Where the River Flows

Eastern Weyr - Paradise River Beach

The mouth of the paradise river is broad, the water sluggish, as it finally reaches the sea. Though the far shore is relatively wild, with trees marching nearly up to the sandy banks, the near shore has been cleared and tamed. Stands of rushes dot the bank, intersped with low shrubs and dune-crawlers. The bank itself is gently sloped, with a well-lit stone path running the length between the lazy river and the great stone dome of the Weyr's caverns. There are several places where the bank has been scooped away altogether, presumably by draconic means given the regular shapes, to form shallow pools of warm, brackish water. One of these, nearest the exit from the weyrling barracks, has been roped off for use solely by young dragons and their new riders. There's even a lifeguard stand built up to allow a weyrlingmaster to keep a careful eye on the draconic playground, and a mesh net erected across the mouth of the pool's inlet to keep most things from being accidentally swept out to sea.

Summer has struck this coast paradise hard, the heat of the day neary unbareable without the shade and breezes, but the evenings made sweet with the smell of the coast.

It's raining and warm.


Although it's raining, a number of the weyrbrats and apprentices are playing in the water There's been a shelter of sorts erected for those who aren't wanting to be in the rain, but it is at least cooling with the heat of summer having been pounding down on everything. Teq herself has just come from out of the river herself and is grinning broadly.

Fiona was having a nice, easy stroll along the river, emphasis on /was/. Then there was the yelling and the screaming. Sharding kids. Now she's standing broodily at the edge of the copse. She wants to keep walking but, nnng, kids.

Aww, poor grumpy Fio, and look, here comes hyper little Teq. She's been enjoying herself and it shows. "Fio! How goes it?" she asks brightly. "Taking a break finally? No more lost tools?"

Fiona cracks a small smile, "Hey, Teq. I was just," she makes a vague motion, "Walking. Even I have to take a rest day now and again. What about you? Nothing to dye today?"

Tequoia grins "I already have. I finished up a set of new clothes for Jannen." she says proudly. "Master sayd I did some good work on them. I hope he likes them. THough I daresay they won't stay clean long."

Fiona arches her brows, then chuckles softly, "Who's Jannen? I don't think I've met him?"

Tequoia grins "Oh, he's a umm. He's just another kid around here. His parent's sorta abandoned him and he's not too happy. Though he has taken a likin' to learning and all. Was upset cause there was no classes on account of that sickness going round."

Fiona nods a couple of times, "That's horrendous, but I suppose it happens. At least he's here and not somewhere he'd just get swept under the rug. You takin' care of him?"

Tequoia grins "Aye, we're lettin' him stay out in the hideout. He seems to be more comfortable there. Not to easy with some people. Can't say I blame him though. From what he's told me, he's had things pretty rough."

Fiona leans against a tree, taking a wary glance at the gaggle of children, "How rough?"

Tequoia is silent for a few moments "Quite rough." she shifts a little as she then shrugs "They had no access to healers." she finally decides upon.

Fiona frowns for a moment, "That sounds like a half-truth, Teq. Stuff that scares you a little?"

Tequoia shrugs some "I dunno. But, well. I feel bad for the boy and I'm gonna see that he gets treated right. Show them that things are good." There's a pause and then a bright grin "Least he know dragons aren't anything to be afraid of. He met Kojakuth and Cyrilth."

Fiona nods a couple of times, "Glad of that, at least. I never feared dragons, just riders, and even then…" She shakes her head slightly, "Hard to imagine there was a time when all of Pern was united behind the Weyrs."

Tequoia gives a nod "Yeah, though there were times, according to the harpers, when all of Pern wasn't united." she hmms a little "I wonder if it truely ever was."

Fiona snorts softly, "Well, of course it wasn't, even when they found AIVAS there were renegades, but now that the dragons aren't essential to Pern's livelihood they get… I don't even know. My parents never wanted us to be dragon folk, but they weren't /afraid/ of them, either."

Tequoia purses her lips a bit "I don't see why people have such a problem though. I mean, it's not like there's a bunch of titheing anymore. People are free do live well and all if they wish."

Fiona shrugs slightly, "My parents like to know where the family line's going. Neat. Ordered. Married. You know the type. They don't see impressing as an honor, but they don't hate riders or anything."

Tequoia nods " Mine, just don't well." she shrugs a little "I think it'd be neat to ride. The view must be wonderful. Course, I ain't been up on anything unless it was a wagon."

Fiona looks honestly surprised, "You've lived here how long and you haven't been up on a dragon? It's not my favorite thing, I'll be honest, but you should definitely ask someone to take you up. I'm sure S'dan or Ur'con would gladly."

Tequoia umms "Well, I just umm. Well." she actually looks a little embarrassed. "I don't wanna seem pushy or anything like that."

"/Pushy?/" Fiona actually /laughs/, is the world coming to an end? "Riders /love/ showing off their dragons. Just ask."

Tequoia blinks a little at the laughter coming from Fiona and just sort of looks at her oddly. Was that laughter? "Umm, well, showing is one thing, but asuming they'll let you ride? It'd be like.. like going to K'nan and just suddenly asking to ride her runners."

Fiona shakes her head slightly, "Naw, I'm serious, just /ask/. Darlth /loves/ taking people for rides. Say you want to go to Ierne for a little shopping."

Tequoia gasps a little "Me? At Ierne? I dunno if I wanna go there. Sarintar has all these weird stories of Ierne." she says and shudders a little "Maybe.. maybe H'tor might give me a rider. Was going to see about going to Xanadu with Mahlia. She's got some dragon healers she's been talking with."

Fiona shrugs, "he'd probably take you. You wanting to learn dragonhealing, too?"

Tequoia grins brightly "I want to learn everything." she then lets out a sigh. "But I know I won't be able to do that."

Fiona shakes her head a bit, "No… no you won't, but it's /never/ wrong to try. Not ever."

Tequoia beams brightly "Then I'm going to try to learn all that I can. Gonna even work with that Tad guy and see about having his pictures on fabric and then I'd embroider it or something, so I'd be workin' with the tech craft too."

The mention of Tad elicits a slight frown, but she doesn't say anything about that specifically, "Go for it. Be all you can be."

Tequoia is in the ARMY! She does catch the frown "Well he is an a.. err he is kinda pushy and all, but well." A shrug

Fiona smirks for all she's trying to hide it, "I think he and I are just destined to disagree. Don't worry about it none."

Tequoia head tilts a bit and then nods "Okay then. Side's I got other things to worry about." Sweet innocent look.

Fiona's brows iiiinch up again, "What sorts of things are you worrying your little head over?"

Tequoia looks cute "Oh, you know. Nothing much. Keeping Jan safe and all and relationships like Shi and I. Oh hey, did you hear? Sarintar gave Miho flowers and she actually took them."

"She did???" Pure shock, right there. Fi shakes her head, then peers at the girl "Relationships /like/ you and Shi?"

Tequoia nods "She did, and she even let him bring her juice and everything. Though she did hide her face again, but I didn't think she would. And yeah, like me and Shi. I worry and all. I mean he really wants to be a rider, and a bronze rider even. He's been trying to emulate them for turns." She wrinkles her nose and sighs "And if he Impresses… then he'll chase and likely catch and Oh."

Fiona lets out just the softest of sighs, "The dragon flies, the rider complies. If you're the one he picks willingly, that's all that matters."

Tequoia nods "I know that. But well, what if he takes a fancy to one of them or something. I mean what if Seeley got a green and well Shi turned him down, but what after well, what if he decided he liked him enough to want more?"

Fiona holds out an arm, actually offering Teq a hug, "Don't worry about it, kiddo. I don't see Shi playing the boy card. And remind me to have a chat with my apprentice about decorum."

Tequoia leans into the hug and then nods "I know. But. A girl I can understand, but I dunno about a guy, not that I want him with either but." Whimper. Gotta love adolescent hormone changes.

Fiona gives her a tight squeeze, Teq's one of those people who gets actual affection from Fi, "He likes you. He buys you things. Betcha ten marks that if he impresses he dreams about you and asks you to move into his weyr."

Tequoia gives a little sniffle and then nods "Yeah, he even finds thing and brings them home too." She smiles "He found me this rock in the jungle that someone had attached brightly colored hair, like off a herdbeast and a feather attached to it."

Fiona reaches her other hand around to give Teq a tousle, "See, if things make him think of you, he really must llll- like you."

Tequoia gives a little nod "Yeah, I think he likes me." she says and then takes a breath. "I really am lucky."

"There, you see." Fi offers a small smile, "Besides, Arolaeth hasn't even clutched yet. He might not be searched or impress at all, then all this worrying is for nothing."

Tequoia nods "I know, but I do. I just want to be happy." There's a pause and then looks sweetly at Fio "Just like I want you to be happy."

Fiona smiles, it's a small, indulgent, /genuine/ smile, "I know, Teq. I wish I knew if I was so I could tell you. For now you'll have to settle for content and see if happy happens."

Tequoia gives a nod "I know, but.." she purses her lips "I dunno. I just well, yeah." she smiles brightly "If you ever figure out what you need, let me know and I'll see what I can do. I'll talk to anybody I have to for you."

Fiona chuckles very softly, "Well now, Teq, I have no doubt you'll keep trying to orchestrate my happiness with or without my input."

Tequoia Looks angelic "Me? Do that?" Well darn skippy she will." She hmms a little "Do you like flowers?"

Fiona shakes her head slightly, "I'm allergic to those, too, it seems. Sorry."

Tequoia gasp "Allergic to flowers!" she exclaims and then hmms a little "But what if you weren't allergic to them? Would you like them then?"

Fiona considers her for a moment, then shrugs, "make me some out of metal and we'll see."

Tequoia frowns a little "Now how would I do that? I dunno how to craft metal and I dunno if they'll let me near the forge." She coughs a little.

Fiona smiiirks a bit, "Well, you're an industrious girl. I'm sure, if you really want to, you'll find a way."

Tequoia frowns a little and then head tilts "What about something aside from metal? I mean it's so expensive and I don't have much in the way of marks."

"Well," Fi gives her a little wink, "Since I'm sure this intelligence isn't /really/ for you, anyway, I'll say you can always try and see. And I like fractals.""

Tequoia mrrs a little, "Men need more of a hint then that." she mutters under her breath and then grins curely at Fio. "I'll see."

Fiona caught that, "Well, women are fickle creatures, but it's the thought that counts."

Tequoia grins all cute like. She ain't up to nothin' Nope, not at all. "Well, at least I ain't lookin' fer a hairless kitty for you?"

Fiona opens her mouth, then shuts it again, "Don't put any living thing in my care."

Tequoia can't help but giggle and then there's a serious look on her face "What about a tree? Or other kind of plant? That doesn't flower?"

Fiona shrugs and glances up and away from Teq, looking ever-so-innocent.

Tequoia cants her head a little off to one side "What?"

"You'll just have to try and find out." Fiona arches a brow and continues examining the foliage.

Tequoia snorts a bit "That's what I'm trying to do. Find out." she states and then looks at what Fio's looking at to see if there is anything of significance to it.

It's just a tree. Fi turns back to Teq and shrugs slightly, "Very few people have tried to woo me. The only one who ever succeeded at all was very good at picnics."

Tequoia tilts her head a little "Do you like picnics?" she asks curiously? "Or is there something else more that you like?

Fiona's mouth twitches slightly, almost smiling, "There's something to be said for the personal touch. A picnic might work."

Tequoia hmms a little and nods and then grins brightly. "A picnic would be great"

Fiona gives the girl a little squeeze, "Should I let you get back to your friends?"

Tequoia leans in and snuggles "I suppose. I got some planning to do." she states brightly "YOu wanna swim with?"

Fiona looks down at her attire, then shakes her head slightly, "I'm not really dressed for it, but thank you for the offer, Teq."

Tequoia looks ever so sweet. "So, take them all off like some do." she says with a grin, knowing full well Fio won't and is just poking.

Fiona turns bright, brilliant red, "Te/quoi/a!" One arm even starts to move to cover herself automatically before she realizes she's not, in fact, naked.

Tequoia looks all cute. "Yes?" she asks oh so innocently.

Fiona hrmps and turns to walk back upstream. She'll just find another way back, then. Thbbt.

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