Cleaning Up

Writers: Devin, Suzee
Date Posted: 27th April 2012

Characters: D'ale, J'kri
Description: A bath after a Fall
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 7, day 25 of Turn 6

D'ale

They were both covered with ash when they entered the bathing cavern.
The Fall had gone well with only one minor injury but even that
bothered him. He'd like to get through at least one without a single
tweaked talon. They landed beside the lake and he stripped his riding
straps and let the big brown dive into the water. He sat and took off
his boots and set them next to his jacket, scarf and helmet. He felt
like diving in himself to get rid of the smell but the bathing waters
were much warmer than the lake.

D'ale looked around because he knew there'd be someone coming to help
him bathe the big guy. Though there were several around none of them
seemed to be coming in his direction... yet.

Jykri hurried toward him, carrying a bucket. The brown was hard to
miss and when he got close enough he saw the rider's Wingsecond knots.
"Hi, you must be D'ale."

"I am," D'ale smiled and took in the bucket. "You here to help?"

"Yes, sir. I'm Jykri, and I've been assigned to help you clean up." He
looked up at the brown covered in ash and wondered what it would be
like to ride a flaming dragon in Threadfall. The idea didn't excite
him.

"Thank you Jykri," he said stripping off his shirt. He was weary as
only a Fall could make him but that didn't matter. Torerath came
first. He could sense the brown's pleasure at the bath and smiled at
the young candidate. He reached for some of the sweetsand and began to
form a nice lather then used the brush to begin the scrubbing. "You
take that side and I'll take this one." He indicated with his chin.

Jykri swallowed a little at the sight of all that muscled chest. "Yes,
sir." He wanted to keep looking, but duty came first. Hurrying over to
the other side of the dragon, he started scrubbing.

"How long have you been at the Weyr Jykri," asked the brownrider. He
wasn't sure he'd seen the kid before.

"About a month." Time had flown by so fast. It seemed like he'd just
gotten there.

"That's not too long, Where do you come from?"

"Amber Hills."

"Ah yes," he smiled. "I know Amber Hills. Some very nice people
there." Of course he was thinking of one particular person who he
thought very nice indeed. "Good tavern too."

"That's what I've heard. That the tavern is good, I mean." He scrubbed
Torerath with what he hoped was the right amount of pressure. The
first few times he'd washed a dragon he'd been too gentle.

"Well once you have your very own lifemate and have gone through your
training. You'll be able to visit any time you want." By now they
were nearing the tail and it was almost time for Torerath to rinse.

"And I can go back home and visit my sisters." Jykri was already
looking forward to that.

"Absolutely," he said with a smile at the kid. "Ok Torerath, go
rinse." he stood back as the big brown went back into the water to
wash off the lather. In the meantime he picked up some oil and a
paddle. "So, what color do you think you'll find on the sands?" He was
always interested in the answer to that question. Most were certain
they'd be bronze riders not realizing just how rare that was.

"Blue, if I'm lucky enough to have one at all," the Candidate answered.

"Blues are very important," D'ale said. "They're agile and fast Thread
fighters. And some times they make the best search dragons. If you
were searched then there is at least one dragon out there that thinks
you have what it takes."

"I hope I do." Jykri smiled. "Having a dragon of my own would be so
amazing, and then I could do something really useful without having to
pick a craft."

"You'll work harder than you ever thought you could," said the
brownrider. "But it's definitely worth it."

"I don't mind hard work." As long as it wasn't boring, but he wasn't
going to say that in case D'ale took it wrong.

"Good," said the browrider. The oiling was done and D'ale smiled at
the young man. He didn't want to tell him he'd be tired for his whole
first Turn. No need to scare the kid more than he already was. "Now to
go clean _myself_ up."

**Can I help?** Jykri bit his lip to keep from saying something that
outrageous. "Have a good day then, sir."

"I'll try," he smiled and picked up his clothes and straps as he
headed toward the lower caverns and a nice hot soak.

Last updated on the April 30th 2012

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Cleaning Up