Searching... (Cainith)

[Ivy]

This is me praying that
This was the very first page
Not where the story line ends
My thoughts will echo your name
Until I see you again
These are the words I held back
As I was leaving too soon
I was enchanted to meet you

It'd been nearly a full three sevendays since she'd seen the big lug of a man, Cainith. Their only encounter since their night together back in Selenitas had been during the earthquake when he came and carried her to the common room - then he'd left to help others. The move to Burimyu hadn't been particularly hard on the redheaded Candidate, despite the fact she'd considered Selenitas her 'home' for the last few turns. Sure she'd lost some things, and it was sad that they'd probably never be able to return or restore the broken weyr to its former glory... But she was safe. Cainith was safe. And Millieth had made it safely - even now her eggs were hardening on the Burimyu hatching sands. Those three positives were what she focused on, if she spent too much time thinking of everyone and everything lost her heart would break. Life moved on, so did she.

Still she couldn't help but wonder what had happened to Cainith - she knew he made it to Burimyu safely. She'd asked a few others, and even those who didn't know him knew who she was talking about and had said they'd seen him. So was he avoiding her? Had their time together before the quake been that horrid for him?

Perses chirped - he was not happy that His was spending so much time thinking of this other man. She was His, and she only needed him. This silly giant man didn't know what he was missing out on, obviously. So she should just focus on her lovely little Blue 'mandyr and forget the giant man. Too butiful! He no disurve such butiful!

The 'mandyr curled against Ivy's neck, buried in her hair as he crooned and hummed softly to her. All the while Ivy had been walking towards the lake in the middle of the new weyr they were to call home. Coming to the edge of it she sat down and sighed, tossing a pebble into the otherwise calm waters.

Lingering in the sky above her was Eros, hissing down at the hidden form of Perses on her shoulder. The firelizard wanted his Ivy-slave to dote on him, not that worm thing! Eros couldn't steal her attention for himself, but he knew who could. So without a sound he disappeared between - he had a way to get Ivy's attention off worm thing. Maybe if she ignored it long enough it'd go away.

[Aftershock]

Cainith walked towards the lake, holding the bundle of random jungle flowers given to him by Eros in one massive hand. With all the craziness and hustle and bustle of the move from Selenitas to Burimyu, Cainith had been recruited left and right by people needing his help moving what large things they had been able to save from the earthquake, and Cainith had been happy to help. However, it had left him with little time to himself, and Eros' unexpected visit had reminded him just how much he missed Ivy.

Rollhead sat nestled in Cainith's hair, silently observing the world. Ever since the earthquake, the blue 'mandyr seemed to have a crisis of faith, likely due to the fact that the power of "The Goddess" couldn't prevent the death and destruction the earthquake had caused. At first, the blue's silence had seemed a blessing, but now it was starting to get a bit worrying, and Cainith was beginning to wonder if Rollhead would ever recover. He was physically healthy, but emotionally damaged, and only time would tell if he would ever be the same.

As Cainith approached the lake, he noticed Ivy sitting at it's edge, seeming bored or lost in thought. Slowing, he couldn't help but appreciate the view, wondering again how he had earned the affections of such a beautiful woman. Suddenly, he grimaced as he realized part of the reason he had not seen Ivy, even when he'd had the spare time... he was trying to avoid letting the other shoe drop by not being around her, thereby letting his mind maintain the happiness he had with her early and avoid the inevitable heartbreak as she grew tired of him and found someone younger, more handsome, and probably a dragonrider. Clenching his fists and shaking his head, he set his jaw as he decided right then and there that he would take this to whatever the final conclusion was, no matter the consequences.

Taking a deep breath and smoothing his silk shirt (belatedly realizing the last time he wore this he was also with Ivy, and also next to a large body of water, though a river rather than a lake), he walked up to where Ivy sat, smiling as he said, "Hello, Ivy. Long time no see. I, er, found these flowers. I saw how beautiful they were, and thought of you. I hope you like them," he concluded a bit lamely, kneeling and presenting the flowers to the sitting Ivy. Rollhead looked down at Ivy with dull grey eyes, but said nothing.

[Ivy]

Perses hissed venomously towards Cainith when he approached, his eyes a glaring orange and red as the large man knelt down. He jumped from under Ivy's hair and clawed at the flowers, Noooooooooo! Nu butiful enuff! Mine so butiful! Go away ugleh giant! AWAY!

The hatchling was practically wailing aloud as he mentally attacked Cainith with his words. Anyone who dared try and take His' attention away from him deserved torturous treatment in his mind.

Ivy grabbed Perses and scolded him, giving a shy and sheepish smile up to Cainith as he knelt beside her, "I'm so sorry... I managed to get myself a psychotic 'mandyr it seems..." Eyes flicked up to Rollhead, "How is the Goddess' best worshiper today?"

[Aftershock]

Cainith jumped a bit as the hatchling blue 'mandyr emerged from Ivy's hair to assault Cainith's flowers with his claws and Cainith's mind with his abuse. Glancing at the small 'mandyr as Ivy retrieved it and clutched it in her hands, it's eyes still staring venom at him, Cainith replied, "It's all right. I know exactly what you're going through... though Rollhead was never quite so aggressively against me being with you as it seems your little one is," he concluded, chuckling.

Cainith glanced up, trying to see Rollhead nestled in his hair, and was slightly disappointed when the other male's assault on Cainith failed to rouse a reaction from his bonded. Reaching up to scratch Rollhead beneath his chin with one thick finger, Cainith sighed and said, "Unfortunately, poor Rollhead's been like this since the earthquake. I think it's because he saw me during the earthquake, bleeding, growing tired, being unable to stop the carnage or the death around me. He saw direct proof of my mortal limits, and I think it's caused him to have a crisis of faith, of sorts." Putting his hand back down, and slowly lowering himself to the ground next to Ivy, he continued, "At first I saw it as a blessing, as ironic as that wording sounds, but now it's gotten to the point where I'm really worried about the little guy. He's been quite a pain in my neck since I got him, but he is my bonded, and I'm hoping he recovers soon."

Another small sigh, and he changed the subject, saying, "I'm sorry I haven't been around much lately. I haven't been trying to avoid you, don't worry. I'd have to be crazy to avoid a girl as great as you," he continued, laughing loudly and slapping his knee, "And I didn't get struck on the head by any rocks during the quake." Scratching his chin, he continued, "I've just been very busy. It seems when there's a giant around, he becomes the go-to guy when you have heavy things to move, and since everyone from Selenitas has moved here, there's no shortage of heavy items to move, trust me." Placing the flowers carefully down next to Ivy, making sure to keep them as far as possible from the little blue menace grasped in her hands, he added, "So, how have you been? What's been keeping you busy since we moved over to this place? Is your ankle fully recovered yet?"

[Ivy]

It wasn't. Not fully. But she wasn't about to tell him that - he had enough on his mind with Rollhead being out of sorts. So instead of the truth she nodded and smiled, holding her leg out as if to prove her point, "Yep, healed up nicely. Sorry to hear your little minion isn't doing well, I'm sure he'll be himself in a few days."

Letting her grip on Perses loosen a bit she watched as he curled around her wrist and pet her soft skin lightly. "Perses. This is Cainith. He is my friend, my very close friend. You will behave, you understand?"

To that the blue 'mandyr didn't respond, obviously upset that he'd been scolded by Ivy. Shaking her head she leaned against Cainith's side once he sat next to her, "Nothing much, just the Candidate stuff. Helping where I can, mostly just staying out of the way. Missed you, was worried about you ya big lug."

[Aftershock]

Cainith smiled as Ivy leaned on him, enjoying the feel of her warmth on his arm. He shifted position so he could wrap a powerful around her shoulders, and said, "I missed you, too. I'm really glad to hear your ankle is recovering. I still feel a bit responsible for you hurting yourself, since looking at me is what caused you to twist it. I would never forgive myself if it prevented you from Standing at the next clutch." Turning to look down at the redhead, he smiled wide and added, "And you don't have to worry about me. I'm invincible, remember?"

Pulling Ivy in a bit closer (though keeping an eye on her little blue addition in case he decided to get bitey), he said, "So, the next clutch is hatching soon. Are you excited to finally Impress?"

[Ivy]

"You always do that." She replied, sticking her tongue out at him as she looked up to his eyes. Perses seemed to be behaving for right now at least, staying quiet and wrapped on her wrist. "I don't know if I'll Impress or not, neither do you. Though its more likely that I won't Impress. There are so many Candidates... and I'm older than all of them. I wouldn't pick me if I were a dragon."

She turned her head a bit so her cheek was pressed to his chest, "You'll be there, right? In the stands at least? With a wine skin... so when I fail to Impress I can get drunk."

Butiful no be sad, has me! My butiful no need others. So butiful and kind. Silly dagons not know wat theys missing. Perses perked up and said softly to his bonded, even if he wasn't happy she was being all snuggly with the big ugly giant man he didn't want her sad thinking about dragons.

[Aftershock]

Cainith smiled, softly this time, as Ivy spoke, and as she buried her head against his muscular chest, he said, "Sure, I don't know if you'll Impress. But what harm is there in hoping for the best? As for being there, you know I will... both to see you Impress, and to watch the Wastelanders. Their position has been weakened, but I still don't trust them, and I want to be close in case there are mutated hatchlings again, and they try something..." Clenching his fists slightly, he caught himself and exhaled slowly, relaxing, and added, "And of course I'll bring a skin of wine. To celebrate with, though, not to drown your sorrows."

Smiling wide, he bent down to kiss Ivy on the forehead, and chuckled as he heard Perses' words extolling Ivy. Laughing loudly, he said, "Well, little Perses, you may not like me, but I will admit you have it right in that regard. Any dragon that doesn't choose Ivy is silly, and doesn't know what it's missing."

[Ivy]

Ivy shook her head and rolled her eyes, "You're both wrong, but thank you. I appreciate the support." Sighing she leaned her head back and looked up at Cainith, "So how much did you miss me?"

She pushed herself up a bit so her lips met his briefly and then offered a smile. "Besides lifting heavy things what have you been up to?"

Perses fell silent and then Eros appeared and circled around the humans, looking rather smug. Good, the worm thing wasn't getting any attention.

[Aftershock]

Cainith smirked down at Ivy, saying, "Come, now, it doesn't do for such a beautiful woman to have such an ugly outlook." As she popped her head up to kiss him, then asked how much he missed her, he dipped his head down to kiss her deeply, then, as he broke the kiss, he said, "That much."

Leaning back on his extended arms, hands flat on the stone, he replied to Ivy's question with, "Not much. Settling into the new Candidate barracks, attending lessons. I've seen you in passing, but you always seemed busy yourself, so I didn't want to bother you. This move has been quite a wild ride, don't you think? It's nice that everything seems to be calming down again."

[Ivy]

Eros landed near Ivy and Cainith, puffing his chest out a bit he paced a few steps before beginning to preen himself. He looked lovely today, did he not? Truly a magnificent specimen of his species if he did say so himself. Eying the salamandyr wrapped around Ivy's wrist he flashed him an image of the flowers Cainith had brought for Ivy - the ones he had given the man to give to Ivy. Looking smug and quite full of himself Eros began preening once more and chirruped softly. Smug as a bug in a rug.

Perses hissed softly at the firelizard before pulling himself up slightly off His' wrist, Butiful is mine. he informed the other blue in a steely voice. But then he crooned softly and nuzzled Ivy's wrist. He did not like being ignored for being mean to those other leeches that stole her attention. So he would play nice. For now.

Pretty flowers.[/color], he informed both Cainith and Eros in a soft, approving tone. Yes, he would play nice now. They would get theirs later though - have no doubt about that.

Smiling as she noted Perses apparent change of heart she reached and ran finger along his small back, to which he crooned softly and nuzzled her softly once more along the wrist. "Good boy. Thank you."

To Cainith she smiled and winked, "I like my rides wild though. As you well know." A girlish giggle followed this and she offered a nod, "Yes it has been hectic though. I like this place though, its large. Have you noticed how much larger the rooms and such are? I was exploring some of the empty apartments - they're huge!" Blue eyes were slightly wide as she made this exclamation and then she added, "And the walls... Not like at Selenitas. Well, old Selenitas I suppose. This is the new one, right?"

Holding her arm up she nodded to her 'mandyr and then looked up to Rollehead on Cainith's head, "Rollhead, this is Perses. Perses, Rollhead. You're both handsome young blues!"

Roooollhead. Perses repeated, drawing out the name as he looked up to the other 'mandyr.

[Aftershock]

Cainith smiled as Perses reminded him about the flowers, and he reached around Ivy to pick them up again, hoping the blue 'mandyr wouldn't assault them this time. "Yes, they are pretty. Just like Ivy, so it's quite appropriate she have them, don't you think?" As he spoke, he presented the flowers to Ivy with the arm he had wrapped around her side, smiling at her.

At Ivy's innuendo involving wild rides, Cainith laughed uproariously, responding, "Yes, I think I do remember that fact, my dear. You nearly wore this old stallion out!" Placing the flowers in Ivy's lap (if she did not accept them), he swatted her on her round backside while grinning cheekily, adding, "Perhaps another ride could be scheduled soon, and you can see just how hard this stallion can buck."

As she spoke of the new Weyr, Cainith nodded, saying, "Yes, it is quite a feat of engineering, this place. Old Selenitas quite reminded me of the mines I worked in as a boy... this place, though, this is more like an underground Hold. You've got to wonder where all the people who made this place went," he concluded, scratching his chin in thought. "Either way," he continued, "Someone my size can never complain about bigger rooms."

Then, as Ivy introduced Perses to Rollhead, Rollhead looked at Perses, but did not respond, his eyes still swirling the dull grey of before. Cainith frowned at this, then suddenly his eyes lit up as an idea came to him. Reaching down with his free hand, he dug into his ever-present snatchel, and retrieved a meatroll. Biting off the end, he placed it on the ground, then carefully plucked the blue 'mandyr off his head and placed him beside the meatroll, where he began listlessly eating the meat from within the warm bakery treat.

Leaning over to Ivy while Rollhead was occupied, he whispered in her ear, "I have an idea to get Rollhead out of this funk, and perhaps even make him like you more, at least temporarily. I want you to complain about how you worry you're infertile due to you never having children, at which point I will place my hands over your stomach and you'll show amazement about how fertile you suddenly feel, and attribute it to my 'powers'. Could you do that, you think?"

[Ivy]

With a nod, Ivy put on her best actress face - unfortunately she wasn't a very good actress, at least not when it came to things like this. So she put the back of her right hand to her forehead and looked away from Cainith, sniffling rather audibly to hopefully get Rollhead's attention on her. Peeking towards the Blue she said in a voice loud enough that there was no way the salamandyr couldn't hear her she said, "Oh Cainith! I am so worried I will never be able to have children! I fear I am infertile. What can I do? I want children someday!"

Bad acting over she glanced to Cainith then to Rollhead then to Cainith again expectantly, waiting for the larger man to hold up his part of the act. She hoped it would work, she could tell Cainith was quite worried about his pet - and as much as she disliked Rollhead's normal rantings and ravings, she too was a bit worried about him.

Eros and Perses just looked at their bonded with puzzled looks. What in Pern was she going on about? They could see right through her facade, but said nothing - somewhat interested in what exactly was going on.

[Aftershock]

Cainith smiled at Ivy's ham-tastic acting, fighting to control his laughter so as not to ruin his plan. Rollhead, for his part, glanced over at the woman as she acted out her woe, his eyes shifting from the normal dull grey to a dull orange of confusion. As Ivy finished her act, Cainith started his, stating, "Let me see what a Goddess can do to help you," and placing his large hands upon Ivy's stomach. Acting as if he were concentrating, he maintained the pose for a bit, then released her, stating, "It is done. How do you feel?"

[Ivy]

"I... I feel..." Ivy did her best 'shock and awe' face she could muster, all while Perses and Eros watched her with silent amusement and confusion. "I feel like I could have a mountain of babies! Oh thank you, Goddess!!" She leaned a bit to do her best seated version of a bow before wrapping her arms around him, "My offspring shall certainly hear about what you've done and will worship you!"

With that last bit said she glanced to Rollhead to see if he bought it at all - hopefully he did.