Getting to know you (adventuring dragons)

[Invisible]

As G’tet walked away Kalpeth settled herself more firmly on the ground. She still had supplies tied to her, but it was not G’tet’s fault he forgot to take them off. He was so forgetful. He had asked her to find things out and she had to think on that request for several minutes. It was not so simple as just leaping in with questions, of that she was certain. Unfortunately subtlety was never a strong point of hers. Finally she settled on a way before she could entirely forget what she was doing.

Josteth? She sent to the injured brown for his ears alone. I think we wound up where we were not expecting. But I think maybe G’tet was expecting. I am not sure. Would you tell me of how your day went? I will tell you of mine in return!

She had a thought that maybe she wasn’t supposed to let the others know what she did and as she shifted her bulk on the stones below her broadcast to Telgari and Igen dragons alike I am quite hungry. Do you think we will get to eat? Kalpeth’s voice turned more plaintive at the end like that of a child who is just starving and can’t make it to a dinner that is only an hour away. For all that there was only a slight reddening of quick whirling eyes. Juggling more than one conversation was going to be hard for her but she still sent to the Telgari dragons alone Do you think they will talk long? Will we get to flame? A trill of excitement accompanied those words and her eyes whirled faster until she was drawn back to the conversations.

[Omnia Munda]

Josteth's wings lifted and he turned his head again over his shoulder, taking his slow-whirling gaze from a look he'd been exchanging in almost human demeanor with Hostenth to look instead upon Kalpenth. Though her words were for the brown's mind only, the Igenite dragon was not apparently concerned with keeping secret the fact that they conversed.

My day, said the dragon after some slow bemusement, did not go well. I was turning quickly to flame a tangle coming down on my right flank, to keep it from being a danger to Souteth behind us. M'sella and I did not know there was another coming down on my left, and as I banked my paw came into it.

He shared the least fraction of the lingering discomfort he was experiencing, the sensation of the dragonhealer stitching what remained of his hide together between his toes. It was a curious blend of numbness from the salve his tender used, redwort's sting, a dull thrumming ache from the wound itself and ticklishness.

On a good day, sighed the brown, None would be wounded.

He fell silent then, for the bronze was answering Kalpeth's more broadly-broadcast questions, and to his wingleader's dragon Josteth gracefully deferred.

The herds here are not too large. This was Hostenth's gracious equivalent for 'no,' though he softened it with a wave of one wing and a dip of his head and an apologetic, However, if we return together to Igen there will be fine beasts for us to feast upon there.

It was a significant 'if' and even the bronze's apparent thoughtfulness could not deprive it of all of its weighty potential.

My rider says there is much to talk about, but that he will not be kept long, Hostenth added. Perhaps when you return to Telgar, you will fight there.

Abruptly the wingleader's dragon fell silent, his head turning once more toward the older brown. What passed between them was not for Telgari to overhear.

[Invisible]

I have never been hurt. Kalpeth felt a niggling sense that she was forgetting something, but that was normal so she let it go. Until she landed wrong again she would not remember the old training wound. You fly well together? We fly well together I am sure. Our wing does well when we play. We do not always win the games, but we always do well. She proclaimed this to everyone since the brown wanted to talk to everyone. She wasn’t sure why she wouldn’t do that after all. When we left there were eggs she added. But we did not get to watch, but we got to hear it start.

I do not think we are going to Igen Kalpeth directed to Hostenth. Then to all the others she asked Are we going to Igen? I thought we were going here. Were we not going here? And we are here! It certainly made me hungry. Kalpeth, always the social creature, could speak on and on, but she was supposed to be learning things so she tried to ask question. We have nothing to fight at Telgar she said mournfully. Fighting thread would have been glorious and she was denied. It was enough to sadden even the cheeriest of greens. Are you sick? Aren’t people sick here? I thought people were sick?

[Omnia Munda]

I did not know Telgar had a clutch on the sands, remarked Josteth, then - at a soft croon from the hurting blue just feet away from him - turned his head toward the smaller dragon and lifted a wing above him.

Hostenth seemed unaffected by this momentary tenderness between his wingmates. He turned away from the distracted brown, lifting his head as a human might if that human wore glasses and wished to look over their rims at someone who was a source of some skepticism. Just now that someone would be Kalpeth, though her Telgari companions were included in the emotional state that accompanied the bronze's steely regard.

Apparently you were coming here, the wingleader's dragon remarked, and again there was a silence: he and another being, whether it be dragon or his rider, clearly were in conference between statements. Aside from our fighting wounds, we are well enough. Why?

The bronze's head lowered. Rather than looking down over his nose, he now looked upward, skepticism traded for outright suspicion. Is your rider sick, Kalpeth? All the others have gone with my rider to meet -

Well, evidently Hostenth thought better of finishing that sentence. He sighed instead.

[Invisible]

We do! Kalpeth answered Josteth before he was distracted. Or we did. Maybe we don’t anymore? It was hard for her to keep track. They had come a long way and what had seemed about to happen might have happened already. She had no way to know. Lifting her head from the ground she turned her neck so she might look at Hostenth. Her concerns that none of the other Telgari dragons spoke was suppressed. If they had been told not to, well, she had not been told not to. She had been told to talk and she liked talking to new dragons. With Kalpeth any dragon was new after a few days, but that was not the point.

We were coming here! Yes! I remembered! Her pride at remembering where they were coming was evident and she ruffled her wings and preened a bit at her memory not failing her. But we were told you were sick. Oh! Not you! Are you sick? You said you were not. But I am quite sure G’tet said there were sick people we had to help. He said we had to come help. Now she pauses as if waiting for the other dragons in her party to offer affirmation.

It’s not a long wait however because she was asked a question and Kalpeth was never rude. Refocusing on Hostenth she answered. Who is he supposed to meet? Was I supposed to tell him? Did I forget? No, I am sure I was not told. He said- And she pauses as if asking G’tet again, or for the first time, where he was. Oh! He said it was a long trip and he had to do something that was necessary! You needn’t worry about G’tet. He always knows where he is and what he’s doing. The overwhelming pride for her rider lingered even after her words were done.

[Omnia Munda]

They do have a habit of hatching, said Josteth. He was watching attentively as the cleaned wound in the blue's wing took stitches - but then he seemed distracted, perhaps by his rider, and lifted his head. After a moment the blue raised his head, too, while his peaked-looking rider came back to his side; all three, the man and both beasts, seemed to be watching the sky. They were waiting.

I am not sick, the bronze was affirming. He was also regarding the other Telgari dragons, his expression as keen and gray as a dragon's countenance could provide. He did not much want to answer Kalpeth's question, or perhaps his rider didn't want him to answer it; the topic shift to the green's rider's absence from the meeting occurring within was a welcome one.

Ah, said Hostenth with some bemused relief. Mine will await him, then. Understandable after - such a journey.

At that moment, a shadow appeared on the ground before him and Hostenth looked down at it, then up. Above them had appeared another dragon from between. As it soared a swift circle toward the square its color and size betrayed it as another bronze, and Hostenth graciously lumbered aside to make more room for the beast to land.

Thank you, said the bronze, in a tone that implied absolutely no gratitude whatsoever. His rider's face, a wretched and angry scowl, held little promise of anything better.

[neopanther]

The brown had remained silent, listening in to what was said, as his bonded had asked him to, he couldn’t glean much information comparative to the amount Kalpeth was giving away. He watched them, placated eyes silent and gently judging each one, sizing them up. Not in any sort of menacing way, but it was best if they knew what their new surroundings were like, J’fel had let them land in an unfamiliar surroundings, without so much as a warning.

Kalpeth, you’re bonded is strong yes, so do not fear, we are all here with you also. We will not see any harm come of us. The brown rumbled, eying the other dragons as he tried to placate the Telgari dragon. He relaxed further, tucking his tail about his body, tightening his form a little. Another bronze had joined them. Though he had his rider with them.

I am not sure that we are searching for your sick. I’m not certain this is the place we are meant to be in at all, to be quite honest. The brown clarified as he looked on towards the other dragons, who had been present for a little while at least. It seemed they are as reluctant to give information, as his own travellers were.

The dragon hummed momentarily, in his own bemusement, ironic now wasn’t it? His was a Caminar, a Caminar who felt mildly out of place in his Weyr, because it were as though he had almost become what his bonded would call Plantado, even if he was rider. Yet, here he was, travelling, not just from weeyr, or hold, but through time, and who knew quite where they were anymore? It was quite confounding, even for Sarjenth.

The brown watched the newcomer, the new, gleaming bronze, almost a shocking contrast to the weather behind them. My greetings to you. The brown was merely being polite, he had very little interest in the newcomer. He stilled his tongue once more, so the bronze would not learn anything unnecessary, though he was certain Kalpeth could take care of that in her own absent minded way.

[Invisible]

Hello! Kalpeth sent to the bronze once he was landed. I think we were waiting for you! I am Kalpeth. Other than being very hungry I am having a good day. How is yours? Are you sick? We have not seen the sick yet. No one had shut her up so she assumed speaking to anyone who arrived would be the right thing to do. How else would they learn what they came here to learn? How else would they do what they were assigned so they could go home? Kalpeth remembered home quite well. There were fat herdbeasts there that she could sink her teeth into. Right now the thought of a tasty herdbeast was enough to bring a tinge of orange to her eyes. If only G’tet had brought a Rulf whatever that was. She imagined a tasty beast with a name like that.

Sarjenth got a mental snort and a dismissive I fear nothing. I am Kalpeth. G’tet says I have nothing to fear because we are unstoppable. I am too pretty to be hurt. Nevermind she was hurt and still bears the scar of the accident. It’s not like she remembers it so it must not have happened. Josteth got her attention then because he was interesting. He was new. Well, everyone was new at some point, but he was very new. She was sure of it. They will hatch and we will miss it. I think that is bad. G’tet said it was bad. His sister was supposed to be there. I was going to get to meet her!

[neopanther]

The brown murmured a growl, obviously unimpressed by Kalpeth’s response, he wasn’t trying to make her feel worse! Quite the opposite! Just the brown growled subtly, Females! Shards how did they keep their minds together with all of that rampaging discontent that was existing within them. He did not further try to clarify himself he just settled for a few words, Okay Kalpeth And resumed his silence once more, there was nothing to be said by him, and well quite frankly he didn’t feel as though he was welcomed in her company. But that didn’t really matter, they were here for a reason, and that was the only reason Sarjenth and His were there at all.

Arguing wasn’t something Sarjenth could muster the attentiveness for. It was unnecessary, and he wouldn’t get involved if he could avoid it at all.

[Omnia Munda]

And mine to you, returned the bronze to Sarjenth, without even a hint of graciousness.

His whirling eyes focused then upon Kalpenth, whose stream of conversation was absorbed and obviously - for the bronze made no effort to hide what he was doing - shared on with his rider.

That rider was efficient but unhurried about his dismount, sliding to the ground with the heavy thumps of booted feet. Though the Igenite riders had been wearing leathers appropriate to Threadfighting, this man was dressed only for travel - but his clothing was excessive for Igen's heat. Perhaps the fact that he'd soon be sweltering in his cold-weather clothes contributed to the disgust that twisted his angry features.

"Don't talk to them," murmured the man, lifting a hand so that as his dragon bent his head his palm caressed a smooth muzzle. "Yet."

Over a shoulder that bore the unmistakably complicated arrangement of cords that made him Telgar's weyrleader, the bronze's rider regarded the Telgari dragons with an expression of mistrust.

Telgar's weyrleader he might be, but he was no J'fel, this tall and permanently unhappy man.

He gave his disdainful bronze, who upon his rider's word was pointedly not responding to Kalpeth - yet - a last pat on the nose. Then he stalked away from the dragons and on into the Hold, irritably waving off the greetings and duties of holdfolk who dared interrupt him along the way.

[neopanther]

The brown settled again, though his eyes were sharp as ever, he had noticed that the man mounted upon the landed bronze, held a knot of true significance. Especially to them.
The man bore the knot of Telgar’s Weyrleader. How ponderous. So that man, and his bronzen bonded were the Weyrleading pair of their Weyr. Sarjenth was unsettled to how the ‘king’ dragon regarded them with suspicion. But it was mildly understandable, what would one do as a weyrs leader, when a few riders, supposedly from another time arrived on the doorstep of another Weyr, claiming they were from Telgar. It must have been a problem for the man, and the human didn’t look best pleased, or in fact as though he were a happy person in the slightest.

Kalpeth. The brown spoke only to her now, there was no need in talking to the others at that moment, I would be correct in recognising that knot as Telgar’s Weyrleader. Correct? Then that man would be the leader of our Weyr. The brown was just clarifying, though he was certain of what he seen, it was probably good to inform the green of this anyway, and if she had noticed, all the better. But the brown felt a little less comfortable knowing this, the man was likely taking towards His, P’nset. And the thought made him a little edgey.

[Invisible]

Kalpeth watches the bronze curiously. Even more so when he doesn’t seem to be talking. It does not stop her from talking to him, of course. So what if he does not answer? So what if her words get shared with his rider? Kalpeth was told to talk and talk she will. What is your name? Did you hear mine? It’s Kalpeth. Why are you not talking? Do you not want to talk? G’tet says I may talk whenever I like because how else can we share things? You are not from where we are. I would remember you. Which just isn’t a lie because Kalpeth believes her own memory is quite sound. It just…isn’t so.

He is not the leader of our Weyr Kalpeth sent to Sarjenth. I have not seen him before. I have seen the leader of our home. He is not from our home. To be honest she had paid little attention to the knot worn on the man’s shoulder. It was not her job to pay attention to such things. Her rider concerned himself with such things while she saw to the bigger parts of the equation. We do not have to listen to him. We were told we did not have to listen to anyone. Trust her to remember that. Well, G’tet likely reminded her of it frequently. Do not worry, Sarjenth. We are here to do our job. How can we get in trouble for that?

[neopanther]

Sarjenth hummed a vague agreement, she was right of course, he had no impact over them, though he could make their life very difficult, Telgar had always been a prominent Weyr, why would it be of any difference now? He could provide a nuisance to their effort.

I know we are beholden to none in this time, but, he is this time's leader of Telgar, he could prove a useful ally or a difficult problem if he is not treated correctly. Though, you are obviously correct, he is no J'fel. The brown looked at the unfamiliar bronze, and do our job we shall. Sarjenth responded, feeling quite resolute in his mind now.

[Invisible]

The bronze was watched as was the brown. The brown was slightly more interesting if only because Kalpeth had never been partial to bronzes. Browns were a nice even difference between the large, often haughty, bronzes and the often annoyingly flighty blues. This did not mean she did not pay attention to Sarjenth of course because they were speaking.

He is no J’fel. G’tet says there is no J’fel here. Like we are not here. Only we are here. It confuses me, but he says not to worry about it. Kalpeth was a big fan of not letting things worry her especially if told she needn’t. Her head turned so she might look after where the current Telgari Weyrleader had gone. G’tet says he is bad. That it was his fault. That J’fel is better for all his faults. That we are here to stop the sickness. He helped it. That is what G’tet says. He said to make sure you tell yours not to trust him ever. Looking away she refocused on Sarjenth as serious as she could ever be.

[neopanther]

He watched silently as he looked on towards the other dragons, his metal attentions solely upon Kalpeth. She spoke strongly, probably a determination and a single-mindedness that Sarjenth would rarely – if ever feel. He admired the green for that, she was strong. He wasn’t sure he agreed that J’fel was better for his faults, for he felt that S’lyn and His made a much better pair to lead Telgar. But that was a time that he doubted Kalpeth remembered too much of.

But she spoke of not trusting this new Weyrleader, but Sarjenth didn’t suppose His had any intentions of doing so, it was hard to gain P’nset’s trust, Sarjenth doubted his trust existed too fully in any of the riders, present, in fact he supposed that Aleda might actually carry more of his trust than his fellow riders. For she was Caminar, and something about that fact made P’nset want to trust her quicker than the others. From what Sarjenth had felt anyway.

Mmm, I doubt P’nset will trust him at all. He likes change, likes movement, but it has been a long time since he was gifted it, this for him is the first real time since we impressed that he has had this degree of change. I doubt he is as lavish with his trust as he once was, let alone in another Time. The brown told her, it was good for him to have some sort of bond with those in the group, even if His didn’t. But one thing caught on the brown’s mind, What does yours mean, he helped it?