The Pernese Postal Service (Derek)

[Kila]

Pre War...

I don’t see why you impressed another lazy one, Eccolath commented with a sniff as Sol sat in frustration out in the grass of the WeyrBowl. Hally, her small, frightened Black flitter, was curled up in her pocket. Her other, a fat, lazy excuse for a Pink, was hanging lethargically in her hands. Sol had the flitter gripped by her midsection and was holding her in front of her, her face beginning to become bewildered.

I didn’t pick this lazy creature on purpse, Sol replied. And it was YOU who made me go to that hatching in the first place, remember? she said accusingly. Eccolath grinned and said nothing. ”Won’t even own up to it,” Sol grumbled, turning her attention back to the Pink.

Eccolath was lying lazily in the grass not too far off. Sol was trying again to teach her firelizards to carry messages, but was yet to have any success. Hally was too shy; he barely left her weyr, and when he did he was plastered to her. The Pink, well, she was just too lazy! Sol hadn’t even come up with a name for the flitter- she had fallen into the habit of calling her “you lazy creature.”

”Now let’s try this again, you,” she spoke with elaborate importance to the Pink she held in front of her face. It looked at her apathetically. ”I’m going to tie this little note to your leg and I want you to take it right over there to Eccolath. Look- it’s not even very far at all. You can see where you need to go. You can do it,” she said encouraginly, giving the Pink a pep talk as she tied the small, rolled note to her leg. She put her down on the ground and pointed to Eccolath. ”Now go! Shoo!” Nothing. ”Come on, you lazy thing! You don’t even have to between! Just fly over there to her. Walk! Anything!” The Pink plopped down on the ground and looked up at Sol, opening her gaping maw and letting out a long yawn. When she was done she looked with whirring eyes and sent jabbering feelings of hunger to her bonded.

”Uggghhhh!”

[derek]

It was a lazy day. J'kan was awakened by Hath's hunger, and as he sat up, his bed furs draped liberally about his shoulders, he wondered if he would have slept all day if the Brown hadn't woken him up.

Yes,[/i] came the dragon's stoic reply. You may thank me later. Now get up, Mine. I hungry greatly.[/i]

"Of course," J'kan retorted. "I just had to Impress the sarcastic dragon." Despite his teasing, the Wingrider rose to caress the Brown briefly before slipping his feet into boots and pulling a light tunic over his head. Without bothering to lace the boots, J'kan pulled himself onto Hath's back, and let out a whoop of mirth as the dragon launched from the weyr, his over-large wings catching the drafts of air almost immediately.

Spiraling down slowly, almost lazily, Hath landed as gracefully as a dragon his size could. Scratching the Brown's eye-ridges, J'kan smiled. The dragon's insatiable hunger had added an edge to his own need for food. "Go get yourself a nice buck or two," J'kan told his dragon, hugging the great wedge-shaped head briefly before the dragon took flight again, leaving him to walk to the kitchens.

After a cup of klah and some meat, J'kan felt much better. Hath had fed, and the two felt up for an adventure. As Hath landed again, and J'kan clamored on to his back, Hath hummed lightly. We shall go. The obvious statement started a laugh from J'kan.

Next second they were airborne again, heading toward the Weyr Bowl. Spotting a cyan dragon--Eccolath, was it?--J'kan asked Hath to land. The Brown acquiesced, and landed a bit heavily a few dragonlengths away from the Cyan.

J'kan slid down Hath's shoulder, and moved forward. Overhearing the rider's frustration, he laughed and commented, "Well, at this point it may be easier to just throw the lazy beast!"[/size][/color]

[Kila]

Eccolath saw the Brown and his rider approach and land, but said nothing; she was having too much fun watching Hers agonize over the lazy firelizard that was quickly becoming the bane of her existence. Sol was so involved in clapping her hands to her head and crying out in frustration that she did not feel the thump of Hath’s arrival. Neither did she notice J’kan’s advance until he called out to her. At the strange voice, Sol turned her head around sharply. She half expected it to be someone teasing her, but the stranger’s advice was actually not all that bad. She relaxed a little and gave the man a wary smile. ”At this point that doesn’t seem like too bad of an idea,” she admitted, getting to her feet.

She met and greeted him as he came up to her. ”Hullo,” she said with a winning smile, ”I’m Sol. That useless creature over there is Eccolath,” she said, inclining her head towards the lounging Cyan. ”I’m afraid you’ve caught me at a rather bad time,” she admitted, looking down huffily at the Pink. It had by now rolled onto its back and was lying with its fat belly stuck into the air, the note tied to its leg completely forgotten. ”My firelizards,” Sol said with exaggerated patience, ”Can’t seem to grasp the concept of carrying messages.” As if to solidify the point, the Pink yawned again and Hally squirmed guiltily in her pocket. Sol threw up her hands and laughed. ”I’m just about to give up on it!”

[derek]

J'kan laughed. "Maybe if you tried, she'd get the idea?" He suggested, grinning broadly. "Then again, I'd be scared the lazy thing may not even open its wings if you threw it!" He chuckled throatily, running a hand through his hair.

As Sol extended her hand, J'kan took it, shaking gently in greeting. "A firm handshake!" He exclaimed happily. "I like that in a woman!" Chuckling again, he motioned to the Brown who was now cautiously sniffing Eccolath's hide. "That's Hath, over there, and I'm J'kan. Watch him, now, Eccolath, and don't be afraid to bite him!" He said, addressing the Cyan directly. Hath huffed rather stoically at J'kan's comment before returning to his examination of the other dragon.

"I'm new to the Weyr. Just transferred from Benden. I like the way things are run around here, but all of these pesky fire lizards flying around tend to cause problems." J'kan grinned apologetically at both Sol and the pink. "I've never had the urge to Impress one myself. Hath is enough trouble as is!"

Of course I am,[/i] Hath commented. And if you dared Impress something as foolish as a flitter, I would eat it before you could stop me.[/i]

J'kan laughed, turning back to Sol. "The Pink certainly has an interesting shade, though. Did you Impress it here?" He asked.

Meanwhile, Hath was still focused on Eccolath. You,[/i] he began, addressing the Cyan. Have the most beautiful hide I've ever seen. I have no notion why Mine comments on the Pink, when yours so easily outshines it.[/i][/size][/color]

[Kila]

Sol smiled as J’kan spoke. Where did this man come from? She liked him already. ”I bet you’re right.” she agreed, glancing at the Pink. ”If I threw her she would just drop straight to the ground! Too lazy to even spread her wings- humph. But I couldn’t do it knowing she’d just let herself fall; I’d feel just terrible if she got hurt. Even if she is such a lazy little thing.”

Sol shook J’kan’s had enthusiastically and laughed when he appraised her grip. ”A dragon rider has to be strong,” she said with a wink, leaning forward as though she were telling him a secret. ”And that goes doubly so for young ladies.”

Sol followed J’kan’s hand as he pointed to the Brown he had arrived. He identified his bonded as Hath and then himself. ”Don’t worry about Eccolath, she could think her way out of anything,” Sol said, looking at the Cyan fondly. Eccolath rumbled in agreement, turning her eyes curiously on J’kan when he spoke to her and then turning her attention back to Hath. She was just as curious about him as she was about her.

”So you came from Bended, J’kan? How cool! What was it like there?” Sol eyed him mischievously. ”Lots of people running and flying around drinking wine?” she asked jokingly. ”Anyway, I’m glad you like it here. It really is a great place, and our Weyrleaders do a great job keeping things running. They’re nice… sorta… you’ll have to meet them!” she insisted. She’d like to see what J’kan thought of Fajra. She could be bit of a shock when you didn’t know what to expect. ”Be sure to let me know how it goes,” she said with laughter dancing in her voice.

”This place really is chalk full of firelizards,” Sol realized, stopping to think about it for the first time. ”They really can be a nuisance sometimes-“ again she glanced down condemningly at the Pink- ”Especially when the Queens are brooding over their clutches and don’t want anyone around. And they certainly are a handful! I didn’t mean to impress this lazy little thing here- Eccolath kind of bullied me into it. She is a pretty shade… but she lacks other redeeming qualities. I did impress her here. She’s my second, actually. Hally isn’t so bad,” Sol reached in her pocket and brought out the little Black. He wove himself among her fingers and looked with terrified eyes at the world. ”He’s scared of everything, the poor dear. He always stays in my weyr, or hair, or pocket so he’s not much trouble at all.” She held him up towards J’kan. ”Say hello, Hally!”

After a good preliminary going over, Eccolath decided that Hath would do. His words instantly strengthened that opinion. Thank you, she rumbled, pleased by the compliment. You’ll only find such colors here. Cyans were born in Dalibor, she spoke proudly of her color, more interested in the glory of her new color than herself personally. My sisters are all very pretty too. And I like your hide too, Hath; it fits you. It is very warm. Eccolath was not vain so she was able to take the compliment without becoming a flirtatious monster or having her ego swell uncontrollably. It must’ve been the blue in her hide that was able to alter that Green-ish behavior. She was attracted to kindness and creativity, and so far Hath seemed to be a nice dragon.

[derek]

"I wouldn't put it past the little one to fall just to spite you!" J'kan exclaimed, laughing. Despite being new to the Weyr, he was already making friends. This was a good thing. Sol was funny and kind, and they seemed to be hitting it off rather well. "Then again, maybe the poor thing just wants attention?"

As Sol leaned forward, J'kan unconsciously moved back slightly, but allowed her to get close enough to whisper as if she were telling a secret. At her words, a grin broke across J'kan's hardened face. "My goodness, are all of the dragonwomen they breed here so feisty?!" He asked, his blue eyes crinkling at the corner in good-natured mirth.

When the woman drew their conversation back to the dragons, J'kan eyed Eccolath appraisingly. Cyans were a color specific to Dalibor, and he hadn't encountered one yet. Hath seemed to like her, and that gained the Cyan points in his mind.

Of course I like her, Mine. She is unique.

At the dragon's comment, J'kan smirked. Someone had a crush! Turning back to Sol and leaving Hath to his flirtatious conversation, the Brown rider shook his head and laughed. "Benden is very much the same here, save for some colors," he nodded to Eccolath. "That, and we don't have quite as many fire lizards running around! But I will say that Benden wine is the best, and that we do quite a bit of drinking, particularly at hatchings and Weyrling graduations."

Then Sol produced another flitter. She called it Hally, and the poor black was terrified. J'kan couldn't help but laugh, though he greatly pitied the creature. "The poor dear!" He mused, shaking his head. "Put him back in your pocket before he dies of fright!" Bending down to look at the fire lizard more properly, he sighed. "Am I really that scary, little one?"

Hath snorted. Yes.

J'kan chose not to reply, instead extending a hand to the quivering black flitter. "Come now, little one. I'm nothing to be afraid of." Reaching into a pocket, he produced part of a meat-roll he hadn't finished that morning at breakfast.

Hath turned back to the Cyan. No wonder I haven't seen a dragon of this particular shade before. It is very becoming. And I thank you for your compliments, though my hide is nothing special when compared to yours."[/i] The Brown hummed deep in his throat, satisfied that they were having a decent conversation. Turning his great, swirling eyes onto J'kan, the brown huffed. I apologize for the man. He never knows when to stop.[/color]

J'kan did turn this time. "Hey, I heard that, you!" He said in mock sternness, a laugh bubbling up from his throat as he held out the meat-roll to Hally.[/color][/size]

[Kila]

”I don’t think it’s attention that she wants,” Sol disagreed. ”Because I’ve certainly been giving her enough of that while trying to teach her to carry messages. All she wants is food, sun, and sleep, I think. It looks like my messages will never get where they need to go,” she said with a helpless shrug.

Sol was slightly surprised when J’kan pulled away from her. She had just been joking and hadn’t really thought about how she’d invaded his personal space when she leaned towards him. She didn’t make an ordeal of it, though, and instead responded to his smile with one of her own as he reacted to her statement. ”I’m afraid not everyone here is so spunky at first meeting as me, but they’ve all got some fire in them for sure. Why, you should meet my best friend Pratyba! She’s something else.”

Hally cringed immediately into Sol’s hands as J’kan laughed at him. Not only was His holding him out to a big stranger, but the stranger was laughing at him! He creeled piteously. Was he really that scary? Yes! Hally was terrified when the big man began to extend his hand towards him and tried to scurry up Sol’s arm. The girl caught him and let him hide in her cupped hands. When J’kan tried again with a meatroll the results were slightly better. Hally sniffed the air and after infinite hesitation stuck his quivering muzzle out from between Sol’s fingers. Food! With utmost caution Hally stuck his head out and examined the offering.
On the ground, the Pink rolled back over onto her belly suddenly and sniffed the air. Food! She clamored to her pudgy feet and waddled over to J’kan. She sat on his feet and hooked her claws onto his pants so that she could stare up greedily at him and the fabled meatroll. She jabbered excitedly and begged without shame, hoping the strange man might think her cute or take pity on her or pick her up.

Sol looked at the Pink in disbelief. ”No! That’s not for you!” she cried chidingly. ”Here,” she said to J’kan, depositing Hally into his outstretched hand. Hally froze, confused and terrified as he found himself in someone else’s grasp. He looked up at J’kan fearfully and then frantically for Sol. The Rider girl had stooped and picked up the Pink and now had her hanging in her arms. The Pink’s forearms were over Sol’s crossed arms, and her belly, legs, and tail hung over Sol’s stomach. She grumbled her unhappiness a this arrangement and stared huffily at Hally and the meatroll. The little Black didn’t want to go back to His and face the other firelizard’s jealous wrath, so he reevaluated staying in J’kan’s hands. He peeked up at J’kan again and, seeing nothing too menacing in the man’s face, relaxed a little and examined the meatroll. Very carefully he took a small bite out of the edge. ”Well would you look at that!” Sol exclaimed happily. ”I think he likes you, J’kan!”

The two dragons stood off to the side watching the antics of their humans and the two firelizards. Mine’s flitters are silly things, Eccolath hummed, entertained. I wish she had impressed more interesting ones, though. All these ones want to do is hide or eat. Eccolath fluttered her wings and stretched like a cat, now more aware of her hide shimmering in the sun like waves. No need to apologize for Yours. Mine seems to be having a good time with him. Now she turned with renewed curiosity to Hath. You and Yours came from another Weyr? What was it like there? Her imagination was already kicking into full gear. Sol’s suggestion of everyone going around drunk on Benden wine came to life in her head. What did you like to do in your free time there?

[derek]

J'kan laughed. "All fire lizards need attention, and you certainly look like you've been dumping it on her. Give her time to grow and I'm sure she'll learn to carry your messages," He told the Cyan rider. "Though food, sun and sleep are three things I wouldn't mind getting more of!" He finished with a laugh.

He was glad Sol didn't comment on his odd behavior. It was strange being in a new Weyr, and he wasn't entirely sure how to act. That, and he was unsure of how to react to a woman moving in on his space. He hadn't been with a woman in too many years to count. While he may be flirtatious, J'kan was never free with his affections. He was glad to speak again. "I'll say! You're certainly got spunk! Maybe you could try giving some to that lazy Pink, eh? And I'll have to meet this Pratyba, as well as your Weyrleader and Weyrwoman. Perhaps you could introduce me?"

As J'kan offered the meat-roll, he was pleased when the black responded, and surprised when Sol unceremoniously dumped him into his hands. The Pink, greedy-guts as it was, had latched tiny claws into his leg. As Sol retrieved the Pink, J'kan realized why she placed Hally in his hands. While he could effectively hide in the Cyan rider's hands, the black was infinitely dwarfed in J'kan's own. He was nearly six feet tall, and his body was well proportioned. The black was lost in the wide expanse of his hands. However, Hally was responding nicely to the meat-roll, and seemed inclined to stay, since the Pink had taken over his place.

"The Pink sure is more friendly," J'kan mused thoughtfully, delicately handing the Black another morsel of meat. "Why do you think this fellow is so scared?" Popping another piece into Hally's mouth, he smiled. "You know, they're not so bad. They're actually kind of cure!"

The intensity of Hath's mental reply nearly knocked J'kan off of his feet. No. Do not Impress one, or I shall eat it.

J'kan laughed. "Hath certainly doesn't like them! He says if I dare Impress one, he'll eat it! He said as much earlier, but I thought he was joking! I guess he really doesn't like them." J'kan paused in his musings. "Maybe I'll just have to help you feed these greedy guts, hm?" He suggested, smiling like an over-excited Hold boy who just saw his first dragon. J'kan wasn't so bad when you got down to his sweet inner nature.

Hath turned back to the Cyan. I do not like the flitters. They are useless to me. If Mine needs a message taken, I will take it for him, not some tiny fire lizard.[/color] The brown arched his own neck, huffing. He was the jealous type! The other Weyr was much the same, though more drinking and less flitters. In free time, we had a great lake that was fun to swim in, though Mine hardly knows how to keep his head above water. They do look like they're having fun...[/color] The Brown cut off to admire Eccolath again as she stretched. Mine is happier here. And so am I.[/color][/color][/size]

[Kila]

Sol grinned almost sheepishly when he appraised her spunk. She had been out of whack recently over the whole B’rak issue and it was enthralling to feel like she was back on her feet. She hated feeling weak and helpless, especially when those feelings were the effect of a man. ”That silly creature could use some spunk,” she agreed. ”Sure I can introduce you to Pratyba, though you’ll have to be on your guard,” she laughed, thinking of all the different ways the girl might shock or prank her new friend. ”But as for the Weyrleaders, I have no special hold over them. You’ll have to request a special audience if you’re really serious about it, but if you just give it a while I’m sure you’ll see them walking around. They spend a lot of time out and about with everyone, especially O’sho- it’s really nice.”

Sol watched on approvingly as Hally grew accustomed to being in J’kan’s hands and eventually began taking little pieces of food from him. For Hally to be able to be near anyone was a big deal. Sol felt like a doting mother bursting with pride over her recluse child’s first friend. Sol’s hands might be more familiar, but J’kan’s were bigger, and Hally that meant a bigger, safer place to hide! ”I dunno why he’s so scared. He’s been a timid thing from the moment that he hatched,” she confessed.

Sol hid a smile as J’kan began to warm up to Hally. ”Yeah, they are cute. Even if they’re a pain in the butt.” She gave the Pink in her arms a little squeeze. Sol only laughed at Hath’s threat to eat any that J’kan impressed. ”Don’t do that, Hath!” she called to the Brown. ”I can’t imagine that they’d taste any good!” Certainly not! Eccolath agreed. Looking back at J’kan practically made her glow. ”Of course you can help feed them. You’re more than welcome to come and play or help take care of them any time!” she offered enthusiastically. J’kan was really very sweet, and his excited smile at the prospect was a joy to see.

They’re not bad all the time, Eccolath amended when Hath reacted so violently to the idea of His impressing one. I’ve heard that other peoples are quite useful. Mines can’t carry messages but some can- and you wouldn’t want to carry every little message Yours had all over Pern, she teased, flicking him with her tail. I am glad you and Yours are happy here. We have a lake too! We should go swimming one day. Perhaps we can teach Yours? Mine is good at swimming.

[derek]

J'kan laughed, his blue eyes shining. This girl wasn't so bad! She had a sense of humor! "Lend the Pink some spunk and I feel the little terror would drive us all mad!" Feeding Hally the last bit of the meat-roll, he smiled down at the little Black. "I'd be happy to meet your friend. And what are you talking about? I'm always on my guard!" Thumping his chest, he grinned.

Hath, however, huffed and gave the appearance of rolling his eyes. Mine is showing off, Faranth help us all...

J'kan just laughed. "As for the Weyrleader, O'sho, I met him briefly when I transferred. Basically gave me my Wing and disappeared. I don't mind, though. I'm sure I'll run into him soon. I approve of what he's doing, anyway. The Weyr runs smoothly. Not too many hatchings at one time, and everyone seems well versed and trained." J'kan smiled.

Glancing back down at Hally, the Brownrider smiled shyly. "Well, he'll warm up to people, I'm sure. He seems almost okay now. Unfortunately, I'm out of meat!" He looked apologetically down at the little Black fire lizard.

As Sol exclaimed that Hath should not eat fire lizards, J'kan chuckled. "You wouldn't really, would you love?" He asked. Hath did not reply, but rather crossed his legs lazily and flicked his tail,his eyes whirling in playful jest. When Sol told him he could help her with the fire lizards, the biggest grin yet split across his face. "Really? You mean it?" Laughing, he stroked Hally once down his entire length, projecting ideas of comfort and safety to the black.

Next second, however, J'kan went pale, and the grin slid from his face. He turned to his dragon. "Y-you want to w-w-what?" Swim! Bugled Hath happily. Eccolath says they have a lake! Remember how I loved to swim at Benden, Mine?[/color] J'kan's face paled even further before a hot blush rose to his cheeks. Hissing, he replied. "You know I can't swim, Hath!" Do not worry, Mine. Eccolath says Hers is a good swimmer. The pretty girl you have a crush on will help![/color]

J'kan's outburst was a furious yell. "You insolent dragon! I do not have a crush on her!" Suddenly, he was blushing even more furiously than before. Turning sheepishly back to Sol, his whole face a bright tomato red, he attempted to smile sheepishly. "I mean, well. Um. H-hath wants to swim. W-would you like t-to go swimming?"[/size][/color]

[Kila]

”I do hope he warms up to people, but it will be a slow process if a process at all,” Sol said, being optimistically real about it all. ”I’m so happy that he likes you. You’re the first person he’s ever let hold him other than me. Isn’t that right, Hally?” she cooed, rubbing his head with her finger. When J’kan’s face positively lit up in a smile Sol beamed and glowed. Being around other happy people made her happy. ”Really! Of course you can!” she reassured him. Hally shrunk down when J’kan reached down to stroke him, but he was soothed by the comforting feelings from both J’kan and Sol. He shivered when J’kan’s finger ran down the length of his body but poked his head up afterward and chirped acceptingly.

When J’kan’s smile, which Sol was growing to like a lot, dropped like a rock from his face, she looked at him with alarmed concern. What caused this complete 180? ”What?” she asked to both the change and J’kan’s stuttering sentence, moving forward unconsciously. ”Swimming?” His next outburst shocked her and she moved back. “You insolent dragon! I do not have a crush on her!” She blinked and regarded him with surprise. Was that true? As the blush spread across his face and he stuttered, a smile crept on to her lips. She was not sure how much older J’kan was than her, but he was a kid at heart like her. They made good playmates. Nothing bad was coming of it. ”You can’t swim?” she said teasingly. She leaned down and plopped the pouting Pink on the ground. ”Race you there!”

Sol took off, heading straight towards Eccolath and vaulting over her before tearing towards the lake like fire. She tore off her riding jacket and pants as she went, diving in headfirst in her shirt and undergarmets. Eccolath let out a happy bugle and leapt into the air. Come on! she called to Hath, following Hers. Sol resurfaced just in time to see Eccolath bearing down on her she shrieked as the playful Cyan plunged into the water beside her, sending up a massive wave of water and pushing the girl back under.

[derek]

J'kan grinned. "I'm sure he'll be all right. He just needs practice. Isn't that right?" He asked, addressing the black flitter. As Hally chirped acceptance at being stroked, J'kan's smile grew even wider. Hath, however, grumbled audaciously, unhappy that His had taken such a liking to the annoying little things.

Next second, however, Sol was laughing, dumping the lazy pink fire lizard unceremoniously on the ground, and racing towards the Weyr Lake, Eccolath following. Sol stripped off her outer clothes and dove right into the water, her dragon knocking her under with the waves she caused.

Hath let out a joyous bugle, and jumped into the sky, his wings pumping to get him airborne. J'kan followed at a slower pace, his smile now completely gone. As Hath dove headfirst into the water, J'kan leaped backwards, the water lapping at his boots. Removing his riding gear, the man eyed the blue waves with something almost resembling... fear.

Kicking off his boots, he stripped down to his underwear, his bare chest glinting in the sun. He was tanned and well-muscled, but scars dotted his body liberally.

Hath wallowed in the water, as playful as a kitten, his eyes whirling in happiness. Blowing bubbles in the water, he moved until his great wedge-shaped head was directly in front of His. Staring at J'kan, Hath was silent... until he swung his head around, knocking His in the water.

J'kan floundered, scrabbling at Hath's neck. The Brown allowed him to get a hold and climb on, but immediately set out for deeper water. "Sol!" J'kan cried. "Help!"

[/color][/blockquote]