Cleaning Time (Boo)

Nothing could dampen the young girl's spirits as she galloped through the Weyr in clear excitement. She was so excited about the Gold having laid her eggs that she had even forgotten about the whole Race fiasco. She had avoided Xiro like the plague, changing chores when she could so she would not be in the same vicinity as her brother. She would get over her anger eventually but she needed time to cool off. One day, maybe, she would consider him a friend as well as a brother but he had been practically dead to her for some time. Seeing him here pained her.

She would be working with the Runners today. Well, she'd probably be cleaning up after them anyway. She suspected that she would not be allowed near them, being a candidate and not trained in Herding. Still, there were no complaints from her. She didn't even think she could complain about being assigned to clearing out runner manure at this time. She entered the stables and looked around, eyes wide at the sight of the beasts. They were truly magnificent. Not as magnificent as a dragon but amazing nonetheless.

Fel spotted another person in the stables and hesitated a moment. She looked a little scary! Maybe she should just grab some things and start cleaning up. She looked at the floor and crinkled her nose at the smell. No. She would rather find out whether she would have to shovel manure before starting. She didn't want to start and then find out she wasn't supposed to be doing that at all. She didn't know why she didn't want to approach the woman there but she shrugged it off. She had been stared down by a Red! She was Fel! She could do anything!

She mustered her confidence and skipped over to the woman, limp still ever so slight. She smiled and half saluted.
"What do ya need Gov'na!?" She asked cheerfully.
Now that she was closer the woman didn't seem all that bad. She had a friendly face. Perhaps it was more that she was just worried about annoying the older woman. Fel hated being called annoying. She was adorable!

Fel visibly relaxed when the woman, Atenna, responded with a cheerful greeting of her own. She listened carefully to the instructions, nodding along with a broad smile. That seemed easy enough... So long as none of the Runners got spooked and kicked her.
"I'm a Dragon candidate. Name's Fel. Nice to meet you! I'm super excited about the hatching! It's going to be so interesting." She almost shivered in excitement.
Her smile seemed as plastered to her face as some of the dirt on the walls of the stalls. Still, no problem. She grabbed a scrub brush and a bucket.

In her mind there was no doubt she would impress. It was her first time Standing and her expectations were high. She knew, perhaps, deep down that the likelihood of impressing straight away was not high. She was, after all, only just able to stand for the Dragons. She set to work on the stalls, scrubbing away humming to herself. It was a tuneless song but there could be no denying her happiness. Fel tried hard not to let her brother's presence put her down. If she had been at any other Weyr thoughts of Xiro would have rarely crossed her mind.

She scrubbed at one of the stalls and then poked her head back out at Atenna.
"Are you a herder? Is it fun? I bet it's fun!"
If she hadn't been searched she thought Herding would have been one of the crafts she would have loved to apprentice to. That or Running. She'd still see her family and be able to have heaps of fun. As it happened, she still tried to write to her family but she wasn't exactly literate. She knew some things but not enough to write a long letter.

Fel was too busy being excited to notice the brief cloud on Atenna's face. Not to mention that this work took up rather a lot of her energy. Her tongue was poking out a little as she scrubbed hard at the stalls and listened to what Atenna had to say. She didn't speak to many adults. Some of them were scary and used language Fel didn't quite understand. Some people seemed to understand kids better than others. Atenna seemed to be one of those types to be able to deal with just about anyone or anything. Fel wondered if all Herders or Beasthealers were like that simply because they had to deal with temperamental animals all day.

She shook her head at the question about whether she had stood and looked back at Atenna.
"Nope, this will be the first time! I can't wait. With as many eggs as there are I have some chance right? Even being really young."
She thought for a moment about some of the Dragons. She'd heard there were heaps of different ones around now. She thought about her favourite colour for a moment. She was rather fond of rainbow! Maybe there would be rainbow dragons! That would be so exciting. She just couldn't choose what colour was the prettiest! She didn't know what personalities they had until they hatched so she didn't know anything else for that...

"Wow! You must be really smart then. I hear becoming a Journeyman is tough." She replied, wide eyed.
She'd heard that it was so hard to get promoted in the Crafts especially from Journeyman to Master. Apprenticeship, she imagined, was probably something like being a candidate. Lots of chores for one big reward at the end. Fel couldn't wait for that big reward. For some it came sooner than others. Fel hoped that the reward would come at some point. She would hate to be left standing until she was an old lady!

She scrubbed at the stall again making some progress. She, thankfully, wasn't a perfectionist and so was not about to scrub away until there was nothing left. She wanted to have the chance to see some of the Runners walking about. See a professional in action of sorts! Scrubbing could be fun but it would be more fun to see some of the Runners walking about.

Fel had finished one wall of the stall and started on the other while Atenna spoke of the Craft. Her words about Fel having a chance made her stand a little straighter and smile with more confidence but Atenna's words about the Craft and how difficult it was to progress further were interesting. It seemed that each craft, profession and bonded pair on Pern had to struggle with the thought of trying to do better. If she impressed to a Green or Blue she would have difficulty gaining some position in the Weyr. If she impressed to one of the larger colours she would be expected to lead...

Fel heard some movement and looked out of the stall seeing Atenna moving one of the Runnerbeasts. Her mouth dropped open rather comically as she stared at the beast. It was so pretty! If this was Fel's reaction to a Runnerbeast one could only imagine just how enthusiastic her reaction would be to a Dragon hatching before her very eyes much less actually impressing one. Her face seemed to light up at the Runner walking past her and she couldn't help stepping forward a little to get a better look. She didn't approach it however and when Atenna returned Fel made haste to return to her work.

She nodded in response to Atenna's comment about her liking it in the Weyr.
"Well, yes. I am enjoying it. For the most part." She replied, "It must have been an amazing time for you to walk the tables. Do you think that impression will be the same?"
She hadn't made too many friends yet. Pash was an acquaintance but Fel hadn't had the chance to meet too many people. Then there was Qosis. Fel found that she kept thinking about him at times. He seemed to be so... Different to most people she had ever met and he was also a Candidate!

Fel's eyes became even wider at the thought of being able to pet the Runner and her face seemed to be Rukbat itself in its brightness. She set to work immediately, scrubbing as fast as she could, set on petting the Runner as quickly as possible. She almost missed the second bit of Atenna's comments. She blinked and looked at Atenna. That sure was an interesting thing to say. Fel hadn't really been around many Riders enough to talk to them about what it was like being impressed to a Dragon. It was something she would have to do as soon as she could. Talk to more of the riders. On the trip over here she'd had some time to speak with the rider but had still been a little anxious about speaking to someone so... Amazing!

She kept scrubbing as she thought of what Atenna had said. Apparently she had felt rather strongly about walking the tables for her mind apparently wandered back to the time. Fel could tell from the dreamy look that had briefly passed over Atenna's face. Fel hid a smile and finished the stall half-skipping out to stand a little distance from the Runner so as not to frighten it. She walked over to stand with Atenna.

"I've not spoken to enough Riders. I was a trader so I didn't see too many except the one who searched me." She replied.
Fel was distracted, however, by the Runner Beast and was not really paying too much attention to what she was saying any more. She smiled up at Atenna.
"He's so pretty! No wonder they're so useful. They seem so strong!"

Not as strong as a Dragon but strong enough that they would be able to carry a Runner from Hold to Hold. She wondered whether some of the wealthier Runners perhaps had two and switched on long trips. Yet another thing she had to find out. There were so many things she wanted to know!

Fel nodded a little. She'd had some lessons but she'd been in the Weyr for not that long. She'd had some time to go to a lesson but she was still not entirely sure what to expect. Everything she'd heard about Impressing seemed to be incredibly fanciful. It was just something entirely unbelievable. She was sure that she would understand more one day but right now she just couldn't imagine having another creature in her mind for the rest of her life. She thought about that for a moment and then pushed it from her mind. Hopefully she would know very soon what that would feel like!
"Yes! I'll try!" She replied.

Fel was somewhat taken aback when Atenna lifted her hand to the Runner's nose but as soon as she was petting him she could barely contain her excitement. She refrained from actually jumping up and down though but the excitement was plain on her face. Her smile couldn't have been any broader as she stared at the Runner. She then looked at Atenna with something akin to adoration and amazement. She turned her eyes back to the Runner and petted him lightly.
"He's so beautiful. And calm! And... And... Lovely!" She gushed.

Fel's mouth dropped open comically at being given the chance to feed the Runner. She gasped and then smiled.
"Really? Truly? Thank you!"
She took the treat and held it out to the Runner.
"You've been so good so Atenna said you could have this. I hope you enjoy it!"
She kept petting the Runner and noticed Atenna throw a treat into the loft.
"Oh! What's up there?" She asked, curiosity shining in her eyes.

Fel giggled as she felt the Runner's lips moving over her hand. It was strange and almost made her want to pull her hand away but she fought against that. She had to be brave if she could! It would not do. If she ran from a Runner she could no doubt run from a Dragon. She had to be strong and brave at the hatching and this was a perfect opportunity for it. When the Runner had finished eating she wiped her hands casually on her pants and turned to smile at Atenna happily. She didn't really care about the Runner spit on her hands but she still didn't want slimy hands. She still had to finish her chores. But that could come later. She was going to be here for a while.

When Atenna reached up into the loft and produced a pup out of mid air Fel actually squealed softly in delight. It made her a little sad that she had not seen Lacky in some time but that had nothing to do with the animals themselves. Just a sharding insensitive brother who had stolen Lacky away from her. Fel's eyes seemed saddened briefly before she turned her attention back to the Pup Atenna had produced seemingly from nowhere.

She looked at Verity and smiled again, seeing how the canine seemed to be a little suspicious of her and the Runner.
"She's so tiny! She must like being up high so she can watch everything that's happening. She must feel like Queen of the Weyr up there!" Fel speculated.
The canine seemed to be entirely at home in Atenna's arms, huddling there as though curled up in her own bed. Fel wondered whether Verity sat up in the Loft spying on the people below as they passed back and forth.

Fel wasn't sure about petting the small canine but she didn't want to upset the pup. She didn't want to go back to work just yet. She was having too much fun! Not that scrubbing in the stalls wasn't fun it just wasn't... Hanging out with really adorable animals. She did pick up the scrubbing brush again though.
"Does she help out with Herding?"

Fel didn't understand most of those words but she smiled and nodded. She'd come to know them eventually, over time. She knew that. A few of them she understood. Bovines she thought might have been Herdbeasts... Or something like it... She knew canines, obviously. Still, the pup must have felt pretty special sitting up there in the loft, sitting higher than all the other creatures around her. Fel toyed with the scrubbing brush in her hands for a moment and then started scrubbing at one of the stalls.
"The smaller ones are fun! They can jump on you without knocking you down." Fel offered happily.

Lakeeti had been a smaller canine. Well, when she jumped on Fel at least she didn't end up in the dirt. She smiled at the memory of her canine but sighed a little. The sad truth was that she didn't have a pet anymore... Lakeeti had never been hers, she had always belonged to Xiro. No matter how much Fel tried to trick herself into believing that the canine was her own pet. Maybe she would have the chance to find another pet sometime.

She cheered at that thought and looked back at Atenna.
"She'll be an amazing fetcher. You could play games with her too! Maybe she'll learn some tricks. My... Um... Some canines can learn to shake hands and high five!"
She kept scrubbing away after she had said her piece but wasn't really watching what she was doing but rather paying attention to Atenna and Verity.

Fel looked at Verity with worry. She’d been abandoned? That was absolutely horrible. Fel knew exactly how she felt. Her and the pup seemed to have a lot in common then! Although, given the things they did have in common it was probably not truly a good thing. At least Fel had only been abandoned by her brother and not by her whole family. She still wrote to them when she could… But she found writing difficult. The words were hard to make and she always found them tough to read.
“But then she found you! So I’m glad. Even if she’s been hurt, now she’s with someone who will love her forever.” Fel replied smiling at Atenna.

Fel pursed her lips at the question of having a canine and hid her face for a moment while she scrubbed away at the stall. She’d not technically had a canine herself… Lacky had always been for Xiro but she’d still loved that canine so much.
“Well… I did but she ran away.” Her head poked back up with a hopeful smile at the comment about pups, “Truly!? That would be so wonderful and amazing! Her pups would be so cute and tiny! I would love that!”

And she would love it so much, just like she loved Lacky. And Xiro. And everything! No matter what had happened between herself and Xiro she still did love him. Even if she hated him for everything he’d done to her. Maybe she would be able to forgive him one day, perhaps when her leg didn’t hurt as much.

Maybe when she impressed she would be able to show him how wonderful she was and precisely why he should never have left her alone. Because she would always become stronger than him, no matter what happened. The pain she felt had made her even more determined. She would be the best there was!

Fel smiled at Atenna. Whomever had abandoned that canine didn’t deserve her! Atenna definitely deserved the loyalty that canine would give. She was the person who was willing to take in a stray. It sure was great that Verity had found a new family. Hopefully she would be better soon and able to run and chase all the animals! Atenna had said Verity was too scared of the animals but, well, at least she might be better one day. Perhaps she would be able to help out with some of the smaller chores. Fel finished her current stall and moved into another empty one.

She nodded a little.
“Sometimes everyone needs a little adventure I guess.” She said quietly, “But a pup that could fit in my hand! That would be so cute! And then when it’s grown it can help me with my chores or something. Maybe if, when I impress, it could play with my Dragon!”

Her mind was completely taken up with thoughts of Flying with a canine and how it could possibly be accomplished without scaring it or letting it fall. Well, maybe that wasn’t possible but they could still have fun climbing on the Dragon together, assuming that the Dragon let them. Sometimes there were a few Dragons who seemed to be a little less tolerable of their bonded’s antics. She’d heard there was a Bronze bonded to a young boy who didn’t want him doing silly things.

She hoped a Dragon that she was bonded to liked being silly and funny. Even if it didn’t she would have to keep trying to be as silly as she could. She hoped she impressed a Dragon with really, really pretty colours! That would be so much fun. But a Dragon that could blend with the sky and sneak up on people would also be awesome! Now that she thought about it… She didn’t care what happened, she would be so happy no matter what!

Fel nodded. Yep, she could definitely get a puppy to learn how to help out with her chores! If she maybe tied a cloth to the puppy or put some sponges on the pup’s feet she would get her chores done four times quicker. She wasn’t so sure about that, though. She wasn’t certain it was all that nice to tie sponges to a canine. Probably not. No, she would have to figure out another way to let the pup help her. Of course, a canine would never be allowed in the kitchens. It was called unhygienic. Fel thought that was a rather mean thing to say about the animals. It was like calling someone smelly.

“Oh, yup! It sure could be helpful for me. I think that it would be tough training but I could do it.” Fel agreed, spiritedly.
She could do anything after all! She was absolutely amazing! Super, special and awesome, that her! Fel could show everyone how wonderful she was. And the best way to do that was to impress to a dragon. She hoped she would impress better than Xiro. A bigger dragon than anything he impressed would show him that he shouldn’t have just left her behind.

“Oh I hope I impress to something wonderful. Something big and strong and then we can fight Thread together!” Fel answered.
As far as colours went Pink was her favourite. It would be nice, also, to impress to a dragon the same colour as her caravan’s flag but she had left that part of her life behind. She would be happy with something strong, definitely.

When she was soaring through the skies on the back of a dragon, nothing else would matter. They would be partners in the sky and defend Pern until Thread was all fallen and gone! Yup! There would be nothing else and they would win.

Fel blushed at the compliment. She wasn’t sure how many people had ever told her that. She thought it to herself every day but not too many had actually told her. She smiled but kept scrubbing away, hiding her excitement at having been told she was ‘bright’. Mostly she had always spent her time following Xiro around. Even now she struggled to complete some chores because they were a little tough. She wasn’t as strong as some of the older candidates but she would be one day!

“Thank you.” She mumbled.
She wondered whether a dragon would be able to see what she was like. She knew they could read the minds of the candidates on the sands but she’d had no idea exactly what they could see. Could they see everything or only a few things. She wasn’t sure whether she wanted everything in her mind known by all the dragonets on the sands. Perhaps it would only be the one she impressed to that could read her mind… Well, when she impressed she would find out the answer!

“Well, when I impress and the dragon is a little older maybe you and Verity could come for a fly with us! Ooh! That would be so great!!”
The thought of going somewhere on dragonback was always exciting but going on dragonback with someone else was even more amazing! She couldn’t wait to impress. Flying for her first time would be an amazing experience. Everything about the dragons would be simply awesome!