The Longing of Marli

Writers: Len, Miriah
Date Posted: 3rd February 2013

Characters: Paetri, G'wen
Description: Neath has a problem...a tiny blue problem....
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 12, day 3 of Turn 6
Notes: Mentioned: K'ale

The little blue chittered anxiously as Paetri finished restocking
the supplies in the infirmary. He was ready to go. The object of
his affection would be out soon and he would miss his beloved.
Couldn't his pet hurry? He tugged fervently at her braid, then
hopped up and down on Paetri's shoulder with growing agitation.

Paetri turned to stare at the jittery blue and rolled her eyes.
"No, you are not going to go pester G'wen or Neath again. I'm
sure that G'wen can bathe Neath perfectly well without you. "

Marli creeled and with begging, whirling eyes stared at Paetri,
then nudged her cheek. "Marli..." Another few nudges and she
sighed. "Fine. I will go ASK if G'wen needs help. Don't go rushing
off and you stay with me until he says yes or no, okay?"

Marli gave a huge, dramatic sigh and then bobbed his head in
acquiescence. Waiting with dramatic huffs of impatience as
Paetri finished her duties, he was finally rewarded for his
pleas when Paetri left and headed for the lake.

The moment that Neath came into sight, Marli went still, then
quivered in eagerness. It was only Paetri's hand on his tail that
stopped him from immediately flying off. Paetri waved to G'wen
in greeting, keeping a tight grip on Marli.

The small boy waved back and grinned. He enjoyed Paetri's company,
and was glad she seemed to be settling in well. "How are you two
today?" he asked as she came within talking distance. "Ready for the
Clutching?" It would be soon, very soon.

Marli didn't even notice Gwen. His eyes were locked on the green
dragon beside him and his neck stretched out as far as it could
as he uttered a soft croon of adoration. Eyes whirling, he tugged
against Paetri's grip, but she held him fast. He turned his soulful
gaze towards her, but to his great sadness she kept hold of his tail.

Paetri did her best to ignore the inner begging emotions that her
little blue was currently sending her way. With an amazing amount of
patience, she continued to G'wen until she was beside him.
"I'm doing wonderfully. They're going to let me apprentice with
the dragonhealers." She smiled brightly as she offered the news.
"So I've been very busy. " As Marli wiggled further she simply
tightened her grip. "The Hatching.....I don't know. I'm so nervous
about it. I've been trying not to even THINK about the Hatching."
Secretly, she still believed that she'd be left standing, when
the eggs hatched.

Marli creeled pathetically and Paetri sighed. "Marli is wanting to
help you with Neath today. Is it alright? He's about to go into spasms."

G'wen grinned at Marli's actions. "Keeps you on your toes, doesn't
he?" he teased, reaching down and throwing her an extra brush. "Here
you go. Happy now, Marli?" Since the girl was close he leaned out and
gave her a half hug. "Don't worry about the Hatching. I thought I'd
be freaked out and it was a piece of cake, really."

"He does." Paetri smiled and caught the brush, letting Marli go.
Immediately, he fled for Neath's head and began lovingly
grooming around the green's headknobs. Paetri couldn't
help but roll her eyes at the little blue flit's overzealous actions.
"Well, it's easy for you to say that. You have Neath to show for it."
Paetri smiled. "I still don't know if I'll Impress."

"You will!" G'wen gave the girl an affectionate hug. "Just be
confidant...or something like that," he added when Neath snorted. He
wasn't sure if it was over what he was telling
Paetri or that it was the little blue all over her face.

She returned the hug and laughed. "Yes. Me. Confident. I'll
try to remember that when my nerves are making me lose
my lunch." She moved over to Neath and began lightly
scrubbing. "Was it terrifying?"

Marli ignored the two humans and with a loving croon,
splayed himself on top of Neath's head, rubbing her brow
ridges with his chin. The look of adoration on his face
was comical and grew even more so when the little blue
decided to being serenading Neath with a mixture of
hums and croons.

Petra paused and looked up her blue, then slowly shook
his head. "I don't know who looks more ridiculous."

G'wen glanced up at his green, who was looking like she was really
hoping the lovely bronze and brown close by where_not_paying her any
mind, for once. To Paetri, he whispered, "if dragons could blush..."
and nodded up to poor Neath and her admirer.

After carefully scrubbing a dry patch on one of her toes he stopped to
look at the girl for a serious moment. "Yeah..the hatching was
terrifying. And I only saw a few dragons hatch before she found me."
His face lit up just remembering that day when Neath looked over all
the candidates before coming back and choosing him. "I think one of
the dumbest things I did was not have my robe ready. Being so short
and all, I kept thinking I was going to have more time to re-set the
hem line...and I didn't and looked like someone's little toddler
dressing up in mommy's dresses." He shook his head at the remembered
embarrassment.

She couldn't help it, Paetri sputtered into outright laughter at the
mental image of him in a white dress. "With underskirts?" She had
to add before covering her mouth and trying to hide the obvious and
rare snickers coming out of her mouth.

Marli took the time to look down at Paetri with interest before suddenly
sitting up. He knew what to do for his beloved! Surely she was hungry!
He chittered at her and pranced about her head for a moment,
conveying images of bright, succulent fish and him proffering them
with adoration. With a chirp of satisfaction at his plan, he leapt off of
her head, warbling brightly and headed towards where he knew were
plenty of fish. Unfortunately for poor Neath, it happened to be right
where two large male dragons were currently enjoying the water.

"Hey, no laughing! It was really embarrassing.". G'wen looked up at his
green. "But maybe not as embarrassing at what Neath is going through.".
When she burried her head in her forearms he did feel a bit guilty.

"Aww...poor Neath. Marli just isn't helping much, is he?" She placed her
hands on her narrow hips and shook her head. "She can always tell
him to go away, you know." She looked squarely at Neath and patted
her gently. "Just tell him to stop. He may be upset at first, but at least
you won't be as embarrassed. Just don't eat him, please."

"Don't give her any ideas!" G'wen glanced at the green when she seemed to
perk up at the thought of eating the tiny flit.

Paetri couldn't help but laugh at the hopeful look, but stopped whatever
she had been about to say as Marli reappeared with a huge, flopping
silver fish. Strutting with pride at his catch, he presented it to Neath
with a warble of adoration, then hopped backwards, remembering
the previous near miss.

Paetri whispered to G'wen. "Well...at least she'll never go hungry
with him around...."

"This is true..." As he spoke the big green lifted her head to look
woefully at the two people. She was at a loss as what to do with the
flit.

Marli crooned softly at Neath and nudged the fish closer to her before
hopping back. He tilted his head at her, wondering why she wasn't
gobbling up his gift. She was supposed to. And then she was supposed
adore him. He plopped down on his bottom and stared up at the green,
refusing to budge.

Paetri leaned over and whispered to G'wen. "Just tell her to eat it. It'll
make him happy, and I can make up an excuse for him to go."

Neath looked sadly at the girl and then, to G'wen's amazement, did as
the girl asked. He raised an eyebrow to Paetri. "Marli could be the
making of her, you know."

Feeling pity for Neath, Paetri turned her eye to her little blue. "That's enough
pestering Neath today." Marli turned soulful eyes to his pet and gave
a whimpering
croon, but was only answered by Paetri's firm gaze. Hurrying to give Neath
an adoring nudge, Marli flicked between, outwardly sulking.

Paetri shook her head. "She really should just say no to him."

"Well, as much as she likes to think herself quite a warrior and all,
under that green hide is a rather soft heart." G'wen patted Neath's
shoulder fondly, thrilled after all this time at the way a golden
yellow undertone shimmered under the pine green skin. She was a
beauty and he still couldn't believe she had chosen him. "You're in
for a wild ride when those eggs hatch," he all but whispered in an
undertone.

"Hm?" Paetri heard the murmur but figured he was simply soothing
Neath. "I think that's why Marli likes her. He senses that soft spot.
Plus it's the whole unattainable love thing too, I think. " Paetri giggled
then stopped, her brow knitting. "Oh dear....he'll be awful when she
goes for a mating flight..."

"Oh, that already happened not too long ago. K'ale's Ima was the winner."
He frowned slightly. Since waking up in bed together his friend
hadn't spoken a word to him.

Paetri saw his frown and shifted on her feet before speaking softly. "Is...
I mean...are flights scary?"

"It's not that..." He looked her face and felt bad. "It's just K'ale
and I had been such good friends...before this."

"Oh." Paetri fidgeted for a moment, then took a deep breath. "I'm sorry,
then." She looked up and frowned. "I really should be going. I'll
see you later, okay?"

"Now that you're free of Marli?" G'wen teased. "No problem, see you around!"

Last updated on the February 13th 2013

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The Longing of Marli