What's The Plan?

Writers: Leigh M-F., Mirren
Date Posted: 4th March 2016

Characters: L'exan, Doria
Description: L'exan may be fairly new to kids, but Doria could use some fatherly advice.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 4, day 4 of Turn 8

}:Dratted downdrafts,:{ Larzeth complained as he gingerly tried to stretch his left wing.

"Hey, easy there, you gotta be careful," his rider cautioned from where he was massaging the connecting shoulder. "'Least it's just a bad sprain, huh? You'll bounce back in no time. You're already a couple days into recovery."

}:I know, I know, but tell me something: When is that Candidate getting here with the numbweed?:{ the dark blue asked.

"She should be here any minute," the big man replied. "This is where that knot is, right?"

}:Aye, knead carefully. Hey, she's a young'un, right? Be nice.:{

"Right, right. How's this feel?" L'exan asked, experimentally pressing more firmly.

}:I said be gentle, numbskull!:{ Larzeth yelped, head swinging around.

"No, you said knead carefully," L'exan sassed, but he did lessen the pressure. "You really do need numbweed if that hurt. Normally you like that kind of deep kneading for aches."

Doria hurried as quickly as she could without running. She'd been around dragons all her life and knew not to keep them waiting. She was breathless by the time she reached L'exan and Larzeth.

}:Ah, we have numbweed!:{ Larzeth said, stretching his nose toward the pot.

L'exan turned around, offering a friendly wave. "Hey there. Thanks for stopping over."

Doria just smiled and offered the numbweed over. "I'm sorry to take so long," she said. Hopefully the blue hadn't been _too_ uncomfortable.

"Nah, nah, you're fine," L'exan said, tugging a pair of gloves from his belt and putting them on before accepting the pot. He tipped a generous amount onto the butter-smooth leather and began to rub it into Larzeth's shoulder, who made a sound of relief and nosed Doria's own shoulder in thanks.

She smiled and patted the dragon's muzzle. "I hope you're all right," she said softly.

Aw, she was sweet. Larzeth hummed appreciatively, one set of eyelids half closing.

"It's just a sprain," L'exan explained as he worked. "Downdraft caught a lot of us by surprise in a drill a couple days ago. Larzeth tried to correct himself and took the strain. He'll be better soon, no worries there."

}:She has a nice touch,:{ Larzeth informed him. }:Thank you for toning it down.:{

**Sure thing, Lightning Lad.**

"Oh, poor thing." Doria gave the blue a deeper scritch. "He's very brave." All dragons were of course.

}:It's nice to get some appreciation for once,:{ Larzeth teased.

L'exan rolled his eyes and smirked. Fifteen Turns and his dragon's attitude was still almost as sarcastic as his at times. Not that L'exan would have it any other way; he didn't mind when his blue mouthed off to him. There were times when he actually needed it. "He appreciates that, so thanks," was all he said to Doria. "He really did do his best, but sometimes the weather's better. 'Least it was a drill and not Threadfall, y'know?" He had learned his lesson well about that.

"That could have been bad." She went on patting the dragon. She was better at dealing with them than people. They were much less intimidating.

L'exam stepped back from Larzeth's shoulder, checking to make sure he wouldn't bump into the Candidate. "Okay, lift your leg slowly," he instructed, and Larzeth did so. "That feel better?"

}:Much,:{ Larzeth said happily, lowering his forepaw to the ground and allowing the muscles to relax.

"All right, I'll get your wing next. Stretch it out easy-like." The tall man walked around Larzeth's head and Doria to get to the appropriate area. "So you're one of our Candidates? How long have you been been in the program?" he asked of Doria.

Larzeth was enjoying the attention; not that L'exan ever neglected him, but the blue did enjoy the company of others as well, so the rider decided Doria could stick around as long as it wouldn't get her in trouble. If it did, the pair would put on a good word for her.

"Ah, a turn." Give or take a few sevendays. "But I was born here." That was always the next question, so by answering that now, she'd save him having to ask.

"Finally decided to take the plunge, huh?" L'exan flashed her a quick grin. "I got a daughter close to your age; sometimes I wonder if she will too. Scares the daylights outta me."

"My Ma wants me to stand." Her father probably wouldn't mind either." Her…well she wasn't so sure.

Huh. Interesting choice of words. }:Does _she_ want to Stand?:{

L'exan swiped one more glob of numbweed into Larzeth's wing joints and turned around. "Do _you_ want to Stand?" he asked with gentleness that would surprise a lot of people.

Doria looked slightly stricken. "I suppose so. I mean, yes…" Her expression suggested otherwise.

Oh dear. Larzeth and L'exan traded a look. }:L'exan, this isn't good,:{ the blue said needlessly.

It certainly wasn't. The big man adjusted his stance so he was a little closer, but not looming over the girl. "Sweetheart, listen: You don't have to Stand if you're too scared," L'exan said, using the no-nonsense but kind tone he would take with his own daughter whenever they had to talk about something important. Kids and teenagers hated being talked down to, and he respected that. "You're smart to be frightened anyway. Dragonriding's a dangerous job, and if you're scared, you might not Impress. Fear can put hatchlings off. What is it you _really_ want to do?"

"I just…want to do what's right for the Weyr." It was a cop-out and she knew it. It wasn't that she didn't want to stand, just that she couldn't imagine a dragon choosing her. She'd grown up with people who knew from early on that a dragon would choose them, even if it hasn't happened yet. With all their hearts, that was what they wanted.

All she'd ever wanted was to go unnoticed.

L'exan tilted his head. "What about what's best for _you_?"

"Maybe that's impressing," she replied. "I don't know." She was fourteen, what did she know about anything?

L'exan moved closer, took off a glove, and rested his bare hand on Doria's head to tousle her hair. "You have time to figure it out, so don't be afraid to think about it some more," he said kindly.

}:That's rich, coming from you. You don't even think about what you're going to have for breakfast,:{ Larzeth teased, but his rider could tell he agreed.

"Thanks for bringing the numbweed. Larzeth feels a lot better," L'exan said, moving his hand. "With service like that, we'll be back in the air sooner than expected."

Doria gave him a shy half-smile. "I like helping the dragons." That was easy, dragons didn't judge or try to make you do things you weren't sure about.

"Well, dragonhealers could always use more apprentices. Maybe you should speak with 'em after your Candidate classes are done for the day," L'exan suggested.

}:Speaking of, I think we've kept her far longer than is prudent,:{ Larzeth said.

"Ah, shells and shards. We've made you late for those classes, haven't we?" L'exan said, smacking himself in the forehead.

She didn't point out that she was already an apprentice, but in weaving. Instead she nodded. "A little. They should understand." The dragons came first, before everything else, at least to her.

"They should, but if you get in trouble, refer the appropriate person to L'exan and Larzeth. We'll back you up." He gave her hair one more ruffle. "Thanks again for your help."

Larzeth gently pushed his nose against Doria's shoulder, a silent urge to hustle so she wouldn't miss too much more. Education was important.

"Yes sir." She gave the blue a last scritch and then hurried away.

L'exan watched her go, then turned to his blue. "I know you're not a Searchdragon, but what do you think?"

Larzeth gave him a slow blink as he carefully stretched his wing, then folded it neatly against his side, all discomfort gone. }:I think the most surprising people can become great dragonriders, so she has a good chance,:{ he replied. }:I mean, I chose you, didn't I?:{

The rider just rolled his eyes again and laughed.

Last updated on the March 6th 2016

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