Difference between revisions of "Logs:I Go Where I'm Told"

Lake Shore, High Reaches Weyr

The rest of the bowl may be barren, grass barely surviving at best, but here by the lake, it's brilliantly green in the warmer months: thickening and thriving in the silty, boulder-dotted soil just before it transitions to soft sand and thence to the cool, clear water itself.

A large freshwater lake fed by a low waterfall, it not only provides warm-weather bathing space for humans and dragons, but has one end fenced off as a watering hole for the livestock in the feeding grounds. The water there is often muddier than the rest of the clear lake, whose shallows drop off abruptly several yards out into deep water, and whose edge undulates against the coarse-hewn bowl wall: here close enough to just be bramble-covered rocks, there far enough away that a narrow land bridge divides the main lake from a smallish pond. Between are several rocky outcroppings that form excellent makeshift diving points, though only one -- across the bridge -- has a set of narrow, slippery, quite possibly tempting stairs.

The day is warm-ish - for High Reaches, anyway - and brightly sunny, no clouds to be seen. For Madilla, perched upon a boulder not too far from the water's edge, 'warm-ish' is not enough to negate the need for a shawl, which she has wrapped about her shoulders. The apprentice stares out over the water, not exactly moody, but at least genuinely thoughtful.

Above the bowl, Tausreth appears out of Between. The young bronze spirals down, bellowing a greeting to the Watchdragon as he does so. Rather than land in the western bowl, he tips his wings and begins a steep glide down towards the lake. He lands hard, back legs gouging deep furrows in the sandy shore and kicking up a good amount of dust in the process. Swivling his head first towards the girl on the rock, he warbles a deep-throated greeting before turning his attention towards the lake. Upon his neck, C'mryn unstraps himself and slides down.

Madilla visibly twitches at the arrival of Tausreth, though at least she gets some warning thanks to that whirl of dust, before he actually greets her. She turns about, her upper body straining to get a better look, expression disquieted. Biting her lip, she considers both bronze and rider, finally - and with flushed cheeks - bobbing her head in greeting. "Healer's duties-- sir."

Tausreth spares Madilla from futher scrutiny, even if his particular brand is attempting to be friendly. His attention is all for that lake, and be just about prances as Cam works at unbuckling his straps. With a grunt the leathers fall away and Tausreth is free! Into the water he goes, splashing just as carelessly as his landing. C'mryn scowls. "Eh? Oh, right. Telgar's duties. You look a bit young to be a Journeyman..."

Madilla's gaze follows Tausreth into the lake, expression suggesting that she's not quite used to dragons yet - especially not so close. "Apprentice," she agrees, turning her attention back to C'mryn. "I'm accompanying a Journeywoman who was posted here. You're from Telgar, not here?"

A bit more splashing, and Tausreth is gone. Now he's just a bronze head, bobbing along in the distance where even his splashing is muffled by space. C'mryn 'ah's. "That makes more sense, then." Without an invitation, he walks over towards Madilla's boulder, arms crossed. "And that's right. I am from Telgar. For the moment." The last is said resentfully, and Cam's scowl darkens. "Not been here long, hm?"

Madilla nods her agreement - yes, much more sense - but when she opens her mouth again, it's to ask, head tilted to the side and messy plait sliding over her shoulder, "Only for the moment? I-- no. We arrived this morning. Journeyman Delifa is from here, apparently, but I've never visited before today."

There's a brief assessment of Madilla by C'mryn, the bronzerider's expression unreadable. "For the moment," he repeats, matter-of-factly and still bitter. "Rumors. Changes are in the future." He shrugs. "Did you elect to come?" he wants to know. "Or did they pick you at random?"

"Oh," says Madilla. "Right." From her expression, and the note of confusion in her voice, she clearly doesn't have the faintest idea what he's talking about - but she's clearly not actually going to ask. Crossing her hands in her lap, as she straightens her posture, she shakes her head. "Journeywoman Delifa wished me to accompany her. So - here I am." A non-answer.

C'mryn will say no more about 'changes'. In fact, he ignores her confusion outright. He leans against the rock, looking out towards the lake, though Tausreth is too far to really see clearly. "That's not an answer," he observes. "Do you want to be here?"

And thus, Madilla ignores her own confusion, too, concentrating upon C'mryn's question - her cheeks flushed. Again. "It doesn't matter, what I want. My craft sent me here, and they had good reasons for it, so... here I am. That's what matters."

C'mryn actually laughs, though it's a bitter, dark sort of laugh that has little to do with real humor. "Again, not an answer." But he takes it anyways. Eyes narrowed and posture stiff even as he feigns relaxing, C'mryn sighs. "Craft had good reason for it... sounds like the Weyr, too. But you're wrong. It matters how you feel about it. Or, it should."

Madilla frowns up at C'mryn, lifting her hand to twine it through the end of her plait thoughtfully, finally shaking her head. "I--" She breaks off, brows knitting tigheter, hesitates, then starts again, "I trust them to make good decisions. They wouldn't sent me if it wasn't the right thing. It's not what I would have," another pause, as she chooses her words, "/chosen/ for myself, I suppose. But that makes it all the more a learning experience. Stretching, you know?"

"Ah." C'mryn is silent after that one syllable, as if studying something in the distance. Nothing there to study, however. "I suppose your perception is different... well. I shouldn't say perception. It is a different situation, though similiar." He flashes her a glance, a brief sympathetic smile, and shrugs. "Telgar is sending dragonriders to Fort and High Reaches, and Ista as well, I assume. Nothing has been confirmed, but who can keep a secret in a Weyr? I'm going. I'm certain. Suppose it's different from me. I don't see a learning experience. I see... an exile."

Madilla's expression takes on a quizzical slant, as she listens to C'mryn explain his own situation. "Ah," she says, an unconscious echo of the bronzerider. "I'm sorry, if you see it as such an exile. Why are you so certain you're going, though? Have they told you officially? Perhaps they won't make you go, if you say you don't want to." Now, her expression is earnest, eager to help. "But... it wouldn't be too bad, would it? If you did have to go."

"I have my reasons," for being certain of leaving. C'mryn shrugs again, shoulders stiff through the movement. "Oh, I'm certain they will *ask* me. It's how they ask, however, that makes it not a request but an order. Asking just makes it sound polite. Did they *ask* you if you wanted to accompany your Healer? Did you really have room to say no?" He's curious, not attempting to make an example of the situation. "The Weyr is not as willing to accept no. I am a wingrider. I go where I'm told to go."

Madilla ohs, making a face for C'mryn's benefit, complete with a short nod. She gets it. "But," she does ask, sounding curious again, "Have they told you, yet? Or are you just assuming that they will?" She adds, chewing her words carefully, "Journeywoman Delifa did /ask/ me. But she'd already spoken to the Masters. It was all decided. But-- that's appropriate. I'm an Apprentice. I go where I'm told to."

"So. Similiar situation" decides C'mryn. He pauses, considering his next answer. "You see..." and he pauses again before continueing, "I believe Telgar is in that first stage of yours. The "masters" so to speak have been spoken to. Plans are made. Nothing is technically official because rider approval has not been sought. But does it really matter if they get that approval? No. Who they pick will go." Another small pause, and a sulkier accusation, "Are you Weyrmated? No. Being told to go somewhere is far easier when you do not have deep attachments to the place you are leaving."

"There are things - people? - in Telgar you don't want to leave?" says Madilla, half surmising and half querying. She's folded her hands into her lap again, and sighs. "There was-- a boy. At Healer. Nothing serious. But. I will miss him. I was finally making real friends."

And now C'mryn is sympathetic once more. A common ground. "I am sorry to hear that," he says truthfully. "Yes. I have a Weyrmate. I do not know, yet, if she is going to be coming as well. And if she is one of the dragonriders asked to help... I have no idea if she will end up in the same Weyr as I do." Shrug. "And, weyrlings. Or, they are riders now. I will miss them." Another sight, and C'mryn's head drops just a little, his shoulders relaxing. "You will make friends here," offers C'mryn, attempting to be helpful.

Madilla nods, a little half smile set onto her face, though most of her attention is focused upon responding, again. "I would have thought... it would seem cruel, to break up a relationship, like that? Surely they won't." She nods again, quickly. "I will. But... I find it hard. At home, there weren't new people to meet. Healer was hard. This place is... bigger. You'll make friends, too. Wherever you end up. And," she twists her head, to bob it in the vague direction of Tausreth, "You can go anywhere you like, at a moment's notice, right? So you can still see everyone."

C'mryn's face twists into a grimace. "It does. But it... from the Weyrleader's perspective..." and it obviously pains him to think from their point of view, "There are hundreds of dragonrider pairs in the Weyr. They cannot be bothered to memorize who is with who, at every given moment. Who is in a permanent relationship... we are dragonriders first. We do what we're told, and we make it work. I am sure if I.. asked, the would consider my position and my mate... but why fight it?" He glances over towards Tausreth, the bronze a blob upon the shifting surface of the lake. "Not at

"I suppose," allows Madilla, though, by the dubiousness in her tone, and the expression on her face, she's not much taken with that idea. "Why not fight it? It would make things easier for you, wouldn't it?" She smoothes her skirt over her knees, finally adding, "Of course. But - when you're not busy. And with no 'fall, now, too."

"Make me feel better, maybe," agrees C'mryn, "But it would likely end in bitterness on both ends. It's not a good idea to make enemies of your Weyrleader. Besides, as you said... nothing has been officially said yet. So I wait. And wait." Finally, C'mryn uncrosses his arms and unbuttons his jacket, shrugging it off his shoulders. "When I am not busy, yes. I can go where I please. But I could say the same for you. It is easy to find a dragonrider willing to take residents, and crafters, where they want to go." Pause. "I don't really want to get into a conversation about who is more misfortuned. But I will make you a deal. If I end up in High Reaches, and I am not busy, I will take you wherever you ask, if you want. A trip to the Hall, to visit your friends."

Madilla seems to accept this at face-value, nodding her head quickly. "I hope it works out for the best, for you," she tells him, earnestly. "I-- I hadn't much thought about that," she adds, of his second statement. "It wasn't really so, at the Hall. But I suppose it makes sense." Honestly pleased, at his offer, again, she nods her head, admitting, "I'd like that. Thank you. And, of course, if there's anything I can do in return... If that's the way it works out."

"I am sure," says C'mryn, managing a bit of a smile, "That someday I will do something supremely stupid and need the assistance of a Healer. Now I can cross my fingers and hope that you've made Journeyman by then, and I can call in my favor." Tausreth comes swimming back towards them, lazily, but near enough to be seen as more than a bronze blob. "Before the Hall, where are you from? A Hold, I assume, from your discomfort around dragons."

Madilla laughs at that, noting, "Some of my classmates would be offended at not being considered capable of helping /now/, but I'll forgive you that; it's probably fair enough." Her head turns again as Tausreth swims back towards them, and she nods. "Little, tiny place, not too far from Peyton, in the Fort area. We didn't really see dragons, except from a distance."

"I just suspect it would be uncomfortable to have an apprentice attempt reattaching my hand, than a knotted Journeyman," offers C'mryn, though he's actually grinning now. "Comfort comes from larger knots." Tausreth does not yet come ashore, just near enough to peek at them. He's still well out of splash range. "You'll see a lot more of them now," notes C'mryn, uselessly. "Tausreth's a nice one. Some can be downright uncomfortable to be around, but Tausreth's genuine. He's a gentleman."

"Reattaching your hand?" repeats Madilla. She laughs. "I don't think you'd want me doing that, even if I were a Journeyman. Surgery is... not my thing." She's still looking at Tausreth, rather than C'mryn, though she nods as he speaks. "Tausreth. That's a nice name. I... I imagine I'll get used to them. It's not as though I haven't ridden them, or anything. But. Are you Weyrbred, or did you have to get used to them, too?"

"Hm. What is your thing?" asks Cam. "And please don't say midwifer! If you do, then I fear I have picked the wrong Healer to call favors from. If I ever need the assistance of a midwife, I am in bigger trouble than I thought." He grins. "Ah, yes. Getting used to dragons. It gets easier. And no, I was born at Harper Hall, actually. My parents were Journeyman. I'll admit, I cannot remember being afraid of dragons, though I doubt I was as comfortable around them then, as I am now."

Again, Madilla laughs, head shaking. "Not midwifery, now - so you're safe." She takes a moment before she adds, in a very restrained voice, "I'm studying under a Pharmacist. Hangover remedies - I can do those." Her brows raise at mention of his origins, and she smiles, earnestly. "I was studying at Harper Hall, until now - additional classes. We didn't have much Harper access, at home. It's a nice place."

"Phew." C'mryn wipes a hand over his forehead in an exaggerated manner, grinning. "Hang-over remedies you say? You will become very popular at a Weyr. Us dragonriders like our drink. Especially after a Flight." Grimace. "You could probably make a decent mark from it, as well." He nods, agreeing, "The Hall is a nice place, yes. But... it was not for me. I don't have the voice to be a Harper. So I took off. And, obviously, found something else to do with my life." He grins.

"So I'm told," says Madilla, of hang-over remedies and dragonriders and their drinks. "Ah, I couldn't sell it. I'm a healer: we give remedy to those who need it." She seems to understand the concept of a place not being the right one for someone, head nodding slowly as C'mryn speaks. "Obviously!" she agrees, at length. "And what will you do, with no 'fall to fly?"

C'mryn wonders, "What if they did not need it? Is your remedy something that can be kept in a bottle, and saved for a later date? Or does it go bad?" C'mryn stews over this thought, lifting a hand to rub at his chin for just a moment. "Yes, Tausreth made it quite obvious that traveling around the continent and being lazy was not on the agenda. At least, not then. Now though? With Thread gone, I am hoping to relax. Get.. moving with some plans in my life." He shrugs a little. "I Impressed when Thread started. It will be interesting to experience life without it. I heard it can be both relaxing, and boring."

Madilla considers this, admitting, "It will keep for a short time. Most of the ingredients are preserved to begin with - and that will be even more true, here, I suppose. But most of these things work better fresh." Again, she smoothes her skirt over her knees, and then adjusts her shawl, though the afternoon sun is warm enough at this point that she probably doesn't really need it. "I would imagine so," she agrees. "I'm sure you'll find something to keep yourself occupied. Even if it's just ferrying people like me around."

"Not the sort of thing I could stock up on, then?" asks C'mryn, looking mildly disappointed. "Ah well. I suppose that's why I need you in debted to me. So I can demand you make remedies." He grins. "Or, beg helplessly until you take pitty. It seems to work on most Healers." He gives a considering frown, and Tausreth wanders closer, finally walking instead of swimming. He's apparently done with the lake. "I am sure I will be kept busy. Idle hands don't rest long in the Weyr. But Tausreth provides a great excuse if the chore I'm given is too... hard." Grin.

"Exactly right," agrees Madilla, cheerily smiling. "It always pays to be nice to your local friendly healer. If, indeed, that's what I end up being." She gives Tausreth another long glance as he approaches - well, he's big. Hard to miss. She nods again. "I'm sure he does. Convenient, that." She pauses, then adding, in a smaller voice, "I'm so sorry - I didn't ask your name? I'm Madilla."

"Whether you stay, or whether you go, I'll be sure to take advantage of your remedies while you are here," decides C'mryn. "I will at least give them a try, next time I am cursed with a hangover-" pause. "If, that is, I end up here at High Reaches." Hrm. Tausreth does his best to drip over all of the dry stand between him and C'mryn. Drip drip. "Ahh, that would be my fault, I am sure. I'm C'mryn, though most call me Cam unless they're mad. And Tausreth has already been introduced. Well met, Madilla."

"If, if if," declares Madilla, amused, but clearly pleased. "No doubt you, like so many others, will inflict such a thing on yourself before too much longer. Especially as, I believe, there's a place specifically for drinking, here at the weyr?" Still smiling, she adds, "Cam, then. Well met. It's quite relieving to know, actually, that whether or not you end up here, there will be new people, so we can all get lost together."

C'mryn bobs his head. "No doubt. Sooner, rather than later, if I get moved here, I am sure. And there is. The... oh blast it. Some greenrider we met days ago mentioned a place off the bowl. Good ale. Weird name. Something about snow." Shrug. "Lost, yes. Weyr's seem to have a natural flow to them, however. Vastly different from the Hall, but not that different from Weyr to Weyr. Just stay out of the lesser used lower tunnels and you should be safe enough. But, I would advise that you use the 'lost' excuse as much as possible while you still can. Take extra time on your lunch.. sleep in some days?" Grin. "I got away with it for a good month before they began to suspect I was just being lazy."

"I think everything around here has something to do with snow," remarks Madilla, though there's not exactly any in view, today. "Right - that's good to know. I managed to get from Infirmary to living cavern to the place I was sleeping, when I spent a few days at Telgar and Igen, so maybe I'll be okay for that much." Pink-cheeked, she gives an embarrassed little laugh at the mere idea of using that excuse - not exactly scandalised, and yet... "There's an idea," she agrees. Stiffly.

"Yes," chuckles C'mryn, "I suppose it does. High Reaches sees so much of it, I suppose it's natural." Tausreth wuffles at Cam, and he reaches a hand out to scratch the still-dripping muzzle. "Living Cavern to Lower Cavern, and usually that branches to sleeping quarters. It's the storage caverns that always trip me up. Thankfully, I no longer need to visit there much. I can send someone else for things I need." He glances at the apprentice and grins. "Don't tell me you're one of those 'always follows the rules' types? That's no fun."

"I thought Fort had plenty, but I hear that's nothing compared to here," sighs Madilla, looking moody at the very thought. "I hope I don't have to go in there at all. Luckily, I think the infirmary has its own storage cavern - so at least I won't have to get lost for work reasons. I hope." Her cheeks are still pink as she shrugs in response to his last, admitting, "I was raised to follow the rules, and be on time, and... all of that. It's the right thing to do, in a productive society."

"I have heard stories that the snow can get high enough to bury a dragon," says C'am helpfully, "But I think that's an aunties tale. I am not looking forwards to it... if I end up here. But Tausreth says he would enjoy it. He has yet to find a snow bank big enough to hide in." The dragon offers a light little snort of agreement. "Productive society... to that I say.. you are only young once, so you might as well be lazy, have fun, and get into trouble while you can afford to. As an apprentice, you will be forgiven for using the 'I got lost!' excuse. It is much harder to pull off as a Master."

Madilla looks aghast at that prospect, admitting, "It was relatively warm all your 'round, at home. Cool, in winter, but not..." Her eyes flick towards Tausreth, then back to C'mryn. "I doubt I will ever be a Master, I'm afraid, but... I would feel bad, betraying the trust placed in me, by being that dishonest. I don't mind. I like what I do."

C'mryn has to laugh at that, so he does. "Bulk up. Lots of layers, and invest in a thick pair of boots. And then be thankful that you have a Craft that allows you to remain indoors. Just think of the poor stablehands! And us dragonriders. Dawn sweeps get a lot more unbearable when your nose loses feeling five minutes into it." A grin. "You are far too mature for your age. Live a little. Really. You have a lifetime to be honest and hardworking."

"Layers, right," agrees Madilla, though she still doesn't sound thrilled at the prospect. "I'm going to need more clothes, clearly. I suppose you're right - I don't envy you being out, and up in the air, for that." She seems to take the maturity comment as a complement, head ducking, cheeks flushing slightly. "It's my duty. I can't ignore that. I do still have fun. I'm not completely boring."

"Not completely boring?" repeats C'mryn, not sounding convinced. "Now, I must ask, what is your idea of fun? Chopping up plants? Leafing through hides?" He's obviously teasing. "Somehow, I do not see you as the type to plot pranks and mischief in your free time. Or sneak into the bar for a taste of their ale."

This time, Madilla flushes because she's embarrassed, ducking her head rather than look at C'mryn, or even Tausreth. "I go for walks. And... I swim-- swam, I guess, in the lake at Fort Hold. And there was that boy..." she breaks off, biting her lip. "Pranks are a waste of resources. And... I have no taste for ale, it's true."

C'mryn grins wide but manages not to laugh, though he's obviously amused. "Walks? What's fun about a walk! Swimming has its merits, if it's not freezing cold. Ista has good swimming water. And a boy. Well, that I will give you credit for," he decides, approving with an exaggerated nod of his head. "Pranks... I actually share your opinion. I was more for tests of courage. Dares, and bets. And ale is an acquired taste. One I aquired early." Grin. "I am afraid you are a little boring, Madilla," he pronounces with the air of one who may be giving bad news. He feigns a serious look, and tuts. "But, there is hope. I am sure a healer in training such as yourself could find a remedy."

Madilla nods, actually serious about this. "I guess maybe I am a little boring," she agrees. "What would you recommend I do, to be less boring? As long as," she amends, "it doesn't involve breaking rules, or being lax in my duty. I won't compromise on that."

"Relax about the rules?" Cam offers. "What about doing a little stretching of the rules? No breaking." He frowns thoughtfully. "Really, I am the bad one to ask. My particular brand of 'not boring' really did involve a lot of being lazy, and rule breaking. In the past. It is harder to break rules when the rules are inplace to keep you alive."

Madilla bites her lip, as if concentrating on thinking about this very hard, and nods. "I'll think about it," she tells him, after a moment. "Yes, I imagine that would be true." Then: "I should go back in. I left Journeywoman Delifa to talk to her family, but I said I would only be gone a little while. I wouldn't want her to worry. Good luck, in things working out the way you want them to." Pause. "Cam." She smiles at him, as she draws herself to her feet.

"As should I," agrees Cam on the 'better get going' bit. "This was meant to be a short trip." He bobs his head as he pushes away from the boulder, preparing to re-strap Tausreth. "Thank you," he offers sincerely. "It was nice to meet you, Madilla."

Madilla looks amused, saying, "Short trips never end up being that way, I find. You're welcome. Clear skies to you both. It was nice to meet you, too. I--" she smiles. "I wouldn't mind if you were sent here, except for the fact that you don't want to be. Then I'd know someone else." She doesn't wait for a reply to that, however, before she's hurrying off across the bowl again.

You walk to the east bowl.