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Post by sorelle on Sept 18, 2010 22:59:11 GMT -5
After leaving the bed of B'lor and running out of the flight room, Sorelle stopped for a moment in the lower caverns, fetching a few items she would need. Her mind was propelling her to do something, anything. She was still shaken by having bed B'lor.
She followed a path, and, when she was certain no one was looking, she ducked into the brush and changed out of her dragonrider clothes. When she emerged, she was in the garb of a drudge, her hair hidden under a wrap and her face dirtied with the soil from the ground. A few items to use as barter were hidden within the folds of the tattered fabric.
Her path took her past a farmland and she stopped to watch a farmer tilling the soil. To the west, a fence was being constructed. Sorelle looked back to the farmer and he raised a hand in greeting to her. She smiled and waved back, then continued down the path. She passed a trio of young boys who were busily making a fort out of a pile of sticks. Her smile widened as she imagined them leaping out of it at unsuspecting passersby.
Passing between two huge boulders, Sorelle found herself at the gateway to the Hold. The main square needed work. Broken stone, with weeds growing between the cracks, threatened to trip anyone who didn't walk with care. Everything she saw, she committed to memory. A general busyness created a bustling around her as she walked around.
Suddenly, an aroma stopped her in her tracks. Her head swung sharply to the left and she saw the source. A vintner was giving a sample to a well-dressed woman. Sorelle remembered her father, how he would allow her small sips of wine. She would sit on his knee and he would explain what she should be tasting. At first, she lied and said she could taste the woodiness or the fruitiness, but, in truth, she did not inherit his sensitive nose or tongue. Her brothers used to tease her that the sharpness of her tongue burned away that ability.
The vintner saw her staring and he scowled at her, so she quickly turned away and continued on her way. The vendors seemed to have an overabundance of some products, but some items were lacking. Again, she noted it all.
The smell of freshly baked bread caused her stomach to growl. Her feet led her to the source and she realized she was very hungry. She must have been staring and the vendor laughed and handed her a piece smothered in sweet jam. "They been working you too hard," he asked, his eyes kind. Sorelle shook her head, "no Sir," she replied.
His eyes searched her face, then they widened in sudden recognition. He stepped from his makeshift table (it was but a log that had been flattened on the top), and stood close to her. "Lady Sorelle?"
She hushed him with a hand. "Do not expose me," she said.
He laughed and said a bit louder, "the next time, I'll expect you to pay for it." He gave her the tiniest wink and went back to his wares.
Sorelle took her food and sat down on the ground near a stone wall. It was a good place to watch.
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Post by selora on Sept 26, 2010 1:56:25 GMT -5
There was still much uncharted territory for the recent settlers. Reminding that there was still much work to be done. Eventually people will want to find new pieces of land to claim. Areas to explore, possible new game, or even new predators. No one knew, and it was that mind set that Selora worked closely with the canines.
The hunting breeds would need to be carefully raised and selected. Then there was the herding breeds, who also needed to adapt to their new home. All day she had been checking on the canines she was given leave to work with. One of the mothers had birthed a healthy litter. Once they were old enough to be weened from their mother she would see how they did with training.
Till then she was working with a handsome male. He walked at her side, sniffing the ground or looking about. His fur was long but not course, one ear was up and perked the other flopped over. His coloring was three solid colors, white, black ,and brown (sheltie). He was a herder, working with the sheep and wherries. The canine was Selora's pride for he was well trained, actually it was remarkably easy how well he took to lessons...but it was his attention span that reminded her that he was after all, a canine. The smells from the vendor had the canine walking away from Selora to sniff and find any scraps.
Tail up like a banner he did indeed find some scraps. His nose picking up the scents quickly, his little paw pads moving his in zig zag patterns. He was not on a leash for it was normally not needed, Selora had finally noticed his absence. Pausing from heading from the kennels to the pens her honey brown eyes darted about. Wondering where her companion had vanished to. Unaware he was heading to a lone figure against the stone wall. He stopped and sat, looking hopefully at the stranger. Maybe a treat?
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Post by sorelle on Sept 26, 2010 12:03:35 GMT -5
Sitting on the ground, her back against the wall, Sorelle ate her bread and jam and watched the feet of people as they passed by. The condition of their footwear worried her. Very few had shoes that didn't have holes or tears; more often than not, Sorelle saw glimpses of flesh through gaps in the leather. Some individuals were limping, others had chosen to go barefoot. This would not do, and she added it to the ever-growing list of things that needed to be addressed.
Some of the jam from her bread dripped over the side and onto her drudge disguise. With a finger she tried to wipe it off, but most of it had already soaked into the fabric. A shadow and panting caused her to look up and a canine sat right in front of her, his hot breath tickling the hairs on her hand. Sorelle laughed at the lone cocked ear and the slight tilt of his head. "Are you hungry," she asked. Obviously, this was a question he had heard before because his entire countenance changed to one of intense readiness.
Sorelle looked around but didn't see an owner anywhere nearby. Perhaps he didn't have one. However, he looked to be well tended. His coat was clean, his eyes clear of debris. Someone loved the beast. She tore a piece of bread from the roll and held it out to him. "Come on," she coaxed, "it's okay."
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Post by selora on Sept 26, 2010 14:45:28 GMT -5
The words had little meaning to the herding canine it was the tone of her voice that held his attention. Even, calm, and all the right signs that he was not going to he shooed away. Tail swaying in the dirt he held the image of sitting with his butt wiggling. Lickings his lips he looked from person to food. Stretching out his head with head down his nose wiggled. Pulling his head back he shifted his weight and once again licked his lips.
Then the reward came for his patience. The person broke a piece of the food and held it out. Shifting excitedly where he sat, the canine stretched out his neck, licking at the air in front of the treat. He knew very well that treats came when he did a good thing, he had not done a good thing, but was being given a treat. So both excited and hesitant the canine opened his lips slowly on the piece. Once his lips came into contact he began to munch, tail wagging happily.
“Cael! Cael, come here! Caaaaeeeeel!” Pitching her voice so it would carry Selora still could not spot that tri colored canine. She had not tried any whistles just yet, seeing if he was close enough to hear her. Since he was not, she let out a series of three sharp whistles. Letting the last drag a bit. It was her command to come. Across and at the wall the herder canine looked over his shoulder licking his lips. Getting to his feet he turned in the direction of the noise, tilting his head. At that moment Selora came into view.
“Caaaael!” Her eyes still searching when her attention turned on Cael. Shaking her head she rushed over, hoping he wasn't harassing anyone. Barking happily and wiggling in place the canine, now Cael, reared up pawing at the air. Selora stopped to put her hands on her waist. Sitting he looked up at her attentively. One shake of her head was all the punishment he got. Seeing the hunched form the girl narrowed her eyes. A drudge?
“Was Cael bugging you? I apologize if he did.” Snapping her fingers the canine got up, he walked to her side then sat. The energy level of the canine totally different from a moment before. He was young, though he took to training well. Selora knew she needed to work on holding his attention. He was pron to get curious or excitable.
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Post by sorelle on Sept 27, 2010 19:28:13 GMT -5
Sorelle held her hand very still as the canine inched his head forward. "That's it," she said quietly as he finally got up the courage to take a bite. As the piece disappeared, she began to tear another section from the roll when a shout caught her attention.
“Caaaael!”
The canine's head turned at the same time Sorelle raised hers. A woman was rushing over and Cael showed his happiness to see her with his entire body. The tail wagged, the tongue lolled off to the side, and he wiggled and jumped. Sorelle was instantly overjoyed as well. Strays seldom lived long.
“Was Cael bugging you? I apologize if he did.”
"No ma'am," Sorelle said as she stood. She pocketed the rest of the roll for later. "I'm sorry if you didn't want him fed. He seemed hungry and I thought he was lost." She kept her eyes down as she spoke.
"Mine," Sivarith called, annoyance in her 'voice', "why have you left me?"
"I'm taking care of some business," she thought to her lifemate.
"You should be taking care of me."
"Soon."
Sivarith grunted. She had been more than a little cranky since her unexpected Rise. Sorelle had been very attentive, but she also knew there were things that needed tending. Things that didn't involve a moody golden dragon.
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Post by selora on Sept 30, 2010 15:07:05 GMT -5
Cael's tail began to wag as the person who gave him the treat rose. Looking up at the person the canine had the typical smile with tongue lolling over the side. Tilting her head to look at her canine-in-training before turning back to look at the drudge. The pup was known to give the best face to anyone willing to part with something good to eat, as for Selora, well she knew that a little treat wouldn't spoil him.
“I'm surprise he doesn't get lost when he goes off like he does.” Her voice held love for the dog even if it wasn't her's. Then again, that was just how she was. As a little girl the Hall's animals all felt like her own. Kneeling down she ruffled his furry mane of fur between her fingers. Raising a paw Cael leaned into the caress happily.
“Getting a treat won't hurt him. He'll just have to work just a bit hard to get the next one today.” Raising her chin to look back up, Selora tried to get a better look of the drudge. Not many people took the time to look or interact with the drudges, after all. They were there just to work and not get in the way. Selora was of another mind, she liked knowing her surroundings and the people in it. Had she met this drudge before? Hard to tell...most of the time Selora was doing work.
Now if she had to remember any animals she had to care for. The jouyneyman was sure to remember on the spot. People...not so much at times. Cael stretched out his head again, nose wiggling as he could still smell some of the treat. Gently giving his rump a playful bap, Selora wasn't going to have him beg or bother for more of what he did not earn.
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Post by sorelle on Oct 4, 2010 10:43:44 GMT -5
“I'm surprise he doesn't get lost when he goes off like he does.”
"Obviously you provide him with something he loves, ma'am," Sorelle said. She reached out and scratched the haunch of the canine.
“Getting a treat won't hurt him. He'll just have to work just a bit hard to get the next one today.”
Sorelle looked up, "oh, don't punish him on my account."
Of course, as a drudge, her words would carry little weight. She knew that drudges were necessary for their society, yet she didn't like the way they were treated by some. Victims of circumstance, they toiled endlessly, yet few were kind to them. She had seen an increase in hostility toward them during the rebuilding process when nerves were already frayed.
The weyr was built on the backs of the drudges and the miners and others who worked until their fingers bled and their spines and spirits felt ready to break. Sorelle knew if the hostilities continued, poisonous herbs would 'mistakenly' find their way into food.
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Post by selora on Oct 4, 2010 12:25:24 GMT -5
"Oh, don't punish him on my account."
Eyes moved from the canine to the drudge. Selora was silent as she looked at the other woman who was indeed about twice her age. Cael could feel the difference in the Herder's mood, all excitement of having been petted came to a halt. Tilting his chin up the tri-colored canine looked up at her in curious wonder. Shifting from silent and expressionless the woman gave Cael a reassuring pat.
“It isn't a punishment. It keeps him in the mind set that I am his leader. Wild dogs do that in the wild, they follow the leader. It is the leader who decides when the pack eats in what order. When to rest, when to hunt, all the decisions. I do not want Cael to think that at any moment I am anything other than one of his leaders. To follow my orders, because he will be working with herds and needs to follow them exactly.” Raising a brow, Selora wondered how the drudge would take that. Not everyone thought a dog should be treated as a worker. Most saw them as companions, this was fine, even worker dogs were companions.
Another pat on Cael's head, and the pup was wagging his tail all over again. Sighing she knew a brushing would be needed later tonight. All that dust in fur wasn't fun, nor was fur that was all the place. Holding her brown eyes on the drudge, Selora's mind had become alert though she couldn't understand why. Was it the way the drudge spoke? Maybe, but why would that had her wondering more about the drudge?
“Besides, it isn't good manners to beg.” She said teasingly to Cael, as to ease the mood. Drudges were used to people dishing out punishment for questioning someone of higher rank. Selora wasn't one of those people, nor did she mind hearing the opinions of others. After all, she gave her's freely or when she pleased. Her thoughts about the drudge continued but she did not linger on it. She may or may not figure out whatever it was, or she may even just forget if it wasn't that important.
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Post by sorelle on Oct 4, 2010 13:25:55 GMT -5
“Besides, it isn't good manners to beg.”
"Sometimes hunger makes any creature beg." Her eyes swept past Selora to the vendor booths. How many times had she seen bargaining happening when the buyer had less to trade than the vendor wanted for his goods?
"Would you compare life here to the life you have described," she asked. "Following a set order, not being free to live as you would like?"
"What's wrong, Mine?"
"It's nothing," she thought to her lifemate, "This conversation just makes me sad."
"Then come home."
She smiled slightly. For a while, Sivarith had not wanted anyone around her. Now she couldn't get enough company.
A shadow flew over the Hold and Sorelle looked up to see Sivarith above.
"Go," Sorelle thought, "you'll blow my cover."
Sivarith grunted. "I am heavy with eggs. You should be oiling me." The great gold dragon landed in the square and stuck her head into one of the vendor booths, sniffing what was cooking. The vendor stood completely still, his eyes round as saucers.
"You're scaring the man."
"I am rather frightening." Sivarith turned her head and looked right at the man.
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Post by selora on Oct 4, 2010 17:38:47 GMT -5
Selora's eyes were quick to look back at the drudge once the comment was given. Yes, a drudge would be one to understand hunger wouldn't they? It could be said that Selora spoke her mind freely, and sometimes because of how freely she spoke. The meaning she was aiming for was completely off point. This was one of those moments. She did not mean she starved the canine, or he wouldn't be as healthy in color as he was. Or for that manner, has so much sharding energy. What the Herder had meant was that she was holding limits that were for his well being. If he learned to beg even if he wasn't hungry, that could spoil him. A spoiled working canine wasn't really fit to work now was he? The moment she was ready to explain what she truly meant the subject turned quickly.
”"Would you compare life here to the life you have described," The drudge asked of her. Selora held her gaze on the elder woman, "Following a set order, not being free to live as you would like?" ”
“Don't I do that now?” Selora said a bit colder than she had meant to. It would be after she spoke that the Herder would realized her tone. “I follow the rules set to me by Craft and Hold. I follow the rules set for my rank. Everyone has rules. I live as freely as the world currently allows me to.”
Maybe it was past events that made her think this. Maybe it was the fact she had not been able to do a sharding thing when her parents died. Or when she lost J'mil. Or as now, feeling alone and not sure of the state of her siblings. The only family she had left. The thoughts turned cold, and Selora wasn't in the mood to think on the past. Hadn't she been working to put them behind her? A shadow passed over head...a large one.
The drudge wasn't the only one to look up and spot the Gold. Selora watched in pure interest as the great female Dragon landed and sniffed about one of the vendors. All dark thoughts vanished. Replaced instantly by those of one who had lived, worked, loved, and yes, studied animals all her life. Oh how she wanted to go over and just look the Queen over. She had been around a few of the other Dragons. Sadly when that was, was when she was not thinking about Dragons. Clear of mind and almost her old self, Selora desperately wanted to examine a Dragon.
The Queen present reminded the Herder of that. How did their muscles form on them? How thick were the sails. How about their eyes? Were their teeth like a runner, flat? Or was some of the teeth flat and the rest sharp? They did eat meat, that required sharp teeth...but they also chewed firestone. That required flat. How about the color of their hide? What made a Gold, Gold? So many more questions appeared, it made it easy for Selora to miss the fact that the Queen was without Rider. Or any thoughts of the Rider were not as important as the thoughts she had about Dragons. To the drudge she would just see a knowledge hungry Herder before her. Staring at the Queen with immense interest and wonder.
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Post by sorelle on Oct 4, 2010 18:42:49 GMT -5
“Don't I do that now? I follow the rules set to me by Craft and Hold. I follow the rules set for my rank. Everyone has rules. I live as freely as the world currently allows me to.”
Sorelle raised a blond eyebrow. She had hit a nerve, that much was clear. "I'm sorry, ma'am, if I have upset you, it wasn't my intention." However the woman was no longer paying attention to the 'drudge'. Her eyes, her complete concentration, rested on Sivarith.
"Your being watched, love," she thought to the dragon. Sivarith pulled her head out of the booth, much to the relief of the vendor, and swung her neck around, spotting Selora.
"Who is that?" Sivarith came straight at them.
"A friend. Be nice." Sorelle lowered her head as she bowed deeply in front of the dragon, hiding her amusement from Selora in the process. Sivarith came even closer, her breath causing Selora's hair to move with each exhalation.
"She is obviously in awe of my beauty."
Sorelle stifled a laugh, disguising it as a cough. "Don't step on the canine."
The dragon's great head moved slowly around until she spotted Cael. "Can I eat it?" Sorelle sent an emphatic 'no' through the link and Sivarith grunted, then turned her attention back to Selora.
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Post by selora on Oct 11, 2010 16:10:24 GMT -5
Any Dragon would cause quite a stir upon the Hold's grounds. A Gold would cause even the Lord Holder to take notice instantly. It was without a doubt many eyes were on the Gold, a pair belonging to Selora. They took in as much as they could of the Dragon like a dehydrated person would drink up cool refreshing water. On another note, Cael was not used to seeing Dragons that much. They were large and formidable. His fur bristled, but he did not growl. Leaning against Selora the Journeyman remembered that he was not easy with them.
Kneeling back down she stroked his head to calm his nerves. The tri-colored fur did settle, but his eyes were still wide and alert. Keeping the large Dragon in view at all times. It was hard to stay calm to keep Cael in the same mood when the Gold came straight over, she was so close as to Selora's dark locks to sway with each breath. The young woman opened her mouth, trying to think of something proper to say to the Gold. The only to come out was silence. Quickly she shut her mouth as to not look stupid. A fleeting thought like one a child would have without thinking of the consequences appeared. Why not reach out and touch the Gold? Oh, she was tempted.
To touch a Gold was a once in a life time thing, as was being allowed to Stand and Impress! Her hand moved from Cael's chest towards the Dragon. It was her side of maturity and experience that caused her hand to freeze. No, no she couldn't just touch the Gold. This was not her Dragon and she had not been given any permission by anyone to do such a thing. Replacing her hand on Cael's chest, busying herself by stroking his head with them other.
“Stay. Stay. It's alright, Cael.” When the Gold looked from her to the canine, the poor little male bristled and tried to pull away. He still did not growl or raise a lip, he was just nervous by the large creature. It was only when the Dragon looked away that the canine settled again. Selora looked over to the Drudge, wondering how she was taking a Dragon being so close.
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Post by sorelle on Oct 13, 2010 11:51:40 GMT -5
You haven't bowed to me before.
Coming up from her bow to the Gold, Sorelle supressed a smile. "I did, when you first hatched, love, and you came right at me." Sivarith, of course, would not remember that day, but it was etched with permanence in Sorelle's brain. "How small you were," she added.
I am big now. This girl is brave.
Selora looked her way and Sorelle dropped her gaze to the ground, as was appropriate for a drudge. "A Gold dragon is good luck, my Lady," she said. Selora's hand motion had caught Sorelle's eye. "She wants to touch you," she thought to the dragon.
Sivarith snorted. I like to be touched. She brought her head forward and gently prodded Selora.
"She likes you," she said quietly to Selora.
Of course she does. I am magnificent.
"I was talking to her," she laughed through the link.
Sivarith grunted and continued to prod the poor woman's shoulder.
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Post by sorelle on Oct 26, 2010 8:27:56 GMT -5
Suddenly, Sivarith's head flew upward, her swirling eyes changing color rapidly. "What is it," Sorelle thought to her lifemate. "I ache." Sorelle knew Sivarith was heavy with eggs and that her time was soon. The large dragon should have been resting instead of following her to the Hold and playing games with the citizens. Go. I will meet you at our weyr. And stay put!"I will, mine."Sivarith unfurled her mighty wings as she stepped backward carefully so as not to step on anyone or anything. Once she was clear, she rose upward, the downdraft from her wings knocking over one of the vendor booths. Sorelle stood up, "if you will excuse me, my Lady, I will go help them." She nodded to Selora and ran to help the vendor. When she was done, she ran back down the path toward the Weyr. Tag Selora, End Sorelle(sorry. I waited almost 2 weeks.)
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