Akri: Living The Life (open)

[kyra]

Isakith flew in a slow circle before landing to the ground. Her rider hopped to the ground, but instead of landing her two feet gracefully on the ground she ended up face first into the dirt. Mine, when will you learn to be more careful. Amusement was clearly in the tone of the green dragon. Akri stood up and started brushing herself off while glaring at her dragon. "It's not funny." She simply stated.

Akri and Isakith had gone out for a little adventure, and obviously had missed the hatching. Akri really didn't care if she was there or not, but from the sounds of Isakith it must have been pretty eventful. We even now have a white dragon among us. The green simply stated as she finished filling in her rider on all the events that she had heard from the other dragons. "What about the other colors?" Akri asked wondering how many of each color had joined their ranks as well. A gold, a bronze, a grey, two blacks, three browns, three burgundies, four blues, one white, and six greens. The green added sounding happier at how many greens there were.

Akri nodded and thought for a few moments. It was slightly depressing to only hear of one bronze, but from the sounds of it everything went well at the hatching. "No flirting with the young blacks." Akri added to her dragon knowing her dragon all too well. Oh please, they are not even old enough yet. Why would I do such a thing. Akri turned to her green and smirked knowing full well that when the black were old enough she would have a flirty green again.

[lyonza]

Garrett was crossing the Weyr on some errand when he saw Isakith and Akri coming in to land. While he should be used to seeing her land on her face after six years, it was still alarming to behold. They were weyrlings together after their dragons hatched from the same clutch, so they got to know each other over the years.

He darted forward to go help but she got to her feet easily enough and he slowed down to a more sedate pace. “Are you alright?” he called across the intervening distance, something he had asked a lot it seemed.

The records he had made of the hatching were still tucked into his belt. Keeping Records was part of his duties and he tried to do them as well as possible. He was on his way to the Records room off the Weyrwoman's weyr to make the entries.

[kyra]

Weyrwoman Garret is running this way. Isakith told her rider just ask Akri heard Garret call out asking if she was okay. Sighing she brushed off some more dirt and smiled, "Of course I'm fine. Haven't broken any bones yet!" She added amusingly. Yet is the key word, mine. You are really aiming to break them sooner or later Akri ignored her dragon even though the dragon had spoken of some truth.

"So really only one bronze?" Akri asked curiously. That would mean they would only have a total of four bronzes unless another was to transfer. "Then two more clutching females." She added softly. She sighed, thread must be coming soon if they were up to four clutching females. But with few bronzes and blacks who would fly the females was the question. "And a white...that must have been quite a hatching." She said as she leaned up against her Green.

Isakith's tail swished from side to side. You're only leaning against me so you don't fall flat on your face again. Am I not right, Mine? Isakith told what was hers with humor in her voice. "Oh hush, Isakith." Akri said looking at her dragon with a slight glare.

[lyonza]

Garrett smiled at Akri’s response. “Yet being the operative word,” he said, echoing her dragon’s words unknowingly. Over the years he and Akri have maintained a strained sort of acquaintance since it was no secret she had hoped to Impress the grey egg, yet Iroth had chosen him. But like any rider, he knew that she would never exchange Isakith for anything in the world.

He nodded at the question. “Yes, only one bronze, which isn’t that surprising if you consider population ratios and things. But I think it is strange given there were a grey and a gold egg in this clutch. But it would be good if more bronzes transferred here from the other weyrs.” Not that Iroth would care, he thought to himself. Her preference for Sabath was too well known.

“Oh, poor Nopoth had to be helped out of his shell, the poor dear. Orlaith had buried his egg so deep, he could break the shell and stick his head out but the sand fell back on top of him and he couldn’t get out, so Midneal had to go rescue him.” Garrett frowned. “I’m surprised you missed it,” he said. “Didn’t anybody let you know that the Hatching was happening?”

[kyra]

Akri sighed "You're starting to sound like Isakith." She rolled her eyes lightly as she heard her dragon chuckle. Shaking her head slightly she sighed. Her and Garret have talked from time to time, but there was always a rift between them. She had forgiven him for impressing the egg she had really wanted, especially since her life long mate was just everything she truly wanted. She doubted she would ever have made a good weyrwoman to begin with.

"True, but I at least expected two." She said with a nodd. "What's the bronze like?" She asked wondering if he would make a good contender. The fact that there was more clutching queens made Akri think there was to be thread soon. Mine, thread will come in its due time. No need to fret, we will have plenty of dragons to fly.

"I was away for the night. And when we got the call, Isakith failed to wake me." You were very tired and needed your sleep dear one.

[lyonza]

Garrett laughed. “Akri, dear, I’ve known you for six Turns, we all know you have a less than stellar track record on your dismount.” At least when she was on Isakith, she was competent and sure of her movements, just on the ground she was a menace to herself.

He nodded. “I guess two would have been better,” he said. “Oh, Menorath? Yikes, I don’t really know,” Garrett admitted. “I haven’t really had a chance to meet them all, but Iroth says he’s quite…”

Heroic. And somewhat clumsy from what I’ve seen of him. She sounded a little amused at the thought, like a clumsy dragon was a strange thing to her.

“Heroic. And a little clumsy. A’der will have to learn to keep the bucket with oil far away from his tail. But he has beautiful markings. He’s almost a pale gold-ish bronze with coppery/rust-colored markings. And he’s stocky – well built and will probably outlast everybody during a Fall. Also, his wingspan will be impressive. We’re lucky that he hatched here – a real credit to the Weyr. They all are.”

He listened as she explained. “Don’t you hate when they do that? Like we’re hatchlings that need to be coddled or something.”

[kyra]

Akri sighed once more as she heard the whole track record. She thought for a moment then replied, "There was one time I landed on my own two feet." She said in defense. No there wasn't. You've fallen each and every time. 'Yes there is.' You must be talking about the time when i was even smaller. As frustrated as Akri was was she tried her hardest not to show it, but failed.

"Sounds like he will be a contender." Akri responded. "Any other interesting hatchings?" She asked. Really she was curious about all the new dragons that were here. They were all important in their own way.

"Isakith especially treats me like one." She said with a shake of her head. She really wasn't sure why the dragons had thought they needed too. It's because without you, I do not have a meaning or purpose. Her eyes flickered to the dragon as she sent a wave of love to her.

[lyonza]

Garrett saw her expression and was contrite – it wasn’t nice to make fun of Akri like that. “I was just teasing you Akri. It’s not all that bad.” He had also taken some spectacular falls when he started training on Iroth – they all had.

Garrett nodded. “There was one of the blues who Impressed a Harper boy from the stands. The poor thing thought he was in trouble at first, Impressing like that, but the hatchling was quite insistent about it. Both Tinsith, the Grey and Stellath, our new little queen, were quick and decisive with their choices. We thought that Golth wouldn’t choose anybody on the Sands and would go between but he did choose one of the boys after all. No tragedy on a beautiful day.” The last was said with fervent thanks to his tone of voice.

We make sure you are safe, or as safe as we can make you, because we need you. Iroth wrapped him in love for a moment. Judging the look on Akri’s face, Isaketh must have told her pretty much the same thing. “Well, by the look of your expression you basically got the same I did from Iroth. Humbling isn’t it?”

He remembered the roll of hides in his hand. “I’m quickly going to drop this off in the Records room. Want to have something to drink in the dining cavern before getting ready for the Feast? I could kill for some klah right now.”

[kyra]

She shrugged it off. Relaxing for a few moments the listened to what Garrett had to say about the whole hatching. It was still odd to think of Western with four clutching females, but then again who knows what the future would bring. She smiled slightly as she looked at her green. Isakith was much different then Akri in so many ways, especially since she was graceful where Akri was not.

Her eyes flickered back to Garrett and nodded, "They always seem to know what is best. That is for sure." She said with a small sigh. She wasn't quite sure why the dragons always knew what to do in almost any situation, but Akri was thankful that they did.

"That sounds well." She nodded in agreement to his suggestion. Atleast she had made it back in time for the feast that was for sure. I knew you wouldn't want to miss the feast. Gives you a chance to look at all the Hatchlings as well as interact with everyone.

[lyonza]

Garrett snorted. “Who said that dragons don’t interfere? Big busybodies sometimes in my experience.” His accusation was tempered by the fond expression on his face. Iroth didn’t interfere all that much. Made comments and stuff, but hardly ever interfered directly, and when she did it was with reason. We only take direct action when it seems like you have no clue what you're doing.

“Ok, I’ll be just a bit while I put this in the Records room. I’ll go write it up tomorrow. There’s more than enough time after all. See you just now.” He turned and hurried across to the Weyrwoman’s quarters where the Weyr records were kept. There was an entrance to the room that didn’t go through Talaria’s rooms, so at least he could get in and out without disturbing her. He put the roll of hide on the desk, in a cubby that was there for that purpose. There were some other hides of information that had to be included in the Weyr records and he gave a small sigh. He’d clear that the following day, but today was for celebration.

He left the Records room the same way he came in and hurried back to the dining cavern where the klah was waiting. It’s been some time since he and Akri just sat and spoke about things and he really had to get them past the ‘just friendly’ stage. Six years was long enough for that.

[kyra]

Akri watched Garrett leave and sighed. She really wasn't sure why she agreed to having a drink with him, but then again there seemed to be nothing wrong with the idea. Come now mine you should go enjoy yourself instead of always resenting. You have me after all. Akri nodded.

She checked her dragon real quick before Isakith flew off most likely to her Weyr. Akri stood there for a second longer before she looked down at her feet to concentrate on walking. 'One two...one two..' She repeated silently in her head as she walked. Walking into the dining area she got herself and Garrett some Klah before sitting down to think. How about keeping your mind clear for once. So that way you don't get angry over nothing. Her dragon's voice echoed in her mind. Sipping some Klah she sighed. Her dragon had a good point.

[lyonza]

Garrett entered the dining cavern and spotted Akri sitting at one of the tables. He sat down across from her and gratefully dragged the mug closer, added sweetener and cream, and took a big gulp. “Great Faranth, I needed that. It’s been such a hectic morning.” He sighed and took another sip. “If only the Hatchlings wouldn’t choose such weird times to come into the world,” he mused. “Can you imagine the other Weyrleaders that had to come from half-way around the world? It’s the middle of the night for them.” He shook his head – at least he didn’t have to attend Hatchings at other Weyrs unless he felt like it.

“Were you out Searching last night that you missed the Hatching?” he asked. There always was some last-minute Searching to be done at all Holds and Weyrs all over Pern. Sometimes it delivered results, sometimes it wasn’t enough in time.

[kyra]

Her eyes wandered as she saw the Junior Weyrwoman walk in. It was a bit funny to think of a male having that position but there was nothing to it. She laughed slightly imagining all the other Weyrleaders having to come here half asleep. Of course that would have been her if Isakith had woken her up, but of course the dragon had chosen to let her stay asleep. "Hatchlings come at odd times, true, but it is because it is their time to hatch." She said with a slight nod. "Weyrleaders must be ready for anything, but I can most likely understand how they were feeling." She said with a laugh. She had been barely getting any sleep herself, to why she could not answer.

Shaking her head no she replied, "No, remember Isakith is not a search dragon." Isakith's sensitivity was no where to that of a search dragon. Closing her eyes slightly she took another sip and brushed some of her reddish blonde hair behind her ear. "I went to visit family down in Benden Weyr." Most people seem to forget she may have impressed in this Weyr, but her true home was always Benden.

[lyonza]

Garret sighed. “Just as well I’m not a Weyrleader then. Imagine that… no, don’t because that would mean something had happened to Talaria and Orlaith, and that is something I don’t want.” He made some sign to avert disaster. “May they live long and in good health,” he said while toasting the Weyrwoman and the senior queen’s health.

He grinned. “Sorry, I forgot. I guess with you missing the hatching and Isakith being a green that my mind put the two together and came up with Searchriding.” He sat back a bit and sipped some more klah.

“Oh, of course. You came from Benden, right? Do you miss it?” he asked. To be honest, he didn’t miss Keroon at all, although he went to their old home after they could go all over Pern on their own. He had just landed in the courtyard, looked at them all for a long moment and then left again. Iroth didn’t ask him to explain, his feelings were quite clear. He just needed to purge all the bad things he had remembered about the place.

[kyra]

Akri nodded. Lifting up her cup she smiled, "May they live long and in good health" She said before she took another sip. She knew Garrett made a good Junior Weyrwoman, but really couldn't imagine him as a Senior. Perhaps one of the new ones will take over after some time, but may that be after a long time. She really couldn't imagine the Weyr without Talaria and Oriath.

"It's okay, I'm usually gone a lot and everyone seems to assume that I am out searching." She said with a shrug. She nodded slightly, "Yes, I do." She said softly. She missed home and couldn't understand why she didn't stand there. But she had no guilt for coming here, she found it nice to be out from underneath her father's gaze.

"Benden will always be my home, even if I live here. But I consider Western my new home." She still remembered when she landed in Benden with her Isakith. Many of the children that she played with came up to see her. Her father just looked at the Green with disapproval, but was happy she had impressed in the long run.