Tashe
Shiny Hoarder
Weyrwoman Kaegan Dragonhealer E'rro Rider K'thay Woodcrafter E'iah Healer Raylanne Healer Ithanna Harper Zemaren [color=0BDA5
"When the Butterfly emurges, does the caterpillar no longer exist?"
Posts: 1,401
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Post by Tashe on Sept 7, 2007 21:20:09 GMT -5
The Between was rough and the duo nearly crashed entirely as they appeared, their haste almost destroying what the rider had planned so hard to preserve. Claws and scales hit the rock hard landing with a resounding clatter and the rider was pitched forward off the saddle and onto the ground. The momentum alone made the female slide a fair distance away from her enraged dragon, only when she had stopped did she curl up slightly, cradling her arm upon which she had fell.
A roar roused the rider from the darkness that had descended on her as she lie sprawled on the cold and unforgiving floor. The woman's crimson hair pooled haphazardly around her still head, and the black satin ribbon that had once held it back lay a pace or so away. The almond shaped eyes fluttered open ever so slowly as she felt a fuzziness at the back of her mind.
Its so cold... so cold? I... it was sunny...
The hazel of her eyes began to show as the world began to come into focus and the roaring in side her head became louder and louder.
/WAKE UP KAEGAN./
Who.... Millieth? It... it is!
Grimacing as she slowly shouldered her way up onto her elbows, the woman known as Kaegan ran a hand through her hair checking for head injuries. Her hand found it's way to the painful shoulder causing her to wince as she pressed against it slightly, not only was it bruised it had a shallow gash in it. Sighing gratefully, Kaegan looked up at the proud Dragon who towered over her even in her young age and raised the unhurt hand to curl it around the female's neck. Quietly sobbing to herself and to Millieth, the Goldrider spoke under her own power for the first time in weeks. "We are safe my Queen... at least for now. We-Are-Safe."
And with that Millieth, the former Jr. Queen of Benden, threw her head back and coughed a grateful roar, before turning back to her hurt human, concern and worry clouding her mind.
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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 Sept 8, 2007 1:35:27 GMT -5
A Queen came out of Between. Her Mine was thrown. They seemed in haste.
Wrenth's head came up. His own Mine lay deeper in the weyr, exhausted from the long training session he'd put them through. Why F'lan always insisted on running below Wrenth was beyond him. Though the man was certainly one of the strongest in Selenitas because of it.
Inform the Queen that we'll be over as quick as we can with a Healer. Then, as the brown watchdragon relayed the message, Wrenth probed his rider. Come, Mine. We are needed at the infirmary. F'lan waved off the annoyance. Nevertheless, after a few sharp curses, he arose and struggled into trousers and boots. We need a Healer. Though he had expected another dragon to reply to the general broadcast, it was a woman's thoughts that entered his mind. There was some hesitance there. But apparently her sense of duty overrode that. I'm here. The image she portrayed was enough for him to realize that she was just outside the candidates' barracks. It was closer than the infirmary.
F'lan vaulted to the blue's back, having disdained his tunic and a riding harness in favor of haste. Even his hair had not been properly pulled back. It was a long mass of curls that ended just above his waist. Wrenth could sense his irritation, but ignored it.
A blonde candidate awaited them, wearing the knots of a Benden Weyrhealer. Wrenth almost commented when he felt F'lan's irritation recede at the sight of her. He was good, though. We've brought a Healer for your Mine, Wrenth informed the young Queen, by way of introduction. Are you all right? Within that question lay a second, unspoken one, the one that inquired as to why a gold would be in such a hurry as to actually throw her rider when coming out of Between. He was far too tactful to actually ask that.
As soon as he touched ground, F'lan was off his back, aiding the Healer down. She paused only to thank him before walking purposefully to the downed goldrider. The Healer's soprano was level, almost playful, though there was a mild edge of concern behind it. "Weyrwoman Kaegan. What have you gotten yourself into now?" She knelt beside the young girl, F'lan's brow lifting at the name. Not a Fort Weyrwoman. He would have known her. Then she must be from Benden...which made sense, since the Healer wore Benden's knots.
The healer carefully studied the arm, her fingers merely brushing alone it, eyes narrowing at her charge's expression before she eyed the laceration. "You may not remember me, but I often looked after the dragonriders at Benden. Kalierre? You probably would have seen me in the company of S'rei and Salenth." Kaegan had to know of them, seeing as how they were one of Benden's wingleaders. Really, she was just talking to help beat back the shock, hoping that familiarity might help relieve the lingering vestiges of it in the girl's eyes.
Kalierre turned her dark, commanding gaze on F'lan. "Get her to the infirmary. I'm worried she might have hit her head...the rest shouldn't be a problem, though we need to do more than just stop the bleeding." He hadn't even noticed her bind the arm. She certainly was efficient enough. Kalierre turned her gaze to Millieth. "Will you allow Wrenth's Mine to carry her?"
Wrenth blinked. She knew him? I do. More sensitive than he had first realized. The fact that she could hide just how sensitive she was intrigued him. This woman was odd.
The healer watched the gold intently for her permission, as F'lan moved closer to this junior Weyrwoman - he knew Benden's senior Weyrwoman, at least - also waiting on Millieth.
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Tashe
Shiny Hoarder
Weyrwoman Kaegan Dragonhealer E'rro Rider K'thay Woodcrafter E'iah Healer Raylanne Healer Ithanna Harper Zemaren [color=0BDA5
"When the Butterfly emurges, does the caterpillar no longer exist?"
Posts: 1,401
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Post by Tashe on Sept 8, 2007 14:23:09 GMT -5
Jerking back at the touch of the Benden healer, Kaegan scooted herself away and closer to Millieth. Even though the Weyrwoman was afraid and slightly confused, her voice did not waver from anything less than a commanding tone. "Stay away healer! Stay away! I want nothing to do with Benden any longer, healing or Leading!" Shivering slightly, the former Weyrwoman struggled to her feet as her Queen brought her large head between her and Kalierre snarling savagely ignoring any questions put forth by the blue.
Even though mind linking with other humans than ones own was very uncommon, Millieth spoke to the healer with venom.
/You nor anyone else shall touch my Mine again, unless you wish to lose a limb./
Withdrawing from the Benden healer's mind Millieth continued to shield Kaegan from the others, humans and dragons alike.
Moving closer to her Queen, the young goldrider placed a hand upon the treasure colored hide as she warily watched from behind Millieth's neck.
/I thought we were rid of Benden... what is a Benden healer doing here?/
Twitching her hide where her mine had placed her hand, the Golden Jr Queen responded the girl.
/I do not know Mine. But no one will touch you again.../
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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 Sept 8, 2007 22:00:21 GMT -5
((I'll edit the cursing if I need to. Nothing against it in the rules, though.))
Life had never been easy at Benden. Kalierre had simply stayed out of the politics as much as she could, which was probably best, considering she'd spent her apprenticed turns in Fort Hold at Healer Hall. In all actuality, she'd spent just as long there as she had in Benden, though the leadership at the Weyr seemed to pointedly overlook that. She felt a certain sympathy for this girl. And she was somewhat dismayed that her deliberate lack of knowledge as to the political maneuverings in Benden were going to make this more difficult than it needed to be.
Wrenth. Can you get one of the other weyrhealers? And you'll need to inform Aslath. In the end, she might be the only one Millieth will listen to.
F'lan blinked as his dragon suddenly rose into the air, shooting Wrenth a startled glance. Whatever passed between them, however, seemed to settle the man. Kalierre, concerned that the protectiveness of the queen would only serve to put Kaegan in more danger, turned her gaze on the gold directly. Frankly, I'm more worried about your Mine losing her arm than anything you could do to us. Millieth, however inadvertently, had effectively given her permission to communicate with her in this manner by addressing Kalierre to begin with.
If you don't calm her down enough to let a healer - and I honestly don't give a damn which one - tend to her, she risks infection and going further into shock. And I'm not at all sure there isn't more permanent damage done to her arm by that fall. Do you understand? This isn't protecting her.
The woman hadn't once moved since Kaegan shied away. She spoke quietly, not sure what Millieth would do, and not really caring. When it came to those who needed her help, it didn't matter if it was a queen, a green or a firelizard - she wouldn't let them stop her. The only reason she didn't press was the simple fact that her presence upsetted Kaegan, and that wasn't doing any good, either.
"A Selenitas healer is on the way. Yes, I'm from Benden. I came from Fort before that. You don't have to worry about me hurting you, Kaegan. I'm not sure what you're running from - though I can hazard a guess. Don't let them win. If you let your fear take hold of you, it won't matter how far you run. They'll have succeeded." Her dark eyes focused intently upon the girl. "A weyrwoman can't let fear guide her decisions."
I have a journeyman. We'll be there soon.
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Tashe
Shiny Hoarder
Weyrwoman Kaegan Dragonhealer E'rro Rider K'thay Woodcrafter E'iah Healer Raylanne Healer Ithanna Harper Zemaren [color=0BDA5
"When the Butterfly emurges, does the caterpillar no longer exist?"
Posts: 1,401
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Post by Tashe on Sept 8, 2007 23:21:55 GMT -5
Annoyed to a point at the Woman healer, the Year old queen huffed slightly before looking to her Kaegan and then back to Kalierre.
/She does not need me to calm her down... She can do that herself. And --/
Suddenly a mental tug interrupted her train of thought and caused her to turn toward her rider, she wanted to speak.
"Fear? Do you think I really ran because I was afraid?" Stroking Millieth's hide as she spoke, Kaegan turned her hazel gaze upon the healer, her eyes held something implacable in them. "It's true I might have been... afraid at one point. But after a couple months at Benden... I forgot how to feel really anything. The only thing I knew for certain I needed to do was run..." Angling her eyes down slightly as she curled her fingers into a fist, Kaegan continued. "... run to save Millieth's life."
Feeling the pressure at the back of her mind release, Millieth began to speak again.
/We must speak with the Senior Weyrwoman... only then will Kaegan allow herself to be looked after. There is an important matter that we must relay to her./
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Post by Administrator on Sept 9, 2007 15:01:10 GMT -5
Aslath awoke instantly at Wrenth's call, hoisting herself up from where she lay in the hatching ground. I call for Shmee, she replied, bugling to get Shmee's attention. The Weyrwoman was napping on her cot in the Hatching Ground weyr, but she jolted awake. Forcing her eyes open, she jumped out in her lounging clothes. "What's going on?" she demanded as ran across the hot sands. She hissed as the scorching sands hit against her bare feet. She had just washed them!
It is urgent, she replied, and Shmee cursed. "Where?" she asked, now running back off the sands. How could it be urgent? The eggs looked fine, so they weren't hatching. Aslath snorted, and shoved a picture into the Weyrwoman's mind. A very young queen and her rider were in it, and Shmee recognized it as a Benden queenrider- but the name escaped her. And her arm...
Shmee broke into a run, leaving the hatching ground for the landing. "I'm coming!" she hollered, her feet recovering from the mild burning that Hatching Ground had given to her. Instead, they were being abused by the sharp ground of the riverbank, and Shmee cursed under her breath. No matter- she didn't want to get dragged into the war if Benden's junior queen died here.
Seeing the small gaggle of people, Shmee sprinted faster to them, her breathing heavy with the effort. She was never much of a runner. "Get outta my way!" she barked, elbowing at F'lan to get to Kaegan.
"What happened?" she asked immediately, knowing from everything she had learned as a Weyrwoman that if Benden was sending them an injured queen, there was something terribly amiss. "C'mon, let the healer help you," she said firmly, already forgetting about Kalierre despite the touching. "And for the love of little green dragons, tell me what happened. Did you get attacked by Fort or something?" she asked, already looking around. If she had been attacked by something, then they would undoubtably look for her...
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Tashe
Shiny Hoarder
Weyrwoman Kaegan Dragonhealer E'rro Rider K'thay Woodcrafter E'iah Healer Raylanne Healer Ithanna Harper Zemaren [color=0BDA5
"When the Butterfly emurges, does the caterpillar no longer exist?"
Posts: 1,401
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Post by Tashe on Sept 9, 2007 16:11:58 GMT -5
Blinking slightly as the Weyrwoman shouldered her way through the small crowd and arrived at the scene, Kaegan pushed at Millieth asking her to move her head. Fingering the crinkles out of her Tunic, the young goldrider straightened her back and moved toward the surprisingly young Senior Weyrwoman. Stopping a pace or so away from Shmee, Kaegan bowed slightly before speaking. "No Weyrwoman Shmee, we were not under attack. I have come to humbly ask you for Asylum from Benden Weyr."
Snorting slightly as she moved her head so that her rider could pass, Millieth twitched a wing before nodding to the Weyrwoman who had started talking.
/Kaegan. You must see the Healer as soon as you are done. Even if she is a Benden one.../
Sighing unhappily, the Queenrider looked to the healer and shrugged her injured arm, obviously having nothing to say to her other than. "Fine."
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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 Sept 10, 2007 0:17:30 GMT -5
F'lan bristled as Shmee shoved past him, at first forgetting that this woman who had spent her candidacy and weyrling training with him was actually the Weyrwoman now, but Wrenth's presence in his mind arrested any outburst. He found he was somewhat glad that this Kaegan had been commanded to take the healer's help, and he was certain Kalierre felt the same way, though her face certainly didn't show it. But what was this about seeking asylum from Benden...?
"Do you begin to realize what it is you ask?"
He turned at the dark voice behind him, freezing at the sight of the tall, athletic man who stood, arms folded and face set in a pensive frown. The eyes were haunting, for all that they were colorless, and his wry smile did little to alleviate the brooding, forbidding air that seemed to shroud the man. Worse, F'lan knew him. This man was none other than one of Benden's wingleaders. The youngest of the wingleaders, in fact, and a transfer from Fort, which said a lot about his ability if Benden was willing to trust a Fort bronzerider to lead a wing. If Kalierre's presence was enough to upset Kaegan - F'lan couldn't imagine what this would do.
S'rei regarded Kaegan with what could only be wariness. Though his eyes never left her, he spoke to the Weyrwoman, his tone noncommittal. "If you offer this girl aid, one of two things will happen. She has either been sent here by Benden to win over your trust so they can overrun Selenitas, or she speaks the truth, which means you will be taking sides in the war between the northern weyrs. Either way, you open up the door to a situation no experienced Weyrwoman could expect to manage."
Though the bronzerider didn't state it, and his tone certainly didn't imply it, no one could avoid thinking that Shmee was inexperienced, or so F'lan would guess. Then S'rei's smile darkened, if that were at all possible. "But Benden will see your turning Kaegan away as the act of an ally. So, in the end, this whole sharding war will be brought to our doorstep anyway." He ran a hand through his copper curls, eyes closing for a moment in what seemed to be weariness.
When they reopened, they were focused firmly on the girl. "Which leads me back to my question: Do you begin to realize what it is you ask? Or perhaps it would be better to phrase it this way: Why didn't you flee to Fort, instead of drawing us into a war just by coming here?" His expression was anything but forgiving. "Yes, they would have likely used you, seeing you as an enemy of the Benden leaders. At least you might be able to sleep better at night."
His dark smile finally lighted on Shmee. "I'm just glad I don't have to choose sides in this war. You might as well let the girl stay, though, unless you're disinclined...if for no other reason than to remember why it is your weyr is spilling it's blood across the countryside."
"S'rei!" Kalierre cut into the bronzerider's little tirade, her voice taking on an edge it hadn't had since she came to the weyr. "That's quite enough. Can't you see that Kaegan is in shock? Don't expect everyone to be as dispassionate in their decisions as a heartless bronzerider."
The two glared at each other for a long while, but then S'rei simply shrugged, seeming to withdraw from the scene without moving a muscle. F'lan's impression of Kalierre went up a notch.
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Tashe
Shiny Hoarder
Weyrwoman Kaegan Dragonhealer E'rro Rider K'thay Woodcrafter E'iah Healer Raylanne Healer Ithanna Harper Zemaren [color=0BDA5
"When the Butterfly emurges, does the caterpillar no longer exist?"
Posts: 1,401
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Post by Tashe on Sept 12, 2007 19:49:48 GMT -5
Glancing slightly at the man who had appeared, Kaegan twitched her nose slightly as somewhere in the back of her mind recognized him from something Benden had done with Fort. Not moving as he spoke to the Weyrwoman of Selenitas, she waited until S'rei had finished before taking her turn to speak.
"I shall harbor no hard feelings to this Weyr if you find it in the best interest for me to seek help somewhere else. I will go to Fort if need be... and most likely as a final resort. The last thing I want is to bring despise from either of the waring Weyrs to your's Weyrwoman Shmee. I understand now that I have now undoubtedly involved you in some way in the struggle, and I should have thought more before fleeing Benden. But our time was limited and we had to act fast..."
Annoyance at the man blossomed in Millieth's mind as he spoke to Shmee, but it wasn't because he was so vocal... it was because he was right. Listening in turn from the wingleader to Kaegan, the golden Queen slid in her comment but her voice was directed at her rider and the Selenitas Weyrwoman.
/We... I was convinced that if we went to Fort, all we would be doing is escalating the tension between Benden and Fort. And as the Male said... We would have been used as weapons or leverage against Benden. We want to do with no more deaths./
(Note: Kaegan is dodging around exactly WHY she had left Benden. Bahaha... The plot shall soon be revealed! ;3)
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Post by Administrator on Sept 14, 2007 22:41:34 GMT -5
Shmee's eyebrows went up. Did "asylum" mean that Kaegan wanted to be kept away from Benden. Aslath gave a rumble of agreement. For once, Shmee actually understood a big word. Proving her surprising capability to be Weyrwoman, she nodded firmly. "Of course- you can stay here until we figure out what to do with you," she replied authoratively. She understood that Benden would be very unhappy if they were to hear that Selenitas had one of their queens, but she couldn't very well return the poor girl.
Hearing S'rei's voice, she turned and faced him coldly. "If I wanted your opinion, I would have asked," she told him icily. No one questioned her power. "I am the Weyrwoman of this Weyr- and, unless my eyes deceive me, you are no Weyrwoman. I know what I'm doing. Do you think I've been ignoring the wars? Of all people, how could you even dare think that a Weyrwoman wouldn't know the consequences of her actions?" Though many may argue that point, Shmee did know what she was doing. For powerful moves such as this, it was her strong point. It was technical details she couldn't handle, but when it came to things like this, it was a reminder and a warning that she was in authority.
She paused. "Furthermore, I can assure you that despite our attempts to remain out of the war, I regret to tell you that already we have had our heads in it. Half of this population are refugees- you included," she added sharply. Even Aslath stopped shifting her eggs around to listen to Shmee's words- probably the only strong words anyone would hear for a long time. "Do you think we look good with those two stupid Weyrs because we took a ton of their strong fighters? No. Any way you look, we're just a parasite clinging to the edge of their battlefield."
Turning back to Kaegan, Shmee offered a soft hand. "C'mon- we'll get you to the infirmary. Healer, you come," she barked. "S'rei, F'loof, back off. It is none of your concern." Aslath snorted from her position on the sands. Calling F'lan 'F'loof' was a rather disappointing ending to Shmee's harsh speech. "Don't worry, girl, queenie" she added, trying to soften her expression. "So long as your reason is legitimate, you can stay. We'll deal with Benden later."
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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 Sept 15, 2007 1:38:30 GMT -5
I told you not to go off half-cocked. And no, you can't strangle the two of them. Like it or not, they're both weyrwomen. Sareth glided nimbly into the weyrbowl, keeping a respectful distance from the queens. He really was there only to make sure his Mine didn't do anything stupid. There were few things that rattled S'rei. This qualified as one of them.
That was for Kaegan's benefit, not Shmee's. I know. Benden and Fort can't move against us without their people's support. Giving them a case to make against us is idiotic! I know. There was a slight pause. But Shmee is right, too. Kaegan might be the most visible refugee we take in, and she would be the only one openly begging for asylum, but we didn't exactly leave Benden just because you discovered you had family in Selenitas. Factions from both sides would feel much more comfortable if we vanished entirely. There's nothing to prove that particular rumor. And there's nothing to disprove it, either.
S'rei sighed. All right. You've got a point. How can I argue when there has already been an attempt on my life? He glanced at the backs of the three women, one of them Kalierre. But Kaegan needs to think about her actions. She's young, Mine. S'rei's reply was dark. She's the same age I was when I was lying in that infirmary with a hole in my gut. Young or not, she'll have to live with whatever consequences come of this one action for the rest of her life. The pair fell into a deep silence.
F'lan leapt to Wrenth's back, cursing under his breath about weyrwomen who forgot the names of riders who served beside them in their weyrling turns. Screw this. He wasn't waking up to help any dragonpair that crash-landed in the future, not with that ungrateful minx around. Maybe it's best she doesn't know your name, Wrenth put in quietly. That drew a wry smile to F'lan's lips.
Kalierre couldn't say she much cared for the way Shmee talked down to her friend, and she was certain the Weyrwoman had no idea what sort of demons the bronzerider fought that Kaegan's arrival had reawakened, but she dutifully moved to the other side of the young junior weyrwoman to help her to the infirmary. She certainly agreed with Shmee's decision, though. Kaegan couldn't simply be run off - although S'rei hadn't suggested that, exactly. The healer shook her head with some trepidation. This certainly would not bode well for the weyr. Not that there was really anything they could do to change their fate. Not in the end.
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Tashe
Shiny Hoarder
Weyrwoman Kaegan Dragonhealer E'rro Rider K'thay Woodcrafter E'iah Healer Raylanne Healer Ithanna Harper Zemaren [color=0BDA5
"When the Butterfly emurges, does the caterpillar no longer exist?"
Posts: 1,401
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Post by Tashe on Sept 15, 2007 14:29:12 GMT -5
Gently accepting the weyrwoman's hand, Kaegan looked back at her Queen before letting her eye's wonder to the dragon and his rider who had been there from the start. A small wave of thanks escaped her free hand before it settled back down by her side and her head returned to a forward position.
Pushing herself up into a standing position, Millieth flared her wings before tucking them close to her sides. Stepping after her rider as she twitched her tail, the young Queen kept her eyes trained on Kaegan, ready to act if any trouble sprang up.
"Weyrwoman Shmee?" Lowering her voice slightly, the Goldrider let her eyes drop to the floor, a habit she had acquired at Benden when speaking to people with more power than herself. "The reason I fled Benden might of some importance to you and your Weyr. It will at least give you some information to what goes on there..."
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Post by Administrator on Sept 15, 2007 15:10:58 GMT -5
Shmee frowned. "Hold it, healer," she barked. "Get away for a minute. Weyrwoman business," she said officially, immediately turning to face Kaegan. It bothered her that Benden was up to something that was important to Selenitas- something dark enough to frighten away a junior weyrwoman. Aslath, too, was very interested and worried.
It is all right, little queen, she soothed the dragon. She didn't want a nervous queen running around her Weyr. Shmee isn't going to harm Yours- you both are safe here. Despite this, she curled around the queen egg even more fiercely. If Benden was up to something, this queen egg was not going to get hurt from them. She would make sure of that.
"What is going on?" Shmee asked in a quiet tone, seriousness in her usually playful face. "Once you tell me, we can get ahead with things and we'll tidy you right up. But, for the sake of the Weyr, we need to know what is going on so we can start defending ourselves if necessary." She paused, then smiled reassuringly. "We won't send you back to them- I'll make sure of it."
From a corner, healer Trenlor watched the happenings, knowing full well what was going on, yet making no move to stop it.
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Tashe
Shiny Hoarder
Weyrwoman Kaegan Dragonhealer E'rro Rider K'thay Woodcrafter E'iah Healer Raylanne Healer Ithanna Harper Zemaren [color=0BDA5
"When the Butterfly emurges, does the caterpillar no longer exist?"
Posts: 1,401
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Post by Tashe on Sept 15, 2007 15:34:35 GMT -5
Fidgeting slightly as she played with the hem of her ruffled tunic, Kaegan continued to watch the floor intently. A moment or to of silence passed as she formed what she was going to tell the Weyrwoman. "Benden isn't what it seems. At first when I was accepted as a candidate I thought everything was right with the world and nothing could be better than what I was feeling. But soon after I impressed Millieth I learned how brutal the leaders of Benden really were... how violent they are with the weyrlings, and how everything is patriarchal. Not only that but how queenriders are basically slaves just to have clutches." Pausing as her vision grew blurry and tears threatened to fall, Kaegan struggled to swallow the lump in her throat and at last forced herself to continue. "They try to use the very crude drugs on the weyrlings to enhance clutch sizes... I... I didn't want that for Millieth so we escaped as soon as we could." The hands that had been fidgeting only a moment before were now clenched into fists as the young Goldrider fought to keep the salty drops of liquid that had welled up from rolling down her cheeks.
Striding up to her rider, Millieth made a soft sound as she tried to comfort her mine. Normally, the Queen would have added something to whatever Kaegan had said, but at the moment she had nothing to say, she was only worried about her Mine.
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Post by Administrator on Sept 15, 2007 16:02:33 GMT -5
Shmee shifted uncomfortably during the silence. She had no idea what she was supposed to do- did she urge her to speak? Was she supposed to wait for her to talk? Shmee had little experience in this sort of thing, and she felt extremely awkward. If only there were a different person for this job, she would pass it off straight away. However, she was senior Weyrwoman- it was her responsibility. So she simply waited for Kaegan to speak. More moments passed, and just as she opened her mouth to urge the girl on, the younger queenrider finally spoke.
She frowned. Had this girl been living under a rock? Of course there was nothing right in the world! There was Thread, there was the wars... It didn't help that Shmee had not a clue how to comfort the girl. "What do you mean, drugs?" she demanded, deciding she could just get someone to comfort her later. "Like numbweed?"
"No," interrupted the voice behind them. Whirling around, Shmee looked at Trenlor. His lined face seemed clearly irritated with his Weyrwoman. "Drugs. The kind you inject with needlethorn."
Shmee paled. "What do you mean, needlethorn?" she demanded, looking to Kaegan desperately. What in Pern was happening?
"It seems Benden finally found my old records," he remarked dryly. Focusing his gaze on Kaegan, he said, "Did they get you? Does it work?"
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