Trial and Error (1/2)
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Aaron, Iluva
Date Posted: 24th March 2025
Characters: Z'renh, M'rhas
Description: A silent and peaceful bathing of dragons, and nothing more surely
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 6, day 4 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: M'thos
M'rhas sighed, trying his best to ignore Alzaryth pacing in impatient silence somewhere behind him. Mostly in circles, by the sounds of it. A soft, whistling whine told him he was taking a while -- but this was simply how it was. The bathing brushes and their locations ceased to be important until they were needed again the next day. Until they were needed right now while he still had sanity. He crouched down, peering beneath his cot with a trained sleuth's eyes. Everything but the bathing brush stared back at him, so he got up and shoved his shoulders into his warm jacket and a light hat down over his ears.
}:I don't think I like music.:{ The blue confided hesitantly. A wing nudged a brush toward M'rhas' foot and M'rhas made a face. **What? Oh, I've gotta tell him that. He's even ruined music for you. _Forever_.** His eyes widened. **Maybe they'll fire him for that.**
}:But isn't... is he not one of your sires?:{
**Oh yeah, he is. That's what makes it so unforgivable, Al.**
At least as they set out in a light jog, the frustration fading, it was hard to feel envious of absolutely nothing happening outside. The Weyr looked as it always did, a cold wind chasing them to the entrance to the Winter lake that morning. M'rhas tossed the dented bathing bucket in the sand and started shucking his layers off all at once, eyes roaming over his dragon. Plenty of hide to scrub was a good thing. More than yesterday was even better. His was one of the bigger blues of the class, he figured, even when his was trying to curl into himself or hunch over.
His mental touch was as light and mindful as his hurrying would allow, he waved him in. **Okay! Let's go!**
Alzaryth crooned, tiptoeing in one paw at a time. The confidence could definitely still use work. But that was for later.
In sharp contrast and in short order, M'rhas began scrubbing and humming in an almost competitive synchronicity with himself, matching motions with melodies. Not just in the zone, or in flow-like state, but with ferocity, like he couldn't bear to let anyone else win, not even himself. It was getting work done quickly though, and M'rhas was in a pretty good mood until Alzaryth's head came lurching up out of the water like a catapult.
Both blue and bluerider looked behind them, suspiciously aware of someone's lumbering approach.
Z'renh hated the cold. It was by far the single worst thing about moving to Dragonsfall. Despite the heated water and the protection the cavern provided from the wind, it was still far too cold for his comfort.
}:It isn't cold,:{ said Adamanth. Z'renh saw no point in arguing with him.
He had not noticed M'rhas until Alzaryth splashed. Z'renh froze. He tried to herd Adamanth away from them, but he refused.
}:I will not move for him. Wash me here.:{
Alzaryth's eyes were concerned. His tail was concerned, his tail tip to his headknobs was the precise shade of _concerned_. Suddenly the tectonic plates of his muscles gathered and twitched beyond his own doing, quaking diaphonous suds off his hindquarters in limp, loose chunks. Having fully embodied the spirit of a dragon-doomed herdbeast, whatever part of him was still a dragon peeked just over the crest his rider's head. Adamanth, although terrifying even from this distance, hadn't blocked the _entire_ entrance. A tunnel of hope flickered, opened.
**No.** M'rhas said firmly, snapping it shut. **We're not going anywhere.**
}:Butbutbut-- but--:{ the 'but's were wobbly and frenetic against the thickness of M'rhas' skull, }:But what are we going to do!?:{
**Nothing.**
}:But...:{ The blue visibly wilted.
**We're staying to finish your bath. You were here first. If they do anything,-- _if_ they do anything,** Alzaryth's torrent of emotions induced a sort of mental whiplash that M'rhas was struggling to contain lately, but never more than now. He pulled that wet muzzle to his chest, trying to keep hands and thoughts gentle. **You call Fianwyth and I'll... handle it. Alright?**
But he would be keeping an aggressive eye out all the same.
Still, giving Z'renh a _look_ that left the choice up to him, M'rhas started lathering the brush again with a calmness that belied his small, secret urge to instigate.
Z'renh missed not feeling like he wanted to disappear. No matter how he urged Adamanth to move to give Alzaryth more space, he would not. He would just have to wash him quickly.
When he was about to return M'rhas's _look_ with an apologetic expression of his own, Adamanth raised such a calumny of indignation in his head that he could not help but wince, which certainly turned the apologetic expression into something more akin to a scowl.
M'rhas caught the scowl and immediately narrowed his eyes back. Oh, so that's how it was gonna be. What was this guy's problem?
Although his own dreams of Impressing bronze like his father had been imprinted on his eyelids since he was younger and even more feral, they (and the reasons for them) had faded in the face of the real thing. M'rhas knew now with sometimes earthshaking clarity that was all wherryshite because he had Alzaryth now, and there was no dragon as fine or worthy of his protection as his. But if _Z'renh_ thought he could get away with pulling some of that rank shit or touting color hierarchies....
No, M'rhas. Focus. Scheme later. Alzaryth finally steadied a little beneath his touch, but he had the blue sagging slightly into the water in no time as the even more rigorous scrubbing resumed. His own scowl stayed stuck, muscles aching with the memory of where the bronze weyrling had actually landed that punch. Thankfully they'd be done soon, and well before the other pair.
M'rhas rinsed his brush, trying to stay on track. He reached for a fresh handful of soapsand, his hand rooting around the empty air until it found the rim but nothing but the inside of the bucket. Puzzled, splashing clumsily about as he turned, he stared, he saw the bare bottom of the bucket already staring back, and realized the sharding dent had grown into a hole. **Crackdusting, Carenath bonesing...**
M'rhas's glare had taken Z'renh aback, but he was not sure why it should have. M'rhas simply did not like him.
However, perhaps he had a chance to extend a bit of a peace offering.
"Need some more soap?"
"What?" He was not expecting that. M'rhas' head jerked up with what could only be called surprise because it was hard to tell if that was an offer, a jibe, or perhaps bait for something else. "Yeah..." He tipped the bucket, exposing its wound to Z'renh, and then chucked it carelessly aside. "Hit it on somethin', I guess."
}:I will not share my soap with him. He has no respect for you.:{
Z'renh wanted to tell Adamanth that he was being a right knob, but he knew that escalation would only end poorly for him.
**What's your role in this Weyr?**
}:Excuse me?:{
**You're a bronze, aren't you? What role do bronzes play in the Weyr?**
Adamanth was indignant that Z'renh would question his color, but he had managed to pose the question with such an innocent tone, the bronze mustered up a bit of patience to teach the poor dumb thing.
}:I will lead this Weyr into the fight against Thread.:{
**You'll lead Alzaryth, too, right?**
}:Of course...:{
**And how will he perform if he hasn't been properly washed? What if his hide were to crack?**
}:Then he should have had the presence of mind to properly bring his own soap!:{
**Nobody is going to want to hear excuses about what someone else should have done if someone in your wing or your Weyr becomes a casualty. You'll bear the final responsibility. As the leader.**
Adamanth's mind short circuited for a moment. One eye whirled green while the other turned yellow but kept still. Z'renh had never seen anything like it. For half a moment, his eyes flashed orange and he tensed up as though he were going to lash out again. But then, at last, he relaxed, and his eyes returned to an ordinary blue state.
}:We will provide Alzaryth with what he needs to wash.:{
Z'renh let out a breath of relief. It was a breakthrough.
Last updated on the March 26th 2025