An Inopportune Arrival (Open)

[mangonumnum]

As the green search dragon spiraled down, all three….or four….creatures fell silent. They could all tell something was wrong. The girl atop the green, her rider, instantly regretted bringing the boy she had sitting behind her. Not only had they missed the Hatching- she had had a horrible time getting the boy ready to go as he had kept screaming that his imaginary firelizard was acting up- but she could feel something was wrong. There was a frenzied stillness. And the new Candidate, she was told, thrived on mischief.

Mine, I have been informed that the little one of Kalith’s is missing. Stolen away. Well, that would definitely explain that. The rider turned to the boy behind her who was sitting very comfortably on the dragon’s back. He had formerly been a Weyrbrat, so it was to be expected that he wouldn’t be quite as sick or upset or scared from the trip between. It probably helped that nothing quite fazed the boy. She had heard the story of why he left Benden Weyr. He had snuck onto the Sands and knocked over an egg. Though he hadn’t broken it, he had gotten as very, very angry reaction from both Gold and Brown. But instead of crying and being afraid of dragons or browns, he had created an imaginary brown fire lizard exactly like the brown that had attacked. It even had a similar name.

Cheko, the new Candidate who seemed to have just missed the Hatching by a day, held on gently to the Green’s back. The dragon was much smaller than his dad’s (if you could call the Blue rider a dad…) blue. And even more small than the huge brown that had almost attacked him six turns ago he found himself thinking. Cheko definitely could sense the tension in the Weyr. Though it was the middle of a very nice day, no one was outside enjoying it. Though the green didn’t inform Cheko, he could tell that there was something bad going on. The feeling the Bowl presented was of worry and loss. It was a chaos he didn’t much like to deal in. Making people worry a lot wasn’t fun. That usually took a little more patience than he had anyways. No, he was more of the fun chaos type. Where things didn’t go missing, but they might get broken.

Though the young boy wondered what was going on, he didn’t feel like asking the green rider. She was boring. It was more fun to snoop. He held on tight as the green spiraled down and landed gently in the Bowl. Both rider and Candidate easily hopped off- it was so much easier when the Searched Candidates were comfortable with dragons- and landed without a hitch. “Now,” the green rider said, giving her best calm smile, “I’m going to show you immediately to the Candidate Barracks. I’m going to need to ask you to stay in there.”

Cheko nodded, hiding a smirk. Like Faranath he would stay. He was in a new place- he needed an adventure! Silly green rider. He followed behind her, scratching the air above his right shoulder where Polo’s head would most certainly be. He stopped after a few moments, assuring himself that the firelizard was satisfied now. Cheko looked over the brown. No one else could see him, but Cheko could easily see his deep brown hide with taupe patches. He liked the patches. They stood out sharply against the firelizard’s hide, didn’t blend in. The Candidate felt that made the firelizard different or more fun. He was, of course, completely disregarding the fact that the firelizard did not exist which made it different altogether.

Before too long, they had arrived in the Barracks. Most of the rooms seemed empty. Besides those left Standing, Cheko seemed like the only Candidate. “You can go around the Barracks if you wish, but stay around this area, ok?” she said, “There, unfortunately, aren’t too many Candidates left since we missed the Hatching, but there are a few.”

“It’s ok,” the boy answered, shooting her a huge grin, “I have Polo here to keep me company.” He watched the firelizard shoot up and do a fancy turn in the air, making his grin bigger. Of course, the greenrider couldn’t see this and just watched the boy move his head up to follow the imaginary path.

“OK, yeah….” She said, blinking and nodding her head. What a weird boy….”Anyways, just stare here and behave. And welcome to Dalibor!” She waved and quickly got back to her green, taking off to head to her weyr.

Cheko turned into his room with a grin- he grinned a lot. He threw his belongings onto a bunk. This place was dead. He needed to find a more exciting place. He quickly brushed hair out of his face and stuck his head out the door. He looked right, then left. He didn’t see anything. With Polo on his shoulder, he set out. Running down the halls, he didn’t see much activity in the rooms. Well, forget that!

And with that, he struck outside. No one was really around. Just like when he had arrived. Stealthily, he snuck along the wall. He looked at the Lake-it’d be refreshing. But that’d be too obvious. Besides, he wanted to meet people. On the other side of the lake, he saw another building. Hmm…perhaps he could meet some people there. Swiftly and silently, he bolted for the Weyrling Barracks, hoping to find someone inside, maybe someone who liked causing mischief. Maybe someone who would at least just talk to him.

[purnip]

The conversation the whole way in was relatively one-sided. Merinika could smile for ages and go on about Dalibor and its residents but the kid she rescued on the way back to the Weyr was a strange one. He did not ask any questions on his own accord. He seemed strictly uncaring as to where he was being taken. She could have been anyone and he wouldn't have allowed the slightest concern to show. Well, it's a great thing that I found him then. He could have died out there on his own or gotten picked up by the renegades.

The child is simply troubled. Nothing the weyr cannot cure!," the Pink dragon relayed in a very chipper-sounding thought. Inaith, so the pale Pink was called, had only joy in her heart. She was the perfect counter for Merinika, who was once one of the most pessimistic people one could ever get to know. Inaith was her ray of sunshine on the rainiest day. The Pinkrider gave her bonded a pat on the neck as they were drawing closer to the weyr. They had picked up the boy on the way back from Crescent, where they were told to Search for extra Candidates for Kalith's hatching. When they got there, they were faced by concerned people who were worried over a missing girl. Riddance, Merinika's Black flit, had returned with an image of Kalith's hatching. The Pinkrider decided to fly back to Dalibor once morning came around. It was on their trip back that Inaith had sensed the boy below and asked to descend.

Since they picked him up on the way back, they didn't bother to between the rest of the way. The kid didn't seem to mind flying at all. He was very quiet and his eyes were distrustful, but Inaith vouched for him immediately, telling her rider that he was simply troubled and that he was otherwise a good person. Though Merinika had difficulty believing it, she still tried to get the kid to talk. So far she only knew the boy's name. When she asked further about him, he simply replied that he didn't wish to speak of this or that. He was highly secretive. Merinika was very doubtful of his potential, but Inaith insisted that the child was hiding nothing severe.

As the two approached the Weyr, Inaith's mind slipped into her rider's. Send the child to the Barracks immediately. The Weyrwoman's son was taken last night by intruders. The Pink's voice was serious for once. Her rider didn't like the sound of it.

"Wrynri, I'm going to drop you off in the bowl. Find your way to the Barracks as soon as you get down. I'll tell the Weyrwoman about you so you don't get into trouble, but stay alert. There's been a little situation back at the Weyr," Merinika announced. She held on a bit tighter to Inaith as the Pink began a slow descend. She then proceeded to inform the dragons that were on the lookout who she was and that they were bringing a Candidate.

They dropped Wrynri off in the bowl when it was safe to land. Wrynri slipped off with ease as if he had ridden a dragon before. Honestly, he hadn't. He rode runnerbeasts once in a while and sliding off the small Pink wasn't all that much harder when she bent down closer to the ground. Merinika said her farewells and waved to the boy as her dragon took off again into the sky. Wrynri watched her leave for about a few seconds before losing interest. What was done, was done.

As he looked around, he was slowly starting to remember how hungry he felt. The woman on the dragon told him to go straight to the Barracks, but this wasn't home. He didn't know where to find the Barracks and he felt very wary here. Considering that he was picked up by a lady riding a dragon and taken to a strange place to be left there alone, he was relatively calm. Wrynri had been through worse in the past couple of days. Besides, since he had been facing difficulties in Crescent Hold, he had hoped to be Searched for some time. This was practically a dream come true. It was even more odd that he could not bring himself to be excited about it. His mood was simply not up to being perky and it rarely was. He felt like a fish out of water in more ways than one.

He shifted the bag on his back a bit as he looked for an entrance. Merinika talked a lot about this place on the way here. She told him that a Hatching had just occurred and Candidates were still being gathered for future Hatchings. She had told him that her dragon found him suitable for the position. She told him about the people and how friendly they were. He found himself faced with nothing but an empty bowl and a sense of foreboding.

Would he be accepted here? No one was coming to investigate his arrival. Wrynri sighed and strode towards the nearest entrance. His new life so far was interesting. Ever since he left his female identity behind, he had been traveling on foot for a day and a half non-stop until the searchdragon picked him up. It felt like luck had favored his new life. So far he was finding it uncomfortable and it annoyed him. That was a very likely reason for his inability to cheer up with his current situation. For the past couple of days, when he was spotted, he was referred to as 'that boy' or 'that rascal'. People treated him more harshly than before, his only saving grace the fact that he was young. They didn't go out of their way to be nice to him just because they thought he was a guy. It felt like being trapped in someone else's body yet he had put himself there.

Wrynri simply couldn't bear with his life before he ran off and he felt like he wasn't giving his new identity enough time to cope. Besides, out there he was a runaway. Here, he was a Candidate. The atmosphere could change everything about his perspective. He had to give this a chance. It was either he that, or he would return and admit to being the 'lost girl' that people back at Crescent were probably looking for.

He entered the corridor and followed along without discrimination. He didn't care where he'd end up; he could simply be redirected if he was intruding. Wrynri meant absolutely no harm to anyone and if they found him threatening for whatever reason, he'd be prepared to defend himself by admitting otherwise. He was not going to tell anyone where he came from and who he was, beyond the name. If they didn't like it, he'd either be fine with drudgery for some time or he'd be just as content hitting the road again. There would still be Western Hold if this place didn't work out.

Sure enough, he didn't end up in the kitchen or in the right barracks for that manner. He stopped in front of the entrance to the Weyrling Barracks and gave it one slow look over. Wrynri then strode inside and glanced around for any sign of life. He didn't feel like talking to anyone, but he wanted to at least make sure he was in the right place.

[mangonumnum]

”No Polo! Stop being so silly!” the boy called as he came running back from the corner ahead. He was running with his hand out, as if he was chasing something. As he saw Wyrnri, a look of horror took over his face.

“Oh my Faranath, I’m sorry! Polo just got excited because he thought we were playing! He didn’t mean to crash into you!” the little boy apologized, rushing up and bending down in front of the other new Candidate and collecting what seemed like air from in front of the boy. He held the imaginary fire lizard in his arms, scolding it quietly. He then let go and gave a small stroke above his shoulder, where Polo appeared to be sitting….at least to him.

“Names Cheko!” he said with a grin, assuming all was forgiven, “Just got here as a Candidate. I’m trying to figure out what’s going on in the sharding place- it’s so quiet. Well, something’s up. I know that. Dimglow Search rider wouldn’t tell me.” He struck up a conversation with the boy, watching his face to see if maybe his cussing at such a young age would get a reaction of any sort. Even a little surprise would have made him happy. No one was giving him quite enough attention here…yet. They would soon know to watch out for him.

The boy he was meeting seemed slightly strange. Quiet and calm, definitely. The firelizard “crashing into him” didn’t seem to faze him. However, no one seemed to be fazed when Polo ran into him. No one else felt the firelizard- his claws digging, his smooth hide, a little playful nip from him. No one else saw him either. Or heard him. Or anything. In fact, Cheko was quite sure everyone thought he was crazy as a result of the “traumatic” event that occurred when he was five. Cheko knew differently, of course. The event wasn’t at all traumatic. It was his best adventure ever. He had, since, been trying to top it. It was a real adrenaline rush to have a Queen and her mate upset at you about their eggs. It’s a hard thing to copy, especially when a Weyr won’t let you back.

He also knew that Polo was real. He had found the egg. Though no one else could see it, he could. Just like Polo. Polo was his best friend in the world and he hated how people said that he wasn’t real. How could they say that? He felt the brown’s head rub against his cheek gently, comfortingly. Though Cheko’s smile never betrayed his new feelings, the firelizard could understand His. The move made Cheko feel better. If he could feel that, how could Polo not be real? He returned to looking over the new boy. He was relatively young-probably a Candidate then. He looked slightly worn. Perhaps the between ride shook him some. Or maybe he had been running around or something? Cheko wondered slightly, but figured that he could weasel things out of the other easily enough.

[purnip]

The kid startled him, coming out of nowhere when Wrynri least expected it. He listened, only half interested, as Cheko rambled on about someone called 'Polo'. The first instinct was to look around for the third individual, only to find no one or nothing else in the hall aside from themselves. It was then that he watched with intrigue as the other Candidate crouched down to scoop up something. He wondered for a moment if he was missing something; clearly this kid couldn't have been as insane as Wrynri was making him out to be. Unfolding before him however was a scene that proved his worst fears. This kid was one card short of a full deck. Wrynri held his ground and eyed Cheko carefully. He didn't crack a smile. He was nervous enough as it was just being around someone else. The fear of transparency was a constant.

But the boy continued to talk to him, no matter how hard Wrynri screamed in his head for the boy to go away. Still, all the mental anguish was promptly ignored when the boy revealed that he too was a Candidate. Something was also going on, but Wrynri didn't care for that bit. In fact, that sort of atmosphere would be just what he'd hope for; he'd be completely ignored, just as he wished to be. If only this other Candidate got the message. Wrynri wasn't normally this spiteful, but until a few days ago he 'normally' wasn't assuming the male role. He still felt it necessary to remain on his toes around strangers. The kid was sure chatty.

"Right. So you wouldn't happen to know where the Barracks for our sort is located?" The edge in his tone made it rather obvious that he was getting annoyed. He didn't want to keep company with some crazy kid anyhow. He wanted to blend in and become practically invisible until he got his bearings.

That was just when his stomach gave one loud and perfectly audible growl. Wrynri's face became hot as a blush settled on his cheeks. His stomach was never on the same wavelength. With its voracious appetite, it normally dictated what his next course of action was around breakfast, lunch, or dinner time. It was uncaring and unforgiving until it was full. Wrynri scowled and grumbled. "Shards--that was loud." He managed to make eye contact with Cheko with a weary expression. "Looks like the barracks are going to have to wait." Wrynri managed a grin, the only sort that he would be able to produce when hungry. He really hoped that the kid didn't see right through him just then, when he had blushed. The Searchrider thought he was a boy, and that was relieving, but Wrynri could never be satisfied with one or two confirmations.

He then turned and began to walk away. He hadn't even introduced himself, but he didn't care to. He wasn't sure if he could trust the kid. Cheko wasn't all that bad though. Perhaps the boy was a little crazy, but Wrynri didn't think he was unbearable. Though his mind was screaming just a minute ago for the other Candidate to leave him alone, as he started to walk off he felt that being startled didn't help all that much. He'd give the kid another chance; he might even make his first friend in this new life out of him. He looked back over his shoulder at Cheko. "You can come along if you'd like. If you haven't seen the kitchen yet then I'm sure you might want to find out where it is."

Wrynri was an advocate of exploration, only when he stopped thinking about all the external factors involved. Giving himself a mission and a purpose and an enormous relief when faced with the ever present issue of identity. When you've got something to do, it doesn't matter what you are as long as you do it. Right now, his hunger reminded him that, boy or girl, he had to find food soon. If the kid didn't want to come along then that wouldn't wreck his spirit or anything. It wasn't as if Wrynri wasn't socially ostracized back at Crescent.

[mangonumnum]

Yup, Cheko could tell. The other thought he was crazy. This other Candidate couldn't see Polo either. Cheko wished at least one other person could see him. Not that he doubted Polo's existence. No, it was more of a wanting a friend thing. Cheko figured that if at least one other person could see Polo, then that one other person could be a good friend. When he was a little younger, he had a few friends but they were more minions in his mischief-making entourage. Not real friends. And as they got older, a lot of them got tired of it and left.

Cheko never took offense to this. He even grew to expect it. The other boys and girls had their other relationships with other people that became more important. He had Polo. Polo was all he really felt he needed. Though a human friend would be nice too, of course.

As Wrynri asked a question, his voice got a sharp quality to it. Cheko knew that sound. It was the kind of voice his mother usually talked to him in. Unless she wanted something...which she never really wanted anything unless she was drunk. Then she would ask him all sweetly to get her water. This, of course, led to a variety of fun pranks.

But this boy didn't seem nice. He hadn't even introduced himself. Cheko started thinking of something fun to do as a sort of weak, yet funny, revenge. But before Cheko could say anything, the other boy's stomach let out an angry growl, sending Cheko into a small state of the giggles.

"Ssh, Polo," he whispered, "It's not nice to laugh!" He straightened up after his scolding of the firelizard and watched the boy start to walk off. Well, boo on him! Who just left in the middle of a conversation?

But the boy turned back. He was wanting him to come along? Well, that was a surprise. Cheko looked above his shoulder at Polo and gave a small shrug. Eh, what could be the harm in it? Kitchen was always good. Polo was hungry, after all. Silly firelizard. If he had just stayed with Cheko instead of flying around everywhere before they left, he might have been able to grab them both a snack!

"Yay!" Cheko called, running to catch up with him, "So, should we find someone to ask or just explore? You sound hungry. I'm not sure, but I think these are the rooms for the older people- Weyrlings you know. One of them will probably know where to go."

[purnip]

Cheko was saturated in excitement, enough to make Wrynri wince once in a while at the sound of his voice. He wasn't opposed to happiness, but this was an overdose. He hadn't expected the people here to be this...friendly. Or loud. Or obnoxious. It all didn't matter too much to him. Cheko didn't start making his judgments out loud anyhow and whether or not he was making them in his head, Wrynri didn't care. He didn't expect to become a permanent friend installment in this kid's life. He still felt uncomfortable at the thought of living with other boys and being treated more like one of them, and this kid would be among his peers. Either he'd defend Wrynri or back up the other boys in making fun of him. Wrynri knew better than to trust someone he had just met, even a little. He wouldn't buy Cheko's act as it ran. It would take some time and consistency.

Wrynri continued to walk along rather casually, his eyes darting to the corner as he made up his mind where he should turn. Cheko's last question was still up in the air. He might as well answer it. "They're not necessarily older, you know," Wrynri began, his tone detached. He sounded as if he was talking down to a toddler though his diction was not as elementary as it should have been. "I'd rather find the kitchen on my own. It'll give me the opportunity to learn where everything is without a tour guide."

Actually, Wrynri wasn't in the mood to do any exploring, but he was much less in the mood to talk to other people. Cheko wasn't the most desirable conversation fodder, but for now he had to make due. He only hoped that this 'Polo' he spoke of would make himself scarce. Wrynri wasn't sure how much foolishness he could put up with before losing his patience. Not a whole lot. He wasn't a patient person, male or female.

This place wasn't as exciting as he imagined it would be. If it had been, he would have been a lot less uptight. First of all, he imagined there would be a lot more people here. Faranth knows why, considering that the Weyr was only built three and a half turns ago. He expected this place to be livelier and more eventful; one of the two if not both. So far there seems to be some sort of emergency going on and he didn't want to have any part in that. He didn't start it and he had nothing to do with it. Wrynri was not an intruder, or at least not on purpose.

His steps slowed when they came back to the main hall and he paused momentarily to scan the area. In an architectural sense, the corridor that would lead to the kitchen would be at the heart of the path, since a most ideal location for any sort of social meeting area would be easy to reach and find. "I believe we're close," he announced somewhat dryly. Or he hoped they were.

[mangonumnum]

Cheko was fairly decent at reading people. Once again, the boy was annoyed by him. Psh. What did he care? Cheko could do what he wanted for Faranath's sake. The other boy should just make up his sharding mid. A chirp from Polo that was not heard by anyone but Cheko sounded the imaginary firelizard's agreement. What was this boy's problem. The boy hadn't even introduced himself yet.

"I guess," Cheko replied, brushing hair out of his eyes nonchalantly. Both seemed to be silently fuming at each other. At least Cheko had Polo to confide in. Poor Wrynri had no one. "But I'm only eleven turns. I'm sure they're pretty much all older than me...It's sharding logic, you know..." OK, he let his annoyance slip. And the cursing didn't help his age point too much. Oh well. Cheko didn't care. He didn't make many friends. This guy probably wasn't going to be his friend either, no matter what he did.

He turned his head to Polo, feeling the brown firelizard nuzzle his nose. He smiled at the empty air, enjoying the feeling of the hide. He knew well how hide felt. His father was a dragon rider after all. It didn't take too much imagination for Cheko to convince himself that he felt a tiny dragon nose on his own. He was a very imaginative boy.

They walked mostly in silence. Cheko was sure his comment wasn't going to help anything anytime soon. Unless it made the boy angry. That was unlikely....It might have been nice. Cheko wasn't really getting enough attention. Soon, though, they seemed to have gotten to a main sort of hall. "Hopefully," Cheko commented, "Polo is sharding hungry." He was just trying to elicit an reaction now. He doubted this boy had emotions at all at this point...except for annoyance of course.

[purnip]

Though continuing to lead the way, Wrynri glanced back without turning around when Cheko had cursed. He was used to cursing himself from time to time and normally he was rather unconscious about it, but hearing curses from an eleven turn-old was disquieting. Was it worth it to retort in response to the boy's growing impatience? Wrynri hadn't even considered the nerve he put on the boy by being so short and discontent in his presence. He wasn't incapable of being friendly; he was simply rusty on the concept. Wasn't he off in the right direction by inviting the fellow Candidate to come along? Doubting himself was nothing new. Wrynri used to do this sort of thing in his previous life all the time and it only dragged him deeper into agitation when he did it now. This was supposed to be his new-and-improved self. Suddenly he had gone from cold and indifferent to careful and calculating. He didn't like it. At the moment his defensive nature was only evoking the worst out of this kid. Perhaps it was safe to take down a barrier or two in order to study this one further. If he turned out to be too intolerant and pesky, Wrynri would discard him as easily as he picked him up.

So he actually gave a chuckle, though it was forced. It wasn't easy trying to be friendly all of a sudden. It was just as hard as pretending to be happy at a funeral. "I suppose you're right. Still, nothing to curse about." He didn't mind being hypocritical at this point; earlier he cursed about his rumbling stomach. See, it was different. When he was back at his Hold, as a girl Wrynri would curse and no one would curse around her unless they were girls too. Boys always exercised a sort of manner about the fairer sex. It was simply shocking, was all. Honestly he couldn't care less if the boy had a foul mouth. Power to him. He'd catch on quickly in life, that was for sure. Someone would eventually put him in his place and in turn, he would learn how to manage his diction properly enough. Wrynri wasn't going to play the harper in this case. He wasn't going to preach to a kid about two turns younger than himself. It wouldn't be right.

On with the 'Polo' critter again. Wrynri stopped and turned to stare at Cheko for a moment with an expression locked in scrutiny. "This Polo of yours...is by chance a friend of yours others fail to see?" It wasn't as random as a question, or as well guessed, as one may be lead to believe. Having moved to Crescent when he was eleven, he had trouble making any friends due to his lack of development as a female and displacement into an unfamiliar setting. He had an imaginary friend for a couple of turns to make up for it, but even then he abandoned the idea. His imaginary friend was himself, as he was right this moment, as if possessed. He was a boy, but he was Wrynri. It was nothing compared to Cheko and his Polo. In fact, the memory of exactly who his own imaginary friend had been in those days brought on acute embarrassment, as he hoped the boy wouldn't start asking personal questions in turn. He'd have to lie and lying wasn't something he enjoyed doing. He shook his head. "There should be plenty of food for him, I'm sure. I don't think we've missed lunch."

Wrynri wasn't far at all from the kitchens when he started off again, so in less than a minute they were standing at the opening of the Dining Hall. The place was quite empty as kitchen drudges were already starting to put away some of the leftovers from lunch. One of them spotted him and stopped what he was doing, waiting patiently for them to come by and make their orders. Well, not too patiently. He appeared rather grim about the late arrivals.

[mangonumnum]

Cheko was thinking he got the other right where he wanted him. He was grating on his nerves. If only he could elicit a strong enough reaction. Then he could scurry off and go on his own adventures. He could go annoy some others; others that may be easier to mess with. This boy was just hard to crack.

And suddenly, it became harder. The boy...chuckled. There was no way he found that funny! A frown spread over the boy's face. Now he had even more reason to curse. He didn't though. He'd save that for someone who would freak out because of it. Then Wrynri questioned him about Polo. The angry frown softened and showed a bit more sadness. Was Polo a friend others failed to see? Of course he was.

At least the boy didn't tell him Polo was fake. Maybe he understood Cheko a little better than thought. He felt the firelizard nudge just below his eye. Tears? Shards! That wouldn't do. He took a deep breath, eliminating the tears that were welling up in his eyes. "Good..." he replied to Wrynri's last statement. They should be able to get food. Cheko was pretty hungry too. After all, Polo and he shared minds. Not as much as a dragon (even an imaginary one) would, but still a share in the mind. They often got hungry together.

As they walked into the Dining Hall, Cheko grinned. Drudges were always easy to bother. They always had some problem with what you were doing even if you didn't try. It was way too easy. A welcome reprieve after Wrynri. His mind started churning, thinking of the best way to go about it.

[purnip]

Wrynri possessed little intuition when it came to other people, so he had no clue that Cheko was making a conscious effort to get on his nerves. If he really knew how to do so, it was actually pretty easy. There were more things in life Wrynri couldn't stand than anything else. One easy route the little boy could have taken would have been an outright insult. The result would entail something of a defensive remark; he wasn't going to pick a fight with a little kid. Another would have been a sort of prank. Finally, the one that might actually warrant aggression of a higher degree from the young teen would have been deceit. If there was anything Wrynri despised the most, it was being deceived by 'friendly' people who just want to see how far they could tug you along before they kick you into the mud. Girls were unforgiving in that manner, back at Crescent. They pretended they would befriend him and then leave him confused and hurt as they giggled amongst themselves. He didn't think boys were as likely to do such things, but that didn't bring his guard down. Boys had other ways of putting people down.

If he had to think about it in that sense, then he was certainly more of a boy than a girl. He would never play tricks on people in that fashion. It was a waste of time and it was downright rude. He felt a little more confident about himself for a moment. No, he didn't think Cheko was trying to trick him. Perhaps another time the young and annoyed lad would try some sort of prank on him, but Wrynri would be prepared for the most. He still didn't trust the kid. He even began to wonder why he invited Cheko along.

He approached the serving area and grabbed hold of a tray. The drudge that stayed behind to serve them looked impatient enough to hurry Wrynri along. He was served his food. He was grateful for the abundance. Sparing a glance at the other boy, he waited for Cheko to pick up his food as well.

It was only natural that Wrynri would look over his own food first. Though he wasn't a picky eater, he was always fascinated with how food was prepared. Just as he had expected, it was nothing special. Delicacies were hardly ever served in these sorts of situation. It would take a special event to get good food out of the kitchens but this would do for now. He wondered if perhaps here he might try to learn how to cook a little better himself. He was getting the taste for food preparation back at Crescent and it was a task that he actually liked to perform. In fact, had he a drudge's life, he would much like to be a chef. Still...that was back in his old life. He had to put some of that behind.