Stalled and Delayed

[ravyna]

"Shards."

The mild oath was muttered quietly, darkening the scowl on an already scowling face. Ravyna was on the ground, feet planted firmly, a lead rope in one hand and a set of reins in the other. Both runners, whites of their eyes showing, were pulling back, too well trained to bolt, but determined not to take another step forward.

"Sharding dragonrider, doesn't he have the brains to know that runners are going to think his dragon's scoping them out for lunch?"

She sighed deeply, keeping her voice, despite the angry words, quiet and calm. The great dragon had been far, far above, but Rav was certain he saw them. They were on an open, rocky part of the trail through the valley, after all ... there was meadow on either side, and a small freshwater lake ahead and to the left. The jungle growth had broken off several dragonlengths to their rear, and didn't resume its overhead cover until well beyond the lake. There was no doubt that they had been seen, for the dragon had backtracked, circling three times directly overhead, before moving off toward the Weyr: No doubt to announce their approach. Although it was hard to tell from that distance, she thought it might have been a bronze. It was huge ... or seemed so to her, and she'd always heard that the bronze dragons were largest besides the queens. In her mind's eye she'd always imagined that a queen dragon would glow brilliantly gold even from the farthest distance, like a small sun shining in the sky.

Renny and the mare had apparently thought the dragon was huge, too. Large enough to swallow a pair of tired runners whole, anyway.

She continued to talk soothingly. "You silly things, the beast passed out of sight several full minutes ago, you can move now. It's not coming back, you shardling crackshell-brained imbeciles." Her voice trickled like warm honey toward the runners, and she was glad these beasts heard tone and inflection rather than words for the most part. She was about to croon sweetly to them about getting out her whip and scarring their rumps when Renegade finally regrew some senses and took a tentative step forward.

"Ah, good boy, you do have a brain, don't you?" the girl praised, and tugged again on the lead rope of the mare.

"Come on lovey, Renny can do it, so can you."

The mare snorted, rolled her eyes, and leaned back against the pull.

Rav groaned. It wouldn't be so bad if they were under cover, but it was starting to look like she was going to have to spend the night on the rocks out in the open ... a possibility she didn't relish in the least.

Finally, hoping that Ren would continue to cooperate, as there was no way she could do this with both runners at once, Ravyna stripped off her outer tunic and folded it. Off, as well, came her knife belt, and she tucked the blade and sheath into the top of her boot for safe keeping and handy access. Placing the tunic over the mare's eyes and ears, she fastened it with the belt as a hood.

"There, lovey ... shards, I really do need to think of a real name for you. Elegant Destiny is far too recognizable; you surely can't keep the old one."

She rattled on about nothing, using her soothing voice to distract the mare from what was really happening, as she unwound a longer rope from her carefully arranged pack harness, and replaced the short lead shank with it. A few skillful loops and knots had quickly fashioned a contraption that ran from the off-side of the halter, through some cargo loops on the side of the harness, draped behind the mare, and rested just above her hocks. It ran back up her near side, through the halter ring, and to Rav's hand.

The girl took a step forward and pulled gently -- putting pressure on the mare's hind legs. Once again the mare moved away from the pressure -- but now instead of that pressure pulling against her head, it was pushing on her back end, so she moved forward.

"Blind and dumb, just the way I love you," Rav spoke in a sing-song voice, as she continued slowly up the path. Fortunately the dragon had been gone enough to allow her clever little Renegade to regain some sense, and, intrigued by his partner's blindfold and rope arrangement, he moved placidly alongside them.

"I really had hoped to ride all the way," Ravyna said to the runners, continuing her flow of soothing sounds for them to focus on, "It's so much more dignified."

Her temper wasn't in the best shape by the time she came to the entrance of the Weyr tunnel. Her feet were sore, and she'd completely lost all semblance of patience due to the long trek. She was glad, in her own way, for the shelter of the tunnel, and determined to call it a day right here, unburden the mare, and bed herself down for the night. It had taken the better part of the day to sweet-talk the flighty, hot-bred gray closer to the Dangerous Den of Dragondom, and darkness would descend very soon on the island. She was cursing not only her four-legged companions, but herself as well, for failing to take into account the fact that any runner would immediately see the presence of dragons as a threat.

The only positive spark of the entire trek was that she finally came up with a name for the mare. A perverse sense of humor prevailed, and, since she'd had to lead the runner all the way up the valley path blindfolded, she decided to call her Vision.

[M'kel]

Watchdragon duty had definitely begun to wear. The visitors to the Weyr were few, which in itself negated the necessity for a watchdragon, but also brought the unfortunate result of an ill-equipped Weyr for the growing number of dragons that trickled in over the days and sevendays. The Holds had been slow to respond to the forceful call for tithes, and it was already becoming obvious that certain belligerent Lord Holders would be needing a 'talking to'.

Now that would be a much more interesting task. M'kel savoured the thought of marching into a Hold and demanding the arrogant Lord Holder's submission, but the orders had not yet come. It irked him to see the Weyr so disrespected, but the last messenger to Celos Sea Hold, for one, had been assured that herdbeasts were on the way. Not that it truly mattered; a quick jump between to a Holder's prize stock was easy enough, but the Weyr ought to have its own herd on hand nonetheless.

These ponderings led to a fair deal of interest when Tirenth announced that another ship, or ferry, had docked. Eagerly, M'kel had urged his mighty bronze on to scope out the arriving stock. Even from far above, it was quite obvious that the beasts were old, wizened, and sickly: not suitable at all for the only dragons of Pern. Even Tirenth had grunted slightly in disgust, and he was usually an easily appeased dragon. M'kel had been close to asking his dragon to swoop in and frighten the beasts across the island, causing quite a bit of turmoil for the poor herder, but then another figure slightly up the Valley slope from the beasts had caught his eye.

Tirenth had circled as necessary, focusing his whirling eyes on a girl and two runnerbeasts. The image was easily passed to M'kel's mind, and the two returned to the Weyr. Although Tirenth wasn't trained to pick out specific facial features from so far away, M'kel was intrigued nonetheless. The dragon had remarked that these runners were much more suited to dragon feed than the herdbeasts following them, so his rider deduced that the person leading them must be fairly wealthy.

As the runnerbeasts were obviously frightened by the proximity of the dragon, they had returned to the Weyr for the rest of the watch. The day wore on, and Tirenth confirmed that the girl was nearly to the Tunnel. M'kel had slipped down to the Lower Caverns for a quick bite to eat and a cup of klah, then ambled down the Tunnel to wait just within its shadows at the entrance. These concealing depths darkened as evening wore on, but the visitor was now visible down the slope.

The girl and runners took their final plodding steps towards the Tunnel, and M'kel, who had been leaning against the smooth cavern walls, stepped out from within the shadowed depths. "Welcome to Araelen Weyr," he spoke easily, offering one of his most charming smiles. "I am M'kel, rider of bronze Tirenth." He allowed a moment for such impressive news to sink in before continuing. "If you bring those runners in offering, we most certainly accept, and will take note of your Hold as aware of its duties to Weyr. If you intend to remain yourself, we most certainly accept that as well." M'kel grinned playfully, allowing his eyes to drift casually over her form. There was definitely potential, under that travel grime and sweat, of course. "If the Lower Caverns don't appeal to you, dragonriders always have uses for...individuals of your nature."

[ravyna]

As the man stepped from the shadows, Ravyna cautiously hid her surprise, for surprised she was, and angry with herself for allowing him to catch her off her guard. His swaggering stance, arrogant and annoying, put her hackles up immediately, and the word "offering" as he indicated the runners lit a fuse.

"Bronzerider?" Her lids narrowed as she surveyed him ... a shame he was such an idiot, he had a nice body. "No doubt the dolt that nearly got me killed scaring my runners half to death. And offering? Are you mad, man? Two finer beasts you won't find on Pern, and they are (I make this a point --" and here she pulled her dagger from her boot-top and casually waved it toward his chest, " -- you understand?) mine. I offer them to none, and they are certainly no lizard-fodder!"

She shifted her weight, and anyone trained to fight would see that she was preparing for whatever might come. "The stallion is sure-footed and firm, smarter than most humans who might try to climb on his back, and as talented a riding beast as you'll ever meet. The mare is of the finest bloodlines and carries a foal sired by a stallion equally her merit. I intended that these two ... three if the mare drops a filly ... be the start of a small herd which will remain In - My - Keeping," she flicked the tip of the blade toward him to accent each word, "While I'm here at the Weyr."

Her eyes narrowed and her slightly crooked mouth set itself in a firm line. Very quietly, she added, "And should any dragon attempt to make a meal of either of them, I'll fry his liver for my own dinner ... and have his rider's for dessert. As to your other insinuation, well," a feral grin flashed white teeth at him, "I believe, if you have a brain at all, that you've by now surmised that no one takes me unless the act is initiated by myself."

She then straightened, with as haughty a stance as his own, and bowed slightly without taking her eyes from his face. "I am Ravyna, and I am Beholden to no lord or lady. I go where I will, and I have decided I will go to Araelen Weyr. Surely you've drudges that need beating into line, and if your dragons are worth the legends painted about them, there will be a clutch on the sands for Impression before long. I'm not afraid of hard work, as long as it's my own idea, but try to make a slave of me, and you'll find you're missing a heart when you wake in the morning." She grinned again, dark eyes flashing, "To wash down the liver, of course."

[M'kel]

Insolent fool! M'kel's stance immediately stiffened at the doubtful, even critical tone in the girl's voice as she questioned his position as a bronze rider. His features hardened even further as she proceeded to indirectly call him a 'dolt'. By the time she'd finished her mighty declaration of ownership over the runners and the knife appeared in her hand, Tirenth had alighted softly atop the ridges of the Bowl overlooking the entrance to the Tunnel. M'kel ignored the brandished blade, but he could not ignore the insult to his dragon. Lizard fodder?!

The bronze rider was forced to grit his teeth and clench his fists, arms firmly locked in a crossed position across his chest, fully aware that if he did not clamp them there, his hands would teach this insolent child a lesson. The last thing he cared about was the breeding of these animals. What were runners compared to dragons? The dark haired girl declared her ownership of the animals once again. She actually thought they'd allow a herd of useless beasts on the Weyr grounds?

Though he was trying his hardest to remain calm in the face of such insult, the threat to his dragon was too much. M'kel's arms dropped to his side, fingers trembling, and Tirenth bugled in response to the fury that welled in his rider. No one takes her, hm? He'd take her if that's what he bloody well wanted, and there was nothing she could do to stop him. The foolishness of that statement, of all of these haughty remarks, not even a Lord Holder would dare behave in such a manner in the presence of a potential future Weyrleader...

Even if there was a clutch on the sands, there was no way he'd allow this girl to stand. Her final confident speech went mostly unheard, something about her name, Ravyna, a further threat to himself... Before he knew what was happening, M'kel had grabbed for the girl's knife arm, attempting to twist it sharply behind her back and break her grip. His other hand went for her throat, as he moved to slam this girl up against the side of the Tunnel and hopefully 'slam' some sense into her. The bronze rider was by no means the toughest or strongest of men, but he'd relied on agility and surprisingly quick defenses before. Tirenth's warning bugle sounded once again, his eyes whirling red and wings flapping as the dragon prepared to dive.

[ravyna]

As the dragon neared, the runners began once again to mill in growing panic. The mare's eye showed white and she tossed her head high, snorting in aggitation.

Ravyna's angry eyes flashed from ire to worry, and she started toward the runners as M'kel moved to grabbed her. Had she not been distracted--

"Ah, you moron!" she snarled, as the runners grew more and more panicked, and the tether the girl had tied the mare with began to work loose. "They'll bolt! That mare's nigh to foaling-- "

She struggled against the bronzerider's grip, her concentration broken with worry for the runners. Renegade was torn as well, his eyes rolled back with fear, and he fought all instinct to run, seeing that his mistress was in danger.

The haughty look vanished from Ravyna's face as the mare, now in a sweating frenzy for fear of the dragon, pulled at the tie in her line. The end of the rope was nearly free -- she was going to flee, and on the slick surface of the tunnel, she'd surely fall! Rav's fear for the runners broke through her hard shell, shone from her eyes, as she fought against the rider's grip.

"No, please, let me go -- she'll get hurt!"

Renny, fighting his terror, finally came to a decision. He chose loyalty over fear. He must defend his mistress, even if it got him eaten. His head shot forward, even though it was to move in the direction of the dragon, and sharp white teeth sank into the bronzerider's buttocks!

As the runner bit down, not hard enough to tear flesh, but hard enough to give the man's derriere a monsterous pinch, Rav broke free. She dropped her knife, caring not for her own safety, and lunged for Vision's tie-rope, grabbing it just as the knot slipped free.

The mare bolted, and, off balance, Rav was pulled off her feet, and dragged. "Ho, Vizzy! Ho, Ho! No, lovey, you'll fall!" she cried after the panicking mare. Renegade, ignoring the male human, raced after his own two females, moving at a swift high-stepping trot, his tail held up like a flowing flag, his mane tossing as he shook his head in aggitation. The sweat of fear caused his blood-bay flanks to glisten in the dim light of the tunnel as he attempted to catch up the mare and his rider.

Finally, in the center of the tunnel, Vision realized that there was an opening at the far end, and stopped short. There were dragons out there! Rav, out of breath and nearly in tears, sat up. It was only then that she realized how seriously humiliated she'd been in the eyes of this dragonrider.

Renegade pulled up beside her and gave her a bump with his muzzle. She stroked his face, leaning hers against its velvet softness, and breathed a deep, defeated sigh. All the steam had been taken out of her, and she turned to where she'd left the bronzerider standing empty-handed.

"Well," she said, loud enough for him to hear. "I haven't exactly made the most elegant entrance, have I?"

[M'kel]

M'kel's grip proved true, and he had the girl trapped, knife arm useless. Unfortunately, he was unable to enjoy the submission, for the girl had hardly decided to submit. Instead, his ferocious gaze and bared teeth were wasted, for Ravyna had eyes only for her runners. The silly beasts were thrashing in their terror at Tirenth's behaviour, and the girl seemed to give a shudder at each throe.

No matter, the child needed to be disciplined. Such a waste that those enchanting eyes hid impudence and false superiority. "Never insult my dragon," he began to growl, when suddenly his grasp was broken by a most unfortunate slip. Actually, his hands didn't just slip; the fingers flew wide, for a most painful feeling was pulsing in his rear. The yelp that escaped his lips was accompanied by a surprised grunt from above, and M'kel's freed hands swung backwards to pummel the beast in the face.

Before he'd had more than a bare chance to defend himself, the clamped jaws were removed, and M'kel stumbled around to gaze at the most astounding sight. Unconsciously rubbing his rear, the bronze rider stared dumbly down the tunnel as the girl was dragged forcibly behind the frightened mare. Her cries echoed down the Tunnel to his uncomprehending ears, until the trio finally came to a halt near the end. Ravyna sat up and turned to gaze back at him, and M'kel suddenly remembered to remove his hands from their rubbing of his rear.

Although his rump still smarted, M'kel was relieved nonetheless to hear the defeated note in the girl's voice. Recovering what composure and suave he could, the dragonrider proceeded, albeit a bit more slowly than his usual thingyy stride, down the Tunnel to stand in front of the broken form. With all of the fury boiling in his veins, the outrage at the insult to his dragon, and the painful throbbing of his rear end, M'kel was surprised at the softness of his voice as he proferred a hand to the fallen girl. "You haven't quite entered yet. There's a few steps more. How about you make that entrance you'd wanted to make." His gaze had softened into something uncharacteristically like compassion, and M'kel hardly knew what had taken control of his bodily functions. The real M'kel must have detached somehow and floated away...

[ravyna]

As the rider approached Ravyna prepared for the worst. Her dagger was all the way at the end of the tunnel, and she was still on the ground, trying to calm a panicked Vision. The man's stride showed that Renny had delivered a painful bite, but the fact that she was still catching her breath -- and beginning to realize that even smooth lava-carved stone floors could scrape patches of hide off a body dragged along it -- took any pleasure out of the realization.

The final shock was the softness of M'kel's voice as he spoke to her. She had prepared to retort, throw whatever he handed her back into his face, but the hand reaching toward her, offering help, closed her throat.

Or was it a trick? Would he grab her hand and repeat the earlier performace of arrogant force? She narrowed her eyes, searching his face.

No, this man was as confused as she was.... And Renegade, though still prancing in place due to the proximity of the dragon, was directing no defensive behavior toward the bronzerider.

Renny always knew when she was being threatened.

"All right, then," she said, keeping all emotion from her voice, talking to him as if he were a nervous runner, though she'd never let him know that. "Let's try this again." She accepted the hand and allowed him to help her to her feet.

"If I allow rational thought to intercede, I guess I realize that you had no way of knowing that these runners were not being brought to the Weyr as offerings of food for the dragons. Having been around runners for so long, it of course wouldn't occur to me that a man's bond to a dragon might cloud such ... details. And I forget that not everyone has an eye for a fine riding beast. I'm sorry."

The last two words almost caught in her throat, but just as she'd tell a recalcitrant runner that he was sweet to help to calm him, she realized that the man's bond to his dragon meant that he was also acting on instinct. So, although she really wasn't all that sorry, a slight stretch of the truth couldn't hurt.

"In my defense, however.... I believe you've had first hand experience that my attachment to Renegade and the mare isn't really all that different from yours to your dragon ... no wait," she said, knowing that the man would bristle at the thought, "I do realize the difference. I'm talking about emotional attachment and the bond I share with them. What I'm trying to say is, I hope you can try to understand why I would be as offended by a threat to my friends," she reached out and stroked the mare's neck lovingly, and Vision began to calm at the touch, "As you were to a threat to yours. I reacted emotionally, and in truth I would never intentionally hurt any beast, even if it tore out my heart," she nodded at Renegade, knowing that a dragonrider would understand that she refered to the bond she shared with the runner, "If it were only acting on need and instinct."

Humans, of course, were another story ... but she didn't have to tell him that.

"Anyway," she sighed. "Can we start again?" Keeping her voice calm, she went on. "My runners are my friends, indeed they're pretty much my only friends," she said honestly. "My coming to the Weyr was not to offer them up, but to bring them with me, much as another person might bring their human family, as I sought out living space and a position. I have ... experience ... in overseeing drudges and thought I would apply for such a position here."

There, as difficult as it was to keep her temper under control, it was out, and in a far more rational way. Her guard hadn't lowered a bit ... but hopefully she had mended the potential for opportunity.

She again noted his stance, and her mouth quirked to the side in its oddly asymmetric way. "And sorry about the bite ... he was only defending me just as your friend out there would defend you. He's very controlled when he does that ... he rarely breaks skin." She looked down at her own chest, stomach and knees, where the cloth had been torn in spots and small bloody scrapes oozed through. "Unlike your tunnel floor."

[M'kel]

As M'kel gazed down at the girl, and she returned his stare with a studying one of her own, he realized why his angry resolve had faltered. There was a vulnerability about her face, as crestfallen and disappointed as it was, now that the mask of confidence and her haughty air had crumbled. It was something he understood far too well. How many times had he hidden behind a cocky smile, determined to mask his weaknesses and fears from the world? Ravyna was wandering alone, with runners, and it seemed obvious that she had been alone for a long time. It was only logical that in encountering her first individual in a place she hoped to call home, she would strive to appear as strong and independent as possible. If she were soft, and they rejected her, she would suffer both insult and injury. If, though, she remained seemingly indifferent and confident, and they rejected her, she could slip away easily and nurse her wounds in solitude.

Her gaze remained suspicious, but at least she accepted M'kel's hand. The bronze rider helped her carefully to her feet, nodding as she, as emotionlessly as possible, attempted to explain things. There was little apology in her tone, but the fact that she had conceded at all seemed a momentuous step. When she spoke of her runners, he saw the truth in her eyes. Her only friends. What had driven her away from her old life, which had obviously been a wealthy one by the look of the quality of those clothes underneath the tears and grime as well as the quality of the runners, that she had chosen the company of beasts over that of fellow Pernese? She caressed the still agitated mare's neck, and now it was M'kel's turn to be surprised. So, she masked a kind heart as well behind that bristling exterior. Interesting.

M'kel, reminded of the throbbing of his rear, shrugged it off absently. The girl must have a way with beasts if this one had acted in her defense. Even the best of felines didn't tend towards that kind of action; only fire lizards and dragons were that loyal. Yet, her glance down at her own, scraped form, made him itch in disgust for his insensitivity. "I shall take you to the Headwoman right away. She'll certainly have some numbweed on hand that we can put on those scrapes. I hope that it doesn't hurt too much..." He paused, concern reflected in his usually conniving eyes. "As for a position, I'm sure she'll be able to see to that, as well. After we deal with your injuries," he stressed this point, "you can see the Beastmaster about your runners. Though I doubt we'll have the space for an entire herd of runners, three should be all right." He smiled in a manner that he hoped was reassuring.

In response to her query of starting again, M'kel uncharacteristically offered his hand for a formal greeting. This was something no dragonriders had dared to do in this forward time, where the Weyrwoman demanded that they establish their position of superiority. Yet, in this instant, it seemed necessary. "My name is M'kel, rider of Bronze Tirenth. Welcome to Araelen Weyr."

[ravyna]

Ravyna accepted the hand graciously, and shook with a firm grip. She glanced down at her scrapes, slightly surprised that he was concerned. "Injuries? Not really ... they're minor. But if numbweed is offered, I won't refuse it, thank you." She fell into step beside the bronzerider, Renegade taking a nervous cue from her that all was well. Vision, however, tossed her head and, though she moved forward, it took a firm tug at the lead for each step. Rav sighed.

M'kel, might I impose on you to ask your good Tirenth to ... well ... move upwind?" She looked sideways at the mare and then rolled her eyes in minor frustration.

[M'kel]

The bronze rider grinned cheerily at the firm handshake, humour revived after the unfortunate episode. Now that he'd taken a bit of steam out of this one, inadvertently of course, she might relax into Weyr custom soon enough and come to accept her place. Certainly the Headwoman would put up with no arrogance from a Lower Caverns worker under her watch, so hopefully this 'thrashing' on the Tunnel floor would be enough to smarten her up.

M'kel glanced airily at the runnerbeasts and waved his hand, proceeding across the Bowl. "Sure, Tirenth could move up wind, but it wouldn't do much good. You're in a Weyr now, remember?" This was accompanied by a broad sweep of his arm, a gesture that encompassed the entirety of the now towering walls of the Weyr and the honeycomb of individual weyrs, some with dragons lazily basking in the last rays of the sun. The dragonrider was grinning once again, glancing at the girl for her reaction. Tirenth soared overhead to his own perch, as their watch duty had finally ended. "Perhaps we ought to go to the Beastmaster first after all."