The Bare Necessities q#20- Open

[Meriryan]

Meriryan sat on the wagon seat, knife in hand as he whittled the bark off a piece of wood. They'd brought crates and bags of fresh fruit, as well as bars of soap and other homemade goods to trade. Even with the current sickness, he and his father were making a brisk trade, especially with the rough lye soap and fruit they'd brought. "How's the family Dun?" Mer's father Dunilkin stayed well away from a familiar face, though Mer couldn't remember his name.

"So far so good Ran," Dun set a couple bags of fresh fruit down and walked away, even as the other man set a length of cloth down. "Just the usual stuff the kids get from time to time. Mer and I are the only ones coming to and from the hold. Mer's got that lizard of his, he sends it to his sister here in the hold for news daily. So far we've kept in tune."

"Now," Randaryn nodded in agreement, "That's smart. Always meant to get one just haven't the time. Mer lad," the man waved to Meriryan who gave a half-hearted nod back, "Good to se eyou again, lad you are growing tall. Eating your pops out of hearth?"

Mer gave a shrug, "Good thing I've been sleeping in the orchard, all the fruit I want. Could use a pair of boots though, bought to cut the toes out of this pair."

"I can help with that. Got any perfumed soaps Dun?" Mer's father stepped back to the wagon and came up with a crate. "The girls made some redfruit soap, got some pumice in it to help scrape skin they said." Ran nodded, "I'll take a few and send my boy out with some boots later. I'll just send a pair that's two sizes larger than the last pair I sent for Mer. Think that'll work?"

"Yeah and you throw in a pair of needles and I'll send some yarn too. Wife managed to find something that dyed it blue out in the field."

"Deal. Thanks for the fruit, keep yourselves safe."

Mer hopped down from the seat once Ran was gone. "Is this sickness really that bad around here?" There were a few people out and about but even Mer could see the Hold was not as busy as it usually was. "I don't know son, but best to not take chances, what with the quarantine and all. There isn't a healer back home so I'd hate to bring it back. We just do for ourselves like we do when the beasts are sick. Separate and keep everything clean." Mer shrugged, he'd been through storms and other life altering events but at his young age this was his first major sickness. "Can I go for a walk? I'll stay away from everyone, I just want to see what everyone is trading. I'll send Meeko if I see anything." Dunilkin rubbed his chin in thought, "I guess, don't touch anyone or anything, stay out of reach. Your sisters' husbands were coming to get some stuff later, won't want to miss them."

"I will be back in a bit, just need to stretch my legs." That said, and nodding in agreement that he'd be back for his inlaws, he tucked hands in his pockets and started walking, his brown firelizard sitting on his shoulder, eyes wide open as they took in the sight of much subdued hold.

[Narrator]

The cot holder and his son common enough visitors to White Sands, the boy found the scant Holdfolk merchants give him nod or greeting as he passed them. Some offered up their items for sale and quoted “reasonable prices” and “good quality” for whatever their wares. He found as he observed previously shops closed and many fewer carts or stalls open. A moment in time came into focus wherein when he crossed through one of the smaller intersections Meriryan found a certain redfruit vendor missing. She had, on occasion, made such gazes and said sweet words to him that her infatuation with the lad became apparent. She was not there today nor her cart anywhere to be found. Other individual holdfolk that Mer might recognize remained conspicuously absent...

[Meriryan]

Mer glanced around at the slow crowd gathered, everyone spaced apart made the absences that much clearer. Where, on prior trips, people had been wearing clothes that were in better shape, now he noticed repairs and clothes that were worn. Meeko gave a low whistle and a hum as a few wild fire lizards darted about curiously. “Strange that, no music playing.” Usually there were harpers about, passing through to share music and news but he’d not seen any today.

Mer had hoped to pick up the girls some ribbons and the boys some leather pieces and buckles to make belts but even those vendors were absent. Mostly the vendors that had come out today were food vendors but even as he turned an aisle, the scent of fresh pies caught his nose. Even Meeko stretched out, nose sniffing the air appreciatively.

“I think we shall”, Mer said following his nose to a vendor who was doing a brisk business. “Lad how many?” An older lady with a cloth over her nose and face stood just out of reach. “Three I think, no” his stomach rumbled, “best make it four.” Her eyes wrinkled with a smile as she brought him four fresh pies, still warm from the pot. He left a wooden marker on her table, she could come by his father’s wagon and trade for more fruit or soap in return for the pies. Mer’s father was well known in the hold and his mother’s goods were top notch. “Thanks”, three pieces went into his sack, while he split the fourth with Meeko, the young man blowing on the juicy guts to cool it.

“I hope that pretty fruit vendor is ok. Maybe just taking care of her family.” Meeko gave a whistle and sent his person an image of Mer flirting with the girl in question a few seven days ago. “Yeah yeah, I seen you chase that green awhile back, try some flirting next time yerself.” He chuckled as he gave the brown a bite, the two of them casually strolling along.

[Jakleen]

A medium sized canine with sand gold fur and big, soft, brown eyes came trotting up, attracted by the smell of the pies. He held his head up, sniffing the air. Then he spotted the boy, picking the aroma of fresh fruit pie on him. He trotted over and sniffed quickly around the boy's feet and up his leg, stopping at his sack, where the sniffing intensified. He gave a soft 'wuff', with turned into a begging whine.

[Meriryan]

Meeko squeaked at the arrival of dog, climbing down Mer’s back and stretching out his neck towards the canine. “Hey, hey,” whether the boy was talking to canine or flirt was anyone’s guess but he grabbed at the flirt’s tail and tugged it, even as he put his hand on a cold wet nose.

“Ye don’t go sniffing a man’s valuables eh?” Mer’s tone was laughable as the dog sat down and gave a begging whine. “That’s a proper question eh? Here,” he broke off a piece of pie and offered it as the flitt jumped off and winged around their heads.
“Who’s the good, errr, boy?”

[Jakleen]

The dog gave another small whine, but at the offered treat, he licked it out of Meriyan's hand, devouring it in just a couple of bites. Then he licked his hand, though whether it was as a thank you, or to get any missed crumbs was anyone's guess.

"Harley!" a woman's voice called and the dog stopped, his ears pricking up. He swung his head around and gave another soft 'whuff'. A young woman came trotting toward them. She was dressed casually and carried a water skin. Her raven black hair was pulled back into a braid that swung from side to side as she ran. She stopped a few feet from Meriyan, took a quick drink of water before putting a mask on that covered her nose and mouth. The dog padded over to the woman. "I hope Harley wasn't bothering you," Jakleen said as she patted the dog on the head. "He always seems to move faster when we get near the pie vendor."

[Meriryan]

The brown flitt, properly chastised by his person, gave a little sniff at the canine’s consumption of the treat. Mentally though he prodded Mer for his own treat, giving a hatchling like creel to garner sympathy. “Yeah yeah,” he tore off another piece for the flitt, offering it to the brown who trumpeted happily into his person’s ear as someone’s voice calling a name got Mer’s attention.

The canine’s attention moved from the young man to a young woman who was approaching. Curiosity came from the brown flitt, even as the girl approached, taking a drink before pulling up a mask. “We have that in common,” Meriryan laughed, giving the flitt a cursory pat. It was more to make sure the little creature was still on his shoulder than anything else. “And no, he wasn’t a bother. I didn’t need that pie anyway.”

[Jakleen]

"Harrrr-ley," Jakleen said, looking down at the dog and giving him an admonished look, despite her mask. Harley just wagged his tail, his tongue lolling out. "Have you no shame?" She shook her head. “You know better.” He just looked up at Jakleen with his big soulful brown eyes, his tail wagging faster. “No. No more treats for you today.” The dog’s ears drooped and he whined sadly.

“I’m sorry he got you to give up some of your pie. Let me buy you another,” Jakleen said as she moved toward the pie vendor. “I’m Jakleen. I work in the healer hall. Most folks call me Jak. And you’ve met the bottomless pit, Harley.” She waved toward the dog, who’s ears perked up at the sound of his name and gave a friendly ‘woof.’

[Meriryan]

Mer tried to wave her away, "That won't be necessary really," he laughed. "I'm Meriryan most people call me Mer though. My dad and I, we farm about half a day from the hold, orchard and what not. Me mum and sisters, they make soaps and yarns from the beasts." It was of no matter to tell her he wanted to be a rider, going home from the Weyr had been an eye opening after he stood for his first clutch. He'd give a lot to go back.

"Oh and this is Meeko," he scratched the flitt fondly, "He's about as bottomless as your Harley. I could use a drink though, what about you?" His da had raised him to be nice to ladies, and his sisters had helped. It didn't matter that Jak seemed a few turns older than he was, Mer could be a flirt to a gray hair with a single tooth. "You can tell me some of the gossip of the hold, I haven't been here much since the sickness started."

[Jakleen]

"It's nice to meet you Mer. And it’s no trouble," Jak replied. "I was getting some to take back to the infirmary, but suit yourself." She shrugged. “Oh, you make the perfumed soaps? We could actually use some at the Hall. We’ve been running low. Some of the essence would be nice to have too, to put into some of the topical medicines we use. It makes a good incentive to get people to use it.”

“Hello Meeko,” she said to the brown flit. “They really can be. Lord Herron’s bronze has gotten quite hefty. He claims Deesel is just big boned.” She laughed lightly at the private joke.” She regarded the young man for a moment. “Alright,” she replied, a smile playing on her lip. “My water skin is almost dry, and I could use a drink as well.” Her smile faded slightly, and her eyes softened with sadness. “The sickness, yes. It has taken its toll.”