A shimmering Oasis at the end of the drought

Writers: Eimi, Elaine
Date Posted: 23rd October 2005

Characters: Aryn, Birigundi, Toriat
Description: Aryn and Birigundi take a walk
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 8, day 22 of Turn 3

Birigundi

Birigundi smiled as he passed the young weyrling a clean damp town to wipe her hands with. "You know, I could think of another use for all that oil," he teased lightly. She was a weyrling and completely off limits, but it didn't mean he could flirt a bit.

"What like this!" she replied with a cascading laugh as she used her thumb to smear oil across the handsome runner's brow. She was glad he wasn't avoiding her. Since she was essentially inaccessible, she half suspected he would, but here he was.

"Oh yes, Aryn. A growing boy can never have too much oil on his face."
Birigundi smirked as he grabbed back the cloth and wiped his forehead clean.

"You meant something else?" she asked, innocently, letting him take the cloth back.

"Only something _slightly_ different," he chuckled. Shards, he shouldn't torture himself so, flirting with unavailable girls the way he did.

She knew exactly what he was thinking about, but dancing around the topic meant she could probably ponder it a bit more, rather then squashing thoughts entirely. "Well, I'm sure there are plenty of people more qualified... with oil... then I am, that can help you Birigundi. Yep" she looked at her hands, "my hands belong only to one person right now."

"And what a beauty she is... Your green, I mean. I assume she is the _person_ to whom you refer?"

"Who else but Viyanth," she said with a shrugging sigh. She wondered if she should introduce the two, but after a bath and an oiling the little green's thoughts were tending towards sleep. "You can compliment her later, but I think Viyanth is settling in for a nap now."

"And what will you do while she's sleeping?"

"Welllll, I'm not due for any classes, and I'm not particularly hungry..." she counted off on her fingers. "I was thinking I'd just, go for a quick stroll."

"Would you like some company?" He was pretty sure nothing would happen between them like what happened the _last_ time they took a stroll together, but she might be pleasant to just _talk_ to.

"It'll be plenty warm today," she said while looking away. She remembered the last walk outside. It wasn't like she was hung up on Birigundi, but that had been the last time she had touched a man since two days later she impressed Viyanth. "but company is always appreciated."

"Well, I only have the memory of a wherhide jacket," Birigundi replied with a knowing smile, "but you have the love of a dragonet to keep you warm."

She smiled up at him. "You'll have that soon enough too you know."
She began walking our, looking back to make sure he'd follow though.
In a light tone she continued. "Maybe the dragons are waiting for you to be satiated so you can make it through Jr. Weyrlinghood."

"Shards, I'll never Impress then," the candidate said with a defeated sigh. His long face quickly turned into a smile. "And were _you_
satiated?"

"Oh, its different for greens," she said with a wink, dodging the real question. "Theres a shimmering oasis at the end of the drought of the desert."

"Shimmering, eh?" Birigundi grinned as so many other adjectives ran through his mind. "Well then, maybe I should work on getting myself a green!"

"Yoooouuu!" Aryn said waggling her finger at her. "There are too many inaccessible gorgeous men, I won't allow you to join them." She crossed her arms, determinedly.

"What would it matter? We're _all_ inaccessible to you at the moment,"
Birigundi laughed as he quickly moved out of arms reach.

"_I_, can be patient, I need to think the long run. Besides, you with a green? I wouldn't want to compete _with_ you," she winked.

"You would rather compete _for_ me?" He moved closer to her, relieved to see that she wasn't going to hurt him for his teasing jibes. "So are you already feeling the strain?"

Aryn place her fingers, marching up his shirt, then gently flicked his chin. "I wouldn't have to compete too hard would I, specially since I'm so understanding about sharing. But, I refuse to obsess about what I'm missing." He backed up a step, slouching. "To be honest, I've been so tired, I don't think I'd be any good for anyone... not yet anyways."

"But it's worth it, though, isn't it?" Birigundi asked, his face turning from teasing to understanding. "You'll only tired for a little while.
She'll grow."

"Yes, I know she'll grow.. I'm more looking forward to when she will fly," Aryn replied, with distant look on her face.

Her far-off look brought a smile to his face. "She'll be beautiful."

"Stop humoring me Birigundi," she replied, but there was a smile on her face as she grasped his hand. Talking about Viyanth did make her genuinely happy.

"All right, no more humoring you." He sighed dramatically. "You're right, she is the skinniest, scrawniest little beast I've ever seen and I highly doubt she'll ever get off the ground..." He gave her hand a squeeze just to make sure she knew he was only teasing.

Aryn pretended to glare at him, then stuck out her tongue.

Meanwhile, Aryn and Birigundi's stroll had taken them past the Tannery. Toriat just happened to emerge then, leaving the smoking area to clear his eyes. And he saw. Clearly, quite clearly. **That Runner! He won't even let alone a Jr. Weyrling!** "I can't believe I trusted him," he said quietly, under his breath. Thinking of the thing Birigundi had lead him too, Toriat's conflicting thoughts rose again. He was completely riling, began walking in circles, trying to figure out what to do. **Should I run out there? Or should I ignore this, just walk back inside... How can I ignore that!?**

Birigundi was completely oblivious of the raging craftsman. "Seriously, Aryn, I'm happy for you. I think you and your little green will make quite a pair."

"Thanks Biri, I certainly think we will. Viyanth is a tad on the vain side, but otherwise we're quite similar I believe," she replied with a mischievous twinkle in her eye.

"Hey, Toriat, can you get back in here?" A voice yelled from one of the Tannery buildings. He gave the pair one more glance, seeing clearly that Aryn had spotted him, and huffed back inside to work.

"Oh Tor," Aryn said resigned, as she caught sight of her brother returning to work. She hadn't even realized they had walked out this way. Perhaps she had been aiming for the beast pens, since they reminded her of home, but yes, that means they would pass the Tannery.

"I'm sorry?" the runner asked, slightly confused. "Did you say 'Odor'?"

"Nooooo, Tor," Aryn said, pointing towards the Tannery area. Toriat had already gone back inside so there was nothing to see, but, thats where he was. "Tor...EE...at. He was just over there," She sighed.
**Why is my brother so sensitive about things?** she thought. She had long ago realized his delay in adapting to weyr life hadn't helped, **but he can be positively hidebound about 'proper' female behavior, even if he never wanted to banish me to the kitchens.**

"Ah, Toriat. The tanner." Birigundi nodded, finally understanding.
"Did you want to go over and talk to him?"

"No, not now anyways," Aryn turned them away, just in case he came out again. "He just gets worked up, about things, that he shouldn't...
you know?" She sighed, "He looked annoyed."

The poor candidate was becoming confused again... "Why? What do you think he's all worked up about?"

**I thought hes spoken with Toriat, can't he guess?** Aryn thought, confused, at Birigundi's confusion. "He has issues, seeing me with men. We grew up in a different culture. I've seen you two talk, you must know that hes a bit... hidebound in his notions."

"Well, yes, I suppose he can be. But I don't understand why he would be upset," Birigundi shrugged.

Aryn cocked her head and began laughing. "I guess I should be flattered you don't notice the resemblance?" She step back and then turned in place. "It isn't natural for a younger sister to be taller then her brother, is it?"

"Wait, Toriat is your _brother_?" That was news to him! He had never even heard that the tanner _had_ a sister, let alone one who had lived at the Weyr for over a turn. "No, I never would have guessed!"

"He was searched, later then me," she responded as she continued to walk again. "Him from the crafthall, myself from home."

"I see. And so now he's mad because I am walking with you?" Birigundi shrugged. "I don't understand what we are doing that he could get so mad about. Are you sure he was upset?"

Aryn looked coyly at Birigundi. "Well, you do have a bit of a reputation you know?"

"Ah, is _that_ why you keep me around?" he asked with a grin.

Aryn barked a laugh. "I hardly think _anyone_ tries to keep your Birigundi."

"Well, I think if someone does try there would be a lot of disappointed women." Birigundi gave her a slight wink. "I never disappoint women."

"You certainly don't Birigundi," Aryn replied leaning into his side, for a brief moment. "You certainly don't."

Last updated on the October 23rd 2005

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

A shimmering Oasis at the end of the drought