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Post by M'kel on Mar 4, 2009 0:42:15 GMT -5
It wasn't right. Rukbat was long past the horizon, the Weyr was bathed in shadows, and everyone was asleep. Everyone except the Wherhandlers and insomniacs, of course. And Amika definitely wasn't one of the latter.
"Auuuggghhh," she groaned, slumping her head down onto the hard wooden table. This was 'breakfast' of sorts, although her stomach was not all that interested in food. And it wasn't as if the Wherhandlers were fed the best selection...no, their food was always the cold leftovers from the Weyr's daily meals, kept in a basket in the Kitchens for them to pick over. Today, she had picked over a plate of hardened bread and pasty oat gruel. Her klah, thankfully kept warm over the embers of the day's fires, was only half empty.
Suffice it to say, Amika was having a very difficult time adjusting to the new sleep-wake schedule. It certainly helped that the Wherhandler's Caves were so dark; if there had been any light able to stream in from the outside world, she would have been too agonized to sleep at all during the day. Still, she was spending most of that time tossing and turning.
And now, she was falling asleep.
Her eyelids had begun to droop, the wooden table suddenly feeling as soft as a fluffy pillow, when the bench she was sitting on suddenly began to shake, and an insistent croon filled the air.
"Wha? Huh?" Amika cried out, sitting straight up and gazing around with bleary eyes at the shadowy Caverns. And then she remembered, turning her brown eyes down to the brown wher sitting 'patiently' beside her. Amisk gazed back up at her, whirling eyes full of affection and tail lashing.
Upon realizing that he had her attention, the brown promptly reared up to place his front claws on the bench beside her, arching his neck away from her to indicate a spot on his shoulder.
"Oh, you're itchy?" Amika asked through a half-stifled yawn. Mechanically, her fingers moved to the flask of oil all the Wherhandlers were carrying around. She dipped her fingers into the oil and began to smooth it over the itchy patch, trying not to let her eyes close again as she rubbed it in.
Amisk sighed, quite content, and his lashing tail stilled. The girl couldn't help but smile, becoming more attentive now as he shifted to move her fingers to a new spot. He wasn't a dragon...his stunted wings and disproportionate limbs made that beyond obvious. And yet, she loved him. Amisk was a sweet creature, and he looked up to her with such trust and unquestioning commitment.
It was definitely more than the new schedule that she was having difficulty adjusting to.
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Post by D'gellin on Mar 10, 2009 23:41:42 GMT -5
Please?
Fallen sighed, placing a hand to his temples. "No, Vicroth." The young man replied for the umpteenth time.
Just for a moment. Just to be sure. The bronze weyrling insisted.
"Do I need to define the word for you?"
But neither of us are tired nor ready for sleep. Vicroth persisted. You would not have to stay for long. I just want to be sure that she is alright.
Fallen rolled his eyes, obstinately remaining on his cot. Ever since that day in the stalls, when the duo had come across a rather unremarkable girl named Amika, Vicroth had been obsessed, or as obsessed as a dragon mind could be. Remembering her name remained frustratingly out of the bronze's grasp, but that didn't stop Vicroth from pestering Fallen to go ensure the dragon's 'friend' was alright. The annoying part was that, a part of Fallen was curious as well. After struggling to adapt to Vicroth's overpowering emotions, Fallen was beginning to decipher with certainty between his and the bronze's feelings. What surprised him though, was that they actually tended to agree on more than Fallen cared to admit.
Which is why he gave a final and absolute "No." before rolling over and closing his eyes. Then I will go. Vicroth said simply, standing.
"No, you're not. You're too large to go exploring the Weyr now." Fallen replied evenly, though a part of him was concerned that the bronze would try regardless. This had been Vicroth's initial claim for why Fallen should go, arguing that the young man visit in his stead, but now he was using it as a threat.
Yes, I will. He unfurled his wings, ready to take the short flight to the bowl and work his way from there.
"Oh for the love of..." Fallen sat up, throwing his arms in the air. "If I go, will you stop with the constant pestering?"
Vicroth's wings fluttered happily. Oh yes. I will be quite reasonable. If you would only please-
"I know, I know." With a sigh, Fallen stood, heading out of the weyrling barracks.
Thank you, Fallen! The young man waved a hand as his only response, though his mouth betrayed him with a smile at the bronze's enthusiasm. Best get this over with or he'd never hear the end of it. But first he was going to get something to eat, maybe even bring along with him as a peace offering. After their awkward meeting, he wondered if Amika would receive him well or not. "You're not like other dragonriders are you?" she had remarked before parting. He wasn't sure how to take that though, and had actually spent a lot of time mulling the statement over.
"Over thinking." He muttered to himself, running a hand over his hair as his feet mechanically directed him to the familiar caverns. He was used to eating alone, often choosing to get food when there was less of a crowd. It didn't generally make for the best pickings, but it was considerably less crowded and certainly less noisy. As he rounded the corner, however, he wasn't so much surprised to see someone as he was to see Amika. It sent a shock of surprise through his system, like he'd been caught in the act of doing something bad. "You just made my job a whole lot easier." He managed to say as he approached her table. As he did so, however, he finally caught sight of Amisk, and recoiled in surprise. He'd seen whers before, but only glimpses in the night at Holds, and always from a distance. "Ah..." This wher was hers then. Gossip of the new wher handlers had traveled fast. It was no mystery who had been banished into the bowls of the weyr, but he supposed he hadn't expected her to actually...impress one. He couldn't help but feel a twang of pity, recalling the way she'd fawned over Vicroth in the stables. Now she was bound to this beast...Not the dragon she had hoped for, certainly.
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Post by M'kel on Mar 14, 2009 0:37:06 GMT -5
There was something very peaceful about stroking Amisk, gently rubbing in the oil in repeating circles. His gentle hum of pleasure was soothing in the silent dining cave. It was so peaceful she could almost...almost...
Her eyes began to close again, the temptation for sleep overwhelming in its allure. Her head began to tilt forward, giving in to the longing, as a sweet darkness crept up to steal her away.
'You just made my job a whole lot easier.'
"Hunh?" Amika gasped, jerking upright again. She spun quickly towards the voice, grabbing at the table when the fast motion set her off balance. Her roving eyes fixed immediately upon Fallen and widened accordingly. He was not someone she had expected to see, well, ever again. Dragonriders were a world apart, walking the sunlit halls during the day while the Wherhandlers haunted them at night. On top of that, her first encounter with Fallen hadn't exactly been one he'd be eager to repeat. His little (well, hardly) bronze had bespoken her, an apparent taboo, and Fallen had been very shaken by the event. Not to mention thoroughly unimpressed by her.
The girl was confused, staring blankly at the dragonrider. What was he talking about? How had she made his job easier? What job? She was utterly baffled.
And then his gaze turned to Amisk, who returned the man's stare with a cheerful one of his own, eyes whirling pale blue. She saw the look of shock that flashed over his face, the glint of distaste that entered his eyes, as he physically recoiled. Or at least, so she imagined.
A feeling of shame trickled through her veins and pooled in her gut, causing her momentary excitement to plummet. That excitement itself had been so fleeting, it might even have been imagined. After all, there was no reason to anticipate any interest on Fallen's behalf in a conversation, considering how painful the last had been.
So what did he want?
Casting about, Amika glanced down at her picked over food. The only reason any dragonrider could be wandering around at his hour would be if he wanted something. Something like food.
And she was expected to serve him?
Abruptly, Amika stood up, bumping the table and spilling her cold klah all over the wooden surface. "Oh, shard it," she muttered, looking warily up at Fallen, dreading his reaction, while moving for a rag to soak up the spill. "I um...sorry about this." Gritting her teeth, she dredged up as much as she could. "Did you want...klah or something?" she asked hesitantly.
Amisk crooned in concern, putting his front feet on the table rim and starting to lick up some of the klah. He could help!
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Post by D'gellin on Mar 16, 2009 12:24:52 GMT -5
Oh, had she been sleeping? He hadn't meant to wake her. Fallen shifted uneasily, running a hand over the back of his hair. His attention, however, was drawn with wary curiously to Amika's wher companion. It was still young, ungainly, certainly not a flattering creature. The very sight of the brown triggered a new respect for the beauty of dragons he had only recently come to appreciate. If whers were anything like dragons though, the creature's color would signify it as a male, but what of his temperament? Blue eyes; did a wher's eyes reflect its mood like a dragon's did?
His dark eyes flicked back up to Amika as she suddenly stood, spilt klah eliciting a swear from her tired mouth. She seemed incredibly jittery. Had he really been so awful at their last encounter that she felt so uncomfortable? Well no matter, he wasn't here for himself. He was here for Vicroth, who's mind Fallen could feel shivering eagerly in his consciousness. "It's fine." Fallen replied quietly, still puzzled by her flustered inclinations. "I can get it myself." He added, suddenly realizing what her actions reminded him of. She evoked the image of a drudge, fretting and submissive. Did she expect him to condemn her for an innocent mistake?
"Here," He held out his hand for the cloth, not appreciating this power he appeared to hold over her. He glanced up at her face, noting the tired eyes. Vicroth wouldn't be happy about that. "You look awful. Don't they let you sleep?" He blurted out, brows pulled together in a sudden flare of indignation. Yes, he accepted his place in the Weyr, but there were still many things he both disagreed on and intended to change. And if the new wherhandlers were being so demoralized that they likened themselves to drudges...he refused to sit idly by. Then realization jerked him to his senses. His distorted concern probably came off as an insult. "Sorry, I," Fallen's mouth pulled thin, gaze shifting back to the wher.
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Post by M'kel on Mar 20, 2009 15:46:15 GMT -5
As aloof as ever was Fallen, in Amika's wary eyes. He seemed unmoved by her predicament, watching as she scrambled to contain the spreading klah before it reached the table's edge and spilled over. Amisk quite happily continued to lick the puddle closest to him, shifting his wedge-shaped head for better reach and pushing against Amika's arm, which had gotten in the way. Briefly, the girl registered Fallen's declaration that he would fetch his own klah, and she wondered if he simply didn't want her to spill that as well.
And yet, if he didn't want her to serve him...then what job had he been referring to?
Far more important than those minor areas of confusion, however, was Fallen's unexpected offer to take the cloth. The young Wherhandler looked up in surprise, meeting his gaze (a surprise in itself, considering the amount of time he spent pointedly not looking at her!) and pausing in her efforts. Here he was, once again catching her off guard with a kind act. And yet, it was slightly embarrassing that it was always an act of assistance triggered by her failings; he helped her muck out that first stall, now he was going to clean up her mess...
Still, Amika felt a flicker of warmth inside.
That was suddenly drenched by a deluge of icy water in his next words. 'You look awful.'
The rag fell from her hand, which had raised slightly from the table at his offer, and Amika went still. Her instincts began screaming at her to run, to escape the hurt before more could come, but she was held motionless by shock.
He was referring to how tired she looked, of course! Amika knew that! It wasn't an uncommon thing to say to someone whose eyes were darkened by poor sleep.
It shouldn't hurt at all, except that...it was coming from Fallen, one of the few in the Weyr who had given her more than a passing 'hello'.
Amisk began to whine loudly, instantly responsive to his handler's emotions, and butted his large brown head against her side. Amika stumbled from the force, reaching out to Amisk to steady herself and try to calm him. The brown began to creel, whirling eyes turning from Amika to Fallen in confusion. Was that one the problem?
"It's okay, Amisk," Amika assured the brown hastily. She wasn't sure how he'd react if he thought she was threatened, and he was too big to physically restrain...
She placed a hand on either side of his wedge-shaped head, holding him steady and murmuring more assurances. Fallen's awkward apology and furrowed brow drew her attention once more, and Amika glanced up briefly, with a forced smile.
"It's fine. I...probably do." She paused, gritting her teeth for a moment before continuing. "They let us sleep, all right. So long as it's during the day. I just haven't had much time to adjust to the complete switch-around of being awake at night. I wasn't a candidate as long as some of the others..." The corner of her mouth drew downward at that. She shouldn't have been a Wher candidate at all. Amika had been brought to the Weyr as a candidate for the next dragon Clutch. If she hadn't been so sharding clumsy, spilling hot klah all over the Weyrleader on one of his short forays out of the Healing Cavern, she still would be. Shells, she was sick of being so clumsy!
"Why are you up?" she asked hastily, wishing to distract him (and herself) from that thought.
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Post by D'gellin on Mar 27, 2009 19:24:27 GMT -5
((I started to reply to this a while ago but lost my post. :< ))
Fallen watched her carefully, feeling a sudden surge of sympathy. She really was tired, it was etched across her face. He couldn't help but develop indignation on her behalf. At least she was accepting his offer to clean. It seemed like the least he could do...although he was startled when she suddenly let the cloth drop. Fallen fumbled to catch the rag, mouth pulling down at the feel of soppy material, the smell of klah strong. "Maybe we should get a new ra-" He cut off his suggestion for a new cloth with a startled look at Amisk, eyes wide and alert at the unhappy sounds that the brown was making.
When the strong wedge shaped head butted into Amika's side, Fallen nearly jumped to her aide, afraid that the beast had suddenly become violent. Automatically, he reached out a hand to catch her elbow, hoping to steady her before she potentially tilted over, eyes never leaving the wher for more a few seconds. That, however, was as far as Amisk seemed to go, and instead remained where he was, creeling in distress. "What-?" He let the unfinished question go unfinished, puzzling over what had set the wher off. Amika didn't seem too concerned about it though, and he supposed she would know more about the creature than anyone.
"You weren't supposed to be though." He muttered in reply to her being a wher candidate. The flare of rebellion that had gradually been quelled the longer he was at the Weyr seemed to ignite anew, memories of all the things Araelen had done wrong rising to the surface of his memory. Yes, admittedly they were right about the Thread, but not in their methods of candidate selection, often at knife point, nor their heavy tithes. A pensive hand rose to his mouth, dark eyes contemplative, as he considered the darkness of Araelen.
Amika's next question, however, made his eyes glance back up, readjusting to reality. "Why...?" It took him a second to recall what she had said. "Vicroth." Was the simple reply, then realizing that this might not make much sense to Amika, he elaborated, though it suddenly seemed a very poor reason for his going to find her. "He wouldn't stop asking about you and insisted I make sure you were alright..."
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Post by M'kel on Apr 3, 2009 0:26:43 GMT -5
((I haaaaaaaaate it when that happens! Even if it's only a couple lines; it's so demoralizing >.<"))
A touch at her elbow, as she comforted Amisk, drew Amika's gaze. She watched Fallen's fingers retreat, feeling a mental shiver at the sight. But the wher wasn't done demanding her attention, for he promptly headbutted her in the stomach when her fingers stopped caressing his headknobs. With an, "oof!" Amika turned back to the brown and returned to the Lower Caverns all at once. Fallen must be wondering what was wrong with the wher, and the confusion on his face echoed that thought.
"He's fine," she muttered, mentally insisting that Amisk confirm this. "Just got startled, is all..." Amisk crooned under her touch, right on cue, bringing a small smile to Amika's face.
She glanced up again when Fallen asserted that she shouldn't have been a wher candidate. Amika nodded slightly, a grim expression quickly replacing her smile. She had been so hopeful at the prospect of being a dragonrider. Wherhandling was like a cruel joke, in comparison to that opportunity. And yet, that flickering feeling of uncertainty reared again. Was Amisk really so bad compared to before?
His response to her query regarding his late night foray drew her 'round with curiousity, and Amika quirked a brow at his first statement, 'Vicroth.' As the rest was filled in, the girl sat back down on the bench. "Oh!" she murmured, tone coloured by surprise and a touch of cheer. "That's so sweet." She smiled at the thought of the little bronze. It was very unexpected to find out he not only remembered her, but had been asking after her! She was also pleased to find out that she was the reason Fallen was awake so late. Even if it was Vicroth who had sent him seeking her, instead of Fallen himself, it was still wonderful.
"Well, I guess you can tell him that I'm...I'm okay." She looked back down at Amisk. "It's going to take a bit to get used to it all, but anything is better than being an Apprentice for life." Amika grinned slightly at that. "The Weyr is a nice place to live, even at night." At that, she glanced back up at Fallen. "Would you like to go for a walk?" She caught herself by surprise with that one. The exhaustion truly must be doing strange things to her head. Gritting her teeth, she watched apprehensively for his response. The bronzerider was probably tired and wanting to go to bed, now that he'd done what his dragon requested!
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Post by D'gellin on Apr 6, 2009 18:48:03 GMT -5
Still uneasy over the brown's actions but trusting Amika's knowledge of whers, Fallen remained where he was, though he couldn't quite bring himself to relax. He really was a prejudiced person. At her surprise and warm response to Vicroth's concerns, however, Fallen only found himself more uncomfortable. This was the absolute last time that he would play messenger for the bronze. His reclusive attitude since arriving at Araelen had taken a heavy toll on his people skills, and he wasn't sure how to respond to her delight. A passive face had always served him well here. It was a hard habit to break.
Before he could even relay Amika's response to Vicroth, however, the bronze voice, waiting so eagerly in the back of his mind, burst forth. 'Okay' is not bad but 'okay' does not mean good either. Are you quite sure she is alright? And then to Amika as well Are you quite sure that you are alright? "You could have spoken to her yourself!" Fallen suddenly realized, throwing a glare in the general direction of where his dragon might be outside the caverns. Well yes, but it would not have been very polite. I did not want to speak suddenly. "You just did." Yes, but the topic was on me, at least. Vicroth's mental protest faded a little at the end, and Fallen could imagine the large bronze lowering his head to his paws like he always did when reprimanded. I am not sulking. The dragon said, catching on to the young man's thoughts, though his tone made the response sound a bit like a whine.
Fallen pinched the bridge of his nose, shaking his head. Instead of being angry, however, he found himself silently laughing. Do not laugh at me! I'm not. Yes you are![/i][/color] In the midst of Amika's explanation and Vicroth's complaints, Fallen nearly missed her asking about a walk. When he looked up he was still fighting back laughter, his face momentarily clear of the cool focus he usually upheld.
Oh! Oh please visit me! Vicroth insisted to both Fallen and Amika. I have quite grown since we last met. I think I will surprise you. He added proudly. Fallen could sense the lingering, unspoken thought in Vicroth's mind of how he was almost certain that he was the largest of his clutch. "You should see his ego." Fallen smirked ironically, though his mind absently brushed Vicroth's in assurance that it was only a playful jibe.
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Post by M'kel on Apr 7, 2009 22:21:30 GMT -5
One would think Amika'd be used to Fallen's impassivity by now, but the candidate still tensed when the young man didn't react. If anything, his face was even blanker than usual, and the girl practically squirmed under that distant gaze. Okay, maybe she shouldn't have been inviting a dragonrider for a walk at night, but he could at least respond!
And then Vicroth bespoke her, and her own face went blank.
Of course that was why Fallen had been even more emotionless than usual; he was communicating with his dragon! His dragon who had just touched her thoughts, for the second time, sending a shiver running through her slender form.
The blank look rapidly melted into a combination of surprise and growing delight, as a smile spread across the Wherhandler's face. "Vicroth," she murmured. Fallen was speaking but not to her, and Amika was content to relish the lingering feel of the bronze's voice. If only her Amisk could speak to her in that way...
Amika had a moment to catch the look that crossed over Fallen's face, a hint of a smile, before Vicroth was addressing her again. The girl held her breath and then let it out in a rush with a short laugh. "I'd love to!" she exclaimed, turning as if to leave...but to where?
Quickly, Amika looked to Fallen, suddenly worried he might not be as pleased with the situation as she. She remembered all too well how he had reacted the last time Vicroth had spoken to her; the bronzerider had been angry. Very angry. Well, at least at first.
This time, however, Fallen seemed to be in a much better mood. He was smirking and even joking about Vicroth's confident claims. Amika smiled in turn. "I'm sure he's deserving of that ego. I've never met a more amazing dragon." All right, so she hadn't interacted with many dragons. But it was true!
Warm breath on her hand followed by a nudge drew Amika's attention, and the girl's eyes widened in surprise. Amisk! She had forgotten the wher already. The brown was gazing upward with happily whirling eyes, responding to her own emotions, and curious as to what was happening. "Oh no..." Her features fallen, Amika looked back up at the dragonrider. "Amisk...can he come? Would that be okay? I don't know if I can leave him..." She really didn't want to, for that matter. The wher might get quite distressed and confused. She hadn't left him since he Hatched so far!
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Post by D'gellin on Apr 16, 2009 18:36:11 GMT -5
In response to Vicroth's eager invite, Fallen could only shrug. Once the bronze had his mind set on something he just couldn't be deterred. Maybe Fallen was getting too soft. His firelizard did the same thing to him. He really should learn to take command of his companions better but after sharing their pain, their hunger, their joy, their distress...it made it difficult to deny his dragonic brothers. It seemed strange to think that, upon arriving at the weyr, he'd imagined dragons as mindless pets...
Following the conversation through Fallen's thoughts, Vicroth's consciousness swelled with considerable delight at Amika's compliments. She called me amazing. The bronze reminded Fallen with a little shiver of delight. He was right to chose this girl as his special friend! Under any other circumstance, Fallen would probably have turned Amika's praise into a joke, but he found that he couldn't disagree with the sentiment. To him, it was more than truth. "I'm fortunate to have him." He replied quietly, a smile helplessly lighting his face for a moment, busying his sight with the curious Amisk.
Although Fallen had continued to keep an eye on the wher, he hadn't considered that the brown might come as well. Did dragons and whers get along? He couldn't imagine Vicroth being violent to anything other than his dinner, and the wher was too small for him to perceive as a threat to the rapidly growing bronze. Hopefully. He hesitated for a moment. "Can he go outside?" Fallen queried at last. "...We...could meet Vicroth outside the Bowl." He suggested. Then you can see me fly! I am quite adept. Vicroth cheered.
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