Hope Encouraged

Writers: Anika, Len
Date Posted: 23rd November 2014

Characters: G'wen, Ilyssia
Description: Ilyssia visits with G'wen and Neath and is offered a special treat.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 9, day 27 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: E'naer

Ilyssia

Ilyssia was completely fascinated by the day to day care of the
dragons and knowing that should she impress, her lifemate would be
green that tended to be where she focused her attention. Her free time
was usually spent observing the dragons and their riders if she was
not studying to learn all that she did not know about the Weyr. Today
she had been watching a young man who appeared to be close to her age,
bathe a very large green. The green was so big as to approach the
size of some blues. Of course it was impossible to truly tell just by
watching, but the dragon appeared to have somewhat of an imperious
nature which made Ilyssia smile.

The rider on the other hand was unassuming and almost graceful in his
movements. His dark hair seemed to fall into his liquid brown eyes,
which was a shame because they were definitely one of his best
features. He was cute and such the antithesis of many of the arrogant
Weyrbred candidates she had experienced thus far.

She approached with a smile, always anxious to increase her knowledge
of dragon care. "She's a good sized green isn't she? Unique in her
sturdiness from what I've seen thus far of the greens but so
beautifully robust and her coloring is just gorgeous."

G'wen turned to grin at the new girl. He couldn't remember ever seeing
her here before. "Ah, thanks." Despite himself, his face turned a
fetching shade of pink. It wasn't often that Neath got compliments, as
she wasn't the ideal of a dainty, tiny green. He looked up at Neath,
who was preening under the attention. "Yeah, she's as big as a green
can get, I think. Bigger than my best friend's blue, by any rate. Are
you new here?" He blew a stray mop of hair out of his eyes and grinned
at her.

"Brand new and trying to absorb everything as fast as I can! My
name's Ilyssia."

"Nice to meet you, I'm G'wen." He nodded to the wet green. "And this
big lump is Neath. We fly in the Queen's Wing."

"The Queen's Wing?" Ilyssia was still so new to the Weyr and how
everything worked that she knew very little about the organization yet.
"That must be incredible, flying with the Queens."

"This one thinks she's a queen anyways." G'wen rolled his dark eyes at
his opinion of that idea.

"I am sure she holds her own quite well," Ilyssia offered. G'wen was
friendly and didn't seem to mind the questions. "Does she have the
stamina to go along with her size?"

G'wen nodded and settled against Neath's flank. "She does. Of course,
being in that wing means it's not quite as hard on the dragons as
fighting higher up in the formations. We should only be there a little
while longer anyways. I'm sure we're both over-due to move into one of
the other fighting wings."

"I don't know much about any of the Wings yet, but I think I heard
that most greens don't fly the full Threadfall? That's why it's good
there are so many?"

"Maybe...? I've never really thought about it before." G'wen pulled
his mouth to one side in thought, before shrugging his shoulders.
"Almost all are too small to fly a full 'Fall though, some blues as
well. My friend S'vin, his blue is too little to get through a Fall,
plus they take special care of him since he's training to be a
Searchdragon."

"And how do they decide upon that?" Ilyssia asked, wondering if this
friend that G'wen kept mentioning was _more_ than a friend. She found
herself more than a little curious about greenriders, both male and
female, as well as the different relationships they formed. "Do
certain dragons show more of an affinity? Or do they just randomly
pick some to train?"

"Well, they let everyone on a blue or a green have a go, but it's
really obvious even at the first go which ones have a knack for it and
which ones don't. When I went with Neath here, S'vin's blue right away
pick up several potential candidates where this missy here didn't turn
a hair."

}:That's because I don't have hair:{

G'wen laughed at Neath's snide comment and tone of voice.

"Each has their own strengths, eh? Even though I haven't been here
long, it's been fun to see all of the different dragon personalities.
I've been paying special attention to greens." She supposed the reason
was obvious.

"I'm sure. Where are you from, again? I don't think my weyrmate has
ever mentioned you yet."

"I was with a caravan before coming to the Weyr. I was at Opal Cove
when I was Searched, though. Who's your weyrmate?" she asked as
nonchalantly as possible. G'wen seemed so young and she found herself
very curious indeed about his partner and how their relationship had
developed.

"E'naer, the Weyrlingmaster Third," G'wen said with a hopeful smile.
She didn't seem the typical Holder type, but you never could be too
sure.

"Oh, yes, I know him of course," she responded brightly, pleased to
actually know someone mentioned for a change. She didn't know very
many people yet. "He seems very nice," she offered her mind swirling
with questions but unsure whether it was appropriate to ask or not.

G'wen didn't have the same reservations as she did. Leaning towards
her, his eyes bright, he asked, "So what was it like living in a
caravan? Was it exciting? It sounds exciting." Even Neath seemed to
lean down to hear the girl's answer.

A bright smile spread across her face. "Oh it was! Always a new
adventure. Once we were delayed by rains and had not arrived at our
waypoint so we had to seek shelter in some shallow caves during
Threadfall! Another we ran into some bandits wanted by the Hold, and
our caravan guards caught them and turned them in for the ransom. Of
course at every Hold there was something different going on and a
trader hears all the best gossip. You wouldn't believe what those
highfalutin Lords and Ladies get up to," she laughed.

"Go on!" G'wen waved at her to continue. And there was no mistaking
it, Neath was interested in what the girl was saying. The green's head
was so close now that Ilyssia could have touched had she wanted to.

"Well," the girl continued, unconsciously lifting a hand up toward the
dragon as she continued. "Just a couple months ago this one Lord
Holder had spent top marks on a wedding for one of his daughters and
the day of the wedding they announced she'd taken suddenly ill when
_actually_ rumor has it that she ran off with a riverboat captain
who'd been her secret lover for almost a turn." Without even realizing
it, Ilyssia had reached out to touch the impressive green whose head
had come so close.

Neath leaned into her hand, crooning softly. "She likes her eye ridges
scratched," G'wen offered in way of encouragement.

Ilyssia readily complied, marveling the at the gentle croon emanating
from the immense beast. "So powerful, but they can be so..."
Ilyssia's voice tapered off not having the words to describe what she
was thinking.

Something occurred to G'wen in that moment. "Have you ever flown
before?" His straps were still on the warm sands, it wouldn't be
anything to put them back on Neath, and she was dry now. "Y'know, we
could give you a quick flight..if you want."

"Really? That wouldn't be too much trouble?" Ilyssia was truly taken
aback by the generous offer, but excited by the possibility at the
same time. I came in on the Searchdragon, but that's the only time
I've flown."

"No trouble at all." Already G'wen was throwing the straps back on
Neath, at ease with them and with the muscle now to do so. The giant
green, for her part, eased down into the sand to make the scramble up
to her shoulder easier for the girl. "After you," G'wen said, nodding
to Neath.

Ilyssia managed to mount with more grace than on might expect for one
so inexperienced, her eyes alight with excitement and a smile upon her
face.

"Okay then." G'wen scrambled up and sat behind her. "I'll just put my
hands here," and he placed his arms around her waist and put his hands
on the straps before her, forming a safe seat in case she slipped.
"Don't worry, I ride green for a very good reason, foremost of which
means you're perfectly safe with me. You just hang on to the straps
before you. Ready?"

Pleased that he could not see her face, which flushed red when his
hands went around her waist, she followed G'wen's instructions.
Ilyssia knew he was a greenrider _and_ weyrmated at that, but she was
unused to such intimacy. Well she was in the Weyr now, so she'd best
get used to such things. Comforted by his assurance, she nodded, "I'm
ready."

And with that, Neath took a few careful steps until she was out in the
cold outside air. She opened her wings and flapped them several times
before taking to the sky with one mighty downward flap. With her
shoulders, she balanced the two riders, careful to keep the seat as
safe as possible for the new girl.

Ilyssia's breath caught in her throat. It was incredible! The feel
of the powerful dragon beneath her and the wind in her face. Lucky
thing she had braided her hair this morning or G'wen would have a
mouthful of it. The ascent was frightening to be sure, but also
indescribably wonderful. What would it be like to sit astride her
very own dragon and soar through the air? Ilyssia desperately hoped
she would know one day.

Neath caught the girl's feelings and hummed to her. The flight would
only be a short one, as she was tired from the all-day drills but it
was nice making someone happy who wasn't G'wen.

"Hang on, she's going to land down by the Dinning Hall." G'wen wrapped
an arm around the girl's waist, as the moment Neath backwinged to land
could be rough.

"That was fantastic! Thank you Neath," Ilyssia offered and then
added, "And thank you G'wen. I only hope I will have a green as
magnificent as Neath to ride one day."

"Oh, you will. And soon!"

Last updated on the November 28th 2014

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Hope Encouraged