Meetings at the Gather [Ka'mond/Abyrath]

[Kitsuneko]

It may have been a risk for B'den and Kohenkyoth to attend the gather after having run away to join the Rebellion, but the weyrling couldn't say he wasn't enjoying it. He'd even managed to sell off some of the instruments he'd made, so he had a comfortably full wallet out of it as well. He had used some of it to buy himself a meal already, and was wondering what else to do while the gather was still in full swing.

He did not see anyone around he recognized, so he decided to take a walk, which quickly led him outside the gather grounds where Kohenkyoth was resting with some other dragons. The one-turn-old green was perched on a sizable rock, sunning himself, and she raised her head to greet B'den. "Having fun?"

His dragon snorted. None of these dragons care to have a conversation with me. I'm getting bored.

"Poor you. I guess we'll have to find you something else to do, eh?" B'den said jokingly as he turned around to see who else was nearby.

[twitchie]

Ka'mond was avoiding the crowds of people shoving each other around. His clothes felt tight as he stood so near all of these strangers, and his body burned from the glares and stares he recieved.
Mine, I'm bored! All of the other dragons have flown away... [/color]
Ka'mond let a sigh of relief exit his body, more at ease hearing the voice of his bonded.
Ka'mond leapt backwards as a cart came speeding past him, stumbling into a person in the process.
"Oh Gosh! I'm so sorry!"
He blurted, standing up, bruised and dusty.
Embaressed, Ka'mond held out his hand for the boy he had knocked over, trying to grin but not having much luck.
"I'm Ka'mond... I haven't seen you around..."
Mine! There's a green here! [/color]
Abyrath's excited cry in his head made him smile.

[Kitsuneko]

B'den registered the appearance of a cart rolling past, but didn't pay any attention to it until someone crashed into him attempting to avoid it. He stumbled back himself, but managed to keep from falling by grabbing Kohenkyoth's riding straps. The green just chuckled quietly at him and turned her attention to the newcomers.

It turned out to be a younger boy who had stumbled into him, and he grinned as he took the boy's hand, trying to put him at ease. "It's alright; looks like that driver needs to watch where he's going, huh? I'm B'den, and this is Kohenkyoth." He jerked his head shortly in the green's direction. "Yeah...I'm not exactly from around here, so I guess it's not that surprising we haven't met. You're a weyrling, too, right?"

[twitchie]

Ka'mond grinned, dusting himself off.
"I'm surprised you haven't heard of me... The lowly farmer kid who should have never been at the hatching? The boy who impressed an Amethyst?"
He sent a silent prayer that none of those names would be known, that he could start fresh with a person who didn't care.
I'm coming now. [/color]
The rapid rush of wingbeats increased in the air, and the oiled violet hide of Abyrath appeared. She was quite small compared to Kohenkyoth, measuring just 7 feet from nose to tail.
Ka'mond touched his bonded's muzzle, cradling his dragon's head in his palms, savoring the smooth yet rough hide.
"This is Abyrath, my Amethyst. I wouldn't trade her for anything. Having her has changed my life, both good and bad."
Abyrath snorted warm air onto her rider's face, amused by how it mused his hair, and messed up the already wild white-blonde locks.
She greeted the larger green with a respectable nod.
Greetings, rider and Green. [/color]
Came her voice in B'den and Kohenkyoth's mind.
"And you are right, I am a Weyrling, like you."

[Kitsuneko]

B'den's head tilted slightly to one side as he regarded the amethyst rider. "There were a half-dozen or so amethyst weyrlings by the time I left the Weyr. I think I did hear of a stands Impression, though. From the obsidian, Talath's clutch, right?"

Kohenkyoth's tail twitched anxiously as he mentioned leaving, and dragon and rider both watched as the smaller amethyst weyrling flew over to introduce herself as well. Kohenkyoth greeted her with a nod. Greetings. It's always a pleasure to meet someone new. Especially if their goals coincided with B'den and Kohenkyoth's. It was obviously too soon to tell with these two, but the two of them always kept an eye out for new allies.

B'den smiled. "So, how are you enjoying the Weyr life so far, since you're apparently somewhat new to it?"

[twitchie]

"Its... interesting..."
Should we tell the truth? How cramped and strangled you feel? Like a chained creature that longs to roam free? I.. I trust them, Mine... Come on! This could be our chance! [/color]
"I.. We don't like it. I was born free, without duties other than surviving. There were no chores, rules, laws or petty ranks!"
Ka'mond scratched his neck, hoping to hide the passion that crept into his voice.
"I want to be like before, to be... free. To have time for just me and Abyrath..."

[Kitsuneko]

A grin slowly began to form on B'den's face, and he tried to keep it to a friendly smile. He didn't want to appear too happy at Ka'mond's unhappiness. Kohenkyoth's mind touched his own.

They sound unhappy. Much like we were. They might be good recruits for the Obsidian Rebellion, B'den. Be careful what you say.

I know, B'den told her silently. Out loud, he said to Ka'mond, "Believe me, I can understand that. Me and Kohenkyoth were the same way. It's not easy being a low-ranking rider when no one takes you seriously or let's you make your own decisions. If anything, it's probably worse for you, riding a mutation color. Have you had people give you grief about that?" B'den's voice was sympathetic. He well knew there were plenty of people in the Weyr who were vocal about their dislike of the new colors.

[twitchie]

Ka'mond felt himself too grow eager. He found himself leaning forward to hear every word.
"Like you were? What'd you do to make your life better?"
The weyrling wished he could stop his uncontrollable excitement.
Abyrath kept her eyes on the green female.
Nobody here respects a purple, much less a rider of an amethyst. I feel like... like mine could be happier without me.. [/color]
"Don't ever say that, Abyrath!"
Ka'mond cried out, throwing his arms around his dragon, murmering soft words until she purred.
"Where are you now, B'den? Let us be happy like you..."

[Kitsuneko]

Now B'den allowed his grin to fully show. "Well, once Kohenkyoth and I got tired of Trelis, we, ah...sort of ran away." Or flew away, really. Kohenkyoth hadn't done much betweening by that point, but her wings worked just fine.

Kohenkyoth twitched her tail at the amethyst's words. People can be idiots, even to dragons. Their opinions shouldn't have to matter to you.

As she finished, B'den spoke up again to answer Ka'mond's last question. "Well, you know about the Obsidian Rebellion, right? Led by a couple of sub-queens and their riders?" B'den shrugged his shoulders in an easy-going manner. "They took us in, and they're much better about treating the mutations and their riders well than the Weyrs."

[twitchie]

Ka'mond struggled to act more wary, to think about the dangers... But this was like a feast to his ears, perfect in every sense.
Oh! Mine! It sounds so good! How could you reject? Neither of us have loyalitys or duties besides dumb things. What is there to say for? Lets go! A brand new start is waiting! [/color]
Ka'mond stopped fighting with himself, and took B'den's hand with his coarse worn hands."Thank you.. We.. we are coming back with you."
Hope was growing in his heart again. A new dawn was upon them.

[Kitsuneko]

B'den shook the outstretched hand and smiled. "Sounds good."

Kohenkyoth was a bit more level-headed than him, however. There is a problem, the green pointed out to the weyrlings. You may have to wait awhile before you can go. Abyrath's too small still to fly on her own, and it would be safer to wait until she can go between.

"She's right," B'den admitted, looking over the amethyst weyrling. "We actually have a system set up for that. Someone will send you the coordinates during your first betweening lesson; it will look like the two of you just failed your jump. It'll keep suspicion off the Rebellion."

[twitchie]

Ka'mond licked his lips, his heart pounding in his chest.
Oh! Oh! Mine! We understand. We don't want to cause anymore trouble... But we will be joining when we can.. [/color]
Her dismay echoed in her voice, showing how much she hated having to wait.
Ka'mond couldn't help but grin wider, grasping B'den's hand gratefully.
"I don't know how we can thank you..."
He murmered.

[Kitsuneko]

B'den set a hand on the younger boy's shoulder reassuringly. "The time will go by quicker than you'll expect. And I wouldn't be surprised if you met some other people interested in the Rebellion before then, as well."

Beside him, Kohenkyoth stepped forward to touch noses with Abyrath. We'll look forward to seeing you at the Headquarters when you're old enough.

[twitchie]

Yes. I will wait anxiously until we meet again. Fly safe, friend. [/color]
The small amethyst was glad to touch noses with Kohenkyoth, and she rumbled other friendly things aloud.
Her wings rumpled and fluttered at her sides, as she grew excited at the thought of one day leaving.
"I hope we do find others before we leave here. It would be mighty lonely."
Ka'mond's hazel eyes were warm, and he found it hard to believe that he and Abyrath could find such friends so quickly.
This wasn't a trap. It was real. Very, very real.