Morning Ritual

[Kitari]

((I'm just going to reuse this, cause, well...it's good and I'm lazy. )

Rukbat winked its first rays over the treetops of the Southern Jungle, dancing its fingers along the grassy plateau that housed Barec's Hold as it spread ever farther: an unstoppable, golden tide seeping in for the day. The fingers curled about a solitary form, cloaking his limbs in warmth and light. Barec stood poised, his muscles tensed in concentration. His earth-brown eyes focused intently on the man-like construction before him, and his fingers twitched slightly at his side.

The beasts had already been herded from the cave to their grazing area, and the injured one tended to. His water supply had been refreshed, and the fish lines in the stream checked. It would soon be time to head out in the jungle to do the wherry-snare rounds, but for now, Barec had a moment to himself. This, of course, was a fact that needn't be stated, for every moment of his day was a moment to himself. Without another living Pernese around, Barec had only the herdbeasts for company. If he chose not to do his chores, there would be no one to tell him otherwise. He may not eat that night as a result, but at least it was his choice.

Barec reveled in the freedom of his life. Though he missed his parents dreadfully, his father's overprotective ways had often overpowered the lad; Barec had been restricted in every activity of the day. Now, he could do whatever he wished. Or, at least, that's what Barec told himself. In reality, he was still as trapped by his father as he'd ever been. As the Turns wore on, Barec's desire to explore Pern and meet its people grew. His mother's stories and songs tempted him in the dark of night, whispering of adventure and excitement beyond his comprehension. To meet another Pernese, to see a dragon; there was nothing that he wanted more. Yet every morning, he would awake and go about his tasks as usual. He made no plans for a trip, and his excuses to himself were plenty: the beasts must be tended, the crops monitored, the wherries kept away...

The excuses were endless, but there was only one reason for it: he was afraid. His father's dark stories had struck a painful juxtaposition beside his mother's songs of love, and Barec dared not to ruin Arecca's image of the world by proving Barden's right. He was safe here at this Hold, safe from exploitation and betrayal. Perhaps that was best.

In one quick movement, Barec's right arm shot forth, and a dagger quivered in the chest of the man-like structure. He may be trapped by choice, but he loathed the cage nonetheless. The uncertainty and fear disgusted Barec, but their power was not to be denied. At least this practice gave him the opportunity to release some of his pent-up frustration. Striding forward to the target, Barec tore the dagger savagely from the wood and cloth and tossed it to the ground. He grasped a sturdy, carved branch resting on the soil and began a series of well-practiced blows and defensive postures. Perhaps some day, when he was ready, he could go out in Pern and feel confident in his ability to take care of himself. Once he'd trained and determined a manner for ensuring the survival of his herd and crops during his absence, then he'd go out and see the world. Some day, he'd be free.

[bleedtearsofshame]

Are you sure that we won't get in trouble from Aviciath for this? Sayurith asked plaintively. Her healthy respect and her somewhat unusual nervousness for the queen made her hesitant to disobey any orders that would upset the gold and her rider.

Taking a lazy flight above the Southern jungle, instead of going on Search at a mining hold a hundred miles away, constituted as disobeying orders.

"Nonsense," A'dis told Sayurith, visibly relaxing for the first time in many days. Here, in the heights of the skies, alone with only his lifemate, he could be content. His shirt was unbuttoned all of the way, and the lazy breeze against his chest was nothing short of heavenly.

"We're charting territory. Sitareh can't fault us for that. No one has done any sweeps in this area. And we can always say that you are off hunting. We're doing Araelen a favor by not depleting its sources any more that we have to."

I just ate two days ago, came the green's response, snorting at the young man's lies.

"I know that," he replied. "But I doubt that Aviciath keeps such tabs on your meals. We're not hurting anyone. We're just taking a break, that's all. We're going the long way to the mining Hold. So don't be afraid."

A'dis' confidence always took away Sayurith's fears, just as it did in this case. It took only a few moments before the green's nervousness abated and a rambling commentary took it's place.

Look, can you see that river down there? I bet its waters are cooler than the lake at Araelen. We'll have to make a stop there in a day or two. Oh, and can you see that pile of rocks? It looks like a dragon! Ooooh! I think there are felines down there!

A'dis peered down just in time to catch the merest flash of tawny gold before Sayurith had swept past the opening in the jungle's foilage, and all they had left to see were the tree tops once more. Still, he had no complaints. As much as he enjoyed the hard work that Araelen demanded, as much as the greenrider enjoyed being too busy to think, there were times when he just needed to get away. It had been the same back at old Artemis Moonlight Weyr, and it still held true here.

There was nothing like a long, straight flight to keep one's mind refreshed, kept one from feeling locked up and caged, anxiety beginning to trickle through one's veins. When he started to feel like that, restless and irritated at everything, A'dis knew that he needed a break from Weyr life. And listening to Sayurith's voice was enough to soothe away most of his troubles.

A'dis' eyes closed softly, allowing himself the luxury of pure relaxation upon his lifemate's back. Thus, he was unable to see what caught Sayurith's attention. Suddenly, he was grabbing for riding straps as the green tucked wings to her body, diving towards the ground.

"What in the name of Faranth are you doing?" the dark haired lad shouted around the wind that was howling through against his face. He couldn't keep his eyes open.

I sense something! I sense someone! Yes! We aren't alone out here!

The treetops were rushing closer, and A'dis lacked the time to point out to Sayurith her own insanity. All he could do was curse and try to convince her to pull back upwards, seeking the safety of currents in the air. And suddenly, the green's wing snapped open once more, easily catching a gust of wind that sent them sailing slightly to the north - where the jungle trees broke to reveal a grassy plateau that had gone unnoticed.

They were close enough to the ground to almost skim the tree tops, and thus A'dis had a clear view of the area. The grass wasn't overgrown, trimmed neatly as if grazed regularly by animals. The opening of a cave was easily visible, as was the stream that burbled and danced nearby. This was a habited area. Small, but occupied.

The area was large enough to occupy Sayurith's body, and so the green had no hesitation about turning on wingtip, landing neatly with her usual grace. It took only a moment for A'dis to unfasten his riding straps and slip to the ground, glaring up at the green with furious eyes.

"You could offer a bit of warning before trying such stunts, your Ladyship," he snapped, running his fingers through wind-ruffled hair. His heart was still hammering in his chest, its pulse pounding against his eardrums. Although he knew that the dragon would never seriously put him in danger, it was another for his body to believe it after the unexpected dive.

The green was completely unaffected by her rider's irritation, folding her wings close to her back for a more comfortable position. Her neck craned around, searching across the small hold for the sight of the one who had drawn her attention, even at such a distance.

[Kitari]

((*whistles innocently, stealing another previously typed paragraph*))

The sweat was glistening on his bare upper body as Barec paused in his practice. He surveyed his work on the battered target, then decided it would last him for a time more. Unfortunately, the snares were calling, and he really ought to check them early. At times, a wherry could chew through the woven, dried vines he used for rope, or the rest of a flock may turn on the trapped bird and tear it to pieces before he arrived. Such would be an unnecessary loss, so Barec laid his staff on the ground and retrieved his dagger.

The air trembled slightly, or perhaps it was merely his senses discerning a difference in the world, for Barec was highly attuned to his Hold. Growing up there and living alone for Turns, the lad was connected to his Hold and its environment. Something was wrong. The ground quivered at a barely noticeable tempo, and a bleating sound reached his attentive ears. The herdbeasts were moving away from something, fast. That was never good.

Expecting a flock of wherries diving on his herdbeasts, the young man kept his dagger ready at hand and raced down the sloping hillside through the jungle trees to the open meadow the beasts would be grazing at. His feet pounded in rhythm with his heart, and the usual adrenaline of a pending attack surged through his veins.

Barec burst out of the treeline at a breakneck pace, only to stumble and nearly fall at the sight that met his eyes. A gigantic, green shape was shimmering in the heat waves rising from the steaming earth. Wings protruded from its back, and its head swiveled back and forth, as if searching for something. The herdbeasts, predictably, had scampered into the trees at the edge of the meadow, but there they had stopped with no further threat from the beast.

The lad was transfixed by the whirling eyes that slowly came into focus atop the scaly head. He wasn't sure if his eyes were just adjusting to the new sight or if the heat wave was dissipating, but everything became suddenly distinct and vivid. A giant, green beast, akin to the flying lizards he'd spotted from tme to time, was resting in his meadow.

He hadn't been breathing for quite some time now, but his senses kicked in, and he drew in a ragged breath. This was followed by an incomprehensible noise of shock, fear, and dismay, and the lad turned just as quickly as he'd come to dart back into the trees. The dagger was forgotten in the face of this giant danger, and all Barec could do was hope that he hadn't been seen by those mesmerizing eyes.

[bleedtearsofshame]

((*smirks* Fine. Then I'm going to reuse clips of my old posts too! Haha! Two can play at this game! Try to foil me now! ^_^))

It was the opinion of the greenrider that the future southern continent was even hotter than the past. That was the only way to explain the heat that was licking at his flesh, the drops of sweat that were tickling at his temples. Of course, it might just have been the afternoon sun coupled with the terrifying descent of the clouds. Either way, it was stifling in the jungle, and thus A'dis found himself stepping towards stream. Kneeling at its banks, his hand reached out and dipped into the crystalline cold water. The water he drew upwards, taking one sip and then splashing the rest onto his hair. It was enough to bring a slight respite from the heat.

But that was when he heard Sayurith's pleased exclamation, the excited thrill that passed through their bond. There he is! she said, whirling eyes focused on a point directly in front of A'dis. There is the one I could sense!

A'dis instantly rose to his feet, snapping his head back to cause his hair to fly out of his face, water curling down his chest. One hand wiped the water away from his eyes, his muscles tense with alertness. Sayurith helpfully sent him a mental image, and thus the greenrider knew exactly where to look. His gaze found the young man instantly, hidden partway behind a leafy shrub.

The boy had his eyes locked upon Sayurith, his absorption in the green clearly causing him to overlook the presence of her rider. He stood there, watching the dragon for several long moments while a variety of emotions played across his face. Shock mingling with surprise, finally being overwhelmed by dismay and fear.

A'dis took in the other's appearance, as was second nature to him. Brown hair that was rich with mahogany, sunlight creating hints of copper over the short strands. Skin that had been sun-kissed to a dark brown, shirtless form revealing the body of a man who was unafraid of hard work. Attractive, though A'dis was annoyed at such a comment within his own mind.

Before the greenrider had a chance to open his lips to respond, to make his presence known, the young man had turned and fled back through the trees.

Catch him! came Sayurith's anxious call, giving a bugle of concern that she couldn't follow through the thick foilage of trees and shrubs.

Instantly, A'dis was on the move. He was running after the startled boy who had worn eyes like a herdbeast before being attacked by a dragon. The other had gotten a good head start of several seconds, and even more, he knew the terrain as the dragonrider did not. But that did not stop A'dis from pushing his way, racing and twining around trees that stood between him and his quarry, pushing aside branches and bushes that reached out with wooden fingers to scratch holes through the greenrider's unbuttoned shirt and tear it off completely.

A'dis didn't have time to worry about reclaiming his clothes. His senses were on the alert, adrenaline pounding through his veins with a searing heat that couldn't be matched by the Southern sun. He was racing after the boy, on the hunt for his prey. Even with the air that was burning down his throat, even though the lad had a decent headstart, the greenrider moved with a graceful agility that came from turns of dancing and fighting.

Without being aware of it, his blades had been removed from his sheathes and were now cradled lovingly within his fingers. A'dis knew that there was no way that he would be able to catch up, there was no way that he would catch his quarry, not like this.

It was Sayurith who took on desperate measures, driven by fear of losing the young man whose abilities burned like a flame within his chest.

Wait! she called directly into Barec's mind. Please, don't run from us! We mean you no harm! We won't hurt you!

[Kitari]

((Fine then! This one's all new.))

Upon entering the shelter of the trees, Barec, like the herdbeasts, had paused to see if he was being followed. It was then that movement other than the green beast's drew his eye. There was a man beside the giant, and he was beginning to run towards the trees. It was the first time Barec had viewed another Pernese, except for his parents, and he was caught in a trance at the sight. Green eyes, matching the beast behind him, flashed with the intensity of the chase.

The chase! Barec, realizing this man would catch him and likely feed him to the beast, jerked around, pounding back up the slope he'd just torn down. He knew the land; he couldn't run forever, but he could find a place to hide. Unless that giant beast could smell him. Then, he would choose a place to make a stand. There were a few rocky copses he knew of that he could crouch in until an attacker was nearly upon him, then spring out. It would give him the advantage. He had his dagger, and any hefty branch could be used as a weapon.

As these thoughts raced through his head, Barec's eyes scanning the landscape, words suddenly seared their way across his mind. He stumbled and fell to his knees at the shock of the impact, hands clutching his ears as if that would block out the sound. Although the voice was gentle, its anxiety screeched a terrible note in Barec's fragile mind. He hadn't heard a voice in so long, even that was enough to send him reeling.

The soothing words themselves barely registered. The question of the beast's intentions wasn't even one to consider, for the paranoia instilled by Barden ensured Barec's panic. The voice that had spoken in his head had done so by some, unnatural means. There could only be one reason for this pursuit.

The cracking of branches drew near, and the lad shook himself back to his senses. He was an easy target, crouched on the ground as he was with his back turned. It was time to make a stand. Clambering to his feet, he faced the direction of his pursuer, dagger gripped easily in fingers slick with the sweat of fear. Once the man burst through the underbrush, Barec would be on him.

[bleedtearsofshame]

Branches reached out and made their mark against A'dis' skin, little scratches that burned with the sweat that curled down his flesh. He gritted his teeth and ignored the irritation of the pain, pushing his way through the jungle terrain.

Be careful, came Sayurith's voice, suddenly tinged with anxiety. He is frightened. More than frightened. He is terrified.

**What does he have to be terrified of?** A'dis growled to his lifemate, though he knew the answer to that question. Dragons hadn't been seen in the skies in hundreds of turns, and this lonely Hold probably hadn't heard the truth of their return. To have a dragon, a creature of legends, burst out from the skies was probably as terrifying as being in Threadfall.

"Why are you running?" the greenrider shouted aloud while he ran, mentally cursing while he shoved his way through the foilage. Roots curled up from the group, thick winding stumps that threatened to trip his feet from beneath his body. It was a reminder that moving so quickly through unfamiliar terrain was dangerous in itself. But A'dis knew that if he slowed down now, he would lose his prey.

"I'm not going to hurt you!" he called out.

The only sound that met his ears was his own gulping breath.

I don't think he believes you, came Sayurith's observation.

But that was the moment that A'dis burst through a wall of shrubs. He stumbled through the curtain of emerald - and came face to face with the very boy he had been chasing. There was a brief moment in which surprise registered on the dragonrider's face, especially as his eyes caught sight of the glittering daggers that were held firmly in the other's hands. And determination burning alongside the fear in those deep brown eyes.

He didn't even think, it was pure instinct that made the greenrider fall to his knees in a crouch, fingers immediately sliding into the leather of his boots. It was a familiar move, as known to his body as slipping on his shoes in the morning. Before he could even draw in a breath, his own blades were curled in his fingers.

The metal was both warm and cool, a war of sensations that never failed to move A'dis, a strange combination that matched his body. His blood was burning within his body, a strange and sudden desire for a fight. It had been so long, too long, since the days of his battles, and his mind craved the rush of adrenaline all over again. He wanted a challenge, he wanted the fear that came from brushing against death.... But the burning of his blood wasn't hot enough to penetrate the core of coldness that wrapped itself around his insides, around the glacier heart that only a green dragon had pierced.

"You don't want to do this, boy," A'dis growled out to the lad who who couldn't have been much older than him.

[Kitari]

A voice was calling to him, but it was thankfully not inside his head this time. The man was asking why Barec was running, insisting on his good intentions. Then why, Barec wondered, was the man chasing him? There could be only one reason. A beast of that size must be constantly ravenous. This man may be a servant of its, used to catch prey. The crashing of branches steadily approached, and the lad tensed his legs in preparation to leap.

The still wall of green exploded outwards, a dark-haired man escaping its clutching grasp. Brown eyes met green, but Barec did not leap. The man had fallen to his knees, as if pleading with the lad for mercy, and Barec's hand was stilled as a result. Unaware of the hands slipping into boots for blades, the young man gazed at his first Pernese. Other than his parents, Barec had never viewed another human being. Perhaps it was this that mesmerized him most. He found himself tracing the lines of the other's face with his eyes, absorbing the fall of the dark hair on sun-darkened skin.

The eyes held him most. A piercing green, like the foliage behind him yet brighter, a match perhaps to the beast beyond the jungle. They shone with a hint of unexpected concern, but determination to fight dominated. It was then that a flash of silver drew the lad's eyes downward, and he noticed the blades held in each of his opponent's hands. His concentration had slipped, and he had lost his advantage.

Barec knew that he should attack immediately and plunge into battle while the other was down. However, the man began to speak, causing him to pause. The voice was surprising; it was not as low as Barec had expected. He was forced to re-evaluate his opponent. Upon first sight, the lad had immediately assumed he was dealing with one much elder to him. The youthful, fit figure before him denied this.

Boy. Suddenly, Barec did feel like a young boy: lost and confused. His simple, tiny world had changed drastically, and he didn't know what to do. All that was left to him were instincts, and his instincts screamed at him to defend himself from the threat, whether it was true or not. There was a blade in his hand, there were two in the others; that was all that mattered.

"Leave me alone!" It was a half-cry as he finally sprung into action. The dagger was swung downwards in an arc towards the man's arm, while his other arm raised immediately in a defensive position. The other's two blades put him at a disadvantage, and he would do well to remove that immediately.

[bleedtearsofshame]

For a moment, Barec's brown eyes held an expression of such loss and confusion that A'dis wanted to stumble backwards, wanted to put down his own knives and smooth away such emotions from the other's face. He wanted to brush his fingers and tangle it within that brown hair, feel its silkiness against his palm. He wanted to calm away that stricken expression, brush their lips together gently...

He shook his head. Such thoughts were dangerous. They did not belong between two men holding blades. It was the same as courting death or inviting injury. It didn't belong here.

It was at that instant that Barec yelled, a half-cry of pain and fury and something more. The lad seemed almost unstable, his words filled with a pent up desperation that was heart-wrenching. Or they would have been, if A'dis hadn't found himself moving instinctively.

Barec slashed his blade toward's A'dis' arm, while holding the other as a futile sort of defensive shield, and the greenrider instantly felt his hand out, parrying his opponent's blade with his, knocking it off of its course towards his flesh.

With two blades, A'dis had a distinct advantage. But with Barec's intense unstability, they felt a little bit more even. Green eyes sought the other's movements, trying to seek some sort of pattern, trying to discover a clue for another movement. It was instinct now that caused him to size up his enemy, categorize them into a distinct box. Stop thinking of them as people, and think of the movements. Cut, slash, parry, block, dart away, twist. He reduced Barec into a series of movements, and it was easier.

While one blade parried Barec's, the other went for the young man's defensively held arm. That was his weak point. If he could take out one arm, then he would be halfway done. Remove the defense, disarm Barec, and then it would be easier to subdue the boy. It would be finished.

"Hurting you is the last thing that I want to do," A'dis told him, his voice clipped but still soft. "But I will if you force me to."

[Kitari]

The fight had finally begun. A'dis deflected Barec's blow expertly, raising his other blade to slash Barec's defensive arm to weaken him and perhaps cause him to lose focus. Instead, the frightened boy inside of Barec hardened into a determined fighter. He had a purpose: to live. He had a means: to win. This was no longer about fear or his shattered solitude, it was about survival. And Barec intended to survive this day.

He withdrew inside himself, observing all with as objective a view as possible. Barec's mind analyzed his opponent's movements, seeking answers in the eyes and the muscles of A'dis' face, as well as the tensing of his arms as decisions were made. It was a simple game, really. He had to anticipate the other's moves and react accordingly. React correctly, or be injured.

Barec fully expected his bladeless arm to be attacked, for it was his only shield while his blade was on the offensive. He needed to even the playing field somehow, and he saw a potential opening in this attack. The lad waited as long as possible before twisting his arm just out of range of the blade's sweep and attempting to grasp the other's wrist. If he could succeed at this attempt, he could wrench the beastservant's arm and perhaps cause him to lose his weapon.

A strange trickling sensation on his skin caused the lad to spare a glance for his arm, and Barec realized that his quick twist hadn't quite been quick enough. A thin line of crimson marked his forearm, and he shuddered inwardly to think of the potential severed tendons he could have suffered.

Although he had withdrawn into battle mode, Barec's mind still processed the other's strange words. Why would the man not want to hurt him? That seemed contrary to all Pernese nature, according to Barden's teachings. And why did A'dis say it in such a manner, almost pained? A strange thought flitted through the lad's mind, but he nearly choked on its passing. He had imagined the tone. Perhaps the man was more a slave of the beast than servant, and he was expressing this hopelessness in his tone.

Still, the green eyes held him, and the lad was strangely uncomfortable in their gaze, despite being currently in the middle of a duel. Barec had to watch the eyes, though he dreaded the incomprehensible sensation it caused, for signs of attack, and the sweat glistening on his form was not simply a result of exertion. He wanted to run for more than one reason now. None of this made sense. The panic rose but was smothered, for he couldn't allow emotions to hinder his thoughts. "It's your choice," he gritted, "You can do whatever you want with me." If I don't kill you. "That beast'll make sure of that." Barec didn't even know if he was making any sense, his mind too jarbled for comprehensible speech.