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Post by Tealah on Jan 9, 2009 22:29:33 GMT -5
High in the sky over the Weyr, a dragon burst from between. The sight of the small brown was nothing unusual, except perhaps that his coloring was a little odd. What was most unusual was that the dragonpair did not belong to this Weyr... nor indeed this time. This dark-masked dragon and his stoic rider, now spiraling down to a height they could properly see the Weyr's inhabitants, were from the same past many of Araelen's dragonriders had also come from.
But P'neil, who relaxed visibly upon seeing normal Weyr activity beneath his dragon's wings, couldn't help but wonder if any of the riders would recognize him. When they'd left, he'd still been a fresh-faced, wet-behind-the-ears wingrider who had still been under suspicion for killing a man. Now he was a man grown and scarcely recognizable. But maybe someone would recognize Artoneth's coloring or one of their names?
It is not worth worrying about, my P'neil, Artoneth said to him. Even if they remember, they can not have so many dragons that they can afford to punish us, with Thread falling. I know you're right, Artoneth, I was just hoping that I could escape that by coming here. Maybe we should have stayed at Artemis Moon Weyr after all. He stared down a moment at his hands gripping the riding straps, at the multitude of little scars that a dragonrider picked up over the years on a fighting dragon.
A jolt of impatience shot across his link with the brown dragon. Don't be foolish, P'neil. There was no use for us there with the Thread gone. This is the time where we belong, a time where we have the opportunity to show what we are capable of. P'neil, Artoneth's "voice" turned weedling, you know that you could not stand feeling useless, feeling that you must depend on the Holders for everything. Here you will be of use and feel yourself again. He paused as he broke out of his spiral to backwing to a landing and roar a greeting to the watch dragon, where ever they might be. It will be better here, P'neil, I promise.
"I hope you're right," P'neil muttered aloud, sliding off the brown to wait patiently beside him for a guide to appear.
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Post by Kitari on Jan 15, 2009 0:34:30 GMT -5
Although P'neil was expecting a welcome, Kitari doubted he was anticipating a Jr. Weyrwoman. It wasn't exactly a job she relished, but with the Weyrleader and multiple Wingleaders, along with many other members of rank in the Weyr, all holed away in the infirmary, there weren't many options. Lefayeth had been alerted by the watchdragon, and Kitari was in the Lower Caverns at the time, so she'd decided to respond on her own rather than passing the word onto another.
With long strides, Kitari easily crossed the Bowl toward the waiting pair. With an unconscious, appraising eye, she glanced over both dragon and rider. She couldn't help it; the Wings had been so ravaged by Thread, her first thought was to the condition of this new fighting pair. Luckily, they seemed to meet whatever standard she had, for the young woman nodded slightly and stopped before them.
"Welcome to Araelen Weyr," she intoned, smiling warmly. "I'm Kitari, rider of Lefayeth." In a way, P'neil was quite lucky to be greeted by Kitari; she was unaware of the past that other, senior dragonriders may have known about.
"You've arrived just in time for Thread...will you and your dragon be ready to fight?" It wasn't the most conversational of topics, but it was hard to think of anything but business. Realizing her brusqueness, Kitari's eyes slipped to the ground for a moment and she absentmindedly brushed back one of the dark curls that constantly fell forward, before raising her eyes to meet his again. "I'm sorry, that's hardly the kind of welcome you deserve. The first Fall did not go well, and the Weyr will be very glad of any assistance you can provide." Her smile was apologetic now, as she waited for his response.
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Post by Tealah on Jan 15, 2009 1:30:50 GMT -5
It was P'neil's dark eyes that caught sight of the Jr. Weyrwoman approaching them. Whatever he'd been expecting, this young woman hadn't been it. A drudge maybe. He was only a brown rider, after all, not a bronze. Do not think that, "only" a brownrider, Artoneth rebuked him, his head swinging around to snort at his rider. We are as great as any others, Mine.
"My apologies," P'neil murmured with a quiet grin, still watching Kitari coming closer. He couldn't help but feel as though she were evaluating him, and he had to resist the urge to squirm uncomfortably like a weyrling under the eyes of the Weyrling Master.
Welcome to Araelen Weyr, the young woman then said. Araelen Weyr, was it? A nice thing to know, something he hadn't known when setting out from his home Weyr in the past. I'm Kitari, rider of Lefayeth. Goldrider, Artoneth added to him smugly, as though P'neil couldn't have seen that from the woman's shoulder knots. Very deliberately ignoring his dragon, P'neil inclined his head respectfully to the Jr. Weyrwoman. "I am P'neil, and this is Artoneth."
He listened seriously to her question about their Thread-readiness and her apologetic explanation about their first Fall, his eyes on hers. I am more than prepared to fight Thread, Artoneth interjected with an accompanying rumble. P'neil turned his head to look at the dragon, studying his brown hide subjectively for any of the grayish color that would show exhaustion - The journey WAS long, Artoneth - that would keep him from effectively fighting Thread. P'neil, stop that. I'm perfectly fine. Tell her I can fight.
"I understand. We are fit enough," he said aloud, turning back to Kitari, "and we've kept up on drills even when we weren't flying Thread in our time. We can fly where ever you need us." Artoneth arched his neck proudly. P'neil patted the dragon with affection before continuing. "I'm more than happy to assist however I can, even if you need me changing bandages between Threadfalls." His voice was quiet, with only a hint of his firm determination. He did return Kitari's smile with a hesitant one of his own.
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Post by M'kel on Jan 16, 2009 1:21:33 GMT -5
As the brownrider exchanged a glance with his dragon, sharing some private thought, Kitari took a moment to force herself to soften. It wasn't right that her eye went straight to the health of his dragon's hide, to the youth in both of their forms. That was the power of Thread to change people. It made everyone afraid.
"I'm glad to hear it," she offered in reply, nodding at his assertion of their fight-readiness. "I doubt we'll need you in the infirmary...Pern is full of ripe candidates, after Turns of no Searches. Plenty to handle chores and help out. Unless of course you have some training in Healing?" Kitari paused, a smile twitching her lips once again. "If that's the case, I'd be careful not to mention that around the Weyrhealer. You might not see Threadfall here after all..."
She paused again as another voice sounded, though one P'neil wouldn't hear. I am too awake now, Lefayeth grumbled. Your thoughts are too loud, and now I am curious. I would like to meet the new pair.
Lefayeth, there's no need... Kitari began, but it was too late. From their weyr ledge, a pale gold dragon unfurled herself and plunged, gliding easily to land behind her rider.
Greetings, Artoneth. I am Lefayeth, the gold sent, a hint of curiousity in her tone. Did you fight much Thread in your time?
Kitari smiled over her shoulder at the petite gold dragon no one had thought would live. Except for her and Lefayeth, of course. Neither of them had doubted.
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Post by Shikai on Jan 20, 2009 2:14:22 GMT -5
Weyrfolk scattered like tunnelsnakes as Alana swept through the weyr’s hallways like a stormcloud. A glance at her frazzled appearance – light brown hair starting to escape the usually neat ponytail, yesterday’s wrinkled clothing, and bleary brown eyes locked on the many scrolls she held just before her nose, were enough to dissuade anyone from standing in her way, much less approach her. No, there was only one person she wanted to talk to right now.
Where in Faranth’s name is Kitari?! She called to Gwynevith, who responded with a mental eye-roll.
If you cannot ask politely, Alanamine, you can find her yourself![/color] The dragon grumbled, not at all pleased to be spoken to as such. For anyone less than her rider, the consequences would have been far graver. Alana sighed, and one could practically hear the frustration being exhaled. I know, dearest. And I’m sorry. I’m just –
I know, I know. I believe Lefayeth is sleeping, but – ah! I believe that is them in the weyrbowl! They are greeting the new rider – brown Artoneth’s.[/color]
We have a new rider? Alana asked, surprised. Why didn’t you – oh. I’m sorry, Gwynevith. I am never too busy for anything you have to say. She told the dragon, mental tone soft with the kindness that was, of late, reserved only for the dragon.
Yes. I will go to them, so they know you are coming. People need to be warned of your presence today, mine![/color] The gold replied with friendly sarcasm in her tone, launching herself from the weyrledge she had been searching from. Alana chuckled slightly to herself, shaking her head, but the smile faded as she looked back down at the dismal information offered by the records. She quickened her pace.
Fortunately, she had been very close to the weyrbowl, and she saw Gwynevith swooping down toward the other pair of riders as she reached the weyr’s exit. It never failed to fill her heart with pride as she looked at her dragon. She had truly done her mother proud, growing to a large, healthy size even by queen’s standards. Like any dragonrider, Alana never tired of watching the sun shine off her dragon’s luminous hide, and this, fortunately, improved her mood slightly as she hurried toward the two riders and three dragons.
“Kitari!” She called, waving a hand in the air to catch the rider’s attention (as if the landing gold had not), although she quickly withdrew it as the wind began to clutch at the many hides held tightly by it.
Greetings Lefayeth, Artoneth. It is good to see you both today, although I do not believe I have had the pleasure of seeing you before.[/color] The gold greeted the two dragons, speaking with her usual outward decorum, although the powerful presence and unintentional domination of a gold colored it as an overtone. She looked first to Lefayeth, rumbling to her clutchsister in a friendly manner, and then the newcomer brown with her second sentence.
“Kitari! I’ve been looking for you! Next Fall is coming up and we have three wingleaders in the infirmary, not to mention at least six riders, and the Juniors can’t even fly yet, so we have no one to fill the holes in the wings, and we have to pick new wingleaders, at least temporarily, and quick, M’kel can’t do it because he still hasn’t recovered, and I haven’t seen anything of Sitareh in Faranth knows how long…” Her voice trailed off as she remembered the presence of the new arrival. At once, she composed herself, posture straightening as she turned to look him and his dragon over without much subtlety.
“Oh, you must be the new arrival. You’ve come at the perfect time.” She said with a grin at the brownrider, although whether she meant it in humor or in all seriousness was anyone’s guess. “Junior Weyrwoman Alana, of Gwynevith here. Welcome to Araelen Weyr.”
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Post by Tealah on Jan 20, 2009 12:59:19 GMT -5
"No healing training," P'neil admitted with a slight smile. "I just want to help in any way I can."
Artoneth, who had been lounging indolently while waiting for the riders to finish their conversation, straightened up as Lefayeth made her appearance. Greetings, Lefayeth he rumbled in reply. We fought much Thread in our time, although it was already beginning to go away when we graduated weyrling training.
The arrival of another gold had Artoneth standing, if it was possible, even straighter. Greetings, he returned. P'neil and I have only just arrived in your time. His voice, although it had every ounce of the deference a brown must give a gold, held a strange calculating note. This Weyr has done well for itself indeed to have two such lovely golds already.
P'neil politely stepped back a step when another young woman approached with words that were obviously only meant for Kitari. He couldn't help but overhear, of course, but he'd at least give them space to talk. What he overheard was worrying, to say the least. Three wingleaders out of commission in the first Fall? Plus at least six wingriders? And she hadn't mentioned how many had been wounded.
And then the other woman (a second Jr. Weyrwoman, judging by the gold who'd landed before her arrival) noticed him. He inclined his head respectfully. "It seems we have," he said in response to her comment that he'd come at the perfect time. "I am P'neil, rider of Artoneth here. I thank you for your welcome. As I was saying a moment ago, I would like to help in any way I can." His composure seemed unruffled by the presence of two such high-ranking weyrmembers, dark eyes not showing a hint of his uncertainty.
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Post by Kitari on Jan 25, 2009 18:24:55 GMT -5
Kitari nodded at P'neil's response, glad to hear his willingness to aid in whatever means necessary. The Weyr needed as many wings as it could get.
Lefayeth, intrigued by Artoneth's reply, tilted her head to the side and regarded him with light blue whirling eyes. I flew my first fall with Kitarimine quite recently. It was not what I expected. I found it very disgruntling to be amongst Thread with my rider supplying the flames. Like her rider, Lefayeth was one to chafe at stereotypical gender roles, although she understood the necessity of this restraint. Not that we saw much Thread...the upper wings were very diligent. As usual, the golds had flown at the bottom of the dragon column, and the Wings above had been spurred to protect their queens.
At that moment, both rider and dragon turned in surprise at Gwynevith's sweeping arrival. The contrast between the two golds, twins of one egg, was undeniable. Gwynevith rivaled Aviciath in size, if not surpassing her, and Lefayeth appeared more of a Weyrling beside her sister than their equal age belied. This hardly bothered Lefayeth, however. Gwynevith may be one of the largest dragons in the Weyr, she often quipped to her rider, but Lefayeth was both daintier and quicker. At least, so she liked to believe.
Gwynevith, Lefayeth sent in greeting, inclining her pale gold head slightly. Although unruffled by her sister's arrival, Artoneth's next compliment spurred a ripple of competitiveness in the gold. She was not to be outdone by Gwynevith, and she arched her neck coyly while returning her whirling gaze to Artoneth. How very kind, she replied sweetly, coming from such a handsome brown. Brown, bronze, blue, they all existed to fawn after golds, and Lefayeth was perfectly inviting.
Her rider, unfortunately, was not part of quite such a pleasant exchange. At Alana's first chill shout of her name, Kitari closed her eyes for a moment, gathering her patience, before turning with a small smile to greet the other Jr. Weyrwoman. The smile slipped as Alana's rant continued, for it was all very true, and Kitari hated to be reminded of the terrible state the Weyr was in. The thought was rarely far from her mind, hovering like an annoying stinging insect just out of reach, and she'd been enjoying a moment's peace with P'neil.
"I'm very well aware of all of that, Alana," she replied in measured tones. "And those are matters that must be addressed soon. The Wings can't fly without Wingleaders. But that's what Wingseconds are for. And in any case," she paused, looking significantly at P'neil, "this isn't the time to discuss it." The last thing Kitari wanted was to scare off this new rider by letting him know just how bleak their situation was immediately at his time of arrival.
Turning back to the brownrider, she added, "Have you had any experience leading Wings, P'neil? As a Wingsecond or anything else?"
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Post by Shikai on Jan 26, 2009 17:17:52 GMT -5
Gwynevith tilted her head slightly at Artoneth’s compliment, eyes whirling slowly a richer blue than their previous shade. Why, thank you,[/color] she replied, her tone appreciative although with the proper regal reserve that usually dominated her interactions with others. Yet Lefayeth’s actions left her slightly confused, and a trifle annoyed. She hesitated for a moment, vacillating between her natural competitiveness with her sister (which she usually worked hard to suppress, but really, this was too much on Lefayeth’s part) and her natural reservation. The former won out.
With luck,[/color] She began, a sweeter tinge to her tone, although it wasn’t openly seductive, and fine, strong males, there will soon be more.[/color] Gwynevith was fast maturing after all, and nearly fully grown. Alana was hardly looking forward to the gold’s first rising…but then, the weyr needed the dragons. And that was far more important. Gwynevith had yet to set her eyes on any male, but she was confident that when she did rise, she would have a great number of suitors. Modest (for a queen, anyway) that she tried to appear outwardly, she was undoubtedly a gold and felt herself quite the prize for whatever male she deemed worthy.
Alana grinned at P’neil as he replied, although the expression still bore a grim tinge due to her mood and frustration with the state of the weyr. Nonetheless, she was pleased by it, for a new arrival with his work ethic was a blessing at the present time indeed.
“That’s good to hear! I’ll be sure to put you right to work.” She replied, with a slightly teasing smile, although she really did intend to do so. Every possible rider was greatly needed, after all. At Kitari’s curt words, however, Alana’s smile vanished, replaced by a stormy expression.
“Are you really? Then surely you’ll understand why we have a lot to discuss, and why it absolutely cannot wait.” She answered, her tone sharp with her frustration. Alana was under a good deal of stress, after all; with the Weyrwoman a recluse who was attending less and less to the weyr’s affairs and instead wasting her time with useless projects like the whers, and now the Weyrleader’s sudden incapacitation, Alana had to take up progressively more duties to keep Araelen running. And now even Kitari seemed reluctant to help…well, Alana would do it herself then, if she had to. Somehow, she would manage. But by Faranth, she certainly wasn’t about to let Kitari off the hook without lecturing her about it!
Alana followed Kitari’s look at P’neil, and raised her eyebrows slightly. “What? There’s no use in pretending the situation is something it’s not. Better to give him the facts now so he can be prepared for how to meet them. Besides, he’s hardly going to turn back and leave now. He couldn’t even if he wanted to! And if he does want to, he’s not the kind of rider we need around here anyway.” She replied, and then glanced back to the brownrider.
“No offense.” She added, as an afterthought. “You don’t strike me as that type.” She smiled, and then glanced back down at her scrolls. “Yes, what kind of experience do you have?”
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Post by Tealah on Jan 29, 2009 20:16:44 GMT -5
Artoneth's eyes whirled blue-green with humor as the two golds vied for his attentions. It was an unexpected pleasure, and in his mind long overdue to him. And besides, it wasn't unknown for a junior queen to be caught by a brown, especially (*cough*) one as swift and handsome as himself. Thank you, Lefayeth, he said graciously. Your sweet words warm my heart as much as your beauty. He then bowed his dark head to Gwynevith. Any male would count himself lucky indeed to prove himself to such as you. Whilst his dragon was distracted with the golds, P'neil found himself torn between respect for the goldriders and semi-horror at their words. These two young riders were obviously under way too much stress. Where were their Weyrleaders, that these inexperienced riders must do the work of Weyrleader and Weyrwoman? For that matter, were there not older riders they could delegate tasks to? Then the riders addressed him directly. "Experience? Not much. I was 'second for the senior weyrlings' wing for a while, but I never went above wingrider after I graduated. There... wasn't much opportunity for advancement at the time." That was true enough, as any of the riders who'd gone forward could attest to. ((Keyboard's still broken, but I should be going to the store today so soon maybe I won't have to use the on-screen 'board and will post better ))
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Post by Kitari on Feb 19, 2009 1:20:28 GMT -5
It seemed that Alana's tirade was nowhere near an end, and Kitari bit her lip, summoning her patience to ride it out. She should have known this by now about her friend. The other Jr. Weyrwoman took her job as Sitareh's underling very seriously...almost too seriously, in Kitari's opinion. The other woman seemed to soak up every word the Weyrwoman spoke, and with most of those words being twisted by greed and arrogance, Alana hadn't chosen the best of role models. In Kitari's opinion, at least.
It wasn't that Kitari wanted to leave the Weyr without leadership in such a frantic time. However, she had worked on a Fishing vessel for much of her teenage Turns, and the crew generally knew what was required of them in day to day tasks. It was only during stormy weather or major hauls that the Captain was amongst them, shouting constant orders. So, Kitari had been taking a similar, laidback approach to the Weyr. She kept up the Records that were required of her and stepped in when decisions needed to be made, but Alana was far too worried about issues that hadn't yet arisen. They couldn't predict the next Threadfall any better than a ship could predict a storm. It would take some time before a pattern was established, and hopefully the wait would be long enough for the Wings to recover.
"All right, then," Kitari cut in once Alana's rant seemed to have run its course. "I'll fetch us some cups of klah and meet you in our offices as soon as we're finished here. We'll rearrange the temporary Wing formations as needed." There. Hopefully that would assauge Alana's anxiety, at least for the moment. She would show her willingness to help, and that ought to be enough for the other goldrider.
Turning back to the brownrider, she added, "Thank you, P'neil. That's very good to know. We'll have to see how well you and Artoneth can fly together, but I can assure you that there is plenty of opportunity for advancement in this time. Our Wings are rather undermanned. As for a place to stay..." The goldrider narrowed her eyes, gazing about the Bowl. Weyr construction had been as frenzied as ever, making room for the newest Weyrlings who were growing larger each passing day. "I believe that weyr," she pointed across the Bowl, "should be nearly complete. Please let me know if you need anything else."
Lefayeth had quite forgotten about her rider's conversation by this point. At Artoneth's compliment, she couldn't help but fidget with her wings, re-folding them more neatly across her back. I'm glad to have been of service, she replied teasingly. Although the dragon wasn't much of a flirt, even for a gold, she couldn't help but enjoy his attention, if only a little.
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