Noms (Candidates)

[Kila]

Summer, 6th Turn, 11th Pass

Her roommate wasn't there. Perfect. Arabera had not come to the
Weyr to chat. To be perfectly honest she had not come for the eggs, wher
or dragon, that were hardening on the sands either. But nobody needed to
know that. She shouldered her small bag and disappeared into the dark of
the tunnels, seeking out the lowest of the Lower Caverns. She could not
have guessed how many hours she was gone, but it was early morning when
she left the barracks and the sun was past its zenith when she emerged
into the 'Bowl some time later. She shaded her eyes against Rubket's
rays, squinting against the dazzling sunlight. Her eyes would readjust
soon enough, she knew. They always did.

Covered head to toe in dirt, she nevertheless made her way to the dining
hall, a smile plastered carelessly on her face. She always had an
infectious sort of grin about her. While she had not found anything
particularly noteworthy during her little adventure, it was still
exciting to be in a new place exploring unknown territory. Coming to
Dalibor had been a good choice, she decided. The Weyr was abuzz with
talk of the imminent hatching so she knew she might not be staying long,
but the duration of the stay made no difference. If anything, knowing
that her time might be brief encouraged her get more out of each day.

Arabera grabbed a tray and made her way nimbly through the line in the
Dining Hall, taking two or three of everything and piling her plate
high. Getting to a table was a balancing act, but she was used to it.
Despite her size, Ari could put away as much food as a full grown man.
She was constantly moving around and working and her metabolism was out
of control, prompting her freakish appetite. Thin and wiry at 15 turns,
she was nevertheless made of muscle, especially in the arms from all her
mining.

She had been planning on prying information from the Handlers while she
was above ground (if any were awake), but a table of people close to her
age caught her eye. More Candidates, she guessed. She had only
arrived yesterday so she didn't know anyone other than the rider who had
brought her there. Might as well mingle. Ari walked over and
plunked herself down on an empty section of the bench, sliding her
towering plate onto the table expertly. She turned and gave the
candidate next to her a brilliant smile. "Hey! Mind if I sit
here?" she asked as she sat. Her long black hair touched the bench
as she settled in, tangles and all. She extended her cheerfulness to the
rest of the table, making friendly hellos. Hopefully they were the
friendly sort too, otherwise they were going to have to suffer company
her until she'd finished stuffed her face, which she proceeded to do.
Ari downed a few meatrolls like candies before introducing herself.
"I'm Arabera. You can call me Ari though." And wasn't it
exciting?

[Ruin]

Candidates and human-sized meat-bags weren't the only ones hungry that day. In fact, there was a brilliant fruit-coloured winged beast that was searching all over for something delicious she could sink her claws into, and Candidates were prime targets. Not because they themselves were tasty, but because in their quest for bonding and a new life, they simply loved to throw all manner of foods at creatures that could fly, or exhibited any of the imprinting capabilities that their future dragons or whers would.

In the very least, they were far too obsessed with being good, and not being thrown out, that she could steal whatever it was she pleased, whenever she pleased. The kitchenfolk were not so inclined to allow her thievery, and her man was often busy, besides, she could fend for herself, she really could, it was just...well...humans made things so simple. The VTOL-line she made for the hewn table was more of a wing closing flutter, and she landed happily between the plates, okay on the plates, her surprisingly large body (comprised mostly of wings and tail) hunched over the nearest pile of meatrolls.

She was a greedy gobbler, and the meaning of that was in the rich vibrancy of her hide, but she wasn't here to fuss or speak about day-to-day firelizard matters, not with these humans anyway. Ayla kept to herself, or to her fair, and these filthy boys and girls were neither, they were simply reservoirs of food, and food, would be required within the coming days. So she ate her fill, which wasn't much, giving the humans a few brief glances with her roiling orange eyes, making sure she was prepared if they felt the urge to pat her. She'd probably have allowed it any other time, but there were other places to be, oil to get, a life to live, and they wouldn't understand.

She was there moments, snapping up one last roll for the road, or the air, before she hopped off of the table into midair, giving them one last look of her bright membranous wings as they opened overhead, before she disappeared between with a subtle pop.