Errand Running

Writers: Len, Miriah
Date Posted: 3rd October 2014

Characters: J'ackt, Sh'del
Description: Sh'del needs to run an errand and takes along a passenger
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 8, day 10 of Turn 7
Notes: Prior to Hatching

J'ackt

Sh'del tightened Loranth's straps and took one last look at the
package tucked firmly on the large brown's back.

}:I_won't_drop it:{

**You'd better not, or that Vintner'll have my hide. And yours**

Loranth snorted at that thought. Sh'del tugged one last time and sat
back, waiting for a certain candiate to arrive. He had told the lad to
bring some warm clothes for the trip /between/, all he could do now
was hope Jenackt heeded his words.

"You called for me?" Jenackt eyed Sh'del with a bland expression, but
there was no hiding the resentment in his eyes.

"I did." Sh'del couldn't help but snort a bit at the look in the boy's eyes. Patting his brown, he asked, "Outside the way you came here, have you ever been on one of these? Loranth and I have to run an errand for an old friend and thought you might like to come along for the ride and the chance to get away from your studies for a bit. What d'you say?"

"A few times. Briefly." Once after he'd tried to leave after the last hatching and once carried by Pierka's green. He wouldn't have called those rides exactly, but he got the basics of riding. He eyed the brown and then looked back at Sh'del. He might have wanted to, but he refused to show the slightest hint of interest, simply out of spite, so he shrugged. "Guess so."

Loranth crooned and lowered his head to Jenackt. His hide shone almost black in the strong Southern sun. "He likes his head knobs scratched," Sh'del said, smiling.

Jenackt didn't answer with a smile. Instead he lifted his hand, scratched around the knobs gently and then gave a pat. "Where am I supposed to climb up?"

"Right here." Sh'del nodded to the way the straps dipped, so the lad could get a foothold. "Just step first onto Loranth's arm, then put your other foot there and pull yourself onto his back via the straps. Don't worry about hurting him, okay?"

He climbed up with surprising ease, nearly vaulting himself behind Sh'dell. He wasn't worried about hurting the big brown in the slightest, he was far more concerned with having to sit so close to Sh'del. He found the straps and quickly figured them out to buckle himself in, then settled in his seat, testing it. "Where are we going?"

"To the Vintner's Hall." Sh'del looked over his shoulder slightly. "And you're going to have to hang on to me. Don't worry, I won't bite."

There was a slight snort, and no attempt to put his hands anywhere on Sh'dell. Instead, he gripped the straps firmly, sitting straight. Vintner's Hall, hm? Why was he being taken there? He glanced behind him at the package, arched a brow and then shrugged.

"Have it your way then." **Be careful hey?**

}:I'm always careful.:{

The tall brown opened his wings and shook them, before launching into the sky. With a powerful downstroke he was high above the Weyr.

**I thought you said you were always careful** Sh'del rubbed his neck and glanced back to see if Jenackt was still alive.

The powerful downbeat had thrown Jenackt back against the straps and he had had to throw an arm back to catch himself. Luckily, his reflexes were good and it hadn't strained his back more than just a little. He gripped the straps with his other hand, his knuckles white, and steadied himself. The jolts of the flapping of the great wings were difficult to shield against, but there was a rhythm to them that was easy to pick up on, so Jenackt adjusted his body to match it. As Sh'del looked back at him, he arched a brow and lifted his chin.

"Sorry, he's always a bit ungainly when he takes off." Loranth grumbled, which Sh'del could feel between his legs. "We're about to go /between/ so hang on!"

Jenackt steeled himself, taking a deep breath. He'd not been /between/ at all, having only heard stories in classes and from some of his weyrbred peers to guess at what it felt like. There there was...nothing. Just a cold, chilling black, no sensation, no sound. Jenackt burst out with heated curses.

Sh'del just snorted at the choice words being used. "Have you not gone /between/ yet?"

Jenackt scowled at Sh'del's back. "No."

"Well, maybe in a sevenday or so you'll find a reason to make it an everyday occurrence." Loranth banked gently over the building marked out as the Vintner's Hall, before gliding in for the landing. The windows and doors were crowded with students wanting to see the brown.

So there was actually an option? Jenackt arched a brow and said little more about it, but watched Sh'del with a less narrowed gaze. He braced himself for the landing and at the sight of the many faces peering up at him, stiffened. It reminded him far too much of a Hold for his own comfort.

Loranth landed but instead of lowering himself for the two men to get down, he turned his head and nuzzled Jenackt's leg. "Loranth says you worry too much." Sh'del half turned to look at the candidate. "Don't let these faces worry you. Remember, you might just have a dragon on those Sands waiting for you in a sevenday or two. "Liandra says you've been brilliant helping her, she's going to miss having you around."

"I'm glad she thinks so. I hate the bloody infirmary." Jenackt looked down at Loranth and lifted his lips just barely. "And I'm not worried. I don't like crowds."

Sh'del snorted at that. Loranth snorted too but at least Sh'del's snort didn't waft over Jenackt like a small tornado. "He slid down the brown's shoulder and unhooked the straps that held the herbs and other things to Loranth's back. "I'll be right back, you can come along or stay here with Loranth, if you wish. It's your call."

Jenackt's lips immediately thinned as he wiped dragon mucus off his chest and then wiped it back on Loranth's hide. "Thanks, Loranth. Appreciate it. Really." That had been absolutely disgusting, but he'd seen worse. Even so, he was not going to budge off of his spot. He had no wish to enter Hall or Hold.

Last updated on the November 16th 2014

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Errand Running