A Convenient Happenstance *Zi/Derek!*

[Aika]

A slim figure sat in a small clearing of the Trelis Forest, trying desperately to get a small black bundle to stop squirming fervently in its grasp. Sounds ranging from mild squeaks to raging screeches and the occasional curse from the human gave away the identity of the individual. Although she tried her best to make herself quiet and not well-known, Goblenn admitted that Phobi was making her job a lot more difficult. His fear of the clouds, the dark, and pillows made it a serious problem to keep him quiet. The worst came from whenever anything red was brought into proximity of the wingless flitter. Faranth, if he saw anything in any shade of the color, he flipped out.

Which was why the thief had brought him to the hopefully-calming forest to help him relax. Unfortunately, this was to no avail, for the little Ebony was afraid to touch the ground, for the scattered leaves were sure to trap him and swallow him up and His would not be able to save him and he would just DIE if he was left alone with these DEMONS! Eyes whirling in violent yellows and oranges, the baby flitter shivered in Goblenn’s gentle cradle.

A sigh escaped Goblenn’s pursed lips. Yes, she loved Phobi, but because of him, she hadn’t been able to get a good steal in a while. Her saved marks were dwindling, and she had to be able to provide to two more lives pretty soon. The second flitter egg rest in her cloak that was currently curled up on the ground next to her. The wher egg she trusted not to be disturbed in her room. “How am I going to care for all of you? There’s no way I’ll be able to do it, I’m sure of it,” she asked nobody in particular, sure that she was alone in these woods.

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[Zirin]

He couldn't quite say what had brought him out here, to the middle of nowhere, on a day like today. Perhaps it was simply the need to get away from the noise and bustling crowds of the gather, or maybe he just wanted to stretch his legs and go for a walk. Either way, he found himself wandering through the forest lazily. His half-healed wounds still pained him, and the healers had cut him off of the extra fellis, so his head was also pounding. He almost contemplated seeking out one of the forest's many streams to soak in for a bit in the hopes of a few moments of respite. That idea was cut short at the sound of a voice; however, and J'degar found himself steering towards it curiously.


"That's the problem with you brats," J'degar snorted, giving the girl a disapproving glare. "Always assuming you can do more than you're capable of." He didn't really know why he had butted into the girl's obvious self-musings. It could just be because he was grumpy, and berating an idiot seemed like a good idea.

[Zero]

Why did he choose the woods of all places to wander off to, especially when there was a lovely greenrider he could have been tracking down? Well that one was easy to answer really, the crowds were giving him a headache and not to mention all the people were starting to get on his nerves. So F'lon figured a few minutes of peace and quite would do him some good before he had to go back and play egg sitter once more.

The thief scowled and adjusted the heavy hood currently pulled over his head and casting his face in shadow. He was dying to ditch the foolish getup and not to mention shave this partial beard the Rebels made him grow out as part of his "disguise". Scratching at his jaw F'lon shook his head and idly patted the little bronze 'lizard perched quietly on his shoulder.

As he continued to walk the voices of the Gather began to die down but a few new voices were gaining volume with each step he took. He swallowed the groan as not one, but two, figures came in to sight through the trees. As he drew closer he immediately and almost regrettably, noticed J'degar was one of those gathered. The girl, however, F'lon couldn't put a name to. So, naturally, he chose to address the brownrider first. "Come off it J'degar, don't you have other big important items to be dealing with besides harassing young women in the forest? Like, I don't know, drowning kittens? Or whatever it is that gets you off?"

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[Elessar]

S'bel was wandering, brooding in thought after the previous night, and Kayath's flight. He needed a break. The forest was almost the last place he wanted to go, but at least it was quiet... until he heard the squeaks and squawks of a fire lizard. His own flitter, Lazuli Vanda, sat perched on his shoulder, her tail wrapped tightly around his neck.

As the squawking reached her ears, the little flitter took off, launching herself into the sky, her talons digging into S'bel's shoulder. The Wingleader flinched, but continued moving forward until a small girl was brought into sight, struggling with a wingless fire lizard.

“How am I going to care for all of you? There’s no way I’ll be able to do it, I’m sure of it!"

She seemed rather distressed. And then a second figure joined the first. Though S'bel didn't regonize the girl, he assumed she was a candidate. The second figure, however, he knew instantly by sight. J'degar. And he obviously wasn't in a very nice mood.

"That's the problem with you brats. Always assuming you can do more than you're capable of."

S'bel would have stepped in then, leaving the shadows of the edge of the woods, where he stood, but someone else joined the bunch, and he stayed half-hidden where he was. The third member of the party was also unknown to him, though he wore a heavy cloak... S'bel immediately became suspicious, but again stayed where he was.

"Come off it J'degar, don't you have other big important items to be dealing with besides harassing young women in the forest? Like, I don't know, drowning kittens? Or whatever it is that gets you off?"

At those words, S'bel stepped forward. "J'degar," he murmured, inclining his head. "And you-- what's your name?" He asked, addressing the hooded figure. The man's face was in shadow, but S'bel thought he might have recognized the voice... it certainly sounded somewhat familiar...

"As for you, girl, work hard and you'll be able to take care of them, don't worry. The fire lizard will grow and mature. And J'degar! I expected better of you as a Trelis wingrider! I believe you might owe the young woman an apology. But then, this stranger here also owes you one. Times are too strained for us to be fighting among one another."

Kneeling by the girl, he offered her a hand up. "Come now, child. Nothing to be scared of. What's your name?"

A lazy voice broke through S'bel's thoughts then. You try too hard to fix things, S'belMine. You should let them fight. You cannot be the one to solve all the world's problems.

[/color] S'bel gritted his teeth. That's why I have you, isn't it, Maerath? Someone to cheer me up when I can't![/size][/center]

[Aika]

Goblenn hadn’t meant to attract a crowd, but when she snapped her head up to see the newcomers, she realized how loud she and Phobi had been. Her eyes grew wide as each spoke in turn, first in biting insults, then retaliation to the first, and then some man that seemed well-wishing. It was all quite overwhelming. Her brows furrowed, and her mouth pressed into a thin line. She didn’t need this coddling, but she didn’t really know how to get out of the area. The only way she knew back was past the three men that stood before her; if she tried to go around, she would most likely get lost. In essence, she was trapped in a corner by these strangers.

She shot a glare at J’degar, a nod towards F’lon, and really just watched and stared at S’bel as he crouched to eye-level with her. She really didn’t have anything to say to the other two, but this one looked to be one of great influence. She could never reveal her identity to any one of these individuals, for she could easily get caught. She had to step lightly around this situation. When asked about her name, she mentally gulped.

By now, she was probably notorious and her name known everywhere. She had to think of some sort of alias. It would provide her some cover until she was able to escape. Her eyes darted about around S’bel’s form, trying to find something, anything to inspire a fake name. Her eyes fell upon the fallen leaves that were crushed underneath everybody’s feet. She looked back to him, a small smile playing on her face. “Thank you, sir,” she began, quietly, innocently. “My name is Faleen. May I ask who you are, kind sir?” she bat her eyes a bit, hoping to distract him. He looked to possibly have something of value on his person. Maybe, if she played her cards right, she could leave this place with a few?

Phobi, meanwhile, had squirmed out of Goblenn’s hands and taken to crawling on her, perching on top of her head to look at S’bel’s flit. She was different. She was silver and purple and NOT NORMAL OH FARANTH. Squealing, Phobi skittered down the back of Goblenn’s shirt, clawing his way around so he could hide at the neckline of her shirt. This escapade had caused Goblenn to jump, wriggle around, and make small giggling noises as the Ebony’s claws danced on her skin, tickling her. Looking down at the little flit, she couldn’t really do anything but sigh in mirth.

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[Zirin]

J'degar's already grumpy face hardened even further as someone interrupted him. Glancing back, he didn't at first recognise the appearance, but the voice, and the fact the man knew him, made J'degar wonder if he wasn't one of the weyrlings. Or rather, one of the men he had known as a weyrling not too long ago. For certain he hadn't seen this particular one in a while. Wait did he just... oh no he didn't!

"I would never drown a cat!" he exclaimed, face red with anger before realizing that the man might have simply said kittens out of coincidence. There was no saying F'lon knew anything about J'degars passion about felines. "I'll pretend your utter disregard of rank was a slip of the tongue boy." Was he clever enough to have a witty comeback? Nope. he turned, scowling, as S'bel stepped towards them as well. Shard it all, he wasn't here to cause trouble, he was just on a walk. What was it with everyone butting in?

"Shove off, S'bel. I was speaking the honest truth, nothing more, nothing less. I would have thought a rider of your caliber would have the intelligence to see that." He growled, once again question what it was about Trelis riders that annoyed him so much. After all, he had made an observation, and the girl was obviously a brat; he didn't recall seeing any knots on her shoulder. He crossed his arms and glared back at the girl. There was nothing to apologise for.