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Post by Kitsuneko on Mar 17, 2013 15:47:41 GMT -5
"Wow, that was fast," Laila said with a blink, seeing that the young boy was now asleep. "I wish my little brother and sister had been so easy to manage," she said with a lop-sided smile. The smile slid off her face, though, when J'lan started to talk about his family. Well, that had quickly turned awkward.
The candidate leaned back against the fencepost. The herdbeasts beyond it had largely settled down again by now, but they were still wary of approaching the humans. Considering the bronze dragon that had just fed, she couldn't really blame them. They stood huddled on the other side of the corral, watching wearily. Laila opened her mouth, about to ask J'lan what had happened to the boy's mother, but she had already thought better of it before any words escaped her. It was obvious she wasn't around, it was fairly likely she was either dead or had disappeared from the Weyr. Either way, it probably wasn't necessarily something she should bring up with J'lan.
After a short pause, she continued speaking, in an attempt to change the subject which was probably pretty obvious. "So, did you Impress Granzth the first time you stood for a clutch, or did it take a few tries first? I was told it may take several clutches before I manage to Impress, if I do, but I'm hoping I won't be waiting too long."
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Thorn
Junior Member
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Post by Thorn on Mar 18, 2013 15:05:18 GMT -5
J'lan smiled at her. "It was my first try. Granzth won't admit to it, but he managed to slice his wing up that day on one of his back paws. I wouldn't worry about how long it could take, Laila-if it happens, then it happens. You just have to put aside any fear that you might feel when the clutch begins to hatch, is all."
Above them, Granzth lifted his head and yawned expansively. I did not shred my wing at all, J'lan. You are merely telling tales again.
Am I, Granzth...? Then what about that scar on your left wing, hmmm...?
J'lan grinned evilly up at the dragon, who huffed at him before turning his back and settling down to sleep again.
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Post by Kitsuneko on Mar 18, 2013 15:14:30 GMT -5
"Oh, wow." Laila's eyes were wide as she listened to him. "Umm, is that something that happens often? Hatchlings getting hurt?" Her voice was hesitant. It wasn't that she was squeamish, exactly--she had grown up on a farm surrounded by herdbeasts, after all. But she was a sensitive soul at heart, and she disliked seeing animals in pain when they didn't have to be. She didn't really want to think about how much worse it would be to watch a sentient creature, like a dragon, going through that, especially on top of all of the other emotions involved with a hatching. She grimaced. "I know fear is bad at a hatching...but, well, that's easier said than done."
She watched Granzth lift his head and yawn. She'd thought he was asleep as well, but apparently he wasn't. At least, not quite yet. Laila glanced between him and J'lan, and she got the feeling that they were talking to each other silently--an impression that was strengthened when the rider grinned up at the dragon, who responded with a huff. She held back a sigh. It must be nice to have someone to talk with all the time, like that. She was becoming impatient for the hatching.
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Thorn
Junior Member
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Post by Thorn on Mar 18, 2013 17:52:46 GMT -5
"Hah! No, not with the Hatchlings. It is with the candidates, unfortunately, but accidents have lessened dramatically since Lessa and F'lar started the touching of the eggs. And as for the fear... well, I won't say it's easy to get past. But... I can say this:
"Feel the fear, but don't let it control you. You'll be able to respond to what's happening around you much better if you do." He smiled down at her, despite the drool that had now dripped from the top of his head, along one ear, and down onto his shoulder.
Remind me to tease him about this later, Granzth. It's too good an opportunity to pass up.
It is not the boy I shall be teasing, J'lan, but the father that let him make a mess of one of his best remaining shirts.
J'lan blinked up at the dragon, and sighed. "Don't look forward to it too much, though, Laila. You might end up stuck with a dragon that thinks it knows everything."
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Post by Kitsuneko on Mar 18, 2013 22:34:11 GMT -5
Laila felt a surge of relief. It wasn't that she had missed him saying it was more common among candidates than hatchlings, but that didn't seem quite as important to her. She was sure candidate injuries were due more to people not paying attention and failing to get out of the way of the hatchlings, and she was quite sure she was more sensible than that.
She gave him a gratified smile. "Thank you. I'll keep that in mind. It's nice to hear something like that from someone with experience." He had, after all, managed to actually Impress, and he had likely seen many more Hatchings since then. Surely he knew what he was talking about.
While Laila had noticed the line of drool that had dripped onto J'lan's shoulder from his son, she had diplomatically decided not to mention it. She didn't want to push her luck that much; she had just arrived at Trelis. Granzth, apparently, was not of a similar mind, though. Laila blinked, then smiled again, cautiously optomistic. "Oh, I'm sure it can't be that bad. I can't imagine that a dragon would actually want to Impress me if we couldn't get along."
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Thorn
Junior Member
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Post by Thorn on Mar 19, 2013 1:12:18 GMT -5
J'lan grinned. "You would get on, most of the time. And then the rest of the time you'll make a joke about something and get dumped in the Weyrlake for it."
He pulled a square of fabric out to wipe the worst of the drool off, and then gently lifted Galen onto the ground, carefully trying not to wake him. After making sure the boy was comfortable, J'lan also sat down, sighing.
"Times like that, you'll wish you'd Impressed a fire lizard instead." the grin that spread across his face when Granzth promptly sat upright said it all, really. He knew Granzth wouldn't try anything yet, though-no, not while Galen was asleep, at least. When the boy woke, however, he would pay for it, and he knew it.
He chuckled at the sight of the now wide awake dragon. It wasn't often he managed to tease Granzth, so he took advantage of every chance he got.
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Post by Kitsuneko on Mar 20, 2013 12:10:38 GMT -5
Laila grinned and gave J'lan a nod. "I think I understand." She still couldn't wait to see what would come from the hatching, though. Despite the teasing, J'lan's interaction with Granzth only reinforced her own desire to bond. She thought to herself that it would probably be best if her dragon was a little bit more serious, though; she didn't relish the idea of getting tossed into a lake. That would surely do a number on the clothes she'd brought from home. She wondered whether J'lan was speaking from personal experience. She hoped not.
The candidate stifled a giggle, hiding her mouth behind her hand when she saw Granzth sit up. "Hmm, too bad you can't ride a fire lizard, though. I bet they don't do half so well at searing Thread as a great big bronze, either."
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Thorn
Junior Member
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Post by Thorn on Mar 20, 2013 12:39:23 GMT -5
J'lan groaned at that comment. He didn't need to look up at Granzth to know that he was now preening proudly. Not to mention the fact that the bronze knew J'lan would have to agree. He sighed, and looked up at Granzth to find that, true to his expectations, Granzth was looking rather full of himself.
This one has taste, J'lan. I approve of her.
You approved of Jisene, too, and almost got punched on the snout for it.
That more than anything silenced Granzth, who puffed at J'lan, just enough to cover him in his breath. J'lan choked on the scent of Granzth's meal, scooped up Galen-who was still fast asleep-and moved further away.
"True, but they hate to admit when someone else is right about something. It takes a bit of work to outwit them, though." He chuckled, managing a grin despite the stench he'd just been enveloped in.
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Post by Kitsuneko on Mar 20, 2013 13:53:49 GMT -5
Oh dear. Well, she probably should have expected the bronze to overhear her words as well, but she hadn't really. Nor had she considered what his reaction might be. Laila tried to keep a straight face as she watched the bronze preen. Clearly, he had taken her compliment to heart. Oh well, there were probably much worse things than giving a bronze dragon a big head. At least she was apparently firmly in the good graces of one dragon.
Still leaning against the fence, Laila was a good deal further from the dragon than J'lan was, so she managed to avoid the worst of the stench. It still made her wrinkle her nose, however. Then again, dragons had their downsides as well. "Is he still asleep?" she asked, slightly surprised that Galen had managed to sleep through the bronze's antics. "I suppose you should be getting him to bed or something?"
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Thorn
Junior Member
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Post by Thorn on Mar 20, 2013 14:13:02 GMT -5
J'lan chuckled. "Galen can sleep through an entire Weyr's worth of dragons roaring at the top of their voices. He'll be fine. Although I should really get him back to the Weyr, yes."
He smiled down at his son, his-and Granzth's-pride and joy. The boy was so used to Granzth's tactics that he could sleep through pretty much anything, which was no surprise as J'lan had even taken him on flights Between in the past. With a sigh, he carefully picked Galen up.
Granzth, get down here already. You can sleep just as easily back in the Weyr.
Did I not tell you earlier that the boy was tired, J'lan? He plays so fiercely that you forget how easily he tires out.
I do not forget at all, Granzth. I play with him to tire him out so that he gets enough sleep in the first place. J'lan grinned as Granzth made his way down to the grassy verge. "Well, I'm going to go and put Galen to bed. Laila, thank you for answering his questions. He doesn't talk to others very often."
He smiled his thanks at the girl, white teeth flashing in the sunlight as he shifted his grip on Galen so he would be able to climb Granzth's foreleg.
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Post by Kitsuneko on Mar 20, 2013 14:26:35 GMT -5
J'lan's comment made her giggle a little, and Laila smiled and gave the rider and his boy a wave of her hand. Granzth was making his way down from his own perch and Laila stepped aside. She gave the bronze a nod, as well.
"Oh...you're welcome," Laila said. "It was no trouble at all, really. I'd like to thank you as well, for answering all my questions about Impression. It was nice to meet you, and Granzth." She gave a final smile as she said goodbye. They had certainly given the girl a good first impression of riders (well, second, if you counted the searchrider), and even put a few of her fears about the Hatching to rest. Not at all, for her first week in the Weyr.
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Thorn
Junior Member
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Post by Thorn on Mar 20, 2013 14:56:16 GMT -5
J'lan grinned at her cheerfully. "The questions are normal, Laila. Most Candidates have them. It was nice meeting you, too, and I wish you luck when the time for Hatching comes." With one hand holding Galen under his legs and the boy draped on his shoulder, J'lan climbed Granzth's foreleg with the ease of practice, quickly settling into the harness with the ease of practice as Granzth reared up, his wings beating the air to gain purchase as he lifted up into flight. J'lan waved one last time at Laila, and then Granzth turned towards the Weyr and their cave, taking his Rider and the boy that both man and dragon called son from sight. ((J'lan and Granzth have left the thread))
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