Difference between revisions of "Logs:Fated Arrival"

The lake's shore is a broad crescent of golden-hued sand, stretching from the southwest wall near the feeding grounds and arcing toward the southeast and overlooking the blue waters of the lake. Where the lake deepens, that water turns a murkier blue-green, hiding an untold number of perils in its depths. It is an oft-used location for dragons seeking a place to sun or for residents and riders who feel a need to take a stroll; the sand is generally kept pretty clean and while there are no shells, there are periodic bits of obsidian and other volcanic stones to be found if one feels like picking around.

Crisp and cool weather characterizes Fort in the autumn and there's a fair few riders and residents out and about this morning enjoying the fresh air before duties claim them in earnest. Among them is T'rev, doing a little bit of spot oiling on Mecaith's sandy-bronze hide. The wingleader's jacket and scarf have been cast down on a nearby rock, his sleeves rolled up as he sings a frightfully naughty song in an extremely pretty tenor voice. The bronze dragon's eyes are half-lidded, Mecaith seemingly enjoying the attention.

Fiorella strides across a portion of the bowl, headed towards the lake. Her steps placed with even spacing and perfect posture that hold breeding and etiquette lessons being shoved down one's throat can bring. "You," the girl, who can't be any older than eight or nine, starts as she stops to stand a good distance from the wingleader, least the near by dragon be too close for comfort. "That's an awful racket to be hearing so early." Not that the voice behind it isn't pleasant enough, "One would think they'd teach you riders better manners than to sing such naughty things aloud in the presence of company." Of course she grining as she says it.

T'rev doesn't look around right away, not immediately cottoning to the fact that 'you' means him. Not until she talks about his song at which point it breaks off and the bronzerider tilts a look over his shoulder at the girl. T'rev flashes a charmingly bright grin Fiorella's way, both brows arching. "S'at so, young miss? And maybe they did try to teach me but I ain't listened too goo-- well." He squints up at the sky where the sun is well up, then back down at the girl. "Ain't all that early neither. Been up for a couple hours already. How 'bout you?"

"That's quite alright. They say I don't listen well either. Maybe you could teach me that song sometime.." Fiorella idly questions, raising a slender brown. Because she needs all the bad habits she can get and wouldn't that just be icing on the cake. "I've been up plenty long." Fiorella replies. Though perhaps not as long as he's been. "Those ones," she inclines her head towards the bronze to indicate her subject, her hands clasped behind her back, "are the Lords, are they not?" Yes, relate everything to hold structure. "And he's yours?" her last question a bit skeptical.

"Oh yeah? Mind if I ask your name then, so's I know who I'm talkin' to and to say everything twice?" Merry humor gleams in the bronzerider's brown eyes as he speaks, obviously teasing. "And sure, though I ain't all that sure it's th'sort of thing a young lady like you oughta be singin'. How many turns you got anyway?" T'rev's hand starts moving again along Mecaith's side, working oil in patiently. "Bronzes? They're bronzes. Dunno if you can rightly say Lords, though yeah they usually do fly golds more'n greens and only bronzeriders get t'be Weyrleader."

Fiorella nods quietly as his response to her questions. "So they can be, but they're not all." she muses, mentally taking note. "I'm nine, and my name is Fiorella. And who might you be?" she returns being that he so rudely, as is hinted by her tonality, neglected to offer his own name when asking hers. "Or shall I just call you 'the dragon washer'?"

"Yep, pretty much," T'rev says agreeably, wiping hands off on a rag and turning to offer one to the girl when she launches off that tone and his brows lift a little. "T'rev, Flint Wingleader and that's Mecaith, well met, Fiorella," he drawls out, Nerat thick in his voice. "This ain't washin', this is oilin'. Too cold to do baths in th'lake now."

Fiorella eyes the offered hand for a moment before pulling hands from behind her to clasp it with one of her own much smaller ones. "Well met." she agrees with a bob of her head, hands falling to curl fingers about her the skirt of her dress to give a little curtsy. "So then... you know a bit about what goes on here?" she questions curiously. Well the title he gave had 'leader' in it anyway. How is she supposed to know the difference between washing and oiling a dragon? That she'll ignore for the time being.

The curtsey earns a lopsided grin and T'rev tacks on a little head-bow to match it. "A bit about what goes on at the Weyr? Yeah, sure, howcome?" The wingleader asks curiously and leans back against a non-oily patch on Mecaith's side, arms folding across chest. Brown eyes scan Fiorella from head to toe a bit more closely and his head tilts to the side. "Y'know, you remind me of someone I know. The Weyrwoman actually."

How come? "I'm looking for someone to tell the truth." Fiorella replies, blinking as he brings up a resemblance. "Weyrwoman?" she asks, the word, while not something she hasn't heard, is question worthy though it seems. That seems to have effectively drawn her attention from her first thought.

"The truth 'bout what?" T'rev enquires in turn, still eyeing Fiorella curiously. "Mm. Berit, y'know. Zibeth rose two sevens ago makin' her Weyrwoman and R'uen th'Weyrleader. All shiny new Weyrleaders for Fort along with the passel o'new riders as came from Telgar, includin' me. That was almost half a turn ago though. The transfers." He considers the girl a moment longer. "Anyhow, you were sayin' bout The Truth." Caps audible.

Fiorella blinks. Color her confused. "Zibeth?" that's a name she doesn't know, and perhaps because of the confusion on the rest of it the name of said Weyrwoman passes her attention for the moment. "I was just saying that I was looking for someone is all." There was nothing about 'the truth'. It's just an expression. "Wait, did you say Berit? As in Bergitte?" she asks, her green eyes lighting up.

"Zibeth is the Weyrwoman's gold," T'rev affirms with a nod. "Berit's." And he nods as she echoes all that. "Yeah, Berit. From Four Sons, Impress about a turn or so ago." Then blankly. "Bergitte?"

Fiorella nods vigorously. "Bergitte, fifth daughter of Merdon of Four Sons Hold. Berit. My sister!" Who just happens to be the someone she was looking for. "You know her??" Oh, the excitement.

"Huh. Didn't know her name was Bergitte, not Berit. Just always known her as Berit," T'rev explains. "Ever since Mecaith Searched her from Weaver for Telgar." There's wild humor in his eyes as Fiorella asks that question but all that the bronzeriders says is: "Yep. I count her a friend of mine."

"And she's the Weyrwoman?" Fiorella asks, not quite sure if she should believe him or not. "That's absolutely spectacular!" the girl bubbles, clasping her hands together in excitement. "That's so great for her!" Doubly so if it's really true. Its a good thing, yes? "I've missed her so very much."

"I'm guessin' the news didn't travel real well?" T'rev looks a little perplexed by this fact but he nods. "Yes, Berit's Zibeth rose, makin' her the Weyrwoman. It's a tough job," he also suggests in the face of the girl's excitement. "But if you're her little sister, how'd you get up here? You family bring you up for a visit?"

Fiorella nods. "I suppose it didn't." she agrees about traveling of news, a tinge of annoyance in her voice. "I'm sure it is, making sure everything is going smoothly and all..." The girl trails off a bit at the last of his questions however, her green eyes watching with just a bit of suspicion. "... I'm visiting, yes." she settles with simply agreeing without detail.

"Huh," T'rev still looks a little puzzled by that fact and lifts a hand to rub at his chin. "Well I suppose if you were on your way here when it went down, that'd explain it. How long you been around?" And that last meets a slight intensifying of his gaze on the girl, though he keeps his face smooth, smile pleasant. "Right. So you're stayin' with Sunniva?"

"Just this morning." Fiorella replies, "Actually you're the first person I'd gotten to speak with." she smiles sweetly. She's an innocent little girl. Can't he see that? "I was actually looking for Sunniva as well. Berit has just been her longer so I thought people might know her name better." Which would be why she asked, or rather was going to ask, about her first.

"Ohh, just in, wow, well welcome to Fort," T'rev says warmly and his smile answers hers though it's highly likely he's not taken in by that smile. "So neither of 'em knows you're here. Huh. Maybe we should fix that?" And there's another smile from him.

Fiorella shakes her head. "Not yet, they don't." she replies with a grin. "Four Sons Greetings,.. and all that." She'd forgotten that part of formality hadn't she. Oops? "But like I as saying, no, they don't. It was a surprise. If you know where I could find them though, I do suppose we should fix that." she agrees.

"Gotcha, and thank you, much 'preciated," T'rev answers for the formal-ish greeting, grin breaking sunnily across his face. "A surprise? Yeah? Bet they'll be happy to see you." The bronzerider pushes away from Mecaith's side a little and nods across the Bowl. "Berit's weyr is that way. Mecaith's checking with Zibeth though to see about her comin' down here."

Fiorella nods, turning her head as green eyes flicker in the direction the bronze rider has indicated. "I hope so." she replies. Is that tinge of uncertainty in her voice. "I mean I'm sure they will be more than happy to see me, but being a surprise..." That's the part she's a bit worried about.

"Well y'know, surprises are good things, right?" T'rev states with a smile though he's also looking across the Bowl expectantly now, squinting against the rising morning light as the sun creeps up a little more.

Berit strides over from the bowl proper.

"Oh of course." Fiorella agrees with a nod. "Just that I'd hate to be of inconvenience since they couldn't plan for me being here." Now that she's here she thinks of that! Well no one ever accused her of planning too far ahead on anything. "She's coming then?" she asks, glancing towards the man since he hasn't said otherwise.

"I"m sure they'll figure it all out," T'rev says confidently as his eyes focus on an approaching figure. "Here comes Berit," he notes and he reaches over to give Mecaith's side a fond caress, his chin bobbing in the direction of the nearing Weyrwoman. A moment later his hand lifts to wave in greeting.

Fiorella nods. "I suppose." she agrees softly. They'll have to one way or the other though. Right? At mention of Berit coming the girl turns back in that direction, standing with feet together and hands clasped lighting in front of her to wait until the other draws nearer.

Whatever greeting they had hoped for, whatever emotions they might have assumed Berit would respond with to her younger sister's arrival is likely not what they receive. She looks aggravated, at best, her short strides stilted and lacking that usual graceful quality. Both hands are fisted in her skirt, holding the hem from the ground and possible soiling; not waving in return could be attributed to that fact if they did not know her better. "Ella," she grounds out past a forced smile that falls all too soon, and stops just feet short of the pair. "What in the name of Faranth are you doing *here*?" Her eyes flick to T'rev, her mouth purses unhappily, and then her focus goes back to her sister. "Well?"

T'rev sticks hands back in pockets and continues to observe Berit's approach. A little smile tweaks the corner of his mouth at the way Fiorella stands. And there's Berit looking aggravated and if anything he's still amused though he does wipe his face clear of expression the moment he realizes what the Weyrwoman's mood is. His shoulders lift in a minute shrug at the lip-pursed expression, waits silently for Fiorella's answer.

Fiorella gives her sister one of those cheesily sheepish childish grins. The one that shows teeth and says 'oh I'm in -so- much trouble, but just -look- what I did, isn't it great!' "Well hello to you too Berit." she replies with just a bit of a huff. See! This is not what she planned upon leaving the hold. "What'da mean, what am I doing here? What're you doing here?" the girl crosses her arms, leaning forward just a bit in emphasis. "You ran off to the Weavers how long ago? And do you think I even get -one- letter? Of course not. And we all know Leoren wouldn't let me visit for the hatching cause 'It would get to late and young ladies shouldn't be about at such hours.' or some such nonsense." she mocks their eldest brother rather well. "And then Sunni goes and leaves me too." How absolutely horrible her life has been! "Everyone else has better things to worry about and I get stuck with 'him' breathing down my neck." Him is quite obviously not a very pleasant thing. "I came to see you. That's what I'm doing here. My -favoritest- sister in the whole world!" Yes, flattery will get you everywhere. Hopefully... Smile!

Berit is not amused, not by the smile or her sister's antics. "Hello hardly qualifies, Ella." Her arms come to cross over her chest - perhaps another sign of their relation, matching poses and all - as her eyes narrow unpleasantly. "Do not take that tone with me. Why else would I be here? I live here." She slants a look to T'rev that says 'shut up' before he even makes a move to say a word, and bends forward, trying to get on eye-level with Fiorella. "You never got a letter because Leoren did not let you read them. I sent plenty. I think Sunniva might have a few with her things, but I doubt you will have time to read them." Because, clearly, she intends to send her sister back home. "What about Holden? Do you have no qualms about leaving him alone? And our other sisters too? You should be ashamed, Ella. Proper little girls do not act so rashly." Straightening, she sighs and casts a look upwards to Mecaith. "Do you have the time to spare to bring her home, T'rev?"

T'rev is keenly aware of those similarities of stance and he might laugh under other circumstances but that poker face is firmly in place but for the renewed twinkling of his eyes. "Just finished oilin' him," T'rev notes about Mecaith. "I've got drills soon, but I could spare a few more minutes," the bronzerider says causally. "Unless of course, y'know, you've got space t'put her up on your couch."

"Bu-but!" Fiorlla stutters, her frustration showing clearly on her features. Oh that is -so- not fair! Sniff, but no, it doesn't go futher than that. Tears, while she's fairly certain they would work with T'rev will likely not help her case with her sister. "That's beside the point!" So what, if its only cause their brother is a jerk. "Holden an all them are all grown up," Which may only help her sister's point at the moment, "And have their own lives to worry about. Maybe I don't want to -be- 'a proper little girl'!" So there. ... Wait. Home? "No, no, no, no, no," Ella shakes her head as the word quickly repeats. "You can't send me back." A quick glance to T'rev at his agreement, but then there's that last bit. Maybe there's a chance. Please, puppy eyes. Berit won't really send her home. Will she? Eek.

Sunniva strolls over from the bowl proper.

"But. Nothing." Squelched as soon as that argument is presented and no sympathy slips past her aggravated countenance. "That is the whole point, Ella. I live here because I am a dragonrider. You are not, you should not be here." Talking about support staff would do nothing for her argument, so Berit conveniently leaves that out and remains staunchly opposed to all of the younger girl's words. "That is ridiculous. Of course you want to be a proper little girl. There is nothing else for you to be. You should go back home and put on one of your pretty dresses, have your maid dress up your curls, and go have a playdate with your friends. I assure you that you will be bored no longer." All those 'no's however, get an angry look. "You are not old enough to do any actual work, Ella. Do you know what would wait for you here? Days spent in the nursery. Is that what you want?"

Busy. That's what Sunniva's been since the previous day's ordeal; getting things packed, talking to others ... it has been pure chaos and she's handled the entirety of it all with a detached, methodical air. A brief conversation with the senior dragonhealer was all that was needed to pinpoint where Berit was -- and that's precisely where she's headed, hands wringing together fretfully and clad in her warmest finery. Her steps are quick, her bearing simultaneously upright and wary; there's a fair bit of lakeshore to travel and when she spies figures on the sand, she grimaces just a little and starts toward them in search of familiarity. Hopeful. Fearful. Resolved.

"Harper lessons," T'rev tacks on thoughtfully, rocking up a little on the balls of his feet and looking between the two ... now three sisters. "There'd be them here too. But maybe no maids. Gotta shift for yourself at the Weyr," he points out, maybe helpfully, maybe not. "G'day, Sunniva," as the dragonhealer nears.

Fiorella huffs, crossing her arms tighter over her chest. Not fair! "You're a dragonrider." She just said it even. "You were a weaver. How come -I- can't be anything else?? Humm." The girl narrows her eyes on her sister then, "I hate curls. And 'pretty dress'," Their the bane of her existence the way she makes it sound. "Aleigha tried to dress me like a miniature her! There were frills and ruffles," the girl wrinkles her nose in disgust. "And *poof!*" hands moving out from her sides elaborate, exaggeratedly so, the extent of the skirts. "He banned me from wearing pants. You know how hard it is to run in a dress!?" Especially -those- dresses. "I don't care!" she pouts, exceedingly loudly, "I'd rather sit in the silly nursery than balance books on my head and do that terrible embroidery. Look at my fingers!" and the girl splays them to be thrust towards the Weyrwoman in all their pin-pricked glory.

"*You are not helping*," Berit finally says to T'rev, shooting him a glower. "I have no time to sit around and watch her to make sure she does not end up splitting her head open like I used to do." Composing herself a little, she reaches out a hand to grab her sister's chin, speaking quietly, "Because, Fiorella, I do not want you to have to suffer. Back home, you have everything you could desire, and once you are married, you can wear any sort of pants you wish to wear. You will never want for anything." She drops her hands to her hips, shaking her head from side to side. "Is that really what you want? To sit in a room full of squalling, crying babies? It is not going to be a far cry from Four Sons, either. They will tell you when to eat and when you can go out to play." On the heel of that, she half-turns, watching her other sister come towards them. "Sunniva. We have a guest."

"Ah! T'rev," the greeting sidetracks her briefly, a smile spared for the rider with a dip of her head, "how are you and your Mecaith?" Polite, but rushed; breathless. Her eyes promptly slip to the source of not one but /two/ familiar voices and she freezes, eyes widening just a touch. "Oh, oh, no. Oh dear. Ella! Do not tell me that he sent you away as well," her hands flutter to cover the horrified 'oh' of her mouth, her initial intention for being here having been conveniently forgotten and she's patently oblivious to whatever they're talking about. Sunniva slides a meaningful, wondering look to Berit, the creasing of her forehead increasing incrementally with mounting concern that verges on the edge of tears.

"You split your head open?" is T'rev's query of Berit, expression placid. "Anyhow, seems t'me she's big enough t'keep her own head from gettin' split." Clearly, the bronzerider isn't fazed much here though his eyebrows are twitching a little and so is the corner of his mouth like he's trying not to laugh. "I dunno, Berit, bet you they'd put her to work like t'other older kids and she'd have t'look after herself mostly, report to nannies. No babies in the big kids room," he points out. Mecaith actually ... brightens up as Sunniva approaches and swings his head around towards her then stops as Sunni's hands flutter. T'rev's brow creases with concern at this reaction from her. "Hey, hey, you okay?" he inquires low-voiced while Mecaith croons once softly.

"See! I'd have Harper lessons and everything." Fiorella quips, picking up on T'rev's commentary." "Thank you!" At least someone gets it. She's not a baby! "Married!?" Blink. She's nine. Married is -forever- away! "There you said it, it'd be the same as there, so -why- do I have to go back!?" And there's a Sunniva and the girl's expression completely changes from her annoyance and frustration with the middle sister of the three. "Sunni!" she squeals, running to the older girl to give her a hug about her middle. "Don't worry. He didn't send me away." she tries to console. "I doubt he knows I'm gone yet." is muttered to herself. Lets hope anyway. She smiles up at Sunniva, "Not yet anyway. Though I kinda wish he would. Then maybe Berit would let me stay." in saying the girl turns a glower back at the middle sister.

"I split my.." And that is the end of Berit acknowledging T'rev's presence, as she turns away from him after another glare, presenting him her ramrod-straight back; take that, you sister-helper. "I am not sure how our darling sister got here, but she seems to think the fact that Leoren disallows her to wear pants is a good enough reason to come live here. With us." Or more specifically, with Berit, but she saves that thinking for later, giving an irritated sigh. "I tried to explain the merits of staying at home." She shrugs gently, looking down and giving her skirt a little twitch. "In all fairness, I cannot send her away since we both chose to come here." Now she speaks to Sunniva, green eyes finding green eyes, and there is some meaning in the words that it is doubtful anyone else will understand. "Do you think it silly of me to let her stay? Just for a few weeks, even. I do not think Leoren would.. he cannot possibly.. no, he will *not*. I will go visit him myself if I have to."

"I- oh, I am fine, yes. I am sorry, I just thought-" Sunni trails off and her hands drop to sheepishly fold before her, eyes flicking over to Mecaith when the bronze turns his attentions to her. She holds still, lower lip caught apprehensively in her teeth for a long moment before she shakes her head to clear it and she looks to the others. Sympathy for Fiorella is all that's apparent, her eyes thoughtfully dark; when the girl rushes to her, she enfolds her in her arms and strokes her hair gently. "It is not something pleasant, Ella being sent away," she notes, her voice empty. "However," and here her head lifts, green eyes sliding to meet Berit's, "you are here now, my dear sister, and there is nothing wrong with you visiting for a while. In a sevenday or two, I am sure you will be dying to return home and then we can ask a rider to ensure your safe transport back." Her mouth twists, just a little. "Being as young as you are, it can be explained away as youthful impetuousness and he may be more forgiving of it."

There's a little nod from T'rev an encouraging smile for Sunniva. "Good," he says gently and steps away a little giving Mecaith more room to sidle a little closer to where Sunniva and Fiorella hug and he settles down there, eyes whirling happy blue-green. Meanwhile, T'rev is still kind of sort of not-quite-smirking at Berit's attitude. "Be happy to take you back when your visit's done, Fiorella," he says calmly, looking down at the girl, nodding along with what Sunniva says. "And you'll get to know th'Weyr this way," he adds on sunnily. "Big adventure, yeah?" His gaze slides back over towards Berit as she seems to change direction mid-stream. "Silly? No. Ain't no sillier for her to visit you all than other family elsewhere right?"

Fiorella huffs, crossing her arms again. "So now that she's here you'll think about?" the girl intones. "I don't care if he does." Apparently she doesn't quiet understand the connotation of it all. "I -thought- you'd be happy to see me." this to both sisters in turn. Blink blink. "You'll let me stay?" she perks up at as they discuss her visit. "You won't make me go back?" Please?

Green eyes lift to the sky, her head shaking steadily. "This is ridiculous. I cannot believe I just agreed." Berit marks each with another look - thoughtfulness for Sunniva, annoyance for T'rev, shrewdness for Fiorella - and then grabs up her skirt again. "Telling Leoren that she is staying at Fort might not be prudent just yet." With that and continued shaking of her head, she moves past them all, past her sisters and the bronzerider, and strikes out for the same direction she came.

Berit steps to the bowl proper.

"Yes, just for a while, Ella. It really is no place for anyone, least of all for someone your age," Sunni notes with mild dismay. And yet ... she frowns at something or another, her gaze going back to Berit as she prepares to leave. "No, but he shall be more accepting of her return afterward for those reasons," is her reasoning and as she ponders something or another, some response or statement -- with a more fervent chewing of her lower lip -- she lapses into silence. Oh, look, her hands are wringing together again. How /fascinating/.

There's another look sent Berit's way from T'rev, just as calm as the others. She's got her back up and he's not about to ruffle those waters further. Back to Fiorella and Sunniva he considers Sunni for a second, then clears his throat. "Other kids in the caverns might not see it that way," he points out reasonably. "But at any rate, I'm sure it'll all work out in the end, and like I said I'm happy t'take her home at any point if you figure that's what needs doin'." His gaze drops to Fiorella, serious now. "And even though I think th'Weyr's a perfectly safe place, your sisters /are/ in charge of you here so what they say goes in th'end."

"I am here." Fiorella grumbles to herself as they talk about her. Not that they'd listen anyway. The girl sticks her tongue out at Berit as she leaves (you know so she can't actually see her do it). "Exactly!" she points towards T'rev. Why can't her sisters be more like that right now? "Its not like I'd be the only one here Sunni." she looks up to the older girl with that puppy eyed look. Maybe she can convince one of them at least. Go and burst her bubble of backup bronze rider, he earns a solemn nod, "Yes sir." she mutters just loud enough that he can hear. Sigh.

"When one is accustomed to living here," Sunni notes, "it is a different situation entirely." But that's all she has to say on the matter and she forces her hands to still, her posture straightening, stiffening. "And, Ella," here she pauses, wavering uncertainly and with a funny, miserable downward quirk of her mouth, "you shall have to listen to Berit. Listen /and/ obey. I- cannot be here to watch over you, not for a time."

"Sounds t'me like maybe that won't be too much of a problem for -- d'you like Ella better'n Fiorella?" T'rev asks the girl, hunkering down a bit to get to her level. "If you're stayin' I can show you over to the dorms where you'll most likely be livin', let th'Headwoman know so's she can set you up for chores and they can sort out which nanny you should be under." Brown eyes lift back up to Sunniva, nodding. "That's the thing 'bout Berit bein' Weyrwoman too, what she says goes." Mecaith meanwhile is gently reaching to nudge at Sunniva's shoulder, just a light touch, but clearly fond. T'rev shoots his bronze a sidelong, eye-rolling look.

Fiorella nods. "I'll try.." she submits to her sister. Listen is easy. It's the obey part she generally has trouble with. "Ella." she notes to T'rev. "Fiorella just sounds... stuffy. I'd like that, if you could show me, and maybe..." a glance towards her sister, "I could help you oil him next time?" Maybe. 'Proper little girls' wouldn't do that, but it should be clear by now that Ella is only proper when she must be. "I don't need you to watch me Sunniva. I'm a big girl, nine whole turns." Blink. "You.. can't be here..." she peers at the older girl.

"Oh. Oh, of course. I do not see why you should not be allowed to help a rider tend to his lifemate." Sunniva does enough of it as a dragonhealer-to-be, so who is she to dispute the appropriateness of it? As if to further make her point, she reaches up to rub at Mecaith's eyeridge if he'll permit it when he nudges at her shoulder, the corners of her mouth pulling into an strange little smile. "Dragons," she notes for Fiorella, "like their eyeridges being rubbed. Do keep that in mind." It's not enough to fully distract from the question and her smile pulls awkwardly to a side -- torn between a smile and a frown. "Well, no. E'dre and his Wroth extended an offer to for me to visit High Reaches." Pause. "As, ah- as a candidate."

"Ella then," T'rev says agreeably and grins at the girl. "You betcha. I'll probably give him a full on bath and a goin' over in a few days. I'll let you know, okay?" So saying the bronzerider straightens and catches Mecaith leaning into Sunniva's hand. "Huh," he murmurs lowy. "He says he'll miss you," T'rev offers over to Sunni with a bemused grin thatsuddenly changes to a lightning smile. "You were Searched Sunniva? Congratulations!"

Fiorella nods. "Its a deal then." she agrees, give the rider a bright smile. She blinks then, taking a step back away from her sister when she talks of Reaches. "And you're going aren't you..." Its the way she said it. "I just got here and you're leaving -again-." Wasn't leaving her once enough!

"And I shall miss him, too," Sunni remarks, stroking that eyeridge thoughtfully before turning her attention to T'rev. He might be excited, but she seems subtly distraught despite the smile that's been carefully sculpted. "Thank you, T'rev." A confirming nod is given. "Yes, I was. Out in the bowl, no less," she motions toward the bowl proper, illustratively. "But I requested some time to get my affairs in order, as it were." Her expression grows pained as Fiorella speaks, her head lowering. "It is impolite to decline, Ella. But I shall promise to send letters when I am able; this is just something that must be done." A corner of her mouth lifts, self-deprecatingly, "And I shall return. Aside from the attentions of two bronzes and a brown, what other dragon would like /me/?"

Leaning further into Sunni's hand Mecaith sighs softly and stays put as the young woman continues to move her hands along eye ridges. "That's a good idea really," T'rev says with understanding about getting things in order. "And ... you /can/ say no," he points out. "It's not rude. 'Specially not in an Interval." He shoots Sunniva a thoughtful look, but it's Ella he holds his hand out to. "Deal." About Mecaith.

Fiorella seems rather skeptical about all that. "You've been gone for -months- already and you -never- wrote, why should I believe you'll start now." she snaps. A bit harsh especially when its considered which sister she's talking to, but then when has Ella ever been notable for her subtly. "I don't know why I came here. I could have gone anywhere," Didn't she tell T'rev that she was visiting earlier? "But no, I came to see my sisters. Some plan that was." Then to the bronze rider, "Can we go now?" and she's not waiting for an answer before she takes hold of the offered hand to try and pull him of in the direction of... well one of them since she doesn't know where she's going particularly.

"It would be impolite by my standards, then," she replies to T'rev, canting her head at him briefly before looking to Fiorella. "I did write," Sunniva states, her tone somewhat startled. Puzzlement creases her brow, but some sense of realization sparks in her eyes. "Surely the letters-" and she stops there, lips pressing into a flat line. The hand on Mecaith's eyeridge grows still and cold and, soon enough, is simply withdrawn. She shakes her head, fingers fluttering up to rub at her temples. "I am sure that T'rev and Mecaith would be able to bring you to visit ... and if they are occupied, then D'kai or Paige might be willing to do so." No sense mentioning Berit; it'll be a wonder if Sunni's not disowned utterly by her sister.

Tug on his arm and T'rev straightens but doesn't move right away. "In a second," he tells Fiorella and nods acceptance of the distinction Sunniva makes. Her further words and the press of her lips make his brow crinkle faintly again. "Seems like y'all might have some stuff to work out," T'rev notes mildly, looking between the sisters. "But yeah, easy enough t'head up Reaches way if you want visits, Ella." He looks up at the sky though, checking the angle of the sun. "Got another half hour or so 'til drills start."

"Fine. I'll find it -myself-." Fiorella snorts, moving to stomp off. She's no longer watching her sister's reaction so she doesn't notice. She's just upset, or mad, or perhaps a bit of both. Not that it wouldn't be hard for either one of them to stop her from going. "Maybe I will visit." she tosses back, "If I'm so inclined." Sassy.

"Yes, it certainly seems like that," is a distracted observation to T'rev. She glances away, attention drawn elsewhere. "I must go, but," she looks to Mecaith and then to T'rev and settling on Fiorella, "do take care, all of you." Sunniva smiles faintly, then bobs her head, starting to move away. A hand moves in an attempt to give a sisterly touch to the top of Ella's head in passing, but whatever has yet to be done has her moving as quickly as she had arrived, skirts hitched up. All the better to hide the misery limned on her features, after all.

"Okay," T'rev says quietly to Sunniva and reaches out briefly towards her shoulder as if he'd lay a hand there comfortingly. His mouth twists to the side in an amused and wry grin at Ella's stomping. "That's one thing as runs in th'family," he murmurs under his breath and nods after the girl. "I'll keep an eye on her, Sunniva. Don't worry." This spoken in an undertone to the elder sister before he raises his voice to call out to Fiorella: "Hold up there, charger, I'm a'comin'." So saying he jogs after the girl and holds his hand out again to lead on to the caverns.

Fiorella ducks away from Sunniva's touch, making sure to scuff a foot along the ground sending the dust it stirs in her sister's direction. "I don't need your help either." she grumbles as T'rev catches up with her. She will follow rather than run off, but its following in a way that she's half a step ahead if only so she can pretend like she knows where she's going.

Sunniva has left.

T'rev grins at Fiorella's ongoing attitude and does nothing to feed it, just stuffs his hands in his pockets and lets her 'lead' the way though he scuffs a foot now and then when she starts heading the 'wrong' way and shifts in the right direction. So it goes all the way to the caverns, where T'rev ducks inside. "Wanna drink and a snack before we head over, or just want it all done with?"

Fiorella shrugs. "Might as well just be done with it." she says, still very much sulking. "Besides, if Berit has her way," which in her experience is always, "You'll probably be taking me home tomorrow." She pauses for a moment before looking up to the man, "I don't know why it matters so much to them that I do."

"Okay," T'rev says, laid-back and leads on through the caverns to the ones set aside for children. "Here's the lesson room," he tells her, nudging the door open with his foot so she can see. "Kids' dorms are just beyond," a jerk of his chin and he takes a breath, looks over at her with a grin. "Well, you know what it's like at home right? So think about it maybe. Why do you think they both get their panties all twisted up about things bein' proper?"

Fiorella nods, as each of the areas are pointed out to her. "I- I don't know." the girl scrunches her forehead, twisting her lips to the side in thought. "Cause that's how it is at home all the time. Stand up straight and fancy dresses and bowing and... being proper." Each item on her list having an action to go with the words as she says them, her posture straightening, a wave of her hands down the length of her torso, a curtsy and a sigh.

The repeated motions draw out another smile from T'rev as he moves on to the sleeping arrangements for older kids. He pauses, hand on the doorknob and nods. "Yeah. It's what they're used to, they dunno how not t'be that way yet, though Berit's kinda sorta gettin' there. Still too new maybe for Sunniva. At any rate, c'mon in and we'll tell 'em to find you a cot in here." So saying the door is pushed open and T'rev performs more introductions with the nannies there.

"Maybe..." Fiorella agrees a tiny bit. "But I coulda gone anywhere. Fort, or Boll or... -any-where, but I came to seem them and neither of them seemed at all happy to see me." she sighs, before following T'rev into the room and giving a polite curtsy and inclination of the head when the time in the introductions come. The niceties she has down, but their rougher than her sisters and the girl easily slips into casual, or at least less formal, conversation.

"Sure, big wide world out there, fun t'explore ain't it?" T'rev says mildly as they step inside. With introductions over and a cot shown to the girl, the wingleader leads the way back out again. "Okay, Headwoman next," he notes with a wink. "And d'you still want to go to Boll? My father's family lives there part o' the turn. They're traders. Bet Berit and Sunniva'd think that was really improper too. Traders." He chuckles lowly. "But I get it, wantin' to see things, but wantin' to see family too. I think they're worried about you, honestly, Ella. From what they were sayin' today and some things Berit's told me, your brother sounds like he's got an iron fist."

"They left." Fiorella points out, following the rider to the next stop. "Why can't I?" Mind the fact that she's only nine and they were both in their teens before they did. "Iron fist, nothing." she snorts, "You don't have to live with him. Just cause I'm littler than he is he thinks he can boss me around. Well he -can't-. He's my brother, not my father." Despite the fact that he's plenty old enough to be her father.

"They're over fourteen," T'rev points out with a grin as they amble along. "Y'know, gotta be fourteen to be in charge of yourself. Maybe it ain't fair, but it's the way it is," he continues. "Seriously, wouldn't be in too much of a hurry to grow up. Bein' a kid's more fun." He listens though about Leoren, face thoughtful. "Mm. Big brothers can get pretty protective 'bout their little sisters though. I've got a bunch and ... yeah, I feel that way sometimes, though maybe not uh -- quite like your brother."

Fiorella rolls her eyes. "I bet you didn't have to sit through lessons on how to sit and stand and walk and talk. Or wear fancy dresses and shoes that pinch your feet and have your hair done up in curls when you were a kid either." Of course he's a boy so some of that doesn't apply, but it's all outside her point. "And then there's embroidery," at which she wrinkles her nose turning over her left hand and holding it up for him to see the pin-pricks on nearly every finger.

"Nope. I'm from a waystation 50 miles from Nerat Hold and about ten miles from anything remotely called civilized," T'rev answers as they walk. "I'm lucky I can read n' write atall," he says with a chuckle. "I grew up workin' the station and runnin' around in the jungle when I wasn't workin'."

"For really?" Fiorella asks, fairly certain that he must be making it up, though her eyes lit up with interest. "I'd *love* to do that." the girl smiles brightly at the thought, "Bet you had lots of friends too, huh?"

"Think so? And yeah, wasn't a bad way t'be. Not so much friends, just my family, though it's a big family. Lots of cousins. ABout twenty of us all sleepin' up above th'stables," he notes with a grin. "Met all sorts of travelin' folk too. Traders. Holders. Harpers. You name it."

Fiorella nods. "Oh yes, It sounds absolutely grand." she agrees, frowning a bit at the lack of friends. "Family can be friends too I suppose..." she muses before turning green eyes back on the man with a bright smile. "Traders are some of my favorites. There's one group that comes by Four Sons every summer and they have a boy who's my age and when I can get away we meet by the big tree in the fields and he tells me all about the places they when since the last summer." She bites her lip then, "Don't tell Berit and Sunni, okay? I'd probably get yelled at."

"Sure, my cousins still are, my sisters, my brothers." They're nearing another door, but T'rev stops before they get there. "Mama got hitched when I was twelve, moved down near the main Hold then, made friends around the cotholds, though ... well let's just say, holder life didn't fit me too well. I got itchy feet." The mention of a tree draws a grin. "D'you climb it, the tree? There's one up near where I grew up, still go there sometimes t'climb it." He nods gravely and crosses his heart with his hand. "Swear."

Fiorella giggles and nods, "When I can. I'm not supposed to, but I do anyway. And Leoren gets awful mad when I get dirty and rip my skirts. I keep tellin him it wouldn't happen if he'd let me wear stuff that's not so fancy all the time. But I'm only nine so what do I know. Besides 'Young ladies do not go gallivanting around like hoodlums, nor do they climb trees.'" she mocks her brother's tone finishing with a rather smug look on her face.

"Yeah, Berit kinda mentioned a little about that." T'rev winks over at Fiorella. "Showed her how t'climb one at Telgar though, skirts n' all," he whispers way down low, conspiratorial. "She ain't half bad at it if she puts her mind to it." He chuckles at the mimickry of tone and then nods to the door. "Headwoman's office," he notes and takes a deep breath. "Ready?"

Fiorella giggles. "Berit climbed a tree?!?" Oh, that, that she'll have to remember for later. Maybe, just maybe, her sister isn't all that bad after all. The girl takes a deep breath and nods. "Ready."

"Had t'help her a bit, but yeah. She's -- more'n she seems I think, sometimes, your sister," T'rev says with a fond smile. "Good friend too." Then the door is being pushed open and T'rev holds a hand out for the girl again. "Good time for manners, this," he notes with a wink then pokes his head through the door. "Headwoman, ma'am? Got someone t'introduce t'you. Got a second?"