Logs:Of Bonds
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| RL Date: 17 December, 2006 |
| Who: R'hin, Samialla |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| When: Day 26, Month 3, Turn 10 (Interval 10) |
| Your location's current time: 14:24 on day 26, month 3, Turn 60, of the Tenth Pass. It is a spring afternoon. You walk into the feeding grounds, latching the gate securely behind you while keeping an eye out for fresh herdbeast patties. Feeding Grounds, High Reaches Weyr(#570RJas) The wall of the ancient caldera arches upward and outward in a graceful curve here at the eastern edge of the bowl, where the weyr's flocks and herds are corralled for the dragons to feed upon. The air here is relentlessly dusty due to the the lack of true pasture necessitated by Thread; what little grass does manage to grow is either grazed or well trampled by the herdbeasts. Cow herdbeasts lead their calves to drink the clear water of a tongue of the weyr lake which extends into these fenced off grounds, and feeding troughs ring the perimeter of the paddocks. A group of wherry hens, wings clipped, squawk noisily under the natural overhang which shelters the creatures during bad weather; the wherries' cries reverberate against the stone walls around you. Behind you is the gate that leads west, back to the bowl proper. Contents: Okenith Leiventh Samialla Obvious exits: Bowl It's a warm spring afternoon in the 'Reaches, and R'hin is currently standing just outside the feeding grounds, leaning on the fence. Leiventh circles lazily above, high enough not to rile the herdbeasts and wherries corralled in the grounds - not yet, anyway. The Weyrleader appears to be waiting, though seems content enough - with the warmer weather he's shed his flying jacket and is enjoying the sunshine. No longer pattering but striding with at least some confidence to her walk, Samialla comes up behind R'hin. A pause, her first display of hesitation, and she moves to the side, looking over the fence at the herdbeasts. Okenith makes his own entrance via the sky, gliding over to join Leiventh in those lazy circles that he bronze is performing. There's an extra sharpness about the blue this afternoon though: anticipation, and a keen interest in the ignorant herdbeasts down below. Sami speaks, looking sideways and up at her mentor. "Good afternoon, R'hin. How are you and Leiventh?" A low, bassy rumble is Leiventh's greeting of Okenith, the bronze not minding the extra company in the slightest, it would seem. "Samialla," R'hin returns the greeting with a sidelong glance, and a quick grin. "We're quite well, thank you. And you? Okenith?" His head tips slightly to allow him to examine the blue, pale eyes flickering over the dragon in keen interest. "He's grown," he notes, approvingly, as if this is something Samialla had some involvement in. Straightening slightly, he rests one hand on the fence, still, adding, "Leiventh has an interest in watching Okenith hunt." Leiventh> Okenith senses that Leiventh's greeting comes metally, as well as verbally, some of his bassy rumbling coming through his crimson-splashed mindtones, as well. « There are many to choose from. One should always select carefully, however. There is no need to kill more than you require. » Okenith returns Leiventh's greeting in kind, his usual politeness forgotten in his interest in the herdbeasts. By paying more attention to his flying, he can almost match Leiventh's gliding - certainly he does his best, though not even the same pattern of occasional wingbeats cannot make up for the differences in size and strength between the dragons. Sami's fingers find a fence beam, tips running lightly along the knots in the wood. "We're doing great, than you. We seem to be able to do more every day." She looks up at her 'mate affectionately with that comment, eyes following his circles in the sky. "He has," the girl agrees, smiling conservatively at R'hin's tone of voice. "Hunt? He has been very interested in the herdbeasts as of late. Okenith, I mean." She glances at R'hin, then looks into the paddock at the grazing beasts. Leiventh senses that Okenith's return is warm, morning over the rough desert of his voice, preparing to blossom into something hotter. Excitement is starting to pick up, rushing currents between the sand dunes that dampen his words. « Which should I choose? There are many plump ones. And I am hungry to eat one. Somehow. I must catch one, and see what it is like to hunt. » R'hin's study of Okenith ceases, but only so he can watch Samialla instead, sidelong. "Of course he is," the scruffy-haired Weyrleader agrees placidly. "Dragons are predators at heart. They would much prefer to catch their own meal, than have it laid out for them." He, too, follows the weyrling's gaze towards the 'beasts, resuming his lean against the fence, forearms resting on the wood. "He'll know, instinctively, which are the vulnerable bits." He pauses, glancing upwards; only a slight change in Leiventh's pattern of circling indicates a reason for his sudden interest, lips quirking and an almost anticipatory gleam to the bronzerider's pale eyes. Leiventh> Okenith senses that Leiventh offers sage, unintentionally humorous advice: « Choose one you can catch. » A pause, then, « One that will satisfy your hunger. » The dragon's attention flickers, fades briefly, and when it returns there's a sharpness in his tone, anticipation as his circling pattern alters marginally with a shift of his wings. « Ah. I have chosen. There is a buck that is perfect for my size. » Still, he does not immediately attack, watching closely. Samialla's gaze shifts upwards again, head not moving. She pushes back some stray hairs from her eyes, leaning more heavily against the fence, perhaps catching onto R'hin's nonchalent posture. "I think I'd prefer he caught his own meals as well," she admits with a little smile, trying at a dry twist of humour - it's not really like her, and she returns to a quieter, more innocent tone. "He um...he doesn't know what to do. well he does, deep down, but he's not so sure." She lifts her chin to squint up at the dragon, who's starting to drift lower, dropping slowly from Leiventh's altitude. Leiventh senses that Okenith seems to snort, but the urge to learn is overpowering, and his next words are polite. « I will have to choose...that one?" » The blue's attention flickers from beast to beast rapidly. He rides on Leiventh's anticipation almost, making an impulsive decision. « That one. » Blade-like in intensity now is his voice, and all his mind is focused on one wherry, even as he starts to soar lower. R'hin's low, appreciative chuckle answers Samialla's observation, "No doubt. I remember how much - and how often - they ate when growing. I didn't miss it, either. Besides, there's something--" he breaks off abruptly as Leiventh's wings fold inwards and the bronze dives without warning, a sharp snap as his wings unfurl nearer the ground, his precision unerring. He uses a combination of weight and momentum, ivory claws digging into the back of his chosen herdbeast, baring it down to the ground with a squeal, scattering the rest of the beasts away from him. The bronzerider's eyes are fixed on the scene, unbidden, curl of lips given at the successful strike. "--about watching them hunt, that's just..." he trails off, shoulders shifting as if unable to explain, but knowing Samialla will probably understand, regardless. "He'll know," he reassures, glancing sidelong at the weyrling, then towards her dragon. Leiventh> Okenith senses that Leiventh's mindvoice imparts the sense of speed, sharp attention fixed on his target, brilliant crimsons spilling over in joyous tones as his hunt is successful. Part of his attention remains on the blue, 'listening' in as he selects his prey, quiet thrum of encouragement barely audible. Samialla doesn't reply, just watches as Leiventh makes his kill, R'hin's words settling somewhere in the back of her mind. She just watches the bronze as he lands on his choice of prey, and she unconciously licks her lips - which are suddenly dry. "Something." She concurs vaguely. Then he eyes snap up as Okenith, too, folds his wings abruptly to his sides and drops. But he hasn't the practice of Leiventh, and it's with a late opening of his wings and a sickening crunch that the blue breaks his fall on a wherry, which is now dead from the weight, albeit relatively small, that has crashed into it. Okenith looks sheepish, eyes gleaming dully as he snakes a glance Leiventh-wards. Sami looks at R'hin, face a picture of shock and dismay, words not finding a way to her mouth. Leiventh senses that Okenith catches Leiventh's excitement, feeding on it and just *dropping*. All too late his mistake is realised, but by then there's no turning back and a horrid breath of heat signals the dragon's intense disappointment as his kill goes wrong. His thoughts turn inward for a moment, then his voice comes, sheepish, excitement cooled. « I'm okay...but I don't think the beast is. » Awkward and unanticipated or not, the kill is still a kill, and R'hin's praise is quick in coming. "Nice, very nice for a first kill," he murmurs, pale gaze on the young blue with an upward curve of lips, as reassurance comes of Okenith's wellbeing. Sidelong glance takes in Samialla's dismay, and he assures her, with a wry smile, "Leiventh let his first get away entirely, though you'll not hear him admit it." The bronze offers a low rumble towards the blue, wings mantling as muzzle lowers, attention drawn quickly from the blue towards his own meal. Leiventh> Okenith senses that Leiventh's mindtones carry not the least hint of disappointment, pointing out: "You killed your prey. Is that not the idea? » Bland, then, « I have more experience, flying. Soon, you will be as skillful as I am. » He pauses, puzzlement coloring his tones at the mention of the animal's wellbeing. « It is not -meant- to be okay. » Samialla is, unsurprisingly, blushing as she looks away from R'hin and over at her dragon as he tentatively shuffles off his kill. "Leiventh...did that his first time?" She sounds puzzled at that, frowning at Okenith and, briefly, Leiventh. As Okenith samples his first kill her face pales. "He killed it. I can feel him eating it?" Her voice sounds faint, as though she's caught up in observing, close-up, the taste of the wherry. Leiventh senses that Okenith lets relief come back into his tone, that warm desert morning heating up as excitement starts to kick in after his initial disappointment. « I did! And I'll try to be as good as you one day, Leiventh, » he adds, respectfully. « Even at hunting. » There's a touch of sandstorm-dry humour there, before his attention goes to his kill. « I smashed it, » he emphasises. « Next time I will not. » The slight curl of R'hin's fingers around the fence post and the dart of gleaming pale eyes towards Leiventh indicates the rider's caught up in the pleasure of Leiventh's kill, exhaling slowly as he focuses on Samialla. "He did," he says, with a twitch of lips. "Leiventh can't turn and stop as quickly as Okenith will be able to-- can, even. Okenith will probably be better at him, in hunting." At Samialla's paling, there's a shadow of a grin that he's trying to hide. "It's exhilarating, isn't it?" Leiventh> Okenith senses that Leiventh's faint rumbling suggests he may not agree with his rider's evaluation of the situation, but it's quickly overridden in the shared delight of the hunt and the kill, the bronze's tones thrumming with delight. « We will hunt with you again, Okenith. You did well. » Samialla's fingers have ceased their tapping on the fence, and now she clings to it by her fingertips, her tenuous grip on the wood reflecting her need to stay grounded, not submerging herself in Okenith's feelings. "He's got to learn," the girl comments, barely keeping her voice above a murmur as she watches her dragon eat with an intense fascination. "But he's determined *to* learn. I think he will get better." She shudders convulsively, then looks at R'hin with wide eyes. "For Okenith, but...will it get better for me? Not feeling it so...so much." Leiventh senses that Okenith accepts the bronze's compliment with pride, even as he relishes in the delights of his first hunted meal. « Thank you, Leiventh. I'll look forward to hunting with you again. And learning how you hunt - you're much better than me. At the moment. » His rider's thoughts have not gone unnoticed, and there's a flash of a glance, more mental than physical, to his girl before he continues eating. The crunching of bone and tearing of flesh are, for R'hin at least, sounds that he's grown used to, accepted as part and parcel of the thrill of the hunt, though he does, after a time, turn his gaze away, towards the weyrling. "It... depends," he hedges, "Leiventh enjoys sharing it with me - the thrill of the hunt, the kill, his enjoyment of his meal. You will learn to block it out, if you've a wish to, but--" he exhales, slowly, voice serious all of a sudden, "Our dragons are one of the few we oughtn't hide ourselves from, and vice versa. -He- will accept every part of you, even the parts he does not like, and it is up to you to decide if you will do the same, in turn." Leiventh> Okenith senses that Leiventh's mindvoice is more a mental thrumming at this point, conveying his delight as he partakes of his meal, hunger assuaged and fading away. He accepts the praise with aplomb, observing easily enough, « We are dragons. To hunt is in our nature. » Samialla is keeping her eyes off the sight of the two dragons, even as they enjoy their kills. To judge by the pallor of her skin, Sami is not having as good a time as Okenith. She nods slowly, almost jerkily, at R'hin's words. "I wouldn't block any part of him out," the girl says dully, eyelashes fluttering as she lowers her eyes - shame. "But I don'tknow if I'll get used to these things. When I was cutting his meat, that just made the hunger go away. This, he's enjoying it...bloodthirsty?" She winces at such a harsh word. "I know it's what he likes, but I'm not used to it." Leiventh senses that Okenith's voice, warm with delight, shows no sign of cooling. His words are softer, seeming to come from far away while he eats ravenously, not so much out of hunger but because of the thrill of his own kill. « Should it not be in our riders' natures? In human's natures? They must eat, and hunt to do so. » There's a touch fo concern mixed in there, for his rider's discomfort. "Did you ever try to catch fish in the pond? Ever remember how good it felt the first time you made your own food, rather than have your mother make it for you? It is... them, being what they are." R'hin lifts a hand, gesturing towards the dragons, though he keeps his eyes on Samialla's with a faint smile. "As for getting used to it, well. -This-, you do, after a while. Some things you might never. Between, for one. Flights. It's easier, after the first time, but you never really quite get used to it." His lips twist, and he exhales, leaning forward again to rest most of his weight against the fence. Leiventh> Okenith senses that Leiventh's tones warm, too, with the satisfaction of a full belly, tearing into the remnants of his meal with relish. « Not all are true predators. Humans are strange creatures. » There's a hint of indifference there, as if the bronze really hasn't given it - or them - much thought. They seem to hold little interest for him, and only your concern draws his attention enough to add, « Yours will adjust. R'hin says there is much for her to get used to. With you. With the Weyr. » Samialla is silent, looking over at he dragons when R'hin gestures, breaking their eye contact unintentionally. She shudders again, slightly, but watches. Okenith is nearly finished, muzzle and claws blood-soaked. And as he finishes, a more settled feeling starts to appear on Sami's face. "If I can get over this," she murmurs. Then she presses her lips into a thin line. "Between. I'm...I've never gone Between before. I don't think I'm looking forward to that." Leiventh senses that Okenith seems comforted with Leiventh's reassurances, the dry heat of concern that was brewing on the horizon of his voice now cooling, dissipated by the bronze's wisdom. « Humans are. And mine will, so I hope. Perhaps with my help. » He pauses, the last of his meal almost devorued, his blood lust chilled. Thoughts are clearer now that the hunting urge has passed. « She does worry that she will not be good enough. » And then there's a mental shrugging off of that. « It will be fine. I enjoyed myself today. Hunting with you has been an experience. » He notes that with pride. R'hin casts a reassurance glance towards the weyrling, but it might well be missed with her attention on the blue. "I have faith in you-- and Okenith. He is of Leiventh, after all," he can't help it, a note of pride creeps in there, audibly, and he grins too, knowing it's there. "You'll have plenty to do before then. Between itself, is a means to an end. Once you can do it-- you can travel anywhere you wish, on Pern. You can see relatives, friends, go to places you've never been before. M'wen and I did a tour of Pern, visiting all the major holds, halls, and weyrs. We learnt a great deal, some of it positive, and some of it negative, but all of it useful." Leiventh> Okenith senses that Leiventh, if anything, seems faintly bemused, observing: « You chose her. She will be good enough. » He seems to think that's all that need be said of the subject. His own meal has been thoroughly devoured, all but small scraps stripped off the creature. With a flick of wings, he launches lazily into the air, gaining just enough height to soar over the fence, landing near the lake's edge, settling himself down in a patch of warmth. Acknowledgement is given, pleasure at your pride, echoed back: « Enjoying the warmth of the afternoon after a meal is also an experience to be enjoyed. » Samialla looks away from Okenith as the blue settles to chew the last of his kill. There's a flutter of relief on the girl's face, and also a faint, tired look of happiness, shared with her dragon. She smiles slightly as she looks up at R'hin. "Thank you. I hope we live up to your expectations...the whole class." She adds. "I don't doubt Between isn't useful," she continues, in response to R'hin's comments on the method of transport. "But it's scary, isn't it? Riders have always said what it's like. And," she drops her voice, a glance flicked in Okenith's direction as though she wishes for him not to hear this secret, "I'm afraid I might not make it." She all but whispers that. "Not come back, like they say hap-happens." Leiventh senses that Okenith has found now that with a sated appetite and a full belly, a comfortable weariness has settled into his bones - and his voice, too, for it's with a slow laziness that he speaks. « It is? This meal was nicer than the ones before. More satisfying. » He stretches leisurely, tongue testing the blood left on his muzzle. « It was hotter, » he muses, with a sniff of what little remains of his meal. R'hin's silent a long moment, pale eyes tracking Leiventh's lazy glide towards the lake, his expression softening marginally. His voice, when he speaks, is soft, too. "It's scary," he agrees. "Colder than the coldest 'Reaches winter. It's the -absence- of anything that's the worst. But you'll have Okenith, and as long as you remember him beneath you, remember where you're going, you'll always come out." The latter confession earns a guarded, sidelong glance from the Weyrleader. "Mm. It's happened. Not in our recent history. But, you'll have plenty of practice at visualizations, and if you learn nothing else from I'daur, learn -that-." Leiventh> Okenith senses that Leiventh's response is lazy, colors muted with the creeping warmth of the sun. « There will be plenty more meals like that, from now on. » He's silent a while, and it seems like he might've fallen asleep, before the murmured addition comes, « You rely less on yours than you did when you were shelled. You are finding yourself, Okenith. There is no greater pleasure, than that. » Samialla stays silent, taking that description in. Her expression is vaguely thoughtful, no other emotions shown. "Okenith keeps me safe...and I keep him safe?" The lifting of her tone at the end of that sentence indicates a question. She nods at the mention of I'daur. "He wants to keep us safe." She hesitates to think. "It's his job, and...I listen to him, at least." Leiventh senses that Okenith seems too satisfied and belly-heavy to move, but he does - copying his sire, the blue gives a lazy beat of his wings and somehow clears the ground's fence, hop-skipping to a spot of his own so that he can lay down. « That's good, » he comments in a murmur. Leiventh's next words, after the pause, come as a surprise. « I am on my way to who I am, » Okenith replies. « Thank you, Leiventh. » he sounds to be growing wearier by the minute, and his voice seems to fade, cooling into slumber. "Yes," R'hin says, vehement, and pleased too, at the query and the conclusion both. "Whatever else you may or may not disagree on, you can rely on that - both of you. Between does not bother dragons in the way it bothers us. Their senses are different, and it doesn't seem to blind them as much as it does us. Even in between, Okenith will be your rock, and he will be in your head the entire time." He straightens, hands dropping from the fence and sliding into the pockets of his pants. "It's his job. One of them, anyway." He cants a glance towards the blue in question, with a smile. "He'll sleep off that meal for some time. You'd best get him somewhere comfortable." Leiventh> Okenith senses that Leiventh gives wordless, thrumming acknowledgement, his own mental tones fuzzing into slumber soon after. Samialla looks over at the sudden movement as Okenith clears the fence, watches him settle down and then sighs. "Before I didn't understand what riders were trying to say when they talked about the bond they have with their dragons. But...now I think I understand. Okenith is always there for me, and I have to always be there for him." She smiles, more confidently now, looking sideways at R'hin. "He'll look after me. Even if I'm...if I'm not sure." Back to looking at Okenith. "I should get him to the barracks. If he'll move." "-Especially- when you're not sure," R'hin amends with a smile, that sort of look in his eyes that dragonriders get, when talking about their dragons. And, it is a look that can be understood, that air of pride, affection, and pleasure. A low-voiced chuckle, as he says, "Good luck. And-- he did well, Samialla." He gives a nod towards the weyrling, one that's wordless farewell. Samialla nods with more certainty now. "Thank you, R'hin." She blushes as she says that, looking over at Okenith with another, albeit shorter, sigh. "He'll be pleased to know you think that." With her smile as her own farewell, she heads towards the lake, where her dragon has one eye half-open, waiting for her arrival. |
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