Watching and waiting... {Open}

[Lan]

shortly after osro's kidnapping
on the bowl rim, evening

Waroth backwinged as she came in for a landing on the rim of the Dalibor Weyr bowl. Still, despite her precautions, she landed with a strong thud and her claws scraping harshly against the rock as she balanced herself and gained her footing. The sound of crumbling pebbles and sand gave way beneath the fiery dragoness and a growl rumbled in her chest as she made her position known. Cruel eyes scanned the horizon, focused on their job and intent on picking out any intruders far before anyone else could catch notice. The insult to her pride a moment before now forgotten, she took to her now elevated position (literally) with great sense of purpose and distinction. Even if she wasn't the most important dragon right now, she certainly had great self importance.

Nim settled into the saddle for a long watch, with very little to hold as comfort in her solitude. At the moment she was frustrated with Waroth, despite her love for her dearest friend, and she could find no stimulating conversation to take her mind off of recent occurrences. So she took to counting the dragons in the bowl and, once she lost interest, to counting the stars that were appearing in the sky. It was getting too dark to count trees or pebbles or rocks, and so she soon lost interest in all mind games and was forced to retreat back into her thoughts. For some reason O'sho's face kept slipping in and out of her conscious mind, with her hand still oddly cold where it was clasped in his. She sighed, visibly shaking her head as if to dispel such ideas, and focused on Waroth's ruby hide, now slowly darkening with the waning of the light.

'Mine...' Waroth's voice came with caution into Nim's mind. The red dragoness had now become as bored as Her Own, no longer thrilled with the responsibilities placed upon her. 'Mine... why didn't you hear me?' Nim could feel the strong, familiar presence of her dearest love returning to her mind and she acquiesced to the melding of their minds once again into one. She wasn't mad at Waroth... she never was. She had just been frustrated in the moment. Waroth was still the one she was bonded too, still the one she loved most dearly. Beneath her she felt the muscled in the dragoness' back relax from their tensed state. Waroth ceased her fears of Nim leaving her.

'I don't know, love.' Nim thought back in a soft, gentle manner. 'It was very loud in there, and I was focusing on something else.' She took off her riding helmet for a moment and rubbed her forehead affectionately against the hide on the neck of her dearest red dragon. Then she rested her head there, allowing her free hand to rub Waroth's neck hide lovingly and comfortingly. Finally, with a pat, she resumed an upright position and replaced her riding helmet to its natural position atop her head. 'I'm sorry... I didn't mean to frighten you.'

'I wasn't frightened!' Waroth insisted with a swell of pride. 'Never frightened... just worried.' Her chest swelled and collapsed with a sigh and Nim again gave an affectionate pat to the neck of her beautiful beast. While frustratingly jealous, Waroth did love her intensely and she knew, as long as there was still a trace of life in her body, the volatile fiery beauty would not let anything happen to her beloved Nim. That was comforting, in a way that Nim had never really experienced before becoming a dragonrider, and she often took great pride and solace in such a knowledge as that.

Yet, despite that comfort, she was still not looking forward to how the evening played out. There was a terrible feeling in the pit of her stomach, and she worried at the possibility of there being a dragon-vs-dragon war -something that every person on Pern had ingrained in them as the worst possible outcome to any scenario. So she watched, and she waiting, with the occasional remark of Waroth and a worry that stirred restlessly in her very bones. Silently, she wished for someone, anyone, to join her and ease her anxiety with harmless distraction.

[Kila]

O’sho did not know where Fajra was. The man had looked for his equally troubled weyrmate briefly, but abandoned his search after only a very preliminary sweep. O’sho’s company often distressed Fajra more than it did any good, so he decided not to impose his company upon her today. They were both deeply shaken by the events that had come to pass. Today might be different; today Fajra might actually want him near her- and he would feel better if he was with her- but if she wanted him she could easily find him.

A tense, nervous silence was about the Weyr. The Wing led by Anima and Zucherroth had departed quickly and long ago under O’sho’s watch and supervision, and now all they could do was wait. All those who were not essential or performing some needed task were hidden away in their weyrs or barracks, brooding in the mutual bad feeling that emanated throughout the Weyr and listening desperately for any sort of news.

Daidoroth paced furiously back and forth on the cliffs, his tail lashing as he turned. It had been a long time since he had felt His this upset, and he didn’t like it one bit. The Bronze shared the harrowing feeling of hopelessness that plagued his Rider. He knew that he was needed here to guard the Weyr, but he wanted to be out looking for the Renegades and for Osro. For O’sho and Fajra and their hatchling he was concerned, but the rest of his feelings were laced with venom. How dare those filthy Renegades trespass in his weyr? How dare they touch the little boy! He snarled quietly to himself.

Daido, come down here, O’sho called softly as he walked into the Bowl and saw his bonded pacing. The Bronze turned towards his Rider’s words and glided down to him quickly. He landed nearby and O’sho walked over to him, leaning against his massive shoulder and stroking his neck soothingly. O’sho had had time to calm down and come to grips with the situation, but, reading Daidoroth’s emotions, he was dismayed that his turbulent reactions earlier had had such an effect on his lifemate. I’m sorry that I’ve upset you, old friend, he apologized. Daidoroth craned his head around so that it was in front of O’sho. I am sorry you are upset, MineOwn. I do not like to see you this way. I am angry at the Renegades who breached our home and stole your hatchling, he explained, calming naturally in the close proximity to His. They soothed and comforted one another just by being together. It was a wonderful thing. Anger is the most useless emotion, Daido; it is destructive to the mind and hurtful of the heart. Daidoroth closed his eyes and rumbled wisely. His was right, of course. Acting this way now would help nothing; the only thing it would achieve would be to upset the others. Everyone needed to be brave now. Why don’t you go check on Kalith? I know she is very upset too, O’sho suggested. It would do Daidoroth well to be the comforter instead of the comfortee. Take me up with you- I think I’ll check on Nimara and Arsana. They’ve been there since morning.

And so Daidoroth alighted on the edge of the rim, halfway between the Queens standing watch and the Queen that held his interest and his heart. He let O’sho down carefully and then walked over to where Kalith was. O’sho watched him go and then turned and approached Nimara and Waroth. He knew the Red to be a volatile, passionate creature, so he bowed to her before coming close. Daidoroth’s landing had undoubtedly alerted them to his presence, so he knew his coming would not be a surprise.

”Nimara, Waroth- good evening,” he said courteously. ”How fares the watch? Are you doing well? He ran his hand through his hair to smooth back the wisps that played in his face. The face that was revealed was tired and worn, but not defeated or completely void of happiness. ”I take it you haven’t seen anything out of the ordinary.” He stood next to them and looked out over the continent for a while, absent and searching. Presently her turned back and looked them over with concern. ”Are you tired? You’ve been out here all day. If you’d like I can send up others to relieve you. You were very kind to offer your help, and I will not have you wear yourselves out and regret it.” He looked at Waroth and managed to find a grin. ”Though I doubt there’s anything a fiery-hearted Red isn’t capable of. Not to mention her Rider.”

[Lan]

'Diadoroth approaches.' Waroth informed her rider, although she looked not in the direction from whence the Weyrleader and his bonded were coming. Nim, on the other hand, turned her head sharply to watch their landing, but forced herself to not watch as O'sho walked toward them. After all, it would be rude to stare. Not that she wasn't glad for his presence. Inside a little bit of her perked up at such company, pleased to be able to converse with someone other than her fiery life partner. Not that she didn't love Waroth intensely... she sighed. It was all just far too complicated for her. When one was a redrider, everything was complicated it seemed. Red dragons seemed to be the only dragons that could develop a love-hate relationship with their bonded rider. And in that, life was always an adventure.

When O'sho bowed to her, Waroth gave a satisfied hum to let him know that he was allowed to come close. Of all citizens in the Weyr, O'sho seemed to know best how to treat a (sub)queen such as Waroth, and she was ultimately less annoyed with him as a whole for it. She could stand his presence tolerably without being offended or jealous. For that, Nim was grateful. Nimara enjoyed O'sho company, for he was always pleasant and attentive, and she felt comfortable around him. Not so much so with Fajra. Although they were in the same wing and got along well enough, Nim could never bring herself to be completely at ease around the sharp Senior Weyrwoman. She held nothing against her, it was just her way to naturally be timid around those with violently strong convictions.

'Tell Him that there is nothing of great value to report... and that I'm as well as I manage to be.' Waroth told Her Own in response to the Weyrleader's question. She snorted definitively, again feeling some self importance at being acknowledged for the duty she was performing. Nim smiled and patted her weyrmate affectionately, then dismounted and slid down to meet O’sho on level ground. Or, rather, meet him so that he was taller than her as he naturally should be. She removed her helmet and bowed her head in greeting, then quickly fixed her hair out of her face, as it had been pushed down by her headgear.

’She says that everything’s fine.’ Nim replied for her dragon. Her tone was all business, as logical and practical as Nim always was in such times, and she barely responded to the Weyrleader’s entreaty to her comfort as he asked how she was doing, and if she wanted to have someone relieve her. To be honest, it had done Nim good to be out of her personal weyr all day. Waroth nowadays had been so possessive that she had barely been allowed to have more than on our away from her beloved dragon. And, while she was still with Waroth, being out and doing something made her feel good again. Like her and Waroth were a team doing something productive again. It wasn’t as if she had gone without necessities either. Her and Waroth would be kept well attended, and she was sure that whenever she was hungry the kitchen would probably hurry food up to her. The truth was, however, that Nim had not been hungry at all. Perhaps it was the side effect of being a runner, but she sometimes could go all through daylight with just a flask of water at her side.

'Though I doubt there’s anything a fiery-hearted Red isn’t capable of. Not to mention her Rider' Nim couldn’t help but smile at this comment, as Waroth, at first aggravated by his previous comment, was now placated (just as O’sho seemed to know she would be). The red dragoness settled down again, resettling her wings on her back and lying down so that she was now quite comfortable. Her attention now transferred elsewhere, looking off into the distance instead of paying attention to her bonded and company. Nim also felt Waroth’s mind move elsewhere, no longer focusing on reading Nim’s inner thoughts all the time. For once, Waroth had actually given her some space. And for that, she was grateful.

'I've not been worn out,' Nim replied pleasantly, still managing to remain both casual and professional, 'On the contrary, it's been stimulating to be useful...' Her tone drifted off as she remembered all the months she had recently been cooped up in her weyr because of Waroth's temper, not being of any use to anyone whatsoever. Then she returned with a snap to the present, feigning an indifferent smile. 'Besides, I've not gone hungry, if you're worried about that.' However, as she said those words, her stomach grumbled slightly betraying quite the opposite. She hoped sincerely that O'sho had not heard, for while her stomach may have been upset it wasn't until this moment that she had thought of food at all.

'Any word?' She asked timidly, earnestly wanting to know (although taking the attention from her recently growling stomach was a pleasant side effect). Nim didn't know how the Weyrleader would take such a question, but she did want to show him that she cared. She worried greatly for his state of mind at this moment, and it was a worry that sprung up often during her empty hours of watch. Why she worried so much about O'sho, a strong man who could take care of himself, was somewhat of a mystery to her. However, she took it as being part of her natural worrying about others who were in difficult situations, particularly those she cared about.

[Kila]

”No need for you to get down,” he said as Nim slid off of Waroth, but she was already crossing to him. She was always eager to do whatever was required of her. Her loyalty and concern brought a more genuine smile to his face than had been there since early in the day. ”But since you already have, I think I might pass some time with you and Waroth, unless either of you have any objections." He walked to the edge of the rim and sat down, hanging his legs wearily over the drop. He was perfectly safe and now had a perfect view of the untamed continent stretching out before him. He looked over his shoulder at Nim and patted the ground beside him enticingly. She could sit beside him if she wanted (and if Waroth would allow it).

”That’s a good report. I’m relieved,” O’sho said when Nim relayed that everything had been fine while they had been watching. ”Again, I give you my thanks, and owe you much more. Waroth, thank you too for your vigilance.” The Weyrleader included Waroth consciously, knowing that she had been working just as hard as Hers. He was relieved that the protective Red was allowing him close. He had noticed that Nimara had not been out and about very much, and he had a hunch that Waroth’s nature might have played a small part in it. Establishing a mutual respect between two people, or a person and a dragon in this case, was a massive positive step in any relationship. He hoped that if he befriended Waroth he might be able to help Nim get around more.

”I’m glad you haven’t tired,” he continued. ”I would feel horrible if you were emaciating away up here while we ran around like wherries below. If it really was as stimulating as you say, then I’m glad that I could make you feel useful.” He eyed her curiously, one eyebrow creeping up into an arch. ”I hope you don’t feel like you aren’t a use often. That would be quite to the contrary, Nimara; the Weyr could not function without each and every one of its members. Having impressed Waroth you have more responsibility on your shoulders than many of the others, if you know it or not. People look up to Queens and their Riders, you know.” His tone was faintly chiding at first when she even hinted and putting herself down, but it became encouraging as he continued. At the end he caught himself and chuckled. ”Forgive me, I did not come here to lecture you.”

As Nim protested further that she was not hungry, her stomach let loose a loud growl, giving her away for a fibber. O’sho laughed in earnest now, his low voice booming softly as he tilted back his head and made his amusement to the sky. ”I thought you might be,” he said kindly, reeling in his amusement in case it hurt her feelings. ”I will have something sent up for you. Is there anything else I can have brought for you?” he asked earnestly.

The last bit of the conversation brought him back down to a mellow sort of low. He stared out at the Western Continent as Anima timidly inquired if there was any news. ”No,” he replied softly, keeping nothing from her, ”There has been no news, I’m afraid.” And there hadn’t. Both O’sho and Daidoroth (and undoubtedly Fajra and Kalith) had been vigilantly awaiting any word from the search party all day, but nothing had come. They were still looking. O’sho exhaled a deep breath sharply though his lips. He was more tired today from waiting and doing nothing than he had been from any full days labor or training. The strain and exhaustion showed on his face.

As if in response the his low feelings on the trying subject, a delicate Orange firelizard appeared from between and landed on his shoulder. She slunk regally over to his neck and rubbed her head comfortingly against his cheek, crooning softly to him. ”Ah, Fiera,” he said tenderly, inclining his head towards her as she rubbed against him. He smiled with telling love at the small creature. ”Thank you.” She was the one woman of his in his life here that showed him any small affection. Like Fajra she was fire and ice, but when she was happy or he was upset, Fiera would be a little darling and love on him to show she cared. It was a nice change. ”This little doll is Fiera,” he explained to Nim, thinking it rude not to introduce them even though one was a pet.

[Lan]

'I hope you don’t feel like you aren’t a use often. That would be quite to the contrary... the Weyr could not function without each and every one of its members. Having impressed Waroth you have more responsibility on your shoulders than many of the others, if you know it or not. People look up to Queens and their Riders, you know.' Nim stared at the ground as O'sho gave this speech, feeling rather embarrassed at him catching her in a moment of self-deprecation... much more embarrased at being chided for it! Still, despite his encouragement, she still didn't feel any great importance or responsibility. Waroth was the smallest of the Queens and Sub-Queens, and due to her nature they were not often given much responsibility over anything of importance. While she was a strong dragon, eager to fight and more than equipped for fighting, she still had that rage and sheer jealousy within her that made her not a pleasant creature for one to be around, much less take orders from. The red had earned a strong reputation of having a personality made almost purely of envy and wrath. It made her an excellent guard in times such as these, which Nim assumed was the main reason they were called upon for such a duty, but as far as anything to do with management Waroth could not be bothered.

Waroth had not moved to accept O'sho's comment, Nim had noticed, but she assumed her bonded had come to expect such a courtesy and had therefore paid it no mind. It was like her, the red-head thought, to suddenly take a disinterest in someone who was treating her the way she felt she should be treated. Nim sighed and shook he head. Her lifemate was incorrigible, but she loved her so much all the same. And perhaps, slightly because of it.

Nimara again was embarrassed by the Weyrleader's ability to spot her deficiencies and her head hung low in something resembling shame. She wouldn't be surprised if by now her cheeks were slightly pink. Biting her lip, she hazarded a glance upward toward his countenance as he offered (or rather, insisted) to send food for her and she couldn't help but smile slightly with a mixture of guilt and humility at having food ordered for her. Nonetheless, she acquiesced to his decision (what else could she do?), but added, 'I'm quite fine otherwise, thank you for asking.'

'No... There's been no news, I'm afraid.' Nim sat down next to him on the rim at these words, at first overtly cautious and uncomfortable at having herself so close to the edge, but after she gained her balance she rather enjoyed the view. Waroth glanced over at Her Own briefly, then snorted and returned to her watch. 'I'm sorry...' Nim said in a quiet, solemn tone. While others in other circumstances may apologize without meaning, the way Nim said those were were earnest and heartfelt. She could not imagine having a child and watching them being stolen away to Faranth-knows-where. It was a very difficult thing for a parent, and she appreciated that despite not having children of her own.

'Oh!' She blinked at the appearance of the orange firelizard that had currently come to settle on O'sho's shoulder. She was imperious little thing, knowing her beauty and color, and the way she settled herself near O'sho showed a strong personality overflowed from her small frame. Nim appreciated the bond between human and firelizard, smiling as the tiny orange flitter rubbed affectionately against her bonded's cheek. 'Nice to meet you, Fiera.' She responded with a courteous smile and a respectful nod of her head.

Meanwhile, Waroth had taken notice of the new little addition and was eying it with a combination of distrust and curiosity. She did a couple of double-takes before stretching her neck over to get a closer look at the tiny creature. 'She's so tiny...' She thought to her weyrmate, 'So very, very tiny.' Then, as if satisfied with that analysis and labeling the "tiny" creature as unthreatening, she resumed her watch and once again paid less attention to the goings-on of the two leggeds and their "tiny" friend.

Nim chuckled softly, looking from Waroth to O'sho to the "tiny" Fiera. 'Waroth says that she's very tiny,' She passed on the joke, still smiling in amusement to herself. Then thinking of the poor Fiera's feelings, she added, 'But I think she's lovely.' She then looked from the orange firelizard to her bonded and found herself inadvertently staring into the Weyrleader's eyes. He had lovely eyes, she thought for the second time that day. But they were eyes that were currently hiding pain behind courteous civilities. The redhead paused for a second, then with a sigh looked once again over the Western Continent, becoming lost in the past and the possible futures. The present seemed to be no longer an option.

'They'll find him... there are the best riders in Pern looking for him as we speak.' She spoke suddenly, again in her normal softer voice and not in the joking tone she had used mere seconds earlier. This time purposefully she looked into his eyes and held his gaze. 'I'm sure of it.' With this statement she reached her hand over to grab his encouragingly and gave a small smile. Then when the moment was up, she retreated her hand and once again looked thoughtfully out into the horizon.

|| BTW, Kila... Nim's full name is Nimara, not Anima. You're getting the Nims mixed up, lovely. =) ||

[Kila]

O’sho continued to stare ahead as Nim made to sit down beside him. He sensed her trepidation at being so close to the edge and turned his attention to her to make sure she did not waver or trip. If she did he could grab her. The precaution proved unnecessary, though, and the young woman settled down safely beside him. As they gazed out together Nim apologized. O’sho nodded and did not reply, but the sincerity in her words warmed his heart by some small degrees. The reassurance was nice. Everyone else was hidden away or busy, and this was the first time since things had been flung into motion that he’d been able to sit. He was glad that it was with Nimara.

Nim and Waroth both took an interest in Fiera when she appeared. They studied her curiously, but she had better things to do than examine them. She was too busy comforting Hers to pay attention to the other females around him. She held instinctively that they held no threat to her and thus did not grace them with her notice. Maybe later. O’sho chuckled at Waroth’s description, amused by its simplicity. Fiera tolerated being the butt of a bad joke to get that chuckle from Hers. The female Rider gained a small bit of approval from Fiera with her compliment. ”Thank you,” O’sho said to the praise, agreeing with her whole-heartedly, but not feeling whole-hearted.

They were silent again for a while, each thinking their own thoughts and probably seeing different things as their gazes rested below. “They’ll find him,” Nim said suddenly is a soft voice. The joking tone they had been playing with before was gone and was replaced with genuine concern. He forced his thoughts back to the present and his head in her direction. He met her intense eyes and felt her hand wrap around his. Her smile lit up the darkening night. ”Nimara…. Thank you. It means the world to me to hear that,” he said roughly, closing her hand in his and giving it a fond squeeze back. He released her hand and her gaze when she pulled them back.

”I know everything will be alright,” he said after a while, pulling his legs back over the edge of the cliffs and crossing them before him meditatively. ”The Renegades are not a stupid group. Surely at least one of them knows that to put a scratch on Osro would be suicide. They hold the chips now, but they can’t for long. For them to hold him is like holding fire; the longer they do the more it hurts them. With a little bit of reason things can continue on a safe course.” He spoke half to himself and half to Nim. He believed the words he was saying, but it had the echo of him trying to keep himself convinced that they were true and reason would prevail in some way. ”Besides, they have never hurt anyone before, and I have reason and report to believe that some among them may be sympathetic.”

O’sho continued to sit on the ground meditatively after his speech. Soon he rose to his feet and looked down at Nim with a kind smile. ”What a load off my chest to talk to someone about it. I hope it didn’t make you uncomfortable.” He offered her his hand and helped her to her feet. ”Thank you for letting me stay up here with you for a while. And for listening. You’re very kind,” he said, tapping the tip of her nose with his finger. ”I’ll leave you now and have some food sent up. Don’t hesitate to ask if you need anything else, and notify me at once if you see anything out of the ordinary.” He bowed to the Red pair as he began to go. Fiera looked back at them and chirped from his shoulder. ”Until later, then.”

ooc: Sorry about that! I went back and edited XD