Difference between revisions of "Logs:Knioth and Dilan's Great Adventure"

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.

Spring is here, but it doesn't quite feel as though winter has completely given up. One pair of weyrlings seem to have decided to brave the chill, cheeks flushed Ghena's perched on a rock watching as Knioth seems to flirt with the water's edge stealing a moment of quiet away from the barracks.

The weather's still dreary enough that it's not especially pleasant-- but for children who've been stuck in lessons all day, that scarcely matters. The girl is tall, dark-haired and bright eyed, probably about ten; the boy is perhaps four turns younger, blond. They reach the water's edge rather before their dark-haired mother, the girl pointing out Knioth with excitement, while the boy instead reaches for a piece of sand-smoothed stone. "Don't fall in--" begin both mother and daughter at once, perfectly timed.

The blue curious approaches the little girl with caution, warbling before tossing a questioning glance at his rider. Ghena offers a smile, and at the mother's voice waves. "Knioth wants to know if it's ok to come closer to the little ones, I can tell him to keep away if you'd prefer though." She calls.

Lilabet, the girl, bristles visibly at being referred to as a 'little one', and opens her mouth to object. One look from her mother, however, quells that reaction. "Oh, he's fine," Madilla reassures Ghena, smiling. "They're used to far bigger dragons than he is, I promise. I'd worry more about him... Dee, he's just little, remember. No climbing." The Weyrhealer may well be familiar by sight at least; she's well known about the Weyr, and has been here nearly as long as Ghena has been alive.

Ghena smiles, and the blue trumpets quite loudly and happily getting as close as the kids allow him. Apparently Lilabet isn't the only one who gets indignant about being called 'little' There is a snort on Knioth's part, before shaking his head. "He should be fine, and I expect he's rather sturdy from the way he runs me into the ground. How are you doing Madilla?" Ghena asks remembering the woman's name from visits to the infirmary. "Your kids?" she asks.

Dilan, having been less enthused about the blue at first, now seems delighted: small boys and noise, the perfect combination. His sister's expression is quietly covetous; his is just plain delighted. "Well, I hope so," says Madilla, smiling, as she wraps her shawl more tightly about her shoulders. "They're used to the full-grown variety, for the most part. I'm well. How's it all going? Training?" A nod towards her children has her adding, "Mine, yes. Lily's ten, and Dee's six. They're both dragon mad, though Dee usually only cares about the browns."

"It goes, the silver thread program should be starting soon, which I am less than enthused to try for but Knioth seems interested." Knioth for his part is equally delighted, stretching his muzzle within arm's reach of the boy. « A Little Squire and Fair Lady! » Not that they can necessarily hear him, though half the dragons in the bowl might and Ghena certainly does Laughing at him. "What Weyrbrat isn't? Browns and bronzes are nice enough, but I'd never dream of having any other dragon than Knoith. Blue suits him, and exacerbates others I think he may have given one of the other weyrlings a complex. The infirmary more busy since the raids?"

Madilla has sympathy for mention of the silver threads, and murmurs, "It's flattering to be chosen for these things, I know, but... the extra work certainly isn't for everyone, is it? And it's no real indication of whether you'll end up in a leadership position, later." Dilan's glee is audible, now, as he reaches out both hands and then steps forward to try and hug the dragon; his sister, hiding her laughter behind one hand, remains where she is. "A complex. My goodness. Oh - not terribly so," she adds, of the infirmary, though there's something wistful about her expression. "Not too many injuries, at least, although some of my Journeyman have been inspecting those captured, to make sure they're healthy enough. It's all taking rather longer than I'd hoped."

Ghena laughs, "I have enough work without adding extra, personally." Knioth gets hugged « A squire! A Squire! » Knioth declares as he is hugged, and seems intent to set upon whatever adventure the little boy should choose. Lilabet gets the sort of look a puppy would give, as though to ask why she isn't fawning over him. Ghena just shakes her head laughing. "It seems he's made a friend." For the injuries her brow furrows, "I suppose that's well enough, so long as the riders didn't get hurt. Seems strange though that the mess was over so quick."

Still sympathetic; "I know that feeling all too well." Knioth's glee is clearly obvious to Dilan even without his words being audible to him, and see the boy announces that they're going to go explore the bridge, and it's fine because his mother lets him, and he can swim, not that he'll need to and-- "You'll come with us, right, Lily? Come on!" Evidently, Lily is at least halfway convinced by that glance, because she takes her brother's hand as he withdraws from the blue, and off they go. Madilla's got half her attention on them, but doesn't seem too worried: her smile is fond. "It does seem strange, doesn't it? That Rone was already dead when they got there. It... doesn't feel quite right."

"Maybe good fortune is finally blowing the Weyr's way?" not entirely convinced. "With as much as 'Reaches has dealt with in the last few years, Farnath knows we're due for a spell of good luck." Knioth trots in tow of Dilan and Lilly, warbling and making happy dragon sounds. His rider reminds him to be careful but he seems more intent to the adventure at hand, a happy quest!

Madilla, though generally inclined towards the glass-half-full philosophy, hesitates visibly before answering. "I do hope so," she agrees, firmly. "It would be nice. For us... and I'm sure for Nabol, too. For everyone." The land bridge is slick and slippery, but Dilan's confident as he drags Lily after him, towards the opposite shore - but not, thankfully, up those treacherous steps towards the diving cliff. "Can you swim?" he wonders of Knioth, glancing back. "Not that we're going to. It's too cold still."

Knioth, though uncertain exactly what swimming entails, is quite certain he's capable of it, bugling the affirmative. Claws click across the slippery surface and he half spreads his wings for balance wobbling only when his claws slip. Ghena blinks realizing where he's got off to, and is mildly concerned as she watches him cross the bridge. He manages fine though, thankfully. "Lily's almost old enough to stand herself isn't she? Just a few more turns?"

"Careful," says Lily. "Maybe we should go back-- to be safe." Dilan's clearly not enthused by this idea, even to the point of crossing his arms and pouting. "Nearly," agrees Madilla, with a note of something not far off uncertainty. "She's still deciding whether she wants to be a Harper or a Greenrider. Her father was a Greenrider, so it's... a way to feel like she's close to him, still, I think. She's envious of all of you."

The blue warbles, and manages, with a couple of slips to about face Even knights must sometimes listen to bigger siblings. Looking back a warble, encouraging the siblings to come back too. Ghena nods, "Well They are welcome to visit with Knoith whenever they like, he enjoys the extra attention and it's probably good for him to get used to people, I dare say I enjoy the moment where he's otherwise occupied."

Madilla's smile is fond. "They're like babies themselves at first, aren't they?" She clearly can't know from experience - or, at least, experience of the draconic variety. Lilabet leads the way, Dilan dragging behind her a little reluctantly. "I'm sure they'd love to. They have Arekoth, but - well, the more playmates the better, I think." She and the children stay to chat for a few minutes, but then it's time to take them back indoors: to dinner, to homework, and eventually to bed.