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Post by fairyeyez on Sept 28, 2014 17:46:21 GMT -5
Rukbat's rays filtered down through the sparse clouds floating across the sky, living the weather alternating between pleasantly warm and a light chill when the clouds would move across the surface of Rukbat. It was a good day for allowing the pull of curiosity to take over. In the weeks that Tillion had been situated in the candidates barracks he had explored most of the internal structures, committing turns and hallways to memory. Now though, he wanted to be outside, drinking in fresh air and exploring the expansive outdoor areas.
He wandered aimlessly to start, allowing his feet to guide him where they would. Slender fingers move up, adjusting the strap of his satchel where he had food and flute tucked away for later use. An itch to reach for the flute flicked through his fingers but he resisted for now, listening to the sounds around him instead. The beating of hoofs across the ground could be heard not far away and he turned, moving in the direction the sound was leading him.
It wasn't long before he came across the Runners he could hear and he smiled softly as he moved to the fence to lean against it and watch them. He didn't have much experience with the beautiful beasts, but the grace with which they moved was captivating. He wondered what it would feel like to ride them, to move your body in sync with theirs. Would it be similar to riding on the back of a dragon?
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Post by Lynn on Sept 28, 2014 17:58:20 GMT -5
A figure moved in and out among the beasts, mounted on a pretty, paint hued one of deep blacks and stark whites, brown hair shifting in the breeze their movements created. The mare shifted at the new human's scent, and her rider's head turned, blue eyes examining the newcomer curiously, but impassively. A light touch had the paint turning, and she approached the fence at her rider's whim, allowing him to get a better look at this person who had come to watch the runners.
"Something we can do for you?" he asked mildly, his voice a light, breezy tenor that held a note of salt to it from many Turns of being outside and near the beasts. Underneath him, the mare shifted again, and a light squeeze with his legs quieted her. His hands were free, placed on his thighs, and that he'd actually been practicing riding using only his legs was fairly obvious. The paint wore only a light saddle blanket woven of brilliant tones of reds, golds and blues, and her halter was just a light one of soft hide, with no bridle attached to it.
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Post by fairyeyez on Sept 28, 2014 18:04:32 GMT -5
Tillion shifted up from where he'd been leaning and lifted his eyes to the rider as he approached. He took in the little details of his appearance, his riding boots- well worn, the way he was seated on the runner and the lack of any bridle of full saddle. Curious. He let his eyes slide up to take in the features of his face and met his gaze, watching him for a long moment, cataloging, before he answered. "Just watching," he answered in the soft dulcet tones the harper had when he was thoughtful. "What a lovely runner," he said of the mare as his hand come through the fence, offer it palm up for the mare to smell if she wished.
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Post by Lynn on Sept 28, 2014 18:17:08 GMT -5
Shayden inclined his head to the other male, then watched calmly as he offered his hand to the paint. She shied away at first, then her curiosity got the better of her, and she reached forwards to sniff it lightly, then pulled back once more. She was young, only two years old, so her behavior didn't surprise Shayden, and a smile tugged at his lips. His head rose as a rider came in through the Ground Entrance, and his eyes narrowed slightly as he tried to figure out who it was. He couldn't tell from the distance, but the rider was really hustling, and he cocked his head curiously, then shook it and looked back to the visitor.
"My name is Shayden, Beasthealer here at Black Sands," he said, eyes again sliding over the other man, remaining calm and impassive as he just examined him. Just watching, he'd said. Shayden only vaguely recognized him as a fellow Candidate, seen in passing in the Barracks over the past few sevendays, but not known.
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Post by fairyeyez on Sept 28, 2014 18:31:50 GMT -5
"Tillion," he replied absently, watching the mare a moment longer before he lifted his eyes to him again. "Harper from the Black Sands hold." He tilted his head as he examined him, thoughtful. "You're young still, are you standing as a candidate as well?"
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Post by Lynn on Sept 28, 2014 18:40:12 GMT -5
Lips twitched slightly for his comment about Shayden being young, and he shrugged slightly. "This is my last chance," he replied mildly. "In four months, I'll be too old to Stand again, though I'll still be attending Hatchings so long as they'll let me." He chuckled softly and then shifted as the mare beneath him did. A low humming noise emitted from his lips, and the paint quieted, settling under him. Once she had, he looked to Tillion again. "I'm hopeful, but at the same time I know better as well. My chances of Impression after all this time are fairly small. But then, every Candidate has the same chances."
Again, Aida shifted, and again, he settled her, although a frown now touched his lips. Why was she restless? he wondered. She was not yet mature enough to have an interest in stallions, or they in her, and he didn't THINK there were any dragons close enough for her to scent. Just in case, he looked up, making sure he hadn't missed something, but the sky above the runner corrals was empty. The other runners were also shifting restlessly though, and he could see dark thunderheads on the horizon, chasing the little wispy mare's tails around. It would storm soon, and viciously, he thought. That was likely why the runners were so unsure.
His eyes looked back to Tillion and he gave him a faint smile. "Sorry, trying to figure out why my charges are uneasy," he explained.
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Post by fairyeyez on Sept 28, 2014 18:47:07 GMT -5
Tillion watched as he gaze moved away and followed it, looking around and past to where the storm was coming in. The break of nice weather this afternoon wasn't going to last.. a pity. He returned his gaze to him and answered his smile with a small one of his own. Shayden should smile more.. it softened his features. "Do you think it's the storm?" He asked quietly, leaning against the fence again as he let his chin rest on his arms. He thought over what he said about bonding as he watched him. How many times had he stood before to look so resolved to the idea of not bonding?
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Post by Lynn on Sept 28, 2014 19:23:02 GMT -5
"I'm pretty sure it is, yes," he replied mildly. "They can sense it coming, even if they can't see it, and the feeling playing on their fur they don't like." He hummed softly, then turned Aida in a circle as she shifted again underneath him. "We're going to need to get them in soon," he added, patting the paint's neck gently. His eyes then returned to Tillion once again and he shrugged slightly. "Anyways."
He swung down off Aida's back, pulling the blanket from her as well, then patted her neck and released her to go play with the other younglings, before turning back to Tillion. "Any interest in Beasts, Harper?" he asked curiously, his blue gaze mild as it met Tillion's.
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Post by fairyeyez on Sept 28, 2014 19:28:10 GMT -5
Tillion was smiling softly as he watched him moving on the paint. He rubbed his cheek against his arm as he watched her move off after Shayden had released her and it was with that warm smile dancing in his eyes that he looked back to Shayden. He lifted a brow for the question and his lips quirked a little in amusement. "I am interested in everything, Beasthealer." He lifted up again, fingers tapping against the fence as he watched the young runners. "I haven't had opportunity to spend much time around runner's before."
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Post by Lynn on Sept 28, 2014 19:41:04 GMT -5
"I would imagine, given your profession," he replied calmly. "Harpers don't really have much need to be around them." He shifted further down the fence, then leaned against it himself. "Storytellers, teachers, musicians. That's you guys." He said it in such a manner that it wasn't intended as an insult, and a smile lingered in his eyes, though not on his lips. His gaze rose again to the stormclouds, and a frown formed on his lips. "Those are moving in fast," he muttered, then pushed off the fence. "One moment."
Turning, he put his fingers to his lips and whistled sharply. The runners all raised their heads at the sound, and several other Handlers came out. A wave of his hand had the other Handlers moving to round up the beasts and move them inside, while Shayden watched. Satisfied that they would make sure the babies got inside safely, he turned back to Tillion. "Sorry about that."
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Post by fairyeyez on Sept 28, 2014 19:56:07 GMT -5
Tillion perked up when he turned at whistled, watching the way everyone came together quickly, getting the beasts inside where they would be more comfortable. His gaze moved back to Shayden's and he shook his head a little. "No need to apologize, I hadn't intended to disrupt your work." He shifted to the side, pulling his little flute from his satchel and just turning it over in his hands. "How long have you been here at Black Sands? Where were you before then?"
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Post by Lynn on Sept 28, 2014 22:56:55 GMT -5
"Well." Shayden frowned and thought back, then nodded. "My father's Green brought me to the Weyr when I was twelve, the Stand for the first time. So seven Turns now," he said mildly. "I go home every now and again to my family's cothold over by White Plains, but I am a Black Sands Candidate and Beasthealer now." He looked away towards the runners quietly for a moment, then back. "Once I age out though, who knows. I don't plan on leaving. They need my skills here, now that my Master has left and gone back to White Plains for good." He sighed softly and then shrugged. "I might become a Ranger and explore the jungle around here. Those odd shrieks and eggshells have me SO curious."
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Post by fairyeyez on Sept 28, 2014 23:02:20 GMT -5
Tillion was listening thoughtfully, nodding and storing away the bits of things that he figured out. Seven turns.. wow. It was no wonder he didn't seem optimistic about bonding. His eyes snapped back to him though when he mentioned the mystery and he lifted up on his toes to lean closer over the fence. "Shrieks and eggshells?" He asked, he hadn't heard anything about that yet. The younger candidates he was settled near hadn't heard anything yet.
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Post by Lynn on Sept 28, 2014 23:12:17 GMT -5
"You haven't heard yet?" He shook his head and chuckled, then clambered up onto the fence and seated himself, balancing lightly on it. "Within the depths of the jungle, heard by the Rangers and the Scouts looking for the Queenslayers, are these really STRANGE shrieks and call. They say that they never sound the same twice. Sometimes they sound like birds, sometimes like big cats, and sometimes like other things and creatures." His gaze grew distant as he considered. "And they've brought back bits of shells, sometimes mottled and sometimes actually COLORED. They have yet to find a complete shell, or a dud egg, so we have NO idea what these things ARE, only that they exist. And there's never any hint of the parents near the places where the shells have been found. No feathers, no fur, no scales. NOTHING."
His gaze shifted again, and they came back to Tillion. "I want to know what the blasted things ARE. But as a Candidate, I cannot roam the jungles or leave the Weyr without supervision. And sadly, I respect the riders and weyrfolk, but they're so... NOISY."
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Post by fairyeyez on Sept 28, 2014 23:16:40 GMT -5
Tillion's attention was completely focused on Shayden as he spoke, watching him and bouncing on a little on his toes. As he finished quirked his lips in a rye grin and glanced back toward the cavern with a soft sigh. "I suspect that the riders are not used to needing to rely on stealth." He turned his gaze back to him and hummed thoughtfully. "Is there someone that's not a rider who could supervise us..?"
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