Gravity Strikes Again! (Kia)

[kaya]

It had been a handful of hours since the BlueRider had dropped her off and here she was. Down in the lower caverns, in the dark, away from the day and amongst the tunnels where perhaps whers dwelt. It was as if she had her own personal gravity that pulled her towards such places, yet Ryka didn’t really mind. It was quiet down here, silent and lonely in a way that reflected the very nature of her life. The footfalls were constant, the echoes they brought representing all the rippling consequences of each of life’s choices. Ryka wondered if Karu had ever found a place like this where he was sent. She supposed so. Almost any place could offer solace and silence if you looked hard enough for it.

Though in a matter of time, Faranth knew how long, sevendays, months even, she would be thrust upon a different kind of scene, that of the Hatching Sands, which she had never seen, nor dreamed of. It was almost unreal, like a dream, that she was here, walking these halls. Only days ago she had been a hard working gardener in the Tillek region, enjoying the sun and the day. Now that she was freed of duty, at least temporarily, she found it quite interesting that she sought such a place as this. It was so vastly different. As if all the life in the world had simply vanished, and there were only tunnels. She stopped walking for a moment, wondering if other footfalls were mixing with hers, or if it was only the deep echoes playing tricks. She strained her ears and heard nothing. Ryka kept walking, her hair swishing lightly on her back. She liked it that way. Ordered, restrained, and yet still free somehow.

In places like this her thoughts meandered wildly. She thought again of dragons, but more of her age. She was twenty and a few months. Most people stopped standing about that age, yet here she had been invited. A change of pace for a short time, and then probably back into the fields, she supposed. Perhaps she’d meet up again with Iriala, her friend from that same Tillek region, and they’d travel together having all kinds of adventures that Ryka would never share and Iriala would babble on endlessly about. A smile crept onto the side of her face. Thoughts of adventure, the safe kind, filled her mind and the smell of cavern, old tunnels and wher filled her nose. It was almost like being home again.

[kia]

Risk was up first again, moving about and making loud enough noises to wake Ridan up. The man flipped over on his back, completely nude again, and let his eyes adjust to the darkness of the room. He felt Risk move beside him again and moaned, wanting to sleep a little longer. But Risk was not about to have it. She was ready to move about. Wake, Mine! We patrol first tonight. Will not let others think we lazy! the Gold said with the dignity that she held. She snorted when Ridan was not moving around still and moved to push him off his bed. The movement made Ridan quickly scramble up from his bed and stare at the Gold, or at least what he could see of her, which were her eyes. "Ok, you Queen Brat!" he said, not angrily but tone raised enough to let her know that she had gotten her point across. "I am up. Give me a minute to get dressed. Then I need some food before we start patrolling," he added, grabbing his pants and trying to get them on in the dark. He should be use to this by now, but he was still rather clumsy in the dark. At least he had Risk to help him. While she did not point out where his clothes were or hand them to him, she would usuall sit by the next article of clothing that he needed.

Finally, completely dressed and looking descent (at least from what he could see from Risk), he opened the door into the cool, night air. The moons were covered by clouds tonight, but this did not bother the man and Wher. He placed a hand on Risk`s back and walked side by side with her. He glanced down at her, seeing the green in her eyes, and smiled. But another reason that he was smiling is that Risk was looking a tad bit bright tonight. This was a perfect sign for him. It meant Risk might be getting ready to Run again soon. And this time, it would be her first Run at Dalibor. At least there was a Brown already, so there was a better chance of choosing the Brown and not some wild Wher like Whisk had to choose. He was never sure how soon she usually Ran after her hide started getting bright. It would be a dull gleam for several week, and then change to a bright color usually within two weeks of her Run. Risk was different like that. Always keeping him on his toes until the time came. He chuckled.

Mine, ahead.

Ridan looked up and noticed someone ahead of them. He blinked, trying to distuguish the shape. The person looked female, positively female. It girl, Risk said, confirming this for her Mine. Ridan patted the Wher and moved forward, knowing that Risk would more than likely be defensive around those she did not know and in order to protect her Mine. After all, she had even tried to attack a dragon in order to protect her Mine. Ridan chuckled about that thought. She was surely the riskiest Wher that he knew that would attack a dragon without much thought when it came to protecting her Mine. She cared not for size or rank, only that she and her Mine would be safe. Risk rumbled happily with the thoughts of love and happiness that Ridan passed onto her. You are the best Wher that anyone could ever ask for, he told her, though he knew she needed not prompting on that fact. She was brave through and through.

"Hello there," Ridan called out to the girl, smiling at her. "Are you new here? Looks like it or else you would have been in the Barracks by now. My name is Ridan, Alpha Handler of Dalibor Weyr. And this beautiful creature is my Wher, Gold Risk. We were heading to the dining hall to get some food before we go out patrolling. Would you like to join us? and afterwards, Risk and I could escort you to the Barracks," he said, offering to help the girl. After all, their job was to help others and help protect Dalibor. And that was just what they would do.

[kaya]

Ryka paused. That time she knew she had heard something. Slowly breathing and straining her ears Ryka tried to pick out the sound from the echoing tunnels. Claw clacks. Definitely draconic. Conuld it be that she hadn't just imagined the smell of wher? It was a rather hard scent to confuse after all. Her eyes tried desperately to see what was down the hall but they simply wouldn't allow her. Was that a shape? She stared. It wasn't moving. The clacking sound was still present. It had to be moving.

Then a thought reached her. What if whatever-it-was wasn't accompanied by anyone? The whers she'd known she had grown up with. They knew her. But if she ran into one now, far from home and in a strange place, what might it think of her? Yet still Ryka didn't move. What was she to do? Where there footsteps along with the clacks? If only her ears were better...

"Hello there!" the voice bounced around the walls but it was definitely human. A wave of relief washed over her. It'll be all the better when I'm familiar with this place. Getting spooked by noises...what kind of person am I becoming? she scoffed, watching the man and what was obviously his wher approach.

Ridan. And Risk. She was beautiful. Ryka opened her mouth to say something but the man just kept on talking. Perhaps that was why he had bound to a Gold. Ryka suppressed the snicker and let him finish. He had introduced himself as Alpha Handler, and in Hold terms that meant "Head Handler", like Darvalon had been. Always best to be on his good side, especially if she wanted to keep hanging around the whers.

"I'll start with your last question first," Ryka began, her tone bemused. Whers always put her in a better mood. "Yes, I'd like to accompany you two." She paused and put on a good smile for a moment. "Second, you are correct. I am new here. I was dropped off a matter of hours ago by a BlueRider whose name I don't recall now," Ryka mentioned. Pity. I suppose its something most people try to remember about their Weyr experience. Though at this point in time Ryka still doubted her chances of Impression. She had to be among the oldest of the female Candidates and chances were she would be headed back to Tillek Hold in a matter of months if not sevendays. "I hail from Tillek, worked in agriculture, though I've always had a fondness for whers. Sweet things really, if you get to know them," Ryka said looking over at Risk. She was the first Gold wher Ryka had ever seen and she thought her magnificent, but she'd never admit it. "Lastly, as for the barracks, I rather like staying up late anyway. But when you're finished you're welcome to walk me back." I could find them on my own Ryka thought in quiet protest, but she'd let the wher handler do her a favor. Whers were something she knew and understood, and it was a very nice feeling to have in a new and strange place.

[kia]

Mine, she smell like Whers Risk pointed out right before Ryka had told them that she knew about Whers and came from a Hold where Whers were in constant use. Ridan smiled at Ryka. "Risk says she can smell the Whers on you," he said, pointing out the Risk`s superior sense of smell. But, he offered the girl a kind smile as she explained that she was new here. Of course, that was easy to see and that they both did not need that to be explained, but one always hated to assume. It was better to be corrected, sometimes, than to just think you knew all the answers. But, still, he offered her a smile. "But it will be great for company. Usually I am use to eating by myself. On the occasion another Handler will join me. Maybe a late night snack for a Rider or two. But it tends to get quite lonely at times." He began to walk, leading the way to the dining hall. Ridan looked up at the sky, noticing the moon trying to peak out between clouds. That was a good sign, Ridan hoped, which meant that tonight would be a good night as well.

Risk moved closer to Ryka when her Mine moved to lead the way. She sniffed at Ryka`s clothes and hand, checking the scents of the Wher on her. There were multiple Whers, which meant that this girl must have had a good upstanding to be around so many Whers. Risk rumbled lightly. Risk like Ryka. She nice, she said to Ridan before leaning her head into Ryka hand to be caressed. She like Ryka, and now she wanted Ryka to scratch her head. In fact, she seemed to demand it, being a Queen and all. It was just a simple request. Anyone who even had some decently would be willing to do something small for a lovely Queen such as herself. Ridan chuckled at Risk`s display. "She likes you, by the way. Maybe it is the Wher smell on you. She knows you must have been a good person to be around another Wher," Ridan pointed out. Risk rumbled again, her eyes swirling a bright green to show her contentment. Of course, after a bit, she would be back to her normal self, demanding respect and attention from any nightly passerby.

[kaya]

So after all those months she still had wher smell on her. Interesting to know, if not slightly disturbing. Though, granted, it was a very hard smell to get off. A few of her more...rambunctious students had seen to that. She had tanned their hides and threatened those of their whers if they ever dared to pull such a nasty prank again, not to mention it took her sevendays to smell normal again. She had them scrubbing her room for the next several months. It only took a comment about how she was in need of a new pair of wherhide pants to make them scrub faster. Ha.

Lonely wher handler. Typical condition for those who lived in populations of only one or two amongst distant mining camps, as she had seen from assignment update letters and infrequent visits, yet Ridan wasn't the only wher handler at a lonely mining camp. He was in a Weyr, and doubtless there were other handlers, perhaps dozens of them, and he couldn't find someone with which to eat dinner? Ryka was torn between thinking him pathetic and showing him a bit of pity, of which she expressed neither. Ridan started walking. She knew she was expected to follow, and did so. If he was missing a dinner companion, or in his case, breakfast, she had a lot of experience in providing quiet, comfortable company. ...Karu.

It caught Ryka off guard when the Queen chose to touch her. Darvsk had never been that open, though she'd been personable enough for a Red. The nudge had a bit of an order to it, so Ryka didn't hesitate to let the natural routine of giving a wher a rub happen. She rubbed her knuckles into the Gold's hide, up her neck to right behind her eyeridge, where she switched over to a good, hard massage. Whers had tough hides. You had to push pretty hard or they wouldn't really have much to enjoy. Thanks, Risk, Ryka thought as she kept her hand in contact with the wher, alternating between a still presence and the occasional rub.

So what to say to Ridan about her past with whers? That she was an honored wherling teacher and served her post well? He might ask about why she quit working there in favor of her field job, and Ryka didn't feel like talking about it. Maybe if she just mentioned one of them it would be enough to fulfill Ridan's mild curiosity, or maybe he was just making polite conversation for Risk's sake. People were tricky to read, but Ridan seemed pretty straightforward. Ryka liked that in people. It made more sense to her when they got mad at you, which everyone doubtlessly did at some point. But about whers-

"I had a friend who was a handler," she said for a start. Every possible story she could tell would prompt questions, questions she didn't want asked. Not on her first day at the Weyr, talking to the Head Handler. Faranth... Ryka looked down at Risk, at her calm green eyes. Ridan would have to cover them if they had too much firelight in the kitchen, but of course he knew that. As for her story, her past, Ryka didn't say anything else. Yes, she had been with whers, for a long time, and it was a long story. This was the beginning of a new one, and just maybe she didn't want the two becoming mixed.

[kia]

(( Kind of in a shlump. Excuse this post if it turns out short. ))

Risk rubbed her head more against Ryka`s hand as the girl began to to rub the Wher. Risk appreciate the rub and was evenly more impressed that this girl knew how to caress a Wher. The girl still had knowledge of her past experiences, and this was helping the girl`s situation with Risk. The Gold looked over at her Handler, her eyes glowing a bright green color against the darkened Weyr at night. Risk like, the Gold commented. She understands. She knows well. This comment brought on a couple of chuckles from Ridan. The Wher looked back over at Ryka. You welcome, she said to the girl, a first for the Gold to ever speak to another human besides her own. Risk thought herself regal and magnificent. Even though Greens and even Blacks were smaller than her, she still tried to be nice to them all while still demanding respect. After all, with the possible war ahead of them, they would need every Wher possible to help fight. And risk intended to lead the Whers to battle as their Queen, like Kalith planned to lead her dragons.

The thought of Kalith came to Ridan`s mind. He would need to meet with the Weyrwoman soon. The Weyrwoman would need to be informed of Risk`s slight change in brightness in hide. Whers might be different from dragons, but they were still cousins and still held some similar traits. Besides, Ridan was the leader of the Handlers. A Weyrwoman and Alpha Handler should be able to meet, discuss many things, and be able to come to certain agreements. But for him to make such a meeting would mean being awake during the day. Ridan grimaced at the thought. He had not seen the daylight in a long time, much preferring the night time to the day time, especially since his Impress to his lovely Gold.

Ridan turned to look at Ryka and offered the girl a smile. "She likes you, by the way. Normally she is only kind to other Handlers and Whers, and sometimes only kind to Handlers because of their Whers. If you do not Impress a dragon by your twenty-first birthday, think you might consider Impressing a Wher? I am sure Risk would appreciate someone who cares for Whers to Impress one of her children. Especially one with the knowledge you have," he said, being genuinely honest with the girl. Why deny her this possible chance if Impressing dragons did not work out for her. That was how it was for him. He had stood and stood, only to not Impress a dragon in the end like his friend Y`men. But, at the same time, Ridan was very grateful that he had not Impressed. If he had, he would have never Impressed to his beautiful Gold. And, at the same time, Risk was very happy that she Impress him. They had saved each other, and they both knew it: Him from a lonely life and her from the daughter of a corrupted woman.

[/size]

[kaya]

It was just silent company. Though new places did take some getting used to it felt to her that adjusting to Dalibor wouldn't take long, not with its whers. There was something about them, all of them, that made her feel at home. Finally getting to be with one after a pair of Turns Ryka wondered how Tillek had felt like home, but she knew why it had. She had had a friend. One good friend, that was all she needed, really.

You welcome, said the voice that intruded into her mind. It threw Ryka for a loop. She hesitated to take her next step, then stumbled forward slightly to keep up with Risk. It was clearly a voice she had heard, but different than anything she had ever heard before. Her ears had not registered any sound, yet it was clear in her mind what she had received was not her own thought. With scrutinizing eyes Ryka looked down at Risk. Had it been her...? Ryka looked up into the sky. There were no dragons about, at least none that she could see with her limited night vision. So that left Risk... Upon this realization a strange sense of honor radiated out from her center. This wher, this Gold wher, had felt it worth her effort to speak directly to her. In all her Turns at Nabol not a single wher had had something to say to her, even though she had become quite talented at interpreting the many sounds whers could make. This had been a clear voice. A proud, regal voice. No wonder handlers, let alone Riders, were so proud of their partners.

"She likes you, by the way," Ridan said to her, and how could Ryka disagree? The feeling of acceptance and honor that radiated between her and the wher was unmistakable. Karsk had always been accepting, friendly...but it had never felt like this. None of the other whers had felt like this. Ryka took a deep breath and tried to focus her thoughts. Was it the overwhelming worries of being in a new place, combined with meeting a wher for the first time in Turns that was making her feel so strange? Ryka really wasn't sure if she liked it. Familiarity was something she thrived on, yet so far, since leaving Nabol it was all the new and unexpected that brought the biggest of life's joys.

But Ridan was still talking. Ryka turned in again to hear him continue on, "...by your twenty-first birthday, think you might consider Impressing a wher?" Well, then, time to say something again. Ryka thought to herself, processing Ridan's offer. Of course she wouldn't turn him down. Risk had already given her the highest accolades and they had barely met. Still, her duty was first to the dragons' Hatching Sands, as that was what the BlueRider had Searched her for.

"I would be quite honored to stand as a Candidate for one of Risk's Hatchings," Ryka replied. She wondered if she truly had any preference for dragons over whers, yet she didn't feel any. They all had their advantages, and she did love the company of whers a good deal. Yet by the same token she really hadn't had much time with dragons. In the end though, the young dragons and young whers decided, and so as to not fret over it, Ryka didn't give it much more thought. "Risk knows quite well then about the kinds she wants Impressing her younglings, then," Ryka mentioned, mostly to the Gold, giving her a kind stroke on the head. "It's true I know quite a bit about them. I lived in the main mining camp close to Nabol Hold, and as such there were quite a few whers around. They make very good company," Ryka finished, rubbing her knuckles into Risk's neck. So there was her story, if not a very shortened version of it. Ridan now knew, and the free flowing explanation had come out quite well. Hopefully they'd hit the kitchens soon and find something to eat. Ryka was becoming quite hungry. Yet all the same she was content to enjoy short strings of conversation with Ridan and the ever present, glowing company of Risk.

[kia]

Ridan turned his head to look at her and smile as she explained her history. Though short and not really detailed, it was all he needed to know about her past. He could usually gleam other information by either the lack or obsessive amount of info she continue to give. The way she acted, the way she merely summarized, and the way she walked too. Little signs. Thought Ridan was by no chance a genius or anything, figuring out every little tick and tock, being in his position long enough had helped him become very aware of many things. "Well, it certainly helps," he replied.

Shortly after this conversation, they arrived at the dining hall. Ridan stopped at the door and waited for Ryka to enter first. Ridan was very much a gentleman in the way he acted and talked. He liked people in general, even if his Wher sometimes disagreed. But, Risk obviously liked this girl. He could hear it in his mind about Risk starting to become possessive of the girl, as if hoping that her scent would rub off on the girl and make the dragons turn away so she could stand at one of her Hatchings. Though Risk would like that, it was up to the dragons if they wanted her. And, well, why would they not want someone as strong as this girl. Ridan could see that she was very capable of taking care of herself and a dragon or Wher, whatever she would Impress.

"What would you like to eat?" Ridan asked, heading toward the kitchens. He was thinking about some wine for himself. That was, if they still had any. A little wine sounded good, but not too much to get drunk on. After all, they had to escort Ryka back to the Candidate Barracks and patrol the night until Whinae and Nadya`s turn to patrol. He smiled. They were nice women, and Risk did like both of their Whers. He was lucky for all the friends he had, he thought.

Risk quickly followed behind Ridan but stayed behind at the table when Ridan went to go get the human food. Risk sat down next to Ryka, her eyes looking around the place. She was large for a Wher and she knew she was Queen. She looked at everything as if she owned it all. And, well technically she did! By day is was Kalith`s, and by night it was hers! Her eyes whirled really fast in shades of green with these thoughts. And this girl, she added in though, if she does not get a dragon, she will Impress one of my children and be able to see us every night. Yes, Risk liked the idea very much.

[kaya]

Ryka was in the middle of a nod of agreement when they finally reached the kitchens. At last! she thought, taking in the smells. She was hungrier than she had thought (and as such had quite missed the fact that Ridan had waited for her). It wasn't like walking into a room where someone had just finished cooking, which had the best sort of smell, but rather like coming in late. There was still the lingering, telltale scent of food, but it was older and fainter. In the back of the other smells was a hint of dishwater. Ryka wrinkled her nose, thinking of the times her own mother had made her wash the dishes. How glad she was to be free of that!

"Anything that's still good, and hopefully still warm," Ryka joked, wondering if they had any stew on for late comers, and surely there must be a big pot of klah. Everyone heard stories about how there was always a big pot of klah over the fire at Weyrs. "Honestly, anything that looks good enough to eat is fine. I'm not picky." Though fresh fruit and meat that hadn't been dried were favorites of hers, mostly because they were such rare things to come upon at Nabol. Sure, at Tillek she had gotten to have a lot more fruits, but she wasn't tired of them, not yet.

And with her requests in Ridan took off to go find whatever edibles were left in the kitchen. Risk stayed with her though. Ryka assumed the cooks didn't like whers by their artistic creations, plus most people didn't like how whers smelled. Ryka started up rubbing Risk again. With any luck tonight would go well and Ridan would merely accept her as a consistent presence that showed up around this time of day. There was something about the two, and Ryka wasn't quick to make friends, but she was quick to gain an idea of with whom she did, and more often, didn't want to spend time with. So far Ridan, and of course Risk, seemed alright.

Though, thinking of Risk, Ryka gave a moment of thought to the wher's actions. Most of the whers she had meet had been newly hatched and she'd grown as they had, apart from Darvsk and Karsk, really. Both of them had taken some time to warm up to her, yet it was quite the opposite with Risk. Perhaps that was a major difference between Golds and Reds, or perhaps it was just a personality difference between these two whers. If I get to meet some of the others, perhaps it will be easier to sort these traits, Ryka thought to herself. Her ever growing knowledge base of whers was something she liked adding to. At the same time she knew that she ought to be putting more effort into learning about dragons. But wasn't that what lessons were for?

[kia]

Ridan walked to the back of the kitchens. He was greeted by the drudges that worked at night. There were not very workers at night like there were during the day, but who else fed those who worked at night and all? He greeted the workers with his usual greeting and they offered him some wherry that they had kept warm. Before he took the plate, he explained to them about his guest and gave them her request. Shortly after a bit, Ridan emerged from the back with a plate of wherry meat, dried fruits, and klah. Ridan had decided against the wine in the end. He laid the plate and two cups down and smiled. "Not the freshest, but at least they kept it warm for me. I make the usual rounds around here. Whinae and Nadya will probably be by later tonight. They are the other Handlers here," he explained to her. He then sat down opposite of her and grabbed a cup of klah, sipping from it before picking up some wherry meat. "Go ahead and eat what you want. Though if you preferred to wait till in the morning, I can understand, especially since you will have to attend Candidate lessons. The food is better and just coming out of the ovens in the morning and early afternoon."

Risk watched her Mine rather boredly now. She was still interested in Ryka, but the woman had become quiet. Though she was still picking up on Ryka`s happy feelings for her to be around. Risk laid down next to Ryka, watching her Mine and the woman. Risk need foos tomorrow, she told her Mine, letting him know she was starting to get hungry. Her eyes were whirling slowly with content colors of light green and blue. The hide was just slightly brighter than normal, but Risk was not too concerned. She would Run when she was ready. Until then, she was content with talking to the males, flirting with them, and deciding who would be the best of the best.