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Post by hrsegrl on May 3, 2008 14:15:27 GMT -5
The misty winter morning left him with an eerie feeling. Today he was leaving his home, a place he had lived since his birth. The brownrider had what he needed, packed up and attached to the dragon straps. The Brown was one of the more durable dragons and as such had more to carry than the blues and greens. In addition to supplies he was laden with a child and two workers. K’dyn was not pleased but how could he argue. They would need people to help, even if there were only a few of them. Those few were under quite a lot of pressure to keep their mouths shut. As for K’dyn, his goodbyes were harder than he thought they would be.
Ortath was in good condition for flying and seemed a little excited about being one of the best. To be chosen for this mission meant not only a lot of responsibility but a lot of a respect. As a brownrider he ought to be honored to be with this group. If only K’dyn were the ambitious sort. He schecked and double checked everything Ortath was carrying and wondered if R’net was going to be on time. It was hard to leave home; especially when one had a young child to contend with.
He looked over to see that the women riders were there, Sairi and Lena. Both of their greens seemed to have quite a bit strapped onto them. Well at least he knew everyone was determined to pull their own weight. Then there was H’seo, a bluerider who was a quiet sort but seemed like he could rough it and do well in the situation they were going to be in. Today would be a busy day. Very busy. They had enough food with them for a couple days, until they were able to find something edible where they were going. R’net was the only one who knew the exact location, well him and the Weyrleaders. For the obvious reasons they had to know.
Ortath commented that some of the children were arriving. He seemed a bit more interested than he had seen him before. They will be learning about dragons and they may be riding one someday. I should think they’d all love to be around a brown like me…Dragon egos! By Faranth’s egg, you are a bit obsessed with yourself. It would be nice to think we helped influenced the next generation. We’d be like a mix between Weyrling master, Candidate master and parental unit. I had not thought of it that way but I don’t think it will be as great as you think it will be. These kids will be missing their families. Just like you. To that remark K’dyn said nothing.
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Post by kayla on May 3, 2008 14:35:16 GMT -5
Neory came to the gathering spot, exercising her perogative as a Gold Rider and one day Jr. Weyrwoman. It was entirely possible that these children would be coming back in time to stand for Sheluth's first clutch, when that eventually happened, and there were good friends leaving for a turn. Her anger had calmed, and probably never would have flared up to start with if she had been told. She understood duty. She understood that this expedition was necessary, and she understood now the price that Marisol had once mentioned to her of a Gold Dragon. And she accepted it. She moved briefly to her brother, giving him a brief but heartfelt hug. They'd had their formal goodbyes, but she doubted anyone would begrudge her a brief hug. "You take care of yourself, K'dyn, not just the kids and not just Ortath. You take care of you too." She smiled to him, "Next time you see me, I'll be a full Jr. Weyrwoman" probably. "I hope I make you proud. I know I'm proud to have you as a big brother." Though he'd be even older a big brother when he returned. She kissed his cheek, "Love you, big brother." *** Altor was torn as he came with his not-twin and the other children to the gathering area for the trip. If Vittor was not going as well, there was no way that Altor would be able to handle this, even with friends going. As it was, it had been difficult to say goodbye to Mommy, and while they'd get to spend lots of time with dragons on this trip, he did understand that he would not get to see Mommy for ten whole turns!!! His quietness radiated his mixed feelings. Rather than being his usual bubbly talkative self, he clung to his brother's hand and said nothing, no bouncing or anything, even though he knew that he was going to get to ride a dragon, and that the fact that he and the others had been searched for this so young meant there was little doubt of being Riders one day. He was still leaving behind his Mommy, who he loved as much as his not-twin. |
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Post by brimstone81 on May 4, 2008 14:46:41 GMT -5
Elisha rode down on her gold, in her lap she tightly clutched her little boy, aware too, of the baby bump on her abdomen. When Elirian returned, he would have a new brother or sister, and they wouldn't have time to grow up with eachother. It would be like being an only child all over again. It was a regret, but Elirian was a strong candidate for dragon hatching, so she would send the brave little boy on with the rest of them. They dismounted and walked up to the others. Elisha knelt next to her boy and brushed her hands through his hair and left them on either side of his head, "My boy, be brave, and do everything your told. I am very proud of you. You're my little sweetling, you know." By now there were tears in her eyes and the child blurted, "I'm going to miss you mommy!" She kissed his forehead and he lunged foreward to hug. Mother and son closed their eyes and hugged for the last time. When she saw him next he'd be around 17. He'd be a man, not a boy.
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Just when Gwyn's life was getting stable, K'dyn had to tell her he was leaving. How could this be? She was so fond of him, giving her some time she could love him. Why, why K'dyn? Why now? Why when they have just found eachother? She sobbed at the cruelty of fate for a while on her bed, before deciding she'd better give him a good farewell. She wiped her eyes, put on a nice dress and went down to where the riders were standing. Regaining composure she approached K'dyn, looked at him and said, "Hello, I just wanted to say," She swallowed and looked down, "uh, goodbye before you left."
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Post by hrsegrl on May 4, 2008 16:07:40 GMT -5
K'dyn was suprised to see his sister come down to see everyone off. She had not been too thrilled about it all. "Well, little sister, I'll be seeing you. Don't worry, Ortath will take care of me. Besides, R'net needs someone he can count on on this mission."He winked.
Of course she had to ruin the moment with a hug! Girls... hmmph. "I'm proud of you too. I will be back. R'net will be reporting back as well so if things aren't going as planned we'll come back early." In other words there was nothing to worry about. Well nothing except for the fact that people often died Betweening from place to place, forget about timing it. Ortath was well prepared for this and so was he. They weren't chosen because they had straw for brains.
He heard a familiar voice speak to him and he turned to face her. Poor Gwyn. He felt horrible about leaving now, when they were just beginning to get to know eachother. He could have said so many things to her to try to make it better but it would have been in vain. No words could make this better. He had to leave, there was no choice in that but he could make this goodbye a good one.
K'dyn pulled the greenrider to him in a passionate embrace and then kissed her full on the mouth. She would be missed, very very much. Where she would be without him for only a Turn, he would be without her for ten. A rather unfair bargain really. K'dyn didn't think any of the women on this trip would really interest him much but he was a man and he might become lonely. Her green would fly and he would not be here... so she would move on. This all played in his mind and he was disheartened by it. Why couldn't she have come too?
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Post by delina on May 4, 2008 20:41:44 GMT -5
Vania held her belongings in a flimsy cloth bag as she approached the adults. She was very nervous, but she at least understood what was going on. She had already said goodbye to her mother and her grandmother and the tear tracks from the goodbyes still showed on her cheeks. She was going to miss them, but she understood that this was important and that she was going to come home big and ready to help the weyr. All Vania ever wanted to do was help and she was going to get the chance to. There was no way that she was going to pass it up.
"I'm here," she informed the brownrider in that small voice of hers. She took a place next to him, finding something about him comforting. He seemed to be in charge and that brought her comfort. She wanted to be friends with the people who were in charge, it made her feel like she better even though she wasn't sure why. She smiled softly at all the people around her, a sharp contrast to the tears that still shimmered in her eyes. Vania was happy to be going and sad to be leaving, but she wasn't going to let everyone see that. They wouldn't like her as much if they thought she was upset. She had to be happy, she just had to be!
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Post by thedreamerlady on May 4, 2008 23:17:55 GMT -5
R'net appeared as Torenth back winged down, landing lightly near K'dyn's brown. Holding R'net's hand was little Reiko, who was smiling. Rieko knew he wouldn't see his mommy for a long time, but R'net would be there, and besides, he had Mari's ring with him. So nothing bad could happen. As always, a single touch of the ring restored him to absolute joy. Not letting go of his father, the little boy squirmed around, looking at everyone.
R'net examined his bronze visually, making sure the load Torenth was carrying(and would be carrying fairly often from now until the end of this) was evenly loaded. He would double check the straps as soon as he checked in with K'dyn. Which would wait until K'dyn's lady friend left. He gave a nod to Neory, not knowing if she would want to speak to him or not.
Elisha he waved at, wanting to double check a few things, and because Eliarian would be riding the way over with him. He spotted a little girl: granddaughter of the Headwoman if he guessed correctly, hanging around K'dyn, but didn't mind. They wouldn't have too many secrets from the group at large.
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Post by effluo on May 4, 2008 23:31:06 GMT -5
Anistora stopped some distance from the growing group of adults and children, her thoughts dragging her eyes back up to her father’s weyr. The past few days had been hard on the both of them and every time Lan’ae asked his daughter why she felt the need to leave him… the young girl found her heart wrenched from her chest and her own attempts to ask him to come were just as successful.
Feeling her throat tighten, the oldest child in the group held back the tears. No, this is what she wanted to do. The Weyr asked for her help by doing this and if there was anything she had learned from her father, it was that the Weyr came first.
That didn’t stop the pain.
Turning back to the group, Anistora swallowed and stepped forward. She could recognize all of the faces there from the search, but it did not mean she could put a name to all of them. Even so, she was proud of how many she did know. Coming near the middle of the group, she stopped and waited as she looked around, not sure of where she should be waiting.
The sight of Elirian and his mother saying their good-byes made her throat tighten again and she quickly looked away. How thankful she was to have her eyes land on the never-separated pair of boys she knew well. A sigh of relief left her lips and she gave them a thankful smile as she stepped forward once more.
“Hi Altor. Hi Vittor. Which dragon do you think we’ll each get to ride on?” she asked, hoping to raise her own spirits as much as the boys as she found them with uncertainty on their faces.
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Post by kayla on May 5, 2008 9:36:27 GMT -5
Neory nodded at her brother's reassurance and grinned. "I know. You'll all be fine." Seeing Gwen, she winked at her brother and slipped away from, allowing the two some time alone to say their goodbyes. After her first... well, it was not an outburst, since she had not said anything... she had kept her feelings of the unfairness of this situation to herself. She was a Gold Rider, and despite the support system that this plan was taking from her, she knew that it was in the best interest for the Weyr, which was also her first and foremost responsibility. That did not make her particularly happy about the situation, but it did govern the way she behaved outside of her own private moments. When she saw R'net she moved over to him and smiled, actually feeling a big awkward. They were friends. Had been bed-friends before she had impressed Sheluth. And part of her had considered him and Torenth the most likely choice when Sheluth eventually rose, yet she had no delusions that she was in love with him or he with her. For now, he had been a friend, a good friend, and someone she could trust. "Hey. You guys be careful." She smiled a bit, "I'm going to miss you. You've always been a good friend." *** Altor smiled to Anistora, but it was a shaky smile, not his usually exuberant one. "Hey Anistora! I... I wanna ride on a Green, but only if Vittor rides on it with me." The sensitive boy was having a hard time with the situation. He had actually cried, though he tried to keep anyone from knowing that - though he could not hide anything from his not-twin, and had he had to choose between leaving Mommy and their other brothers and sisters and Vittor leaving without him, he would have chosen to go with Vittor, even as he was now. But that did not do much to make it easier to leave the others. "Aren't you sad about leaving your Daddy?" He knew that Anistora was close to her father since he was all that she had left at the illness. Altor hated the illness. It caused so much sadness, and even now was causing more sadness by making some of the kids leave the weyr. |
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Post by hrsegrl on May 5, 2008 15:35:21 GMT -5
Vittor was holding his brother's hand, more for his brother's sake than his own. He was such a worry wart! "Come on, Altor, its going to be fun!" Vittor wasn't so good at coming to grips with the fact that he was leaving his second mother. His biological mother died of the illness. After barely coping with that he found it best to simply let things happen. Crying over this wasn't going to change it and besides look at all the pretty dragons!
Vittor's blonde curls had been trimmed the day before so that he looked like he had very little hair. Mother had insisted that it would grow back in no time. He wanted it back now though. He wore a working outfit and had a little sack, strapped to him. The usual change of clothes, second pair of shoes, that sort of thing. Nothing too heavy. His pants were a tannish color and his shirt off white. They weren't from a wealthy family, and as such wore less color in their everyday wardrobe. When he was older, Vittor would very much like to have a few colorful outfits.
"Hey Anistora!" He smiled. Then nudged his brother when he started to ask about her father. "They already said we could stay together the whole time...silly. I wouldn't mind riding a green or a blue. They come in such pretty colors." He added. It wasn't that he didn't care that they were leaving, he just grew excited at the thought of unexplored places and new things to see. The dragons were a plus as well. "It is going to be wonderful. You will see."
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Relina hadn't bothered to pack too much, an extra outfit, a comb and a couple of other heigenic products but otherwise, she packed light. Her mother had been sad to see both her brother, Telon and herself, leaving. Relina was sad to leave a place of such familiarity but at the same time, this was a true adventure! She always wanted to have an adventure!
Her dress was about the color of the mists that morning. Relina had her hair braided back so as not to get in the way and immediately wandered over to where the blonde girl was standing...Van something was her name. She couldn't be bothered to remember. Recalling the brownrider fromthe mck search she realized he might be in charge of this. That other girl must have been thinking the same thing.
"Looks like he's busy with the grown ups." She said quietly to the other girl. "I wonder who I'll be riding with... dragons are pretty cool. Which reminds me, I hope I'm dressed warm enough. Mother said Between is colder than the lake in winter time."
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Post by effluo on May 5, 2008 15:55:13 GMT -5
Anistora’s smile brightened a bit as the boy mentioned wanting to ride on a green with Vittor. She couldn’t help but wonder if Altor would actually end up impressing a green, he seemed to so love the color. Putting her own bag down at her feet, she looked around to see just how many different colors there were. A bronze, two browns, two blues and three greens were gathering in the little area along with the Weyrwoman’s gold, but she knew better than to think the Sr. Queen would be joining them.
“I bet if we asked nicely you two could get on a green. There are three, so hopefully they will have room for two of you along with what they are carrying.” And they were sure carrying a lot in the young girl’s opinion. But when she thought about it, ten turns was going to be a long time. A very, very long time.
The question of her father sent her eyes back up toward her father’s weyr where she could see Eznorth on the ledge. She wondered briefly if the bronze dragon would tell her father when they had left. A part of her hoped he would change his mind at the last minute, despite its low probability.
“I am sad about leaving Daddy.” she finally answered Altor softly. Swallowing hard against her tightening throat, she struggled to put the smile back on her face as she turned back to the boys. Vittor, thankfully, had spoke up cheerfully at just the right time to make that smile easier. His excitement was contagious.
“Oh yes, I’m sure it will be wonderful! Just think, no more crèche ladies to tell us to stay clean and I bet we will even get to know these dragons,” she said waving a hand to motion them all, “really well. I would like that.”
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Post by thedreamerlady on May 6, 2008 21:37:27 GMT -5
"Thank you Neory." R'net said slowly. "It's nice to have a beautiful woman seeing me off. And how I wish I could stay: I'm sure you'll need a good friend soon." R'net smiled. "But remember, I'm still thinking of you. I'm just twenty turns in the past." Reaching out to clasp her hand in camaraderie, R'net spoke to her seriously.
"Good luck yourself. And I'll see you when I report in." If he could. R'net didn't know. Elisha would clear it up when he visited back. "I have to go." R'net said suddenly, when he spotted the small group of support staff that they were bringing along. They needed to put their packs on a dragon, and be assigned to a dragon to ride with.
It was quickly dealt with, and then R'net trekked back to K'dyn.
"Has everyone reported in yet?"
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Post by delina on May 11, 2008 11:12:51 GMT -5
Vania was surprised when the other little girl talked to her. She didn't know what to say. She was just standing there, waiting to be placed on a dragon to go wherever they took her. She didn't like not knowing what was going on, but her mother said that the grownups would sort it all out and that she was just to behave and wait and she'd learn wherever she was going. She liked to learn, so she was good with that plan. But that still didn't help her when it came to talking to the other girl.
So she just looked at her for a moment before replying in her tiny voice. "I like dragons. I've never been between before. I hope it's not too cold. I don't like the cold." She averted her eyes downward, hoping that everyone could just get on the dragons and leave. She didn't like talking. She much preferred to listen and only speak when she had something she really wanted to say. She didn't really want to say anything to the girl, but she didn't want to be rude. Her mother told her that it was wrong to be rude. Well, before the sickness. After the sickness, she didn't say much. Vania understood her though, or so she liked to believe.
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Post by hrsegrl on May 11, 2008 18:19:46 GMT -5
K'dyn found himself at the center of many people then and decided it best to move away from the beautiful greenrider. Ten turns, what in Faranth's name was he going to do? Unfortunately the brown rider was beginning to get the kind of attention that usually only happened to Rankers. People seemed to be looking to him to get organized. When even Weyrbrats started to gather around heim he got more anxious.
The brownrider tried a quick headcount and decided it was close enough for the moment. "Everyone should be here. I'll have them all grouped with the correct rider and then we can get a proper number. " K'dyn first sorted the Weyrfolk, there was about one per dragon.
When he came to the children he spoke more slowly so that the children understood what was being said. "I'm going to call the name of the rider first, so children watch to see who raises their hand. If your name is called after that rider's name is, then you are riding with them." What a hassle all this kids stuff was.
"R'net, Elirian. K'dyn, Reiko. T'sor, Rechu and Veyas. H’seo, Kerzule and Telon. Sh’ran, Nortan and Zulunet. Lena, Anistora and Relina. Sairi, Vania. R’tor, Altor and Vittor."
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Post by effluo on May 13, 2008 7:00:49 GMT -5
Listening carefully, Anistora watched as the adult riders stepped forward and raised their hand at the call of their name. In short order the kids were standing next to who they were to ride with and Anistora picked up her things as her own name was paired with a female rider.
Turning back to the boys, she gave them another small smile. “Well I’ll see you when we land.” And with that she made her way over to the woman named Lena.
((Gah, sorry so short. I wanted to get a reply in before I had to go to class. I’ll try to find a computer somewhere today to post in other threads! *bounces off*))
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Post by delina on May 13, 2008 17:48:39 GMT -5
Vania flashed a grin at Relina shakily before rushing off to join the greenrider. She grinned up at her without the shake, happy to be with the adults again. She was going to get to ride a green with a female. She knew that not many women rode greens, the woman was special. "Hi," she greeted looking up at the woman who was going to be her ride between. She hoped the woman was nice and liked her.
She looked around, watching them all be paired up. She was so worried. She liked dragons, but she didn't like what she'd heard about between. Vania really wanted to go and help, but she was a bit scared. She couldn't let anyone know, though, because she didn't like it when people thought she was scared. She didn't think that they liked her as much when they thought she was scared. So she just grinned.
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