Why am I so alone? (open)

[shapeshifter]

Saphierah sat alone in her darkened room in the Barracks. She had wrapped herself in her furs, the coolness in the room giving her a bit of a chill. The only light was that coming from a glow basket that was sitting in the corner of the room.

The only thing she could think of was how much longer till she had her opportunity to Stand. It was going to be a thrilling time, that was for sure. She only could hope to Impress a dragonet on her first Stand simply because some walked away without Impression.

Saphierah stood, throwing her furs aside and straightened out her navy blue tunic. She stretched herself out and composed herself, walking out of the Barracks. She made her way down by the Kitchens, grabbing two meat rolls and then making her way to the Weyrbowl. She never got to finish looking for her Firelizard eggs and by Faranth she wanted a flit. Saphierah was tired of being alone in the Weyr, even though she didn't care to be close to people she still liked human interaction.

Saphierah felt Rubkat's warmth shining down on her in between the cool breezes that floated through the Weyr. She watched as dragons soared in and out of the heights, landing and launching from the Weyr Bowl floor. She longed for the day she'd take her first flight on her mine, knowing that day could only be a Turn away.

She stood, looking around to see if any other Candidates may be around the area. She began a slow walk towards the beach area, maybe she'd run into someone down that way. She felt like continuing finding herself a firelizard egg.

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

K’tar wasn’t looking for a flitt egg. In fact, the last thing in all of Pern, bar pretty much nothing, that he wanted was a flitt. It was irrational. He knew it, Viarth knew it, Holt doubtless knew it and thought it, the same with Barlow and D’ziel, and Jatheiron had told him it, several times. Of course, he’d never shared with any of them, except Viarth, just why it was that he was so uninterested in flitts, though Jatheiron, by virtue of knowing all the players in the story, might well have guessed. However, it wasn’t as if the reason made things any more rational. After all, by this point almost everyone he knew had a flitt, and none of them were like his brother’s flitt in any way. No matter, he still wasn’t looking for flitt eggs.

Really, there wasn’t much of a reason for him to be out on the beach this afternoon. Excepting the fact that today was the day that his Wing had off from practice, and well, he had a few things he needed to think about. Scratch that, a lot of things. Well, one or two things in particular, both pertaining to the letter that he was holding. Hence the reason that he was pacing along the beach, trailed by a Purple dragon that measured 32 feet from point of shoulder to point of rump. Actually, it was more like he was pacing while Viarth simply pivoted back and forth to keep his own head and nose pointed at his rider.

A thunderous barking split the air, even over the waves, and K’tar came to a complete stop, freezing in mid-pace, his foot raised, and staring over his shoulder with eyes that, for a split instant, were huge with startled fright. He jammed the letter into an inner pocket of his shirt, even as he caught sight of the person that Altahyr had alerted on. He didn’t know her, which meant, well, any number of things, given the letter in his hand. Oh well, nothing for it.

“Hey! Never mind the canine! He only licks!”

Altahyr, at that moment, decided to prove K’tar right, jumping up and forwards with his mouth open, only to try and wrap his forelegs around the young woman so that he could lick her face. It was probably fairly intimidating, considering that Altahyr was, when standing on his back legs, nearly as tall as the young woman, solid black excepting his white belly, and, thanks to the ridge of hair on his back, looked perpetually aggressive.

“Altahyr! Come!”

Altahyr ignored the shout. He was rather like his person in that way.

Growling, K’tar raced forwards, grabbing the canine and hauling him away from the unknown young woman.

“Sorry about that,” he panted. “He just gets excited by new people.”

[shapeshifter]

Most people would have been intimidated by the canine, however Saphierah loved animals too much. She smiled at the Rider and his purple, and blocked her chest with her arm just in time for the blow. Saphierah laughed and said, "Well then, hello to you too!" when she felt the canine's tongue on her cheek.

When the Rider moved the canine away she decided it might be courteous to announce who she was, "I can see that! No harm done, he's rather adorable. My name is Saphierah Medae, I'm a candidate here." She was always taught to do a courtesy for Riders, Holders and anyone of rank; so of course she did. "It's a beautiful day isn't it?"

She looked towards the sky, shielding her eyes with her left hand for only a moment. Rukbat was still burning bright. She looked back towards the Rider to glance at his face and shifted her bright green eyes to the sea.

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

K’tar breathed a sigh of relief. It was definitely a good thing that the newcomer wasn’t scared by Altahyr. Of course, there was the also the fact that this wasn’t, clearly wasn’t, the contact specified in the letter. On the other hand, there was nothing that said that the contact would be made today, so he might as well have a conversation. If nothing else, it would help him look relaxed. Looking relaxed was usually a good thing.

Fleetingly, a thought swam to the surface of his mind, a recollection of Barlow’s face, and his own promise to let the other boy know if anything happened, to inform him about anything serious.

Forget it, he told himself. This is way too much to involve anyone else in.

Grinning to cover his inner dialogue, K’tar held out his hand.

“K’tar Damoyen, of that Purple beastie over there.” He tipped his head at Viarth, who snorted.

“It is really a pretty nice out. It’s much better than the last day we had a break day from practice. So, there any reason in particular that you’re out here? Other than it being a nice day and all?” The question was one that might have, from someone else, sounded critical. From K’tar, it was simply a polite inquiry, a question that was based only in one person’s curiosity about another.

[shapeshifter]

Saphierah smiled and watched the Purple dragon who seemed to be enjoying his day. She looked back to his Rider as the Rider spoke.

"Oh, my name is Saphierah Medae. And particular reasoning? Not much, just enjoying the nice weather and relaxation. I didn't realize you could have so many chores being a Candidate; it kind of gets exhausting!" She smiled and looked at the canine that was next to her, she bent down to him and began to scratch behind his ears.

She raised up and looked K'tar dead in the eyes, "Well what about you, K'tar? Just enjoying yourself like most other people would?" She said it in a joking manner, trying to combat his slightly critical tone.

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

K’tar laughed. “At least you’re doing enough of them to get exhausted, that’s more than I could have said as a Candidate.”

Lier. You did chores… once. Perhaps.

K’tar choked on a laugh. “Sorry,” he gasped out, having regained his breath. “Just… something Viarth said.”

Grabbing a stick, he turned and hurled it as far down the beach as he could. Altahyr barked once and gave chase, clearly intending to catch the stick before it could touch the ground.

“Actually, I guess I am,” K’tar admitted. “I don’t get to come out here enough, always more to do and more to work on.”

He shrugged.

Panting Altahyr ran up between them and dropped the stick.

“You want to throw it?” K’tar asked, a smile still dancing at the edges of his mouth. Let tomorrow, or later today, if it happened, bring what it may. At least he was able to have fun now.