Thinking it Over

[Tenma]

Her sheets were warm and comfortable. Hali felt as if they were trying to keep her in bed. She exhaled slowly, feeling relaxed. Those few seconds of calm were nice but they weren't long enough. The previous night's happenings rushed back to her, darkening her mood. She looked around at the other Weyrlings. It seemed nobody was awake. They must have gone to sleep late after the feast. Hali would have done the same had her "family" not made an appearance. She could not get over what they did: interrupting the feast like they did and even attacking Akki. Hali felt awful about it. She gazed around and came across Orylith on her couch. She was moving- it seemed she was about to wake.

Hali reluctantly pushed the warm sleeping furs. She slowly rose up out of bed, feeling the dull ache in her joints. She gathered some obscure items and headed to the necessary to change. She could not risk one of the boys waking up and seeing her. As she left the room, she heard a noise. She froze and spun around. J'kel was slowly rolling. She looked at him, a bit perplexed. He continued to roll until he finally fell of his bed. Despite this, he remained asleep. Hali rolled her eyes and left. She took out the bandages from her pile and began to wrap them around her chest, pinning them. She looked at the clothes she brought: a white shirt and a pair of moose-colored loose pants that ended a little too soon. She got dressed and grabbed a metal comb. The Weyrling brushed her dirty blonde hair strategically so that it covered part of her face and hid her feminine features.

Just as she was leaving, having finished her morning routine, she found the exit being blocked by a blue-green dragon. To be excact, it was Orylith. Mine, I itch.

Hali oiled Orylith just as she was to do every morning. Once she finished she debated what she was going to do. She could just stay in the barracks but she wanted to be alone. She would head to the lake. Hali leisurely walked to the water, Orylith only a few paces behind. She could see the sparkling water in the distance and quickened her pace a bit. Once she had reached, she found an area that lacked the transition from shallow to deep. It just dropped. Hali rolled up her pants and slipped her legs into the chilly water. She looked up at the sky and just thought. Behind her, Orylith sunned herself. She hoped for the oil to dry soon so that she could swim.

[Miki]

Sleeping on the ground (in the Weyrbowl to be exact), Kia discovered, was not advisable. Her back ached and there was dirt that seemed to have molded into her skin. Kylath was in much better shape. She unfolded her wings and flapped the slowly and meticulously, stretching them. Kia, brushed the tiny brown particles from her light blue shirt and slowly stepped toward the lake. It was closer than her Weyr and she just wanted to wash the dirt from her face.

Kylath, why didn't you wake me?

[glow=red,2,300]You looked comfortable, Mine.[/glow]
Obviously I wasn't. Kia rolled her arms back and stretched her shoulders.

[glow=red,2,300]Mine, wait![/glow]
Kia spun around and saw that Kylath was indicating a small pile of firestone. Kia made an odd expression which showed her annoyance. She ran over and picked up the few pieces. She would return them once she had cleaned off a bit.

Kia was massaging her shoulders when she reached the lake. She saw someone there but she did not know who he was. Had he come while she was visiting the other Weyr? Kia was excited to meet the new people so she hurried over. "Hey!" she called. As she came closer, though, she noticed that he seemed somewhat depressed. She stumbled to a stop. "What's wrong?"

[Tenma]

Hali turned around as a voice reached her ears. A young woman was slowly approaching her. The female was covered head to toe in dirt. Beside her was a large dragon, about the size of a bronze. The dragon had a strange copper color to her hide. At first, Hali was confused but then she remember that there was another dragon that had hatched at the hatching that Orylith was from. That large dragon must be a copper. Wow, they sure grew to a large size.

Feeling a nudge at her side, no doubt from Orylith, Hali brought her wet feet from the water and stood up, bowing politely to the older and higher ranking rider. "I...uhh...just a bit discouraged. Weren't you at the feast?" Hali questioned. Although she didn't remember seeing the rider, it wasn't like she recognized every person that attended the party. That would not doubt have been impossible.

[Miki]

Kia instantly felt awkward when the Weyrling bowed to her. She sure hated that. It just wasn't in her nature to be the one who was bowed to- if that made any sense. She shook off her thoughts and listened as she probably should. "Oh, I was at the feast but only at the beginning. Then I left to-" Kia felt the weight of the firestone in her hands. She tried to bring them behind her as subtly as she could. She only accomplished in dropping them, though. "Um- anyways, what happened that you should be discouraged about.

[glow=red,2,300]I heard about it. Your family came, right?[/glow]
"Really? Shouldn't that be something to be happy about?"

[Tenma]

So the older rider hadn't been there during it. Oh, well, she might as well tell her. It would probably get around anyway. She was shocked at first when she heard the other dragon's voice in her head. She hadn't really heard any other dragons beside of Orylith. "Yeah, well my family came, if you can call them that." She looked at the ground. Orylith nudged her for support. "Well, it is actually just a group of us, only one of them is related to me, my father..." Hali decided not to go too deep in the explanation. "Anyways, let's just say one of them didn't get happy, there was a bunch of yelling, and even some hitting." Hali sighed. "It was a disaster."

Orylith looked to the other two for help. She just couldn't get her mine to cheer up, and since the two were older, but not in such a position like Christae, maybe they could do something.

[Miki]

Kia sighed. She didn't feel any less confused. For any question that was answered two more formed. "So, first things first. By 'us' what do you mean?" Kia thought it over. Was it her Hold? Kia felt Kylath's curiousity as well and could feel her breath not very far behind her. She gave Kylath a bit of a glare. Kylath rose her head. She glared right back at Kia but half-heartedly. Kia looked back the the boy. "No, wait. First tell me your name."

[Tenma]

"Oh, I apologize. My name is K'lor, this is Orylith." Hali motioned toward the little green dragon, before extending a hand to shake. "Also, it is just us. Me, my father, you know, a few other guys, maybe about thirty, not really sure. It is just like a family, you know, I never really counted everyone there, I don't think I even know everyone. I just know that I am the youngest, everyone else is an adult." She explained, but was beginning to become very uneasy with this topic. She looked back toward her outreached hand, waiting for the other rider to introduce herself.

[Miki]

Kia was confused. He didn't know his family? Her head was beginning to ache. "I am Kia, rider of Copper Kylath." Kia had a small urge. She was a rider. She couldn't get in too much trouble. Besides, it was her nature to be spontaneous. "Listen, K'lor. It seems like yesterday was a huge mess but you really need to lighten up." With that she pushed him. Not too hard- hard enough to at least make him stumble and hopefully right into the lake behind him. Kia's lips spread into a wide grin. Kylath seemed more shocked then anything

[Tenma]

"Ahhh!" Surprised, Hali stumbled backward and fell right into the lake.
Mine! Orylith cried worriedly and ran to the edge of the lake.
Hali brought her head out of the water. She grabbed the edge of the lake and pulled herself toward the shallow edge of the water, because she couldn't swim. For obvious reasons, Hali's father never let her swim so she never learned how to. She stood up in the water in the shallow area and glared at the rider.

Mine! Your shirt is soaked. Orylith explained.
Hali looked down, and sure enough, her white shirt had gone slightly see-through, and with it sticking to her skin, the bandages around her chest could easily be seen. Hali quickly wrapped her hands around her chest, but that did little good to hide it so she dropped to her knees where the water went up to her neck.

[Miki]

Kia could not hide the surprise on her face. "You- you can't swim?" Yes, this was what surprised Kia. Everyone she knew could swim and hear was this person frantically reaching for the more shallow water. Kia felt a little bad now. She hadn't expected that. "Oh gosh, I am soooo sor- hey. What's with the bandages?"

Kia hadn't realized right away but K'lor seemed to be frantically- and unsuccessfully- trying to cover them up. Had she been injured?

[Tenma]

Mine doesn't want anyone to know she is a girl. I don't know why though, she would be a pretty girl. Orylith blurted out before Hali could reprimand her for what she was thinking. Whoops... She added as she realized what she had just said to the rider and her dragon.

"Orylith!" Hali exclaimed aloud, to shocked at what her bonded had said to speak telepathically. Her face immediantly reddened and she sunk a bit further into the cool waters.

[Miki]

At the first words she 'said' Kia had turned to Orylith. By the time she finished, though, Kia was spinning around to once again look at K'lor. No, he wasn't K'lor. he was a she!

In her rush she managed to cross her legs and then try to step over- in other words, she tripped over her own feet. She spun around and fell right into the cold water. As she slowly sunk, she opened her eyes. She instantly felt the water in her eyes but she couldn't help looking. She kicked her feet and rose to the surface. She swung her hair back and blinked. She turned towards the girl. "If you're a girl, then what is your real name?"

[Tenma]

Uh Oh. Orylith exclaimed as Kia toppled over into the water. Hali watched the older rider topple over into the water, where she herself had fallen in. Her blue-grey eyes watched as Kia swam back to the surface and then look at her, treading water. "Hali." She mumbled a bit upset that someone had found out her secret. "But you can't tell anyone." THe words rushed out of her mouth.

((My posts are getting shorter and shorter and shorter.))

[Miki]

Kia froze and sunk in the water. Only the inability to breath reminded her of what she was doing. "By the first egg! Why not?" Why anyone would hope to do this was beyond her. Someone would figure out eventually. Especially when her dragon flew. It wouldn't work forever so she might as well tell now. kia swam back to the shore and pulled herself out of the water.

[Tenma]

"I...can't tell you." Hali said quietly.
Mine, you might as well. She already knows your secret and you need to tell someone. You can't keep it all to yourself, it's not healthy. And you are so secretive about anything it is like you don't even want to make a friend. Maybe she will be your friend. Orylith tried to explain.
Why would she want to be my friend if she knew why. I am a renegade, they are people who have committed crimes. I know that she knows that.

Mine, just give her a chance. Look, she doesn't seem mad that you lied.
Hali turned to look at Kia. Orylith was right, the girl didn't look mad, just confused. Hali sighed, "Fine." She looked around to make sure no one else was there before speaking again. She walked out of the water and sat down. The little green sat beside her.

Hali brought her voice to normal, no longer deep like a male's. "Well, you see....my father....my family...they are....renegades." She admitted, but continued quickly, otherwise she would lose any will to continue. "They are a big group. I don't know what crimes they have committed before they came, but it doesn't matter. Everyone in the group is male. Our leader, Trev, hates females, so much. You see, my father met this girl in a hold and fell in love with her. When they went to leave the area outside of the hold, my mother was pregnant. My father didn't want to leave her, so he brought her with him, made her one of the group. It didn't work out so well. The renegades waited until I was born. Since my father was the only one there when I was born, they didn't know if I was male of female. While my father was out, I was with him, they killed my mother. When we came back they explained that they wouldn't accept a female. My father has hidden my gender from them since, he even taught me to lower my voice when I got older. He is still really loyal to them, and would have no where to go, so he can't leave them."

"Then I was accidental searched when I was buying some things with my father. I don't know why they dragon never questioned my about my gender, maybe she didn't know or just didn't care. My father just sent me off then and there, because he knew it would be safer here." She went quited and by now was staring at the ground.

[Miki]

Kia listened without interruption. The fact that her family were renegades didn't really bother Kia but she knew some people in the Hold wouldn't be quite as accepting. She couldn't imagine that any of them would shun Hali, though. "AWell, hali- wait. If they killed any girl in their group then, then they would all die eventually and there would be no more renegades for them- I mean. Well- it seems rather foolish and- and I ought to give em a piece of my mind!" Kia stood, her hands in fists. She was all fired up- for a few seconds.

"I don't know where they are, though," she said more to herself than to Hali. "I'd probably get in trouble anyway." Kia sighed and fell back to the ground. She gazed up at the sky. Kylath put her head in her rider's line of vision.

[glow=red,2,300]Hali, they won't be able to hurt you here.[/glow]

[Tenma]

"They travel around looking for anyone who has been out casted. New people are always joining. There are sometimes kids, but there haven't been lately. The youngest besides me is eighteen at the moment. If there is a family...and the male wants to join...well...you get it." She felt horrible.

She couldn't help but smile at Kia's words. "I know they are bad, but, you have to understand that they are still my family. She turned to Kylath and smile. "Thankyou." She looked at both of them. "But still, please don't tell anyone. You have to understand that...I am just not ready."

[Miki]

Kia exhaled loudly. She sat up and looked Hali in the eyes. "Listen, when Orylith gets older, she is going to fly. Being a green, it won't take as long as some of the other dragons." Kia paused. She looked back at Kylath. The copper still hadn't flown. Kia wondered when she would. Well, at least she could flame now. Her mouth opened. How was she supposed to tell Christae Kylath could flame now without saying that she had stollen the firestone. She looked back at the fallen pieces. She frowned but then remembered she was making an important speech.

"Anyways," she said, looking back at Hali, "You will be discovered when that happens wether you are ready or not. You might as well say now on your own terms."

[Tenma]

"I know, I know. But I can't do it...especially not after last night. If they find out that I am a girl, they will want to know why I have pretending, and I just can't betray my family like that. Eventhough Trev messed up, they all worked hard to be kind and polite. Ugh, I can't do it now." She sat on her knees. "I knew I shouldn't have told you. It isn't right to make you keep it a secret. And I only just met you."

((That post was crap. Say it with me now!)

[Akki]

Akki had asked Hasima once again if she wanted to join her at the lake, but the girl politely refused, saying that she wanted to spend some time chatting with Rimith. Of course with Akki's imagination, she was beginning to expect the girl had some fear of the lake since she kept declining to join the rider at the lake. Shrugging to herself, she contently walked down the path that led to Tyuru, looking up at the sky to see a faint outline of a blue dragon. Her blue dragon to be exact, flying high above his rider, enjoying the quiet flight that led to the lake.

The feast had emotionally worn out both dragon and girl. Ebbeth had never felt more angry in his life, and Akki couldn't recall the last time she had seen Ebbeth angry. The blue rider has a nice, large bruise on her side and stomach that had turned into a fierce purple, blue and yellow color which didn't look very attractive. She didn't mind as much as she thought she would about the bruise though, she just considered it another adventure she had. Grinning for no reason, other than the fact it was a nice day to relax and have some fun she slowly appeared at the lake.

She noticed that there were people there already and when she squinted she could tell that it was K'lor and Kia. She hesitated for a moment, K'lor probably didn't mind talking to Kia since she wasn't at the feast. But Akki didn't want to appear out of nowhere and be a reminder of what had happened. Then again, it would look mighty rude of her to stop and turn around as soon as she saw who it was so she kept going. She'd just not bring up the touchy subject. Not sure if they had seen her or not, she lifted her arm into the air and waved, making her prescence known.