Echos from below [Kia]

[Kila]

Ecco? Ecco! Where'd you go!? Sol could not deny that in those few moments when she was unsure of her bonded's whereabouts she felt a near stroke of panic. Whirling around, for the Cyan and been trotting cheerfully by her heels like a canine only just before, she breathed an immediate sight of relief when she saw Eccolath sitting transfixed in front of a tunnel leading down into the Lower Caverns.

What are you doing, you silly thing? You scared me half to death, why didn't you answer me? she asked, doubling back and going to Eccolath's side. The dragonett still did not answer her, however. Sol could tell that she was vaguely aware of her presence, but her full attention was lost in the darkness below. Peering down into the tunnel as well Sol could not deny that the darkness was somewhat petrifying in it's mystery.

Mine, what is down there? Eccolath asked, intrigue written all over her inquiry. She had never ventured into the tunnels below the Weyr before. Any why is it so dark? Is it nighttime down there?

No, it's not nighttime; see- Rubkat is still in the sky, Sol pointed out. She had almost as little experience in the Lower Caverns as Eccolath, unfortunately. The only time she had ever passed through it for more than a second was when Pratyba had given her the initial, sweeping tour of the Weyr. Well, the people who live in the Weyr but don't have dragons live down there, I think. And that's where the Whers live there too.

Whers.. she repeated. She had never seen one of Dalibor's small Wher population before, and while she knew they were a vaguely related version of brothers and sisters, she did not assume. The young dragonett could cream up her own thought of what a Wher was but she would like to see as well. Hello? she called, bugling down into the tunnels. Much to her surprise, a bugle that sounded very much like her own floated back. Mine! What was that? I am not down there and here too, but I called back to me? She was confused, unnerved, and excited all at the same time.

It's just an echo, Sol laughed, tickled by Her bonded's naivete and overactive imagination.

Eccolath looked puzzled. I am Ecco, and that is ecco? Are there two of me?

No no, it's when your voice bounced back to you, she tried to explain. It's called an echo. You are my Ecco. Listen, love; Cupping her hands around her mouth, Sol shouted down into the tunnel. "Hello!" she cried. As expected, she too was greeted by her own voice. "Hello, hello, hello!" the tunnel cried back to her. "Echo!" Sol cried, "Echo, echo, echo!" the tunnel called back.

Eccolath jumped to her feet in excitement and began to chatter to the tunnel.

[kia]

Back down here again. Back to that meeting point. Back to when this life became sweet before turning bittersweet for him. Life always hadthat tendency for him. It was a happy moment, then a sad moment when his dad died. Happy again when Search, sad again when Candidates tried to beat him up and when he had not Impressed. Happy again when he moved here and met her, bittersweet the day they Impressed. He was on his knees, his hands on the ground, as if he wastrying to soak that happy memory back inside him. He wanted that comfort, that knowing, that understanding. But no matter how much he moved all his energy into his hands, rock would not release what it had captured that day. That day when they were equals and only had hopes for the future. Where was that hope now? Was it locked inside his heart? Or was it gone like the shards of shells that were left behind when they Impressed.

Gone...

Not all is gone, Mine. I am here and so is your little, came that deep, beautiful voice in his mind. He continued to sit there, on his knees, hands on the ground, staring blankly at the ground. No, not all was gone. His beautiful Cyan dragon was there with him until between would call her or both of them away. And there was the little Green Fire Lizard, who was perched on his shoulder, who had been there with him for a long time and never wished to leave his side. They were there. But SHE was not. And he refused to let the color he Impressed dictated his life. He knew what he liked! No, Pern was never wrong and he refused to say that Pern had made a mistake in giving him a Cyan. And he refused to believe his heart had made the wrong decision on the one woman that he loved. Destiny had its irony. And he was caught up in its plan or plot. So why did he feel like crying. Because destiny had created an abyss with a small, narrow bridge that could break over the ravine at any moment.

"Echo!"

The words echoed in O`ris` ears. He glance up, his dragon and Fire Lizard both look up too. There were people here. So that was a dragon`s bugle he had heard. But why would a Rider and dragon be down here? Well, then again, why was he down here. His reasons were valid. So, he reasoned that anyone would be down here for their own reasons too. He took a deep breath to slow his heartbeat and calm himself. He needed to clear his head for now... until he was back at the barracks. But he would continue to visit this place for however long it took.

Lira was the first to move, chirping and flying into the air. But instead of circling, she flew ahead of them. "Lira!" O`ris called after her, but she was already rounding the corner. She flew faster than O`ris and Rhyolith could walk. Thus she arrived to Sol`s location first. She chirped in question, seeing the woman and the blue-ish color dragon. Another Cyan, just like Mine`s dragon. But this Cyan was definately a cyan color, unlike the dark almost teal-ish color that Rhyolith possessed. Lira thrilled happily. At least it was not another Green, then she would have been very defensive.

"Lira!" O`ris called again now that he was in sight. He stopped and slowed his pace when he saw the girl. Hadn`t he seen her before? He thought about it for a moment and remember the Hatching Grounds and the Weyrling lessons. She was another Weyrling like him. But, sadly, he could not recall her name in his head. Actually, apart from Avalle, K`ber, Durian, and that flirty Lynx, he did not know anyone else. But he stood there and waited, not sure if he should make the first move in the meeting.

[Kila]

Both Sol and Eccolath were puzzled when their echoing games were interrupted by returning sounds that were not their own. Mine... why is my voice changed now? Eccolath asked, tilting her head and peering into the tunnel curiously. I thought it was supposed to come back the same?

It is supposed to come back the same, Sol replied, tilting her head in the same curious manner and following the Cyan's gaze.

Eccolath's imagination immediately took off at a reckless speed. Did someone change my voice, Mine? Can that happen? Maybe it was the 'Whers' that you spoke of. Do they change people's voices? Do the 'tunnelsnakes' help them? Her eyes whirred quickly and Sol felt her mind grow dizzy and fluttery with her thoughts. What if they change everyone's voices and no one knows who is speaking to who? OR, what if there is something else down there who heard us and got angry? What if they're mad that we were yelling at them and now they're coming to get us? Alarmed by her own thoughts, she took a step back and hid herself slightly behind Sol. Hally, on the other hand, stuck his head out of her hair where he always hid. As Eccolath backed away, he looked down after the sounds. It was a very strange reversal of bravery.

The Weyrling girl laughed, amused by her dragonett's wild thoughts, only because she knew them not to be true, and her flitter's sudden interest. Or at least... she thought they weren't true. They didn't have things like that in the Weyr, right? That would be ridiculous.

"Ahhh!"
Ahhhh!
Cheep!

All three of the gathered exploratory party shrieked and fell back as a tiny green form burst out of the darkness and straight towards them. At her heels another voice echoed "Lira! Lira, Lira, Lira!" Very soon a boy ran to the mouth of the tunnel and up into the sunlight. From where she had fallen on the ground, Eccolath under her, their hearts pounding, Sol looked up at the boy. The firelizard who was now flitting harmlessly about them obviously belonged to him, and it was suddenly clear that it was they who had been making the noises that had reached them. Amused by the absurdity of their fear, Sol could not contain her laughter and she promptly burst out in it.

"Oh! Hahaha, hello! This little one must, haha, belong to you-" she pointed helplessly at Lira- "Hahaha, hehe, you scared us," she managed to get out. Eccolath stuck her head out cautiously from under Hers to find-

Oh... it's only a boy. She was relieved that the Whers had not come up from their hiding places, angry, to find them, but she was also a little disappointed. But not for long. Mine! she exclaimed, sighting Rhyolith, One of my Cyan sisters! Wriggling out from under Sol, Eccolath trotted past O'ris and straight up to Rhyolith and touched her nose with her own in friendly greeting. Hello, sistermine! I am Eccolath. What is your name?

Getting ahold of herself, especially once Eccolath threw her off of her, Sol climbed to her feet and brushed herself off, a smile still playing on her lips. "Wow, I'm so sorry about that. We're really just ridiculous sometimes." It was true- Sol and Eccolath together with time on their hands was a show in itself. "I don't think I know you," she continued, looking him over, "But I know I've seen you around. You're a Weyrling, right?" To answer her own question, Eccolath trotted up to the other Cyan that they had not seen before. "Oh! You impressed a Cyan too? That's wonderful! I can't believe we haven't met. I'm Sol," she finally introduced herself with a smile. "My dear is Eccolath," she said, indicating her own Cyan.

Hally, who had had to propel himself into the air to avoid being crushed when His fell, flew straight back into her hair at the moment with a silent squeak of terror. He had found himself next to Lira, a strange, talkative sister who he did not know, and now there was another boy and another dragon! He was very scared. "And that would be Hally, the little scaredy-lizard," she added with a laugh, completing their trio.

[kia]

O`ris blinked and listened to the girl as she spoke rapidly and almost breathlessly. He really never met many girls like her. Then again, most of the females he knew were family, especially his cousins. His cousins were like him, or at least M`ran was. Last he heard about M`ran, the man was helping his little sister (O`ris` other cousin) move from one Weyr to another. But, when O`ris left his home to try to Impress, he cut himself off from the world and was alone. Well, except for Rhyolith and Lira. They were with him. But his throughts returned to the sadness that seemed to grow and grow with each passing day. He felt himself shrink a little as he listened to the girl babble on and his thoughts were going their own ways. Rhyolith picked up on the dark moods that her Mine was feeling, and rumble sadly before her sister bounded toward her.

Lira flew in mid-air for a bit before she returned to O`ris` shoulder. She, like Mine`s dragon, could feel the sadness from him and gentle nuzzle his face with her own head. She loved her Mine! She adored him! He was everything to her. Him and food and sun-bathing and flying. Okay, she could easily be considered your typical Fire Lizard, but she loved her Mine and was very loyal to him. She was HIS first Impression and the first he forged a bond with. And despite her being a Green, short-termed, and Rose often, she could never detatch herself from him. It was like betweening to her if he should ever disappear from her presence. And she sent all these emotions and feelings to him in return to his own sadness. Could he not just forget Pern and it just be him, her, and the Cyan dragon? Humans were strange creatures in themselves.

Rhyolith looked at Eccolath as he Cyan sister came over to her. Rhyolith knew who she was. She remembered all her siblings from the Clutch. It was not very hard. Then again, Rhyolith was not exactly a hyper and talkative Cyan either. She knew she was made for destiny, and she aimed to show Pern how great Cyan dragons were. Even if she could not make Pern see it, one day they would. And as she lived this dream, she would prove how great SHE is and her Mine. No, she was not one that was evil or anything. She only wanted to make a place in this world for her and her Mine. Especially her Mine, who loved a girl who seemed unattainable for him. No, he did not regret Impressing her. In fact, she and Lira were the first thing he thought of when he woke up, showering them with praises and cheerful thoughts. It just came during the day he would get sad again. And she saw him staring at the door that led to that one weyr. Poor Mine. I will help him with his sadness and show him that Pern needs him more than he realizes. Hello, Eccolath. I am Rhyolith. We were Hatched together on the Sands. Then again, I set out to work looking for my Mine immediately after I Hatched, she said sweetly to the other Cyan.

Sol. That was what she said her name was. He stored it in his head for future reference. O`ris was not an unlearned person. He could be pretty smart if he tried, but he preferred to sit back and relax, only occassionally stepping up to defend others. And she was still laughing. Was he funny? He did not feel like it. He felt he was the least funniest thing Pern ever spat out. He was feeling sorry for himself, being depressed and such. Why couldn`t he be happy, like P`nay normally was or that wierd R`ish fellow? Or maybe man with the Gray dragon? He ought to met one of them one day and just ask them what made life so enjoyable for them. They would be kindred spirits, maybe. Male Riders with female dragons. Another time. "I`m O`ris. Lira, as you already guessed," pointing to the Green around his neck and nuzzling him like a cat would do for more attention. "And Rhyolith," he added, his hand moving from pointing out Lira to placing his hand on the Cyan`s head. "Sorry to disturb you. Just was visiting somewhere and Lira decided she wanted to investigate some noises." He sighed, looking away and up at the sky. Clouds. Drifting. He wished.

[Kila]

The boy who had emerged from below with a similar party in tow (a Cyan dragonett and a firelizard) regarded Sol with surprise and perhaps even some apprehension a she breathlessly explained the folly of their events and introduced herself to him. When she had calmed herself down enough to be observant, she was perturbed to see that his initial thrill of interest had quickly melted away into dejection. Faraneth, she wasn't even sure he was paying attention to her or interested that she was standing right there in front of him. The way his gaze drifted off absently towards the clouds.... he reminded her of Eccolath-

Who was conversing happily with Rhyolith nearby.

Oh yes, sistermine, of course we hatched together- I do remember, Eccolath affirmed. Her voice was long and thoughtful; happy like Hers', yet without the excessive excitement displayed moments before in the face of fear and panic (the "Whers"!). Very little had changed in her demeanor since she hatched, which Rhyolith did not fail to mention. Eccolath was still just as much of a drifting dreamer as she had been on the Sands. You did go find Yours right away, didn't you? I just couldn't right away, you see, I was so overwhelmed and delighted to be free and able to see. There were so many colors, sistermine, and so many possibilities. I had to sit down just to be able to take everything in! And what good thoughts I had, she rambled, remembering and savoring her first stirring of imagination out of her shell. She had been busy during her time out wishing and hoping that she could do everything. I even got to stand guard of bigsistergold with our brother. I got distracted by another littlesister, though, and then by Mine. There was no real hurry, she crooned, pleased by her winding recollection.

And while the absent-minded little Cyan wasn't always there, she was brave and big-hearted and did not miss the drastic dip in the mood after the initial excitement. She looked over to Hers quizzically, her eyes whirring with curiosity and concern. It was best she knew what was wrong before she began to think of what the reason could be on her own. Sol was aware of this and had easily recognized O'ris (as he had introduced himself)'s general state of melancholy. She was also keenly aware of the fact that, after running wild with the thoughts of what might be wrong, Eccolath would certainly ask him herself what the problem was.

"Don't worry about it," Sol replied at once, waving away his completely unnecessary apology. "You didn't disturb us at all, O'ris, we were only having fun," she explained. She hesitated and then snuck a peek up at his face as she proceeded with caution. "... Hey, O'ris, you alright?" she asked, though he clearly was not. "Is everything okay?" though he clearly was not. Though she asked the questions she did not expect a true answer, and followed up with what she hoped would be an easier one. "Would you like to hang out with us for a while?"

[kia]

O`ris, after taking a minute to watch the clouds, looked back down at Rhyolith. The little Cyan was always comfortable talking with others, whether she wanted to talk or not. But he had rarely ever seen her NOT want to talk to others. She talked to many of her clutch siblings that ranged from a Green, to Gold Callistath, to Mesreath, and now this other little Cyan. Why couldn`t he be like her, just willing to take everything with stride and accept everything as it was? Because he like to make life complicated. Or maybe it was life that liked to make things complicated for him? Like a coin, there was possibly always two sides of the situation. He just needed to make his mind up. But he couldn`t make his mind up.

Rhyolith chuckled at her clutchsister, glad to see that Eccolath had not changed at all since the day they had Hatched. It brought some comfort to the darker Cyan dragon that there were still things right in Pern, despite the little things that occurred. She listened carefully to her sister`s recount of all the colors that she saw and how she stood next to Callistath until she got distracted once more before Impressing. Eccolath did remind her of O`risMine, except when O`ris looked up at the clouds it was to mostly hide his pain. Yes, I noticed that you stood next to Callistath. She is one of our Queens after all. Though, I was looking for Mine. I kept coming up to other that either smelled, didn`t seem to have the brain power to understand, or had no muscles or too much muscles. But then I found Mine. He was standing there, holding onto Lira, his Fire Lizard, trying to protect her from going after the Greens on the Sands. And I knew that he was Mine and he would watch and protect me forever just like he does for Lira, she said happily, the sound of love literally being heard in her voice. She loved O`ris and cared for him. And she was constantly having to praise him and help him to understand that life is life and you can either live in the past or move onto the future.

O`ris looked up when Sol asked if he was okay twice. Then she offered for him to hang out with her. What could he say or even do? He knew that Rhyolih wanted to talk with Eccolath. That was plain enough to see. And Lira was becoming more and more curious of Sol`s Fire lizard that Lira was chirping to him to try to get him to play. Just talk to her. It won`t kill you, Rhy told him, using that deep and soothing voice of hers to relax O`ris like she always did. He gave her a light smile before looking back up at Sol. "I don`t mind hanging out for a while. And I am fine. Just dealing with a small personal issue, but it will be fine. Life will work itself out," he said, trying to sound more upbeat. But, after he finished that statement, in the back of his head, he added this: I hope...

[Kila]

O'ris reassured Sol he was fine, just as she'd expected. It was okay, though; she wouldn't pry any further. If he was comfortable enough he could talk to her in time. She didn't expect him to, but the unspoken option was always open. "Well good. I'm sure everything will work out- it always does," she said optimistically and kindly.

Hally, who was still hiding in her hair, was now almost beside himself terror. Lira was flitting about Sol's head and calling out to him. He didn't know this strange female! She was scary! Sol jumped a little when he began to try to make an escape down the back of her shirt and scooped him out. He was still tiny and cowardly. Blinking away from the sun, he trilled with fear and betrayal. "Don't be silly, you little scaredy cat, you," Sol chided him. Hally lifted himself reluctantly into the air and tried to dive back into her hair, but Sol forced him to stay in the air. In a small frenzy, he fluttered on the other side of her head- ass close to her but as far away from Lira as possible.

Have you ever seen a "Wher" before? Eccolath piped up and bespoke of both O'ris and Rhyolith. What do they look like? Did you find any when you were down in the tunnels? How big are they? Do they eat little dragons? Or little fire lizards? I bet they're scary; she wondered, wowing herself in the process. She stared down into the tunnel with a kind of gaping, fearful awe.

[kia]

Lira was a little put off that Hally did not want to come play and chat with her. Giving up with some annoyance and whatnot, she turned around and headed back to her Mine`s shoulder. At least she had Yulari to play with whenever they were around together. The Yellow and Green was an odd pair, but they were best friends at least.

Things always work out. O`ris want to chuckle to himself. Not necessarily in a cruel or cynical way, but to just reminded him of what life had thrown at him so far. But, he was being cynical. In these thoughts. And these thoughts were not him. He was neither positive nor negative. He was encouraging, never putting down. So why was it so completely different when it came down to him? His past? That could possibly be it. But Dalibor had offered nothing but comfort to the boy who had left his old Weyr to come here for a chance at a new life and a new future. And they had granted it. He had Impressed to a dragon, a special dragon, an unique dragon that had been seen around Pern. And he had his wonderful Fire Lizard by his side that always was there for him. And there was Avalle. Though they were separated by dragonrank, was love the same way? He did not believe that. He could not believe. Cheer up, you wherrybrained idiot. Avalle is there. Rhyolith is there. Lira is there. What could better than being in a place that accepted you. And even standing here was the proof behind it all. Sol, a girl who he only knew by lessons, was talking to him and accepting him for who he was. He turned slightly more toward her and and gave her a small but definite smile. "Thanks," he said, trying not to mutter but still talking a little low. "I guess I needed to hear those words," he replied.

While O`ris stuggled mentally within himself, Rhyolith had decided to leave him alone for this one. O`ris was her Mine. She would not have chosen him if she did not think he was strong or smart. The boy just needed encouragement. After all, while Callistath was a Queen and should be treated thus so, Rhyolith and Callistath were friends. Rhyolith could hope that if she ever had a problem that she could call on her friend to help her in a time of need as much as Avalle would try to be there for O`ris. Rhyolith chuckled at the amount of questions coming from Eccolath. The other Cyan still had her head in the clouds, thinking bigger things that could be possible. That was not entirely bad. and who knew? Maybe Eccolath`s bigger than reality thinking could help Dalibor and Pern one day, discovering things that could aide them in the fight against Pern of even renegades. No, I have not seen any Whers, she spoke up. But I hear they are very much like us, and yet, not like us. They come out only at night and eat animal meat like us. But they do not eat dragons or Fire Lizards. We are their cousins, though most like to refuse they are like us.