[G] [P] 742.02.14 | A Little Oil Goes A Long Way

Elloren technically was supposed to be on a dragon homeward bound in about two hours but she was all packed and ready to go, her bag atop her Candidate bed. That meant she had time to kill and that time went into finding Aederyn to wish the woman and her green Jenath well.

She might not have Impressed but that didn't mean much as she was still excited and thrilled to have been on the Sands. She hadn't Impressed at Telgar, either and it hadn't slowed her down any. In fact, it made her determined to keep Standing.

"Hello, there Jenath and Aederyn," she said with a grin, carefully dancing around a bit as she juggled a can of oil in one hand and cloths in the other. "Congratulations on your Impression! She's very lovely and she'll be such a flier when she grows into those wonderful wings of hers."

Elloren was wearing clothes that could be easily soiled and washed as she set down her burden, so it didn't really matter what go on her.

"I was told to get you some oil for your lifemate. I'm not leaving for a few hours yet, so I thought I'd come check in on you and yours. May I help you oil her?"

Arrow pffed in from between, chittering, and then picked up a cloth. He was ready to help, too!

“You really are a bottomless pit, aren’t you?” Aederyn held yet another morsel of meat out for her dragonet, who took it and chewed delicately before swallowing, warbling in delighted satisfaction.

II cannot help that I’m hungry. She peered at the bowl in her girl’s hands, nosing halfheartedly against Aederyn’s shoulder where she sat on the floor by the wallow. But I suppose I am full for now. A few other new pairs were making their way in and out of the weyrling barracks, allowing both human and dragon to stretch their legs, and the green warbled curiously. Might we go for a walk? I’d like some sun.

Aederyn stood, passing the near-empty bowl to another new rider with a still-hungry dragon. No sense wasting meat. “I suppose. But it is cold. You’ll dry and itch if we’re out too long.” Shards, this was already exhausting…She’d been up at the crack of dawn to feed the ever hungry creature, oil her, and back to sleep for a precious few hours before repeating it all again. She hoped, hoped against hope, that they both might get some solid sleep tonight.

The green tilted her head at the doorway, eager to be out. That’s fine. We don’t have to be out long… She stretched mightily, arching her back like a feline and making her long legs look even more gangly.

With a sigh, the redhead stood, guiding the dragonet outside and nodding to the weyrlingmaster and dragon stationed outside, letting them know where they were going and what for. After an easy stroll around a portion of the bowl, Jenath found a suitable spot of sun where the snow had melted off and plopped down, her young frame a bit tired from the exertion. “Well, are you ready to go back inside for some oiling?”

No. I like it out here. There’s lots to watch.

“Fine.” She sighed, too tired to object. After a few minutes, some movement caught her eye, and the other redhead, Elloren, approached, pot of oil in hand and a blue firelizard in tow. She offered to help oil, and Aederyn could have cried with relief. She offered a smile.

“Oh, yes, that would be lovely, thank you!”

Oh, look! Another rudi! The green lifted her head from her forelegs, listening intently to the chittering the creature made.

“That’s not—oh, never mind.” Aederyn shook her head and shrugged, taking a cloth from the taller girl and dipping it into the oil. “By the way, I hope I didn’t hurt you…I didn’t mean to tac—well, I meant to do that, but I was just trying to get us out of the way…”

"Oh, I was fine," Elloren said with a laugh. "I am so pleased you Impressed such a beautiful green. Jenath, right? I'd be envious if I could be but I'm not. There are still so many Hatchings to be had and so far the ones I have been at have been delightful."

She sat and set the oil nearby, helping when and where she could.

"I hope they all are but I know not every one can be as nice as this one, Save for that very angry brown, it was really nice."

“Thank you,” She chuckled a bit, gazing fondly at Jenath and stifling a yawn. “I’m glad you were there, really. Not all Hatchings are as…easygoing as this one was.” Even if it was at an inconvenient hour. She hadn’t slept hardly at all… “I do hope you find your lifemate soon. I’m sure someone will find you soon enough.”

This young woman really was quite a delight, though that could just be the lack of sleep talking. Aederyn took another oil-soaked cloth from her and passed the first back for more. It was a real shame that she’d distanced herself from Elloren so. She’d unknowingly deprived herself of yet another amiable acquantance. How silly of her to think that Alekse had been after [I]her/[I]…definitely not his type, and it wouldn’t have been a good match.

Who is Alekse? Was he…hunting? But not you? The green peered first at Aederyn, then at the other girl. Did people hunt each other? How curious…she would have to ask others how, and why, that was a thing…

Sleepy eyes snapped open, big and round, at her dragonet’s questions. ‘No, that’s not…” A flush started to creep up her neck, and the other redhead had the expected questioning look on her face. “I’m sorry, I…” Her tired mind wasn’t allowing her to properly compose her thoughts, and she blinked back and forth between the dragonet and the girl for a moment before attempting to explain, looking to each in turn. “Alekse is my brother. And no, not hunting. I don’t think. Not that way.” She shook her head, brow furrowed. “He sent me letters that he was going to Benden after a girl. I thought that was you, for a bit, but it’s…Sedath’s…Zahrah.” Unable to elaborate further, she shrugged.

"It's alright," she said with a soft laugh, dipping the oil-soaked cloth into her bucket and then squeezing it out. "Mistaken identity's just one of those things that happens in a situation like that. At least it does int he books I read. Hatching alone is enough to worry about. Mmm. Sounds like your brother made a love match."

She headed the cloth back. Honestly, all that squeezing would be enough to make her want to sleep for turns. Why didn't more people help? It would be so much better if they had some helpers, like the quiestest of the creche or something. Was being in misery a part of the program?

Maybe it was just Fort Weyr or maybe just because it was early days.

"Did you want tea or klah? I can be right back with some," she said, wiping her hands on the towel at her waist.

“If I have tea or klah now, I won’t sleep at all later, however tired I may be. Thanks for the offer, though.” She gave the other girl a wan smile, watching her eyes take in the various tasks and experiences of not only herself and Jenath, but of all the other newly paired, too. She watched her for a moment before she spoke again. “Let the idea of all of this get comfortable in your head. If and when you ever Impress, we can promise you, it’s a dozen times again more exhausting than you think it is.” She laughed, eyeing the little green.

Jenath yawned, eyes settling into a slow, sleepy whirling. I am tired, now, too. Can we go back inside? I like sun, but it is still warmer inside. I want to sleep where it’s warm.

Aederyn gazed adoringly at the dragonet—Her dragonet—before looking back up at the other woman. “But oh, is it worth it!”

She sighed and lightly rubbed Jenath’s eye ridges. “Come, little luv. Let’s go back inside, then.”

The pair started back the scant few yards to the door of the barracks, and the tired girl looked back over her shoulder at her oiling helper. “Thanks for the help, Elloren. And best wishes wherever you may Stand.”

"It's always worth it," she said softly, watching the pair. "Even the sleep deprivation. I am absolutely thrilled for you, even if you are exhausted. I'm heading back to Benden soon, here, but...oh, you did so well to Impress each other."

She smiled and when they were done and the green said she was sleepy, well. That was just too adorable.

"Sleep well Jenath. And Aedeeryn, too, while you can," she added with a wink. "You're so welcome. I'm glad I could help."

The exhaustion wouldn't be too bad once the dragonet had more control over herself and wasn't growing at such a rapid rate. Elloren moved inside, heading toward the dining hall to get some klah for herself and then to wash up a little.

One day, that would be her with her newly Impressed dragonet. One day.