Friends Of Silver (Maggie)

[Kiran]

Imber had quickly learned that the best way to get Hikkikoth out of the room was simply to leave. The dragonet hated it, but he followed her like an obedient puppy, not wanting his beloved Imber to leave his sight for more than a moment. It was necessary, as well. Imber adored her bonded and love helping people, but Hikkikoth... The help he needed was emotional more than anything. He didn't think anyone loved him. There were times he accused her of the same thing. That wouldn't do, that just wouldn't do at all! She had to find a way to let him know that he was loved, that he could be loved and make friends. And she showed him at every turn that she did, doting on him.

But interacting with others was also more than a bit necessary. He had to have more friends than just her.

This time, Imber didn't go looking for them, specifically. Hikkikoth would have known and dug in his heels far more than otherwise. The black seemed okay when she was around others (hating, loathing when others spoke to her or she took her attention from him), but just standing near them wasn't going to get her anywhere.

Her eyes drifted towards the other weyrling helping with the herdbeasts. The one who had Impressed the yellow, the brilliantly sunny dragonet who had attempted to cheer up and cheer on every candidate he had come across on the Sands before Impressing. She bit her lip. It seemed like a good idea. If any dragonet could befriend her dearest Hikkikoth, it seemed like the yellow would. And being so happy, it would be a good counter to her black's darkness and fear. She glanced down at him, the dragonet having curled down at a corner of the pen so as not to startle the beasts while his Bonded helped care for them.

And then she looked back at the weyrling, and started towards him. Hikkikoth forced her out of her comfort zone in many ways, and directly bringing attention to herself like this was one of them. But how else could she get her dragonet to lighten up and see that people and dragons weren't so bad? Imber stopped in front of him and gave him a shy smile. "Hello. I'm Imber, and the dragonet over there is Hikkikoth. I think we met... Sort of... During the first weyrling class, but I'm bad with names. How are you doing?"

The small interaction caught the attention of Hikkikoth instantly. He leapt to his paws and rocked on them, wanting to go to his Bonded but afraid of scaring the herdbeasts. So instead his eyes swirled violent oranges and reds. How dare she talk to someone else?! Imber was his!

[Maggie]

K'ian was not completely at ease with herdbeast duty. They were unpredictable, at least to him, and he was never quite sure how he should act. To add insult to injury, Kamikith couldn't be right by him cheering him on since he would frighten them. He was going to have to find a way to make sure that he was just bagging firestone or maybe even cleaning things...

He was so concentrated on what he was doing that he jumped when Imber started talking to him. On his shoulder, Pretty cooed gently at him. The calmest of his flitts, she got to stay with him even when he was dealing with herdbeasts. He stared at the other Weyrling a minute almost in shock. "I'm Kay---" he glumly felt like he was never going to get used to his new name, "K'ian. I'm K'ian," he repeated as if almost to remind himself. "That's Kamikith waiting over there. And this is Pretty." He reached up to pet the cooing pink who was giving Imber curious looks.

Oh yes, Precious, that is a very, very pretty rock. You should bring it to Silvianth, I'm sure she would love more things. Kamikith was watching K'ian absently while Precious went to find him treasures and tell him stories. Flare was perched by the yellow, staring intently at a pieces of scrap fabric with markings on it, as if he could understand the odd writing. Kamikith perked up as he saw another dragon approach. Hikkikoth! Hello! How are you on this very fine day? Isn't it wonderful that our riders get to work together? Teamwork is wonderful, you know. It lets everyone actualise their potential and reap the benefits of helping someone all at once. I am trying to teach my K'ian about that, he is still very shy.

[Kiran]

Imber pulled the kindest, most encouraging smile she had from her arsenal. Her classmate seemed down and upset, and she could help. It was what she had done her whole life. At least, it had been since her family had died. "It's a pleasure to meet you, K'ian. I'm sorry if I'm bothering you. It's just that... With Hikkikoth.... He and I...." She paused, trying to find a good way of putting it. "I could use your help, you and Kamikith. Hikkikoth is very shy and scared, so I was hoping that perhaps you both wouldn't mind helping me get him out of his shell."

Her heart was pounding as she made the request of the weyrling. Imber didn't step out of her boundaries. She stayed in the background. She helped others, not the other way around. But here she was, trying to not show fear or nervousness about this in front of her classmate that she barely knew and hoping he wouldn't... Wouldn't... Oh, Imber didn't know! Perhaps she and Hikkikoth were far better matched than she had first imagined, she thought. But on the other hand, that meant that she would be taking charge and helping Hikkikoth get out of his shell as well.

Her black, on the other hand, was not taking well to Imber talking to K'ian, stalking back and forth along the fence with his eyes whirring with a delicate mix of yellow, orange, and red. Someone was talking to His! His Bonded, his only friend! The yellow only distracted him for some moments as Hikkikoth reeled back, his back arching much like a cat's when it tried to fend off unwanted attention. It being Hikkikoth, he refused to speak to Kamikith, inching back to get away. After all, it wasn't like the yellow would follow him! Good thing, too, since Hikkikoth hated the way the yellow was so calm about talking to him and was just so yellow and so happy! It wasn't natural.

Imber made a motion back to where their dragonets were, so that K'ian could see her black's behavior. "If we work together to get this done faster, perhaps we could take our time going back to the barracks? It would be good for him I think..." The suggestion was more hesitant than before, Imber suddenly feeling shy about being so forward with her request. It felt like she was demanding of it, and Imber didn't want her classmate to think that she was just using him for her dragonet.

[Maggie]

K'ian nodded, looking over at Hikkikoth. If it was for the dragon... Maybe it would be easier to speak to Hikkikoth himself, rather than Imber. He had found that useful before. But Kamikith had said he needed to try and speak to people... "Um, I can... I can try and help," he agreed. "Kamikith is really good at talking to people and making them not scared." It was to help a dragon, he could do this. He could force himself to talk to someone and work with them...

"I'm not very good with herdbeasts," he admitted to Imber, still not making eye contact. "I... I never had to do this before. I worked inside." And he was going to make a concerted effort to get back to having only indoor cleaning chores. This was far too stressful.

Kamikith followed his black brother, completely blivious to the fact that his company could be unwanted. Shyness isn't a bad thing, Hikkikoth, we can be wonderful friends! he offered, his eyes whirling a very pleased blue. My K'ian is very shy as well and we are working very hard on him making new friends, so we can work very hard with you too! You already have your Imber. She is always, always going to be your very best friend like I am my K'ian's very best friend, but you can always have more. I will be your friend and we can work on that together!

[Kiran]

Imber tilted her head slightly at the boy's - man, he was almost a man and looked to be a bit older than her - words and considered her next ones carefully. "Thank you very much. I appreciate it deeply. I don't want Hikkikoth to be lonely, and I can only do so much for him by myself. You're doing me a great favor." Her gaze stopped fluttering about around him, where she had been focusing to things just to the side to avoid looking him directly in the eyes, and instead brought her eyes to his and gave him a bright, sincere smile. He seemed as shy and retiring as her black. The way he stood and spoke mead her think that he was unsure of himself as well. Imber hoped that maybe she could make him feel more at ease as well.

That was something she liked to do, after all. It put her on firmer ground with dealing with him.

His words about not being good with herdbeasts softened her smile a bit as she glanced around. "I'm not terribly good with them either. I never really kept pets. I was too worried-" she broke herself off. Imber mentally scolded herself for nearly saying something so dark. How could anyone feel comfortable if she said she never kept pets because she was too afraid she would die on them and leave them alone to fend for themselves?

That thought momentarily drew the black's attention and panic away from the encroaching yellow. Imber wasn't going to die and leave him, was she?! The motion to stop and look for his rider meant that the yellow got close. Very close. Too close. When Hikkikoth drew his attention back he was smack dab face to face with Kamikith. His wings fluttered uselessly in surprise but he couldn't shy away now! Not with his back to a post.

"It's okay, though. I can show you what to do. I've done chores with them often enough." Volunteering with others, taking over when they felt too tired, and simple luck when she had been picked and assigned chores did mean she wasn't completely helpless about this. "Come on, let's get our pitchforks. The herdbeasts are used to this that they'll even move when we shovel their muck out. It's handy." For a moment Imber hesitated, but going with impulse (and wanting to set an example for Hikkikoth) Imber reached out to gently grasp his hand and lead him to where the gloves and pitchforks were kept.

A deep whine escaped the black when he saw Imber grabbing the boy's hand, and even more so when the yellow spoke to him. He couldn't... He couldn't...! But it was all too much and the black broke down. He plopped himself down in the mud and looked up at the yellow. Y-yes-s-s, Imber is-s m-m-my friend. And... I s-suppose w-we can be fr-riends-s, too. It seemed that nothing else would stop the yellow's encroachment and Imber was doing her hardest to make him say something and be around others. Maybe if he gave in she would stop?

But Hikkikoth had to admit, right now he hated his rider, just like he hated everyone else.

[Maggie]

K'ian returned her smile nervously. He didn't know what to do with all these girls suddenly talking to him. It was bad enough that Idra and Davalla had taken an interest. Idra had even dragged him, the other day, to see a bluerider with a very weird tiny blue dragon to get his clothes looked at since he was growing like a reed and everything was too small. He had been ok with that. She had not been. At least the bluerider was nice and he had a very adorable little yellow flitt who was like a mini Kamikith that he could fawn over. Most of the actual clothing suggestions had come from the dragon and the bluerider's other flit, so that had been better than having to deal with too many other people. The bluerider had just measured him and done things that his dragon approved to to his clothes while Kaydian, Kamikith and Pretty cooed over the baby yellow flit, but he still hadn't approved of his newly-discovered cousins' meddling.

"I've had pets," he murmured. "Just not anything like these." He looked over at where Kamikith was cheerfully crowding Hikikoth. "I have three flits," he told her. "I found Pretty's egg when I was younger and she's always been with me. She's really, really sweet. I Impressed Flare and Precious here. Flare's a little more adventurous, but he's really polite and Precious is a sweet little pink like Pretty, but she likes to bring me presents and keep shiny things. Bluerider G'lin's flitt Doom gave her a pretty flit-necklace accessory and she really loves it. She likes being able to look all elegant." He smimled, always happy when he got to talk about Kamikith or his flits. He set to work, never afraid to get dirty or to work hard. After all, that's all he ever thought he was going to do in life until he had been Searched.

Wonderful! We are going to be such good brother-friends! Kamikith seemed oblivious to the black's discomfort. You know, we should start a little group with meetings so that my K'ian and you and others who are very nervous and shy can get together and discuss your experiences. Maybe you can all help each other out and give each other advice with what works for you!

[Kiran]

Imber's smile couldn't help growing when the yellow weyrling said that he hadn't ever had pets like those. She was fairly certain of that. This was the first time in her life she herself had pets, she couldn't have them before since she had been so determined that she wouldn't make them suffer when she died- a certain eventuality, but the timing of which was unknown. "They're wonderful, very lovely. I think that it's sweet that they're making friends with other flitts, as well. I only have Hikkikoth and Lovely, my pillie. Lovely came along a few seasons ago. She's around, various places. I think she's as good for Hikkikoth as Kamikith seems to be, since she adores loving others. As fickle as she can be, since I seem to be the only one she will come back to and adore consistently." Not that Imber minded. She found that she actually rather enjoyed it.

She was getting soft. Just a season before that, she would have dreaded such a thing, what with having to think about what would happen after she died. Imber glanced down at the pillie dancing at the edge of the pens, waving her feelers at each of the beasts that would come closer and look at her. None seemed particularly perturbed at her soft trilling or movement, possibly from being used to seeing all the strange creatures that constituted the population of the weyr.

She moved for another large scoop that was dumped in the appropriate spot. They were getting through this fairly well. K'ian was a hard worked, and Imber appreciated that. "Kamikith is truly wonderful. I saw how he helped those after the girl died. I am glad that he picked you, you seem a wonderful match for him." Imber offered K'ius a shy smile, unsure if she had overstepped her boundaries saying that. "Hikkikoth and I.... We both aren't terribly good with people, but I have to be for him. I don't want him unhappy. I don't want anyone unhappy, so I'm trying hard." She blushed and looked down at the ground as she said that. He probably thought she was an idiot for it.

Hikkikoth was eyeing Kamikith wildly, unsure of what the yellow was talking about. A group?! Why w-w-would an-ny of them wan-n-nt to join-n that gr-r-roup?! I don't! I don-n't want to join-n it!!! The black scuttled back ever so slightly, pressing himself deep into the dirt. They-y couldn't hel-lp m-m-me! N-no one can! N-not ev-ven-n ImberM-mine![/coor] He covered his eyes with his wing, unable to look at his brightly-colored brother out of dread and anger. Friend. The yellow wanted to be friends with him. Called him a friend. No one was his friend! No one could be his friend! It had to be a trick. The black shook as he lay there, terrified and angry about what Kamikith was saying.

[Maggie]

"They're very friendly," K'ian agreed proudly. He frowned a bit. "I'm a little afraid of pillies," he mentioned. "I had to help rider Day'ar, the other day when I was still a candidate and he has lots and lots of pillies and they were a little creepy." He shivered. "I don't know. Too many legs."

He looked over at where the pillie was at the edge of the pens, a little nervous. There was no reason to be nervous, he knew that, but still, it was creepy. Or something like that. He didn't know. He liked flitts better. Pretty was staying by Kamikith, but Precious was off finding nice things to give him as a present and Flare was... Off somewhere doing something, like he usually did.

You don't have to be afraid, Hikkikoth, Kamikith crooned at his brother. We are going to be very, very good friends. You know, if you are afraid like this maybe you should ask your Imber to give you hugs. Yusk used to give my K'ian hugs and now he gives me plenty, if he's feeling scared and needs comforting. He even sleeps with me on my couch! You should ask your Imber for more hugs, He determined. He moved closer, placing a wing protectively over his brother. Nothing can hurt you. I will protect you.

[Kiran]

Imber nodded when K'ian said he was afraid of pillies. "I can understand. You aren't the only one that finds them distasteful. I wasn't particularly fond of them until I Impressed Lovely, and had she been any meaner or stranger I don't think I would have changed my opinion much. But I haven't bothered trying to actually go to many Hatchings, as I-" Her tongue had gotten away from her. Imber cleared her throat a bit and went back to shoveling furiously for a few moments. "Nevermind. I simply haven't tried to be at any hatchings on purpose, Lovely was an accident."

And would hopefully be her only one. Imber didn't want any more creatures attaching themselves to her that might feel bereft when she died. The idea still made her want to shudder. She glanced up at K'ian, suddenly worried that she had made him feel awkward with her sudden seriousness. The black weyrling cast him a small smile. "I'm glad you have such wonderful flitts, though. They do seem wonderful, perhaps one day I'll Impress one." Or not. She was fine with not. Not that she would tell K'ian that, though.

Hikkikoth wanted to scurry away when Kamikith came closer. Hugs?! Imber gave him those, even though he didn't want them and oh what was he doing what was he DOING?! He cowered just a little bit more as the yellow closed in on him..... and placed a wing over him. The trembling didn't stop but Hikkikoth could look at his Yellow brother with a querulous croon. Imber would do this, but a hatchmate of his? Kamikith wasn't doing anything to hurt him, nothing to tell him he was... less... that he wasn't as deserving. The black didn't know what to make of it. For several long moments he was silent. ::Than-n-nk y-you.::

The words were quiet, hesitant. Protection? Someone didn't hate him entirely? Hikkikoth still didn't believe it was some sort of nasty trick, but his eyes whirled more gently than before, a calmer color that belied how touched he felt at that moment. But was still distrustful that it would be snatched away at a moment's notice.

Besides, even if Kamikith liked him, it didn't mean anyone else would!

[Maggie]

Kamikith crooned happily at his brother, sending him all the good, calm, loving vibes he sent K'ian when his rider was afraid or even just a little anxious. There was nothing to be afraid of. Hikkikoth was protected and loved and Kamikith would never, ever leave him! They were going to be the bestest of best brother-friends!

"It's not quite like Impressing a dragon, but a little bit," K'ian told her. "They're really marvellous. Pretty was always very caring and made sure I wasn't too, too scared, even when we went to Benden and things weren't going well. And Flare is terribly, terribly smart. I've been learning to read and I'm sure he's as good as I am!" he beamed proudly. "And Precious is so tiny and perfect, just like Pretty when she was a hatchling... She always brings us nice things. I can't imagine not having them."He glanced at the herdbeasts. "Or having a pet that you didn't feel in your head. What do you think that's like?" he asked her, curious now.

He looked over at where Kamikith had spread his wings over Hikkikoth and smiled. "They're cuddling!" he laughed. Kami, if he's scared, don't crowd him too much, ok? he fretted at his dragon.

It is ok. I am protecting him, Kamikith explained. We are best brother-friends now. He is going to come to my new group to help shy people, dragons and flitts.

[Kiran]

Hikkikoth's nerves just finally gave up. He could no longer hold the tension that had kept him so high-strung for the last few minutes. The black flopped to the ground, his eyes whirring a lazy orange-green. Friendly vibes, indeed. The yellow covered him in his wings and cuddled him. Hiikikoth let Kamikith do as he wished, the yellow undoubtedly was going to do it anyway. He gave a soft crooning sigh. But no matter what - no matter what! - he was not going to cuddle back. There were certain lines he couldn't cross. Maybe if his clutchbrother didn't betray him after a few days. Or weeks. Or months. After they graduated. Perhaps then there would be cuddles back. Until then Hikkikoth would simply accept them.

"That sounds absolutely marvelous," Imber agreed, feeling like smiling again. She did so, happy that she had found a subject that had brightened up K'ian. "I remember my father and mother had flitts, but they went wild when they died. But mother's flitt, Flutter, she would come in during the night to check on my brother and me, and if we were having nightmares she'd cuddle us. And father's, Popper, he would steal the best tidbits off of our plates during dinner. But we tended to feed him them anyway so it didn't really matter. I just never thought about getting one after they... after they passed. I haven't seen their flitts since."

A sadness lingered in the back of her eyes at that statement and she went back to shoveling with a vigor. "I've been alone in my head right up until I Impressed Lovely, and alone-alone for a few Turns now. My family, they've all been dead for a while. And since until then I'd only had my parent's flitts, I know what having a pet you couldn't really sense is like. It's... You have to pay more attention when they try to get your attention, and it's far more of a guessing game about what they want, but you still feel the same love when they adore you." It might have been all in her head, but Imber did feel that way. She did adore those pets just as much and knew they loved her besides. Her actions became less active as she glanced up at K'ian, regretful about how she had to sound. "I'm sorry. This is depressing. I should be better than that. Your flitts seem wonderful, and I'm glad you have them."

Her eyes went over to the pair of dragonets when K'ian called attention to them. Her smile became a genuine grin. "They're adorable together. I think Kamikith will be good for Hikkikoth. As long as you don't mind them hanging out together." Imber's eyes slid sideways to the yellow weyrling. "It would be nice to hang out together sometime, so that they could. Whenever you have time for it, of course, and if you would like to. I don't want to impose on you if it would be too troublesome."

Truthfully, Imber rather liked K'ian. He was friendly and helpful, and rather adorably shy. She wanted to help him as much as she could, and if by being his friend and having their friends hang out would do that, she would be happy for it. It made her feel useful again, more useful than she had been since Impressing Hikkikoth. Weyrlings were so restricted in their actions and activities that it was downright impossible to go sneaking about the weyr as she had, helping people in her quiet, obscure way. She wished to help him however she could, just as much as Kamikith was helping Hikkikoth.

Her black gave a squawk at the mention of a support group. ::I'm doing what?:: His eyes snapped towards his Rider, who gave him a supportive nod. Imber wasn't going to object to it, and that meant he couldn't either. Hikkikoth lowered his head to the ground and grumbled. ::I suppose I am.:: A support group, huh? He could go and pretend he was interested. That would make Imber happy, and Kamikith. As long as he just went....

[Maggie]

"I... I'm sorry you lost your parents," K'ian told her softly. "My parents died too. I don't remember my mother, she died when I was little, but my father died of the plague and I didn't know what to do. I only had Pretty after that. I thought I was going to die too. I don't know why I didn't. My da was so much stronger and better at doing things than me." He paused, frowning. He had always felt incredibly guilty that the plague had killed so many, but not him. He had never been sure, until he got Kamikith, why that was. He was useless, in general. So many peoplewho were smart and had important Crafts and knew how to do important things had died while he had somehow survived. He knew now that it was because he had to wait for Kamikith, but still, sometimes, he wondered why the dragon hadn't chosen someone better.

There is no one better, my K'ian, Kamikith crooned gently in his mind. You are amazing and I love you and I would never want another rider than you. He let Hikkikoth hear that, knowing that his brother was still a little worried that Kamikith might steal his Imber, something that Kamikith wanted to make clear that he had no interest in doing. He had his K'ian. His lovely, wonderful, perfect K'ian.


"Idra and Davalla say they're my cousins. Their mother and my mother were sisters. But I don't know..." He threw another shovel full onto the pile, tryinng to think of the right words to express himself. He knew he was slow and not as smart as most of the Weyrlings and sometimes he knew it showed in how bad his vocabulary was. He didn't want to look completely stupid. "I don't know how to have cousins," he said finally. "My da didn't really want me anyway and I've never had any family other than him. And now they took me to get new clothes and they talk to me and they're watching me all the time... It's scary."

He nodded slowly when she said she wanted to hang out more. It was for Hikkikoth, he told himself. And maybe he could talk to Hikkikoth too, so that he didn't always have to be awkward... You just need more practice talking to people. This is a wonderful step, you're doing very well! Kamikith encouraged.

K'ian shifted a bit uncomfortably. "I'm bad at making friends," he finally muttered. "I... I don't know what to say. It's easier to talk to dragons. Or flitts." He was blushing a bit, completely ill at ease. Kmikith set him a wave of love and encouragement. "Kamikith and Yusk say I need to practice. So, um, it's not troublesome, I just, um... I don't know how to be a good friend," he admitted. "I never had friends, before."

My K'ian will come to the support group too. He is very scared of people and he does not know how wonderful he is. You will learn too, at these meetings, how wonderful you are. Kamikith beamed happy thoughts at Hikkikoth, highly pleased with this whole situation.

[Kiran]

Imber shook her head slightly when he apologized for her parents dying, placing her hand on his shoulder when he told her about his own losses. "It is what it is. My mother and brother died from wounds from the kitchen fire a while back, my grandparents from Threadfall, my father from Plague. I was left alone, and it still hurts because I don't know why I lived either, but..." She looked over at their dragons. "But we have them. And those two seem like good enough reasons."

Hikkikoth was decently reassured by Kamikith's saying that he didn't want Imber. Well, that was one down and one to go. His eyes flashed a warning orange at K'ian. Would that boy want to steal her away from him? Hikkikoth would make sure he didn't! The words that Imber spilled made him hesitate, made the black settle where he was once more. ::Y-you ar-re a good r-r-reas-son f-for me as w-w-well, ImberM-mine. We hav-ve each oth-ther.:: She would always, always have him. And right now she was content, doing what she could do to help K'ian. The black couldn't help but grumble a bit. He just ~had~ to pick the yellow Rider in disguise!

Imber nodded seriously, saddened by how uncomfortable K'ian had felt, that he hadn't been wanted by his family when he had them. Her family might all have died on her, but they had loved her while they lived. It had been a long time since she had them, though, so Imber couldn't fault K'ian on that.

The black weyrling had pulled her hand back slightly as her fellow weyrling had spoken again. Imber hummed slightly, an identical reddish tinge to her cheeks. "For what it's worth, I haven't had anyone I could call a friend in turns. When my family died, I cut myself off. It's strange to reach out to people like this. If it weren't for Hikkikoth I still wouldn't be doing it." She stuck her shovel into the ground and moved to take one of his hands in hers. "I'm not very good at it either. But perhaps.... Perhaps we can learn to be good friends together." It was embarrassing to admit this to him, it was embarrassing for her to admit it to even herself. But she did it anyway. She had been alone for so long. But Hikkikoth needed friends, and Imber couldn't deny that if he were going to have friends, she herself would have to be one to others.

"I helped people out in my own way, but it's not the same. We both need practice at it. And I'd like to help you be a good friend." He was sweet and nice, making him the perfect person to practice being friends with, and his yellow was the perfect friend for Hikkikoth. Honestly, Imber was heartened by the idea that they could be friends. If K'ian didn't mind, of course.

Hikkikoth sighed. He hated this, hated the whole idea of the support group and Imber being friends with the yelow weyrling and having to talk to others (who would hate him, of course!), but there was nothing to be done about it. The black's eyes faded into subtle shades of blue and a resentful orange. ::I am-m gl-lad s-s-someon-ne else w-will be there th-that does-s not like p-people.:: It was the best Hikkikoth could do. He wouldn't be utterly alone in hating being there, from the sound of it, and that was something he could get behind. ::Im-mberMine, ar-re we done y-y-yet?:: The black just wanted to get away right now. He was emotionally exhausted from dealing with his clutchbrother.