Sh'mis and Erdrath's record
The Young Boy The sky was clear and the heat from the sun reflecting off the rock faces that make up the Weyr was almost unbearable. To top it all off, there wasn't even a breeze. Seeking a cooler spot for the afternoon, I decided to stop in the Lower Caverns. Inside there were a few people sitting together sipping cool glasses of fruit juice. Through the wide door on the far side of the cavern, the drudges were busily chopping food in the kitchen for the evening meal. The calmness of the afternoon is shattered when a woman yelled from the food preparation caverns, "Sharmis! Get that canine out of my kitchen!" A short boy, who had to be Sharmis exited the kitchen pulling a brown canine by the neck. "Come on Flax," he coaxed, "Lorin's not ready for us yet." A blue fire lizard flew after them.
Flax and blue Goret I watched him walk all the way to the exit before deciding to go talk to him. I cought up just as he took a seat on the ground outside the candidate barracks. The boy was short, blonde, and very thin. He couldn't be more than 14 turns old. His big blue eyes reflected his mood as if he was a dragon. Right now, those eyes reflected a bit of guilt mingled with contentment. Flax curled up next to him and he began petting the canine's fur. The blue fire-lizard landed on his shoulder, wrapping his tail around Sharmis's neck. Not knowing quite what to say, I spat out, "So you're Sharmis?" "Yeah, that's me. I guess you heard Lorin?" "Who didn't?" I answered. "So what happened?" "Flax," he pats the canines back, "is supposed to turn the spits for Lorin." He then indicated the fire-lizard, "Goret and I watch him when he's not on duty, so to speak. The problem is we brought him in too early and he started getting into everything, including a few bites out of the meat he's supposed to turn." "And that didn't go over very well from what I heard." "Uh, no. Mom and I just came in from Southern Boll Hold a few sevendays ago. She started helping Lorin in the Lower Caverns. She wasn't too pleased either when Flax knocked over the scrap bowl and the started drinking out of the water barrel." "You know," Sharmis changed the subject, "Flax may not come near me after the hatching." Confused, I asked, "What do you mean?" "Well, Flax used to like Mikala until she Impressed blue Pyrotath. Now he's scared to death of the dragon and her. He must smell dragon on her. Flax doesn't mind Goret because he is so small." "I can understand why," I empathize with Flax. "You mentioned a hatching. You're a candidate then?" Grinning with pride and pulling himself as tall as his short frame would allow, he told me, "I'm to stand to the clutch at Glass Island Weyr. I was Searched only yesterday." Then, a bit more humble, he added, "Who would have thought I would ever be Searched?"
Bath Time Humored, I watched the short procession to the lake. It was bath time for the new brown hatchling and his rider was having a bit of a problem. Leading out was a short, blonde, and very thin boy of 14 turns. He had a blue fire-lizard in addition to his dragon. The fire-lizard was sort of herding the whole party along. The young hatchling was only a day or two out of his shell and was under the restriction of no flying. This was why they were walking to the lake. The dragon was on the boy's left, and curiously, a brown canine cautiously followed at the boy's right. The boy first encouraged the dragon, and then the canine, and then the dragon again.
Flax, blue Goret, and brown Erdrath Thinking I might be of help if I handled the canine, I cought up with him, saying "It looks like you could use a hand." "Flax is very timid around dragons," the boy explained. "It's a wonder he's even here." "Is he yours?" I couldn't help notice his big blue eyes. "Flax turns the spits for Lorin in the Lower Caverns but I watch him while he's off duty. Mikala used to watch him until she Impressed blue Pyrotath. After that, he got scared of her. The bigger Erdrath gets, the less likely he'll stick with me, but he's still here for now." Taking Flax by the collar, I walked with him and the brown dragon. "Although I've seen you before, I don't remember your name." "I'm Sharmis, or rather Sh'mis. My dragon is Erdrath, and the tiny blue is Goret. Goret's worse than a queen with her fair. Thinks it all has to be done his way." "And what's Erdrath like?" "Oh, him?" Sh'mis sent a loving look towards the brown before a mischievious grin appears on his face, "It's bathing time for him. He hates bathing. He even hates getting wet! That's why he's walking so slow." "Bathing takes too long and I would rather be napping," Erdrath takes the opportunity to tell you himself. Finally we reached the lake. I paused while Sh'mis took Flax's collar before I excused myself.
Thirsty! The day was hot and I wished someone had told me there were no eggs on the sands before I took the time to walk all the way over there to take a peak. Slightly embarrased, and thirsty as a dragon, I tenderly made my way back towards the Lower Caverns. Even my feet were tender in my cool sandals and I suspect I must have burned them through the soles. Above me, the werylings had returned from practice and were taking turns circling to land. I was still quite a ways away from my goal when a sturdy brown veered in my direction and landed a dragonlength away.
blue Goret, and brown Erdrath "You look like you're about ready to fall over and die," the dragonrider pointed out the obvious. "Erdrath saw you from the air and suggested I share some of the water with you." I had never been more happy to hear those words. "You have water?" I asked. "Just a little. With this heat, we have to bring fresh water from a nearby river to make sure we have enough. No one, apart from the dragons, wants to drink out of the lake." As he talked he guided me over to the two large water barrels strapped to Erdrath's back. Each one was two-thirds as tall as the dragonrider and an arm-length in diameter. How the dragon carried that much I will never know. Reaching into another sack, the dragonrider pulled out a cup which he filled with the precious liquid before handing it to me. After my 4th cup, I noticed an improvement. Dumping the 5th cup over my head was even better. "You are a life-saver, uh..." I struggled for his name. "Sh'mis, rider of brown Erdrath," he provided. As soon as he said it, I remembered him. Suddenly left out, the blue fire-lizard chattered his annoyance. "Oh, yes, this stunning blue is Goret." I smiled remembering his antics as well. Satisfied, the blue landed on Sh'mis's shoulder. "Well, Sh'mis, Erdrath, Goret," I nodded to each in turn, "I don't know if I would have made it if you hadn't stopped," I gratefully thanked them. Still grinning, Sh'mis offered, "need a ride back to the lower caverns?" Embarrassed, but grateful, I accepted. The ride was very short by air, but all I can think about was more water, and somewhere to lie down. Erdrath landed smoothly and I spotted a brown canine dissappear inside the cavern. Not even thinking twice about it, I are surprized when Sh'mis says, "that canine was Flax. Now that Erdrath is so big, Flax won't come near me anymore. It's a shame."
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