Simple hearts

[Torva Anian]

Sorcha was utterly exhausted. The dragonet hadn't seemed to want to stop sleeping or moving or anything until late at night. It seemed as if the entire Weyr had gotten to bed before she had. Objectively she knew that others had to be awake and maybe were more tired than she, but she didn't want to be fair or objective. That moonstreak was going to be a handful.

She slipped out of the Weyrling barracks, wondering briefly if she could get in trouble for leaving so late. She shrugged it off, it was only a small thing to add to the mountain of punishment she was sure that was to come in the morning. It was the night after the Hatching and feast. Even drudges and weyrbrats would be exhausted by now.

She went to the old section of the weyr. A part she actually knew quite well by now having spent a large portion of her time here. She dragged a hand along the right side of the wall as she walked through the pitch black sections. Soon she came to the end and smiled at the faint moonlight.

The night was always the best part. It was mystery, concealed in shadows. It blurred away the horrors made by the day and gave you hope for tomorrow. Night was just so fresh and aware of possibilities. She stood there for a few moments just taking it all in. She sighed and moved over to the cave she’d spent so many days in.

The little blue was shivering on a cot made of covers. It had been used to sleeping with Sorcha or Dicer, or even atop the void like egg for heat. A tear filmed over her eye but she didn’t allow it to fall. Soon the flitt would forget this awful day and forgive her.

Before leaving she had taken the jars Rhia had given her for Lirlith and brought them to use on the little flitt. It wouldn’t take much and he needed it just now. She tried to remember all that Rhia had done and told her about Lirlith to help her clean the flitt.

She rubbed in the numbweed lightly wishing that it hadn’t got hurt. The flitt had woken up when she came in but laid back down at her command. She worked her hands slowly around his slight frame. He winced at the beginning but was rather relaxed, almost sleeping, when she finally finished.

He wouldn’t fly for at least a week … well maybe she was exaggerating or not. She really didn’t know how long this would take to heal. She sighed and pick it up before walking over to the Lake. She loved to stare at the water and needed to clean her hands anyway.

She settled the flitt on her shoulder carefully before bending down to wash her hands. They'd probably be stained for quite a well but it was worth it if the flitt felt better. She had made a mess hadn't she? In a short time she'd hurt both of the creatures that were the most loyal to her.

She sat back slowly, trying not to dislodge the sleeping flitt, and leaned back on her hands. She moved the flitt to her chest so it didn't slid back. She slipped her feet forward until the water just lapped at them. It was quite cold now, but she didn't mind. It was good to get any last traces of the heat from the Hatching Sands gone.

Her blue eyes watched the black water ripple with the wind. The lake was such a calm place. Far away from the chatter of Hatching and feast. Far away from people who would judge her. She finally relaxed after the day of excitment.

After a time her arms became tired so she leaned back onto the ground and stared at the sky. She briefly wondered what Lirlith would look like flying against the night sky. Would she disappear in it? A contended smile crossed her face, it'd be fine. Despite her hardships she'd come through this. She had to, didn't she? Her sisters needed her.

The little blue stirred on her and woke up. She tilted her head down to look at him. He seemed to have caught her feelings and crooned back happily at her. Such a simple heart he had. After a few hours he had already forgotten that she had given him a wound by ordering him to do something bad. He crawled further up her chest and nuzzled her face and burrowed under her neck for warmth.

She wished all people were like dragons. What a nice world it would be if everyone forgot the bad things. Then again, how would you learn from them? Ah well, at least he wasn't mad at her. She would still try to make it up to him and his happy heart would rejoice her kindness not caring why it came.

[Spirithawk]

Christae sat a few yards away on one of the boulders. She had a fur thrown about her shoulders and her cropped brown hair fell to her shoulders unbound. The WW too was enjoying the tranquility of the lake lit by the stars of galaxies far away.

Kaith curled up next to the boulder her rider was perched on. The ground still held a bit of warmth. Her belly was filled to bulging and she was content to spend time with her rider. Tomorrow would begin the endless rounds of training and drills that would prepare them for thread. With the Weyrleader gone, Christae was in charge of the Weyr. She knew what to do but she wondered if the Wingleaders would follow her. They were used to following Sh'iron.

Christae would have to appoint wingleaders and wingseconds among the newest temporary wing and the new W'lings would begin their classes with Rhia early in the morning. Christae regretted that the woman and her brown were not on a fighting wing. They were an excellent fighting pair but their experience was needed in guiding the new weyrlings. These W'lings would grow up with Thread falling in the skies. Either this batch or Reinath's would at any rate.

Brown eyes stared out at the rippling lake without seeing, lost in thought. Kaith's great golden bulk radiated warmth despite the chill. The Queen would not forget the egg theft as quickly as the flitt forgot being injured but with time the memory would fade. For now however, she was happy to allow her rider to deal with the thief. Why her daughter had liked the girl, the Queen didn't know but something must have called to her. The dragon lifted her wedge shaped head. She lifted the opaque outer lid and one of the inner lids so that her brilliant jewel-faceted eyes shone through. The facets were whirling idly with green and flashes of blue. She was content for the time being.

Christae turned when her dragon shifted and reached out to scratch her eye ridges. The flitt's croon from a few yards away was rendered inaudable as the Queen rumbled her satisfaction deep in her throat.

"Kaith, what am I to do? I am running the Weyr by myself and I have to deal with irate holders expecting me to solve all their problems, two new mutants and all the Weyrleaders wanting to know what I fed you to make your clutch so brilliant, holders feeling slighted because their children did not Impress." She sighed. "How will I deal with Sorcha? Rhia said her dragon scratched her and she sent her flitt to attack her dragon. And she stole the egg. Sure, Rimith hatched out safely but that doesn't excuse what she did." Christae's voice was forlorn. Her voice echoed out over the water, despair in her tone.

Kaith crooned and rubbed her head against her rider. You will do fine.

"I never asked for this." She said sadly. No but you have it and you are doing wonderfully. Be happy for the moment. My eggs have all hatched out into healthy, beautiful dragonets and they have all found their chosens. Be pleased as I am.

"I suppose you are right. Thank Faranth I have you Kaith." She hugged the large head, her arms not reaching all the way around the dragon's muzzle.

[Torva Anian]

Almost as oblivious as a male. She hadn't noticed the weyrwoman and gold until the gold was rumbling. It surprised her because the two weren't that far from her either. She decided to blame it on the night instead of the fact that she was oblivious.

She glanced over at the two, wondering what they were doing here. It occurred to her that she wasn't the only one who liked the solitude of the lake. The calm air it seemed to hold. She stayed quiet hearing a few words over Kaith's rumbling. She caught her name once and sighed, the woman's tone had been worried and sad. She supposed she shouldn't think of Christae as she did. She had regarded the woman as an enemy to be overcome but she only wanted to keep her family safe. Thankless task that, family never seemed to care what you did. You seemed to make the wrong decision no matter what you did.

She mulled Rhia’s words over again, her finger still stroking the blue’s throat. She didn’t like the idea of anyone else knowing what was happening to her family. She barely liked knowing what she knew. Her head tilted to the side as she thought. She could always continue with her original plan but waiting a year in a hostile weyr wouldn’t help. She’d have to say something. Mixtures of truth and lies would probably work best she supposed.

Her blue eyes flicked to the WW on the rock. She half wanted to go over there and get it over with and the other half didn’t want anything to do with the Weyr anymore. What did one say when you had stolen someone’s child anyway? A small smile flitted across her face before the gravity of the situation stopped her again.

[Spirithawk]

Christae fell silent, lost in her memories about the hatching. "Kaith, why did you hide that egg?"

I don't know. All I could think about was danger. Like how I feel when the Red Star pulses. I feel danger and I knew I couldn't keep my egg out in the open. So I hid my daughter's egg. And good thing I did.

"Yes, I don't want to think about how tempting it would have been to steal a Queen egg. I felt so bad for poor Wolf until you revealed Serinth's egg. She was so devastated until Serinth found her." She smiled. "Serinth couldn't have arrived at a better time. That batch of W'lings will be just graduating from W'ling lessons when Thread begins falling. We need another gold."

Kaith let out a snort and Christae laughed. "She will never take your place dear heart. You are the Senior Queen. Besdies, even if something were, Faranth forbid it, to happen to us Miya and Reinath would take our place and Serinth would be the Junior Queen."

You dote over the new Queen

"Beloved, you are the only one for me. No matter how pretty Serinth is, you are still the most beautiful and greatest dragon on Pern. You are also the largest one right now." She stroked the dragon's muzzle.

[Spirithawk]

Christae fell silent for a few moments and then sighed. "Sh'iron was supposed to come for the Hatching. Kaith, I fear that he won't return. He has been speaking a lot with the dissenters among the weyrs. They want to close the smaller weyrs and bring the riders into the larger weyrs. I don't agree. It's not that I want to keep my power as WW. I just love Dark Moon and I know that we can handle ourselves in Threadfall. We have been performing well during the Weyr Games."

He may shirk his duties but we never will!

"Of course we will not shirk our duties! Never think it dear heart." Christae sighed. "I could have strangled Kia for her stunt tonight."

No one was hurt and that is what was important.

"True. Thank Faranth that no one was hurt. At least we now know that coppers can chew firestone. They just take a bit longer to mature. We will know what to expect now with Jessalyn's little one."

You are growing chilled and we have a long day tomorrow my love.

"You are right. Shall we retire?" The WW rose and wrapped the fur more securely around her shoulders.

The Queen rose and started to turn to allow her rider to mount. Suddenly she hissed. Someone is here! Christae's head snapped up. Kaith pointed her nose toward a shape a few feet down the shore from where the pair had been sitting.

Christae's boots made a soft thud as she dropped from the boulder. She walked forward until she could see the other person. She froze. "Sorcha." Her voice was soft, startled. There was no bitterness, only wary surprise.

[Torva Anian]

Sorcha glanced up as she heard her name, "Yes?" Seems the WW had finally noticed her near. Then again, they'd both been in worlds their own. She made no move to get up, the flitt was comfortable and she didn't want to wake him.

Blue eyes flicked to the golden queen before centering back on the woman before her. "Did you need something?" She shifted slightly to get more comfortable. Her fingers still idly stroked the blue.

[Spirithawk]

Christae raised her eyebrows. Fury started to rise but she controlled it with an iron will. "I think you know what I need Sorcha." She said quietly. The malice she felt was not evident in her voice or eyes. She had had much experience in controling her emotions over the Turns.

"How is Lirlith? Rhia said the wounds were not deep." Her eyes flicked to the flitt lying in the girl's arms. "I suppose I should take a look at the flitt's wing. Kaith said he is injured." She reached her hands out for the flitt. "You needn't fear that I will take out any revenge on the flitt." She added softly. "I am a dragon healer. All Weyrwomen need to be. I and my weyrwomen will be the ones in charge of dealing with major wounds. Mild scorings can be tended by the rider or weyrfolk but the major lacerations will be my responsibility. I can fix his wing so he will fly again if you haven't had someone tend him already."

Spoken like a true diplomat my love. The gold's voice sounded silently in her rider's head.

I have to be don't I? She replied blandly.

[Torva Anian]

Sorcha shrugged, she'd given the egg back, what more would the woman need? Too tired to pursue an argument she stayed silent though. Time was answer to all anyway. On top of that the woman seemed to not be angry and Sorcha was tired of starting things. It didn't occur to her that the woman might be masking what she was feeling.

She shrugged again, "Lirlith is sleeping. After I put that stuff on her she eventually got to sleep." She glanced down at the flitt and shook her head slowly, "I ... I can do it. It might not heal the best but I'll take care of him. He's my responsibility. I should be the one taking care of him. Your offer would be like me saying I could fix Kaith." She pulled back slightly, "I just couldn't do it." Her voice was soft but there was a slight fear reflecting in her eyes.

She carefully manuevered to a standing position, trying her best not to jostle the injured flitt. "Perhaps I should go. I've bothered your time here. And ... and I shouldn't be far from Lirlith." She took a slight step back and dipped her head to the woman preparing to leave.

[Spirithawk]

Christae sighed. "I am over my anger Sorcha. You didn't disturb my time here. I was heading back anyway. I just want to know why. I don't even know if I want to punish you for it anymore. You obviously have something troubling you. Maybe that was why you sole the egg, maybe not. I don't know, and I won't know until you tell me. I also won't know if I can help you Sorcha. Every one in this Weyr is part of a family. As WW I am almost like a mother to the Weyr. Kaith is the Senior Queen. Every dragon looks up to her. Every rider looks to me for guidance, especially now that Sh'iron is rarely ever in the weyr. If one of my riders is in trouble it is my job to try to help that rider. I can't help you or understand anything unless you tell me what is going on."

The WW sighed again. She thought about omitting what she wanted to say but then decided that utter frankness would help her case more than anything else. "To be honest Sorcha, I would love nothing more than to drop you on a deserted island and leave you in exile. But I can't do that because of Lirlith and I wouldn't do it even without Lirlith because you are so young and have so much potential. As WW I can't let my personal feelings get in the way of every day dealings in the weyr. I may be WW and ride the Sr. Queen but that doesn't give me freedom. It binds me even more to the good of the Weyr rather than my own pleasure."

"As for the flitt, he is your responsibility but part of your responsibility is making certain that he is healthy and that his wing is tended to properly. I am a dragonhealer. Your responsibility is to know that you don't have the skills to tend the wing properly. If, out of pride, you refuse to let a more competent healer tend the flitt, he might not fly again and then you would have that on your conscience as well. Let me take a look at him. I don't expect you to fix Kaith. You don't have the training that I have. It is my responsibility to take care of any injuries sustained to dragonkind and flitts are considered among dragonkind." Her voice was soothing.

"Maybe one day though you might learn the art of dragonhealing. It is not unusual for riders to become dragonhealers. As a w'ling, you will be taught basic dragon healing but wing membrane is very fragile and if it grows back wrong he won't be able to fly again. I know how to deal with wing membrane. I had to learn as a Queenrider."

"Lirlith will sleep. If you wish, I could have Kaith keep a look out and if she wakes I will not stop you from going to her. Sorcha, I just want to understand. I don't want to hate you. You don't seem like a bad person, just misguided. I don't want to harbor anger against you. Understanding is the first step toward obtaining peace. Telling me would also help your standing in the weyr. Soon the people will demand what is going to be done to punish you for your crime. I can't keep putting them off forever my dear." Her brown eyes were troubled although she kept her voice gentle. She had wanted to hate this girl, but to see the fear in her eyes and see how uncomfortable she was kept Christae from feeling the righteous anger she knew she was entitled to feel.

[Torva Anian]

Sorcha chewed on her bottom lip in obvious indecision. She wanted this over with already, but how could she just say all that had happened? One shouldn't air their dirty laundry to a whole weyr. She couldn't just leave Christae without an answer though, the woman deserved a reason for all her trouble.

Sorcha quirked a smile, at least the woman didn't mince words. Horrible trait if you wished to be a diplomat though. Or maybe the opposite, the proper diplomat knew how to speak to different people. Knew when to use the truth or lies.

After a deep sigh she let Christae take the flitt. It did her, nor the flitt, any good to keep him away from healing hands. While Sorcha may have taken the pain away she hadn't lined up anything or even known how well the wing might heal. Being stubborn now would only cause her heartache later. Although with how accident prone ... or stupidity prone, she was she might want to look into dragoncare. Both injured already.

Sorcha shook her head, "No need. I know Lirlith is sleeping. I just thought ... thought to go check on her anyway." She doubted admitting all she really wanted to do was run away from the situation would help.

Blue eyes gazed upon a dark lake for long moments. "You would do anything to protect your family ... so would I. I didn't set out from home with the idea of steal an egg, really." She paused for a moment lining up her words carefully.

"My family is in a bad shape. My father isn't home anymore so our step mom keeps everything goin'. She isn't exactly picturesque. Lotsa of things happened but I guess the only thing you ... Well, one of my sisters came to marriable age." She sighed, closing her eyes. "He was a real dimglow in a lot of aspects. Terrible man. Couldn't stand the thought of her with him. She couldn't either but she's not strong. None of them are ... I've always had to protect them, even though I'm not the eldest.

Anyway, I couldn't get Blair, the stepmom, to stop the proposal. Apparently they didn't even want a dowry, just her. So I was forced to go to him. ... "

She shifted slightly, "I found I was right in not liking him. The short and sweet of it turned out to be me doing little jobs for him. Stealing this or helping him gain favor with that. He wanted higher in the world, amoung other things. Finally he landed on the idea of being the highest ... a dragonrider. With a dragon ... for lack of better word, /pet/ he would rule the town he thought. But of course his hands couldn't be dirty.

I tried to get out of it but ... I'd do anything for my family and this was the price. I just d-don't know what I'll do now that I can't really deliever the egg. She's stuck there, they all are, and he and his friends ... " She turned slightly and shrugged, not wanting to face the woman.

While she had been journeying to the weyr she had thought of using the dragon egg herself but after a few lessons in the weyr had learned how futile it'd be. She now wondered why she had still gone with it. It had been the only thing.

[Spirithawk]

Christae gently took the flitt into her arms, asking Kaith to send soothing thoughts in case the little creature woke to find itself in a strange woman's arms. Her fingers were deft but gentle as she spread out the injured wing. "At least you knew enough to slather him with numbweed. You kept the membrane moist by doing that. Dry membrane rarely ever grows back because it dies instead of regenerating itself. As long as there is enough ichor in the membrane it will grow back. If he doesn't have enough ichor by himself I can take a bit of ichor from Kaith to help rejuvinate the tissue."

Her voice was soft but matter-of-fact. She fell silent when Sorcha began talking about her famiy. Her eyes grew wide and her face paled with horror when she heard the tale the girl had to tell. "Did your family never have a Harper? Do you know nothing about the Charter? Your family has rights given by the Charter. You don't have to go through that kind of stuff. If you had gone to the Harpers they could have stopped that."

"He wanted a pet?" Her voice cracked on the last word. "Dragons are not pets. They think and feel just like humans. They have intelligence and minds of their own. Sorcha, as a rider you must realize this now. Lirlith is a being in her own right, not some canine or runnerbeast that can be set aside when you no longer wish to play with it."

The WW laid a comforting hand on the younger woman's shoulder. "You should have come to me with this from the beginning my dear. We could have saved a lot of people some heartache if you had. Now though, we will have to se what can be done. I will call a meeting with a few of the Weyrleaders. Which weyr does your hold look to? I will call them and we will decide what is to be done to alleviate the problem. The Harpers will also be consulted."

[Torva Anian]

Sorcha nodded, glad that the flitt was going to be fine. The flitt appeared to stay asleep, probably exhausted from the day's activities.

Sorcha frowned and then shrugged, "We didn't really need one. Occasionally a harper would pass through and teach the children for a season before moving on." To her harpers were nothing more than teachers or storytellers. She definatley didn't want this story going around, no need for them. "Charter?" She was half-way hopeful but someone like that didn't stop because of some dusty scroll proclaiming rights.

"/I/ know that. But he doesn't I suppose. Everything ... he is one of those people who views everything under his dominion and within his grasp. Rules don't exsist for him." Her mind recoiled from the thought of leaving Lirlith. Already the dragonet was apart of her life, inseperable.

Sorcha tolerated the hand on her shoulder for a few moments before taking the excuse to shrug and move away slightly. "I wouldn't know. Your's was the closest one to walk to from where I was."

(( Sorry forgot about this topic until now. ))

[Spirithawk]

"Great Faranth, Sorcha. This is unacceptable. A family not knowing about its basic rights according to the Charter, children going through life without the teachings of a Harper, a man ruling in such a manner." She sighed. "I have a map of the Southern Continent. If Dark Moon was the closest Weyr to you then you probably look to us. We will see. And if so, I will not bother calling the other WLs because it falls under my jurisdiction. The Harpers will be consulted however. They are more than just musicians and teachers. They are also the ones who help keep the laws in addition to the Lord Holders. Harpers are the ones responsible for making sure everyone knows their basic rights and they help keep the peace by being beholden to no one and to everyone, similar to the dragonriders."

"Rules exist for everyone my dear, even dragonriders. It is our duty to protect Pern and it is the Holders' duty to make sure we are provided for and that there are ground crews for Thread and other such things. Everyone on Pern has a purpose and they have laws and rules to follow. Sometimes we get people like your brother-in-law who choose not to follow those rules. It is regrettable but fortunately mendable. One of the main reasons why these things happen is because there simply aren't enough Harpers to teach everyone and ignorance spreads swiftly. And with ignorance comes tyrants like that man. Hopefully that will change when people see that the Harpers and the Dragonriders are not lying about Thread. We will regain our respect in the eyes of Pern."

((that's fine..I have been busy anyway))

[Torva Anian]

"So you will move him?" She smiled a little, "It'd be great not to have to worry about my family being hurt by him." She seemed to catch herself, "But, I should be going now. It's getting late and you should be getting to sleep. I bet weyrleader duties are tiring and you'll need your sleep." She dipped her head slightly and made ready to leave with the flitt cradled within her arms.

[Spirithawk]

"I will see what can be done. Thank you for telling me Sorcha, I am glad to know that you did not steal the egg out of malice or for your own gain. I will let the WLs know and the Harper Hall as well so that something can be done. Yes, you should be getting to sleep with a dragonet to care for. Leave the flitt with me Sorcha I need to mend his wing properly. He will be in the infirmary today and you can pick him up after your lessons. Weyrleader duties say that whether I need sleep or not I need to settle disputes and concerns in my weyr first."

[Torva Anian]

Sorcha nodded and reluctantly left the flitt with Christae. She wasn't worried that the woman would hurt him but just didn't want to leave him. Sorcha walked a few steps towards the dark tunnels before half turning back, "Thank you." It was definately time for sleep. After the day she'd have rest would be welcome.

[Spirithawk]

Christae carefully took the flitt from the Weyrling's hands, gently wrapping him in the fur that had been thrown across her shoulders to ward off the slight chill of the night. She noted the girl's hesitation and smiled.

"I promise that he will be fine Sorcha. Never fear that I will take out my anger on a helpless being. It is not the way of a dragonrider, nor is it my way. I have the skill needed to get him flying again and to lessen the fever that he has."

Kaith moved to her rider's side and peered at the retreating back of the girl who had stolen one of her daughter's eggs and had then attracted another of her daughters to her. Goodnight chosen of my daughter. Sleep well for tomorrow will be a long day for us all.

Chrisate smiled when Sorcha turned and thanked her. Perhaps things wouldn't be so bad with the girl after all. She could see reason. "You are welcome Sorcha, good night." Christae turned to her dragon.

"If you don't mind love I will walk back. I don't want to jostle the poor flitt any more than I have to and I need to stop at the infirmary before I return to our weyr. You may retire dear heart. I will be in soon." Kaith rumbled her acceptance and launched herself from the lakeshore. She winged her way to her weyr, a golden shadow in the night. Christae walked swiftly, but carefully to the infirmary and dealt with the flitt's wing, waving aside the Dragonhealer who offered his assistance. The mending did not take her long and soon the flitt was sleeping under the watchful eye of the Dragonhealer and his assistants with orders to fetch her if anything went wrong.