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Post by Flame on Dec 29, 2011 19:49:39 GMT -8
The honey haired woman was beside the boy quicker than Uriel could react. He growled at the man, his eyes flickering a deep red. She touched the smooth hide quickly to calm him down. "Ignore him. Urielth will never let you fall. Once your in the air it's amazing." she said quietly, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Wanna know a little secret. I was just like you until i was searched. Look at me today." she smiled, ignoring the man, letting Uriel deal with him.
"Urielth won't let you get hurt, He's fast. One of the fastest dragons on Pern. He's also graceful. See how calm he is? He feels like that when he's in the air. Now come on, If we leave now, we can make it back to Darkened for dinner." she said with a half smile. It lit up her face.
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Post by theory on Dec 29, 2011 19:58:49 GMT -8
Steel's eyes darted up as the woman appeared besides him. His shoulder sank a tiny bit at her touch but he didn't want to seem that he disliked her. She was one of the nicest people he'd met in a good while, especially for a stranger. Everyone always saw him as a slave and a thief, no one ever tried to honestly take him away from this life.
Knowing that the dragon was fast wasn't the best way to spur him on but the actual thing that caught his attention was the promise of dinner. That word had definitely been lost to him his entire life. There was usually only way meal. That was food. He didn't eat breakfast, lunch, or dinner. He just ate when he could.
With the thought of food at the end of the flight Steel took the few steps back towards the dragon to get close enough to climb on. It took him several moments to steel his nerves enough to reach up and grab the saddle horn and try to pull his body up. It wasn't the easiest thing, especially since he wasn't exactly muscular. At least he didn't weigh much?
Two or three minutes after he'd started Steel was finally up in the saddle, his fingertips turning a bit white from gripping the saddle material so tightly. He was just trying to focus on the dragon's neck, the shimmering scales reflecting the fading light from above. He'd almost forgotten about the snow that was coming. Hopefully it wouldn't hinder the flight.
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Post by Flame on Dec 29, 2011 20:06:16 GMT -8
She smiled a little at him, as he decided. Good. She didn't help him, but Urielth did, moving this way and that to give the boy an easy way up. No scales, but thick skin covered the beautiful dragon. Once the boy was settled she climbed up and sat behind him. "I have to put my hands around your waist. We are getting out of here, getting you warm clothes and going to the Weyr." she said carefully, as the dragon stood up. A growl at the man causing a slight vibration. Suddenly, as smothly as he could, he took off. She reached out and tossed the gun down. It landed on the roof and went off. She smirked a little as the dragon turned, again, as carefully as possible. He flapped his way back to the tavern the boy had stolen from. "First thing's first. Return the diamond. It was not yours to take." she told him holding it out. "There is no theiving in the weyr. You will be given everything you need, so return the stone." she told him carefully. Uriel slipped out his leg, making it easiwer for the boy to get down, if he so chose.
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Post by theory on Dec 29, 2011 20:14:34 GMT -8
Steel yipped quietly when the dragon gave out a war. He could actually feel it shake through his body. It was honestly amazing to feel. One wouldn't think a normal sound wound actually make a feeling, but the dragon's did. Her arm around his waist bothered him more than one would know but he kept that to himself.
When they'd taken off his just closed his eyes tightly and tried to get as close to the dragon as he could, holding onto the saddle for all he was worth. Steel had expected a long flight but when they dropped down only moments later he blinked his eyes open, his heart sinking to the pit of his stomach when he noticed they were just up the road. He glanced over his shoulder, horror in his light blue eyes.
When the woman spoke about returning the gem he blinked. She had taken it...? He'd missed that while he was hiding behind the dragon... He shakily took the jewel and slid right out of the saddle into a large snow drift. The boy wasn't going to argue at all about returning it because right now all he saw her as was a kinder master...but a master none-the-less. Until she proved she wasn't out to just use him, that's what her title would be.
Steel quickly slipped the jewel back into the carriage, returning to the dragon and squirming his way back up, that is, if she allowed.
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Post by Flame on Dec 29, 2011 20:23:30 GMT -8
She watched him as he put it back, and let him back up. Again the dragon took off, this time just a little jerky, and a few moments landed in the market. "No food yet, but warm clothes for you. Ever heard of between?" she asked him as she slid off, landing lightly. In her full armor, with her badge on her shoulder and chest, people moved out of her way. She like dit like that.
It's cold. Very very cold. Colder than anything you think you know. But it's how we travel. Now go, young one. Get warm clothing. The faster you go the faster we get to go home, and I can go find something to eat. I don't like this snow. Urielth spoke easily to the boy, turning one of his great eyes on the young man. Temp left it up to the boy to follow as she made a bee-line for a warm clothes shop. Good thick leather's, furs and other objects were here. This was a slave free shop, and they were friendly with Riders.
"At, Lady Temperance, you have returned. What may we do for you today?"
[/b] a short man asked as she walked up, he glanced at the boy and frowned slightly. "Remove his collar, and get him Furs, he's been searched." she said quickly. The man's eyes whidened as he went to find a key. "And how is my boy?" He asked as he unlocked the collar, took it and threw it into a bin, holding it with two fingers, as if it were a rat. "How does that feel my boy?" he asked before going to find coats, boots, shirts, jackets, hats, socks and gloves for the boy. "D'glen is fine. He's doing well on a blue. He will come to visit you soon." she said evenly, watching the man. They'd searched other children from this spot before, well from this city. She looked at the boy. "Steel. I have to ask if you have any family that you know of." she said as the small man came out with a large stack of clothing. "Try those on. The ones that fit snug are good. You'll get better ones at the Weyr." The man gasped. "You have only started to make them for us. We have been doing it for years." she said bluntly. The small man nodded, and waited.[/center][/blockquote][/blockquote]
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Post by theory on Dec 29, 2011 20:36:55 GMT -8
This woman was seriously playing with the boy's feelings. Not long after they'd taken off they were already landing once more. He couldn't help but feel she was just going to take him back to his master after the next take off... Why hadn't they left??
When the woman dismounted he followed, quickly responding with a quiet "No" to her 'between' question. The boy ducked into the shop she had vanished into a few seconds before, his eyes widening at all the soft looking clothing. He hadn't had any new clothes for several years and what he was wearing right now was definitely not fit for the weather outside.
When she spoke of his collar coming off his eyes widened and he stared up at her. Moments later the man she'd addressed came over to him with a key and actually removed it... Free...? "I'm...."
His hands rose up to his throat, the frost bite from so many winters with the metal around his neck bore a nice, well-pronounced ring where it rested daily. It wasn't really sensitive to touch, just more numb and cold.
"Free...I'm free....?"
Steel was so stuck on the fact that he no longer had his collar on that he didn't even realize when the man came over with a bunch of clothes for him.
About five minutes later Steel snapped out of his daze and reached out numbly for the items. He quickly started to strip off what little he had. Obviously he hadn't actually bought anything from a store nor knows how to do so, so he didn't understand you weren't supposed to lose your clothes in the middle of one. There wasn't much to look at though since he kept his underwear on and he definitely didn't have any muscle to worth eying. Steel quickly pulled on a warm pair of pants followed by an undershirt, then a full sweater. Socks and gloves followed and then he was in heaven. Fitting or not he didn't care honestly, if it was warm that was 'fitting' to him. And they were definitely the warmest things he'd ever had on himself. "Fits..." He mumbled, hugging himself in the sweater as he warmed up quickly. To her final question he just shook his head. No one was his family as far as he knew. Master was the only person he had in his memories that would ever come close enough to how he lived his life to be considered the word.
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Post by Flame on Dec 29, 2011 20:48:44 GMT -8
She didn't say a word as he stripped. She eyed the sweater. "A coat. Large, thick. His first time through Between is going to be cold, and he has nothing to keep him warm." she said quickly. The man grabbed a mid sized coat. It would go down to the boy's thighs but he'd be warm. After he handed the young man a coat, she brought out the marks.
She handed them over to the small man, and with a quick word left. She eyed the bag at the back of the saddle as she climbed up. Her boots were warm, as were her pants, but she was weearing a light shirt. At least it was to light. She dug into it for her coat, and slipped it on, the hat followed, and she tossed him the one he hadn't picked up. "You'll need that." With that she settled into the saddle. She waited for him to get on. She was patient as the dragon sat still, waiting as well. This was the final hurtle. He was going to have to make the choice to get back on the dragon, he could run off with the clothing if he really wanted to. She wouldn't stop him if he did, but she hoped he'd come.
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Post by theory on Dec 29, 2011 20:58:04 GMT -8
Steel blinked up at the man as he handed him a bigger coat. He didn't argue at all and slipped it on over the other two things he was wearing. The warmth was amazing. Steel hadn't even known that clothes could keep someone this warm! When he ran out of the store after the girls he was already climbing back atop her dragon and seemed to be waiting for him.
The kid waited a few moments in the snow, his arms still around himself as if someone would take his news clothes away if he loosened the hug. It was pretty bad but he still had the idea that she might take him back. But then he remembered that the chain was gone. His collar had been removed and it was back in the store behind him...
She'd freed him from his former master and that alone had her gaining a large amount of his respect. Probably the first person to ever get any of it. Steel quickly moved towards the dragon, catching the hat she through to him and putting it on over his dirty hair. The next moment he was up and in the saddle with a slight grin. Oh yes, someone was eager to get out of that town.
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Post by Flame on Dec 29, 2011 21:10:45 GMT -8
She smiled, as she tightened her own hat, and wrapped her arms around him. She figure he hated it, but he would deal. After all it was that or fall. She gave a quick flicker of emotion to the dragon, and Urielth rose with a roar. "Going between is cold. Five coffs and we'll be out." she said with a smile as she closed her eyes.
Do not worry, I will get us through. the dragon said as they rose higher. Once they were high enough (though still rather close to the ground), the dragon went between. All that was left of them was a loud boom as the dragon disappeared. Five coffs later they appeared over the warm sky's of Darkened Weyr. Below she could see Dark City, and above the weyr was bustling. The dragon roared out his excitement at again bring in another candidate. He showed off a bit as he reached out to land, but his landing was perfect, and she slid off. "Well Steel, Welcome to Darkened Weyr." She grinned as the twin queens turned their elegant heads towards them. They roared at Urielth who roared back. Soon other dragons joined in.
She chuckled as a flock of flits burst over the top edge of the weyr. They were down in the bowl, and up around them was the weyr. She turned carefully, looking around. She liked it here. She was taken as a person here, respected. "Welcome home Steel." she said quietly. A young woman came out, her red hair and green eyes sparkling.
"Tempy! Your back! Oh and a child! A new candidate? We must feed him! My name is Aurora, but everyone calls me Elle." she said with a happy grin and laugh. She motioned to the door she'd come out of. Uriel growled happily and launched himself into the air, rising to the top of the weyr to sun for a bit. There was just a few days before the storm hit the west, and he wanted as much sun as possible.
"Come on Steel. Food. And then off to the Candidate Barracks with you. You'll be given clothes and other things. Don't quite remember myself what they gave me, but still. It'll be good." she said with a smile as she ripped off her hat and head inside. The red headed woman lead the way, and they turned to a large room where people were being served food. She went first and got a tray, then a plate. "You can come back as often as you want, but don't take anything to rich at first. Fruits, Bread, Soup. That's it." she told the boy carefully as she motioned to the different things he could eat. Of course there was a lot of different kinds of each, so he should be happy. She got bread, soup, noodles and other such food. She also got juice, and motioned to the water. "Water first." she added.
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Post by theory on Dec 29, 2011 21:22:33 GMT -8
The short trip through the between was bonechilling to say the least. When they emerged on the other side the change in temperature was so drastic that Steel started to sweat in his layers of clothing. It was only a short flight but by the time the dragon landed Steel was eager to be back on solid ground. Yeah, he would take some training to get used to flying anywhere again. Especially if he were to be a candidate to get his own dragon eventually.
When several dragons started to converge around them his arms found her left one and he quickly hid behind her with a gasp. One dragon was okay...but a bunch at one time? No thanks. The next person to arrive at least wasn't fanged, so Steel sneaked a peek at her from behind the woman. She had red hair and a rather happy attitude. The girl seemed glad that he was here, though Steel wasn't to sure why anyone would be happy to see a thief. Or...former thief?
At the mention of food his attention was quickly captured and he hurriedly followed the person who'd brought him there towards said food. When he saw all the edible things in the room Steel couldn't help but start to drool. He quickly swallowed all the extra saliva and did as told right away. Grabbing a tray he got a huge bowl of soup and also a literal half-loaf of bread. A big glass of water followed and the second he'd found a seat next to her at a table he was digging in much like an animal. Sorry, no manners here. Just hunger. He didn't even care that the bread had nothing on it and the soup was burning hot. He downed it all in less then three minutes and was ready to go back and grab more.
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Post by Flame on Dec 29, 2011 21:56:57 GMT -8
The woman smiled at the boy as he ate. She wasn't worried, but she reached a hand out to stop him. "Don't get sick. A lot less this time, and eat slower. You'll fill up soon." she said eating easily, and carefully. She to knew the need to eat, and a lot of it. "You can return at any time of night or day to get food here." she added, to let him know that the food would never be taken away. He'd get his fill. The candidate master was not going to be happy with her. A malnurished child as a candidate? But so far those she'd brought in had been good rider's, so they couldn't blame her.
She drank her juice and watched the boy with amusment. She even smiled. She ignored the people staring at her. So what if she smiled rarely? The boy was cute.
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Post by theory on Dec 30, 2011 4:36:05 GMT -8
Steel glanced up at her were he was hunched over his second bowl of soup. He'd run and got another, grabbing another half loaf of bred with it. His spoon stopped halfway to his mouth as he thought about what she'd said. Honestly the kid had never gotten sick from overeating...cause he didn't eat barely anything. So he was having a hard time figuring out why he shouldn't eat very fast or very much.
However, she did bring him here so he hesitantly slowed his pace by a few milliseconds...but in loo of trading speed, he took bigger bites of his food. Perhaps when he woke up tomorrow and the dining hall and all its food was still here, he'd believe her words more.
Once Steel had finished his second large bowl of soup and nearly an entire loaf of bread his stomach finally started sending messages to his brain that that was enough. He didn't quite understand them but after a few moments he felt like he wouldn't fair to well with anymore food in his stomach. Glancing sideways at the girl's food he noticed she hadn't eaten nearly as fast as him so he lifted his arms to the table and made a small nest for his head to rest in. His plan was to wait till she was done since he had no idea where he was supposed to go from this hall.
Table etiquette was lost to the kid, of course, so he just closed his eyes and started to drift off right away. The food is his stomach along with the extremely warm clothes was like heaven.
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Post by Flame on Dec 30, 2011 8:15:02 GMT -8
Blue eyes watched the boy eat, or more like scarf. She'd have to watch him for a while, and while S'eley wouldn't like it, she didn't mind it at the weyr, and Demasked Island was only a coff away. She finished at a leasherly pase, and stood up. She touched the boy's shoulder, shaking him. Would he wake up? If not there were things she could do to. Go find someone to carry him. She'd try something else. "Steel. steel wake up. If you wake up you can find your bed." she spoke softly, waiting. She knew where the barrack's was, so she'd take him there.
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Post by theory on Dec 30, 2011 11:20:25 GMT -8
Steel was off in lala land but the mention of a bed caught his attention just enough to bring the boy back to the present. He blinked sleepily, rubbing his eyes before raising them to the girl. There was a quiet mumble of something incoherent before he carefully moved his legs over the bench he'd been sitting on and stood.
The kid was still more or less asleep so his walking wouldn't be the greatest. He also reached out with his right hand and grabbed a little bit of the girl's shirt to steady himself and use kind of like a lead. By the time they started walking his eyes would probably have drifted shut again but hopefully his feet keep steady enough to get them were they needed to go.
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Post by Flame on Dec 30, 2011 11:36:02 GMT -8
She grabbed his hand, lightly and guided him carefully to the Candidate Barracks. She was met by one of the Sand's Master's and quickly explained what had happened. She brought him to a room and quickly pulled the blankets up before letting him chose to sit down if he wished. She'd let him get his boot's off if he wanted, and she'd let him sleep in his clothing, at least for now. She Watched him for a moment before slipping out of the room. Blue eyes found the other woman's. "He's sleeping."
"Who is he Temp?" the woman asked, her graying hair told that she was older than expected, but she was working with children, and she was used to dealing with candidates who didn't know how to read or write, and had come from bad situations.
"Steel. He was a slave. I am tired of these things happening. I'm almost with D'mar on the fact that maybe we should be a bit more forceful." she sighed. "Though tecnically the Shadowrider's can if they are given reason." she sighed, closing her eyes. "The boy is a wreck. I'd advise letting him-"
"Temperance, I took care of you when you came in, I believe I can take care of a malnurished boy. He'll come around. Will you be staying?" The woman said a slight smile on her older face.
"I'll be around. If he's lookin' i'll come. I'm only staying for a few days. S'eley will worry if i don't report about Benden." she said with a wry smile.
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