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Post by metaldawn71 on Jun 30, 2012 20:58:54 GMT -4
Novar was in his cave and was settling down for the night. He made sure this cave didn't belong to a family of canines or felines. The cave was dark but nothing but a couple of torches wouldn't do. It was quiet, too quiet. That's how it gets in the wilderness. He also had a knife and knew how to use it. His hunting skills were some what good. He wouldn't be a good hunter. He was a scrawny little thing with not much going for him.
The boy was in danger. Not from a feline but from life itself. He didn't really know how to do anything for himself. Everything he had to do, he learned on his own. Still something was missing. He didn't know what. Family? Friends? Maybe. He sighed as he felt the coolness of the wind on his face. There was moisture in the air. It started to rain. No hunting tonight. Better make do with what he had stored in the back. He was smart. He knew he couldn't survive out here forever. Something had to change....
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Post by Zirin on Jun 30, 2012 21:30:27 GMT -4
They would be graduates soon. It was a strange thought really. Ever since coming to the Rebellion things had been strange; the weyrlings shadowed adults and did chores... but they were also expected to perform the duties of an adult rider, especially now that they were getting into the older ages. One of those duties was, oddly enough, searching. So it was that Nymari found herself in the Northern Continent, far from their usual 'hunting' grounds. She herself had never seen the point in bringing in candidates; they needed dragons right now, fully grown, ready to fight dragons. Orders were orders though, and while Nym may plan to rebel against them, she would follow them for the time being.
We should head down, we will be in sight of the Weyr soon. Without Kinuth there to distract him, Iyiath was being his regular, serious self; something Nymari was thankful for. One person, one candidate, that was all they needed to find in order to return to camp. Drop here Iyiath, we'll find a cave to hide in before we start our search.
The bulky pink dragon, a mutant in more ways than one, did as told and started heading down. He was strange even amongst the new colours; where amethysts were normally female, this one was male. Oh... NymMine, there may be someone down there! His deep voice shot into her mind and she was quick to brace herself for landing. Perhaps they would be lucky right off the bat! Dragon and rider both began scanning the area, trying to figure out where the person Iyiath had sensed was. Nym rested a hand on her hip, her fingers closing around one of the many daggers that rested there.
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Post by metaldawn71 on Jul 1, 2012 1:40:52 GMT -4
Novar heard footsteps up the cave entrance. He hid behind a stalagmite. He thought something large and......pink?! He made a outrageous look and then shook his head. No, that's not possible. Who ever heard of a pink dragon?! The dragon he saw when he was a child wasn't pink.
Novar was curious what that large pink thing pass by the entrance. He figured that it was just a product of his imagination. He poured himself a mixture of water and mint, then he got something to eat from his stores in a back cavern. The boy had gathered some wood before it started to rain. He got some dried grass from just outside the cave and sparked the grass with flint. A few moments later, a fire was started in a small ring of stones he had collected. He found a medium straight stick. From the hunt earlier, he killed a rabbit for food and was going to cook it he made a spit of two twigs, split in a fork at one end, stuck the rabbit on the medium stick and placed it in between the two split fork sticks.
The rabbit began to cook. After a few moments, the aroma of the rabbit wafted outside the cave.
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Post by Zirin on Jul 2, 2012 0:17:30 GMT -4
Ooooh NymMine, something smells good! Blinking surprise at the pink dragon's words, Nymari looked about, trying to find the scent as well, and all too soon, the aroma of campfire and cooked meat reached her. So... there really was someone around here. She unbuckled herself and slid from the young amethyst's back, a dagger held at the ready incase it was a trap.
She followed the smell, sneaking closer to the cave before eventually peering in. A boy? Say hi Nym! And ask for some, I want to try it! The amethyst dragon dropepd his head and peered into the entrance. Nymari just shook her head. What part of sneaking don't you understand, silly?[/color] Of course his bright hide making sneaking difficult anyways, but it was the thought that counted.
"Hey, come out of there. Who are you?"
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Post by metaldawn71 on Jul 2, 2012 11:51:18 GMT -4
Novar looked up at the woman and was in awe as he noticed a rather young looked pink dragon. He was going to run and hide but this was a dragonrider! He had heard of them by his many journeys in the wilderness and drifting from hold to hold.
They were greeted by a wide, friendly smile and warmly so.
"Welcome, dragonrider! I am Novar. By your dragon's salivating, I'd guess you are pretty hungry. There is plenty in my stores in the back cavern. Don't get many guests out here. Please sit, enjoy yourself and get out of of the rain before the both of you catch cold! Would your dragon like something from the back? Maybe a Bovine or a Herdbeast...perhaps a large wild wherry? I could share this rabbit with you. There is no way I can't finish it all. I could make rabbit stew if you like?"He paused, waiting for an answer.
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Post by Zirin on Jul 2, 2012 16:23:50 GMT -4
Nymari had expected to find some holdless fool who was barely hanging on, but what greeted her from inside the cave was far from what she had expected. The boy within was certainly friendly, and willing to share a rather large sounding store of food. it was... well it was odd. Iyiath rumbled in agreement; back at the rebel camp, they rarely seemed to be able to keep decent stores of food, so how did this boy manage?
"It's dangerous to be out here when Thread can fall you know..." She replied, though she was more than happy to step into the cave. She tried to look relaxed, but Nym had never been a trusting person, and her hand never left her knife. "Thank you for offer... Novar was it? I'm afraid we're in a bit of a hurry." She heard Iyiath rumble behind her again. Maybe him then? Someone capable of gathering food would be so handy! Nymari nodded back silently. "We're looking for potential dragonrider candidates, is there a cothold nearby?"
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Post by metaldawn71 on Jul 2, 2012 17:50:36 GMT -4
"Candidates? Hmm..yes. There is a small cothold near about 500 miles East from here. What a pity you can't stay for dinner." He saw the woman's doubt in her eyes. "I mean you no harm. I can't survive for too long out here. I'm from Telgar Hold...of I used to be before my foster father kicked me out for good. I wasn't being any trouble, mind you. I'm an artist and a poet. He didn't want me to be a dragonrider because he wanted me to be a Vinter with him. I told him that I didn't want to be one. He got pissed and slashed my arms." He show her the slash marks on his arms. Marks like that couldn't be self-inflicted.
"I stay here when Threadfall is coming. I know when it's about to fall. When you have stayed out here long enough, you get to know the signs....the rabbits done! Now to eat! I got slim pickings this Turn. I'm not a very good hunter at least not by my standards but it does bring the food in. I killed about two large wherries, three bucks, and about a dozen or so rabbits and quail." He went back in his food stores. He dragged out three of four wild wherries, all different sizes, two bucks, a herdbeast and an unquilled Porcupine. "There, take your pick. I know you are in a hurry but I can't let you go hungry for the trip. You will find they are very scarce on food there. I am what you call a hunter...unofficially. What I learned I had to on my own. I do make a mean watersnake stew. All I want is some company for dinner then you can be on your way."He paused. "Look at me. Do I look like a person that will pose any sort of threat to you or your dragon? I might have pulled those critters out on my own but I'm not about to hurt anyone. Wouldn't be right." he was telling the truth and was sincere about the offer.
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Post by Zirin on Jul 5, 2012 23:27:09 GMT -4
Well he was certainly a.. trusting fellow wasn't he? Nym hadn't expected him to spill his entire life story, though it did raise a few questions in her mind. She had never had to deal with abusive parents herself, but she couldn't help but wonder if this guy had tried putting up a fight or just running away. Maybe she should just leave the cave while she was at it. No not yet! He feels... he feels... something. I don't know what.
"Do you want to be a rider?" She asked curiously. After all, it seemed to her that Iyiath was perhaps seeing something within the boy, and she didn't see any knots that claimed he was already a rider so... she figured she'd give it a shot. Besides, if she was right then they could pack up this guy, drag him back to camp and be free to do whatever she wanted until the next day. "You're awful far from the Weyr for that anyways." She did step forward and kneel by the fire, though it was clear she didn't, and wouldn;t, have an ounce of trust for him. It was her nature to be distrustful.
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Post by metaldawn71 on Jul 6, 2012 1:35:25 GMT -4
Novar figured that she thought he was a runaway. It was what everyone though when people came adventuring or hunting.
"I am not a runaway. That's what everyone thought of me when they came hunting. I don't want to go back either." Novar remarked, rather strongly. He wasn't a trusting fellow but not seeing anyone for a season leaves that person lonely for companionship. When Nym mentioned him being a dragonrider, Novar's eyes got real big. He was speechless for a moment. He gazed at the Amethyst dragon in awe, seeing the dragon the first time in full view.
"I can tell you don't like me very much. I can see it in your eyes, tell it in your voice. That's all right I suppose. I would like that very much. Beats everyday out here living day to day, wondering when your next meal is going to scurry or romp by."
Novar shrugged.
"You are very pretty, you know."
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Post by Zirin on Jul 6, 2012 18:05:08 GMT -4
"Hey, your past is your past. I could care less how or why you came to be here. You're here right now, and that's all that's important to me." She shrugged, trying to stop herself from chuckling at the wide eyed look her question had brought. She would take that as a yes.
"Listen here you. Just because I don't trust you doesn't mean I don't like you. Consider it a habit of my... occupation of choice." Which had been as a guard, a killer, before she impressed her dragon. Even now though, with the way things happened in the Rebellion, she couldn't let down her guard at all. It was safer to be prepared for danger than hope it never came.
"You might miss this one day you know." After all, camp wasn't much different. Sure, their food stores were easier to access, but someone had to do the hunting. She supposed having a dragon did help that though. At his compliment she looked away and smiled, just briefly.
"Oh uh... thank you." She spoke softly, before glancing up, her eyes flashing with a miscievous look. "But looks can be deceiving you know." The knives hidden everywhere in her clothes were a testament to that. Oh mine.. I stick out like a sore thumb out here.
"I suppose this makes you a candidate then, if you want to come back to camp with us." Nymari herself was rather new to searching, and she was always nervous about mentioning that it was the Rebellion camp she would be taking the young men and women to.
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Post by metaldawn71 on Jul 8, 2012 3:37:07 GMT -4
Novar sighed and nodded. He took a his knife out and expertly cut up the rabbit in slivers, one inch thick. He had found two bowls and a medium sized kettle to put the meat in and some grease from last nights dinner to add flavor and put it on the fire to cook. After a several moments, it was ready to eat. It was already been stewing for awhile before Nym came.
The boy was resourceful and a great host. He had offered them food without poisoning it, out of the kindness of his heart. He poured some stew for her and him in the into the two medium bowls he had found in the cave just the other day.
"Your dragon can help himself to whatever's laid out." he offered. "Oh! I forgot the spoons....." he giggled. "Silly me!" he was beginning to fumble around for some. "Where did I put those darned things?" he inquired.
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Post by Zirin on Jul 8, 2012 14:13:07 GMT -4
She watched him go about his businessm and far be it for her to admit that the food smelled heavenly. When a bowl was offered, she reached out to take it, thanking him quietly, though she made no move to actually eat. Oh come now Mine, it smells so good! What harm would a little sip do? Nymari chanced a glance back at her dragon before returning her eyes to Novar, not keen on letting him out of her sight for too long.
Let me guess, I can't eat either can I? Nymari gave a mental rejection to the idea, reminding him that he wasn't even hungry. I've seen the horrors of poison, Iye, I know the dangers of it. While I doubt this guy was waiting around for a rider to come and sup with him, I won't take the chance. As it was, she still didn't like eating food she hadn't prepared herself back at camp. She only tended to eat after watching someone else try the food first.
"You're a strange fellow." She finally said aloud. "You must get lonely out here."
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Post by metaldawn71 on Jul 8, 2012 17:12:10 GMT -4
"Ah, here they are...spoons! Yay! Now we can eat!" Novar handed a wooden spoon to Nym and kept one for himself. Then he noticed they weren't eating. He understood why they didn't trust him. He paused and looked at Nym and her dragon.
"Here, look. I sketched many of dragons and their riders during my time here." He reached for his bag and took out several drawings he had made and laid them out. "There are many other things too. Animals I've seen, trees, rivers....Nature. They say artists always sketch what they love. I'm only 14.
"I was kicked out of my home because they called me a freak, a pansy and other names that I know not to repeat. If you don't believe me, we can......go back and you'll see that I speak the truth. My step-father might have done me wrong but I'm not going to let it eat me up and go off on other people. I'm not a threat to you or your dragon. You come here, I offer you food. You saw me cut the meat up, you saw me prepare the stew. You haven't taken your eyes off of me during preparation.
"I cook, clean my place, hunt and track food, clean myself, organize my stores. I build shelves and labeled everything that I hunt and throw out the bad meat. The bad meat goes to the rats so none goes wasted. I wash my dishes after I eat AND sanitize them, do laundry with soap and water. I am all in all a neat freak. I am too busy to hurt anyone else. Follow me, I will show you what I mean! The cavern where I put my stores are bigger than a dragon so, you dragon can come too. Don't worry."
Novar was in fact insulted that she didn't trust him but understood. He was sincere about everything he said.
"And yes, it does get lonely here." he answered her previous question.
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Post by Zirin on Jul 8, 2012 23:36:12 GMT -4
"You're right, I'm sorry I've been such a stickler." She smiled, though it was forced, lifted the bowl to her lips and pretended to take a sip. it seemed he was rather adamant that she eat, so if she was lucky maybe he'd believe that she tried it. "You're quite the cook, it's delicious." When you dedicated your life to learning how to maim and kill others, trust was not something that could be given easily, no matter how much of the procedure she had seen.
"Well, there are plenty of others back at camp, at the very least I can offer you socialization." She gave a light chuckle and, after placing the bowl aside, rose to follow him, though Iyiath chose to stay behind, prefering the open air to a stuffy cave. He would see through his rider's eyes anyways. "You're terribly young to have managed all this... how did you do it?"
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Post by metaldawn71 on Jul 10, 2012 2:10:10 GMT -4
Setliat had his canines and his bow and arrow. He knew Novar was out there somewhere. The last thing he wanted was him squealing to a dragonrider what Set did to him. That's why he had his hunting canines with him. He was go to hunt Novar and kill him. He had the skill and the luck. It was unfortunate for Novar that things didn't turn out for the better for them both.
The man had put a lynch mob together to go after the boy. With him leading it, there would be no one refusing him. Not today, not ever. He had the Hold by the privates and he wasn't going to take no for an answer. He had enough of Novar's whining and complaining. He wanted to be an artist he said or maybe even a dragonrider!? Hmpf. That was rich. That all he needed was a pansy arse freak running around with an equally flaky, weak dragon that can't fly!
He had seen some of them around and some had real nasty dispositions with him. They clearly did not like him or his own canines, for that matter.
"Stupid mutt! Get out of my way!" he kicked at the canine. It yelped and shrank away. With its tail between its legs, it cowered before Setliat. "FIND NOVAR, MONGRELS!!!" his voice boomed, loudly. He yelled at his canines.
The two canines were out the door, lickity split! The weren't running because they were happy. They were running from Setliat, fearing they would be his next victim.
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"I manage." Novar simply said and smiled. He didn't buy the fake sip of his food but that's alright. There are a great many things to worry about than hunger. He had pushed her to eat because of her company, not because he was trying to hurt her. The thought of trying to hurt anyone made him feel squeamish.
Nym didn't trust him, that was alright too. He had too many people come and go like that. Normally it was for a very good reason.
"So why don't you trust me? I offered food, a bit of shelter from the rain and good company." He shivered. "Ohh, I'm cold!" There was a bit of a draft in the cave. There always was when it rained. It was always cool in the summer but cold in the colder seasons.
"I hate being cold." He tried to warm himself by getting some animal furs together and snuggling into them. That didn't seem to help any.
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