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Post by effluo on Oct 22, 2007 9:43:44 GMT -5
The sailor sighed, finally kicking the blanket completely off him and Vanarth. The brown was now too big to sleep in G’eph’s assigned bed, but both found it more comforting to sleep together – and the movement of the brown breathing was the closest thing to the sea that the once sailor could find in his dreams.
It was his dreams, however, that now kept him from sleeping. Picking up his boots and a heavy jacket given to him by the headwoman, he quietly made his way outside. Closing the barrack door behind him, he hopped on one foot as he pulled a boot on, only to repeat the procedure, shivering slightly as the snow tried desperately to freeze his foot to the ground.
Pulling on the jacket with a slight huff, he looked up to see very few dragons upon their ledges, and the few who were seemed to watch him silently – the rest were smart enough to be inside in this ridiculously cold weather. Sighing, he stuffed his hands into his pockets and kicked at the snow as he walked. Maybe after a walk around the bowl or two and he’d be able to fall back asleep – at least he hoped.
But then again who could fall asleep with that face looking back at you?
As he walked, the brown rider did his best to chase that face from his mind, but it kept coming back – eyes wide and face smiling only to be replaced by a small body shaking with every raking cough…
And I left him… I just took him from everything he knew and left him with a stranger in a foreign place… I didn’t even say goodbye…
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Post by hrsegrl on Oct 22, 2007 21:02:37 GMT -5
Sleeplessness was not uncommon for Marisol. She often stayed up well past time when the weyr grew quiet. It was no longer a choice. She couldn't be still for that long without some pain. As much as the Healers might like to take some fellis now and again she did not. When the pain grew unbearable she would. For now, she saw no reason to. A few sleepless nights were hardly out of the ordinary for her.
She had a long, deep green, velvety cloak on. It was warm, beautiful and above all, she loved the way it made her feel. It was a rare gift... that had lasted her nigh a half a century. Marisol wasn't paying much attention to where she was headed tonight. She found herself in the Weyrbowl, taking in the cold, crisp air. The nice thing about winter was that the air felt clearer. She did not realize right away that she had begun to walk next to a young man.
The thought hit her when she heard his footprints. Her hood was up so it would be hard to tell who it was. She spoke after a couple quiet moments passed. "Good night for thinking isn't it?"
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Post by effluo on Oct 23, 2007 19:01:39 GMT -5
While the sailor-made-rider had been caught off guard dozens of times since the hatching, and jumping every time, he did not jump this time thanks to the late hour. Lifting his head enough to let his eyes rest on where the voice had spoken, his step hesitated briefly. With the hood of the rather magnificent green cloak up to hide the face, G’eph had no clue who it was who had spoken – and even if it was, he probably would not have recognized the retired weyrwoman in the light and without a hint from a classmate.
Continuing his walk, he regarded the figure a moment before turning his eyes forward and up toward the clear night sky. The stars could easily be seen and with all of the snow upon the ground, it was a rather pretty sight that might even rival that of a clear night at sea. He wondered… Could Nogharn see those stars?
“Yes, I suppose it is.” he finally answered quietly, lost in his thoughts of his younger half-brother.
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Post by hrsegrl on Oct 24, 2007 19:52:22 GMT -5
Though she couldn't see the young man well, she could hear well enough the tone of his voice. "Ahh. Something is on your mind then. Want to talk about it?" Though she didn't understand it, she knew this young man was troubled. It had been a week filled with troubled youths. She really needed to talk to the WeyrlingMaster. The Retired Weyrwoman had reached a new idea and as it was only an idea she had to run it passed the WEyrlingMaster.
She wanted to start a big brother/ big sister sort of pairing for youths who were having trouble adjusting or just seemed to need an ear to listen to their troubles. It would be a good way for the Weyr to bond too. This went for Candidates as well, not just Weyrlings. In fact she might have the Creche implement something similair with the younger children. It was always good to know you weren't alone.
Marisol wished she had that sort of bond with someone, when she had made all her youthfull mistakes. Not that she didn't have help from plenty of older riders who thought they knew more than she did. Still it hadn't been bad for her to learn by experience. She wouldn't wish it on these young people though. For a change it might be nice to go a night without worrying over what lost or confused soul would be walking the Weyr or sitting in some passageway trying to deal without help. She was exhausted and not just physically. Maybe she ought to go on a vacation.
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Post by effluo on Oct 29, 2007 9:38:49 GMT -5
G’eph sighed at the person’s offer to listen, not taking his eyes off the stars. Would talking about it even help? He couldn’t do anything to fix it until Vanarth was big enough to fly and between. After all, it wasn’t as if G’eph had room in the barracks for the boy – if the boy was even better…. If the boy was even still alive. It was no secret that many had died of an illness spreading around and it wasn’t until coming to the Weyr that the brownrider had learned just how serious it had been. And he had just left Nogharn.
“Talking never solves things, Action does.” He mumbled after a moment, before finally turning his eyes back down to the figure and sighing again. “Sorry, that was rude of me, but I would hate to burden you with my thoughts when you probably have your own. After all, you did say it was a good night to think, so you must be doing some thinking of your own.”
My, that was a mouthful.
“Well I do have Nogharn on my mind.” The sailor, as usual, did not consider keeping his comments to his dragon within his thoughts, but rather spoke them softly. It was just more natural that way even if the brown was nowhere to be seen.
Then you should talk to her, she would know something you could do.
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Post by hrsegrl on Oct 29, 2007 20:00:04 GMT -5
She chuckled lightly, he reminded her of so many other young people who had grown up around her. "Yes, I have been thinking about the future. You, my boy, are the future." Marisol wondered if the youth could guess at who it was. Not many could afford the cloak she was wearing and her voice, though still the resonant sound it was had a rasp to it, from old age.
"I get the feeling that was not intended for me." Marisol smiled, one of the new bunch eh?Vanarth is a brown. His is not from the Weyr.Beynath informed her. She memorized names of dragons she wanted to remember, this clutch was sort of a challenge for her because she liked so many of them.
"May I inquire about Nogharn?" It could be that she had always been nosy or it could be that nowadays she had more time to be so. Either way, Marisol loved getting into other people's business.
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Post by effluo on Oct 30, 2007 8:32:37 GMT -5
G’eph couldn’t help but blush, not at the comment of him being the future, but at the comment made of his short sentence to his brown. Thankfully the moonlight was wonderful at bleeding the color out of the world so it would have been hard to notice. Even so, he silently kicked himself and shook his head.
“No… Ma’am.” He added the ma’am as an afterthought, remembering his dragon had said ‘her’. But how would the dragon know that if the figure was draped in a cloak? Wait, the dragon wasn’t even out here. Then it clicked, whoever it was must have been a dragon rider – a female dragonrider.
A queen rider. The retired Weyrwoman. You should know her.
This made G’eph hesitate in his step again. He had heard of the woman, but had never spotted her – partially because he’d never been looking. But even so she deserved a great deal of respect, and so, at her question G’eph found himself feeling obligated to reply and yet… as he did so he felt a little bit of the weight lift from his chest.
“Nogharn is my younger brother. Half brother actually, by my father. He is… well He was sick when I was searched… I don’t know what’s become of him.”
The sailor, who had always preferred solitude, found it strange that he was speaking so easily to the woman. Part of him thought it must be because she was a gold rider – they were strange creatures. But the other part of him simply wanted to think of Nogharn, to remember the boy and to find the boy again. If talking of the boy was as close as he could get to doing so, then he would do it. As long as she was willing to listen.
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Post by hrsegrl on Oct 30, 2007 22:06:25 GMT -5
"I see." Marisol nodded slowly. "Family is an important thing, even at the Weyr I find that family often has strong ties. When was it you left him? Do you know where he might be now? " Marisol wondered about the possibilities. She was one of those people who would rather know the truth no matter how bad. Some people might prefer a cushier version, with less pain involved.
If she tried to locate the boy she would have to either give G'eph good news or bad and she didn't like giving bad news. Her mind wandered to her siblings. She hadn't been close with them. No, she had tried to escape her home on a number of occassions. Not because she didn't love them but because she was always off looking for an adventure to find her and take her away. Luckily, one day it actually did.
"I was never one to look after my family well. I had two older sisters to do that for me. I can not tell you if your brother is well and safe but I can try to find out. If I can not get you the information you are seeking, don't feel guilty about leaving. There was no way you could ahve brought him with you and Vanarth would have Betweened on the Sands if you were not here."
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Post by effluo on Nov 1, 2007 22:33:03 GMT -5
G’eph sighed, slowing in his walking again only this time he did so to put his hands in his pockets and kick at the snow to show his regret.
“My best guess is Fort. He’s only 5 turns… no 6… I had taken him to Fort to find a healer – “ G’eph choked up a bit, no tears but still he was forced to swallow as he remembered how sick the little boy had been. If Nogharn was still alive, it would be a blessing.
“I was searched the same morning we arrived, and – I know it was horrible of me – but I left him with the healer. He promised to find an auntie or uncle who would care for him… But he was real sick…” The more he thought about it the more his throat was restricting. The cold air froze the tear that had finally escaped the hardened sailor’s eyes. By the shell, what if he was gone…
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Post by hrsegrl on Nov 2, 2007 16:40:57 GMT -5
"Well Fort is the best place for an ill child. They have the most Healers. Besides, this will make it much easier to find him. I can send a message to the HEaler Hall and see if anyone remembers Nogharn." Marisol crossed her arms so that her hands were warmed by her cloak.
It was obvious the young man felt guilty. She would feel the ssame if it were her responsibility. However, the Weyr was her responsibility and having so many Weyrlings in a state of distress was unnerving. This at least was something she herself could get involved in and help with.
"There is nothing in your description of your departure that says you abandoned him. You left him in great care. Your brother would rather you came to the Weyr and impressed a dragon than have stayed to help him heal. There is someone else you should be considering. Vanarth does not yet comprehend the closeness of human bonds. If your brother continues to be foremost in your mind, Vanarth might become frustrated...until he is about a turn old, his mental state is delicate."
She was not saying the G'eph was ignoring his dragon. In fact she knew that most WEyrlings knew the importance fo looking after their dragon's needs. Many times though they forgot the mental growth the dragonets were going through. It was an easy time for them when their riders did not become overly attached to other humans or dwell on a certain human for a long period of time.
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Post by effluo on Nov 11, 2007 10:35:06 GMT -5
Listening to the older weyrwoman, he simply looked down, trying to believe her words. When the mention of her brother preferring him to come to the weyr, the sailor could not help but argue.
“But he was only four… five…. Maybe five… but he was so young. He wouldn’t understand me leaving him for a dragon. He was already left once by his mother on a ship with complete strangers – mean strangers. After such a short time getting use to me, I left him with more strangers, and who knows how nice they are… shards I’m such a fool.”
The more he talked the worse he felt as his eyes tear’d up once again. Vanarth reached out to him, and while his rider thinking of his brother never bothered him, the raw emotion his rider was feeling now did.
Mine? Mine, what is wrong? Your scaring me, what are you doing? Even as the brown sent that he made his way out of the wallow and it was not even a matter of moments until the growing brown, a rather large one for a brown, was seen moving out of the weyrling barracks toward him.
Sniffing, G’eph looked toward the barracks to see the brown a smiled slightly before wiping his tears away. The Weyrwoman was right about the brown at least. He was still new to everything, even human emotions.
“Your right ma’am. I’m sorry.” He spoke softly to her before turning to the brown to accept the head that butted into his chest. The brown now stood just a few hands above the tall rider, but even so he found comfort in pushing against the sturdy man.
Wrapping his hand around the brown, he hugged the head a moment as he sent silent comfort to the little dragon.
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Post by hrsegrl on Nov 11, 2007 21:29:54 GMT -5
Marisol listened, she wasn't bad at listening, she was just better at talkking sometimes. Especially now that she was an older woman. The young man had made his points and had gotten to talk about what was troubling him. From here, she would do what she could. There was nothing more to say on that note.
"Now that Vanarth is out here, you should be getting back inside. Its very cold tonight. I don't want either of you becomming ill. I shall be sending a message to the Healer Hall. We will see what can be done about your brother and possibly get him here. Though, he will have to be fostered out. You will not be able to care for him." Marisol made that clear. As much as G'eph might want to take care of his brother, his duty to the Weyr and Pern came first.
"Trust me, children know a great deal more than we give them credit for. You will soon see that." Marisol smiled, Nogharn would not have felt abandoned with the Healers. She just had to get that message through and get that child here. Hopefully he had survived the illness. It would be a horrible thing if the child had died. G'eph might not be able to deal with that sort of news.
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Post by effluo on Dec 3, 2007 10:25:43 GMT -5
G’eph nodded at the retired Weyrwoman’s words knowing she was right. Hearing that she would look for the boy the brown rider looked back at her, hidden beneath the flowing green cloak and gave her a deep bow. It was obviously awkward as the sailor had never had a reason to bow before, but he felt it was appropriate for the thanks he felt.
“Thank you so much Weyrwoman. I don’t know how to thank you better, but if you ever need anything I will offer what assistance I can.”
Throwing an arm over the brown’s shoulder, he tall rider walked with his slightly taller dragon back to the barracks, his mind and heart a little lighter now. Perhaps, now that something was being done, Nogharn would let the Weyrling sleep.
[[ Thread Closed (now or after HG’s reply)]]
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