Stone Skipping (QD20)

[Altair]

Time Reference: Day 20 of the quarantine, early/mid morning.

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Now Altair was no longer sequestered within the Healers' caverns, Altair found he did not know what to do. The others only appeared to interact with him whilst they were quarantined within the healers' caverns simultaneously and so forced to be together. Yet now there was no Master Healer and the study to discern what plague had swept through the Weyr had fallen on the shoulders of those in the faraway Healer Hall, for the healers that did remain at the Weyr were not trained in adequate measure to understand the complex nature of what had befallen the southern most Weyr, and the islands that surrounded it. This left Altair rather much alone. There were none who pushed him to do this or that, no single person to tell him that he should 'go here' and 'go fetch'. He found that he did not know what to do with himself and this new found 'freedom'. Though he attended lessons, and ensured the healers' caverns were cleaned to their utmost, during these rare moments of spare time, the candidate found himself lost and unsure.

A free morning upon him and no lessons scheduled for this day, Altair found that he wandered up and down the Weyrbowl, kicked at the flat rocks here and there and eventually picked up several stones so his hands were quite full with rocks. His path led him along the easily discernibly trail that arched through the small natural formations until it opened to the Weyr's lake. Steam rose from the heated waters herein. Altair hesitated here, at the edge. For a moment, he considered plunging himself into the water and never reemerging. Perhaps then this pain in his soul would diminish as he was reunited with the dragon he'd barely known yet still ached within at the thought of the deceased brown. In a rare fit of anger and frustration, the youth hurled a gathered rock across the lake's waters.

Unwittingly, he managed to 'bounce' it and the swift pebble skipped thrice across the water. When it sank, Altair considered the situation and found skipping stones to be a worthy pastime for pondering life and passing the time. He proceeded to commence attempting to skip those others that he gathered. When these were spent, he took several minutes to find more and these too he hurled at the water...

[Altair]

Eventually Altair ran out of stones to throw. He wandered the edge of the Weyrlake, careful to avoid interacting with anyone else. He did not look up and did not greet those whom he passed. Nothing interested him at the moment save the stones or so t’would appear to any who watched the lad skirt the water’s edge. Pausing here and there to bend down and collect a rock, he used his shirt as a gathering point and soon had a shirt full of goodly stones. The ache for want of his companion gnawed him from within for though he had only known his beloved brown for moments, their brief connection left the indelible scar upon his soul that made him weep internally. Forever sad, t’would now was his fate, despite others encouraging him to go out once more and Stand among the eggs. Yet he had not been a Candidate until he Impressed. So why should he continue?

Shirt full of rocks, Altair found a place to sit and a large boulder provided this place. When he perched upon it the water lapped at the toes of his boots. Casting about a moment for a better place after a brief examination of his immediate area, he poured his bounty onto the rock next to him so they might be within easy reach. Ere he began anything else, he looked up and around. For that moment all could see the former drudge’s haunted gaze. Then he turned away from the scene of others enjoying themselves and picked up the first of his stones and measured the weight of it in his hand as he cupped it with a light grasp. Careful not to throw in any dragon or human’s direction, Altair began skipping stones again.

[Archived]

Neroius is not alone. She's among a group of much younger candidates, astounding them with her amazing flexibility. She can do back bends, which to them seems impossible. She stands with a wide grin. "And now you know what you can do with practice!" But when she stands, she notices Dandelion is missing. The proud gold flitter is usually close by. It takes Neroius a few moments to find her gold, splashing through the shallows before she catches sight of the gold chasing after... rocks?

Yes, it seems Altair's rock-skipping has earned the attention of a bright gold fire-lizard that absolutely will not be stopped by the water. Diving in and out, the gold seems determined to find the rocks and return them to Altair. This is a game! She's very good at it! She finds a rock successfully, then flies over to Altair and sets it by his feet.

Neroius crosses the distance, taking to the shore in her soaked summer clothing, and calls, "Dandy!" She waves a hand, but the gold seems insistent on Altair taking the stone and praising her. "Oh, bother! I'm so sorry if she's being rude!"

[Altair]

Though aware others surrounded the lakes and went about their lives, the boy remained content to be far from them. Gradually his pile diminished till there were but four in his hand. When he threw the second to last, he heard the others’ laughter and considered leaving lest he disturb the others nearby with the constant splashing. He did not want to override the joy that Neroius’ flips brought to others. Best to leave the scene so the others might enjoy the waters without the fear of being hit with a flying rock.

T’was then the gold fire-lizard appeared and the little queen began to dive and frolic with the rocks, a small smile edged Altair’s dour countenance. She returned the first one to him. “What is this?” Altair stared at her. “Is this for me? Oh, thank you my queen.” He spoke to her with the utmost respect full well knowing she understood his speech. His eyes brightened and by the time the other Candidate realized her gold to be elsewhere, Altair had a full on smile. A rare sight for the stricken boy. Perhaps, had they had more alone time Dandelion might have enticed a peal of laughter. Each time she returned a rock, Altair indeed praised her. Though he did not offer food to her because he did not know her bonded’s rules. To encourage the gold to stay and play with him, Altair began to throw the rock instead of skipping them. He cast them with wide, arcing angles away from the fire-lizard so the little queen had to chase them but without fear of Altair throwing a rock at her. Hurting a fire-lizard or anything did not sit well with him.

When he heard the gold fire-lizard’s name called, Altair looked toward the voice and recognized young Neroius. Though he did not recall much else about her save that she too was a Candidate. They not much different in age but her full of vigor and vastly more popular. All the Candidates had been quarantined for a short time together near the beginning of the plague, but he had stayed as he always did, away from the others in his closet. It took effort for Lyxias to convince him to sleep in his assigned cot rather than the place in the dustbin he occupied as a drudge.

In an automatic reaction to someone speaking to him directly, Altair ducked his head as though he’d done something wrong. “Oh, Neroius. Oh, um... she’s yours? Dandy... Dandelion, right?” Altair spoke in a soft voice and his smile faded. “No, she’s no bother. We... we were playing...” Altair dropped the rock in his hand and stood up from his boulder. He hesitated and shuffled in place though did not move immediately from where he stood as though somehow rooted to the spot. “I didn’t mean to offend... I’ll go."

[Archived]

Dandy follows the rocks with incredible speed and intelligence. His praise only makes her swell, and soon she's fetching rocks left and right. She's so smart! Ah, if only her owner hadn't shown up!

Neroius's face falls as she approaches-- oh, that's Altair. She had seen the death of his brown almost a turn prior now. She could only imagine the pain he must feel. She knows she feels frightened every time her brother goes into Threadfall, but that's much different from losing a dragon. And for Dandy to make him happy instead of miserable-- well, she's ruined that.

"Wait!" she calls. "Yes, she's Dandelion, and I was just worried she was bothering you!" She hustles out of the shallows, reaching a hand out to stop Altair. Whether she catches up to him to grab his arm or not, she says, "You can play with her some more if you want. I thought... Well, she can be rather persnickety at times, and now that I see you were just playing, well..." She pauses. "If you like, I can show you where she likes to be petted!"

[Altair]

Already rooted to the place he stood when she called out to him, Altair cringed at the shout and his eyes darted around for fear her words might cause him trouble. Some disturbance they’d made. Yet no one cared that the girl shouted and crashed through the waters because all around simply played on in their carefree manner. And why not? The waters here always warm and e’en in the early summer months the weather suited swimming in a most excellent manner.

As he had not moved, she had little trouble catching his arm and she grasped firm his biceps so he could not leave - or rather would not leave - lest she released him. He froze in place and ducked, expecting a blow that never came and his head hung as he listened to her words. His hands folded in front of him. Gradual understanding she did not mean to lay forceful hand upon him made him raise his head again and dare to look at her fair features. “No, no bother,” Altair shook his head and lifted his gaze to meet Nerious’ but dropped it to stare at the sandy shore in the next instant.

His throat seized. He swallowed and when his next words came out at last their syllables wert so soft that they could not be understood. So much concern he bore she’d do him injury or mock him. He cleared his throat and spoke again. His voice louder now but still soft the words as he dared to glance up at her on occasion. Altair dared to lay hope on Neroius’ words as truth and answered in kind. “I would like to play with her... yes. If, if that’s all right with you? She... she fetched rocks for me.”

This time when he spoke he dared not look at her for fear of seeing the rejection upon her features. True, she had been the one to offer her Dandy’s services as a playmate. Yet there was the chance, the chance she might change her mind. Or worse, mock him for his desire to interact with her fire-lizard, with any fire-lizard. As though he dared think himself good enough for even the company of a dragon’s lesser cousin. But her tone and expression felt genuine and he had experience with her enough to know her a sincere personality. He nodded to emphasize his first courageous words and the final phrase. And still he did not attempt to break the other Candidate’s grasp. “I... I yes would like to see where she enjoys being scratched."

[Altair]

The courageous words left his mouth and Altair expected, rightly, that he might receive an answer in a short interval. And yet, for what seemed minutes, nay months, they stood and stared at one another with the girl not reacting at all to his quiet agreement. The friendly demeanor did not leave her features but all actions seemed in a sudden slow motion to Altair. Mayhap Nerious did react in a timely manner but to the Candidate it seemed like ages. Those ages wrapped doubt into his mind and caused his soul to swirl with conflicted emotions. Doubt and fear. No, not fear, hesitancy. The nervousness of being turned aside. Of being the beaten outcast again... of rejection despite her pleasant attitude.

All too soon, Altair's heartbeat filled his ears until all he heard was nothing but his heartbeat and mayhap even the blood coursing through his veins. Thereupon, he found himself at an impasse. A part of him said he should stay for she had all good intentions to connect to him. The braver part, the one that died with his dragon or in the least been crippled by the death of the brown... but the other part, the part that had been molded after Turns of torment, hesitated. Feared. He’d agreed to himself, and to Lyxias that he’d reach out to make friends. To be more assertive. To prove to himself that he could do it...

He said no words. He did not appear to panic. No faster breathing. Only that his eyes widened ever so, and then, the roots that tangled his feet unraveled. Altair managed a single step backward. And then, another, and another... the slow backpedal transformed into a handful of staggering steps that resulted in an almost trip. His hand pinwheeled as he pivoted in place. Another lurch broke the spell completely. Altair turned on heel and dashed away from Nerious. A jog transformed into a sprint as he fled from the Weyrlakes to some other part of the Weyr.

[Allegra]

Allegra had finished helping Johnorris clean the Junior Weyrling barracks and was heading to the lower caverns. She wanted to speak to the tanner about getting some leather shoulder pads  so her new friends wouldn't keep puncturing her shoulder with their claws. She was a little lost in thought at the Ground Leader's suggestion that she see Ja'ryns about apprenticing under him. She did enjoy keeping busy. Back home she was always doing things, helping her mother with the baking and sewing. While Dulcith did keep her busy, she wouldn't mind learning a craft, especially one that was sorely needed in the Weyr. She was so lost in these thoughts that she almost didn't notice Altair until he was almost on her. She stopped short, and watched him pass her. She felt irritated for a moment at being pushed out of her thoughts, but watching the way he moved, she felt something something was wrong, like something had spooked him.

"Altair," she called out to him and turned toward him. "Are you alright?"

[Altair]

His thoughts locked away in whatever past horrors caused him to flee from Neroius’s side, Altair passed other people, not minding them save to avoid them. No one questioned a running healer unless someone shouted after them. He gave no thought to them and only sought to leave the area, the sights and sounds of the place a murmured cacophony until one broke through. A voice filled his world. His attention snapped to his name. Four Turns spent living with the necessity to obey whatever followed fashioned his response. That, and her voice. He’d heard it before. Of course, they’d been acquainted with each other since she arrived at the Weyr. Yet there lingered an air of familiarity from the past about her. Before she became one of the Fortunate Few, bonded to his Naresignuth’s clutch-mate.

“Allegra.” He replied to her greeting but with no intention to stop and he took two steps more ere she drew the breath to ask her question. Surprise etched his features and his eyes widened. “I... I, well, well thank you for your concern.” He stood taller in her presence and when he turned around, held himself steady though he felt his left leg tremble and hoped she did not see it. Yet hesitation resounded in his tone. Still the desire to retreat filled him. Altair clung to the edge of indecision on whether to turn his back on her again or walk backwards. His body chose a compromise and he sidestepped away from Allegra in hasty movements.

[Allegra]

"Of course," Allegra said with a warm smile. "It is good to see you well. You were stuck in the Healer's caverns for a while, weren't you?" She couldn't help but notice his agitation as he sidestepped her. "You sure everything's alright? Are you in hurry to be some where? Do you need help? I've some free time still. I was just going to see the tanner about making some shoulder pads for my new friends." She turned her head toward the tiny blue firelizard still curled up on her shoulder. "It's nothing that can't wait if you need help."

[Altair]

He stopped moving now and faced her to further engage with the conversation. Yet each question further etched stress into his features and he did not reply to her in the immediate afterward of her words. All his answers caught in his throat or clung to his tongue unspoken until Allegra turned her gaze to the blue fire-lizard. “Aww...” he whispered, barely audible, when he laid eyes upon the napping flit. Her turn broken the spell that bound his tongue. She’d landed mayhap unwittingly on the one subject from which he did not balk or shy away, and no trace of his stutter whispered through his words.

“Yes, I was - We were quarantined there. All the healers were all stuck in our hall together. Rokai and me and the rest. Only Ja’ryns wasn’t forced into the quarantine because Lyxias was sure he’d not been exposed. Though in the end, it didn’t matter. The contagion wrecked its havoc throughout the Weyr despite Lyxias' precautions.” His voice fell at the Master Healer’s name, so recent departed from Pern onto wherever one went when they died. Now he answered one, he gave her the courtesy to answer the rest. “Everything is all right. I was in conversation with Nerious, but...” Altair looked at the ground. “...I panicked and ran. No, I’m not in a hurry to go anywhere at all. There are no Candidate lessons today, again, and I haven’t seen Ja’ryns all day."

[Allegra]

"Yeah," Allegra said softly, lowering her eyes at the mention of the departed Master Healer. "But, I don't think his work was in vain! I've heard that the Weyrleader has released the Searchriders to find candidates. Surely he wouldn't do that if Master Lyxias hadn't made some progress, and found some sort of preventative to help keep the illness at bay." She tried to be optimistic. She felt he needed it. She frowned slightly at his mention of panicking from Neroius. She wondered what the harper could have said to bother him so. She let that slide though. Better not to bring up troublesome things. "I think I saw Ja'ryns heading to the hatching grounds earlier. He's probably just checking on Syndoreth's clutch." She paused for a moment as Johnorris's words came back to her. "Do you know Ja'ryns well? Have you worked with him much?" she asked. "I've only really interacted with him during Dulcith's health checks."

The blue (and still unnamed) fire lizard started to stir on Allegra's shoulder. He yawned and arched his back in a stretch. He stared at Altair with still sleepy, half-lidded eyes.

[Altair]

"Yes, he did," Altair confirmed Allegra's comment with a quick nod and excitement edge his tone. "You're right, Master Lyxias discovered a combination of herbs that stops the symptoms from spreading. It doesn't cure the plague but it helps enough that he felt confident to release the entire Weyr. We stayed up late last night and then Ja'ryns sent Rokai away early this morning to deliver bottles of the ointment to G'age and An'zell and the Lord Holder and I don't know where else." He swept a small gesture toward the Weyr's ground entrance when he mentioned the other healer. "She's going to make sure that they all get what they need and deliver the message that the quarantine's been lifted." Altair's eyes went to the blue fire-lizard again. A smile flitted across his mouth but it disappeared as quick as it'd come. "Master Ja'ryns? Well as anyone else I suppose. Since I work in... " Altair's expression showed a brief, internal battle that his mouth won. "Since I am one of the healers, we all know each other. He's meticulous and makes sure all his herbs and items are in exact places. He's always been kind to me since I arrived at the Weyr and usually has a smile or a ready joke."

[Allegra]

"That's wonderful!" Allegra said, smiling broadly as Altair seemed to become more animated as he spoke about his craft. "You should be proud of all that hard work. That couldn't have been easy to prepare so many so quickly. Hopefully things can start to getting back to normal."

She thought about Altair's words about Ja'ryns. "Hmm, I only ask about Master Ja'ryns because the Ground Leader suggested I might be good at it," she explained. "I've never done any healing work before though, at least, nothing beyond first aid. But, maybe I'll ask him about it anyway. I'd like to help out if I can. And, what's the worse he can say? No?" She laughed lightly. She wouldn't be upset if the bronzerider refused her. She'd find something else to do.

Allegra felt the blue flit stretch and glanced at him again. "Oh, you're awake now?" she asked him. "Well don't expect any more food. You're belly's still huge from breakfast!" She looked back at Altair. "I don't have a name for him yet," she explained again. "He just hatched this morning. Did you know there's a wild queen firelizard that likes to lay her clutch in the kitchens? I had no idea until I was assaulted this morning getting breakfast! Would you like to see him?" She didn't wait for an answer. She gathered the blue up into her hand. He cheeped in protest, and wrapped his tiny talons around her fingers. He looked up at the stranger as Allegra held him out to Altair. "You can pet him if you want." She sent the firelizard calm and friendly thoughts, so he knew Altair wouldn't hurt him.

[Altair]

All the attention from Allegra gripped him in sudden fear which he wrested with and yet did not run from her. This conversation bore no concern for him, and perhaps t'was her kindly way that encouraged him to speak bolder, or perhaps the subject matter. The edge of Altair's lips twitched, once, twice, and after a third try, he offered her a genuine smile in return for her broad one. The Weyrling's compliment felled Altair's smile in an instant for sheer shock of it all and left him agape. Quick to close his mouth, he licked his lips and turned away from her, his hands wrapping into themselves as he rung them together. He spoke in soft tones yet his words rang with sincerity and a flush crossed his features. "Thank you. I... I didn't do it alone. W - We all worked together." Altair inhaled through his nose and opened his mouth to exhale the deep, steadying breath. "The Ground leader said that? I should give credence to his suggestion. A... and you're right, asking is the best way to go about anything. I can't speak for Master Ja'ryns but with so few hearts now, I... I think your help will be welcomed."

Upon hearing mention of the clutch in the kitchens, no sign of excitement or gleam of greed came to his gaze. "Oh, I see, the kitchen queen laid a clutch again. That's good. She reliably lays them every Turn. I did hear a ruckus earlier when I fetched breakfast for us all." When she opened her hands, Altair looked upon the small, blue fire-lizard but made no attempt to take or touch him. Altair did not address the fire-lizard directly instead cast his attention to Allegra once more. That rare smile crept with almost reluctance onto his features again, Allegra it seemed had the ability to spark it with some ease. "He is friendly but he rather seems attached to you. See how his claws hold your finger. I am sure you will think of a good name for him. Perhaps Dulcith... it is Dulcith, right? Perhaps she can help."