Old folks doing old folk things (Kila)

[123notit]

A sigh escaped the lips of the man sitting on a rock by the lake. He did not wish to frolic and swim in it as the young Weyrlings, Candidates, and Weyrbrats enjoyed. His large brown had just been wahsed and oiled recently and did not need another vigorous scrubbing. Besides, the water wasn't too warm. It was cool out and the lake would not be refreshing.

Instead, U'ar sat on a rock and admired as Rukbat lowered slowly in the sky. The rays cast lovely hues of orange and yellow and red across the water. It was busy around the Weyr. The Weyrlings were learning all their lessons. The Weyrwoman just gave birth. New Candidates came. The Renegades were showing up in reports. It was all very tiring for the brown rider. It was nice to just sit and look. Not even Odyth, though obviously present, was in his head. The large brown was soaking up the last of the warm rays on a ledge nearby, not bothering his Mine with anything.

As he sat, U'ar thought. Mu was getting older. She was almost ready to Stand. But she was still so quiet. He had just come from the Lower Caverns. The Weyrbrats were all running and playing while their foster mothers tried to calm them down and get them ready for bed. Mu, however, was alone. He had let Mi stay with her as she got prepared for bed herself. She didn't chatter and run and play with the others. She wasn't so anti-social that she didn't wish those passing by her towards bed a warm good night. She just, didn't initiate any conversation or play.

With a small poof, Mi appeared above his head, spiraling down and landing on his lap. She sent U'ar an image of Mu asleep, her large, muddy brown eyes closed in slumber. U'ar wasn't sure how she could get to sleep so quickly. It wasn't as if she had worn herself out. A rough hand reached up and rubbed his temple gently, sighing.

All this thinking of his daughter was upseting him. He had come to enjoy the sunset and ponder meaningless things. But it was hard for him to do that. The things he had in his life: Odyth, Mu, Mi. They were all so important. He wished, now, that he had a bit more company. One that wasn't able to read his mind. Someone that could, instead, take his mind off of things.

[Kila]

Own; Daidoroth rumbled. He was laid out on the ledge of their personal weyr, wings splayed and foreclaws hanging lazily over the ledge. His huge, Bronze frame showed no sign of stress as it glowed in the receding light of Rubkat. He was completely relaxed. Even the small, disfigured form of Oblivion, the third member of their party, slinking around him and brushing against his frame could not dislodge or alter his mood. Own, stop working. Come outside and watch the sunset.

The sunset was far from the most important thing on the Weyrleader's mind. Sitting inside at his desk, he looked from report to report and upset letter tracking the doings of the Western Continent renegades. The Weyr was his responsibility, and the protection of the Holds was the Weyrs responsibility, therefore ultimately his own. While Hold matters generally fell under the jurisdiction of the Lord Holders, the renegade rode on dragons, which complicated everything. What did they want? Most of the reports told of raiding and pillaging, but there was also one reporting a renegade helping two small Hold children in need.

MineOwn; Daidoroth prompted again.

With a sigh O'sho raised his hand to his head and rubbed his temples, pushing back the chair and rising. Obeying the Bronze's soft call, he walked out onto the ledge and stood akimbo, looking out over the Weyrbowl.

I'm the part of the bird that's not in the sky. I can swim in the ocean and yet remain dry. What am I? Daidoroth asked coyly. He would not allow His to stay in such a worrisome mood. He took his job far too seriously sometimes, but it was of course only because he cared.

True to purpose, O'sho's face broke out into a smile and he chuckled to himself. A shadow. Very good, Daido. He could not brood when in the company of his lifemate. The two old friends were always there to cheer one another up when times were hard. What a beautiful sunset it is indeed, O'sho said with the appreciative eye of an artist. His mind had been put enough at ease for him to actually see the masterpiece of colors and patterns that Rubkat was throwing up sleepily into the sky as it retired for the night.

Like Kalith; Daidoroth said without a hint of bashfulness. O'sho looked to his side and saw that his big strong Bronze's eyes had become rather dreamy. Offguard, Oblivion skitted across his muzzle- probably on purpose, too O'sho though with wry amusement. Vaguely surprised, Daidoroth let out something between a draconic sneeze and cough.

O'sho scooped up Oblivion as he was propelled across the floor buy the ensuing gust. You're just like a lovesick young pup, O'sho laughed. I can barely stand to be around you. But he didn't mean it.

At least one of us is, Daidoroth replied, unperturbed. He had settled himself back into his comfortable, lazy position that had previously been disturbed by his coughsneeze. You've been sitting in there for far to long, Own you smell like dust. Why don't you go take a walk so you don't have to put up with me?

A wonderful idea, O'sho replied, clapping Daidoroth on the side fondly as Oblivion clawed his way up onto the man's shoulder. Descending the cliffs that were home to the personal weyrs of the higher colors, he meandered across the Weyrbowl, drawn towards the lake because of the fantastic colors that were being reflected off of it. It was more of a lake of fire than water. When he arrived he was pleasantly surprised to see one of the older riders sitting placidly by the bank, seeming to be wrapped up in his own thoughts.

"Hello," O'sho hailed him, coming over. As he drew close he saw that it was U'ar, rider of one of the Browns. Odyth; Daidoroth's voice echoed faintly in his head. "Do you mind if I sit with you for a while?" he asked, taking the liberty of settling down beside U'ar. His knees cracked as he did and he stretched them out with a groan. "Not what they used to be," he said with a small smile. "U'ar- it's nice to see you again," he said, offering his hand to shake. Though the two had never spent any time together they had been introduced at least once and knew of the other, if not only by name. From his dizzy perch on the Weyrleader's shoulder Oblivion let out a low, nasty hiss.