A Rider's Second Craft

Writers: Draconafin, Sia
Date Posted: 14th October 2026

Characters: Az'uka, E'kavas
Description: Two riders catch up over a little weather proofing
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 6, day 6 of Turn 13

E'kavas

Mentioned:
Notes:

Dangling precariously from the rider's mouth was not what one might expect; it was not contained in a wine skin after all. Rather placed on an angle so as not to poke his own tongue or cheeks the rider had balanced a threaded needlethorn as he was kneeling and bent over Nilzuth's straps. Trying to count the stitches so as not to lose his place. The point of his belt knife appeared and slid under the old stitches that currently connected the thicker breast plate pieces to the shoulder straps. A spot where many riders would anchor their weight when climbing up and down. Small controlled movements of his wrist saw the rider unpicking the whole run of older stitches. A curse was barely heard about the needlethorn still between his lips. As he moved the knife down to the other end of the strap in question and started undoing it too. _Just_ what he wanted; a whole sectional replacement.

He flipped the straps over, the resonating slap of leather on stone was enough to cause him to jerk back a second. Only to realise he had lost count and had to start again. _There_ it was. Another stitch pulled out and he pulled the section of leather free from the rest of the harness. His knife ran gently up the back of it and he found himself shaking his head, mould spores too deeply nested to be cut and cleaned out. They were barely into the snowfall season for this to be happening already. The only reason he had noticed was because of Fall yesterday. In the latter half of his shift, one of remaining full firestone sacks had started to hang too loose against his dragon; due to the stretching of the damaged leather and stitching. _Clearly_ there wasn’t any avoiding that.

}: At least it didn't break while you were in them :{

**Look I am pretty sure I am not climbing up and down using the loops to attach firestone -- Wherryhead** Az'uka shot back at his dragon, raising his head in the direction of the blue to rebuff the assessment. He might have been known for being reckless, but the bluerider was no fool. When it came to maintaining his gear he was always on top of it. Just the sudden damp and snow had made some of the local flora extra reactive already.

In the five turns since River Bluff, E'kavas thought he might have gotten used to the weather. No. Every time the weather dipped below freezing it felt like a personal affront, that he must trudge through the terrible weather to continue on with his day. That his children nor his dragon didn't seem to mind the weather was especially egregious. They'd begged to check the summer lake for ice, and swore up and down that they would be careful and not test it, should there be any, because no matter how E'kavas tried neither of them were ready to believe that it would be another few sevendays before it would be safe enough for skating, at _least_.

He couldn't blame them. They were looking for excuses to be out of the weyr. His demotion back to wingrider meant dad was home more than either could remember, and their patience was finally starting to run thin.

It's why he'd come looking for somewhere out of the wind instead of calling them back right away, letting Roquath watch the littles as they ran out their energy along the lake shore. Instead, he found Az'uka kneeling over a dismantled set of straps, a needlethorn protruding from his mouth like some particularly dangerous bit of garnish. He looked at the dismantled, discoloured straps with sympathy, "At least it didn't break while you were in them." He offered, "Though I'd hate to see what the moisture of Benden or Tillek does to leather, along with the blasted cold."

Honestly Az'uka wasn't trying to be rude as he found himself shaking his head again and turning back to what he was doing, basically having missed the arrival of the other rider. All the more so because the man's words were an exact echo of his dragon’s. As much as he knew better he didn't need his dragon repeating himself just to mess with him.

"Get 'em wet enough and cold enough, and they'll snap on simple weight tests," came both the remark and answer out loud without a second thought. Common enough knowledge. Get water in an un-weather proofed crack and then have it turn to ice. Either /between/ or from the weather; and your straps were done for. Expanding ice had a knife's edge and would make fast work of any wear and tear. Although the bluerider's words might have been hard to hear around the needlethorn he was still holding in an unconventional manner. Slowly his head came up from its prone position again, as if realising he had made the switch from bespeaking his dragon to addressing another person. A second pause passed between the two as he turned to take in the sight of the other rider and nearly laughed out loud at the fact he could have been thought to be losing his mind.

"E'kavas," was the warm greeting, as he removed the needle thorn -- pining it to his trouser fronts, just above the knee instead. He had run into the man more than enough around the Weyr to consider him a friend. Although it was rare for Az'uka not to get on with most riders, especially if there was a wineskin involved. Habit had him make a faint dusting off motion with his hands as if that would somehow dismiss the mould without the extra work.

"If I'm honest with you, this weather is one reason I always keep at least two or three working sets in rotation. At its peak, the season isn't exactly forgiving;" there was a slight pause before he continued with faint mirth, "Sea salt doesn't do any favours either." Nor lakes, his mind was quick to add. Things he had learned between where he grew up, trained and where his sister now called home. "You seem ready enough for the season though, rather than doing some last minute work."

"I'm well aware of the sea salt." E'kavas said dryly, "Is this the most comfortable place for you to be doing it? Will Nizulth not sit still on your weyrledge for fittings? My fingers feel numb just looking at you."

For a moment one could almost hear Az'uka blink at the other rider's tone, but as quickly as the pause had taken effect it was gone, with him mentally shrugging it off. With a chuckle and a head shake at his own folly. Of course E'kavas knew all about sea salt; his rambling mind and mouth had added the fact to the conversation without considering what he knew of his friend's history. Truth be told he had made no direct intention to insult the other man and knew better than to dwell on it and draw it out. Everyone made mistakes and Az'uka was far more comfortable laughing them off. Over picking them apart and stressing everyone out. Instead his mind turned back to the question that had been proposed to him about the cold, well truth be told -- it was _freezing_ but it hadn't crossed his mind. Az'uka had spent many turns in the cold and could pretty much just ignore it --until someone mentioned it. Idly his hands fisted back and forth over each other as if the compression would bring the blood flow and the warmth back. "I hadn't noticed, truth be told;" he waved it off, "honestly, just looking to get it done before it gets much worse"

}: Now who is the wherryhead? :{ snorted the dragon in the back of his rider's mind.

"Well, good for you, then." E'kavas said, "I thought I'd get used to it the longer I was here, but I think it's just proved that I'm a warm-weather creature myself. The kids don't seem to mind much though." He tilted his head sideways towards the two children playing leap-bugs on the rocks closer to the lakeshore. "My middle kid is waiting for the all-clear for skating on the ice. I don't know where she gets it from."

"Nothing wrong with preferring the warmer weather. I know when those blizzards come down I would much rather be elsewhere," Az'uka answered his friend in earnest. If anyone was truly unshakeable in this cold it was the Dragonsfall natives; those that had been bred and born here. But as their conversation has just proved, sometimes all it took was someone mentioning the weather to shake off any would be mental preparedness for it. When the other rider inclined his head Az'uka followed his gaze and caught sight of the kids; which brought another smile to his face. The bluerider had always gotten on well with youngsters -- although some might say it was because he wouldn't grow up himself at times. "She is clearly making the best of it," was the chuckle, "Although they shouldn't have too long to wait on the lake; might even be sooner than planned with blizzards predicted. And, you never know; they might just steal your riding leathers to keep the cold out too."

"They aren't so tall yet that either of them could pull it off." E'kavas said with a chuckle, "Though they were known to try on our riding boots when they were small. They both have plenty of cold-weather clothes, if they deign to listen and wear them at all. I'd rather she didn't get so excited about it; I have nightmares of them falling through the ice."

Hearing his friend chuckle had put Az'uka at ease. A gentle smile on his features, those furs might be too big now. But some kids shot up, both in size and mischief. A fact which seemed evident enough when the other rider mentioned he had some issues getting them to wear what warmer gear they did have. Kids believed themselves indestructible at times; and some -- like himself -- didn't always grow out of that. His smile settled into something more natural hearing the fear of the ice. Slowly he shook his head and spoke both in earnest and seriousness, "Nightmare of not; I don't see you or Roquath allowing anything of the sort." He spared a glance to where he had seen the kids last duck off; "In fact; I don't see anyone in the Weyr letting it happen." Weyrfolk were generally known for looking after their own, "If anything, their enthusiasm is infectious and they will have plenty of people wanting to join them"

"The ice doesn't stay firm because anyone at the Weyr demands it, enthusiasm or not." E'kavas said. "I can watch and shout all I like, but it just takes one bad choice from them and one glance away from me. Faranth forbid anyone else tries to join them and they end up falling in as well. Or other kiddos fall in trying to chase after them."

Az'uka mentally bit down on the sigh that wanted to escape him. As much as a part of him wanted to tell his friend his worries were unfounded, he couldn't. Having no experience as a father himself he couldn't override the place where those worries came from. A place where they were very much founded and grounded. The same place, where it was possible, that held a similar fear for the kids. Only aimed in the direction of their father when it came to Fall. That had very real risks, and kids were often a lot more aware of such things than they let the adults in their lives know. To be Weyrbred was to grow up quickly. He let the trail of thought go and regarded his friend, "I stand by it. Everything in your power will see them safer than a clutch of firelizard eggs. Regardless of what happens, you will adapt and continue to do so. In order to be where you need to be for them." He paused before he continued honestly "And if you let them, there are people who will be there for you no matter what happens." he personally counted himself among them if the other dragonrider ever asked. "Through the good and bad."

E’kavas listened, the words landing somewhere between comfort and something that still didn’t quite settle the knot in his chest. Az’uka meant well-- he always did-- but the easy confidence in those reassurances felt a step removed from the quiet, persistent dread that lived in the back of a father’s mind whenever ice and children shared the same thought. The 'Weyr' could not move fast enough to pull children from under the ice.

Still, he offered a small, genuine smile and a brief nod. “Appreciate it, Az’uka. Truly.” Already turning toward the shore where the two small figures still scrambled over the rocks, he added, “I’d best get back before they test me. Good luck with your leathers.”

"Anytime." Az’uka added to his friend’s leaving form. He only wished he could completely dispel the other man’s worries; not that they were unhealthy. Rather Az’uka tended to worry about his friends and didn’t think they should have to fight such battles alone. As E’kavas disappeared after the kids the bluerider turned back to the leather work he was doing, completely forgetting where he had relocated the threaded neededthorn he needed for a moment.

Last updated on the October 28th 2026

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A Rider's Second Craft