That's What Friends and Canines are for!

Writers: Clancey, Mirren
Date Posted: 17th January 2012

Characters: Dysali, E'ron
Description: Dysali sees E'ron and tries to introduce him to Wags.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 6, day 6 of Turn 6
Notes: Mentioned: D'ren

Playing a game of fetch-the-stick with Wags in the Bowl in the early evening, Dysali spied a former weyrling who had only just this turn graduated to a fighting Wing. Decided to see how he was adjusting, she whistled for Wags and they pair both came trotting over to E'ron. Wags was not really 'trotting' so much as rambling all around her own path. The canine just would not follow a straight line, not matter what she did to train him to it.

Grumbling good naturedly about the thick skulls of canines, she waved a hello to E'ron. "Hello there E'ron! I had heard you'd been put into a fighting Wing a little while ago. How are you doing?" She smiled that charming, if uneven, smile and waiting for his answer. She knew he was sometimes a little reticent in his conversations.

It wasn't that E'ron didn't _like_ Dysali, but he'd been trying to stay away from pretty much everyone for the last few sevendays. Ever since graduation... Shells, ever since he'd impressed. People just didn't get it, didn't get him. Shells, he didn't even get himself. Oh it wasn't Feykenth's fault, his pale blue dragon was perfect. Better than perfect. But life just wasn't as he'd thought, as he'd planned. And of course the entire Weyr knew he'd impressed blue. ...and had been avoiding him. Or had he been doing the avoiding?

He turned slowly, forcing something akin to a smile onto his face.
"Hello Dysali, I'm... All right" he said, softly. "I, yep, Cyclone Wing." he crossed his arms over his chest, classic defensive posture. "How've you been?"

With a whistle, she pulled Wags back to her side and snapped his leash on him so he wouldn't run off again, and turned back to E'ron as he answered her. She noted his normal habit of ...not getting too close.... seemed to be showing up again, but she wouldn't have it. He wouldn't close himself off like D'ren had done, no matter what was bothering him. She thought maybe something was and had been for a while, she'd barely seen him around the Weyr at all, even on Thread days when it seemed like _everyone_ was out in the Bowl at the same time.

"You don't sound alright, E'ron." she said softly, then turned on her smile full force. Would it work? Could she make him laugh? Could Wags? "But I know just the thing you need.... a face full of canine...." She let the leash go slack in her hands, knowing the bouncing canine would try to leap happily on the nearest thing - in this case E'ron - wagging his whole body for all he was worth.

Instinctively, E'ron threw his hands up to guard his face, but to no avail, he still ended up knocked back a step with a face full of wet tongue. It was like a facecloth which smelled like its last meal. Fish? Herd beast? Dead... Something!

"Pthhhhfffth", E'rom gasped, pushing Wags off himself. "Yuck. Why would I need that?" he wasn't sure if he should laugh or be angry.

Dysali laughed aloud and called Wags back to her. "Because, you can't help but laugh at his terrible breath and the fact that he wags himself silly if you even look at him. " She turned a little more serious. "No, I'm sorry E'ron. I couldn't resist. Sometimes when I am feeling down, Wags can make me laugh. I thought it would help."

E'ron's eye narrowed slighlty.
"Who said I was feeling down? I'm fine," he lied, not convincingly.

"You did! You said you were ..."alright". I was _not_ convinced! And besides, what better way to meet my canine, then to have him jump all over you? E'ron, meet Wags. Wags, meet E'ron." The canine, at the sound of his name, wagged his body even more than before, if that was possible. He could not restrain a happy 'woof' from coming from his mouth, either. The adorable thing.

"Lillyth says she would like to eat him, but I tell her that he would not taste good. A fact you can now attest to, since you smelled his breath! He likes fish almost as much as a feline!"

She crossed her arms, but kept firm hold of Wags' leash.

Her eyes narrowed seriously and she made a guess at what might be on his mind, even if it be completely wrong. "Do you want to talk about it? Flying Thread, I mean? I know what it was like to be new and facing it." But no fear or worry crept into her voice. For all her close calls - 2 which ended in scars for her and her dragon - neither she nor Lillyth had yet developed the healthy fear and respect of Thread that was its due. They just wanted to kill it, and hang it all if it bites back. They would just flame it to ashes.

E'ron opened his mouth and closed it again a couple of times, machismo warring with common sense and the fact that, when all was said and done, he was basically little more than a kid. A scared one.
"I'm all... Thread's, I'm handling it... Mostly, only..." he hesitated. "I'm worried about what might happen to Feykenth. You know, if he got hurt. Or if I.. You know..."

}: I will NOT die! I will NOT let you!:{ Feykenth seemed to mentally stamp his foot, he sounded so definite.

Dysali nodded in complete, and total, understanding. She understood the concern, but not the fear. Thread did not scare her. Though admittedly, it should.

}:We flame it! We beat it! :{ Lillyth's mindvoice surged up in her thoughts and a fierce grin parted her lips for a moment.

Then, she moved closer to E'ron to clasp his arm gently. "I Know. But Feykenth chose _you_ and you have to trust him. And trust your Wingmates. We don't want anything to happen to you, or Feykenth, either! The sad part is that we must go on and go fight it, whether we will or no, because folks out there..." and she waved a hand randomly behind her. "...need us to do it. And Feykenth, and you, you were _meant_ to do it. It will be okay, I promise. Eventually." She smiled gently. "And I'm here if you want to yell and scream and fuss about it. Sometimes, you just need _someone_ who understands."

E'ron leaned just slightly into her hand, where it rested on his arm. It wasn't a big gesture, but it was a big deal to him. He hadn't let anyone in, even this small amount, since he'd impressed. Other than Feykenth of course.
"Thanks", he said softly.

Her smile warmed at that simple outreach. She felt, for some reason, she had done something very important, even if it was only important to her, and to E'ron. It was good to _help_ again. She wasn't sure, and didn't know, really, what a big deal this was for E'ron, but on some level, she was pleased that _her_ reaching out had not gone unnoticed, or even, un-needed. And a good time for it, too, since Thread fell tomorrow.

"Anytime, E'ron. That's what friends...and canines....are for... and we all need them. I'm just starting to remember that, again. So thank _you_ too." She said honestly.

E'ron smiled slightly.

"You're welcome". He said, his voice soft. "I should, um, you know, go and check my flight straps. Got to be ready for tomorrow!"

Last updated on the January 28th 2012

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

That's What Friends and Canines are for!