Boo
Jr. Weyrwoman
booct[M:-425]
Shirath: THOSE aren't spirit fingers... THESE ARE SPIRIT FINGERS!!!
Posts: 1,917
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Post by Boo on Aug 1, 2011 2:49:26 GMT -5
”Oh! You’re from crescent?” Kire repeated unnecessarily, “I guess that’s kind of what I thought too. Well, and just that it seemed fun to go to a whole new place and especially a Hold.”
It was odd, but she had spoken with her roommate Camea about where they were from and had been thoroughly fascinated by the concept of being born in a Hold. Of course she had spent time in one but not for nearly as long as some of the other residents of Dalibor. Some had even been searched from a Hold! She also knew there were some traders around the Weyr but had only spoken with one; Qosis whom she was fairly certain had impressed one of the Tans at the last hatching. Other than that she had not really met all that many people whom had lived only in Holds. However, she had never met anyone who had been born in a cothold!
Then again, she also knew a few people who had lived in a Weyr their whole lives. She had spent a relatively small amount of time in a Hold but at least she had been able to come to understand a little more about life on Pern before impressing Kisk. She had certainly learned a lot and hoped to still learn more with Kisk by her side.
“What was it like in a cothold? I haven't met many people who lived in one!”
Kisk kept bouncing and opened his eyes to look at Orensk, tongue lolling out of his mouth in his excitement. He was flying! Even if it was only for a few seconds he was flying! Maybe he would be able to fly a little better if he tied something to his wings. Like the sack, if he only tied that to his wings he could go soaring through the air. He gurgled and landed on the ground, running about in a tight circle before charging over to do an excited figure eight around the two handlers.
BESTKIRE SEE!? KISK AM FLY! SHORT BUT GOOD! ORENSK BE FLY TOO!?!
He ran a tight circle around Orensk and then gurgled again in his extreme excitement before he nodded his head with excitement. Yes! Talking to cousindragons sounded like a great idea! They could fly so they must be able to teach others how to fly!
Maybe BestKire and OrenskBest’s learn fly!?! ALL FLY TOGETHER!!!
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Post by ferret on Aug 2, 2011 1:01:06 GMT -5
Fun? Oren wasn’t so sure about that… rocking back and forth, the miner had to consider it for a while before he nodded hesitantly. “That’s where I bonded with Orensk. Everything else was worth it, just for that.” It wasn’t exactly a fun transition; the only reason Oren hadn’t moved away further from his family was because that was literally the furthest he could afford to travel, but there really wasn’t a nice way to say that without bringing up more awkward questions so he kept it to himself.
The miner blinked in surprise as Kire sounded genuinely interested in cothold life. It was like finding someone who legitimately wanted to talk about the different kinds of rock that Oren found while rooting around in the tunnels. Well, almost as strange. “Um,” he started elegantly, looking down at his feet as though the answers were there. “Well, it was just a little cothold. It was quiet----much quieter than Crescent or Dalibor----it was small and… umm…” it was about at this point that words ran out and he was forced to shrug.
“It was just a tiny little cothold. I grew up, thinking I’d have to be a farmer all my life and then I decided I wanted to become a dragonrider.” It had been a stupid dream, he knew, as unreachable as the stars.
Still, bonding to Orensk was the best thing that had ever happened to him. A smile creased the handler’s face again as he watched the large blue play with the black wherlet, both of them jumping around as excitedly as though someone had forcefed them raw klah.
Kisk’s cheerful declaration that they were flying brightened up Orensk’s day. Well, night. The wherlet was right! Sure, it was a very short flight, but it was still a flight! The blue puffed up his chest with pride and let out a delighted bugle, sounding like a very excited puppy at the bottom of a very deep well. Kisk good fly! Fly longer than Orensk, at least it looked that way to Orensk’s eyes. Maybe the lighter and smaller black was able to jump higher in the low gravity of the night.
Or maybe he was just trying to be nice to poor Kisk. Asking the dragons seemed like a great idea! The more he rolled it around in his brain, the more Orensk approved of it. Clacking again, he looked over at the two humans carefully, trying to imagine them flying. Flap arms, can fly? he suggested, imagining both humans flapping their arms like wherries.
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Boo
Jr. Weyrwoman
booct[M:-425]
Shirath: THOSE aren't spirit fingers... THESE ARE SPIRIT FINGERS!!!
Posts: 1,917
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Post by Boo on Aug 3, 2011 21:06:05 GMT -5
Even in all her years as a Weyr inhabitant the thought of dragons had not been nearly as strong as her desire to impress a Wher. Most considered them incredibly ugly and hideous but Kire had always thought them unconventionally beautiful. They were almost the forgotten members of the Weyr. Sometimes she had felt the same as a Weyrbrat. On occasion she felt as though they were only of interest to the Weyr when they became old enough to Stand for hatchings.
Being in a cot Hold must have been really interesting. It would have been a lot smaller than some of the major holds so everyone would probably know one another. She hadn’t even known everyone at Ista and she’d lived there for a majority of her life. Dalibor was another matter entirely. She had come to the Weyr as a candidate so had barely come to know the riders or Weyrlings. There just hadn’t been enough time to get to know all of them.
“Did you know all of the people in the Hold? And, um, you Stood for the dragons first then? Kisk trilled back at Orensk pleased that the older Wher was also able to fly. One day, when their wings were stronger, they would be able to fly for even longer. Even though their wings were small perhaps they needed only build up their strength and stretch them out more so they could fly further and faster! They would be the fastest Whers in the whole Weyr and they would look absolutely amazing!
He kept bouncing up and down on the ground as though there was a matress underneath him and looked over at Kire. Yes! Orensk say flap arms! Can fly!
Looking down at Kisk and then at her arms Kire waved them uncertainly to satisfy Kisk’s interest. He gurgle giggled and then ducked down on the ground, watching Orensk again. Need jump big! Get start then FLYY!!!
His wings fluttered as he tried to stay in the air but it did little for him. Kisk was not to be disheartened though and merely kept bouncing up and down. Kire was very well aware that he would probably be bouncing everywhere for the rest of the season…
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Post by ferret on Aug 5, 2011 0:36:39 GMT -5
OhFaranth, there were more questions? Oren wondered if there was a polite way to simply turn and run, because if you had to flee a conversation, then you might as well be polite about it. “Um. In the cothold I was raised in, yes, I knew most everyone. It was a pretty small place. I mean, it was basically just me and a few other families.” Which had been part of the problem, honestly. News went through small cotholds faster than a Green in Flight and after a certain amount of time, Oren just couldn’t deal with the talking. “Um. But not everyone in Crescent. Some of the wherhandlers, yes, but not everyone. It’s kind of hard to get to know people when you’re working with whers, you know?”
Pfff, of course she knew. That was a stupid question, he realized as he looked back at little Kisk. She would know about the back-to-forwards life that the wherhandlers and wher Candidates lived, getting up just as others were going to bed and then getting to sleep as others were waking to greet the dawn. It was a demand put on them by their whers, but they didn’t complain about it. At least Oren hadn’t. Not talking to many people was never really a problem for him anyway. He shook his head. “No, I never stood for dragons. Just whers.”
A bit of an edge crept into his normally soft voice, just barely there. In the grand scheme of things, it probably held about the same amount of edge as a turnip did. But it was definitely there. His hand tightened on his arm a little. Alright, so maybe he was still a little bitter about always being passed up during Searches… but it was worth it, for Orensk. The wherhandler’s stance softened again as he looked over at the pair in play.
Well, formerly in play.
“Krkrkrk…” Orensk clicked and snuffled around Oren’s feet. Kisk’s was at least trying to fly. Why wasn’t his trying? Orensk’s stubby wings flapped in demonstration, just to help his handler get the idea. Try fly! he commanded, nudging Oren.
“Wh…” it took a little while for Oren to make sense of what the wher was trying to do and why Kire was suddenly flapping her arms around. At first he thought it was because she was cold or warm or crazy. Something to do with insanity or temperature anyway. But now it made sense. “Orensk, people can’t fl…”
Try fly! Orensk said, more insistently this time and flapping his wings harder.
With a sigh, Oren made a token effort to flap his arms, feeling completely foolish over it.
“Krkrkr…” Will fly, the blue wher confided in Kisk approvingly. Need practice. Much practice.
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Boo
Jr. Weyrwoman
booct[M:-425]
Shirath: THOSE aren't spirit fingers... THESE ARE SPIRIT FINGERS!!!
Posts: 1,917
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Post by Boo on Aug 7, 2011 12:51:27 GMT -5
Listening with rapt attention to what Oren had to say, Kire was fascinated by knowing just about everyone in one Hold. She knew he probably hadn’t known all the people at Crescent but the fact that he had been in a hold, small though it was, and known most people there was beyond awesome. Being who she was, she never even considered the downside to this merely thinking how wonderful it would be to know and be friends with everyone in the Hold.
Oh she did know how tough it was to get to know people as a Wherhandler. Well, at least they had one another. Even then, there was the occasional dragonrider to spend time out and about at night. Unfortunately, it was tougher for handlers to go out during the day than it was for Riders to stay awake at night. Kire would have loved to meet some of the Riders and she had met a couple but not too many of the Weyrlings.
“Oh I do know what that’s like but only in a Weyr. Maybe I’ll spend some time at a Hold one day though.”
Kisk was headbutting her leg lightly and Kire made another effort to fly, flapping her arms resulting in giggle gurgling from Kisk. As soon as Oren made an attempt Kisk began rolling on the ground, feet in the air as he literally rolled about in laughter. Glancing to the side, Kire grinned at Oren awkwardly knowing what they would look like to any passers-by. She hadn’t noticed the hint of bitterness in the wherhandler’s tone when he spoke of dragons, being too interested in watching the Whers.
BestKire must fly biig! Jump! He huffed softly when his BestKire did not start jumping immediately and then turned to Orensk wondering whether His was doing any better. Well, Orensk’s had bigger arms than His so maybe he would be able to fly much better than BestKire.
Orensk’s can fly BIIIG!!! MUCH BIG! We teach good! They need jump.
He was disappointed that they weren’t jumping up and down but he supposed they were just a little tired. Kisk began jumping up and down fluttering his wings excitedly hoping BestKire would figure out how to fly from watching him.
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Post by ferret on Aug 8, 2011 18:14:26 GMT -5
…W… was she actually listening to him? It wasn’t the strangest moment in Oren’s life----that award went to when Orensk bonded with him-----but it was certainly right up there. The Weyr was far more interesting than the Hold, surely; for one thing, it had dragons. That kind of automatically made it far more interesting than some boring ol’ Hold, especially one from the very backwaters of Pern. Well, she did say she’d never been to a cothold before, he reminded himself. He smiled a little, although there was a definite shy edge to it, a hint that it could creep away at any moment. “Well… it had its good points,” he admitted. “It was kind of nice to know everyone by name instead of having to nod and pretend you knew exactly who you were talking to.”
Although he was definitely going to make a special effort to remember Kire and her Kisk. Come on, who could possibly forget the adorable black wherling?
Orensk snorted and shoved his head into Oren once more with a snort. Orensk’s not trying hard enough! the blue wher demanded with a stamp. To demonstrate, he flapped his own wings once more and jumped away with all the grace typically associated with one-winged wherries. Those swirling blue and green eyes focused on Kisk’s for a moment, studying her flapping technique with the solemnity of an open grave.
This was important. What if humans could fly all this time but they were just afraid to try it? Now that would be a true tragedy! Need jump! Kisk’s and Orensk’s need jump! he added urgently, when his subtle-as-a-mallet-to-the-head clues went over Oren’s head anyway. Once again, he leapt and then landed with a mighty whump.
…ok, that was about where Oren decided to draw the line. “How about this?” he offered reasonably. “How about we go swimming tomorrow? That way we can all… err… strengthen our wings?” he suggested, with a glance to Kire. Hopefully, she wouldn’t mind being volunteered for swimming too much. The handler was reasonably certain that he could distract his wher before tomorrow anyway.
“Krkrk…” the wher clicked thoughtfully, clearly rolling the idea around in his brain. By his judgement, tomorrow sounded like a very busybusy day! Full of… of stuff and things! He loved stuff and things! Finally, he consented with a delighted bugle. Much fun with Kisk and Kisk’s! he agreed with a happy wriggle.
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Boo
Jr. Weyrwoman
booct[M:-425]
Shirath: THOSE aren't spirit fingers... THESE ARE SPIRIT FINGERS!!!
Posts: 1,917
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Post by Boo on Aug 10, 2011 21:04:21 GMT -5
Kire agreed with that! Sometimes people started speaking to her and she felt terrible for not knowing their names. Even still, some people knew her name despite the fact she had never seen them before in her life. Generally, she knew most of the Wherhandlers if only because she found them all absolutely fascinating and, quite frankly, amazing. She rather enjoyed following them around whenever she could but the time she had for such things was limited. Other people might consider someone like Kire obsessed but in her mind she just found Wherhandlers fascinating.
“Yeah… I understand that but I also generally remember most of the Handlers because they’re all really interesting to speak with. Trust me, I’ll remember you for certain,” she smiled enthusiastically, arms sort of flapping still, “Kisk will probably have difficulty forgetting Orensk too!” Yes! Am always know!
However, Kisk was still thoroughly annoyed with Kire for not jumping up and down to fly. Apparently Orensk thought the same for he mentioned something about jumping too. Kisk gurgled at the blue wher with excitement and then looked back at Kire, waiting for her to start jumping up and down. She looked back at him for a moment and then jumped up and down, stopping abruptly as Oren started to speak.
Kisk rolled on the ground giggle-gurgling at the fact that Kire had flown if even for a short while and then looked upside down at Orensk, watching the blue wher with interest.
“Oh… Um, yes! We can definitely go for a swim tomorrow! Would you like that Kisk?” Her face was coloured a little red for she had actually started jumping up and down before. Regardless, she smiled at Kisk as he rolled over and started jumping up and down again with excitement.
MUCH LOVE! MUCH LOVE! MUCH LOVE!!! He jumped around the two handlers in a circle. He hadn’t been swimming all that much but this sounded like an amazing thing to do! If Orensk’s had suggested it then it must have been awesome!
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Post by ferret on Aug 11, 2011 2:21:35 GMT -5
“…Really?” Now Oren sounded downright flabbergasted, or at least as though his flabber was slightly gasted. It wasn’t that he was unused to being remembered or anything; Orensk had a tendency to stick in people’s mind. A large blue wher who persistently acted like a giant dog tended to do that, but someone remembering him as someone else other than, ‘oh, that’s Orensk’s handler’ was a bit new. His name was right there in the wher’s name, but people tended… to not notice him. “Yeah, Orensk is definitely going to remember Kisk too. He’s got a pretty good memory, even for a wher.”
And the handler himself would definitely remember Kire and her friendly black wherling.
Always remember nice, Orensk agreed, nudging tiny Kisk with his nose. Considering the size difference between the pair, it could have easily turned into a push rather than a mere nudge. Swim much fun. At least, so long as it wasn’t cold. That still just freaked the wher out, since it moved like it should be alive, and yet it wasn’t. Baths were especially suspicious. But swimming would be ok, he decided, especially if it led to flying later.
Although he was definitely confused on the link between swimming and flying. Orensk’s eyes suspiciously narrowed as he considered this seeming problem. Water not air. Water water, he said in tones of absolute seriousness. With another nudge to Kisk, he privately added. Orensk’s tired. Think water is air. Must rest.
Oren considered correcting the wher, and even tried. “No, see, the water will strengthen your wings. I know it’s not air… sorry, Kire. He gets like this.” But the blue was right; it was getting late. Er. Early. Faranth, it was so difficult to keep time things in check.
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Boo
Jr. Weyrwoman
booct[M:-425]
Shirath: THOSE aren't spirit fingers... THESE ARE SPIRIT FINGERS!!!
Posts: 1,917
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Post by Boo on Aug 12, 2011 15:50:08 GMT -5
The sad thing about all this was that Kire and Kisk would definitely be there waiting for Oren and Orensk to go for a swim even if it happened to be snowing. So, ah, basic was their collective mind that they did not take into consideration other factors like weather and even the other duties their new friends may have to complete. Such was the partnership of Kire and Kisk. Together they could possibly, maybe have enough brain power to figure something out. Most of their intellect, however, was put towards believing everything others told them.
“Oh… Kisk is a little forgetful sometimes,” all the time, “but I think he’ll be trying to fly for many seasons to come. He’s a little like that.” Kisk certainly seemed to remember those who taught him something at least for he remembered Kalesk and Ausk so that was a little heartening to know. Perhaps he would even remember Brisk if she reminded him. It was more troubling that he seemed to keep forgetting where he was going than anything else.
Yes! Kisk am always remember… Ah… Amazing! Amazing Investigator Orensk! Poor little Kisk knew they were words of praise but had no idea what they actually meant only that they applied to him. So, naturally, because Orensk was a fun wher the term must also apply to the blue. In Kisk’s mind this was the only explanation of the words.
Kire smiled fondly at Kisk. He was so smart remembering those words. Probably the smartest wher ever! Kisk suddenly rolled on the floor again giggle-gurgling happily. Orensk’s think water air? It no air. It water! Kire smiled at Oren and shook her head indicating that she knew what he meant. “Kisk’s much the same.”
Kisk kept rolling on the floor and then got to his feet again to look at Orensk. Oh. Must sleep? That fine. We am sleep here! And he dropped to the ground, closing his eyes while Kire tried to keep him awake.
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Post by ferret on Aug 12, 2011 23:03:27 GMT -5
Oren nodded in agreement. “Takes forever for them to get a hold of an idea but once they’ve got it, it’s like trying to take a bone away from a dog.” Or anything away from a wher, really, now that he thought about it. Oren had lost a lot of good shirts that way, because Orensk had decided they were his and whers were not very good at sharing. Nippy autumn breezes brought Oren back to the present, reminding him that, yes, it was Fall and that was also not a very good season to go swimming in. But the promise had already been made; it wasn’t like he could suddenly turn around and go, ‘psych! Bwahahaha! Totally had you going, didn’t I, Orensk?’
The blue wher was clearly enamored with the idea of going swimming tomorrow; in his mind, it would be a wonderful warm night, more reminiscent of summer rather than fall. And it would be a wonderful magical moment! There would even be fireflies, because Orensk loved fireflies! Ohh, and he bet that Kisk would love them too! “Krkrk?” he clicked curiously as Kisk’s unfamiliar words filtered through his little fantasy. He was preeeeetty certain that they were complimentary, but… he needed to check and make sure.
Orensk is investigator?
Hm? I… suppose? We investigate mines together, so sure. Oren wasn’t quite certain where that question came from, but the answer clearly pleased the wher.
“Kreeee!” he squealed, as happy as… well, an Orensk who just got very good news. He was a great investigator! He investigated rocks every day! He would investigate all the rocks! Puffing out his chest with pride, the blue wher struck a pose. The moment was slightly ruined by a “Blort!” of surprise as Kisk suddenly fell down. “Rlllll?” Orensk rolled the noise around in his mouth, nosing the small black wherling.
Is ok? Is broken? Is Kisk broken? “Rrrrreennnnk!” he whined, his eyes swirling with a concerned yellow.
“No, no! I’m sure Kisk is ok. He’s just sleeping. Speaking of sleep,” Oren added, turning back to Kire. “I think it’s time for me and Orensk to get some. We’ve got mining to do tomorrow… uhh… will you be able to handle Kisk ok?” Probably; Kire had been holding Kisk a few moments earlier, but Oren wanted to make sure.
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Boo
Jr. Weyrwoman
booct[M:-425]
Shirath: THOSE aren't spirit fingers... THESE ARE SPIRIT FINGERS!!!
Posts: 1,917
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Post by Boo on Aug 15, 2011 22:40:34 GMT -5
Yes that was most certainly very true for Kisk rarely ever let go of new and exciting ideas once they took hold. He had even tried flying with Nisk, one of the greens from Risk’s clutch, only a few nights before. He had tried to convince her that flying was the best way of getting around but, considering that they couldn’t fly, it was a little depressing that they got so excited over just getting off the ground for even a second. Well, if it made Kisk happy then it almost always made Kire happy.
So, they would no doubt go searching for the other pair the following night especially considering that Kire could already see Kisk’s thoughts about soaring through the air after having launched himself from the water. Apparently, he thought that swimming would ultimately lead straight to flight. Well, she was just pleased that he was happy even if he would probably become upset when it failed… Or not.
“No, he’s not really sleeping but he does take naps rather frequently,” she crouched down beside him and petted Kisk’s head happily, “So tomorrow it is then! We can go swimming and then perhaps we will all be able to fly together.”
For once the stupidity of her own statement was not lost as Kire smiled awkwardly upon realising this. “Wake up Kisk we need to sleep somewhere else now.” Kisk am sleep! No wakey BestKire! That not nice! I no wakey you! Yes you do… All the time… … AM WAKE! He jumped to his feet and then looked over at Orensk, waggling his body again. KISK AM LOVE ORENSK!! WE SWIM AND FLY!!! AMAZING INVESTIGATORS TOGETHER!
“Well we’ll see them again tomorrow for swimming!”
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