Initiation Rite (For W'al)

[4horseshowgirl4]

Pratyba was rather bored of life at Dalibor so far. She took little interest in the mudane chores and tasks of building for which her parents had been sent here, though she had often helped out for lack of anything else to do. There weren't any other Candidates here yet, and all of the Dragonriders were too old to befriend a sixteen-Turn-old Candidate. Being part of the construction of a brand new Weyr had its advantages, but Pratyba sorely missed the bustling social atmosphere of the large and busy Southern Weyr.

So it was because of this that she was quite excited when she heard of the arrival of a Purplerider, and one that was only two Turns older than her at that. Her own brother, Porat, had been one of her favorite people and her best friend at Southern, even after he'd Impressed Purple Juhoth. She dearly regretted the end of their young, innocent, carefree days before Porat had Impressed, where they waged their own war of who could pull the most spectacular pranks and win the most laughs from the other Weyrbrats. Porat had Impressed before Pratyba had even been a Candidate, but they'd still shared many laughs together before Pratyba had left for Dalibor along with her parents.

She had heard from her father which one was going to be the new Purplerider's weyr, and she dashed up all of the stairs to examine it, arriving quite out of breath. It was as large and high up as his rank decreed. Pratyba, feeling slightly whimsical and sentimental today, again remembered Porat's weyr, and often hitching a ride from Queth, her other brother's, Zabio, dragon, a Blue, whose weyr was halfway between the ground of the Weyrbowl and Juhoth's weyr. Pratyba missed her brothers more than anything else from Southern, but she hoped that they would come visit soon.

Pratyba looked slowly around the weyr, which looked quite lonely and forlorn with its furniture neatly in place but with no possessions scattered haphazardly or even neatly stowed away. Her typically wide, mischievous grin spread slowly across her face. Ooh, she was going to set up a prank for this new Purplerider. A... well, an initiation rite, if one would be so kind as to call it that. Really, it was just an euphemism for mass chaos, an excuse for quite a bit of fun on her part.

Pratyba dashed back to the Candidate barracks to scourge for materials, her mind clicking along quite happily. She was actually skipping as she traveled to the barracks, not minding what drudges gave her questioning looks. She hoped that this Purplerider would have a good sense of humor. Well, it seemed like all Purpleriders would, right? After all, their dragons were as fun-loving as Pratyba herself, and it wasn't unknown for them to pull pranks as well as a dragon could. Certainly a Purplerider had to have a greater sense of fun than, say, the average Queenrider.

Pratyba gathered up her materials and clutched them to her chest as she jogged rather raggedly back towards the Purplerider's new weyr. Shells, it was a long climb! Pratyba deposited her assorted supplies on the floor and set to work. She definitely wanted to see the reaction on the new 'Rider's face!

Her long years as a bored and mischievous Weyrbrat at Southern had taught her some of the complicated and extravagent pranks seen on this side of Pern. She first slipped a whoopie cushion under the mattress of the cot, where it was likely that the new transfer would first sit. Of course, there wasn't any rubber on Pern, but Pratyba had found that two lollipop-shaped pieces of canvas cloth sewn together around the edges, and with its narrow tubular opening at the end with a stretchy braided cord of cotton tied tightly around the edge had a similar effect (though, obviously, Pratyba didn't know what a Terran whoopie cushion was like).

Her second manner of business was to rig a complicated trap. She threaded a very thin piece of cotton thread a few inches above ground level across the entrance of the weyr. She tied it securely on the left side of the doorway. She then strung it across the entrance to the right side, up the right wall, and then used it to tie close a box, which was tied to the ceiling, with its opening on the bottom, facing the floor. She debated on with what to fill the box, and finally decided on pieces of old parchment. Because they were discarded with the trash, they were easily accessible, and they were light enough that they wouldn't do anything more than annoy or amuse (Pratyba was hoping for the latter) the new Dragonrider.

Pratyba checked Rukbat's position and the amount of time she had left. Finally, she went to the chest for possessions and put a spring inside. As a Candidate, she didn't have access to a nice metal one, but one made of springy wood did just as well. Now, what to spring at him? A nice, ripe redfruit, of course, thought Pratyba as she carefully positioned it on the spring. She closed the trunk securely.

Her pranks set, Pratyba retreated to the bathing room of the weyr and cracked the door open so she could watch the chaos unleash themselves. Now, she just had to wait for that Purplerider to arrive.

[renscorch]

W'al Just managed to get there, of course it was late. It takes a while to fly straight for so far. Kerath landed as directed, first they had to get their instructions about the Weyr and were they are going to sleep. He is beat; he just wanted to take a nice nap. Outside he mounted Kerath, they quickly flew up to their weyr edge. He slides off of Kerath's neck. "Well, new place to sleep i guess." He made his way into the weyr followed by his dragon. While Kerath nosed around the weyr; W'al walked right over to the hole in the wall. The perfect dummy waiter. "Throw something warm up here for an empty belly!" He yelled. He pulled off some of his gear and threw it on the bed.

A loud and rude noise suddenly came from the bed. Both W'al's head and Kerath head shot up. They looked at each other. "Did you....?" He suddenly asked. No I didn't. Kerath retorted. W'al walked over to the bed and pulled it apart. "Well it looks like some one left a present." He said slowly. He looked around. He then walked over to the door. "Someone here?" He asked. He pulled open the door just to get rained on with pieces of parchment. Kerath chuckled.

"What so funny?" He asked his dragon. Of course Kerath pointed at him. Kerath looked around and then his eyes fell on the chest. "You don't think?" He asked Kerath. Both him and his dragon walked over to the chest as if it would go off at anytime. He reached down slowly; placing a hand on it, "O.k., on the count of three..." He said. "One..." W'al said. "Two..." He threw open the box at the same time ducking. A redfruit goes sailing over head and smashes right into his dragon's face. W'al turn his head and stared at his surprised dragon; W'al suddenly broke out laughing.

[4horseshowgirl4]

Pratyba was getting anxious. It was getting dark, and her belly was starting to rumble. She could go get the redfruit, and she was seriously considering eating her booby trap. It was getting dark, too, and Pratyba watched the rays of Rukbat slowly sink from her hiding spot in the bathing room. She was going to need to leave soon, or she wouldn't be able to find her way back to the barracks. She cursed silently under her breath, wishing that she'd at least had the foresight to bring a couple of glow with her. She pushed open the door of the bathing room, getting ready to leave. She at least hoped that the Purplerider wouldn't come tonight, but would rather arrive tomorrow morning, so Pratyba could resume her sentry post.

But, as she was just leaving, she heard flapping wings approaching. Pratyba squealed in delight and ran back into the bathing room. She wanted to see this! She caught her first glimpse of the Dragonrider and the big Purple dragon. The 'Rider looked like a typical Dragonrider: tall, lean, and tanned. The dragon, too, looked nice enough.

Pratyba was wracked with silent giggles when W'al threw his gear on the bed, unleashing the wrath of the whoopie cushion. Funnier than the noise was the way dragon and rider blamed each other. Classic! Unfortunately, it wasn't long before the tall 'Rider found her joke, and he was suddenly wary. Pratyba stifled her giggles and concentrated on breathing as quietly as possible. She didn't want them to find her before they had 'discovered' all of the jokes!

Pratyba had more trouble silencing her guffaws when Kerath walked right through her second trap, pieces of parchment sticking to his white-blond hair. She was also pleasantly surprised to see that Kerath found this just as funny as she did. Her sides were starting to ache with the effort of keeping herself silent. W'al would be highly suspicious by now, and he'd go to investigate any noise. She craned her neck around to keep the trunk in her line of sight. Go for it... go for it! she silently urged the Purplerider on.

She broke out in raucous laughter when the redfruit hit the dragon rather than the rider. She didn't bother to contain herself, it was just too... darn... funny! She was leaning against the bathing room door, making it shake with her heaving laughter. The door swung open, and Pratyba toppled out, clutching her sides, tears of joy streaming down her darkly tanned face.

"That... was... great!" she choked the words out between bouts of the giggles.

Finally, she composed herself enough to stand up. "I'm Pratyba!" she said, holding out a hand, still laughing. "Well, what did you think of your welcoming ceremony?"

[renscorch]

W'al took notice of the sudden laughter that was not his that joined him. He turn to the door. It shook and banged. W'al stared at the girl that fell out. This had turn into a very interesting day alright. Sometimes I don't get you humans. Kerath muttered to W'al; Kerath then tried to lightly scrape off some of the splattered fruit off his snout.

"Well I'm glad you were entertained. " He said lightly, he then looked out the held hand. "My name is W'al, This poor fellow you splattered is my dragon Kerath. He didn't want to seem rude, but after a stunt like that does she really expect him to shake her hand? There could be some other joke hidden up her sleeve. He's really was not going to risk it; not at all if he could help it. "Pratyba?" He asked, mostly to himself.

"The welcoming was, different." He said, right then the food arrive. He looked at it then her. She must of spent all day making those traps that would only last a few seconds. "come on over, I give you some food." He said lightly. He walked over and pulled out the food and set it on a small table. He sent the tray back down. "Bring up a few more drinks and some more fruit!" He yelled after it. "Don't be shy. Take some." He quickly said.

[4horseshowgirl4]

Pratyba let her forgotten or ignored hand flop back down by her side. She was practically oblivious to W'al's subtle-- and most likely unintentional-- show of rudeness. "W'al and Kerath. Nice names!" she quipped, following W'al over to the table. She was still overcome by random bouts of giggles. My, she hadn't had a funfest like that since she'd arrived at Dalibor. W'al must think of her as half insane by now with her sporatic laughter attacks, but most people did, anyway. Still, their reactions to her pranks had been priceless. Pratyba had the feeling she'd break out laughing at inappropriate times this sevenday when these memories landed upon her.

"Why, thank you," Pratyba said graciously, sitting herself at the table and grabbing a small fruit. Her belly rumbled appreciatively. Pratyba certainly wasn't shy; she didn't pretend to refuse politely and wait until W'al insisted. Faranth, she was going to die of hunger if she didn't eat soon! She took a large bite of the fruit and swallowed it hastily, not really bothering to 'savor the taste' or whatever her mother always told her to do at mealtime.

"Well, I'm glad you liked it!" Pratyba chirped, before taking another generous mouthful of the food. She, again, gulped it down quickly before continuing. "I mean, you did like it, didn't you? I'm just glad you're not mad at me. Or you, Kerath?" she asked, smiling at the Purple dragon, still traces of the redfruit on his snout. "I don't know-- did you like it? C'mon, you have to admit that it'll make a great story later! Anyway," she continued, not really giving W'al a chance to reply. "since you managed to live through it without tossing me into the Weyrbowl or turning around and leaving, I've decided to make this your initiation rite! Welcome to Dalibor! But don't worry, most everybody else is fairly normal."

Pratyba put the rest of her small fruit into her mouth and chewed it. She decided that she rather liked W'al and Kerath. Well, she didn't know Kerath that well, honestly, nor W'al, but they seemed decent. Perhaps they weren't as humorous as she'd hoped, but it could be that they were just tired and/or overwhelmed. They were hospitable, certainly. She looked around the weyr, but from the vantage of a resident rather than a burglar. The weyrs were rather posh, much nicer than the Candidate barracks.

"So, where're you from? Where'd you Impress Kerath? My parents and I came from Southern, where my two twin brothers Impressed. They're six Turns older than me. Zabio Impressed a Blue his first go 'round, and my other brother Porat Impressed a Purple, like Kerath!" Pratyba chattered happily, making herself quite at home.

[renscorch]

Chatty one. W'al privately said to Kerath. Kerath lowered his head over the girl. Then gave a snort. "He doesn't mind tossing you out." He said flatly; then laughing, He stood. "Come here, let me finish getting the fruit off." As he wiped Kerath's nose. He decided to answer the poor girl's questions.

"Were I am from? Well I was born in Nerat hold," he started, he finished wiping off of The purple's dragon nose an any other sports that contain redfruit. "As for were Kerath was born and I lucky enough to be there was, Benden Weyr." The he prodded his dragon with his finger. "It looks like you have a rival." Only you humans would come up with such a foolish concept. Kerath said boldly. "Oh... Ya, thanks alot." W'al muttered.

[4horseshowgirl4]

Pratyba was definitely not expecting Kerath so close to her, much less for him to do anything to surprise her. She should have guessed it after her redfruit had hit him (she still grinned at the thought), knowing that the Purple would want some sort of comeuppance. It wasn't like a King (or Sub-King, whatever floated your boat) to take such an insult lying down.

Still, Pratyba jumped violently when she felt Kerath's hot breath snort against the back of her neck. She tumbled out of her chair, and the wooden seat toppled down next to her. "AYIEEEEE!" she shrieked, whipping around, just to see Kerath. She turned quickly back to W'al, his words frightening her for a second before his laughter clued her in to the joke. She, too, broke down into rowdy shouts of laughter. "Good one! You almost had me there for a second!" She had certainly earned it, she thought, smiling, and she could take what she dealt out at the least.

Pratyba brushed herself off from habit, though the weyr was perfectly dustless in welcome of its new resident. She bent down hastily and righted the chair, plopping herself back into it. She reached for a second fruit without inhibition and bit into it. "Benden! What's it like there? I've never been there. Are the winters as fierce and cold as everyone says? How long have you and Kerath been together?"

Pratyba admired Kerath's sleek violet hide. He really was a pretty dragon... was he going to chase Kalith when she Rose? He might-- as a Sub-King, he had a chance! He'd have to beat big old Diadoroth for the prize, though, and he and O'sho were some team! Pratyba didn't care so much for who Kalith chose, though. She was sure that whomever the Copper selected as her mate would be more than capable. She just couldn't wait for a Hatching! Porat and Zabio promised to come visit the week before the Hatching was expected to watch.

[renscorch]

"Benden Weyr was cold at times, yes. How ever I really can tell you right from wrong about what everyone else says..." He stated. He then looked at her. "I have a question for you, are you a Candidate? Cause if you are, you should not be starting pranks on those older then you. " He said with a laugh.

He bent his knees a little and whispered, "but I'll hand it to you. Those pranks were good ones, just remember not to pull them on the grumpies." He said with a light chuckle. He pointed at his dragon. "He help me find that out the hard way." He stood up and made a mock expression of a Trainer. "Learn to control your Kerath, The last we need is him disturbing the others everyday!" He said boldly. Kerath wrapped his tail around W'al. Funny, that not what they tell me. The dragon said with a chuckle. W'al smiled. "Ya, ya. I'm sure they do."

[4horseshowgirl4]

"Of course I'm a Candidate!" Pratyba protested, throwing out her chest and trying to look haughty. She failed miserably, succumbing to giggles before more than a few seconds had passed. "Actually, I only got made one a few sevendays ago, when my family and I got here. Southern was huge; I was never a Candidate there, even though my brothers were." She swallowed the last nibble of her second fruit with flourish, her hunger significantly abated.

"Why shouldn't I pull pranks? Someone's got to keep everyone on their toes here! I just happen to be that someone." Pratyba wriggled her thick eyebrows and smiled like a toad that's just caught a fly, revealing crooked teeth. She chuckled at W'al's next words. "Oh, come on, do you think I'm stupid? Do you really expect me to go booby trap Fajra's trunk with redfruit?" She paused for a moment, her smile widening again. "Actually, that would be pretty fun!"

Pratyba broke into laughter for the umpteenth time that evening at W'al's hysterical impersonation. Now that W'al was warming up and becoming more open, she found that he was actually as humorous and fun-loving as she had hoped the Purplerider would be. Still, she couldn't help but sigh in envy as Kerath wrapped his tail lovingly around his bonded. She'd witnessed the close relationship between dragon and rider so many times now, but it still induced the same impassioned feelings of longing. One day, she and some unknown, unclutched dragon would share that amazing relationship!

Pratyba's thoughts didn't stay on such a serious topic for long. While being hopeful wasn't a bad thing, there was no point in harping continuously after something that wasn't even remotely possible for several months yet! No, it was better to live in the present. And in the present, Pratyba had a young Dragonrider, a possible new friend to make. She had few friends at Dalibor, as most of the weyrfolk here were the serious, ambitious sort of folk that saw Dalibor as a new name-making opportunity rather than a chance to meet new people.

"I hope I Impress!" Pratyba exclaimed, making her feelings know. "I guess that was sort of a pointless thing to say, though, wasn't it? What Candidates doesn't want to Impress?" she laughed at her silly error. "Still, I can see the Weyrlingmaster saying the same thing to my dragon that yours told to you! 'Come on, Somethingth, control your crazy bonded, will ya'?"

[renscorch]

W'al smiled and untangled himself from his dragon's tail. "It not pointless in saying that." He smiled at her joking. "Don't let anyone say it pointless in saying you want something. Remember, just cause everyone may want it, to mean everyone will get it. So you must make sure you know what you want. It not pointless in strengthening your own beliefs."

He smiled. This has been an interesting day. She a smart girl, I would not be surprised if she was chosen by another very smart one. W'al looked up in surprise. "Well You have one dragon believing you will have a strong partner." He smiled. "Don't you worry. I'm sure you will Impress. Your a smart girl, you should have and equally smart partner." He said with a smile.

[4horseshowgirl4]

Pratyba raised her left eyebrow at W'al, uncertain of his meaning. Was he being sarcastic with her, or was he being serious? It was hard to tell from his joking tone. Pratyba decided that W'al was just laughing along with her, but also reassuring her that her comment hadn't been too pointless. "Philosophical, eh?" Pratyba said, not quite joking. Actually, she noticed that, though he was only a couple of Turns older than her, the Dragonrider was much more mature. Did Impressing do that to everybody?

Still, it was a strange sensation to have someone take her words seriously for once. She hadn't been kidding when she said she had wanted to Impress,-- how could she joke about something like that?-- but she had turned it into one of her usual silly quips. But, W'al hadn't laughed. He had instead examined the more serious part of her little chattering. Pratyba leaned back, balancing her chair on its back two legs. She sat forward before she had a chance to lose her carefully maintained balance and topple to the floor again.

"You think I'm smart?" Pratyba exclaimed. She would have sprayed her klah all over the place had she been drinking some. She almost wished that she had at the moment, as it created a nice dramatic effect. Kerath thought she was smart? Pratyba yielded to the laughter that built up and bubbled over. "Oh, I'm sorry!" she gasped, clutching at a stitch in her side. "But no one, not even my own parents, not even the little voices in my head, have called me smart before! People have called me witty, creative, etcetera, etcetera, which are really just other words for slightly mad." Pratyba barked in laughter again.

Finally, she stopped. "Wow," she breathed. "That means quite a lot, actually. I don't know too many people that think I'll even make it out of the Sands alive." Pratyba returned W'al's smile, a sincere smile rather than one that was simply amused and happy for once. She also smiled at Kerath. "Tell him thank you for me. Tell him I'm also sorry about the redfruit," she told W'al. She hesitated, and then said, "Actually, I'm not that sorry about the redfruit. That was funny. But do tell Kerath that I appreciate the compliment."

[renscorch]

W'al smile deepen and he pat the big dragon on the shoulder. "He only wishes to tell the truth." He said. This girl a silly one. He just hope that things don't get out of hand with her... He can hardly imagined what will happen if she gain a dragon that matched her personality and pranks. I'll be having to watch my tail as well if that the case. Kerath muttered to him.

This has been a day. It was getting dark. "Don't you have some were you need to be? I sure someone getting worried. I can escort you if needed. We don't want you to get in any trouble." He said. He stood, He wasn't trying to get rid of her. It just he didn't want to let her get hurt stumbling around in the dark. He looked around an spotted a basket of shielded glows. He walked over to it and uncovered it a crack. He turned to the girl and gave her a warm smile.

[4horseshowgirl4]

"Aww, thanks!" Pratyba cooed, truly flattered. She knew it wasn't in a dragon's nature to lie, but she wasn't too familiar with these new colors, and the way that W'al stated quite frankly that his dragon was telling the truth was a rather nice reassurance. She could scarcely believe that the dragon had found it in his heart to pay her such nice compliments even after she had inadvertantly hit him in the head with the redfruit.

Pratyba held out her hand cautiously to Kerath's head, wondering if the dragon would let her scratch his eyeridges or just run her hand down his snout. She kept her hand palm up, so Kerath would see quite clearly that she didn't conceal anything in her hand. "I won't throw any more fruit at you for at least a sevenday!" she jokingly promised, chuckling slightly. She actually hadn't planned, nor would she ever plan, to hit any dragon with anything, as she knew that she had got lucky that Kerath was so good-natured.

"Well, technically I'm supposed to be in the Candidate barracks," Pratyba told W'al, but her eyes didn't wander from Kerath. The dragon was far prettier than his 'Rider, as dragon and humans tended to be. "I usually sleep in the kitchens with the other weyrfolk, though, since I'm the only Candidate at the moment. As you have probably figured out," she added with a wry grin, "I'm not exactly one to volunteer to sleep by myself, with no one else around to bother."

Pratyba, too, stood up and shoved her chair roughly under the table. After W'al's kind hospitatily, it was the least she could do to at least pretend like she knew some of the social niceties. The thought that W'al was trying to get rid of her didn't even cross her optimistic mind, but if it had, she would have known that it wasn't true. She herself was getting a little apprehensive about getting into bed before her mother took note of her elongated absence and started to search for her.

"It's okay, I don't need an escort!" she chirped. "I've lived here long enough-- I should probably be showing you around! I can get myself back to my quarters, but thank you anyway!" She stretched her arms above her head, and, dropping her hands back to her sides, rolled her shoulders and yawned widely. "Could I take a few glows, though? I, uh, sort of forgot to bring some with me."

Speaking of forgetting things, Pratyba took a few steps forward and started to collect her assorted pranking possessions from around the weyr. She found the little box in which she had put the pieces of parchment and put the string, most of the used bits of parchment, and the remnants of the redfruit inside. She didn't want to make W'al have to clean it up after being the butt of the jokes, and, besides, she didn't want to leave too many trademarks of the pranks behind her.

[renscorch]

W'al just nods and watch the girl. He place the basket down. "Just be good." He commanded jokingly. "After all the best prank is being unpredictable." He sighed. He hoped the girl didn't pull to many pranks if she becomes a rider. When. Corrected his dragon. W'al flashed a smile up at his dragon. Yes. When she becomes one.

[4horseshowgirl4]

"Yes, sir!" Pratyba said, saluting W'al with unnecessary bravado. She dropped her hand back to her side and bowed flamboyantly, her dark hair flipping over her face. "Thank you!" she yelled, grabbing several of the glows and galloping towards the stairs. Her feet flashed down the stairs that she knew well, which was good, because her rather large pile of trash and materials was preventing her from seeing her feet.

By some small miracle, Pratyba made it back to the Weyrbowl unhurt, without tripping and falling all over the place. She sprinted back towards the kitchens, where her mother was just helping clean up the large, warm room for the night. Pratyba slipped by her and tossed the calling cards of her mischievous deeds into the garbage with the rest of the spoiled food and torn-up parchment bits. She also grabbed a spiceroll and munched on it happily. It was a little stale, having sat out on the counter since this morning, but Pratyba didn't care. The fruit from W'al had been nice, but she needed something a bit more substantial if she wasn't going to starve before breakfast.

Pratyba headed back to the Candidate barracks, empty and lonesome as it was. She tossed her string and her box back into her small trunk, tucking it securely underneath the white, balled-up wad that was her Candidate's robe. She wouldn't be needing it for a while. Pratyba swallowed the last of her filched spiceroll and sucked the crumbs off of the ends of her plump fingers noisily.

Finally, she threw herself into bed, tucking the blanket around herself snugly to keep the winter's cold out. She sighed before easily falling to sleep.

It had been a good day.

(Can be moved to the archives)