Chores (Group I)

[kysseh]

//Why do you have to do chores?// Hepaticath insisted, and though the voice was calm in her head, Savitri swore she heard a faint hint of petulance in it.

Sighing softly, the girl used her good arm to flip over the small boat she was examining, making an effort to not jar the injured arm in the sling. The little gold had fussed at her constantly since the Hatching, and Savitri had returned the favor. Unfortunately, Hepaticath had gotten it into her head that because Savitri was Hers and injured, it had exempted her from other responsibilities that may encroach on their time. The healer-turned-weyrling had been quick to rectify that assumption on the dragon's part. Thus, the young dragon was sulking just a bit.

I fed you, I oiled you, and I told you I love you. But I have to do these, Hep. It won't take me but a candlemark or so. she told the youngster. You have Shadow to keep you company.

//He does not speak.//

No... and if you keep talking to me, I'll never get done. Savitri pointed out, smiling faintly as she sensed the little gold mulling over that in her mind. She used the dull knife in her good hand to scrape off the seaweed and algae encrusted on the bottom of the boat, mindful of the pull on her stitches. There was pain, but a moderate dosing of numbweed had taken the edge. Savitri refused to be bedridden by scratches, no matter how serious. She was pale, and she was in pain, but she was getting things done.

//After you are done, will you oil me again? Just one spot on my back...//

Chuckling softly in amusement, the girl allowed a rare smile to cross her face as she cleaned the boat of clinging river debris. I'm sure I can do that for you. Just let me finish this first, Hep.

[Ruby]

As'lin stepped off the boat he had been guiding, having dropped off all his passengers. At first this job had been terrifying to him- he didn't know anything about boats, much less his way around the Weyr. But doing it every day since the moment he could leave Stillith's side had helped. In fact, he enjoyed ferrying people around- it meant he got to chat with a wide variety of folks he probably wouldn't have met otherwise. Why do you need to meet others, 'linmine? You have me. Stillith piped into his thoughts. The poor Blue sounded so mournful As'lin had to stop himself from laughing aloud. Turned out, As'lin wasn't that good at mind-speaking yet- he often caught himself replying to the Blue aloud, but Stillith didn't mind. As'lin, on the other hand, did, and was trying to fix it.

I don't NEED anyone but you, was his eventual response, but I LIKE people in addition to you. And you're going to have to learn to live with it, love.

But... you are MINE. You should be all mine... right?

I am all yours, Stillith. You just have to trust me on this one.

That seemed to shut Stillith up long enough for As'lin to pull his boat up next to Savitri's and flip it over to clean the hull as she was doing. He didn't expressly know Savitri, but she was the Goldweyrling- who wouldn't know her at least by sight? So he offered her a wave, and a big smile, but didn't say anything as he went back to work. He would have, but Stillith was tickling his mind like the Blue was going to say something, and As'lin didn't want to miss it.

Then.... why do you leave me everyday to play with the boats?

This time As'lin did laugh aloud, replying "I told you, I play with the boats because they make me, love!" As the end he realized he was speaking aloud, and slapped a hand over his mouth, looking incredibly embarrassed. "Er... Hi, Savitri... Stillith says hi to Hepaticath too. Is she doing well?"

[kysseh]

Savitri arched an eyebrow as one of the other weyrlings whom she recognized only faintly pulled up a boat next to hers. She thought he had Impressed at the recent clutch, but much of her time at the Hatching had been occupied with the injured boy and then Hepaticath. His smile was surprising, but she returned it with a slight one of her own before returning her full attention to her one-handed attempt at cleaning the little boat. This would be so much easier when she was better, and she winced as she overextended her arm and pulled at the stitches all over her chest. That was a bad idea.

The sound of laughter and talking distracted her, and she looked sharply over at the boy, realizing belatedly that he was speaking to his dragon. It made her feel slightly better that she was not the only one still getting used to someone else in her head. She smiled wryly as he clapped a hand over his mouth, shaking her head slightly. Yes, it did take getting used to.

//A good getting used to?// Hepaticath queried, and Savitri quickly and silently reassured the queen that there was nothing bad about it. It was just an adjustment.

His knowledge of her name, as well as Hepaticath's, caught her off guard, and she paused, looking over at the boy. "I... Hello. I'm sorry, but I don't know your name." Hep, how does he know who I am?!

//Who would not?// the dragon returned, sounding faintly proud. //You are Mine, after all. Stillith is a blue, by the way. I saw. You were wounded when Stillith hatched.//

Savitri blinked. Well, she needed to get to knowing people, apparently. "Hepaticath is doing well. She knows who Stillith is but doesn't remember your name. I was a little... occupied, I suppose, when he hatched. I'm sorry, but I don't remember mch," she said honestly, moving to shrug her shoulders and stopping halfway, realizing that was unwise. No need to pull more of those stitches, after all.

Meanwhile, the gold hatchling was curious and broadcasted her mental 'voice' to see who Stillith's was. //Stillith? Who is Yours?//

[Ruby]

Stillith was so flustered at being addressed by a Gold that As'lin got back to Savitri before he got back to Hepaticath. "I'm As'lin. Sorry, I forgot we'd never been introduced! You're just pretty pouplar around the Weyr, lady," he said, putting down his knife so he could go over and shake her... one good hand. Seeing that she was down one, he turned to handshake offer into a slight bow, to make it easier on her. "Blueweyrling As'lin of Stillith at your service" he substituted, straightening up with a smile.

Stillith had finally gotten it together enough to reply by now. As'lin is Mine. He knew being that blunt was probably rude, but the poor little blue was quite a shy creature, and being asked to speak to the Queen was almost more than he could handle. Take orders from the Queen, yes. Do her bidding, yes. But answering her questions was a little harder.

"Wait... you were the girl who was... helping that boy at the hatching, right? the Healer? Heh, guess I never put two and two together. No wonder you don't remember." He smiled again (he was all smiles since Stillith was hatched, hence the repetition of that expression) and returned to his boat. He could tell Stillith was practically shaking in this bed, so he extended a wordless extension of how happy he was right now to the baby, trying to calm him. It worked, and Stillith stopped retreating from his conversation(ish) with the Queen, and tried to be brave. Returning his attention to Savitri, he continued, "Even I don't remember much from the first couple of days- so much happened so fast! I'm not offended at all, don't worry. You've had it harder than most."

Meanwhile, As'lin's boat was cleaning up much faster than Savitri's. His had been pretty clean when he took it out this morning, and he had two hands to clean it with. Finishing up, he considered hauling it back to where the boats were stored, and caught Savitri wincing as she did something to the slinged arm. "You want some help, gimpy Goldrider?" he teased gently.

[kysseh]

As'lin. Savitri stored the name in her memory and nodded politely at him, a bit taken aback by the sudden respect. This was odd. Only last sevenday, she was getting people constantly trying to rank her. "I didn't realize I was that popular. I knew Hepaticath was well-known," she admitted. It was rather hard to miss something that large. "Good to meet you, As'lin. Please call me Savitri," she added, not sure if she could handle being called 'lady'. The very thought of it reminded her of home.

Sensing that she had somehow overwhelmed the little creature, Hepaticath toned done her mental voice a bit. //I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you. Mine just did not know Yours' name. Mine is Savitri.// she said calmly. //Are you all right?//

"Ironically, yes," Savitri said mildly. She had had multiple opportunities to appreciate the beauty of that perfect moment of irony. Helping a mauled boy had yielded to getting mauled herself, which had yielded Impression. Strange, she thought, how things work out. "Once Hepaticath let me know that she was there, I didn't pay a great deal of attention to anything else." She did not smile, but the lines of her face softened a bit at the thought. Despite the pain and the blood loss, she had unhesitatingly named the moment of Impression as the greatest of her life. "It will get better and worse, especially with weyrling lessons on the agenda," she said with a dry chuckle, continuing to clean the bottom of the boat before her.

At As'lin's suggestion, she paused and look up at him, eyes narrowed slightly as she looked at his face for any hint of a patronizing tone or expression. Upon quickly finding none, she allowed a small smile to form and nodded, going back to her work. "I'm not a goldrider yet.... just a weyrling. And help is greatly appreciated."

[flupine]

Chores. Really, Mine? Must we bring ourselves to chores? Foglith's suffering tone filled Celeyn's head, causing her to laugh. Was Foglith, whining? I don't whine! But there was a definite hurmph in her tone. Clearly pouting, the Green trudged after Celeyn down the shore of the River bank.

Celeyn went through a quick mental list of the available tasks when assigned Boat Duty. Ehh.. of all chores, the very set she would complete on her return to the Weyr would be Boat Duty. This was hardly her favorite, one must either ferry people to and fro or work on the boat, scraping and cleaning and patching and such. This was just generally not her favorite chore. Why could she not get something more like working in the Archives. At least that way she could find some useful information.

Wiping the back of her neck, Celeyn could already feel drops of sweat starting to bead just as she walked toward a gathering of boats. Mine, I refuse to transport people around all day. I should not have to put up with their problems. Mine? Did you hear me? Nearly squawking in her head, Celeyn did not respond. That would just feed her ego to actually admit that Celeyn agreed. She had already learned that it was better to just hurry up and finish something than to string it out in lazy increments. Heading toward some boats pulled ashore, she paused to take in the scene. Already there were two weyrling pairs there, the injured Gold Weyrling and a Blue Weryling pair- It is Hepaticath and Stillith is the Blue that hatched Afterme. Snorting, Foglith slowed her pace, lifting her delicate head, extending her wings just the slightest bit, to give all the best view of her. Stretching her neck higher, she moved regally toward the gathered group with a sudden interest.

Come, Mine. Let us greet them, perhaps I will not have to much work now. Passing the rapidly slowing Celeyn, she walked forward in a much more graceful manner, demanding Celeyn follow. You are the one that said we must do chores. Hurry up Mine or you will look as if you do not wish to be here.

Rushing after Foglith who for some reason suddenly had to do chores with these people. Trudging forth, ready for battle she could feel herself mentally berating herself, once again. It seemed that happened alot lately. At a slower pace Celeyn came to a ready stop beside the two Weyrlings. Shards, she had definitely seen the Gold weyrling at the Candidate lesson. There could possibly be some uncomfortable candlemarks in her very near future. Quickly taking in the scene, she went through the list of things that needed to be done as a part of chores. The girl may not have gotten the best impression of Celeyn but at least Celeyn could work and work efficiently. Changing her posture and expression into a very warm, open look. Her smile might have came out a little too brilliant however, which was quickly corrected by Foglith, Minedearest, you are coming off a little too warm. Thanks Fog. I would prefer that you did not call me that. she sulked quietly.

Hello Hepitacath and Stillith. Has yours recovered form the Hatching injury? Greeting both of them with a warm smile in her voice. Out of courtesy she looked to the Gold first to properly greet her before continuing to the Blue. And how have you and Yours been, Stillith? Quickly warming up, she waited calmly, looking at ease in her company, Celeyn was not having her time as easy however. "Hello, Can I help?" Although Celeyn meant helping in general she glanced briefly toward the boat Savitri was working on. She would rather work than sit and chat, which at this point might make them all uncomfortable. Unable to break away from her outward habits, she, as ever, remained calm with a warm open look on her face. Just to add add the proper touch to her desired appearance Celeyn stood back a respectful distance, waiting to be invited into the other's space. And if it helped her cause any she laid her last card on the table (so to speak) "I brought my own knife..."

[Ruby]

As'lin and Hepitacath's reassurances did wonders for Stillith. As'lin added I love you, Still, and never forget it. Now go make new friends! During this exchange, the Greenpair walked up, and Stillith seemed to take further heart from the non-metallic company. I apoligize, Hepitacath... I just get very nervous sometimes! I don't really know why. And hello, Foglith- me and mine are doing well, thank you very much. How are you and yours?

As'lin smilled privately at the change in Stillith. The poor little blue was so unsure of himself, but if As'lin just reminded him that he was loved, Still was quite sweet and open. He just needed that extra push into socializing sometimes. As'lin had already noticed Still often approached conversations and then panicked, not knowing where to go from the initial hello, and crippled by insecurities about what the other thought of him. This was rarely, if ever, a problem for As'lin, and he was already beginning to automatically supply Stillith with words he couldn't find on his own. The blue seemed to be doing fine on his own, now, so As'lin turned his attention back to the humans.

"Eh, you will be a goldrider- anyway, you're the closest I've met so far," he replied, starting in on the far side of her boat. She was nice, he decided, and he hoped they could continue to spend time together despite her elevated status. Pretty snap judgement, yes, but As'lin was pretty quick about deciding that he liked people. Celeyn, too, was stuck in the same category as soon as she walked up and As'lin saw her smile. THAT was a smile that was worth smiling! Of course, most smiles were, but she was beaming so brightly...

She turned it off a little as she walked up, but As'lin didn't mind. His goal now was to get it back. "As far as I'm concerned, yes! You'll have to ask Savitri, though- technically this is her boat," As'lin replied with a smile for Savitri and her arm. "I'm As'lin, by the way, if you didn't know. And I'm afraid I didn't catch your name, although Stillith informs me that you ride Foglith..."

[boober]

Cezine’s boat drifted lazily on the water, the green senior standing in the middle of it gazing up into the canopy of trees over the river. It was nearing the end of her shift with the boats and her mind tended to wander. As much as she enjoyed this particular chore (yes, enjoyed it; she liked the water and she liked being able to meet new people), by the time it was over, she was ready to return to her weyr and spend some time with her green. Sky was draped around her shoulders, just large enough to have his tail on one side and his head on the other of Cezine’s neck. As usual, he was quite and polite, and most people hardly knew that the little blue was there.

Topaz, however, was much more independent. He was perched on the prow of the boat, leaning over gazing down into the water as his bonded guided the vessel smoothly home. He had flown back and forth between prow and shoulder, twittering and chirping animatedly. The brown clearly enjoyed this activity, and seemed to always be flitting about here and there, looking at things or bringing odd objects up to his bonded and inquiring about them. It was actually how Cezine had found the shell that dangled from the short piece of twine around her neck in a homemade necklace.

As she drew closer to the shore, Cezine picked up on the sound of voices, and it drew her slowly out of her reverie. She glanced at the group of young weyrlings nearby, newly Impressed at the recent Hatching. She couldn’t help but smile, remembering the first days of her weyrlinghood. The young woman was anything but work-lazy, and yet she had loathed any chore that would take her away from her Brennath for even half a candlemark. She knew better now; even if they were separated physically, no amount of distance could sever their bond. It was a comforting thought, and she and Brennath touched minds and conversed frequently throughout the day.

As she slid her boat home with the smooth ease of practice, Cezine crouched before hopping out and tying the vessel securely. Topaz chirped almost mournfully as if he didn’t wish to leave. Cezine ignored him as she walked by, bare feet making no sound against the ground. A brief shadow passed overhead before Brennath touched down lightly in the clearing before swiveling her head and crooning to Hers, earning a grin from her rider. But she paused briefly, her attention going to the young weyrlings with a small smile still touching her face. “Hello.” A polite nod and a brief wave accompanied her greeting as she made her way toward her green. Brennath watched the younger dragons with a whirling gaze, though it was hard to discern what she was thinking.

As if finally realizing that His was well and truly done for the day, Topaz reluctantly gave up his spot on the prow of the boat and fluttered over to perch on one of Brennath’s neck ridges. As far as he was concerned, this was his green, and no one else’s. She put up with the little brown’s antics good-naturedly, letting him perch but doing little to actually acknowledge him. The green lowered her head as Hers drew closer, rumbling lowly at the sensation of Cezine’s hand smoothing up the dragon’s snout. Are you ready to go, Mine? The inquiry was neither pushy or hurried, as if she couldn’t wait to get Hers back to their weyr and to herself again. It was merely a question. Cezine nodded, but looked over her shoulder at the other weyrlings.

Isn’t it odd to think we were where they are, not that long ago? Brennath gazed at the younger weyrlings for a moment before issuing a greeting to the little dragons.

I remember being small, but was I ever that little? Cezine grinned at her green, stroking her velvety soft hide.

Smaller, came the reply, earning a chirp from Sky and Topaz both. They had been Impressed before Brennath, and they could remember how little she'd been as a new hatchling. A memory of Brennath curled up asleep on an oversized stone couch popped into the green's head, courtesy of one of the flits. She snorted. She had been small. If dragons could smile, Brennath would have at the memory, even as she looked on the small ones now. All too soon they would be where she and Hers were right now. It was something that Brennath found herself rather looking forward to.

[kysseh]

//You have nothing to be sorry for.// Hepaticath reassured the blue, getting up from her couch in the weyrling barracks. She did not like being so far from Hers, and she made her way out of their room, padding carefully down the hallway with the memory of the path Hers had taken to get to the riverside. //I was the one who disturbed you.// she said, her mental tone apologetic. It was difficult to maneuver even now, after several days of practice, but she was far more sure on her feet than she had been. Remembering to keep her wings tucked in was important; they tended to drag and get underfoot if she was not paying close attention.

Savitri was unsurprised to hear another pair of weyrlings approaching the riverside even as she managed a smile for As'lin and worked to clean off the boat. A glance at the incoming pair made her sigh quietly in frustration, though, and she wished it could have been anyone else but that Celeyn from the candidate lesson. Before she could consider it much, however, a flash of gold distracted her, and she straightened up to see Hepaticath delicately picking her way down to the riverside, skirting around the weyrling greenpair to move with as much dignity as she could to where Savitri was cleaning the boat. "Hep, I thought-"

//Shadow showed me, and I wanted to see the people.// the gold said with a regal arch of her neck, astounding Savitri that she had sought her way down on her own. //It was not a hard path to follow.// she added, sounding faintly insulted that Savitri thought she could not manage it on her own.

Next time, wait for me! You could have gotten hurt along the way... Savitri replied, sighing and pausing in her scraping to scratch the weyrling's eyeridges. Belatedly remembering Celeyn and her green-- //She is Foglith.// Hepaticath said helpfully--she turned to see what new mischief the other weyrling wanted to cook up today, surprised and suspicious at the warm smile she put forward. Was this some sort of game to her, or had she honestly turned over a new leaf following Impression? The healer decided civility was the best option, even if her dislike of the girl's impudence and disrespect ran deep. "Hello, Celeyn... Foglith," she said politely before returning to her scraping, Hepaticath standing with her regal neck arched about an arm length's away. "I met her at the candidate lesson," she said simply and by way of explanation to As'lin.

Hepaticath, watching her bonded with gently whirling eyes, turned her head to watch Foglith, rumbling in amusement at the green's behavior. She was attempting to act with as much dignity as Hepaticath naturally possessed, but she would never reach it. It was amusing to watch, though, so the gold made no effort to correct her erroneous assumption that she would be able to maintain such a regal standing. //Mine is still injured but recovers well. She does not let it stop her from doing what she needs to.// the gold weyrling replied, regarding Hers with a soft croon.

"I don't mind if you help. There are a couple of other boats that need cleaning and patching too," Savitri replied, glaring at a particularly stubborn spot of rivergrass and algae that did not seem to want to come off she scraped a bit harder and was rewarded by the separation of goo and boat. "Well, I won't be one for a Turn or so. Still have a bunch of weyrling lessons and training, just like you do... probably even more," she told As'lin, arching an eyebrow at Hepaticath's leisurely response to the green's posturing. For all her stature and ungainly appearance, the gold refused to act with anything less then regal dignity... except where playing was concerned.

Hepaticath was saw a shadow pass over head and turned her head to follow, watching the green land to greet Hers. She blew out a small snort, quietly envious of the green's ability to fly. Her day would come, and she would patiently wait until then. //Hello.// she said politely to the nearly-grown green, one eye on the larger dragon and the other still focused on Hers.

[boober]

Greetings to you and Yours, young queen. Brennath spoke to Hepaticath the way she would Aslath, quiet respect in every word. She and Hers may make some good-natured fun about golds between them, but they didn’t dislike them, and gave each gold who crossed their path the respect that she deserved… no matter how small said gold may be. The green tilted her head slightly, eyes whirling as they focused on the other weyrlings briefly. Why are they still working when you are finished? This was directed at Cezine, who was still looking toward the others with one hand resting lightly on Brennath’s snout.

Different shifts, darling. I started early this morning, most of them just came out to do chores. Brennath shifted and blinked, rumbling her understanding. It made sense, the way that greens had to be rotated out of Threadfall when fighting. Humans were peculiar creatures; they had to eat many times in one day and their stamina was not the greatest. It puzzled most dragons, and Brennath was no exception. She just accepted it and moved on, choosing to think of other things. She was drawn out of her thoughts by the sensation of her rider’s hand sliding down her muzzle before giving a pat on the green’s cheek.

“Well, I supposed we’d best be off then.” To the weyrlings, she turned and watched a moment more. It was nostalgia on legs. On one hand, she wished that Brennath were still that young, tiny (for a dragon anyway!) and dependent on Cezine for her care. She still depended on Hers, but it wasn’t the same. Brennath had grown up, and in doing so, taken something away with her. She was more independent now; she could technically go where she wanted, whenever she wished to go. The green no longer needed her life mate to go with her everywhere, to take her where she wanted or needed to go. It was almost saddening. Yet on the other hand, Brennath was big and strong and had passed most of the tests of weyrlinghood. They could truly go anywhere together that they wished, theoretically. They had achieved the power of flight, and that was not something to be taken lightly.

Shaking her head, Cezine turned to mount so they could return to their weyr. She wanted a bath and a bite to eat before she went to bed. These weird maternal urges were getting to be rather… creepy. Maybe she should spend less time with the twins? Or maybe more… maybe it was just a phase. She certainly hoped so!