Flit Acquisition (1/3)
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: Duskdog, Steel
Date Posted: 12th April 2025
Characters: V'tian, Chandrany
Description: V’tian and Chandrany go flit-hunting
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr, Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 6, day 12 of Turn 12
“Well, at least we know a little bit more.” V’tian sighed as he finished checking Indith’s riding straps. “Ready to try again?” he asked his green. “We have everything but someone to double the search radius.”
Indith arched her neck and spread her wings. }: Oh I am _sure_ we will find an egg, Mine!:{ She hastened to agree, swinging her head around so her gaze swept the Weyrbowl. }:Oh! Ask that one!:{
V’tian shook his head, but called out anyway. “You. Hey you!”
Chandrany’s head probably wasn’t the only one to swivel in V’tian’s direction, but he seemed to be looking at her anyway. She pointed at herself, mouthing “me?”, but didn’t wait for him to answer before approaching. “Need something, greenrider? I hope you don’t think I did something wrong, because I definitely didn’t.” She paused. “...probably.”
“Yes you.” V'tian responded, then made an effort to moderate his tone. “... I was wondering, would you feel like helping Indith and I with something? I'm going beachcombing for firelizard eggs, and I'm willing to pay you with second choice egg if we find a nest.”
Well, _that_ was interesting. If she was going to do a chore, it might as well be worth her while, right?
“Seriously? Just help you find a nest, and I could have second choice of an egg? For myself?” Something nagged at the back of her brain, telling her that there surely must be a downside, but if there was, she couldn’t see it. “Yeah sure, sign me up!”
“If you're late for class or anything you can just tell them you were helping me.” V’tian said loftily. “... Have you ever been on a dragon?”
Chandrany waved a hand dismissively. “Psht, of course I have. I’m weyrbred!” She put a hand on Indith’s neck. “I won’t be a bad passenger, beautiful girl, I promise.” She glanced back at V’tian. “Do you have a shovel or whatever?”
Indith arched her neck proudly. }:She thinks I am beautiful!:{ she told her rider happily.
V’tian shook his head resignedly. “Buckets there, got small shovels and a rake in her bag.” He told the Candidate, digging in another bag and pulled out a harness. He held it out. “Try it on. Grabbed my spare one.” He made sure to always have two.
Chandrany gave the harness a try, tugging on it a little once she got it fastened. “Oh yeah, this works fine. You’re prepared, that’s a nice quality in a guy.”
Yeah, so he was a greenrider, and outranked her -- he still looked like he couldn’t possibly be older than her, and he was cute enough. Surely it wouldn’t hurt to flirt with him a _little_.
“Who _wouldn't_ plan for success?” V'tian responded. “I've tried to find some before, but I only ever found some shells. Not _this_ time.”
Indith studied the girl a moment, then dipped her shoulder and lifted her foreleg-- offering an easier access.
“You came to the right person, then,” Chandrany said, thumping her chest with one fist. “We’ll both have our eggs in no time. Trust me.” She climbed Indith’s offered foreleg. “Thanks-- shells, I didn’t even ask your names!”
“I'm V'tian.” The greenrider responded. “That's Indith you're standing on.” A brief pause. “... you?”
The green crooned a welcome, eyes whirling gently.
“Chandrany,” she replied, extending a hand. “Pleased to meet you and all. Especially you, Indith.”
She couldn’t help a fondness for a dragon like what she hoped for herself someday. Someday soon, hopefully.
Indith crooned again, happily, at being greeted.
V'tian needed this girl to like him or she'd refuse to help; so he shook her hand. “Let's go, then.”
Chandrany settled herself onto Indith, adjusting to get herself as comfortable as possible. “So I assume you have a beach in mind. Something remote? I remember hunting for nests on the beaches here around the Weyr when I was a kid. We didn’t realize it then, but of course those were way too busy for most fire-lizards to want to make nests there, and even if they did, everything was picked clean before we ever got there. Can’t actually search anywhere _good_ without a dragon.”
“Remote is always better for flit hunting.” V’tian agreed loftily, mounting Indith with casual ease. “Dragons are plenty useful.” He added. “Up you go Indith. You know where.” The green obeyed, and took the image from her rider as she rose.
Chandrany held her breath for the few heartbeats of /between/. She wasn’t scared, exactly, but it was always an unsettling experience -- particularly since she was trusting in someone else’s ability to bring them out safely. She had certainly been through it before, but less often than she would admit.
Last updated on the April 22nd 2025