Oiling A Dragon

Writers: Miriah, Suzee
Date Posted: 9th June 2012

Characters: D'ale, Paetri
Description: Paetri is assigned to assist a rider with oiling
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 7, day 5 of Turn 6
Notes: Mentioned: J'darin

D'ale

She checked the chore assignments and brows raised. Paetri didn't know if
she was purposefully getting sent to help riders with their dragons, but in
all honesty, she was starting to enjoy it. Most of them left her alone to do
her duties and paid her little mind, so though she didn't get to really know
them, she was learning more about dragons and more about the lay-out of the
Weyr.

She inwardly wondered if J'darin were purposefully placing her with male
riders. She was not the most comfortable around them and she supposed that
he thought this would be a good practice for her.
Luckily, none had been forward or improper with her, so it was slowly
getting easier. But not much.

She read the list again. "Brownrider D'ale. Assist with oiling at lower
lake." Not too difficult. She tucked her assignment into a well worn pouch
and paced towards the lower lake, dodging the other passerbys by with
growing ease.

As she arrived, she looked about, sucking in her lower lip. She didn't see
any brown rider. Had she read wrongly?

D'ale hummed as he walked into the cavern carrying his bucket of supplies.
He saw a young woman standing there looking a little lost.
"Hello there," called the Wingsecond. Sometimes he helped out with Weyrling
training either with classroom instruction about the role of brownriders or
the occasional hands on training of 'how to bathe your dragon.'

"Torerath, come out of there." The big brown had been submerged in the lake
just soaking. "You're going to startle the girl." He approached as the big
brown surfaced and came gliding toward the shore to emerge dripping.

"I'm D'ale," he said with a smile.

Startled nonetheless, Paetri turned at the call and stared at D'ale for a
moment. Her jaw dropped before she caught herself, then she immediately
flushed and looked down to bob a quick curtsey.
"Brownrider." Her voice was very soft as she continued. "Candidate Paetri
here to help you with your brown."

She flicked a gaze at the dripping brown and with relief turned to pay her
respects to the large, dripping dragon. "It's a pleasure to help you,
Torerath." She turned to face D'ale again, refusing to look up past his
boots. "Where would you like me to begin, Brownrider?"

A half smile tilted D'ale's lips. "He says thank you." Of course she
couldn't possibly see his Wingsecond's knots with her eyes fixed on his toes
so he didn't take the lack of title as anything but an oversight...
or maybe 'undersight' would be a better word.

"Sorry I wasn't here when you arrived Paetri. I needed to take my daughter
back to her foster mother." His four turn old girl had needed a little of
her da this morning.

"Why don't you start on this side and I'll oil what you can't reach."

Her voice was soft as she bobbed into another curtsey. "Quite alright and
understandable. No need to apologize. " She picked out the proper brushes
and oils from the bucket and turned to face Torerath.

He was understandably larger than her own flit, so it took her a moment to
decide where to begin. With Marli, she always started at the top and worked
down to rub the oil in. Her brow knit as she put her hand on her hip,
nibbling on her lower lip as she tilted her head to study the brown for a
moment. She turned to D'ale, forgetting her shyness for the moment. "Is it
alright if I ask him to bend a little?
I might be able to reach higher and leave less for you to do."

Torerath huffed and sank down with his belly on the ground before D'ale
could reply. The big brown enjoyed children and young candidates and his
mind glowed with humor as he turned a whirling eye to watch the young woman.

}:Do you think she still doesn't realize I can hear her?:{

**Don't worry, she'll soon get the hang of it. She's new.**

D'ale didn't look straight at the girl. He could tell she seemed a little
uncomfortable and wanted to help her feel at ease. "So, where do you come
from," he asked while he reached up to oil his lifemates long neck.

As Torerath bent, Paetri blushed and glanced at D'ale, a little "oh"
of realization emerging from her lips. She turned back to face the dragon
and spoke softly. "I'm sorry, Torerath. I am not familiar with dragons much.
I'll speak to you next time." She hitched up her skirts and climbed just a
bit on his foreleg to reach higher, then began to dutifully scrub.

At D'ale's question, she paused. "Near Amber Hills. It's just a small
cothold, really. Nothing like here. " She gave him a sidelong glance, then
quickly turned her gaze back to the brown. "It's very different.
In many ways, I suppose." She then sighed softly and knit her brows, her
scrubbing firming. "But I'm getting used to it a little."

"Yeah," he said. "It just takes a little while. Pretty soon you'll feel like
you're fitting in and make some new friends." He smiled.

Paetri offered a slight smile. "I hope so. Everyone here knows what they are
doing..."
She trailed off and then shook her head. "I suppose I'm still trying to keep
up."
She flicked a glance at him and shifted slightly, scrubbing the brown a bit
lower. "I never really had a lot of friends. Just my family."

He smiled at that one. How many times had he heard it before from a
succession of other young people searched and brought to the Weyr.

"Well," he smiled in a friendly fashion. "Now we'll be your family too."

Paetri finally gave a brighter smile and turned to D'ale. "Thank you.
That means...a lot." She turned back to Torerath and with more confidence
continued to scrub him with calm, firm strokes.

Last updated on the June 29th 2012

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Oiling A Dragon