Victims Wanted

[Shikai]

((Calling Degellin and Barec! =D ))

Just outside the entrance to the lower cavers, a fair distance from the lake itself, but situated in the weyrbowl, a young, small boy of no more than 13 turns sat somewhat precariously in a tree, hidden as best he could amongst the leaves and branches. An onlooker, should one chance to look up and catch sight of a lock of wavy brown hair, or a tanned arm, could well think he was putting himself in a dangerous position, gripping a branch with no more than his legs, which his hands clasped a strange object. Tarren, however, knew he was in little danger, for the boy had grown up on the Southern Continent, and boasted that he had been climbing trees for as long as he had been walking.

When one was small, it felt good to be someplace high, where, for once, he could look down on the heads of others instead of having them look down upon his. Trees also provided shelter from the sun, and a place to go to enjoy being in nature. But at this time, the tree served a different purpose: it was a key player in Tarren’s latest prank.

The item he so determinedly kept his hands locked upon was a sac, of sorts, of incredibly thinly stretched material, looking fit to burst at any second. For within it, putting great pressure on it, was a liquid. Enough liquid to swell the object to a size a little larger than Tarren’s fist.

The candidate’s eyes were not on the tree, nor the object, nor the surrounding area, but locked on the ground below him. His ears, too, were straining for the sound of even the faintest footsteps. Tarren had the weapon, he had the motive, and now, he just needed a victim.

[D'gellin]

((Sorry this took so long ^^;; You're awsome for putting up with me.))

Degellin, however wasn't climbing any trees. For once, he really wasn't doing anything at all. And this, folks, would be a severe oddity for the restless sixteen-turn-old. Today, he'd chosen to take the day off from pranks, from new endeavors, stalking unsuspecting dragons to get a closer look at them, and from doing just about anything that the candidate was expected to do. He'd even finished his chores; quickly.

He threw his arms in the air to stretch, yawning widely, as he strolled casually across the grounds. It had reached the point where monotony had, irrevocably, set in. All he'd done since he got to the weyr was wash, clean, scrub, run errands, and do all the sorts of mediocre stuff that had grown into subconscious over his years as a child. It was the same. It was always the same. So, he ran through everything required of him for the day faster than was necessary, probably leaving more of a mess behind him than when he had arrived, and scooted outside to put things intro better perspective. Being cooped up so long can do things to the brain, man.

It was as Degellin jerked his head to flick some strawberry blonde hair out of his bright blue eyes that he saw it: a dangling something hanging out of a tree. Well that was just abnormal. Curious and eager for something to distract himself, Degellin inconspicuously flattened himself against a tree a little ways off from the skin-colored something. He carefully crept closer, weaving in and out of shadows in the way he'd practiced so often that it was as second-nature to him as breathing, until he was on the opposite side of the criminal tree. As he peeked around the side, quietly and with as little movement as possible, he found the answer to what the something was, and couldn't help but feel disappointed. It was just another kid; another candidate. Nothing special, nothing spectacular, nothing new or original. But the sight of Tarren, hanging upside-down with a bulbous sac clasped in his hands, his hair hanging in his face which was no doubt red from all the blood rushing to it, was so preposterous that he couldn't help but snort on laugh, which he hastily covered up as a strange-sounding cough. He casually leaned against the tree and whispered just loud enough for Tarren to hear "You should probably try a tree closer to the lake. Most people are vacating the weyr via dragonback. All the other candidates still have chores." He informed the other boy, a devilish smile unwillingly playing at his lips. What a refresher to see someone else carrying on the art of the prank besides himself.

[Kitari]

O, blissful solitude. Today, that was what Barec sought. Ever since the green -- dragon, he now knew it was -- had landed in the valley of his isolated Hold, his routine life had been thrown into complete disarray. Swept along in a whirlwind of confusion, fear, and panic, Barec had finally found himself in a Weyr -- a place out of legend -- and surrounded by people. Having only known his parents in his 18 Turns of life, the general hubbub of activity in the Weyr, as enclosures were built, meals were cooked, and floors were scrubbed, had been thoroughly overwhelming.

Often, the lad had found himself nearly suffocating and been forced to remind himself even to breathe. When he was addressed, as Barec often was throughout the day, his mind never seemed to function quickly enough in processing the requests and queries to churn out a suitable answer before he'd receive a strange look. They all undoubtedly thought he was mad, or at least incredibly dim, and there wasn't much he could think of to change this perception.

Thus, Barec had resolved to escape from the chaos at his first opportunity. That opportunity had come today, as the Lower Caverns' workers had shooed him off, informing him that candidates received free days from time to time. The lad was unsure what was so free about it, as he was still trapped in the Weyr (the dragonriders guarding the entrance would make sure of that), and the only difference was that he no longer had chores to occupy his otherwise frenzied mind. However, the solution had come as he'd gazed about the Bowl dispiritedly. There was a small grove of trees (small when compared to the Southern jungle) growing in the Bowl, part of the herdbeast enclosure and beyond. Perhaps he would find his sanctuary in there.

Upon entering the trees, Barec felt an immediate rush of soothing calm, and he sighed audibly at the effect. This was as close to home as he might ever come, and the familiar aspects of it were all there: the balmy air, as moisture was trapped beneath the leafy branches; the dappled sunlight, as fluttering leaves blocked much of Rukbat's rays; and a peaceful silence, split only by the chirping of small tree-dwellers.

A genuine smile split the lad's face, and he stepped farther in, careful to make his way lightly over the mossy ground and damage it as little as possible. Barec sought the heart of the grove: the farthest he could flee from humanity. Today would be spent lying under the protective boughs of a tree, and his thoughts would be far from the fear of his new life. Little did he knew, that ideal tree his gaze had locked upon was already occupied, and every step drew him nearer to an unexpected, and likely unwelcome, surprise.

[Shikai]

Tarren’s fingers tightened slightly on his water sac as his ears took in the sound of someone speaking very softly, but he was disappointed to discover that the someone was Degellin, speaking to him. However, his disappointment quickly faded, partly because it was Degellin, whom he liked and considered to be a friend, and partly because he could never stay disappointed or unhappy for very long. Not here in the weyr, at any rate! Twisting slightly to see Degellin, he whispered back.

“There’s gotta be some candidate who managed to finish early, isn’t there? I figured this’d be perfect for any candidates going outside for a minute, but you’re the first person I’ve seen. Too bad you spotted me, or I’d've gotten you good!”

The boy replied in a hushed voice, a broad, impertinent smile on his face. However, he immediately resumed his position when the light sound of footsteps met his ears. Ah, someone was coming! The candidate sucked in his breath, eyes sparkling with anticipation as he prepared to take aim and loose his weapon upon the passerby. He had to stifle a chuckle as the older boy he had chosen as his victim sighed peacefully, so blissfully unaware of what was going to happen in three…two…one…

Just as the other boy drew himself into position under Tarren’s hands, the young candidate released the water sac, watching with sparkling eyes as it tumbled down closer, closer, closer to poor Barec’s head.

[D'gellin]

"That's true." Degellin whispered back, eyes alight at the simple brilliance. Lots of candidates escaped outside when the opportunity arose, and given the more than welcoming conditions...His mouth quirked into a grudging smile. "Yeah, you probably would have." He admitted, suddenly very pleased with his sharp eye-sight. If not for that, he'd probably be completely covered in...in...

"What's in there anyway?" Degellin asked softly as he reached a hand up to the closest branch and hoisted himself into the tree so he could join in on the fun. It certainly wasn't as graceful a maneuverer as Tarren's tree-climbing, but he managed to get up with minimal noise, and just in time too. No sooner had he clambered up to sit in a shadowed branch that he saw Tarren tense, and the sound of footsteps caught up with him. Apparently Tarren's hiding place was ideal indeed, as an unsuspecting candidate wandered through the trees, quite relaxed and totally unsuspecting. One glance at Tarren's expression told Degellin that this poor lad was his target - and then the bomb dropped.