Trials and Tribulations (Kess & Nanyaa)

[hrsegrl]

"Stand still please." Havalie reiterated for what seemed the millionth time. The little green swiveled her head around to look at her rider. It tickles. The complaint sounded more like a whine than anything. The sun was just coming up but after that first day, Havalie had vowed to stay ahead of schedule or at least plan to be so. "I understand it tickles Sarenth but you must stand still or we'll never finish."

Havalie's voice was soft though obviously she was becoming frustrated with the dragon. How did people deal with such obstinance. She sighed and continued to scrub under the right wing. "I swear you've grown almost twice your size in just days." Havalie used her forearm to wipe a few strands of hair off of her face. I'm not that big.

"You are big enough. Can't you stop growing?" The young woman teased. I would stop if I could if only to save you trouble. "If you aren't the sweetest dragon ever, then I'm no judge of dragonkind." She was practically glowing with the joy of having her own dragon to care for, despite the fact the bath was still being delayed.

"Now I'm going to have to do the other one. We do not want the Weyrling Master to find anything wrong with you." She did not add, in front of the whole class. Havalie was still very timid in front of the others.

[starshine]

Claralth had risen early, his thoughts had woken Kess. "The sun isn't even awake yet you know." I know but its best to be early. It was her lot to get a dragon who was just as if not more punctual then she was. She smiled at the sapphire blue. "Well then since we have so much time, I suppose a bath and an oiling would be in order." The dragon huffed but agreed and turned to the opening of the barracks. She rose and threw on an old shirt and tattered leggings. After pulling on her boots she grabbed the oil, and the scrubbing brushes from the shelf and made her way after her Clar.

Before long then were making their way down the slop to the Black Lake. In the distance she could see a pretty little green being meticulously scrubbed about the wings by her rider. I believe that would be Sarenth and her rider, Havalie?[/color] How do you know that? She really wasn't asking but merely marveling at his memory. Weren't dragons supposed to be terrible with names? She had a fleeting thought to mention it to Phaedon. The pair continued down the hill to the shore of the lake. Once they were within hearing distance Kess gave soft shout to Hava. "Early morning for you as well I see." She grinned in the cool air of dawn. Claralth gave a pleasant and playful rumbled in greeting to Sarenth before taking a stance beside her.

[Redden]

Get up. Oh let me sleep. You said to wake you early. I was not being that serious. Get up. No.

Not surprising Nanyaa is ejected from her bunk once again by Niddalath shoving her off with his head. With a sigh she gets up and gets dressed, then notices how early it is.

What is wrong with you, I did not mean THIS early. You are awake now. Fine... you haven't been bathed yet... might as well no one should be up now anyways.

The brown gives an approving snort and the two march down to the lake. To Nanyaa's surprise there were two other weyrlings and dragons down by the lake side. A knot formed in the girls stomach, she really had hoped for a very quiet morning. Every time she seems to try and talk to anyone it always ends up with her feeling silly.

Lets go, we can give you a bath later. If the Brown could grin he would have as he lifts his head in the air and lets out a loud snort then a soft call, letting anyone near by know they were there. Oh I hate you... Nanyaa shakes her head with a smirk, You did that on purpose. Niddalath's only responce is to continue down to the lake and where the Green and Blue where already.

[hrsegrl]

"We were behind the first day, we don't want to make that mistake again. Do we?" She smiled at her green who twitched her tail in response. I like sleep. "You all like sleep silly dragon." She shook her head and put her sponge back in the bucket.

"How does the morning fnd the two of you?" She asked converstionally to Kess and Claralth before the brown and his rider approached. Havalie looked up and noticed there was a huge difference between the size of her green and the size of the brown. With Claralth it was not as palpable although he was obviously larger.

"Boy am I glad your not that big Sarenth." She said quietly to the dragon who snorted. Louder, she said to Nanyaa and Niddalath. "Well that makes three of us up early. How are the two of you?"

She thought it slightly comical that the three of them were all girls with all different colored dragons and that they were the only ones up. Girls ARE better than boys. "If you say so darling." Havalie had not mastered mind speak yet but she was sure that lesson was upcoming.

[starshine]

Kess dabbed her sponge into the cool water and ran it along Clar's ribs. He shivered. "Well the morning found him before it found me." She laughed. It was true the blue had beaten her to the punch. The girl continued to scrub down the blues front legs, giving special attention to his claws. Clar lifted his leg to make it easier on his rider. Thanks

She straightened up to see the brown approaching with Nanyaa. She gave the girl a friendly grinn in greeting. "A pleasant dawn to you! Seems we are all having an early start." Kess sat down in the sand and continued working on Clar's claw. She had an eye for details and well, of course it would carry into her dragons health and well being. I am hungry, will we be eating soon?[/color] Kess smiled up at the blue. "Does it seem that all they want to do is eat and sleep? I mean I expected it but he's already asking for breakfast."

She resoaked her sponge and began on his hind claw, taking special care to get between them. This was turning into quite the chore. How time consuming but it was part of her duty to Clar as his rider to keep him clean and healthy.

[Redden]

Nanyaa manages a soft smile as she ties her hair back as they get to the shore, She nods her head in greeting two the other two girls. Out loud.

"Oh right, er... Good day to you both..." Still trailing behind Niddalath she looks between Kess and Havalie with a cocked head. "Niddalath decided it was time to rise... he's persuasive." Moving around to the front as the Brown actually sits down so she can reach across him laying his head low near the water.

"I... guess the day... started well for you two?" The girl wonders if the question sounded as awkward to them as well. The Brown give soft grunt in greeting to the others. Both rider and dragon look over the other two, "They really are quiet breath taking in color."

[hrsegrl]

Havalie took up the sponge again and said in a strong voice to her green. "Now, I know this is the part you hate but it has to be done. Why don't you try talking to Niddalath or Claralth and not think about it?" Maybe that would help. Havalie reached for the dragon's head.

"I'm afraid Sarenth wishes I let her sleep more. I'm horribly neglectful of her wants." Havalie said, feeling the tense little spot in the middle of her chest loosening. She took a deep breath and let it out. People were not all bad just because you did not know them.

"Thank you Nanyaa." She smiled graciously in the brown rider's direction. "I think the three of them together are fascinating. Being that they are different colors and sizes." She reached again for Sarenth's head though the green was trying to raise it. "Really Sarenth you won't be able to eat if I do not finish."

The green did as her rider asked but said to both Claralth and Niddalath, Humans are stubborn, aren't they?One day they will figure out we are always right. She was no longer moing her head, concentratingon the male dragons and Havalie was able to scrub her head.

"We should have group bathings more often. Sarenth does better when distracted. She says scrubbing tickles." Havalie was always amiable but not always talkative. Today she was hoping to make better acquaintances of the others in her class. She did not want to feel alone as she had at the feast.

[starshine]

Kess moved on to the other two claws taking equal time with them, though getting more and more proficient at it. This is getting easier as I go. Well its not exactly difficult. She pushed him lightly. She rose to her feet and refilled her sponge. She then scrubbed along the dragons side and down his tail. He shivered again. Cold? Not really, somehow unexpected is all.

She continued in her scrubbing. "I think this is getting easier."

She smiled over at the other two. Humans are stubborn, aren't they?One day they will figure out we are always right." Oh yes, though I'll bet it gets easier with time.[/color] His tone to the others was as close to sarcasm as a dragon could get.

"Yes, I think group bathings would be a wonderful idea."

[Redden]

" Sure thing... " Unsure if they were serious or not she just nods lightly. Nanyaa started with Niddalath's head and neck, using a sponge to scrub. I am not that dirty. Consider it pay back. In response the Brown dips his head in the cold water and snorts it at Nanyaa.

"OH! You will pay for that!" The girl puts her hands on top of his head and shoves it under again. With a large splash Nanyaa is now soaked as he pulls his head back out forcefully. Now turning bright red she remembers the others are there. "He started it..."

Niddalath lets out a proud snort and responds to Sarenth and Clarath, It is not a matter of who is right, but who can get their point across better. Learning with them is the challenge.

[hrsegrl]

It was clear that they were all getting along better than when certain others were present. Havalie rather liked this situation. "Great well then we should meet around the same time tomorrow then." She looked back at to her own green. Thank goodness she did not have a ranking dragon. She couldn't imagine having to clean one.

Havalie was almost done washing her green, only one area left and that was the neck. Sarenth was not as calm and level headed as the blue and the brown. In fact she tended to think of things in different terms than they did. After turns of training perhaps. She eyed her rider a moment as she remembered not to move her neck.

What Niddalath said was probably lost on the flippant green though it was a very wise statement. The brightest dragons tended to be Golds and Bronzes, as a green she was not quite as intelligent as her larger counterparts. As the brown and his rider began to have a water fight Havalie watched amused.

Giggling she said, "I believe you Nanyaa...though Sarenth may be siding with Niddalath on that one." Sarenth now free of scrubbing was allowed to wallow in the shallows a little before drying to be oiled. "I'm afraid we have to get up on the shoreline and have her dry for her oiling."

She excused herself as she walked toward the dry land. Today she was wearing a long dark brown shirt and leggings. She had remembered not to wear white so that shen se got out of the water nothing culd be seen trough her clothes. "Come on Sarenth. You do want to eat this morning right?" Of course I do. What kind of question is that?

[starshine]

Kess worked along Clar's back using his leg as a step. He supported her weight even barely past hachling. "We'll see you shortly." Her voice was light though sounded strained as she reached to get the very top of his spine. She jumped down. We'll have to wait a little, while for you to dry, then a quick oiling and you can have your oh so precious breakfast. Without even a response Claralth was off after the green. He was hardpressed to be dry quickly. The faster I am dry, the fast I get to eat...[/color] She smiled after him.

"Well seems he's in a hurry. We'll see you on the shore, soak in some of those early morning sunrays." She grinned over at the brown and his rider. Kess realized that she had never heard Nanyaa speak as much as she had this morning. It was nice that the girl was breaking out of her shell and coming out of the shadow of her twin brother. Good to see her for who she really was. Kess trailed off behind her blue, not even attempting to keep up.

Once on the shore she flopped into the sand and rolled onto her back. Her eyes were closed and she ran a hand through her wet hair.

[Redden]

"Yes, drying... I need to do that too..." The brown simply bobs his head in a taunting way to what Nanyaa called out after Kess and Havalie. Her typical brown shirt and black pants are soaked through. Her hair is a matted mess stuck to her face and back. She takes a step around Niddalath and just climbs up him to wash his back, her boots squishing loudly.

"OH, you horrible creature! My feet are soaked even!" She cries out with the first genuine smile in probably years. You needed a bath as well You realize I will get you back. Looking forward to it.

Scrubbing quickly for the cold was getting to her Nanyaa manages to finish scrubbing his back and sides quickly. Just walk into the water for your tail and feet. Are you being practical or lazy? Both I am cold thanks to you, now hurry up I shall catch my death in this shade and you have to be hungry. Some, yes.

Niddalath does as she asks and lowers himself in to the water some. Turning around he ends up splashing the girl with his tail causing her to fall in. Letting out a loud yelp she scrambles to her feet shivering. My death you will be! The brown moves quickly up to the shore line as Nanyaa runs after him attempting to pull the mess of long brown hair from her vision. The others are already drying when they both get there.

"I do not know which will get me first, this beast here or my blasted hair!" She shakes her head in amused frustration. Niddalath lets out another proud snort. "I suppose I can not send him back, so I shall I make do... but this hair... I think it needs to go..." Nanyaa blinks, did she say that out loud? To the others? So used to talking to herself and not vocalizing she wasn't sure.

[hrsegrl]

Hava smiled, "Oh they are all hungry by now. Dawn seems to make them hungry." She looked up happy to see that the day would be beautiful and sunny. Of course looking at Nanyaa she was even more glad the sun was shining. "Hopefully it will warm up nice."

Sarenth was drying quickly and waiting ever so patiently for the oil. Havalie took her time rubbing it in as meticulously as she could. Repeating what they were taught in class, she said,"Daily bathing is compulsory and thorough oiling must accompany this. Patchy skin become imperfect hide in the adult dragon.Imperfect hide results in skin ruptures that may prove fatal."


Do not worry so. I'm the best green there is. "I know but things go wrong in Weyrling training..." She knew that not all of their Weyrling class would survive training. As many as 75% of Weyrlings in any given class could die.

[starshine]

Claralth stretched out in the sand, he relished in the sun. The light made his hide nearly glow its brilliant shade of near midnight blue. Kess stretched then sat up in the sand. Her boots were wet and she had some damp patches around her body but other than that she wasn't to bad off, unlike Nanyaa. Kess laughed at the girls fooling around with her dragon. It was entertaining how they interacted. The sun feels good. She looked over at him and grinned. "Yes it does."

She rose to her feet and check him. I think you're dry enough for oiling. Clar rumbled in response. He didn't move, just remained with his eyes closed. She shot a glance over at Havalie then to Nanyaa. "How wonderful would it be so have such a carefree light?" She was slightly sarcastic in her tone, though always humorous. She took some oil into her hands and rubbed them together to warm it up. Kesstriel wasn't a fan of the smell but she knew that is was important for Clar's hide to be plenty moisturized. She ran her hands along his spine and massaged the oil into Claralth's hide. He didn't even move. Awww look at the little baby, practically sleeping. Who are you calling little?[/color]

[Redden]

Niddalath made himself comfortable on the sands and Nanyaa sat down putting her legs to her chest and watched the lake. The sun started to warm her some as the Brown contently layed on the sands drying. Neither spoke for awhile simply enjoy the company they were sharing.

Other then her brother Nanyaa never had friends, now there is Niddalath, and perhaps the other girls. Still unsure of how to read them, are they just being polite to her? Not sure, just content that she actually interacted and no one got in to a fight or argument.

The other girls had already started to oil down their dragons while the brown and his rider continued to dry. With a soft sigh Nanyaa places her head on her arms that lay proped up on her knees still.