E
Weyrfolk 
Posts: 228
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Post by E on Feb 12, 2010 13:10:45 GMT -5
Yesterday had been a rollercoaster of emotions for little Somadin. The small group of candidates had been relieved from their usual chores to clean the sands in the hatchings grounds from the previous hatching. At first Somadin had considered it almost a punishment for not impressing. Once on the sands with a bucket in hand he found the feeling of entering the empty cavern depressing, a reminder of his failure to impress.
Once their work began, however, Somadin quickly became distracted by the shells they had been elected to pick up. Many of the larger pieces were picked up and moved by the larger boys. Somadin had been instructed to follow behind them and fill his own pail with the smaller shells. Afterwards they would all rake the sand smooth again for the next hatching – whenever that would be.
Even so it became more of a treasure hunt than a chore as Somadin soon found himself pocketing the prettier egg shells, those without the sharp edges. By the time the boys had finished for the day Somadin had both pants pockets stuffed full along with a few other small pieces in his shirt pocket.
Now he had his treasures carefully wrapped in a spare shirt as he carried the bundle into the WeyrHall. He gave the room a brief look before moving to the back toward the kitchens. What he wanted was a large bowl with some water and sweetsand to wash the shells. What he would do with them afterwards he was still not entirely sure, but first he wanted to get them clean of the gritty sand.
“Excuse me?” he asked nervously as he stuck his head inside the kitchen door.
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Rowen
Weyrfolk
Sometimes Cuteness Is Irresistable.
Posts: 155
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Post by Rowen on Feb 12, 2010 21:37:38 GMT -5
Rekka looked up from her observation point of view as she watched a pot being cleaned. She looked toward the voice startled when she saw the boy. He looked young, but she had seen him around and knew for a fact that he was older than most thought him to be. If memory served, this boy would be Somadin the tiny. Rekka smiled in welcome. "What is it that brings you to the kitchens Somadin?"
Now that she saw him, up close she realized he really was small, and from what she had heard of the others talking, it hadn't been from lack of him trying to grow up. Didn't he know that all people grew up in do time? Perhaps no one had told him, or they had and he hadn't believed him. Was he believing now maybe? His pockets were bulging, and she thought she saw a bit of something sticking out of his shirt pocket. She blinked as she recalled that Somadin had likely been cleaning up egg shells. "What's that in your pockets?"
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E
Weyrfolk
Posts: 228
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Post by E on Feb 12, 2010 21:50:24 GMT -5
Somadin recognized the new headwoman, after all it was a requirement to know the rankers it seemed, and turned a smile up to her. He hadn’t talked to her before, but already he felt the warmth in her voice. “I was wondering if I could borrow a big bowl and maybe some sweetsand you use for washing things.”
It didn’t take a sharp eye to see the woman look from one bulging pocket to the next. Feeling his face warm, Somadin lowered his gaze and scuffed a boot across the stone floor. “Just a few things I want to wash…” Looking up, the small boy almost looked ashamed as he suddenly remembered he was talking to a ranking person of the Weyr and he should be telling the whole truth. “They are bits of egg shells from the hatching grounds. They were so pretty, I thought I would wash them up and see if I could use them for something.”
Blushing more, he lost his nerve and looked back down again. “They are harder than normal egg shells so I thought they could be useful…” Or at least pretty enough to keep in a box…
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Rowen
Weyrfolk
Sometimes Cuteness Is Irresistable.
Posts: 155
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Post by Rowen on Feb 12, 2010 22:20:34 GMT -5
Rekka smiled and knelt down so that she was perfectly eye level with Somadin and held out one hand. "Show me a piece." He was right, the eggs could likely be used for more than what they already were used for. Most people took for granted what was right in front of them, perhaps Somadin could see something worth while that others did now. It would not surprise Rekka, the greatest things came from unexpected places. He was small and had noticed a beauty that others had not.
She examined the piece carefully, thinking more to herself, and she smiled faintly. It was pretty, small, and could likely be used for something more if one thought enough about it. Cleaning it would likely make it even more pretty. "You've found a treasure in the sands." She looked up at Somadin and smiled again and held out the piece to him to give it back. "You didn't find a dragon Somadin, but you found something none the less. Do you want to know what I think?"
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E
Weyrfolk
Posts: 228
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Post by E on Feb 12, 2010 22:55:13 GMT -5
Somadin had pulled a piece gingerly from his shirt pocket. He was not careful because he was afraid of breaking it – they were surprisingly strong for egg shells – but rather he was careful not to cut himself or Rekka on its edges. Placing it in her hand, he was unsure at first as he seen her faint smile. Once she looked up to him, however, her smile strengthened and so did his courage.
Listening to her words, the young boy’s curiosity found the better of him. She was right, he never did find a dragon for himself. Maybe that was one of the reasons he felt so drawn to the egg shells. Or perhaps he knew somewhere inside himself the eggshells were the closest he’d ever get to his own dragon. That thought brought sadness into his eyes, but he nodded none-the-less. “I would like to know what you think, Rekka Ma’am.”
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Rowen
Weyrfolk
Sometimes Cuteness Is Irresistable.
Posts: 155
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Post by Rowen on Feb 12, 2010 23:15:43 GMT -5
Rekka noticed the look in his eyes and knew the feeling, pushing her own feelings to the side to deal with later she gestured to the egg shell fragment. "I think you could clean them, fashion them, perhaps even engrave them. Into jewelry and sell them to others, candidates like yourself, even those who have impressed might want something fashioned from their own dragons shell." Rekka had mulled over several possibilities and the easiest most likely had seemed to be that. "Some may want them as memento's to remember their day on the sands, and to remember those who did not impress as they had."
Standing up Rekka moved to check on the progress of the cleaning of the pot, finding it mostly done she relieved the cleaner of their duty and took it and disappearing for a second she reappeared with a bag of sweet sand and a bowl. She held out the bag to Somadin. "Don't you think that is an idea Somadin?"
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E
Weyrfolk
Posts: 228
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Post by E on Feb 13, 2010 16:43:09 GMT -5
Jewelry? Somadin looked down thoughtfully at the eggshell in his hand. He flipped it over thoughtfully. He didn’t know anything about making jewelry, but if he could find a way to poke a hole in the shell and put it on a string… He let the ideas simply come to him as Rekka moved off. There was certainly enough of them that he had collected to practice with. Perhaps she was right, and who knows – maybe the shells could bring him and the other candidates luck!
The idea gave him a warm feeling in his chest and made him smile at nobody in particular. Seeing Rekka come back with what he had requested, he gave her a big smile. “Thank you Rekka. If you want, once I wash them I’ll let you pick one out for yourself. Then when I figure out how to make it into a necklace I’ll use it for yours!” Tilting his head sideways he added, “Would you like that?”
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Rowen
Weyrfolk
Sometimes Cuteness Is Irresistable.
Posts: 155
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Post by Rowen on Feb 13, 2010 17:45:49 GMT -5
Rekka smiled and laughed as she handed him the bowl as well. "You do that. Stand out on the sands Somadin, and I think you will be able to make a mark or two every hatching." Just then there was a loud clatter behind Rekka followed by a loud shattering sound. Rekka winced as she heard apologies being said. Letting out a sigh Rekka looked back at Somadin. "I'd prefer you simply make me something Somadin, it doesn't have to be perfect, simply just trust in what you feel."
Rekka couldn't resist the impulse Somadin was just to cute she reached out a hand and messed up his hair and smiled. "I won't be able to do that forever Somadin, you'll grow up one day." Somadin would be out on the sands if Rekka had to drag him there herself, the boy deserved as much a chance as any. Rekka turned and started to head toward where the drudge was cleaning up the broken pieces of what they had broken when she stopped and looked back at Somadin. "And Somadin... Don't call me Ma'am." She smiled playfully.
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E
Weyrfolk
Posts: 228
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Post by E on Feb 13, 2010 17:59:17 GMT -5
Somadin wasn’t sure what he would use marks for, there wasn’t really anything he wanted except his own dragon, but perhaps it wouldn’t be bad to start saving anyways. You never know when something will come around you might want. And if I already have marks then I won’t have to ask for them… he thought to himself. It seemed like a sound idea, he knew there were many riders who had some hobby that made them marks.
Bowl in hand, Somadin was surprised to find Rekka’s hand on his head. Closing his eyes, he dipped his head and waited for the hair messing to stop. As he opened his eyes one by one, however, it was easy to see the twinkle in his eyes. “Your right Rekka. I don’t know when, and maybe it will take me getting a dragon to grow up, but I will manage it.” He said still smiling. He had been smiling more today than he had the whole time since the hatching. “Someday Rekka.”
Moving toward an empty table in the WeyrHall, Somadin set down the bowl and sweetsand before emptying his pockets. It took him a second trip to fill the bowl with hot water from the hearth, but soon enough he was kneeling on the chair with his sleeves rolled past his elbows and making a proper mess of water and sweetsand everywhere.
[Note: Thread is STILL OPEN for anyone who wants to wander in at this point.]
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