>~< -- The Watchwher Caves

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Date Posted: 09:24:46 12/09/05 Fri
Author: Mikhal
Subject: >~<
In reply to: Zeara /Zearask/ 's message, "Whoa, way to much Green Day running through my mind right now" on 15:13:32 12/01/05 Thu

Zeara's reassurances about Misk's name relieve Mikhal's mind a little bit, and he sighs softly, a soft gust only noticable because the air underground is mostly still. "I'll work as hard as I can to be well-connected to him, then," he declares firmly, with a little bit of bravado intermingled with the determination, one last lingering hint of childishness clinging to this almost-adult. "I just want to be the best handler ever for Misk. I- he's mine, and I want to take care of him properly." Mikhal has never had much that was his. Before the disasters, in the Hold, everything he'd owned had been the Lady Holder's, not his, because she took care of her drudges and her children. Afterwards, neither he nor Lady Gisella had owned much of anything, and nothing worth keeping when they'd arrived at the Weyr. Having something of his own - a living, breathing creature that depends on him, nonetheless - is precious to Mikhal. He'd first followed Yima and her gold because he'd seen an almost-dragon in the ugly, mottled creature that hadn't, as he'd expected, lumbered across the ground but instead had flowed across it like a feline despite its awkward, ungraceful appearance. The Searchriders wouldn't take him and he was afraid of heights anyway, but watchwhers weren't so picky and he wouldn't have to ride one when it flew, if they could even fly. But already Mikhal is beginning to value Misk not as some kind of flightless dragon, an honorary bronze for the acrophobic, but in his own right as Mikhal's watchwher. And that's all right, he decides. Dragonriders are brave and respected, but I don't really want to be one anyway. I think I'd like to do something like Master Yima talked about, anyway. I'd like to guard a Hold, when we have Holds again, or search-and-rescue might be interesting. Living at the Weyr for a few months, helping the critically shorthanded dragonriders bag firestone and chop meat and seeing their scars and the hard work of caring for a dragon up-close and personal had dispelled a lot of the illusions that young men often had about dragonriders. He doesn't pretend to be naturally courageous, and he's not sure he could do something that left those kinds of scars. "I have two other questions, Journeyman Zeara," Mikhal says slowly, trying to work out which to ask first. He doesn't think they're the kind she can answer together. But since he can't decide, he just asks both. "Answer whichever you want first, I guess, because they're different questions. How much are watchwhers like dragons and firelizards, and how much are they different? And what did you and Zearask do? Did you guard a Hold, or work in a mine, or rescue people in avalanches and things, or do something else?" Holding his breath a moment, he waits for her to answer. He doesn't want to be away from Misk for much longer, because the wher might wake up without him and be upset and he wants to try some of the things Zeara suggested to help strengthen their bond, but he's always been curious, and this information feels vital to him. Besides, she's much easier to ask and nicer than Master Yima, who's rude and sort of scary.

((I don't mind. There's so much the books haven't really told us, as of yet, and Yima's teaching sessions are about a third "this is what the books say", a third "this is what I can extrapolate from the books", and a third "I'm making this up because the books give me no clue". And I've had to make up an extra profession or two for the wher-handlers, since they can't ALL work in mines and a Hold only needs one watchwher. [And any suggestions on more would be very welcome.] So I can hardly complain when other people do it, right? ^_^ And as for the laugh - it was never mentioned, I'd always assumed that they rumbled amusement like dragons, but the rumble wouldn't be as deep anyway because they're smaller.))

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Behind these hazel eyes -- Zeara /Zearask/, 17:27:36 01/01/06 Sun