to clear her snow clouded vision. Thankfully the chill made thermal warmth stand out like glowing neon signs and so it didn’t become too difficult to navigate things. Her head lowered against the wind the wher turned them down another alley way and snorted to clear her nostrils. Sydsk had sensed A’nd’s wavering on the issue and was about to prod him to make a decision quickly so they could get out of the cold when he finally started speaking again. A sense of amusement was offered the rider. No they would not be happy about it. But they were already less then pleased so it hardly mattered. (Which was to say that the wher doubted that any action she took could make them anymore angry then they already were.) Thus she was comfortable with the boy’s final decision. Back to their dwellings then.

With that Sydsk turned to her left and picked up her pace to something more than a slow walk. Easier to move much faster now that she had a destination in mind. The wher made sure to adjust her pace to A’nd’s though. She didn’t want to lose the boy after all this after all. His question caused a soft wuff to leave her throat and she turned down the last alley that lead to their shared dwellings. He would see soon enough. Hurry now. It was getting a bit worse. True to her words the wind seemed to grab and pull at them with more force, the falling snow increasing in intensity till it was nearly a wall of swirling white. The wher finally paused by a small door set into the side of a stone building that housed the human guardsman of the hold.

She turned and regarded A’nd before replying in a matter of fact way. Why yes they had been here since the summit’s decision. It…had not always been the most pleasant experience. In fact when they had first come they had been all but publicly attacked. It was…better now. Yes, the wher would have classify their treatment as better even if it still wasn’t openly warm. The holders here had not been pleased about having the riders and handlers thrust upon them at all in the beginning. Still were not in many ways. They were distrusted at best, and sometimes greeted with open animosity at worst. Now if he would be kind enough to open the door?

When the young bluerider had finally done so Sydsk gently nudged past him and into the darkened interior. She entered the dimly lit hallway and waited for A’nd to close the door behind him. Once he had she waited for his eyes to adjust to the dim light before she moved forward along the stone hallway, her talons making clacking sounds. She descended a set of stairs then and emerged out into an open wine cellar that had been modified to house Sydney and Sydsk, along with the three other watchwher pairs that resided there. There were straw pallets set up for the four whers along one darkened wall, a couch and table clustered around a small hearth to the left, and four small beds with trunks set up along the other wall. Sydsk paused then and shook the remaining snow off her hide.

Everyone else was somewhere else it seemed, she commented to A’nd. Either waiting out the storm, looking for people who might be lost in it, or spending some time in the local tavern. He could make himself at home. The fire could be restored, there was still warm klah in the pot that was hooked over the coals as well. He need not worry about the light if he wanted to brighten the place a bit. She could tolerate much higher levels of light then most of her kin. Sydsk’s muzzle nudged his hand. Did this answer his previous question then?

[Requiem]

Following the wher was becoming more of a challenge. She seemed much better adapted to the cold, the poor visibility created by the blowing snow and trudging through the resulting accumulation than the dragonrider was. A'nd was almost certain that he would lose her a couple times, but she seemed to adjust to his pace just before she actually lost him every single time. Fortunately.

The young man hardly needed any prodding to get the door open and moved almost immediately to the hearth. There was no need to wait for his eyes to adjust to the dark when it was already dark outside, after all. Crouching down near it, he looked and found a poker, stirring up the coals until it gave off sparks and then adding some wood to it to get the fire burning more cheerfully.

A'nd remained crouched beside the fire, glancing curiously around his surroundings as he warmed his hands over the flames. It wasn't as small as it could have been. There were beds, a couch, a table, all the necessities...but it hardly seemed like much of a home. You weren't likely to spend much of your free time here, and there wasn't anything in the way of privacy. If all four pairs were in sleeping during the day at the same time, it would likely get pretty cramped, too.

All in all, this looked much more like temporary lodging than something they actually could expect people to live in for turns. Yet that was exactly what was going on, wasn't it? It had been turns. "Did they not have any wherhandlers before you? They must have. Watchwhers are common in holds, especially northern holds." A'nd frowned slightly. He had a hard time believing this was really as good as they could do.

"They should get you better quarters. This is fine for a month or two, maybe, but they can't expect you to live out all your lives in these conditions." He brushed the snow from his hair, noting that some of it had already melted and his head was damp. So were his clothes. He hadn't exactly dressed for a blizzard. Normally his clothing would have been sufficient for a light snow or something, but this was something else.

A'nd settled down crosslegged before the fire and pulled a piece of jerky from his pocket, gnawing on it idly. "I like the cold better than the heat, but still...could really do without these blizzards," he commented dryly to Sydsk, flashing her a smile. Cootie was still asleep (somehow) but he could tell that she'd been disturbed by the cold herself; only now was she settling down enough to not move so much with each blast of cold wind.

[Rei]

Sydsk tilted her head at A’nd and then snorted softly. Well of course they had a watchwher pair before they had all arrived. They were still here with them in fact. This place had been his and Rivarisk’s until they had all came along. Then it had been changed to belong to them all. The northern holders had never been happy to share with them either. Why should that change just because there were now many? Silly boy. How often had he actually been to a hold? The green decided that even if it had been often the bluerider had probably not paid much attention to how the holders treated those from the weyr. Especially here in the North. The green flopped onto one of the rugs near A’nd and set herself to cleaning one set of wicked looking talons.

It was only then that she ‘spoke’ again. Hers had tried for different quarters and was denied. They made do with what they were given. Complaints made things worse. As long as you stayed quiet things were livable and they did not get bothered often. It was an arrangement that worked out well, all things considered. They did not bring strife and conflict on themselves this way you see. They were expected to live here and be grateful for it. It was better than starting a war when they were stuck here no matter what. Sydsk fell silent then. She herself did not mind living so closely with the other whers. It was much less lonely for her what with Nyx commandeering her bonded. But tensions did run high amongst the handlers at times. That couldn’t be helped when they lived together in such close quarters.

The green nosed briefly at A’nd’s slightly damp shirt and then huffed. She missed the heat and the jungles of her home. It was far more comfortable there then here. The mental connection turned slightly longing. She missed her brothers and sisters. She missed the deep and dark jungles and the smell of the earth beneath her talons. The cries of the jungle felines and the thrill of the hunt. It was terribly boring for her here stuck playing fetch and bodyguard for the drunk and stupid. Hardly challenging or even really fulfilling work. It was at that moment that the green seemed to realize she was venting to him and she uttered a soft and apologetic whine. Her apologies rider. It was not her place to complain to him. She should be grateful that she had a place and a job at all. Please don’t think her ungrateful. Hesitantly, as if afraid of being rejected she laid her head in the teenager’s lap in a rare display of slight affection.

Sydsk was surprised to realize that she was growing a bit fond of this human in the short time they had spent together. The green tried not to think of his inevitable departure and the fact that it would leave her very much alone most of the time again. Did he live back at the jungle weyr of her birth then? That was where they had lived before, her and Sydney. It was where they had, at one point, been happy. Until they had been forced up North and away from everyone. Her nose nudged his thigh gently. She was the one being silly now. He should get himself out of those wet clothes and rest.