DCW: Not His Fault

Writers: Cali, Jane
Date Posted: 27th May 2007

Characters: Trellyn, Swift
Description: At the start of the storm Swift asks Trellyn about his new firelizard's likely reaction.
Location: Dolphin Hall
Date: month 3, day 19 of Turn 4
Notes: Early in the storm post!

Everybody was up early and making the most of a chance to eat. Swift
was starting to get a real understanding of the phrase 'rushed off his
feet' when he caught sight of the journeywoman he had hoped to see.

"Excuse me, journeywoman," he murmured, balancing the tray of rolls in
one hand and resting the heavy pitcher of juice in his other hand on the
back of a nearby chair. "Could I have a word about the hatchling?
Just quickly."

Trellyn looked nervously at the doorway to the lower section of the Hall
that lead to the Cavern Docks. She was helping pack up the equipment
and had just dropped off a load. "Um, yeah, of course. Is something
wrong with your blue?"

"No, no. He's fine. Sleeping a lot, and eating. Just like a baby.
But I'm going to be busy - we all are. Will he be all right if I don't
hang around him?"

The journeywoman smiled, "He'll be fine. He knows where you are if he
gets hungry. I'd just keep some jerky in my pocket in case."

"I could do that. It's just that we'll probably be busy. Everybody
will be, I suppose. I just don't want him to ... die. From lack of
attention. It's not his fault I Impressed him."

Trellyn chuckled. "I wouldn't worry about him dying. He's more likely
to go wild than that."

"Oh? Oh, that's not so bad." Swift's expression was suddenly worried.

"I don't want to lose him. He's wonderful. But," he nodded at the
doorway Trellyn watch watching, "If this is like last time, then ...
People come first."

She thought a moment, all too aware of how long it took before people
had any sort of normalcy at Topaz. "Does he like anybody else? Maybe a
child or old auntie that he sees in the kitchens?"

"Ahh, that's an idea. One of the older women sits and peels vegetables.
That way he wouldn't be alone when he wakes up." It seemed important
that the little creature wasn't neglected unless there wasn't a choice;
though the journeywoman's reassurance about going wild rather than dying
was a relief.

"They're usually pretty happy as long as they get their bellies
stuffed," she agreed.

"Thanks for that," Swift said. "I won't hold you up. You've likely got
more than me to do today and I've got plenty. Good luck."

She waved as she started to move again. "You too, and stay dry!"

He watched her go and wondered, as he had never thought to do at the
Topaz SeaHold Hall, whether he would see her again. Everything happened
so quickly in storms. Situations went from normal to emergency in what
seemed like a heartbeat. This old SeaHold they had converted into their
Hall was sturdy, and it had no doubt stood up to many storms on this
coast, but his father that everything would be 'all right' during storms
had been eroded a little over a Turn ago and he could no longer take
anything for granted.

The problem was that in the face of a truly catastrophic storm there was
little he - or anybody - could do that they didn't already do. The rest
was luck. And he didn't feel very happy relying on luck.

Last updated on the May 27th 2007

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

DCW: Not His Fault