Where the Wandering Leads

[Riler]

((OOC: This is a continuation of a previous thread, though I would love for anybody to join in!))

Three things gave away Wolf’s wanting to keep walking and less talking; her stomach growled, showing she was hungry; her actually saying she was hungry; and that Serinth seemed a little irritated that they had stopped walking. So when Wolf seemed like she really wanted to get moving, Riler wasn’t going to contend it. However, before they began moving, Riler received another shocker when she explained to him exactly why she told him. He was pleasantly surprised to realize that Wolf, despite the amount of time they had known each other, trusted him. He felt something—what it was, he didn’t know—swell up inside of him. Maybe pride? Possibly comfort? It was a nice feeling, nonetheless.

He hadn’t even realized that Wolf was even walking until she called back to him, telling him to hurry up. He stumbled forward and began to lightly jog to catch up to her before evening out his pace, briskly walking beside her.
“Mm,” Riler said to himself as they entered the kitchen. “Smells delicious,” he remarked. Riler had quickly taken a keen liking to the food served in the Weyr. It generally tasted better than the food served at home—though his mother had been a great cook—and it never seemed to be in short supply.
He was about to tell Wolf about the food he used to have back at his home when Riler noticed that she was frowning ever so slightly. He clamped his mouth shut, suddenly anxious about what he should say. He cursed his sudden shyness silently, before clearing his throat.
“Well,” he said, stepping forward as he overlooked the drudges, talking to Wolf, “what shall we eat?”

[Wolf]

Wolf enjoyed the silent walk, for once not feeling uncomfortable by the silence. She used the time to try and sort out her mind. When they finally arrived at the Kitchens and Riler posed the question of what they should eat she started laughing.
"Now the answer I want to give to that is: lets eat everything," she teased. She tiptoed further in, watching the drudges prepare more fresh food. She licked her chops like a hungry canine, the volume of her stomach's growls increasing. Riler's shyness had gone unnoticed by her, which would probably make him feel more relieved. Serinth made her way over to the end of one of the food tables, staring up at what was out of reach. Wolf extended an arm to a meatroll, taking it in her hand and aiming it for Serinth's mouth. The dragonet caught it, snapping it down as if it were mere crumbs. Wolf smirked amusedly at her partner; it never ceased to amaze her how quickly Serinth could consume things.
"Lets find you something that's actually good for you," Wolf said aloud to her bonded. She looked around for some raw meat, hoping that the drudges wouldn't be irritated by there prescience. Serinth watched the drudges at work, wondering what more types of food they were making.

Wolf felt like she could really use a cup of warm Klah right about now, though she continued to search about for some Serinth-type food. Up on spotting a bowl of raw meat she scrambled over to it and took it in her arms, quickly running back over to the table before any one noticed it was gone. She took out a chunk of the meat, looking ever so sly. She hand-fed it to Serinth, feeling at ease when Serinth crooned in want of more. She took out another chunk, again feeding it to Serinth. Again the dragonet pleaded for more, so Wolf fed her a final chunk before the dragonet said she was satisfied. Wolf pushed the bowl off to the side, unfortunately it was hard to hide a large bowl from sight.
Wolf grabbed another meatroll, this time one for herself. She ate away at it daintily, looking over to Riler. She grabbed one for him, offering it to the boy pleasantly. "I love meatrolls!" she exclaimed.

[Riler]

Riler let out a quiet, nearly inaudible chuckle. “Everything, huh?” he mused. He rotated his head around so he could see what everything was, for there was a lot. “I think my stomach would explode if I ate everything in here,” he said cheerfully to Wolf. “Or at least I’d grow fat and lazy,” he added as a second thought.
Wolf began to ignore him—‘No, not ignore, she’s busy, not ignoring you’—him and feed Serinth. He watched the pair go at the feeding process idly before he decided for himself that he wanted something to drink. His eyes darted around the room until he spotted a kettle with a few mugs close to it. He poured himself a cup of the klah that was inside the pot, and then poured a second cup; for Wolf. He figured that she wouldn’t mind having something to drink.

He sat down on a stool next to Wolf, watching as she tossed the young Gold dragonet the last few scrapes from the bowl of meat. He gently put the two mugs on the table as Wolf offered him a meatroll. Riler took the food without hesitation, and quickly devoured it. He hadn’t even realized how hungry he was until he saw the food just a few feet from him. It was funny how his stomach worked like that.
“Thanks,” he said, smiling. “I got you a cup of klah.” He gestured to the mug that was closest to her. “Pass another meatroll, please?” He grinned, showing off his teeth in a wide, overly-dramatic smile.

[Wolf]

Wolf burst out in praise when the cup of Klah was set before her. "You thoughtful boy, thank you," she grinned. She watched as he took the meatroll and devoured it almost as quickly as Serinth had. She leaned closer to him, examining his face. Her own face was mere inches away, "are you secretly a dragon?" she asked, eyes narrowing a bit as if she was deeply thinking over her last question. She poked his stomach playfully before going back to there normal distance apart. Serinth stood there, feeling full now that her food had digested a little.

Thank you for having fed me! Serinth sent to Hers.
No problem, Wolf told her.

Wolf picked up the warm cup of Klah and took a sip, closing her eyes over. "Mmmmmmm, so good!" The steam rose up in to her face while the girl merely stood there, as if in a daydream; her hands firmly clasped around the mug. Riler's request made her reach out blindly for the meatrolls and open one eye to make sure that she was handing it to him and not to the floor. She took another one for herself, polishing it off. She blotted a few of the crumbs on her tongue, chuckling at how ridiculous she must look. She then swallowed the tasty crumbs down and took another sip of her drink.

Being in the lower-caverns Kitchens was nice, it was surprisingly peaceful to be here surrounded by food, with a friend nevertheless. Her and Riler had a perfect chance to talk if they wanted to, since no one else was around other then the drudges. She doubted that they cared about anything other then getting some time away from there chores. She turned to Riler, thinking of some quick topics to whip up for conversation. She put her mug down on the table and hoisted herself up so that she was sitting by Riler on top of the table top. "So, how are you liking Dark Moon Weyr so far?" she asked, taking her drink in hand again now that she was seated comfortably.

[Riler]

Riler preened at the praise. “Thoughtful? Maybe.” He grinned. “Just thought you could use a drink. I always like to have something to drink when I’m eating, it makes a snack seem more like a meal.”
Upon being asked the question, Riler simply nodded his head up and down gravely. “Yes, you caught me,” he said ominously. “And if you tell anyone, why, I might need to bite off one of your legs.” He paused. “Rawr.” His serious face broke up, swiftly being replaced by a hearty laugh. The laugh was mainly brought on by being poked in the stomach—‘Curse being ticklish!’—but he tried to play it off as just having good humor. He reasoned letting her know he was ticklish could result in…well, whatever it would result in, Riler got the feeling he wouldn’t great appreciate it.

He nodded as she drank the Klah, and also took a sip. “Mm, I never used to like Klah, but over the past year or so, I’ve come to like it. ‘S funny how things turn out like that, huh?” He took another sip as Wolf handed him another meatroll. This time, he slowly began to eat it, minding his manners. It was probably for the best that he didn’t seem like a complete and total slob in front of her; or anyone else, for that matter.
Riler took a thoughtful moment to prod at the question she asked as she rearranged herself. “So far, I love it here.” True enough, Dark Moon Weyr was a very fun place to be in. The people here are friendly and kind and always willing to help him out. “Great people, great food,” he said as he waved his half-a-meatroll in the air, “plus it seems like there’s always something going on.” Maybe he was just thinking that because everything to him was new, so everything seemed exciting, so it always appeared to be busy. Regardless; it always seemed busy.

“I’m very grateful,” he continued, “to have been chosen to come here. Honestly, it was one of the best surprises in my life.” And it was.

[Wolf]

Wolf laughed at his reaction. "Well, no worries, your secrets safe with me" she said; the mug close to her mouth. When he mentioned never having liked Klah much before she nodded. She could relate, it was a taste that she had become more acquired to over time. She had been a very picky eater growing up yet most of the food on Pern was too appealing to push aside. She blinked a couple of times, focused on Riler's each and every word.
"Yeah, I felt the same way as you do now-trust me. Except I didn't really want to meet new people, or get close to people. People like Weyrwoman Christae, the Weyrling Master, Akki, Hasima, and J'kel helped me to break me out of that cycle. Now I'm more... happy. Happier then I've ever been now that I have even more friends, and Serinth". She smirked, recalling the Hatching to mind. "I was the last one standing on the sands and there was no eggs left, every one was shocked, they figured I wouldn't impress. Then Kaith revealed the egg she had been keeping hidden away, and it was a gold. My mouth must've literally dropped to the ground, I'm pretty sure I started crying". She raised an eyebrow, giving a comical nod while looking down at him from where she sat. She took a big gulp of her Klah. She smirked again, her teeth on the edge of the cup. She bit it, not having looked away from Riler yet. It was great to have some one to share memories with-this was a day she was sure she'd always carry with her.

Yes, I was hiding from sight. Then I came when I knew for sure that no other Candidates would be there to frighten me; I only wanted you WolfMine... Serinth said, permitting both the Weyrling girl and Candidate boy to hear her. She walked up so that she was at Wolf's other side. Wolf took her mouth off the cups edge, turning to the Gold.
"I don't know what I'd do with out you, and don't you ever forget that". She did her best to reach down and scratch her dragonet's eyeridges lovingly. Serinth reached her neck up, approving of her Rider's actions.

[Riler]

Riler smirked. “I’m glad it is, who knows how much chaos a secret like that could cause?” He took one last sip of the Klah before setting the empty mug down off to the side. “Mm, I’m satisfied,” he said as he took one last bite of the meatroll and began to lick his fingers and lips. “Delicious.”
He watched Wolf in awe as she told him the story of her hatching. He watched her face as it filled with joy as she mentioned the one last golden egg. The story was quite touching; Riler had never been to a Hatching before, so he really didn’t know how it felt to be in her shoes; he didn’t even know what it felt like to watch people get Impressed by the young dragonets. Yet as Wolf talked the image of her standing on the Hatching Grounds, before the large Queen, as it reveled its hidden treasure to the Candidate and those in the stands.

Riler looked down at Serinth with a startled look. He hadn’t expected her to say anything. It must be a wonder to have a second voice in your head all the time, he mused thoughtfully. He watched enviously as both Rider and dragon shared their thoughts and feelings and words affectionately. Riler got the feeling that they were both luckier than he could possibly know.

‘Or at least,’ Riler thoughtfully hoped, ‘until I Impress.’ He wasn’t sure whether or not he was being arrogant or hopeful, but he felt like someday, he would Impress. Not that me might. That he would. Hopefully a Bronze—of course he’d want a Bronze—but he was sure that he would be content with any dragon.
Breaking out of his sudden thoughts, he said to Wolf, “That’s a touching story.” He smiled as he looked down at the young Gold, and then back up to Wolf. “You’re a very lucky girl.”

[Wolf]

Her gaze redirected to Riler, something he said having caught her. "I guess I am lucky..." she trailed off. She sat there contemplating the true meaning of 'luck'. "Its true, I've never thought about it before, but I really am" she smirked, feeling herself becoming giddy. What with the constant race to complete Weyrling Lessons and chores, along with the duties she owed to taking care of Serinth she felt like she was always trying to sneak away to get a relaxing moment at the lake. She remembered back at her Hold, on the days she'd go to the market place, there'd be children walking by with a group of there friends; goofy grins on there faces. They always seemed like they were so happy, there lives so fulfilled. She had always longed to be just like them someday, care-free and living her life to the full. Now she was sixteen years old, many years had passed, and those same children were more then likely living out there lives trying to find a purpose. Some of them were likely fishers, others would be harpers, or even craftsmen, but she had been chosen to be one of Pern's protectors. She had been chosen by one of the magnificent beasts, yes, she had been a privileged child.

She realized now that Pern wasn't just her personal playground, there was always work that needed to be done, and most of the time she had to participate in doing it. She giggled like a young child, she had gotten to impress young also, when she was fifteen. And a Gold! Most girls only dreamed of being in her position, how could she ever take it for granted. She never would. She studied Riler for a moment, not only taking in to consideration his build but also his personality. Yes, he would make a fine Bronzerider. Not saying that he would impress a Bronze, only time would tell, no one could ever assure that he'd have that opportunity. She knew that the possibility always hung in the air although.
"You'll impress," she told him, practically guaranteeing it. She just had a feeling, a good one. "I'm sure you will". She winked an eye at him, having by now completely drained her cup. It was sitting behind her on the table. She felt that the boy had a big heart, so therefore his dragon and him would share a close bond just like Serinth and her.

[Riler]

He tilted his head to the side as she began talking, a little amazed. “You’ve never thought about it? Jeez…” His voice trailed off. This only made Riler think even more highly of Wolf. She didn’t think of herself as superior to others just because she had Impressed a Gold. Riler wondered how he would react to other people if he Impressed a Bronze? Hopefully—and he honestly thought he would—he would take it in good stride.
If he did Impress, that is.
When Wolf asserted that he would Impress—though there was absolutely positively no way she could predict that—he felt like she knew what she was talking about. He now felt certain that someday, in the future—‘Maybe someday soon!’—he would Impress. It was a comforting feeling, if not more. Riler smiled and lowered his head when he saw Wolf wink at him. He let his eyes gaze at the floor, staring at nothing in particular, before he slowly let his head rise and remake eye contact with the lovely young Rider.

“T-thanks,” he said, his voice slightly stuttering involuntarily. “That really, really means a lot.” Riler let his hands dangle off of the table and swing freely by his sides. He didn’t know what to say to follow up her compliments. He didn’t really want to say, anything, to ruin the pleasant feelings that he felt right then.

But the conversation must go on!

But he couldn’t think of any questions to ask her. Nothing at the moment, anyways. “Well, do you have any more questions you want to ask me?” He liked being asked questions, even personal questions—though he sometimes got on the defensive side if he felt like someone was simply prodding him to anger him—but he didn’t think that Wolf would do something like that. She didn’t seem like the kind of person who would mess with someone’s head just for pure entertainment.

[Wolf]

"What? Is that a bad thing, that I've never thought about it?" Wolf wondered, blinking curiously. She figured that he must've meant it in a good way, otherwise he wouldn't have said it so forcefully. She looked down at her lap, hearing him stutter. She chuckled quietly, not wanting him to hear her in case he became embarrassed over it.
"Hey, chill, its no problem". Wolf hoped that he had faith in her words. Her friends had always told her that she'd impress and she never believed them, boy did she wish she would've now. "You just hold me to my words, you wait and see," she told him cockily.
Serinth crooned in agreement, she too thought the boy would impress. Could I please have another meatroll? Just one? Wolf looked over at Serinth in shock, she was still having the nibbles? Wolf smacked her fore head, shaking her head back and forth. The waves in her hair bounced. "Serinth wants more food," she explained to Riler. She picked up a meatroll and tossed it to her. It landed on her snout. Serinth comically tried to grab at it. Wolf laughed at her attempts, slipping off of the table to feed it to her. While she was kneeling down she looked over her shoulder so she could continue conversing.

"More questions?" She tapped a finger on her chin, looking skyward. "Oh, I've got one!" she yelled out. She looked all excited, like some one with a great secret to tell. "What's your greatest fear? Hm, hm? Come on buddy, spill, spill". She reached over and slapped his leg gently a few times. She then resumed her former seating arrangement up on the table top.

[Riler]

He shook his head fervently. “No! I was just admiring it, that’s all.” He nodded his head. “I mean…it’s just admirable, ya know…

---

Admin's Note:[/hr]” He didn’t even know, how would she know? He shrugged his shoulders. “Whatever, forget about it.”
He felt a smile tug on the corner of his lips as she further built up his confidence. He let the thought that he-was-just-building-up-his-confidence-simply-to-have-it-all-come-crashing-down pass by; he was too confident; he would Impress. He let the smile creep across his face entirely, until he was positively beaming. “Thanks.”
Wolf suddenly turned to Serinth. Riler didn’t know what they were saying; had something horrible happened? Had something wonderful happened?

“Serinth wants more food.”

“Ah,” he said, relief seeping back into Riler. Nothing to worry about—then again, a hungry dragon might be something worth worrying about. She fed him, so Riler went back to the kettle of Klah and refilled his mug with it. By the time he sat down, Wolf was finished feeding her hungry dragonet, and asked him about his biggest fear while she sat back on the table.

Riler remained quiet for a moment. What was his biggest fear? Was it something cliché, like fearing spiders?
‘No, spiders aren’t that scary.’
How about death?
‘…Meh. There were a lot scarier things out there in the world.’
Maybe pain?
‘No way, I know I can take a beating.’
Well, then, what!

---

Admin's Note:[/hr]

Riler placed his hand on his chin, stroking it gently. It was smooth to the touch, for now; his father and brothers reckoned that in the next few months he would need to start shaving. But that was for another time.
And then it hit him like a ton of bricks.
He gave a small, nearly inaudible sigh and quietly said, “I don’t want to die alone.”
‘Melodramatic, maybe, but really…’ Riler, like anyone else, liked to have some privacy; that was normal. But when he died, he wanted people to be there. Not a murder, nothing like that. But…someone who could comfort him in his time of need. He’d feel horrified if he needed to go through something like that alone.

[Wolf]

Wolf felt a few teasing phrases floating around in her head. She thought that his fear was very... adorable. She didn't want to make him feel bad, but still, it was so tempting! He'd know she was only joking, of course, she could tell that he was the type of guy who could take it like a man!
"Okay, well, send me a save-the-date card when your planning to croak and I'll come on over". She chuckled, her elbow on her leg while her fist was placed under her chin to support her face. "That's a pretty reasonable fear, I don't want to be alone at a time like that either... Want to hear mine?" she asked, grinning. "Mine is being alone, period. I can't stand the thought of it, nothing could be worse".
You'll never be alone, I'll always be here for you, Serinth told her. "Aw, thanks love," she said in reply to Serinth's loving words.
"I have friends currently so I'm not all that worried about it at the moment but still". She bit her lip when it came to mind that she wasn't just worried about being alone friend-wise buuuuut relationship-wise too. Having some one was nice, of course! Her and Riler had already gone through this earlier. She looked down at the floor while thinking how to word what she wanted to say next, there was a moment of silence in the room since the drudges were now gone.

"I have another fear..." She looked over at Serinth, and the dragonet tapped in to her thoughts. Serinth nodded a single-time, already having been made aware earlier on of this fear of Hers'. She looked to Riler when she said it, "that when Serinth has her flight I'll be surrounded by pedophiles". She chuckled a bit, unable to help it because there was humor to her words, but a frown quickly replaced it because her fear was very real and very intense. "I'll end up having to-" she blushed intensely; she was not going to finish that sentence. Not in a million years. She leaned over a bit, clasping her two hands together tightly, lacing her fingers. "Well, you know..." she muttered. She looked every where but him, not wanting to see his reaction to this specific... thing.
Serinth rumbled amusedly, always finding awkward moments to be the best of moments at times.

[Riler]

Despite the fact that he was being picked on, he took it in good humor; he knew that Wolf was just being friendly and funny. “Sure thing,” he said sarcastically, “I’ll mail it to ya as soon as I get tucked into my death bed.” He laughed at himself. It felt good to laugh to laugh at yourself every once in a while. How could you possibly laugh at others when you can’t laugh at yourself? You couldn’t.
Her fear was a reasonable one. Being alone, sometimes, was just awful. ‘But,’ Riler thought to himself, ‘she never would be alone, would she?’ It seemed like Serinth and Wolf were thinking the same thing, for Wolf suddenly spoke aloud to her dragon. No, neither of them would ever be alone, they’ll always have someone close to them; each other.
‘When I Impress,’ Riler thought to himself, ‘I won’t be alone, either…’
When. Not if. When.

As Wolf reveled her other secret, he couldn’t help but notice that Serinth seemed to nod to Wolf first; to edge her on, maybe? Maybe Riler was just being too observant and it meant nothing.
Wolf’s second fear was, yet again, a reasonable one. He knew he shouldn’t laugh—it was outright wrong—but he couldn’t suppress the large grin on his face and the chuckling that escaped his lips. As she finished up, though, he soon stopped laughing. He didn’t know a lot about what happened here at the Weyr, but he knew the very basics of what happened when a Queen dragon rose to mate.
“Ah, yeah, I understand.” Did he? How could he? He had never experienced this type of situation, and probably never would. Yet he still needed to say something—anything!—to give Wolf comfort.
“Whatever will be, will be,” he said quietly. “Sucks, I know. You just have to hope there will be a younger Rider with a younger Bronze who will mate Serinth.”

‘He’ll be one lucky young Rider,’ he thought idly to himself.

[Wolf]

Wolf could hear him chuckling, and she dealt with it, she had chuckled at him. Then she spotted him out of the corner of her eye appearing more serious about. 'Yes, some young BronzeRider, so appealing' she thought to herself privately. She was starting to get worked-up, having thought about this for too long a time period again. She went through a scenario in her head:

"Excuse me, young man?" she called out to a tall boy, appearing to be about eighteen or nineteen. He turned around at her call.
"Do you want to, you know, just go and do it? Shards, better start getting some darn practice in there some where because come high-tide I'll have to be comfortable just sleeping with total and complete strangers!"
She broke-out of her irrational mental outburst once she realized that Serinth was tugging her pant leg. She looked down at the Gold curiously, as if just having seen her for the first time.
I'm tired! Can we get some rest, the both of us? You told me to remind you that your chores are later on. I wouldn't want the Weyrling Master getting up set with you. Wolf heaved a sigh, looking over at Riler with a frown. She felt bad for having to leave so abruptly like this. She knew that she'd be up set if some one did this to her but...

"Riler, we've got to go... I'm so sorry. Serinth's reminded me that its time for her nap, and" she blushed a little, "I figured I'd take one too considering I have chores that I have to go take care of pretty soon". She walked right up to him, looking down at the boy. She flashed him a smirk, "I will see you later and I assure that we will hang out again, this was way too fun". She headed to the door, turning around to wave good-bye to him and receive his own farewell. Serinth followed Hers sleepily to the entranceway-eager to catch up on her rest.
"Good-bye Riler," she called out. Something in the back of her mind told her: 'And this is just the beginning...' The beginning of what she wasn't sure but while she walked down the hallway she looked down at Serinth, who was quite clueless in her drowsy-state; and the dragonet simply smiled.

[Riler]

Wolf seemed to be thinking about something when Riler noticed that Serinth was clawing at her legs. Riler tilted his head to the side a bit, wondering what she wanted. Then Wolf frowned and sighed.
‘Uh oh…’
As Wolf told him she needed to go, he calmed down. This wasn’t anything to get upset or angry about. “No need to be sorry, Wolf, I would hate to feel responsible for you not being able to catch up on your beauty sleep.” He returned her smirk with a grin of his own, baring his teeth at her.
“Mm,” he said, agreeing with her, “this was fun. Thanks for taking the time out of your day to hang out with me and show me places I haven’t seen before…” He thought for a moment over what they had done today. “Like the bottom of the lake,” he added with a soft laugh.

As she waved goodbye, Riler returned it by waving back his own goodbye. “Until next time, m’lady!” He watched her leave until she was out of sight, and even then stared at the exit where she departed for some time.
He sighed and looked down into his mug of Klah. It was still half full. He drained the contents of the mug and set it down on the table. Riler snagged a meatroll as he strolled past the plate of them, walking briskly out of the kitchen, chewing on the meatroll.
It had been a fun day, he recollected. And he had met someone special; someone fun; someone he could talk to; someone who he could connect to.

Why did he already miss her?