when the world comes down {may chores//open}

[Avu]

He’d just barely managed not to throw up in the Infirmary – something that Tr’esn was quite proud of, even though he had emptied his stomach outside of the temporary Infirmary. Being a voluntary Healer’s assistant (of sorts) was not a good occupation, he thought weakly, for someone who, like him, simply could not cope with blood. Now he was leaning against Oquith, nibbling on a meatroll tiredly, an empty basket hooked over one arm. The basket was for completing his own chores: Gathering nuts and fruit, setting traps, or hunting. Since Tr’esn really didn’t know how to hunt or set traps, gathering was the only option left to him, and he faced the jungle warily, brushing his hair out of his eyes and flicking a glance towards Oquith. “Are you sure I’m allowed to go alone…?” he asked softly, one eyebrow rising anxiously at the green. “They said we were supposed to have an ‘uninjured Rider’ with us…but I don’t know anyone else who’s been assigned to Gathering…” Stuffing the rest of the meatroll into his mouth and swallowing, the greenrider turned his face, pressing his cheek against Oquith’s hide with a sigh.

He felt so…utterly…useless…

You aren’t alone; I can fit in the trees with you as long as we don’t go too far in, Oquith responded lovingly, nudging him affectionately. And, Minelove, I don’t see why you need a Rider with you. It seems ridiculous – I mean, Mine? There still are sweep-riders, aren’t there? Tr’esn nodded, still wary. “And there are so many people out, too…I’ll bump into someone, probably. I think…maybe. Anyway, I’m ready now, I think.” He pushed himself reluctantly away from Oquith’s flank, tucking the basket closer against him, and started for the jungle, pushing the first branches out of his way and squinting warily into the gloominess. “You’d think they’d…trim it down some,” he commented softly, almost fretfully, as Oquith crooned and padded after him, ducking her head and folding her wings close to her body, carefully winding her way around the trees. Thank you, Faranth, for Oquith’s size; she was only about eighteen feet – perhaps a little smaller – from her tail-tip to her nose. Any bigger and she probably wouldn’t have fit in the trees with Hers.

Her muzzle pressed lightly against the small of his back, Tr’esn squinted blankly at the trees, wandering forward pointlessly. There was really no reason he should care about getting lost; he’d hit a clearing soon enough, since there happened to be quite a few of those randomly scattered through the jungle, and then he and Oquith could go between back to the Weyr. Another benefit of having her with him. “Look,” he blurted suddenly, left arm raising to point skyward. “Is that – is that a starfruit tree, there? I think I see one…up, higher, there.” Oquith craned her neck upwards thoughtfully, head cocked. Why, yes – it is. But Mine…it’s ever so high up, and the tree doesn’t look too sturdy…perhaps you shouldn’t get it. There will be smaller starfruit trees later, I’m sure, the green answered softly, clearly nervous at the thought of Hers climbing so high. “It won’t be too hard. Look – there’s branches all over, and there’s lots of fruit there…” He bit his lip, shuffling bare feet thoughtfully against the jungle floor. “And…and you’ll catch me, won’t you, Qui?” Oquith’s croon was high and anxious, but she watched in silence as Tr’esn reached up, swinging the basket behind him, and grabbed onto the lowest branch.

Climbing the tree was easy, and Tr’esn occasionally hooked his arm around a branch and wriggled out warily to pick one of the fruits dangling from the branch. As he reached the top, dropping another oddly-shaped fruit into his basket, he hooked both legs around the branch he was sitting on, resting the basket on the branch lightly and wrapping his arm around the trunk, glancing out over the jungle. Much foliage still obscured his view, since, like most fruit trees, the starfruit tree wasn’t that tall, but it was a nice view, anyway; he could see the jungle sprawling, thick and green, away from him. “It’s nice up here,” the greenrider observed, cocking his head down at Oquith and flashing a playful grin at the green.

And then the branch broke, and Tr’esn yelped – loudly as Oquith ducked sideways, uttering a keen of surprise as Tr’esn clung to the trunk, eyes wide as his branch fell, the basket banging into his ribs as he slid down cautiously to settle his feet onto the next branch, wetting his lips shakily as the branch crashed into the foliage loudly. “…I – I – sorry, Oquith…”

[Rei]

Raylin had gone out early in the morning to begin her chores. Sleep was not something she was getting and the weyrling had decided to try and make herself semi useful instead. Maybe this she could actually be useful at. Gathering wasn’t all that hard anyway. She had done it before when tithes where cut. Same thing.

Ebolath said nothing. Hers was in a black mood and there was no snapping her out of it. The green tried frequently but to no avail. Hers was just too stubborn. Instead the green had followed hers through the trees as best as she could. Ebolath was getting bigger and if her current size was anything to go by, she would probably be a little bigger than the average green when full grown.

Fitting through the trees had been difficult and eventually Raylin left Ebolath in a clearing. Much to the green’s dismay. Mine I heard something! Be careful it might be a feline. I told you we should not have gone out so early. Ebolath’s yellow whirling eyes scanned the foliage nostril’s flaring in an attempt to distinguish a scent. Nothing familiar or dangerous was scented and the green visibly relaxed.

Raylin had gathered quite a few basketfuls of red fruit by the time Tr'esn and Oquith had started and had made it back to Ebolath’s side. Yawning the weyrling placed the baskets next to the green and sat down to lean against her side. Please sleep mine. You have not been getting enough rest and you will get sick again. Sighing in defeat Raylin obeyed, closing her eyes and snuggling against her dragon. It seemed it was not meant to be however.

A large crash had Raylin jumping to her feet while Ebolath lowered her head and flared her nostrils. It is not a feline. I smell another dragon. Mine wait! But Raylin was already through the trees heading toward the noise. As the green weyrling drew closer to the twosome she looked up at Tr’esn. “You ok?”

Brushing her hair back from her face smiled faintly at Oquith. She could feel Ebolath pressing questioningly against her mind.It’s Oquith and Tr’esn Love. Tr’esn is up in a tree. It looks like he may have broken a branch. No need to be alarmed. She could feel the green’s relief and then a tentative request. Maybe you could see if he needs help?

Ebolath had taken to pushing hers too interact with people. Ever since the attack hers had avoided everyone. Ebolath was frankly concerned for her. It wasn’t healthy to stay so closed.

[Avu]

So anxious had Oquith been to make sure Hers didn’t…topple out of the tree, as it were, that the green hadn’t registered their proximity to another dragon and Rider pair. Perhaps fortunately, for Oquith was always on the verge of panic since the Siege of Selenitas – seeing Hers come so close to being hurt, and seeing R’wignCheck’s hurt – made her even more fretful than normal, and she’d been exceptionally nervous and high-strung lately. Someone else being nearby – that she was aware of – would have made Oquith want to shy away, because – what if they hurt Hers? Tr’esn was fragile, he was. As it was, the green was prancing slightly, wings flaring nervously; she was oblivious to the foliage rubbing across the delicate wing membrane as she crooned, head arched backwards to peer at Hers. Tr’esn looked suitably shocked by how close he’d come to falling alongside the branch, which had rolled under a bush by now; his face was pale and the greenrider wet his lips warily.

“I didn’t…think it’d break,” he stammered to Oquith, the paleness receding into a flush. “It wasn’t…I thought it was stable – it – it looked stable…” He shrugged helplessly, absently checking the basket of starfruit to make sure none had fallen out. The soft-skinned fruits were easily dented, after all, and if he came back without anything for his troubles, the kitchen workers would be extraordinarily displeased, and understandably so; he’d already broken the first rule – don’t go gathering without a full Rider – and to come back with nothing would be…horribly humiliating. He sighed, brushing pieces of bark and leaves off of his tunic – and then twitched visibly as he caught sight of Raylin, just before he spoke, eyes widening in surprise and alarm. What? Where had she come from?! He nearly panicked, as Oquith whipped around at the girl’s voice, eyes flashing nervously as she took a step backwards, towards Tr’esn’s tree.

Tr’esn was flushing now, more intensely. He remembered Raylin, vaguely; he’d met her twice before, and he’d seen in her the Infirmary, too. Helping Healers, apparently, meant you got to meet a lot of traumatized and blood-soaked people. Unable to repress the shudder at that thought, Tr’esn fidgeted with the basket over his arm, avoiding her gaze. “Um…yeah, I’m…I’m just fine…the branch just broke, and…it – it startled me, it’s nothing…important.” He smiled weakly, aware that his words sounded feeble, and dropped down another branch, scooting towards the ground again, one hand extended to Oquith as the green crooned again, her muzzle butting lightly into his cupped palm. “It’s…Raylin, right? Of – Ebolath?” He thought that was right, but – “Sorry if I’m wrong,” he added, more softly, as his bare feet landed on the stable ground once more and he immediately leaned into Oquith. “I don’t…I might have forgotten…”

Oquith, who looked much more pleased by having Hers safely nearby again, twisted her body around Tr’esn’s, crooning softly as she huffed at Raylin, measurably less wary now that she could touch Hers. Tr’esn, Minelove? Who is she? Do I know her? Ebolath, where’s Ebolath, is she here? the green asked cautiously, and Tr’esn vocalized for her, since the green hadn’t been addressing Raylin (she reserved that honor for R’wignCheck’s, K’iel, and Vashti, typically): “Oquith wants to know – where’s your dragon?” Oquith was older than Raylin’s Bonded by a clutch; if Oquith could fit into the jungle, still, surely Ebolath could…unless she was just extremely big for her age. They’d be quite near their full size already, wouldn’t they…? Softly, he added, aware of the slight hypocrisy of the statement, “We aren’t supposed to be out…alone…are we?” His cheek was pressed against Oquith’s hide again, the greenrider’s gaze flicking towards the depths of the jungle curiously. The starfruit didn’t fill his basket; he could still gather more…

[Rei]

Tr’esn’s stuttering had Raylin frowning slightly. “I am sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you." She continued more softly. "Yes your right it’s Raylin of Ebolath.” She trailed off to let the other weyrling gain some composure. When he seemed a bit more stable she answered Oquith’s question.

“She is in the clearing a bit behind and to our left. She is having a bit of trouble getting through the trees. The poor dear is getting so big. It makes her frustrated when she can’t squeeze though things as well anymore. She is managing ok but she isn’t nearly as fast as I am with so much clutter.”

Indeed Ebolath was having a difficult time not getting caught on things. Finally, she made it to where hers was standing. Crooning in greeting she wiggled past two trees and gently huffed her breath onto hers. Good morning Oquith. Mine says yours almost fell is he quite alright? Ebolath spoke in a bright friendly tone meant to soothe the nervous green.

Shifting so she was more comfortable she nosed hers gently. Do not run away like that again Raymine. How am I supposed to protect you if you are not there? It would have taken you to long to get here. The weyrling replied to her dragon softly before trailing a hand over her bottom jaw. You are getting big darling.

It was true, although Ebolath was no where near the size of the largest greens she would be on the bigger side for her color. Especially in the bulk department. Though thankfully do to her riders constant nagging and meal restriction it was mostly muscle.

Tr’esn’s next question had Raylin sighing. “No we are not, but I don’t know many riders. The ones I know are all injured. I figure as long as we have our dragons we’ll be safe enough.” The girl trailed off and leaned back against Ebolath, stifling a yawn. “If you want we can stick together. That would be safer than working by ourselves.” It was a true statement spoken mainly to try and quell some of Tr’esn’s fear. However if he wanted them to leave they would.

[Avu]

Tr’esn would have given any amount of marks (that he had, but then he didn’t have many) to sink into Oquith and just pretend he was invisible, but manners dictated he mustn’t ignore the greenweyrling, and really, Tr’esn was too nervy and high-strung not to care about what people thought of him – hence most of his shying away from social events; what if he messed up, or humiliated himself? His smile was barely there – weak, but at least it was there at all – as Raylin assured him that he’d managed to get her name as well as her dragon’s name right. Really, it wasn’t too hard; he didn’t have many friends outside of his weyrling class, so when he did meet someone he even vaguely liked, their name tended to stick. M’ta, R’wign, K’iel, and Vashti: All in his Weyrling class. Raylin was…more or less the only one who wasn’t that Tr’esn had remembered liking, though probably there had been more. His memory wasn’t exactly renowned.

She hadn’t asked his name, so Tr’esn supposed Raylin’s memory surpassed his own as far as names went, and let it go. If she did use his name, that was fine; if she pronounced it incorrectly, Tr’esn probably wouldn’t correct her; he was too shy to point out another’s fault, even when it came to something that personally affected him. “S – she’s bigger than Oquith?” he asked softly, eyes widening in clear surprise as his free hand rested lightly against the tiny green’s flank. He shouldn’t be surprised, really; he’d never seen a green as small as Oquith was. But Ebolath was a weyrling green – not fully grown yet – if she was bigger than Oquith, already, she’d probably be huge when she was fully grown…“Oquith managed fine…” Because she had. The green wasn’t slender, but had always had the firm layer of muscle beneath her hide, and by lowering her head and keeping her wings folded, navigating through the jungle had been quite a simple matter.

Before he could specifically ask, the green had already appeared. She was a lighter color than his Oquith – Qui’s hide was a lovely shade of emerald green, and her wings a kaleidoscope of different shades – and a little rounder, too. Mostly out of habit, Tr’esn smiled at the green. “Hi, Ebolath,” he offered. He didn’t expect the green to answer, though if she did, he wouldn’t be in the least surprised. Being Bonded to Oquith meant that Qualuth and Wymeth were ridiculously fond of him, as an extension of Oquith – they called him by his real name, instead of “Oquith’s”, and talked to him regularly; and Checkoth had spoken to him, too. His green lowered her head, neck pressing lightly against Tr’esn’s side, as she crooned, the sound low, with a note of nervousness still there. Hello, Ebolath. Mine didn’t fall; the branch he was sitting on fell, but he got off in time. Thank you for your concern, though; he is just fine.

That was, amusingly enough, exactly what Tr’esn had figured – and hoped would pass the kitchen staff. Since Candidates, Weyrlings, and Riders had been on the same list, he’d been hoping that the ‘Rider companion’ idea had applied solely to Candidates; after all, what did Riders have that Weyrlings didn’t? Prettier knots and rank wouldn’t hold up much against felines…and though Tr’esn had grown up believing rankers were invincible, he was very much aware that he had as much a chance against a feline as any given Rider, since Oquith would take care of him. “I didn’t know any either,” he answered softly, shrugging one shoulder helplessly. “I was hoping if we brought back enough fruit and stuff, they wouldn’t mind so much and they’d drop the lecture.” The kitchen staff did like to lecture, and any of the tongue-lashings was enough to make Tr’esn cringe. “Ah – all right, then…you came from that way? Let’s…go this way, then…” He pointed sideways, perpendicular to his original path and Raylin’s. “Okay?”

Mine, don’t worry so much. Of course it’s okay. Come on, Oquith crooned, casing a decidedly annoyed glance at the tree and then nudging Tr’esn ahead of her. The greenrider flicked Raylin a weak smile, tilting his head towards the trees, and then started into the jungle, followed by Oquith, who glanced behind her and crooned audibly to Ebolath. Come? Yours hasn’t been this way, has she? If so, maybe we can find a clearing and fly deeper into the jungle where people probably haven’t been…? Honestly, Oquith would have preferred to suggest going between; she loved being able to go between – but she wasn’t stupid. Ebolath was still too young…sigh.

[Rei]

Ebolath rumbled at Tr’esn’s hello but didn’t speak beyond that. Hers didn’t know this one as well as she knew some of the other riders and so Ebolath herself, although extremely friendly, didn’t speak out loud. Oquith’s statement made the younger green croon.

That is good. No one likes for theirs to be hurt. Falling silent she nudged hers gently. Tr’esn’s nervousness was compounding Raylin’s. The other weyrling was getting the impression that she was unwelcome and truly it didn’t surprise her. Upset her yes, surprise her no.

Before Raylin could rescind her offer with an apology however Tr’esn was already motioning where they should go next. “No I haven’t gone that way. You can lead if you want. I have to go back and get the baskets I left. Take Ebolath. I’ll catch up.” Without waiting for a rely she ducked back into the foliage to retrieve her baskets causing Ebolath to whine in slight distress.

Raylin returned rather quickly however, the clearing was no more than a few feet away, and rushed to catch up with Oquith and Tr’esn, Ebolath striding behind her.

Ebolath crooned softly as she answered Oquith. No I am sure mine has not been this way yet. I am not sure where the most fruit grows. It seems very thinned out close to the weyr. We shouldn’t go to far though. I do not like felines and they do not seem to like us at all either.

Ebolath stayed extremely close to Raylin. So close, in fact, that the girl could feel the dragon’s hot breath on the back of her neck as she walked. Darling your smothering me. Think you could back up a little? The request was spoken privately and softly so as not to upset the green.

Snorting Ebolath did just that, although her eyes whirled in nervous colors. It was so silent. The silence unnerved the green and her bonded’s pessimistic attitude wasn’t helping. Raylin stayed completely silent as she followed Tr’esn. After all it was obvious he was uncomfortable with the whole thing. If she opened her mouth it would just make it worse.

Finally not being able to bear the silence anymore Ebolath tentatively reached for Oquith’s mind. Does yours want us to go? We do not want to make you or yours uncomfortable.

[Avu]

No, nobody liked Theirs to be hurt. For a moment, Oquith thought the younger green meant to go on – but she didn’t, and after a slightly puzzled glance, the older green shrugged it off, thoughtlessly winding around a bush and sniffing at the berries upon it curiously. “Poisonous,” Tr’esn murmured aloud, slender fingers catching Oquith’s muzzle and pulling her away from the bush. He was purposely going slowly, for Raylin’s sake; he didn’t want to leave her behind, especially if Ebolath was with them; that would leave her alone, and Tr’esn didn’t really know what to do with Ebolath if she happened to panic because of it; she was bigger than Oquith, and his lovely darling couldn’t possibly be risked for Ebolath’s sake, as much as he didn’t want her to be hurt. Not that Ebolath would purposely hurt Oquith; but a dragon panicked was a good deal harder to restrain than a person that was panicked. His basket was hitting him in the hip with every step, bare feet cautiously seeking the best routes in the jungle to avoid thorns or rocks.

As soon as Raylin caught up, Tr’esn sped up a little, occasionally flicking a glance over his shoulder to make sure the girl was keeping up. She ought to; he was the one barefoot, and if anything, it was he who would be slow. Oquith was as silent as Tr’esn was, head lowered and shoulders hunched slightly as she padded through the jungle. As Ebolath spoke, the older green’s head came around, one whirling eye staring confusedly at Ebolath. Of course it was thinned out closer to the Weyr. People came, picked the fruit, more often than, say, ten miles out. So it was reasonable to say that the most fruit didn’t grow right next to the Weyr, wasn’t it? And felines – well, some felines were nice. The Mothfeline that Hers had was positively adorable; everyone liked Moth. We won’t go too far, she reassured Ebolath hesitantly, and then fell silent again, unsure of what to say to the younger green. Oquith didn’t do well with starting conversations – but if someone else did, the green could and would be quite social.

Tr’esn flicked a glance behind him, a half-smile quirking his lips in Oquith’s direction as he rounded a tree, fingers tracing lightly over the bark. In all honesty, he preferred the silence – unless the silence detracted from how much information he was getting. Silence was safe, comfortable, for him; silence meant no forthcoming insults or harshness. During the attack, he’d hated the silence – but that was a different kind of silence, a dangerous kind. Now, with the sound of wherries croaking and warbling, with darter’s song above, it was nice. Better than trying to have some kind of awkward conversation with anyone; Tr’esn just didn’t like other people too much, especially people he didn’t know. With his closer friends, he could relax – because he trusted them. Not so for Raylin. At Ebolath’s question, Oquith huffed in surprise, blinking at the younger green. Mine – Tr’esnMine? Ebolath wants to know – do you want them to come along? They don’t want to make you uncomfortable, Mine.

It clearly surprised Tr’esn, Raylin’s interpretation of his silence; the greenrider’s step faltered and he resisted the urge to speak aloud, to correct Raylin – but he had a sense of what was socially acceptable, and potentially embarrassing someone else was not within those boundaries, especially when he’d been told of something he wasn’t supposed to hear. I – yes. Tell her ‘yes’, I’m fine with it… The green flicked her tail thoughtfully as she bespoke Ebolath, her words carefully chosen. Mine does want you and Yours to come. It’s safer, if you do – for all of us. And…Ebolath? Can you please – tell Yours, if she’s worried, that Mine doesn’t like to talk much? It’s not personal – it really isn’t. He just doesn’t like talking with people he’s not entirely comfortable around; he likes the silence. I’m…sorry…

It was Tr’esn who actually spoke next, though, his words coming before Oquith had even finished speaking as he pointed forwards. “Look – what kind of tree is that? Oh…” As he approached it, the greenrider touched one leaf gingerly, turning it towards the light. There was no mistaking the small, branchy tree for anything but what it was: A fellis plant. The yellow blossoms, and the five-pointed leaves, were quite distinctive, and he’d seen a lot of dried fellis of late. “It’s not…technically food, but…I guess the Healers’d want more fellis…should we, do you think…?”

[Rei]

Raylin trudged along almost unseeing. One foot in front of the other. It was how she operated these days almost mechanical. Unfeeling. Ebolath was comparatively silent as she awaited Oquith’s answer. Part of her wanted to shake hers until she came to her senses and part of her was scared that if she did it would make her worse. So involved was she in her own personal struggle that she started when Oquith’s voice sounded.

Oh. It is ok. I understand. I will let mine know that it isn’t personal. She is having her own problems. I don’t know how to fix her. Ebolath gave a sigh before continuing. You do not have to apologize. Everyone is different. Yours is fine in his own way. She flicked her eyes towards Oquith and crooned. I am sorry mine is so silly. I wish she would snap out of it. Ebolath’s tone was undeniably sorrowful. Hers was different and she feared the old hers would never return. Hanging her head she regarded hers with grey tinged whirling eyes.

Raylin stopped when Tr’esn paused and nodded. “They could always use more fellis. It would be a good idea to gather some.” After her statement she fell silent withdrawing into herself as she reached for the narcotic plant. Ebolath’s voice caused her to flinch. Raymine? Oquith says Tr’esn wants us to stay. He just likes silence. Please do not take it personally. Oquith…she…apologizes for him. Tell her I understand. She does not need to apologize for him. I…he doesn’t want to be my friend anyway. My friends just get hurt.

Taken aback by the statement Ebolath crooned softly, eyes whirling in confusion. Mine says she understands and you do not need to apologize. The last bit she left off as she lowered her head to nudge hers in the back. Raylin trembled slightly at the touch and turned to gently push at Ebolath’s head. “Fellis is poison to dragons love. Stay clear of it.”

With a soft snort Ebolath turned and settled herself a few feet away, folding her wings against her back she rumbled softly. Touching Oquith's mind she hesitated for a fraction of a second but quickly overcame her indecision.Oquith? Is yours different? I mean different than he was before so many passed? You do not have to speak of it if you do not want to. I just wondered. Mine is different. She is distant and she hurts and I cannot help her. I have tried but she will not listen. I don’t understand. Ebolath opened up to Oquith because she felt she had no other option. Maybe she could make sense of it where Ebolath could not? Oquith was older and so wiser. If she did not know the green was determined to find someone who did.

[Avu]

Ebolath’s comments drew no sound from Oquith, the small green tucking her tail thoughtfully around her haunches and folding her wings carefully as Hers moved towards the fellis plant. Oquith hated fellis – it was poisonous to her, to begin with, and Hers often came home after having worked with it, since he’d been helping in the temporary Infirmary. But Ebolath was confusing her; ‘fix her’? Why would you want to…‘fix’ your Rider? You didn’t fix them; you helped them fix themselves, didn’t you? That implied…force, and nobody liked being forced to do something. The young green rubbed her neck thoughtfully on a knotted tree branch, eyes whirling thoughtfully. Snap out of it – snap out of what? It didn’t make sense; and it couldn’t be that bad, really. Hers was functioning just fine, which was more than how some other people were faring, and the Siege was over and done for, and Morsrath’s was dead, and he couldn’t hurt anyone else: Why was anyone upset? Because, clearly, Ebolath’s was – the automatic, mechanical way she moved spoke of a listlessness not typical to dragonriders, as far as Oquith could tell.

He’d been offering up a conversation – if not the most interesting one in the world – because, clearly, from what Oquith had said, Raylin wasn’t entirely comfortable with silence. But what the other greenweyrling said in return – didn’t give him anything to say, really. Tr’esn shifted awkwardly, uncertainly, as he nodded blankly. As Raylin reached out towards the plant, though, he mumbled automatically, “Stems and leaves…” He was quite sure the bark and flowers didn’t do anything; it was the stems and leaves that were boiled to produce the ending narcotic that was so well-known throughout Pern. Leaning down and settling his basket snugly between his bare feet, Tr’esn absently tugged a handful of leaves free by their stems, twisting the stems tightly together and tucking it into a small crevice formed by the starfruit. No need to get fellis scattered throughout the entire basket; the fruit would end up tasting like narcotic, and that couldn’t possibly taste good, even if the dose wasn’t strong enough to knock anyone out. Almost mechanically, he picked another handful, reaching for Oquith mentally.

I…you…what am I supposed to /say/? he asked softly, clearly nervous. Tr’esn didn’t understand. If the silence bothered Raylin, he’d talk, but he could hardly carry out a conversation all on his own without looking quite the fool…Perhaps she doesn’t want to talk either, Oquith answered, sounding a bit confused herself; then she added, Minelove… Ebolath says she understands. Perhaps she’s trying to be nice to you by keeping the silence, since you like it? Not entirely convincing, but Tr’esn let it go, twisting the stems of a third handful together and sliding it gently into the crevice, cocking his head to appraise the condition of the fellis tree. They should leave some leaves – make sure that the tree survived – but he’d come back later, maybe, and see about getting more leaves from it. Give it a tenday or so… Oquith could help him remember were it was, too – not very far out from the Weyr. Hmm…they could probably still take a few more…

The green’s croon of surprise came audibly – to Tr’esn, at least – as Ebolath bespoke her, and Oquith twitched her tail thoughtfully against her haunches. ‘Different’? Hers…wasn’t different, was he? Well, perhaps a little: He’d been positively terrified during the Siege, and when he was terrified, Tr’esn froze – but he’d gotten over it. He was helping R’wignCheck’s, and he was busy and he was – if not content – at least accepting. And he wasn’t acting any different, though he was always rather…upset, if someone mentioned Marra; if R’wign hadn’t been with him at the time of the Siege’s beginning, he’d probably have been able to defend his girlfriend better. But R’wignCheck’s had told him he was okay, and Tr’esn hadn’t blamed himself too much after that. Mine is not different. The Siege…may have been helpful, I think, the green mused thoughtfully. He and R’wignCheck’s are friends now – or at least, he thinks of R’wignCheck’s as a friend – and he’s being taught healing…and Morsrath’s is dead, too…so he’s not too upset. Flighty, but that was just Tr’esn; it wasn’t uncharacteristic of him in the least. I’m…I’m sorry; did Yours…loose somebody close to her, perhaps…?

“I think we’re done here,” Tr’esn interjected after a few more minutes of silence, twisting the stems of the fifth handful together. “We can’t take too many; it’ll die…are you ready?”

[Rei]

Raylin nodded at Tr’esn’s comment. Stems and leaves. That wasn’t to difficult. Reaching up she twisted a few stems off and dropped them into her last empty basket. Silence. Really it wasn’t to bad. It was strangely preferred right now. The Tr’esn and Oquith where obviously uncomfortable. If Ebolath would just stay quiet perhaps they would relax a bit. She refrained from asking Ebolath to stop talking however. The green was easily upset recently.

Ebolath curled herself into a tight ball watching Oquith quietly. When the green finally did speak Ebolath could sense the confusion and discomfort in the other dragon’s words. I… Oquith. I am sorry to bother you about it. It is not your problem. The green snorted at herself and looked up at the filtered sunlight. I just need someone to listen.

Ebolath curled her tail tighter against herself before continuing. It is good that yours was helped. Mine was harmed by the attack. Not only physically but in her mind. Mine dwells on things sometimes until it makes her ill. This time she is not getting better. She watched my brothers and sisters and her classmates die. Other people important to her where badly hurt and she blames herself. I have tried to talk her out of it but she will not listen to me. I guess there is no helping her.

By the time Ebolath had finished speaking Tr’esn had called an end to the gathering of the fellis. Standing and brushing herself off Raylin picked up the basket of fellis she had collected. “Yeah I think we have enough now.” She placed the fellis next to her other baskets. Two baskets of redfruit, one of fellis, and an empty one. “Where are we going next?’

Ebolath heaved herself to her feet to wait for instructions. She eyed hers sadly for a moment and then turned to the older green. Stretching much like a feline, she forced some cheer into her tone. So where do we go next? Does yours think we should go deeper into the jungle or just look around here? We could always go fishing as well. Really fishing sounded good to Ebolath, simply for the fact that in the jungle the sunlight was faint and not very warming.

[Avu]

Oquith’s eyes whirled in slight distress at Ebolath’s apology, and the small, darker green crooned quietly. Don’t apologize, please…I do want to help, I really do. She did, too; Oquith simply didn’t like seeing anyone upset. Typically, “upset” was only slightly distraught – when Wymeth hurt herself and didn’t feel it, or when Qualuth hadn’t Caught her in her maiden Flight – those hurts could be healed by offering shiny objects, typically homemade, to the unfortunate one. This was a worse hurt, though; it was one of the hurts that didn’t go away, that just stayed and got worse and worse as someone picked at it, and that was the kind of hurt Oquith didn’t know how to work with. Maybe Hers did, but it was a rather private matter, and though she’d undoubtedly tell Tr’esn about it later, to ask him to tell Ebolath’s what to do would be…a blatant intrusion upon that privacy. She wasn’t even sure if Raylin knew that Ebolath was telling her. I just…don’t know if I can help. But I can listen, yes… Listening: She could do that.

And the green did listen, curling her tail neatly around her haunches and settling silently, head cocked slightly as the explanation was passed to her by Ebolath. A slight shudder ran through her body at the mention of deaths, her tail flicking nervously. It was bad for all of Ours, at the time, the green answered quietly, trying her best to be honest. She really didn’t know what to do for Ebolath’s, but she could at least try to make the green feel better. Whether or not it would work, she didn’t know, as Oquith had had quite the time trying to make herself feel better – and Hers hadn’t even been hurt. I…it’s very hard for me to understand humans, Ebolath. I miss them, too, but why do they stay on the topic forever? It cannot be changed. We might as well look to the future instead…perhaps Yours doesn’t understand this? She’d be upset if any of her clutchsiblings died; Oquith was on good terms with most of them – but, to be honest, unless it was Qualuth or Wymeth or Checkoth – or Behruth – she wouldn’t linger on it.

I’m…I really am sorry, Ebolath; it’s ever so difficult to help humans when I don’t quite understand them… Oquith was clearly apologetic, the older green reaching out to nudge Ebolath’s shoulder tentatively. Physical contact was always a great source of comfort for her; perhaps the same held true for the younger green. Did…did all of her friends go /between/? Maybe…well, I don’t know…maybe Mine can be her friend. He’s very good at listening…? I just don’t know if he’ll be able to talk her out of it. Perhaps she needs a present of some kind, to cheer her up? She really didn’t know. Typically, she used Tr’esn to bounce ideas off of, to see if they were sound or not, but now, she was using Ebolath; it was the green’s Rider, after all; she’d know better than Tr’esn would.

Unused was Tr’esn to being looked to for directions, and the greenrider cocked his head thoughtfully, blinking at Raylin for a moment before his gaze flickered towards the sky, seeking some kind of fruit dangling from a tree, perhaps, or…something; anything, to guide them. “I…don’t know,” he admitted, one thin shoulder rising weakly. “I didn’t really…plan anything; I figured I’d just wander.” He’d been a lot more willing to ‘just wander’ when it was just himself and Oquith, though; they could blink back between if they got lost. With Ebolath and Raylin, they’d have to be a lot more careful about loosing their way. Even if Ebolath could fly, she’d still need a direction. “Umm… I guess we could just keep going straight, unless you have…?”

Let’s go fishing? Ebolath suggests it, Oquith offered, the green rising fluidly to her feet and padding up behind Tr’esn to nudge him in the small of the back affectionately. Fishing – that counts as ‘gathering’ too, doesn’t it? It’s closer to the Weyr, too. Warmer – it’s such a nice day outside, isn’t it? “Or,” Tr’esn vocalized, flickering a small smile at Ebolath, “we could go fishing? Ebolath’s idea…? We could go back to the Weyr, or we could just…follow the stream into the jungle…?” He paused, considering for a moment. “I mean…I’m sure we’d find a nice fishing spot somewhere, and we’d get a chance to look for more fruit and stuff along the way, right?” It was all a question, though: Tr’esn was simply not a leader. He refused to lead; it made him panic if he thought about how one of his decisions could hurt so many other people – or, in this case, two others, but still.

[Rei]

Ebolath bowed her head. I do not understand mine either. Humans are silly creatures. She can’t do anything to change things now so why does she not forget? Perhaps it is because some of her friends where badly hurt protecting her. Mine blames herself for their hurt. Corinth’s was badly hurt and she fears he will dislike her now. Ebolath snorted forcefully. I do not see why he would dislike her if he tried to protect her. You are right she should look to the future and I have told her so but she has a habit of tuning me out. I do not like it.

As Oquith nudged her shoulder Ebolath leaned into the contact. Physical affection was calming and Ebolath preferred it to speech. Not all her friends went between but a few of them did and her other friends where all hurt. Our little cousin Vega also went between. Ebolath tucked her head under Oquith’s neck and sighed. Would yours like to be mine’s friend? She would really like that I think. She thinks yours is very nice, quiet but nice. A croon left the greens throat. She liked Oquith she did. The green was oh so nice.

A present? Oh I have not tried that yet. Perhaps a nice shiny gift would make her feel a bit better! That is a very good idea Oquith. Perhaps I can look for a shiny while we fish. Ebolath twitched her tail excitedly, a bit of green entering her whirling eyes. Fishing will be fun. Perhaps we can lay in the sun a bit after we are done? The younger green nuzzled Oquith’s neck seeking to return the comfort the green had given her. Thank you so much Oquith for listening to me. She said brightly, a bit of cheer now present in her tone. Perhaps hers could still be helped. Yes, Ebolath turned whirling eyes to her bonded and gave a soft croon. Fishing will be fun Raymine. Perhaps afterwards we could go see Stupid, Corinth, and T‘rid? I want to make sure Freckle has not eaten them.

Raylin waited for direction from the boy. When none seemed forthcoming the young green rider settled for shifting her baskets around. Oquith’s approach was not noted until Tr’esn spoke again. “Fishing?” Turning she looked back at her dragon who offered a happy croon in response. Giving her a half smile in return she turned back to Tr’esn.

“Sure. We could follow the stream back. It’s a good idea. That way we can still collect fruit as well.” Fruit trees needed lots of water, there was bound to be a few along the stream bank, and if they came across a good fishing spot even better.

Gathering her baskets Raylin looked towards Tr’esn again, figuring he’d lead. Ebolath’s suggestion caused a blank look come over her face followed by a sigh. No love he needs to rest and Freckle is to small to eat them. Come on now lets get going. The green weyrling flicked her runner tail out of her face and looked up into the trees for a second before turning back towards Oquith and Tr'esn.

Ebolath gathered her feet under her to follow Oquith. The older green was far more graceful than Ebolath. I smell water this way. She remarked softly poking her nose in that direction. Fishing will be fun I think. Raylin gave another half smile at her dragon, and began threading her way through the underbrush in the direction her dragon had pointed out. The weyrling stopped once, just to be sure the others where following before continuing on her way.

As the stream came into view Ebolath crooned softly and stretched. There was more room here thankfully. She turned her head up towards the stronger sunlight. It felt good after the darker jungle and it’s filtered light. Oquith the sun feels good doesn’t it?

[Avu]

What? What? Oquith wasn’t stupid – far from it, really – but she was no more intelligent than an average green, if remarkably less flighty, and she crooned uncertainly at Ebolath. It truly didn’t make sense to her, the way humans thought: If Corinth’s hadn’t protected Ebolath’s, then Ebolath’s wouldn’t be around anymore, probably, so why exactly was she upset about that? Life was good. There was no replacement for the sun, and between there was no sun. So clearly it was a bad thing to go between for good, even if Oquith blinked between twice as most greens – easier to turn that way, now that she could just flick out of being. I…am very sorry, Ebolath. Mine does not close me out, so I’m afraid I cannot help you there… Slightly agitated, the green fluttered one wing, barely avoiding tangling it in a bush and retracting the appendage hastily as a leaf trailed along the fragile membrane. Humans can be very stubborn sometimes. Perhaps you should just give it time and bring it up when it’s…better?

Oh…oh. Many friends going between. That was a bad thing…her closest friends hadn’t. Qualuth and Wymeth, Checkoth and Behruth; they were all okay…Uminth, she thought, was fine, but Oquith wasn’t sure and Uminth wasn’t close to her that she would check – and quite possibly the green was rather frightened of the answer. Others had, though. Aberath and His had gone between – they’d shared a room with Oquith and Tr’esn before – and Imprith and Raila. The bluepair was relatively unknown to Tr’esn and Oquith, however – indeed, Imprith didn’t seem to like Tr’esn very much, and they’d mostly avoided Aberath and Ki’ner, too, if at all possible. The bronze scared Tr’esn. Oquith hummed softly in her throat, nuzzling Ebolath’s shoulder again in light affection. I’m sorry. It must hurt to see them go /between/ and to see them hurt, the little green commented sympathetically, her first set of lids half-closing. It must be very lonely, /between/. But if Yours likes it, Tr’esnMine will certainly be her friend. He likes friends, he does, he just doesn’t like having to make them… Which puzzled Oquith; wasn’t making friends half the fun?

Yes, yes! A present – a present made everything better and she always had extra shinies. Indeed, though her riding straps were not with her at present, Oquith had gotten Vashti to affix a small, braided leather chain to the breast of the straps, from which a small, jade green charm hung. Too small for her claws to effectively carve, she’d left it in the state she’d found it: Roughly rectangular, and on the dull side, but pretty. And it always made her feel better. I can help you, if you’d like, Oquith suggested shyly, I like to look for shinies too, and people always like them when they’re presents. If I find one, I’ll give it to Yours too… Hers already had a stack of shiny stones and little metal bits and pieces, tucked neatly into a corner by Oquith. Belt buckles, tin cups, necklaces, rocks and rounded stones, even a piece of steel that looked like it came off of a blade. Hers didn’t need any more; but Ebolath’s certainly did. With an absentminded croon, Oquith returned Ebolath’s nudge, lifting her head and flicking her wings back against her body deftly. Certainly we can, she agreed pleasantly. Sunning would be nice, it would. Oquith never got enough of the sun. So warm!

Tr’esn, hooking his basket over his shoulder absently and picking up one of the starfruits, flicked a curious glance at Raylin, wondering if she’d mind him eating. The nausea of the Infirmary had mostly slipped away, and though he’d eaten a meatroll before entering the forest, the sick dizziness had been replaced by a gnawing hunger, reminding him just how long ago it had been that he’d eaten a proper meal. First duty went to the Weyr, didn’t it…? Would they mind? He’d quite a harvest of the starfruits, his entire basket filled to the brim, and the fellis tucked neatly to the side…they wouldn’t. They wouldn’t know, either, assuming Raylin didn’t tell. Rubbing the fruit against his sleeve, he brought it to his mouth, still watching the other greenweyrling hesitantly as she appeared to contemplate the idea of fishing, and just as she agreed, Tr’esn nodded, a smile flickering at her even as he bit into the fruit, soft skin breaking and the golden flesh beneath immediately welling with juices.

Silently, he followed the direction that Ebolath and Raylin took, Oquith falling in line behind him and crooning, loud enough that Ebolath would be able to hear her. Are you at the sun already? How quick you are… Her compliment was genuine as she fluttered her wings for emphasis, nudging Hers in the back lightly. Go, go, Tr’esnMine, we’re at the sun already – and the sun’s close to the water, isn’t it? Closer than it is to trees; the sun’s never in the trees… Tr’esn responded with the barest hint of a smile, stroking the green’s neck affectionately. Politeness demanded he shared the spoils of war, so to speak, and he selected another of the oddly shaped fruits from his basket, catching up to Raylin as the sunlight flooded over him, blinking and then managing a half-smile as he offered it to her, cupped loosely in his left palm, right curled around his own fruit. “You want one? They can’t spite us for it, and I’ve a whole basket.”

It’s lovely, it’s lovely…Mine, come along, look at the stream… For, ahead of them, burbling over fat stones and giggling in the way that only a river has, was the water, clear and fast-running, shining silver and blue with the sun, every pebble along the bottom distinctly visible. Have we fishing supplies, or shall we have to make them, somehow?

[Rei]

Oquith’s compliment caused Ebolath to croon loudly. Stretching her neck towards the sun she let a flush of pale blue whirl through her eyes. It was oh so warm and lovely, and the water was so clear. Perhaps there where shiny rocks to be found under the surface? A small feeling of gratitude from hers caused her to turn as Tr’esn entered the sunlight.

Tr’esn’s question and smile drew a tentative one from Raylin. Reaching her hand out she gently took the fruit from him with a small genuine smile. “Thank you Tr’esn.” Biting into it she savored the sweet juices as they flowed from the fruit. Taking another bite the weyrling was surprised at how hungry she actually had been. Breakfast had been hours ago and with her decreased appetite she hadn’t eaten much.

Munching on her fruit Raylin turned to look at the stream. It was actually quite lovely and the water was so clear. Kneeling beside it she set her fruit down and cupped her hands. Taking a bit of the clear water, she brought it to her mouth and sipped. It was delicious, cold and refreshing. The second handful she splashed against her face to wash some of the sweat and grime off it. Picking her fruit back up she took another bite and looked up into the clear blue sky.

Ebolath lowered her head to drink from the stream as well. At Oquith’s question she raised her head and turned to look at the older green. I guess we will have to make them. Mine did not bring things to fish. Tilting her head she regarded the small fish swimming against the small current. I do not think these fish are big enough anyway. They are very, very tiny. Why they would hardly make a meal for a fire lizard. Perhaps there are bigger fish farther downstream?

Ebolath had included everyone in her speech and she turned back to look at the other weyrling pair. You should drink some of this water. It is so much clearer and colder than the water closer to the weyr. Stretching the green arched her neck and trotted over to hers. Flicking her tongue against the side of the girls face she rumbled happily.

((Fail xP sorry ^^))

[Avu]

Tr’esn barely noticed as Raylin took the fruit from him, pale gray eyes already sweeping thoughtfully even as he raised his other hand to his mouth, biting into his own fruit. Licking the juice from his lips and shifting the oddly-shaped starfruit in his hands, the greenrider cocked his head shyly back at Raylin, a half-smile curving his lips hesitantly. He wasn’t used to receiving a thank-you, yet. Most of the people at Selenitas Weyr were polite enough to thank someone for doing a chore, but he’d only been there for a little over fourteen months – and he’d spent fifteen Turns at Lighttower Hold, ranking lowest of the low. Even other Drudges had ordered him around, and it always sent a slight thrill that was neither unpleasant nor pleasant through him when someone addressed him politely. Normally, it would be a good thing – but it felt uncertain, queer, and he wasn’t sure how to react to it. His eyes dropped from Raylin shyly, almost instantaneously, and he didn’t say anything, simply taking another bite of the fruit: Sun-warmed and soft, the rich golden flesh heavy with juices.

But he glanced back at her, curiously now, as she knelt by the stream and drank some of the clear water that burbled gently. Rounded, smooth stones were visible, fat and gleaming, at the bottom, and Tr’esn juggled the fruit into his right hand – his left hand was, oddly, his dominant hand – and leaned down to pick up one of the rocks in his left – a smooth pink-tinted one with flecks of silvery-gold in it, washed by the water until it was as smooth as glass. Silently, he slipped it into his basket. It was for Oquith to do what she wanted to, later; the green adored ‘making’ things out of the little rocks and things she found, and it was quite obvious by the amount of shiny things in his weyr. Even now, the greenrider had a small crystal shard on a leather thong around his neck, under his shirt, that had been made by his lovely Oquith. She’d appreciate the material, the green would. He might even give it to her later on, today, if she started looking for shiny rocks.

The green was currently watching the fish, too, coming up on Oquith’s left side and nuzzling the younger green affectionately on the shoulder, one whirling eye appraising the silvery, darting fish. I think we’d need a net for these, but nets are harder to make. The fishing-sticks are easier, she commented, huffing at the water. Ripples spread, and the fish seemed to vanish as quickly as a dragon could go between. Fascinated, Oquith tilted her head, and then crooned audibly. I don’t know…perhaps…look, fish are like water-dragons; they hover between the very top and the ground and they can go /between/ too… The green had never really found a reason to be interested in the water-dwellers before; they were there, and she took them for granted. Silvery little things – much too quick for her to catch, and after a few attempts because they were so appealingly shiny – she’d given up. Rocks didn’t run away, at least.

“There’ll be fishing holes,” Tr’esn answered Ebolath automatically, and he smiled gently at her. “We can just follow the stream. We won’t get lost then, and we’ll eventually hit a still pool of water where there are bigger fish. And we still need to make fishing poles, anyway. We can use branches for the pole, but…I don’t know about hooks or the line…?” A very crude fishing pole, to be sure, but it would work nonetheless. The greenrider shrugged, self-consciously; he wasn’t used to giving orders and he didn’t like it. Another of the reasons he’d never aspired to be a bronzerider: They had too much authority and he couldn’t handle that. Licking the fruit and then biting into it, he glanced at the water. He wasn’t thirsty, but Ebolath was right: It was cleaner than the Weyr’s water. Oquith, on the other hand, lowered her head to the surface of the water, blowing bubbles and sending the silvery fish darting away like liquid lightning again before she opened her mouth to drink.

It tastes like rocks. Minerals, the green observed as she came back up, and then crooned softly. Are we going? The sooner we go, she added practically, The sooner we’ll be able – Ebolath and I – to sun properly. Unlike Ebolath, Oquith held back from addressing Raylin directly. It wasn’t personal, but Oquith didn’t talk to just everybody. K’iel and Vashti were special, and R’wign was special, too. The forest green dragon flicked her tail lightly, her small body snaking around one tree as she started at a loping walk along the riverbank, glancing over her shoulder at the three expectantly. Tr’esn, spitting the pit of the fruit into his palm, shrugged weakly at Raylin and then started after his dragon.

“Vine’s too thick to be used for fishing line…” he commented softly, almost to himself, as he glanced around the trees thoughtfully.