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Post by M'kel on Dec 28, 2008 15:11:36 GMT -5
((Ahoy! Calling tany! )) Teeth gritted against the icy winds that sliced through her thin tunic, a spare leant to her by the Weyr after her father refused to send anything with her, Amika struggled forward through the knee high snow. She almost fell twice on the icy layer that coated the floor of the Bowl, maliciously hidden by the snow, and the ceaseless whirling of blowing snow was adding to the chaos, disorienting her further. It would have been a difficult enough crossing for one who knew the Bowl, but it was only the day after Amika had arrived at the Weyr. She had been urged out of the Lower Caverns and told to cross to the Stables and muck out the stalls. Only a shouted direction and a carelessly pointed figure had been provided to guide her. The girl was shivering uncontrollably, she realized, and her legs were beginning to feel leaden, making it even more difficult to remain balanced on the ice. And suddenly, miraculously, a door loomed ahead, starkly brown against the stony wall. With stiff fingers, she fumbled at the latch and heaved, but the snow had drifted up against the door. Kicking furiously for a moment, Amika cleared some of the obstacle before heaving once again. Finally, the door opened just enough for a small person to slip through. Lucky for Amika, it was plenty of space for her. Once on the other side, she immediately turned and yarded on the door to close it once again. And then, she paused, closing her eyes and breathing deeply of the musty scent of hay, feeling the warmth of the animals and the hearth in the back of the cave. A moment later, revived, face flushed with sudden warmth, Amika opened her eyes and stared at the runnerbeasts. Two of them had stuck their heads out of their stalls, gazing curiously at her and nickering softly. She had never been this close to a 'beast before. Let alone mucked out stalls. This was going to be interesting. And so it began. Her first day at the Weyr, a candidate with an opportunity unlike any her miserable life had ever granted her, and Amika was already faced with her first trial. And thus it was that Amika confirmed her curse had followed her here, even to this unimaginable place with dragons out of stories and the hope of life. She chose the stall of a stallion first, slipping in and fearfully reaching out for him to smell her hand, trembling at the moist breath that touched her fingers. All was well, until she fumbled with the pitchfork, felt it slide from her grasp and clatter against the runner's legs. He reacted instantly, rearing and snorting with anger, and Amika fell into a corner of the stall, covering her head and crying out with fear.
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Post by sapphire on Dec 28, 2008 16:09:50 GMT -5
(May I Please join? ?)) Kasanis smiled at the falling snow, and trudged to the stall door. Even though the snow was beating against his one tattered thick tunic that he had had at the first beast stable that he was raised at, he had not got a cold. He hoped patience was OK. He knew the stables was not that warm but kinda warm. He stopped and admired the frosty white snow. He picked up a pile and threw it torward the door. Pathetically it dropped right in front of it. He took a step but slipped and fell. Kasanis laughed at his clumsyness. He opened the stall door. he headed straight torward Patience. She neighed when she saw her master. "Hello sweetie! Enjoying your stay here?" He said sweetly. He gave her one of his last carrots he had saved. Then he heard crying. "Whats that?" He mumbled and looked through each runner beast stall, and patting the heads of each. the he saw a crying figure in the corner of a stall. "Hi!" Kasanis called out kindly.
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Post by D'gellin on Jan 4, 2009 22:27:22 GMT -5
((PRESENT! *salutes* Psst, Sapphire, Amika isn't crying. )) Not only was Araelen holding him hostage, Fallen decided with a sneeze, it was physically out to get him. I do not understand what the problem is, Fallen. I think the snow is rather fun! Vicroth chimed merrily, as though compensating for Fallen's bad attitude. The young bronze bounded ahead of his rider, marveling at the prints left behind him and the strange way snow melted in his open mouth. Fallen shivered, wrapping his coat further around his body. "The snow on its own would be fine." He replied, teeth chattering. "It's the cold I can't stand. It cuts right into you..." As if on queue, a gust of icy wind and snow blew the hood right off his head, ruffling Fallen's spiky hair. What should have been an enjoyable walk to the stables had never been so long or painful before. The weyrling sighed in relief as he closed the door behind him, allowing the warmth inside to eat at the cold now rooted in his body. His cheeks were still mottled with red as he turned to the runnerbeasts, many of their eyes turned on Vicroth with wary whinnies. Young as the dragon might have been, he was still a predator, and easily one of the largest hatchlings in the recent clutch. "Please stay over here, Vicroth." Fallen directed his dragon to a spot away from the runnerbeasts but also far from any drafts. "I shouldn't be long." He added, running a hand over Vicroth's patched hide reassuringly. It would have been wiser to keep Vicroth away from the stables, but parting from the bronze had proved much too difficult. They rarely strayed from each others' sides since the Hatching. I would like to meet your Kiris and Milo though. Do you suppose they would allow me near them? Vicroth asked hopefully as Fallen turned away. "No, you better stay there." The weyrling replied uneasily. The last thing he'd need was for the sprightly Kiris to have a heart attack at the sight of Vicroth's over-sized head. He scarcely noticed Amika as he strode with purpose to his runnerbeasts, glancing uncertainly over his shoulder at Vicroth. The hatchling was a little overeager about the whole adventure, but one look around confirmed the other animals' discomfort. Alert as he was, Fallen was still startled by a clatter and runnerbeast distress. His eyes immediately sought out "Vicroth!" I did not do anything! She did it! The bronze replied instantly, craning his neck to see into the stall Amika had entered. "By Faranth..." Fallen muttered, closing the distance to his runnerbeast's stall: the one that Amika and Kiris were in. He paused at the opening, eyes seeking out first the runnerbeast then the cause of the sound. What he found was a girl cowering in the corner. He rolled his eyes, mastering himself. "Easy, you, there's nothing to worry about." He murmured to the runnerbeast, approaching it slowly, palms up at his sides. Recognizing Fallen, the runnerbeast calmed. "Kiris is prone to getting spooked." He commented offhand to Amika, eventually able to stroke the stallion's nose. "But he should be fine now..." He glanced at Kasanis when the other man called a hello to Amika, though he hardly thought that was appropriate at the moment. "You're not hurt, are you?" He added to the girl.
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Post by M'kel on Jan 10, 2009 1:26:02 GMT -5
Although time seemed to be flowing agonizingly slow, the heartbeats thudding in her ears like a deathmarch, it took only a moment for Fallen to step into the stall. Immediately, the slowed pulse of fear quickened, the stallion tossing its head in slow-motion suddenly moved at a normal pace, then stopped, calmed, and it was over. The young man had moved easily to stroke the stallion, who went still under his touch. Through a haze of lingering, adrenalin-spiked terror, Amika picked out the name 'Kiris'. So the stallion belonged to this young man.
Eventually, she was released, and her limbs went slack; Amika fell back weakly against the stall wall. She sat there, breathing, staring from man to runnerbeast and back again. His offhand manner felt almost like a blow after the shock of fear, as he barely glanced at her. Was her plight really so pathetic to him? She hadn't grown up around runnerbeasts and was too familiar with the dangers of being clumsy.
Brown eyes flitted with surprise at the sound of a soft hello, and she nodded jerkily towards the other man now staring into the stall, her face flushing red. Was all of the Weyr coming to stare at her in her moment of weakness? She turned quickly back to the other as he addressed her, eyes dipping to avoid his gaze. "I'm...I'm fine," Amika replied. She used the walls to push herself off the ground of the stall and then to steady herself while standing.
"It's my...first day," she added, hesitant but determined to explain somehow. Then again, Amika wondered, why should she have to explain herself?
She began to edge her way along the wall, eager to exit the stall. Of course, that wouldn't save her for long...she had been assigned the chore and would need to fight through it somehow.
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Post by D'gellin on Jan 10, 2009 21:02:45 GMT -5
The uneasy tone of Amika's voice caused Fallen to look over at her again, gaze as unsettled as her response as he looked for anything out of place. She did indeed seem fine though, if a little spooked. Instantly his expression was closed, reaching to pick up the fallen pitchfork, mouth pulling down at the corner when he stood again. The cold had made his bad leg a little stiff; not an altogether comfortable feeling. He quirked a brow as Amika sidled toward the exit of the stall, saying something about it being her first day. "A word of advice then. Don't quit the second something bad happens." He said, still in an offhand manner. Something of Vicroth's good nature seemed to be rubbing off on him, even if he was yet to employ that grudging empathy effectively. Tell her the runnerbeasts are scared of me too. Vicroth's voice eagerly burst into his mind, as though he were holding back until the second Fallen was finished speaking. "What? Why?" The young man questioned back, still refusing to speak over their mental connection. If it bothered others then that was their problem, not his.
"Ah - no, Vicroth." Fallen snapped in alarm as he turned in time to see Vicroth sneaking his head around the side of the stall, causing Kiris to step back with a startled whiny. Fallen rolled his eyes with a sigh, rubbing his hand over his face. Oh, appologies. Vicroth squeaked, ducking back away, his voice touched with distress at upsetting Fallen. "Vicroth - " He hesitated only a moment to glance at Amika, Kiris, then follow after the young bronze, hoping to ensure Vicroth he didn't do anything wrong. The bronze had a tendency to get gloomy after making any mistakes. "It's fine. I just didn't want any of the beasts to get worked up or worse." He explained, kneeling to scratch Vicroth's eye ridge. The large forehead leaned into Fallen's hand, eyes wide and apologetic. "I don't want you getting hurt either." He added helplessly, having long since given up on trying to find a reason for his affection for Vicroth. Faranth only knew what distressed runnerbeast hooves could do to a young dragon. The very thought made his heart skip.
Having only come to check up on the runnerbeasts, Fallen had no intention of staying very long, certainly not with Vicroth here as well. However, with both the girl and Kiris as jumpy as they seemed to be, and the cold that awaited him outside, he found himself hesitating to leave. "Look," Fallen stood, turning to Amika. "Kiris is difficult. I'll clean his stall. So that's one down and you can see how it's done." He offered, grabbing the pitchfork once again. "Just, please," He stressed his last word, looking her in the eyes when he spoke now. "Keep Vicroth away from the runnerbeasts." He was pleased, at least, to see Vicroth respond with delight at this idea, though this joy did waver at the notion of being with someone else instead of His. "I'll only be a moment." He assured the bronze, mind automatically though unconsciously touching Vicroth's affectionately. The notion of leaving his dragon to someone else made him uncomfortable, but he it wasn't as though he were far away... It didn't even concern him that Amika might not be willing to play babysitter for the time it took to clean Kiris' stall out. If, however, she was unable to mind the dragon, Fallen would be quick to releave her of the duty.
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Post by M'kel on Jan 12, 2009 18:33:30 GMT -5
Her eyes were fixed on the stallion, calm now, though she expected it to charge her at any moment, as she reached the stall door. Her form still clung to the safety of the wall, as her feet began to urge her to take that step. Before slipping out to that final security, though, Amika stiffened at the young man's next words, brown eyes returning to him once again. The girl was surprised to find herself bristling at the 'advice'. She hadn't thought herself capable of feeling such indignation on her own behalf anymore. His tone wasn't laced with the bite his words seemed to hold, but he was clearly disdainful of her earlier fear.
"I'm not quitting," she grated, trying to instill firmness in a quavery voice. "I just--," Amika broke off suddenly at Fallen's exclamation, 'What? Why?' She stared at him, bewildered, but his gaze did not meet hers. For a moment, she floundered. He had been chiding her not a second ago for 'quitting' and was now questioning her about her proclamation not to?
And then the moment was over, the uncertainty made clear, as Fallen addressed someone named 'Vicroth' and a great bronze head poked into the stall in front of her. All right, he was nowhere near the size of the watchdragon who'd brought her to the Weyr, but the suddenness of having a dragon so close caused her to jump back, banging into the wall she had just edged away from. As quickly as he had appeared, however, he vanished outside the stall again, and Amika found herself leaning forward immediately, startlement brushed aside, to gaze out.
The runnerbeast was forgotten, the troublesome young man along with it, and she gazed in unabashed awe at the gleaming bronze dragonet. As amazing as the older dragons were, seeing a Weyrling, so young and yet already so charming in manner and build...why, he had to be the sweetest little dragon she'd ever seen (of course, she was completely unaware that such thoughts might be taken as an insult to a bronze of Vicroth's esteemed nature)!
Unfortunately, Amika couldn't forget about the man for long, as he brushed past her to kneel in front of the dragonet, stroking its bronzen snout. Oh, great, she thought wryly. Of course he was a dragonrider. Who better to witness her ineptitude with a simple chore?
Her bitterness quickly evaporated, however, as she listened to the muted exchange. Well, the young man's side of it, in any case. Amika couldn't help but soften at the clear love and affection in the other's tone, and she felt a pang of jealousy at that. No one had ever spoken to her in such a way...she would be so lucky if she some day had a dragon of her own.
Abruptly, the scene of affection ended, and the young man was facing her once again. Amika started slightly, then reluctantly met his gaze, not liking his lecturing tone of voice. And then, she was jostled with another reminder not to make such quick assumptions. Not only was he willing to muck out the first stall for her, a relief in itself, but also was he allowing her to spend time with his dragon! His eyes held her own, and the girl wondered if there was a hint of kindness in there, unaware of that he did not consider this a gift for her.
"Of course!" she replied eagerly, unable to restrain the excitement from seeping into her tone. "I can do that...not a problem!" And with that, Amika turned quickly to the dragon, gazing at him in awe once more. She would have been content simply to stare at him for the duration of the stall cleaning, forgetting where she was and simply drinking in the wonder of Vicroth.
But perhaps she was expected to speak, to entertain him. What could one say to a dragon? "Hello?" she tried, wincing at how pathetic it sounded. "I'm...um...I'm Amika..." And then she stopped. Dragons only spoke to their riders. This was silly... "Not that...that's very important...you're very lovely! Ah..." she stopped again. It was very painful.
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Post by D'gellin on Jan 14, 2009 18:17:55 GMT -5
Fallen eyed Amika warily as she gave her reply, still uneasy about leaving Vicroth momentarily in her care, but the bronze quickly consoled him. I will be perfectly fine, Fallen. She seems very nice. Vicroth stated, puffing up his broad young chest with pride and courage. How could Fallen doubt his Vicroth? Nodding absently, Fallen turned back to Kiris, pitchfork in hand. He halted only to pet the stallion's neck in assurance, dark eyes roving over the familiar runnerbeast. "It's been a while." He murmured, barely a whisper to his old companion before getting to work. For the briefest of moments, it felt like the old days; before Araelen, before Vicroth. Was it only a few months ago that he had been a free man, untethered as he roamed across his beautiful world? There was nothing but Fallen and the horizon ahead, Kiris and Milo his only lasting companions. Animals had always been more loyal than humans.
I will always be there for you. Fallen could scarcely discern if the thought was his own recognition that he now had Vicroth eternally or if the bronze had actually spoken, but the notion was as true as Rukbat rising every morning. An unplanned smile traced his mouth, and he felt a swell of warmth in his chest to chase away even the winter chill outside the stables.
Meanwhile Vicroth was quite amused by Amika. How happy she was. Anxious, yes, but not unpleasantly so. She must be intimidated by me, Vicroth considered, feeling his ego swell like a living creature in his bosom. He liked Amika, even if she seemed a little silly, and he did want to talk to her. When he tried to, however, he suddenly felt very small, his mental tongue wrapped around itself. He'd never spoken to anyone else but His, and the idea suddenly seemed much to foreign and frightening. No, he'd stay here, with himself and Fallen. Mine? In his discomfort he unintentionally fell back into the comfortable familiar term of possession. Fallen, however, did not seem upset by the title, only amused as he felt Vicroth's emotions.
"Yes?" He asked, humor tugging his lips up at one corner as he mucked out the stall. Will you please tell Amika that it is quite a pleasure to meet her, and that I appreciate the compliment? He hesitated a moment before adding And I think she's rather lovely too. Ever the charmer, Vicroth grinned draconicly back at the girl. Fallen quirked a brow at his bronze but didn't protest. "Vicroth is pleased to meet you, and appreciates the compliment." Fallen voiced for Amika, hesitating on the final point as well, not at all comfortable dictating flattery. "Vicroth also thinks you're lovely." His eyes never strayed from the pitchfork.
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Post by M'kel on Jan 14, 2009 22:33:36 GMT -5
The dragonet seemed to be responding to her attention; he was watching her with what could be interpreted as interest, especially by one as eager as herself. Amika found herself relaxing, as a result. Even if it was a little silly to have a conversation with someone who couldn't respond, a dragon demanded something more than the usual response to animals: petting. Somehow, that just didn't seem appropriate.
Reluctantly, the girl reminded herself to glance occasionally at the stall. It wouldn't do her any good not to learn how to muck out a stall while he was doing the first one for her. Otherwise, she'd just be back where she started.
At the young man's soft query, Amika turned. He wasn't even looking her direction, so she quickly turned back to the dragonet. It was rather unnerving, hearing someone speaking without an apparent respondent. And yet the privacy of it was something to be envied. The thought caused a flutter in her heart; she was a candidate and could soon be bonded to a dragon of her own. She was almost hesitant to think about it, as if voicing the hope even in her mind might shatter it.
Thus, she was not expecting the dragonrider to suddenly address her. It took a moment before Amika whirled, a flush rising in her cheeks. She nodded to the first statement, smiling faintly at the dragonet, but froze as the man began to speak again. She remained as such for a time after, with only a deepening of her flush to indicate her acknowledgment. Briefly, she registered that he had still not looked at her, and turned abruptly back to Vicroth. It was perfectly clear who the compliment had come from.
"Thank you," Amika replied, a warm smile brushing her features. "That's very sweet of you." She knelt to better address the dragonet, although he was not very small, then glanced back over her shoulder. "You're very lucky to have Vicroth. He's...wonderful." Her voice was hushed, and she didn't gaze at the young man for long.
"I only hope I'm half as lucky..." she added, more softly, eyes returned to the dragonet. Her hand twitched as she resisted the urge to reach out and stroke that velvety hide.
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Post by D'gellin on Jan 18, 2009 16:17:06 GMT -5
Despite himself, Fallen felt embarrassed heat rising to his pale face. The tone of Amika's response was such that he knew at once she expressed raw emotions. The young man absently ran a hand through his light hair, choosing not to reply with a 'you're welcome'. This was a conversation between Amika and Vicroth, not himself. Yet he again he felt that string of connected emotions. No, more like a rope, a chain; the metaphors gradually grew more restraining so that he felt his head spinning with a need to escape. Sensing Fallen's distress, Vicroth looked up uneasily, mind touching His assuringly, and Fallen felt his muscles ease as reason was restored to the moment of panic. It seemed as though his shifts in emotion had become sporadic and often unfounded since the Hatching, leaving him caught in the unexpected tide of foreign feelings so frequently washing over him from Vicroth.
"I know." Fallen replied weakly to Amika's mention of his good fortune. For the millionth time he wondered how on Pern he'd managed to survive without the bronze for so long. "Thank you." He added after a moment, the emotional trip leaving him exposed, something he was not proud of. He paused, as though wanting to say something but not finding the words, only to realize it was Vicroth who had wanted to speak. "You will be." He voiced for the bronze, dictating in the way his dragon spoke. "There is no reason you should not be." Fallen sighed, placing a free hand to his eyes. He felt weary with trying to sort out who was feeling what. Vicroth simply had much too strong of emotions, his connection knotted too impossibly to untangle or even loosen. "He likes it when you scratch above his eyeridge." Fallen added with more composure after a moment, dispelling the distress as suddenly as it had come on.
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Post by M'kel on Jan 25, 2009 15:52:52 GMT -5
For the second time, Amika was surprised to hear the sudden shift in Fallen's voice. His soft word of thanks mirrored the tone he'd used when addressing Vicroth, that same depth of emotion contained within a simple utterance. Despite his offhand manner in addressing her, it was clear that his affection was depthless when it came to his dragon. Once again, she marveled at the connection between dragon and rider.
When Fallen continued, Amika couldn't help but turn to gaze at him again. She had not expected such an assurance from this distant young man, whose kindness seemed reserved for Vicroth. But that wasn't fair of her...after all, people living in a Weyr were not fundamentally different from those in the rest of Pern. Not all of them were going to be friendly and inviting; this was no utopia. She ought not to judge him, Amika chided himself. There were many who reserved their kindness for friends. She was a stranger, a candidate, a nobody, to him. She should be grateful for the kindness he was showing her, in assisting with this first stall and offering such a bold word of hope.
And she was grateful. Her eyes nearly shone at the emotions his words stirred. To have someone express such confidence in her, after only a brief meeting, was a new experience. And the thought of Impressing a dragon was powerful enough. It was almost as if his words had given her hope more of a chance, giving it substantiality. Having the Searchrider proclaim her adequacy had left her floating in a dreamland, but having another dragonrider, so newly Impressed himself, repeat those sentiments, made it reality.
It took a few moments for Amika to realize that Fallen had added a last suggestion. Vicroth liked having his eyeridges scratched. With an, "Oh!" of surprise, she turned hastily back to the young bronze and reached forward quickly, yet hesitantly, to run her fingers along his left eyeridge. She was embarrassed for having gazed at Fallen for such a lengthy time after he had spoken, frantically wondering what emotions had crossed her face in that time.
And yet it was so easy for those concerns to drift away with the smooth feel of the bronze's hide. Amika's lips quirked in a smile at the soft velvety sensation, and she belatedly began to scratch lightly, having only been tracing his eyeridge for the first moments. "It's so soft," she murmured aloud. Although she had felt the Searchdragon's hide in the brief journey to the Weyr, a young dragon's hide was a texture all its own. "Is this right?" she asked the dragon, scratching as lightly as possible so as not to damage that smooth hide.
"And I..." Amika added in an address to Fallen, forcing the words out, "...really appreciate what you're doing for me." She didn't look at him, staring fixedly at Vicroth. "With the stall, allowing me to meet Vicroth, saying those kind things..." She stopped, unable to force more. As much as life had changed, there were many things that stayed the same, and Amika had already surpassed her usual inhibition in social situations marvelously.
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