Mourning for a friend...bathtime for distraction

[Miki]

Kia noticed Siarath's expression, was pity drawn on the dragon's face? She did see how Siarath felt sorry for the girl. Kia frowned and decided she needed to make things right. She ran up to Miya and grabbed her shoulder. "Just stop for a second. I realize you're mad but you have to understand, you don't have an attitude we will tolerate. I know it's obviously your nature to be... rude but could you tone it down a bit?" Kia took a deep breath because she had said this all on just one breath. Tokagae chirped a couple times and flew after Kia. They had gone near Daran's Weyr and he came out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Is there a problem," he asked. He looked uneasily at the two and then at Tokagae, flying to catch up.

[Tenma]

Miya pushed Kia's hand from her shoulder. "No, I can't" she spat. "Just leave me alone." Infuriated she ran off towards the candidate's barracks. I will stand as a candidate. She thought strongly to herself. When she arrived at her barrack she jumped on her bed and lay down. ...and I will impress.

[Akki]

Akki sat away from the others who were at the lake, watching as Sargon dipped in and out of the water. She had heard no word from Ebbeth who seemed to still be sulking somewhere, lost in his own thoughts. She wanted to sit there and cry, but she wouldn't. What if Ebbeth heard her in that way of his? If she couldn't be strong about this how could she expect him to be?

[glow=blue,2,300]I am sorry Akkimine, for I have left you when you needed me the most and when I needed you. I feel as if I owe you now, so I will start by saying I will never leave you[/glow]

Akki looked up and saw Ebbeth beside her, looking at her with his blue swirling eyes before slipping into the water with the green flitt. Oh love, it is not you who needs to apologize, no one does I am just glad you are back She replied to him, as a smile appeared on her face. Ebbeth was glad to see her smiling, even if it was tight-lipped.

[Dragon]

G'han said mostly to himself, "Little brat. The attitude on her is more than anyone should have to put up with". He saw her throw off Kia's hand and run off. "I have had it with this girl. She should treat others with more respect", he said. He then looked at Kia, "Leave her be. I wouldn't waste my breath on someone with such an attitude. If we are lucky she will leave and we won't have to put up with it. The last thing we need is this type of attitude around, especially now". He balled his fist and then let it go. He continued to help Rhia.

I am fed up with this girl. Return her from where she came. Such disrespect is untolerable. He then laid out to dry by the lake. Gerenanth finally calmed down when she left.

.........................

Kadan was releived when the girl finally left. "I hope we don't have to put up with this type of attitude forever", he said to Christae as he continued washing Kaith.

[Miki]

Daran took a deep breath as Miya ran off. He frowned upon her attitude and looked at Kia. "I don't beleieve we've met," he said. "I am Daran, the new Weyrsinger." He bowed very slightly. If he were to be a trader he would have had to show much respect for the folk in the Weyr so his parents diciplinned him well on that topic. "Where is your dragon," he asked, uneasily. He didn't want her to feel bad if her dragon was sulking.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kia curtsied very very slightly (in fact, she just placed one foot behind the other) and said, "I am Kia. I am still a candidate so I don't have a dragon yet but Kaith over there, the gold, is due to have a clutch sooner or later." As she heard G'han talk to her about the girl she looked at G'han and nodded, still frowning.

[Spirithawk]

Rhia's back snapped straight when she heard Miya's comment on Tirith's death. For once, something pierced the fog that had surrounded her brain since Tirith went *between*. She tore after the girl when she left. Rhia was furious beyond belief. This girl had been rude to their Weyrwoman and now did not seem to care that Tirith was dead.

"How dare you impudent little fool!. You do not deserve to grace this Weyr with your presence, much less have a CHANCE at impressing one of the magnificent creatures that keep YOUR sorry hide from being consumed by Thread. You wouldn't be here if it were not for the dragons. You would not have been born if it weren't for the dragons and their riders. March back there immediately and apologize to each dragon. You had better mean it too." Rhia placed her hand on her ribs, willing the spasm of pain to go away.

Mneith's eyes whirled with flecks of red. The only other thime his rider had been this furious was when the raiders were attacking the stables. I think she is mad. He told the other riders and dragons. He even included Kia and Kadan.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I can stop her from standing." Christae said, her voice quiet. "I have the final say in who stands or doesn't stand because Kaith is my dragon."

She is new here.

"That is no reason for her to be so rude."

Give her time.

"That is twice that she is rude and uncaring."

I still think you should give her another chance.

"Kaith thinks we should give her another chance. She is a Queen and they aren't wrong often. I will not send her back, but she will have chores." Christae's voice was cold. She went back to scrubbing her dragon, knowing that Rhia would march the girl back and make her apologize.

[Dragon]

G'han watched as Rhia trotted off. "Go get her Rhia", he said. He then turned his attention to Christae, "I think the searchrider who found her was either blind or thought she was somebody else because I don't see what anyone could see in that girl as a dragon rider. She is rude and inconsiderate. The way she just disregarded Tirith's death without even a second thought gives her more than enough reason for her to be sent away in my opinion. To be totally honest I hope she doesn't impress since you are going to allow her to stand. Such an attitude isn't needed around here. She was lucky I was able to hold myself back".

Gerenanth was now sleeping and didn't hear G'hans words. If he was to think of that girl again he would just get angry and that was the last thing G'han wanted.

................................

Kadan said to Christae, "She has such disrespect even for dragons so why let her have the chance to impress?" Sharan flew to G'han and landed on his shoulder. He was very curious about what was going on.

[Spirithawk]

Rhia was intent on dragging the Candidate out of the Barracks and making her apologize. "You will be lucky if Christae allows you to stand. She is the Weyrwoman after all."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Christae met G'han's eyes squarely. "You doubt my Queen?" Her tone was icy. "Kaith has said that she will stand. Your opinion is your own bronzerider G'han but remember that her word is higher than yours. I would like you to keep your opinion to yourself. I do not like the girl any more than you do but Kaith says she has potential."

"Perhaps there is a reason behind her behavior Candidate Kadan. She will be shown the error of her ways, do not worry about that."

[Dragon]

"I apologize Christae. I meant no disrespect. Just the attitude on her is more than I can take. If you think she can impress then I won't doubt your word and I will deal with it, but this isn't for her. I will do it for you", he said as he bowed. Though he forgot where he was and bowed his face into the water. He halted momentarily then stood back up with a grin on his face. He shook his head and got Kadan and Christae wet, "Oops", he said. "And I promise you in the future I won't foget something as simple as don't bow when your in the lake", he said to her embarrised but a smile was on his face.

...............................

Kadan busted out laughing when G'han bowed his face in the water. He soon stopped after he was splashed by G'han. Sharan flew quickly away trying not to get in the middle of it.

[Spirithawk]

Christae nodded. A hint of a smile appeared on her lips when G'han ducked his head in the water. "Perhaps you should remember that." She returned to scrubbing Kaith, her smile fading when she thought about the green dragon that would never be washed in this lake again.

At least she is no longer ill.

You are right Kaith but I still morn her passing.

So do I. So do we all.

[Dragon]

G'han noticed Christae's smile fade, he sighed. He wanted things to be happier around here. Sure there were momentary bits of comical relief but it was still the dreary mood. He looked back waiting for Rhia to return. He hoped she hadn't done anything she might regret. "She does have a temper", he said aloud. He finished scrubbing Mneith. "Since I missed swimming last time I will make that up. He threw his shirt on the dry land, landing on Sharan. The poor firelizard flew to a different spot startled. He dove in the water and began swimming. He rose back up and shook his head, water going everywhere.

[Spirithawk]

Christae frowned at G'han as he splashed water everywhere. "I might have forgiven you before but keep splashing everyone and you will get extra chores as well." She told him, half jestingly.

[Dragon]

"Yes maam oh weyrwoman", he said jokingly, "Forgive me for not bowing, you remember what happened last time I tried that. He then went under water and jumped out near Chrisae, a big smile on his face. He then dove back under water before she could react. He was feeling very playful especially since he didn't get to swim the last time and hadn't been able to swim in a very long time. He stayed under water as long as he could be allowed and came back up for air, he was a good distance away from the others. He then floated on the water and closed his eyes. He didn't notice he was floating back towards Christae and Kadan.

........................

Kadan was amused at the bronzeriders display. He continued to scrub Kaith. He began to think of what color dragon he might impress.

[Spirithawk]

Christae shook her head and told Kaith to go on the bank. She let the gold dry off well before she started oiling her hide.

[Tenma]

"What do you want me to say?" Miya almost shouted at the brownrider. "I am sorry that a dragon died? It happens. Just the same way people die. There isn't anything anyone can do, you just have to continue living your life." She began walking out of her barrack. She wouldn't loose her chance to impress. SHe thought of things to say but everything sounded stupid. No matter what she said the dragon wasn't coming back.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Nira kept scrubbing.
Mine, stop it. You have finished cleaning my hide. Siarath said in discomfort. You will rub my hide away.
NIra stopped and silently walked onto dry land. She sat down and looked at her dragon. "Sorry." she said aloud.
Siarath's thoughts grew happy as her rider spoke her first word since the incident. She noticed everyone else coming back. She was rather glad the rude rider was here. The girl was getting everyone to stop sulking.

[Miki]

Kia took a step back at Miya's words. This was true, after so many deaths, as hard as it was to accept, she learned you cannot bring them back, no matter how much you mourn. She watched as Miya stood before Christae. She was stunned by her words and could not follow. Tokagae flew up and gently tapped her with his tail. Kia frowned more and sat on the shore, drying her legs.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Daran began to walk back to his Weyr but it was odd, what she said. It was true, but a hard hit for anyone to believe. He dropped his shoulders and went to his Weyr.

[Dragon]

When Kadan finished bathing Kaith he threw off his shirt and began swimming as well. He was a good swimmer and loved to swim. He dove under water and came up right by G'han and splashed him, scaring the half asleep bronze rider.

............................

G'han was startled by Kadan and sent a wave of water that consumed the candidate. He dove under water and came up behind him and dunked him under water. He said, "Don't mess with me, you don't know what your getting yourself into". A big smile flashed on his face to show that he was still playing around. When Kadan came back up for air G'han allowed him a couple of breaths then picked the small Kadan and threw him a good distance away into deeper water.

........................

Kadan came back up for air, startled at the bronzeriders strength. He still wanted play around and he wanted to have the last splash, though it would be hard considering G'han's speed and strength. He gave a smile and dove under water. He came right behind G'han and jumped on his back trying to take him under and he succeeded.

.............................

G'han allowed Kadan to dunk him under water but then came up abruptly and threw Kadan out of the water and back in with a big splash. "Just give up, your not going to get the last splash", he said with a smirk on his face, he was enjoying this. It had been awhile since he got to play around and have such fun.

.......................

Kadan rose up for air again. "I am not giving up", he said, "and anyway I am the better swimmer so I have one edge on you".

...................

G'han smiled, "Care to have a race. We swim underwater, the first one from that place to that destination is the winner and we swim underwater, the first to come up loses". He was up for some competition and exercise.

........................

Kadan agreed and the two got in position. Sharan awoke from where he was and moved in a better position to watched the two guys compete.

[Tenma]

Miya walked up to Christae but didn't talk right away. "Ummm Christae." She finally siad not wanting to have to apoligize for such a stupid reason. Dragons are always dying, why should she have to say she was sorry for something that she had no say in. "I am sorry." she said. She was again using her fake voice but one couldn't tell. She was too infuriated to truely mean it.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Nira walked a bit away from the water so she wouldn't get splashed. She sat down and watched them in the water. Her dark brown eyes were still blank and her thoughts were sad. Siarath lay next to her rider the sad thought of her mine was causing her own thoughts to be sad. Sometimes bieng linked could be really hard.

[Miki]

Kia stood up, it was due time she stopped moping around. What good could that do? She looked at Nira, she too needed to wake up and see, her sulking was no help to anyone, it did more harm than good. Kia cupped some water and threw it as far as she could towards Nira but it only reached her feet. Kia looked at her, hoping she would learn to live, even if others just stopped. Kia dove in and swam next to G'han and Kadan. "Mind if I race too," she asked. Tokagae took off with a leap off the shore and flew next to Sharan, trying to put a smile on his face, just like Kia struggled to have a smile. She took a glance back at Nira and then prepared herself for the race.

[Tenma]

As the water lapped Nira's feet, from Kia's splash, she stirred. By instincts Siarath made a growl like sound to warn Kia.
It is ok Siarath, that was just what I needed. She stood up and walked over to the water. She cupped some in her hands and splashed her face as if she just woke up. The water dripped down her face and wet her hair.
Mine! You are back! Siarath said happily, a light croon coming from her throut.
Yes. Nira smiled wrapping her arm's around the overly large green. She sat down near the water's edge, allowing the water to lap her feet, while the sun warmed the rest of her body. "It is a nice day." she said aloud.
Siarath made a dragon like smile as she lay next to her rider allowing her hide to soak up the sun.