Patience is a Virtue (open)

[Tanis]

Tanis let out a soft sigh, she had paced this hallway so much as of late she was surprised there were no ruts worn in the floor yet. There was a wild storm of emotion raging in the weyrwoman's gut - most of it was apprehension.

'Tanis, why are you so restless tonight?' A soft smile took over the blonde woman's face at the softly chiding tone of her dragon in her mind. 'This new Weyr business, I do not like it.' Aurumth stirred her wings, a soft raspy sound in the quiet of the weyr. 'Do not fret, little one. The sickness cannot follow us here. I will give birth to a lovely clutch and the Weyr will live on.'

"...But at what cost?" The weyrwoman muttered, mostly to herself. The dragon eyes whirled on her, a pale contented blue, and Aurumth curved her serpentine neck down to her rider's level. 'You worry far too much. Come, I am hungry. The gold's massive head nudged her playfully and nearly knock her off her feet.

"Hungry again? Your stomach is as big as the Weyrbowl itself!" Aurumth gave an amused rumble, yet she would not be appeased without meat in her stomach. The big gold knelt to allow Tanis to use her foreleg as a boost, and she clambered onto Aurumth's broad back.

Powerful flight muscles rippled under her golden hide as she spiraled down to the floor of the Weyrbowl. Depositing Tanis on a handy ledge, the dragon immeadiately turned her attention to the small herd of wherries that served as the Weyr's principal foodsource since their move. 'Such slim pickings are a disgrace.'
'Be happy we have this much, the holds were not fond of the move.'

Aurumth huffed, 'They are fools to not support their Weyr in it's time of trouble.' The queen left it at that, launching her massive bulk into the air again to neatly scoop up a single wherrie in her jaws. The frightened screech of the beast came to an abrupt halt as Aurumth' ended it's life in a quick snap.

Tanis watched her dragon - quietly awed at the grace of such a massive creature. Yet inside her mind still fretted over the implications of the new Weyr, and the dangerous uncertainty of the future.

[R'ysk]

"Don't even think about doing anything with the fish." R'ysk chided gently, rechecking the buckle holding the folded net as they neared their destination. It had been a long day at the beach for the both of them (not that they were complaining), and the bronzerider had figured that the combination of their fishing efforts was satisfactory enough for the next few days at least. The Bronze and rider made their slow return from the beach, almost lackadaisical from too many hours spent under Rukbat, taking care to bugle to the watch-dragon on duty when they got close.

Do not worry R'ysk, I will not mess around with the food. I can recognize its importance. A snort was given as he began to lazily spiral downwards towards the Weyrbowl, sack of fish in claws, eyes whirling a peaceful blue. But his rider was justified in his worries, the thought of spilling the sack of stinking fish over a passersby had crossed the dragon's mind at least once since they had taken off.

Hello Aurumth, how are you today? The large wedge-shaped head dipped towards the Gold as he deposited the food onto the grassy floor, watching her as she tore into her meal. Folding his wings away, the great beast lowered his neck further, but this time to let his rider down.

At the sight of the gold pair he couldn't help but feel the hairs on the back of his neck prickling in shame, like he had been caught red-handed. This wasn't a job for a Wingleader (not that he minded doing it, he loved fishing) but still the picture was wrong. Dismounting off of Raecynth's neck, he unlatched the large fishing net and tucked it underneath an arm. Ugh. He'd have to beat the sand out of his clothes when he got back to his weyr.

"Figured I'd help out as much as I could with the food, I mean with the tithe problem and all." It was no secret the Holds had been skimping, but still he felt embarrassed acknowledging it (and it showed by the way he subconsciously ran a gloved hand along the backside of his head after he spoke). Maybe he shouldn't have mentioned it at all; maybe he should have left the Weyrwoman alone and just continued on his own way. But he was fond of her, and wanted to try to help in anyway he could. Adjusting his grip on the net, he offered a small smile that was almost apologetic about the whole situation. "At least it'll leave more wherries for the dragons, right?"

[Tanis]

The weyr seemed very empty, currently in the bowl it was only her, Aurumth, and the wherries. Neither of which were much company. Aurumth was always there, a mental link that never went away...as such it was easy to still feel loneliness despite her constant presence. The gold ate daintly, yet insatiably, she dive-tackled another wherry after finishing the first.

"Geez, Aurumth." The gold let out a snort, 'Hush, there are many mouths to feed inside my womb.'

Suddenly, a brassy bugle filled the air, and Tanis and Aurumth's head both snapped up in time to see a pale bronze spiral in. 'Raecynth...' Aurumth chirpped in greeting; she was fond of him despite his irritating sense of humor. Eyes whirling a soft green as Raecynth turned circles about the weyrbowl.

Tanis smiled, the expression growing a little strange when the stink of fresh fish hit her nostrils. R'ysk dismounted, and the large net full of fish tucked under his arm was a welcome sight if not a welcome smell. "Figured I'd help out as much as I could with the food, I mean with the tithe problem and all. At least it'll leave more wherries for the dragons, right?""

"Smart man," she said with a cheerful smirk. "If you had asked I would have gone with you." Tanis liked the wingleader well enough, though she did not know him well, and she had heard many tales of Raecynth's antics around the weyr.

"I don't know what we are going to do about the holds, I simply..." Tanis caught herself, perhaps it wasn't best to be expressing her inner discontent at this time. Strength was mostly determined by what you say; but she trusted the wingleader offhandedly. "Sometimes I just want to firestone the ungrateful dimglows. Yet I doubt N'bel would approve."

Her tone was light and joking, but then it darkened; "Not that we have the manpower for that, anyway." It was true, no matter how the common man feared dragons: two bronzes and a flameless queen were hardly capable of storming Fort Hold...

[Tanis]

(FUUUUUUU I accidently deleted your post because I am the worst admin ever. I'M SORRY D8 I managed to savlage it out of another tab but none of the coding...)
"You're more than welcome to join us, whenever! We're always at the beach so yeah." Even he could recognize that his speech was too erratic to feel natural, but all he had to do was chill out, take a deep breath, and slow his heart rate down. Maybe he could do it subtly, so she didn't notice and tease him about it, but it was unlikely. But he settled for rubbing his hair, grinning sheepishly. "I hadn't known you wanted to come. And N'bel may not take part in such acts, but I know someone who would love the chance to join you in that endeavor." Winking as he affectionately slapped the great shimmering neck of the Bronze with a still-gloved hand, it was no secret that Raecynth would be the first to jump at the opportunity to flame some Holders into cooperation.

The Bronze rumbled with some brassiness, picking up the sack of fish and the net as to deposit them at the mouth of the caverns. No need for the fish to stay out under Rukbat to rot. A lick of firestone would be too generous. He flicked his forked tail as if to punctuate the sentence and moved with some degree of lethargy towards the edge of the Weyrbowl, food in tow.

Some confidence returning, he removed his gloves and slapped the sand out of them against a leg. "And by the First Egg, we will soon enough. Perhaps Fort'll have some Candidates tomorrow to make up for the measly amount of wherries." R'ysk shrugged. He might have been Holdborn, but he knew that as a dragonrider they were all still held in contempt. "And they will fall in line soon enough. They are getting perhaps a little too bold now that they see are numbers are few. Ah, sorry if I've spoken out of turn. I didn't mean, ah-"

And like that, his assurance dissipated. Maybe it was better if he shut up, to avoid any kind of trouble he might be getting himself into. They were dragonriders in arms, but were not necessarily well enough friends to share such opinions.


(NOW MY POST)

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If Tanis noticed the awkward stilt of his speech, she made no indication. In fact she ignored all of the bronzerider's nervousness; perhaps because she didn't want to call attention to it and make him more nervous, more likely because she was used to it by now. Being Weyrwoman meant people were afraid of her, perhaps not her herself, but her rank carried more than enough power to make people nervous. Even Wingleaders it seemed.

"You're more than welcome to join us, whenever! We're always at the beach so yeah. I hadn't known you wanted to come. And N'bel may not take part in such acts, but I know someone who would love the chance to join you in that endeavor."

Tanis laughed openly, it was a full and cheerful sound. R'ysk seemed to be chasing away her anxiety; "Aurumth probably would have flamed them herself by now if she could chew." The gold picked that moment to return, one powerful sweep of her wings bringing her up to the ledge. With surprising grace for such a massive beast. Her message open to all who were present. 'I would do no such thing. They are fools, but I do not wish to hurt them.'

"And by the First Egg, we will soon enough. Perhaps Fort'll have some Candidates tomorrow to make up for the measly amount of wherries. And they will fall in line soon enough. They are getting perhaps a little too bold now that they see are numbers are few."

"Oh, you are the searchrider aren't you?" Tanis just now remembered. "Ah, sorry if I've spoken out of turn. I didn't mean, ah-"

"It's fine R'ysk, you can speak your mind." She interjected, and then continued softly. "Hopefully, the holds won't give you any trouble. Commonfolk will forever be afraid of dragons, and Raecynth is big enough to scare the willies out of quite a few farmers." Her eyes followed the big bronze as he moved away.

'Do not underestimate the holds, R'ysk' Aurumth's voice took a maternal note of distress as she spoke directly to the Bronzerider. 'Unruly farmers can still stick a dagger in your back if you are not watchful.'

The gold's warning was kept private from Tanis, who kept smiling; "We certainly could use some new faces around here."

[R'ysk]

"For tomorrow I am, and how many other times I'm needed until we get some blueriders. Which will be soon." He smiled with her laugh, finally at ease by her friendliness. "Some fresh blood will be nice."

I very much want to visit the Hold now. Raecynth rumbled loudly as he trotted back from the opening that led to the kitchens, his spirits lifting at the prospect of being able to torment some farmers. A stolen fish in his jaws, he was nearly humming as he made his way back to the gathering, wings fanning a little behind him. We can get the runners to stampede, that'll stir things up.

'You will be doing no such thing,' his rider chided as the Bronze settled nearby to swallow the silvery meal whole. 'As if we need another reason for them to hate us.'

He was unused to hearing another dragon's voice in his thoughts so he was a little surprised to hear the Gold addressing him, especially when he was expecting some smart-ass remark from his own dragon. 'Raecynth, could you tell Aurumth I appreciate her concern. I'll be sure to keep an eye open and a knife on my belt. Though with Faranth willing, I'll have no reason to use it.'

Equine nostrils flaring, the Bronze did just that.

"Ah trust me, I know. I hail from a farming family from Fort Hold, a fact I've been less willing to admit as of late." Rubbing his head, R'ysk's grin was sheepish. "My first trip on one when I was Searched was... not the most pleasant as I remember." He recalled the memory with a chuckle only hindsight would allow him, hoping Tanis wouldn't need any of the nauseating details to extrapolate what had happened on his first time on a dragon's back.

[Tanis]

"For tomorrow I am, and how many other times I'm needed until we get some blueriders. Which will be soon. Some fresh blood will be nice." Tanis nodded. Her voice dropping soft; "It is an important job, if a little annoying. If you would like the company, I would gladly come along - You would think I would be busy, but N'bel scarcely lets me breathe without his consent"

Despite her annoyed words, there was still a smile on her face. Her eyes flicking to the bronze as he finally joined them. Aurumth flexed her wings and gave a contented chirp at the bronzerider's response. Tanis eyed her curiously as a trace of her worry slipped through their emotional link - the gold gave no answer to it however.

"Ah trust me, I know. I hail from a farming family from Fort Hold, a fact I've been less willing to admit as of late. My first trip on one when I was Searched was... not the most pleasant as I remember." Tanis laughed heartily as R'ysk words caught her attention once more. Unexpected nostalgia washed over her, coupled with embarassment as she remembered her first time astride a dragon. "It can't have been as bad as my first flight and I'm Weyrborn."

The weyrwoman's cheeks flushed red like a little girl's. "I passed out. My father's green had to grab me or I would have plummeted to my death." She laughed good naturedly, despite her embarrassment, twirling a lock of blonde hand around her fingers absently.

"And my first trip between? What a horror story." She turned a little deeper shade of red as the memory hit her unbidden. Aurumth gave an amused rumble as she remembered as well - eyes swirling green with mirth.