Cleanest Foot Forward

Writers: Duskdog, Shawna
Date Posted: 1st June 2024

Characters: Cirina, Nidre
Description: Cirina offers her help to the new Weyrwoman Second
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 10, day 1 of Turn 11
Notes: Mentioned: Aydhan

Nidre

Cirina didn’t spend a lot of time looking for dragoncare work- she
wasn’t one of the younger candidates and didn’t get quite the same
thrill from taking care of a dragon that wasn’t hers. It wasn’t often
that one had the opportunity to meet a new gold, however, so when she
saw an unfamiliar gold form overhead, heading for the bathing area,
she broke into a trot, hoping to get there before any other
candidates.

The new weyrwoman second was already starting to work when Cirina got
there, so she pulled off her shoes and headed for the water. “Can I
help you, ma’am? I’m a candidate,” as if that were a credential, “my
name is Cirina.”

Nidre glanced up. She didn’t mind bathing Jossenth herself -- in fact,
sometimes it was a nice way to keep her hands busy without actually
having to think very hard -- but it _was_ a lot of dragon, and help
was appreciated. “Come on down, Cirina,” she called, waving at her. “I
could use a little help… and Jossenth likes the attention.”

Jossenth craned her neck around to look at the candidate, her eyes a
contented blue-green but whirling a little faster with her curiosity
piqued.

Cirina grinned, moving quicker and helping herself to the supplies.
“Oh, hello Jossenth. You’re very lovely, do you know that?” She let
the gold look her over, respectful, but not afraid. “You don’t mind if
I help, do you?” She didn’t expect an answer, of course, but waited
until the gold had looked her fill before setting to work.

“Once the weyrbrats learn your schedule, you’ll have to fight them off
to keep from being swarmed,” she warned Nidre, adding belatedly,
“ma’am.”

“Jossenth says you’re very lovely, yourself,” Nidre replied, with a
bit of an eyeroll. “Don’t mind her, she just likes getting reactions
from people -- both good and bad.” She watched as the girl got to
work. “You know what you’re doing and you’re not intimidated.
Weyrbred, or just been around a long time?”

“Oh, thank you, Jossenth,” she seemed genuinely delighted at the
compliment from the dragon. “My mum’s a greenrider. Dad’s a
brownrider. Brother’s a brownrider. I’ve had lots of practice. Can I
ask where you’re from? I mean, not just the transfer.”

“A fishing hold, originally,” Nidre said, scrubbing a spot that she
knew Jossenth really enjoyed. “So I’ve been wading around in the ocean
like this my whole life, I guess. _Still_ never came across any viable
firelizard eggs, though.” She laughed a little. “I’m not sure I’d want
one since I got a dragon, mind you, but it was definitely on my mind
as a kid. And it might have at least been exciting to find one to give
away in the time since. Is that one yours, or…?”

“Oh, yeah,” Cirina paused for a moment and gave a little whistle, and
the brown who’d been playing at the water’s edge flitted over to land
on her shoulder, “this is Digger. I didn’t dig him up, so I can’t give
you any tips- he was a gift. But there’s a gold or two around. If you
want an egg, you can probably get one. Digger’s a good boy, when he’s
not stealing forks and shiny beads and hiding them in my bed.” The
firelizard chirped happily at the praise. “Fishing hold? So you’re
right at home here. Oh good. I heard the other applicant came from
High Reaches. She’d’ve melted.”

“I can’t imagine what that must be like. Moving from High Reaches to
here. Or… just living at High Reaches in the first place.” Nidre
shivered. “Definitely not for me. I’ve visited and didn’t care for it.
Have you ever been out of the South?”

“No. I’ve been to Dragonsfall a few times, it gets pretty chilly
there.” After a moment, she added, “My brother’s there. When I Impress
I want to visit all the Weyrs though. And all the holds. Everywhere,”
her tone went a little dreamy there.

Nidre laughed. “Oh, I went a little wild as soon as Jossenth and I
were free from training, too. So many places to go, and all the
freedom to go there _almost_ whenever you want. I think Igen was my
favorite… I’d never seen a desert before that. And the air is
different. Hot but drier than here. You should take a flight across
the dunes when you get your dragon.”

“Igen? I’ll add it to the list. And now I even know someone to get a
good visualization from,” Cirina said as if it were totally normal for
your average new dragonrider to bother the weyrwoman second for sight
seeing locations. “What’s your favorite part of Dolphin Cove so far?”

“Hmm, the promotion probably. Ha!”

Jossenth slapped her tail on the water happily, appreciative of the
humor, splashing them both.

“Sorry, I should have known better than to open my mouth. She’s easily
amused,” Nidre said, wiping the water from her face with one arm.
“Seriously, though… I guess my favorite thing so far is how welcoming
everyone has been? I would like to think we were just as nice at Vista
Point, but it still feels good to be on this side of it. And the
seaside weyrs here are a really nice feature. How about you? Any
recommendations of something or someplace -- or someone -- I should
check out?”

“Well, we kind of needed you. Especially the candidates!” Considering
for a moment, she said, “Have you ventured out much? We’re pretty
close to the harper hall- it’s right by Emerald Falls Hold. So any of
the Gathers out that way always have the best entertainment.”

Nidre nodded along -- just taking mental note. “No, I haven’t gotten
out much yet, but it’s something that’s definitely on my agenda. For
work and pleasure both. I’ve been to Emerald Falls before, but not as
a Dolphin Cove rider, and never for a gather. Jossenth will enjoy
that. She likes watching all the people and the lights after dark in
the gather square. Thank you for the help, by the way. She says you’re
very good at it.”

“Oh, like I said, lots of practice, but I’m glad she approves. Let me
know if you ever need any help around here with anything. I’m almost
never doing anything that important, and Digger’s very good at
delivering messages.” The firelizard puffed his chest out proudly at
that.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Nidre said. “I’m sure I’ll need a hand
eventually, and you’ll be the first candidate I call.”

Last updated on the June 7th 2024

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