Getting to know you (adventuring dragons)

[Invisible]

It would amuse Kalpeth to be considered strong and determined. Even she knows she is often flighty and more concerned with the latest pretty thing than anything else. Still, that was all behind her for now. For now she was more interested in conversation. Not that talking to Sarjenth was going to help her learn new things, but since the locals were being so quiet she had no choice. A quick conference with G’tet had her turning more charm upon her Telgar’s brown. He said he helped. He did not do what he was supposed to. That is what we learned. She stopped and the perfect moment that was her voice vanished as she, likely, conferred once more with her rider.

G’tet says that he was not helpful when people tried to make the sick better. That he said no. He said we should try to change his mind. Or ignore him. But he cannot interfere. Has he spoken yet? G’tet is not there. She stretched her neck out towards Sarjenth and then pulled it back to lay on the ground. He says if you can tell me what yours hears so he might know what goes on we would be very grateful. One wing extends and wiggles before she pulls it back in. I would be most appreciative. Kalpeth does not bother with coy, she makes promises in her words. Not that she will remember them.

[Omnia Munda]

The bronze, who was not Jordeth and not bound to the rider J'fel, the bronze who was Telgar's weyrleader's dragon in this time and place, had been forbidden to speak to Kalpeth and her companions.

He had not, however, been forbidden to stare. And stare he did, with a slow-whirling focus of narrowly-set eyes almost black in their deepness. That they were any color other than a contented blue was given away only once, when the beast tipped his head incrementally at something his rider must have told him from within the Hold; at that point, a single facet of black eye caught the sunlight just so, and a sheen of furious red glistened across its wet surface.

Then the beast straightened his head and dipped it, almost as though nodding assent to he who had gone within, and the red was gone again.

The conference between the green and the brown was unknown to him, of course - but the fact that such conference occurred was not. Kalpeth had chattered before. She was silent now.

The beast's voice boomed, abrupt and demanding. Of what do you speak, he demanded, and then said no more, staring as though he could see clean through the Telgari dragons.

[Invisible]

Being stared at had never bothered Kalpeth. Was she not told daily that she was the most beautiful of greens on all of Pern? Why, yes, she was and not just by G’tet although he was her main admirer. So when the foreign bronze turned his baleful eye on her she just swished her tail and turned her head just so in order to be seen at her best angle. She was showing off and did not bother to try to hide her actions. Told to learn things she did it the way she knew how.

Still she did not expect to be talked to by the baleful bronze who had remained so silent up until now. When he did speak finally her full attention turned towards him. It was not the demand that prompted her reply. He might assume such, but it was not. Kalpeth’s voice changed from day to day as if she could not remember what she should sound like. Each word dropped into a perfect sunny day and while that day changed, it always remained the same. We speak of you, of course, Kalpeth answered. We have not met before. We thought you might introduce yourself and speak to us. We are far from home and you are not.

[Omnia Munda]

There was a long moment's silence - angry, furious silence - from the newest-landed bronze. Nevertheless, it was clear from his abstracted demeanor that, through his righteous rage, he'd conferred with his rider. A decision had been made.

I am the weyrleader's Hogarth, he replied, narrowing his focus for the hearing of the Telgari dragons alone. The other Telgari dragons, that is, for Hogarth's means of clarifying the term 'weyrleader' was to offer an image of his home Weyr, familiar in an alien way to those from another time. The fighting wings prepare to return. I would have you come with me to the waterside before then.

It was not a question, precisely, but it fell just short of command. Hogarth lifted himself with massive wings rising above his back, readying to leap into flight, but he was watchful as he moved and hesitating, to see if those he'd addressed would follow - or resist.

[Invisible]

I was told not to move Kalpeth informs Hogarth. I do not want to get in trouble. If I get in trouble I might not get fed. Not that there was any chance of G’tet letting his dragon starve, but she managed to sound as if it had been eons since her last meal. To be fair to Kalpeth it had been awhile. I would like to meet the others! Are there very many? Excitement laced her thoughts as she kept her gaze on the bronze who, she thought, was angry for no reason. They had done nothing wrong.

There is no need to be angry with us she then told him. We have done nothing wrong. We are here to help. We are here to stop the bad thing from happening. Kalpeth goes silent, conferring with G’tet, and when next she speaks there is regret in her voice I cannot go with you. Hogarth, your name is remembered even by me. Which it is, now if not before.

[Omnia Munda]

Even to you, echoed Hogarth. He had not the least understanding of what Kalpeth's regretful tone implied, but he did not like it. He liked even less the fact that she refused to follow.

No matter. His rider's mind was made up and it was with an almost smug certainty that the great bronze rested his wings once more against his flanks and leaned into his haunches. He would wait. Surely upon M'tani's command, if not his own, these strange dragons would obey.

[OOC: Folks in the meeting with M'tani, Br'ven and M'sella can post about going to their dragons from there or here, whichever they prefer. :) We'll regroup at the bar by the docks in 'The Quest for the Windtoss' unless anyone strikes out their own path... ;) ]

[Invisible]

It appeared as if Kalpeth was going to be waiting in the courtyard for an undisclosed amount of time. She made no move to get her green self up and head off to the beach or wherever no matter what the strange bronze might be thinking. There were new people to meet after all. That changed, however, and it would be impossible to tell what it was to anyone but her.

Rising to her feet she shook herself off like a dog coming out of a bath and then turned her head to look at Hogarth. He said I could go swimming. Maybe I will catch fish. I am so hungry. Poor starving Kalpeth was not hungry enough for her eyes to show red or her hide to be anything but its usual green color. When she launched herself into the air to go to the beach there was an extra hop required to get her up. Oops. She always forgets about that hurt leg.

[neopanther]

Sarjenth rumbled his discord. He did not like where this topic was taking Kalpeth. The green was being a little too forward with the bronze. But His was conferring with the brown at that moment and his concentration lapsed out of the conversation. As he returned the green and the bronze, seemed to have agreed to what his bonded was telling him, that it was time that they were leaving and that following the dragon to this ‘waterside’ was the place they were all to meet once again. Though Sarjenth was unhappy with this he had little option, his bonded was there in his mind telling him that it was what was going to happen, that they were off towards the docks, and that he and Kalpeth would have to come also.

Sarjenth finally replied to what Kalpeth said, he hoped she had not forgotten the conversation already, Mine tells me that the bonded of this Hogarth, is sullen, and drab, but he is a strong man, and that we are to go to this bay, and that we will be considered part of his Weyr, and that the time he paused, allowing Kalpeth a moment to catch them up, Is back in the sixth pass. Moreta’s time no less. The brown sounded down, it was no re-spawning of the plague or another plague, but the plague that J’fel had sent them to fix. By the shards of the first egg, but what were they supposed to do in their own history?

Mine also says that they are headed for a bay, a boat even, Sarjenth relayed the image of where they were supposed to be going, discomfort unsettling Sarjenth further all the while.