Peace By The River (Glamsy)

[glamourie]

"Yes," Ka'rys replied with a slight nod. "I don't know how severe it is, but I know that Uu'n has fashioned him a pair of goggles for daylight use. Regardless, daytime can't be easy on him. I don't know Adith that well though." What he did know, he liked, though. He did not elaborate on Adith's condition. If Ch'ero was that fascinated by the blue, he could approach Uu'n and ask him directly. Any further explanation was not Ka'rys's right to offer. Despite what people may have thought about him (namely the ones who thought very little of him - which seemed to be most of the ones who supported the Senior Weyrwoman, he thought begrudgingly), Ka'rys did try to mind people's privacy most of the time. Ch'ero may have been from the Weyr he considered his home (strangely enough - since he'd been at Selenitas for almost five Turns) but that didn't make him a friend or worthy of extra information that he did not absolutely need to know. Especially not about one of the few people he would have called his friend. The tone that Ch'ero used amused him a little, though. As strange as it was, Ka'rys strongly suspected Adith was not that badly handicapped at all. Sensitive to light, yes, but how many dragons were comfortable in the dark, at their best when all around them was black? Very few indeed. That made him unique.

Turning to offer Ch'ero a curious look, Ka'rys was tempted - very seriously - to point out that the brownrider hadn't seen him in four turns. He'd left quite unannounced, after all, had come to Selenitas under suspicious circumstances, and he'd lost contact with everyone in the north. He did not have any friends there, but he did have some family. He'd missed them. The thought darkened his feelings, and he abruptly pushed it away. Hadn't he meant to get something done? Shard it.

"What prompted you to leave Fort?" the bronzerider asked, unabashed. He'd never been one to mind asking questions. Pride or not, the best way to learn was to do, and Ka'rys was very fond of learning. Besides, he was curious in a purely primal sense. If he hadn't been reassigned, he didn't think he'd have left. Not that he intended to go back. He was not entirely sure he could survive at Fort without killing R'anatar in a fit of rage.... and Selenitas was fast becoming home. Strange, but true. Home. What a funny word that was to apply to a Weyr so poor in defense, so naive in attitude and so underpowered. It fit, though, bitter as the thought made him. The warm weather was so foreign at times, and familiar. He didn't think he'd want to change anything about it, though. "What have I missed since I left? Jrenth caught Grenostith twice, I heard, and then what happened to D'loro and Kamerai --" He trailed off and frowned. Maybe it was just his sarcastic streak showing but Ka'rys did not for one second believe that C'leon's assassins had managed to kill the Fort Weyrleaders. He was sure it was an inside job. Sure of it. Just finding out who would be nearly impossible, and he didn't have time, energy, nor did he care enough to try.

Flaring his wings, Ciceroth quite deliberately turned to splash Rosilinth. Other dragons might have found his behavior childish (for it was certainly not an impressive show of maturity), but Ciceroth was meaning to be playful; no offense was meant. He liked splashing and wriggling around. Rysmine finds them a nuisance, Ciceroth explained as he moved about in the water, causing more waves. He could feel Ka'rys's disapproval, but he did not let it bother him. Little spoil-sport. The salamandyrs, I mean. The water is nice. There is a spot near the base of the waterfall where the river is shallow and the water fast-moving; it feels splended against my ridges. I should show you sometime.

[Ember]

Ch'ero suppressed a grin at the mental image of a dragon wearing goggles. It was a smart idea though. Either way, the dragon wouldn't be able to fight Thread which was both a good and bad thing. It might be neat to meet the pair but he wouldn't actively search them out. At least Adith sounded better than the stories implied. The attack on the weyrlings probably took the lives of other 'different' dragons, as Fath's last clutch were the weyrlings when the word passed to the north. It was kind of cruel of him to think so when he knew the bond between rider and dragon, but it was probably for the best. He glanced at Rosilinth, glad that he was normal, if rather large for a brown. He guessed that the rider's of the dragons didn't mind what they looked like overly much. The love an Impressed pair feel for each other is unconditional. Appearances didn't matter.

Ch'ero frowned at the question, wondering how best to answer that. Sometimes he wondered why he'd left too. it didn't take much 'wondering' to remind him why though. R'anatar was, quite frankly, an idiot. Especially in comparison with D'loro. He wouldn't have been able to handle him much longer, plus his loyalty had been with D'loro and no one else. Thinking back on it now, he'd probably had something of a boyhood crush on the occasional weyrleader. Ch'ero never would have acknowledged it as a boy but he did now. That wore off a long time ago though. He realized Ka'rys meant to have an answer to his question.

Ch'ero sighed and replied, "I found myself going through a bit of a change. I couldn't stand the war and all the pain it brought anymore." Nor could he stand the new weyrleader, but he didn't say anything on that matter. "Selenitas seemed a peaceful enough place. Sure we've heard it has had some troubles but it's relatively quiet." He shrugged noncommittally. He did manage a wry grin as Ka'rys asked for news of Fort. "More of the war really. It seems like it'll be continuing for a while yet. R'anatar can't make any headway, but he's doing okay at defending Fort. The man's not as bright as any of the numerous previous weyrleaders. He also seems to want to break the tradition of on and off again weyrleadership. That would be all well and fine if it was someone else," he said darkly, his dislike of R'anatar apparent.

Rosilinth rumbled as Ciceroth splashed him, greatly amused that the bronze would behave in such a way. He attempted to splash the bronze back by turning, tail spraying water as it swished towards Ciceroth. He looked back over his back at his target with whirling green eyes. That sounds pleasant. I would like for you to show me eventually. CheMine would probably like to talk to Yours again too. Ch'ero couldn't say he liked Ka'rys but he was a familiar face and not bad company so far. I doubt CheMine or Yours could swim there with us though. Not that they are swimming now...

[glamourie]

Ka'rys raised an eyebrow and cocked his head to the side to regard Ch'ero with what could only be described as fascination; the same expression a predator likely wore before springing on prey, or perhaps more similar to the way a boy-child looked when presented with a particularly disgusting bug for the first time. He hadn't stopped to wonder how much information Fort received about Selenitas in the past few months, as he hadn't been relaying information since before Ciceroth caught Aslath. Mainly because he couldn't get away without it looking suspicious, but after D'loro and Kamerai's deaths he gained nothing by helping the northern Weyrs, and he'd stopped. So... they thought that Selenitas only had minor problems? Was that really how far Fort had sunk, when they were once the power house of the two northern Weyrs, at least as far as intelligence went? His stomach did an interesting flip-flop that was somewhere between disgust and disappointment, mingled with delight. The fact that the Weyr he deemed most dangerous to Selenitas was clearly no longer as big a threat was... pleasing to him on a technical level and for good reason: as Weyrleader, it was his job to keep Selenitas safe, and by Faranth, he intended to.

"Someone has been lying to you," Ka'rys said softly as he tilted his head to the side. "Selenitas doesn't have minor problems and if you think coming here escapes the war, you're very wrong. Fort hasn't attacked Selenitas, no, but Benden has. They attacked the weyrlings from Fath's last clutch and killed most of them. They're fully trained now, the survivors, but the end result is the same. They tried to kill Shmee on a few occasions." Not that Selenitas would be crippled without her. "They attacked Selenitas at Millieth's last hatching, and that's just the beginning. Several of our candidates and weyrlings were taken by the defectors who took up at High Reaches. Selenitas is by no means not a part of the war. We're just not a power house or a strength, nor are we an aggressor. Defensively, the Weyr needs a lot of work, but -- Selenitas is a part of this, there's no ignoring that without being a fool. If you're hoping for peace and love, you're at the wrong place." It was probably too blunt to say that outright, but Ka'rys was not by any means naive. He wouldn't have the riders at Selenitas deluding themselves into believing that they were safe. Constant vigilance!

And as for R'anatar? Ka'rys snorted, looking disgusted. "He's a fool. An ignorant fool. He doesn't have a right to lead Fort, but at the same time, at least he's not a threat to Selenitas... or as much of one as D'loro could have been had he decided to focus an attack on this Weyr." If he had, Selenitas wouldn't have had a chance, but it was impractical. With Benden attacking Selenitas, they had less people to defend against Fort. Why waste effort when they had an advantage? "He's too much like C'leon. I half-expect him to launch a full scale attack on Selenitas solely to try to outdo Benden." And if they did, Selenitas would be ready, if he had his way about things. If only Shmee listened.

The splash hit Ciceroth dead on and the bronze rumbled, earning a half-glance from his mindmate. He flapped his wings comically before turning to splash at Rosilinth with his tail, his eyes suddenly spinning in rapidly playful shades. He'd been spending too much time around weyrlings; he was greatly enjoying 'playing' more than lounging around. The childlike streak he possessed had, in no way, faded over time. At Fort it was repressed by necessity, but not anymore. Not anymore. I am sure that he will get to. Rysmine is not exactly ignored here, Ciceroth replied, amusement evident in his mindvoice. He did not elaborate on what he meant, though, as he knew that Ka'rys meant for his game to continue, and Ciceroth would not deliberately darken his mood. There are some areas where they can sit nearby. Rysmine likes to sit there when it is twilight; he thinks it is pretty, I believe...

[Ember]

Ch'ero realized that Fort was nothing compared to what it was before. It was a mockery of the old Fort, in all honesty. They had heard of Selenitas' troubles, but to him they were minor compared to the endless fighting in the north, the atrocities both sides committed. Now that they were in the south though, what went on in Selenitas would be much more important than before. It was a relief to him that, with Fort not bothering with Selenitas, his major enemy was still Benden. Some things never changed, although fighting anyone at all couldn't be considered good...

Ch'ero listened with polite interest, genuinely surprised about the kidnapping the newest weyr committed. So that's how they'd gotten started? By taking another weyr's weyrlings? He wondered - not for the first time - what they planned to do with Pern as it was. Surely they couldn't stay out of the war forever? He shook his head at the statement. "I did not mean to say that Selenitas was not a part of the war, or perfectly calm. Unfortunately this weyr is now a part of the silly power struggle up north," he replied solemnly. Perhaps all the people defecting to Selenitas had caused it to be noticed more? He could see why people would rather live here than Benden though.

"If D'loro had planned an attack on Selenitas weyr it wouldn't have won," Ch'ero said, a note of respect for the man still in his voice. "He wouldn't have though. There was no point if Benden was going to lower its defenses to attack a still small weyr in the south." No doubt Fort would have attacked the next time Benden went after Selenitas if D'loro was weryleader...but R'anatar was too useless to know an advantage when he saw it. Ch'ero worried about what would happen if one weyr or the other won the war. Benden would come after Selenitas for sure, but would Fort? He almost voiced the question out loud but decided he'd rather not.

Rosilinth was glad to have a playmate no matter what his age. Probably because, like Ciceroth, he had not been allowed to show such behavior as a weyrling. That or he was just a fun loving brown. The bronze's words confused him as he splashed Ciceroth again. Not ignored? That was a good thing not to be ignored. What was most odd was the amusement in the mindvoice. Rosilinth decided not to pursue it. He wanted to splash and have fun! I will make sure to drag Ch'ero out there at twilight at some point. He probably wouldn't like me getting all wet so late but I do not mind.

[glamourie]

"My point exactly," Ka'rys replied dryly. If he had to decide one thing to work on to help Selenitas, it would have been to organize constant defensive classes. From basic weapon usage to stances, anything to prepare the Weyr for an attack. He was still half-tempted to teach his Wing about dragon-to-dragon combat. It would have to be done in secret, without Shmee knowing, and he did not intend for them to ever be an attacking Wing, but Benden had proven they were willing to attack in the air when Selenitas was busy, and not only had it caught them unaware, but also unprepared. They'd survived by luck, but luck wouldn't always be in their favor, and Ka'rys didn't like to count on things like that. The last thing he wanted was for his wing to be unprepared. No, he wasn't exactly experienced as a wingleader but no one could deny that he did care about his wing... and he did not want them to get hurt. "I won't say I don't consider R'anatar a threat to Selenitas; I am no where near so arrogant as to believe that. Fort has too many skilled riders to disqualify them on account of the inadequacy of one man. But my worries for this Weyr are considerably lessened as he is not nearly as dangerous as his predecessor. Furthermore, Fort does not appear to have focused its attention on Selenitas at this point... unlike Benden."

The subject was growing rapidly more grave, and Ka'rys couldn't help but want to... leave. Serious discussions were not something he enjoyed, particularly not when he was pretending to be nothing more than a simple wingleader. Ch'ero was, by all standards, a stranger to Ka'rys. He hadn't known him at Fort very well, as Ka'rys was one of the many bronzeriders who was shunted wing to wing with the constant shifts of power. He didn't have any stable wing relationships, and outside of that, Ch'ero did not travel in the same social circles (read: Leradi) that Ka'rys did. They weren't friends, and the fact was that Ka'rys hadn't ever spoken to Ch'ero much. Their conversation so far was longer than any he'd ever had, but he was growing rapidly disinterested.

Sensing his rider's thoughts, Ciceroth climbed onto the rock and shook himself dry like an over-grown canine, sending splatters of water all around himself. The bronze crooned, flicking his tail in the water again before turning whirling eyes onto Rosilinth. Rysmine tires and we do have work to be doing. We will leave you now, but you are welcome to seek us out any time. You and yours both. Mine does not often talk to people for any length of time and I like it when he does. Our spot is the cluster of rocks down the riverside; it is unmistakable. I hope that you will come. Crooning, Ciceroth took to wing and glided from the rock over to land at the side of the river behind Ka'rys, his massive wings folding neatly against his back. He affectionately leaned over to nudge Ka'rys... and then Ch'ero with much the same demeanor. He was a very physical dragon.

"Ciceroth and I need to be going," Ka'rys offered by way of explanation as he rose to his feet and brushed himself off. "It was nice seeing you again, Ch'ero; you should make an effort to get to know the people around the Weyr. I think you'll grow to like it here." Brushing his hair out of his face, he moved over toward Ciceroth before nodding slightly. "If you'll excuse me... I should actually do something instead of just socializing. I wouldn't want the Weyrwoman on my case." He made a vague saluting motion as Ciceroth flipped his tail in what was obviously a wave goodbye. Yet, despite that, rather than fly off, the pair moved away on foot, with Ciceroth following in the typical awkward bunny-hop that dragons made on land. All in all, the conversations was rather... enlightening. If nothing else, Ka'rys finally had an idea of how Fort was after D'loro and Kamerai's deaths...

[Ember]

Ch'ero was beginning to tire of the topic they were on. Talk of the war was not a pleasant conversation for the brownrider. Not only that, but he felt disloyal telling Ka'rys so much about Fort weyr. Sure his allegiance technically belonged to Selenitas now but he'd been a part of Fort weyr so long that it was hard to just switch so soon. "It can't hurt to organize a better defense against Benden and Fort. R'anatar may not keep his position past Grenostith's next flight. A better weyrleader may be chosen," he reminded Ka'rys. Personally, he doubted that R'anatar would be replaced. Just one of those feelings. At least he wasn't stuck with that man anymore.

Rosilinth watched Ciceroth get back up on his rock, splattering water on the swimming brown. He crooned sadly as the bronze spoke. It has been nice talking to you. I will see you there at some point, he told the bronze, watching as Ciceroth glided back to land, leaving him alone in the water. He'd have had to leave eventually anyways, but the brown already missed chatting to a former Fort weyr dragon. Ch'ero felt Rosilinth's disappointment but was nudged before he could ask what was wrong. It was an unexpected contact, but still friendly.

Ch'ero smiled up at Ciceroth, glad for a personal goodbye from the dragon. "It was good to see a familiar face," he said. Okay, so he wasn't too familiar with the man, but oh well. "Until another time Ka'rys, Ciceroth." The brown and his rider watched their conversation partners walk off a little ways. It was Rosilinth who spoke first. I like Ciceroth, he is good company. Did you enjoy your chat too, CheMine? It was..interesting. I assume you'd like to see Ciceroth again at some point. The brown rumbled affirmative, swimming towards the land.

The brown walked up onto land, the awkward movement bringing a grin to Ch'ero's face. "Sun yourself a bit. Once you're dry we'll go look for something to do. I'm sure that people don't normally lounge around all day," he told Rosilinth. The brown laid down on the sand next to his rider, Ch'ero offering an eye ridge scratch. The two stayed there for a while before leaving for their weyr.