Not An Idle Declaration (Cait/Dalonia)

[Shoki]

Cait
77.01.04
Aerie Quarters/Lower Caverns
Late Morning/After Sunset

Kiyosh had gotten a talking to from a few people. She hardly paid it mind though, she was still working on the case. Cr’wean had gotten a nap in, after his morning shift, but was now listening to Kiyosh talk, with a bit of bread in his mouth as he listened.

[smear:993300]I’m thinking of getting involved some of my human buddies.[/smear:A0522D"]

“Like who?” Cr’wean spoke around the food his mouth, looking up curiously.

[smear:993300]We’ve healed up some broken arms and legs, most of them are guards or other riders. A couple Wherhandlers wouldn’t go amiss.[/smear:A0522D"]

“We didn’t even get information on who did it. And you know we aren’t Weyr. The Aerie is mad as is that you are up in arms about this, since it’s not our job.” He got an angry gaze before continuing. “So anything you do to get people is going to be a personal favor. Off of you, I’ve got no clout and I owe most of the cooks for…reasons.” He didn’t say it but they both thought it. They were cookie reasons.

[smear:993300]Fine. So we ask someone. You get them to talk to me, and I take it from there.[/smear:A0522D"]

“Who’d you have in mind?” There was silence for a while, interrupted only be chewing.

[smear:993300]We start with Dalonia. If she isn’t interested, she knows who is.[/smear:A0522D"]

Cr’wean let out a sigh. “Fine. I never wanted sleep anyway.”

---

It was dark, but before Cr’wean’s shift. He hated the late shifts, but he really didn’t have much of a choice in the matter. Still, he found himself heading to the lower caverns, dressed for work anyway. He somehow expected this to go long. He was annoyed, as he usually was when he hadn’t gotten sleep between shifts, but was doing his best to keep his face fairly neutral. He asked some of the handlers, rather shortly, where she could be found, and was directed to an office. He really had no occasion to come down here. Whers weren’t anywhere near one of his specialties.

Soon enough he found the right door and knocked firmly. Then he waited, his arms crossed.

[Cait]

So far the day had been average. Tellard was being obnoxious, the usual annoyances were presented and there was always the matter of Misk. If she became a nuisance, Dalonia had no doubt that the Citrine would be put down. While the exuberant little thing was technically bonded, it hadn't been her first choice of a handler and quite frankly the lad was few glows short of a basket. Without realizing it, however, Dalonia had grown attached to the little beast and when she grew attached to things she protected them fiercely.

She would never admit it, of course. It was simply her duty to see that all of the smelly beasts were cared for properly and if that meant that everyone picked up the slack and she more often than not had two whers in her quarters then so be it. Rapping a stack of papers on the desk so that they fell into order, she set them aside and started towards the door. If it was Tellard one more time, she was going to strangle him and feed him to his own wher. Perpetual scowl in place, she wrench open the door and was ready to tell the silver handler where he could stick his chauvinistic suggestions but it wasn't that damnable man...it was a healer, from the Aerie.

"Yeah?"

[Shoki]

Cr’wean was greeted by the look of someone about to chew him out, but apparently he was the wrong target. He hadn’t had many occasions to see Dalonia, but had patched up a couple broken arms so wasn’t completely unfamiliar with who she was. He got a neutral enough word thrown at him, so he unfolded his arms and spoke, keeping his tone professional enough.

“If you have some time, someone has a favor to ask. She is in the bowl, if you don’t mind.” Cr’wean folded his hands again, before getting a mental lashing. He didn’t like it but he was informed that if he didn’t use a particular word he would get all pillows available to him torn to shreds. He was more inclined to listen because the cause was noble rather then that persistent threat. “Please.”

Anyone who actually knew him and heard that little word would have sworn he was a doppelganger.

[Cait]

Pale green eyes shifted to the man's shoulder. He was vaguely familiar and his knots declared him one of those weird bird healers. Lifting her bareback to his face, Dalonia's eyes narrowed not at not just his proposal but the use of that word. In the long list of things that the wherhandler didn't like there were specific words that she hated above all others. Words like help and favor and please. They made her suspicious and wary and she avoided using them at all costs because they often left her indebted to others.

"I do mind. What is it you want? I don't deal with messengers well." She didn't like this cryptic stuff. Who was "she" and what did she want? Why didn't they just come themselves? If a person couldn't be bothered to ask her for something to her face, Dalonia couldn't be bothered to do it. Plain and simple.

[Shoki]

Cr’wean frowned. What did he want? That was entirely separate from the matter at hand. Some peace and quiet wouldn’t go amiss. Again, entirely separate from what he was going to do.

“I am not the one to get into it, and I wouldn’t WANT to be. I’m only a messenger because I fit into the hallway, if she could fit, don’t think for a second she wouldn’t squeeze her way in. Sharding creature would have tried it already to hang out with folk.” He refolded his arms, looking normally grumpy. “I wouldn’t even be here if I didn’t agree that there is sharding deadglow who had better hope that they are already too bloodied by the time I get there so I won’t do something-“ He growled. “Anyway. That’s for her to get to. She’s the one organizing a man hunt.” He looked more mad now, but kept the anger tempered. After all, he wasn’t running off to shout at the sea.

“If you won’t go, fine, that’s not going to bite me, but it’s a right pain for her to haunt the weyr for as long as it will take to find handlers.” Honestly, haunt was a good word for it at the moment. Kiyosh liked humans, but the offender could only be human, so she was not so much interested in making new friends right now.

[Cait]

Her expression didn't change though she found herself mildly annoyed by his attitude. She did, however, find the notion that supposedly his bird wanted something from her. Ever suspicious and paranoid, she pursed her lips. "If she's here to tell me to stop sending those idiot guards to the infirmary..." Clearly that wasn't an idea that went over well with Dalonia. She was a bit rough when it came to training but her training had Ben infinitely rougher than anything she put her people through.

"Wait, manhunt?" In her list of words, that was in the column of one's that she enjoyed. She also found herself intrigued by the dealer's borderline murderous declaration. Peculiar for a pair devoted to healing and something she could relate to. Clearly someone had done something that a lifewing thought constituted a manhunt. Mulling it over and ignoring anything else the man said, she finally let out a shrill whistle and brushed past him, closing the door behind her but not before her firelizards ducked out. Pest tried to land on her but the wherhandler shooed the little thing away and he joined Thief hovering above her. "Well, let's go then. Ya have ten minutes t' convince me t' waste my time on ya."

[Shoki]

Cr’wean raised an eyebrow. For people he complained at, Dalonia didn’t strike him as someone he would complain to. Most of them were broken bones, which fell under his domain. So it kept him busy. If he thought they were stupid, he’d call out the person who got hurt though. He did have something to say to the people that got Kel into the Aerie again. Not for doing anything wrong, mostly the healers were getting sick of dealing with his nonsense. At least his sister was able to keep the daft lad under control. Not that he could be entirely happy about THAT. He wasn’t a very happy person.

However, he didn’t seem to have to say anything beyond what he said, and Dalonia was off and running. He dashed through so as not to get the door slammed on him, and watched her curious pets. Dragonkin seemed to get more dragonkin. He hadn’t seen the appeal, even less so with some of the ones he had met. He kept on walking to match the Handler.

“That works.” Like his partner was in any mood to be anything but blunt. They made their way to the Bowl. Kiyosh was waiting for them, hunched over and watching the people about with her head lower to the ground. Cr’wean naturally went over to her, which shifted Kiyosh’s head directly toward the humans. “Dalonia, this is Kiyosh, Kiyosh, this is Dalonia.” His words were to the point, but the Vulture hissed a moment.

[smear:993300]You better have kept your manners.[/smear:A0522D"]

“Well…”

Kiyosh made a huff noise before turning and speaking directly to Dalonia. [smear:993300]I apologize for Cr’wean. I don’t have him entirely trained yet.[/smear:A0522D"] Cr’wean grumbled but stayed out of it. Like he needed to get in the middle of angry women. [smear:993300]Regardless, I would like to ask you for your help finding someone. Or, if you find yourself busy, if you could direct someone who would be interested, to me.[/smear:A0522D"] She puffed her feathers up, clearly agitated. [smear:993300]I will not stand for those who raise their hands against pregnant women.[/smear:A0522D"] The last words were intensely serious, and there was real anger there.

[Cait]

When the man finally led the way out to the weyrbowl, there was a Lifewing. She knew he'd had one but they still made her a bit uneasy. She was never quite sure what to think of them. They were useful, that was for sure, but strange. Definitely strange. As the man introduced her to the creature, Dalonia grunted one of her typical greetings. And waited. He'd said she had a proposition.

Sure enough the bird turned to her and oh, apparently the man's name was Cr'wean. Good to know. SHe shrugged. Manners really weren't a priority for her. Say what needed to be said as efficiently as possible and then move on. Wait. The Lifewing wanted her to find someone? Her eyes narrowed. She didn't have time to play fetch with a giant talking bird! But then the next words kept her in place. "What happened?" IT came out as a low snarl that any wher would be proud of. SHe might be gruff and frankly rather scary, but whether people knew it or not, Dalonia wasn't one to tolerate abuse against the weak and defenseless. Likely an unexpected product of her upbringing that her brothers and their friend hadn't counted on.

[Shoki]

Kiyosh leaned in closer to Dalonia, even if it wasn’t strictly required, it felt more right than if she just looked about while speaking. She tried to keep her fury in check but the words were still angry.

[smear:993300]Chantrea of Moonlight Valhauth. She was seven months pregnant. And someone pushed her down a flight of stairs. Someone deliberate pushed her and I swear-[/smear:A0522D"] The Vulture bit of the words and added bitterly, [smear:993300]We saved her, and by some miracle we managed to save one of her children.[/smear:A0522D"] Her claws tried to dig into the stone beneath her. She was going to find them. They should pray that she was feeling merciful. Not likely though. [smear:993300]It was done right in front of her weyr.[/smear:A0522D"] That was about all they knew. The mother hadn’t said, nor was in a mood to be interrogated on the affair. Cr’wean eyed his Lifewing partner, who was not going to let this matter rest. Of course she wasn’t. She loved humans. Especially the small ones. This was something she couldn’t let stand.

[Cait]

Dalonia stood perfectly still as she watched the strange bird. When she finally spoke, Dalonia tensed. Chantrea? That name was familiar and while sh listened to the rest of it she tried to place the name. The girl that had been kidnapped. A low growl bubbled up the back of her throat only to stop abruptly. Save one of her children? Her face paled as the faces of T'kar's children came unbidden to her mind. Her hands clenched and a muscled twitched in her jaw.

Pale green eyes snapped over to the man, her voice tight with a razor sharp edge to it. "When did this happen? Why was I not informed of it?" More and more Dalonia was beginning to feel as though the weyr was home. As though she owed something to the Weyr for giving her a place where she finally felt free or even remotely safe from the machinations of her brothers and their sadistic friend. It was resulting in an unhealthy obsession with needing to know what was going on at all times and with her paranoid nature, she clearly thought that she was the only one who could handle any situation that came up.

[Shoki]

[smear:993300]Early on the day of the new turn.[/smear:A0522D"] So three days ago. [smear:993300]I am not about to begin to speculate on why you may not have been told, Aerie was first on the scene. The biggest problem was in front of us. Only Cr’wean was asking questions.[/smear:A0522D"] Not that they hadn’t told the other healers. Their report was available now, the day of had been dealing with the patient, it had been a long process and rounds of healing were had. Kiyosh didn’t need to explain that, nor was she quite able to explain that this had been the first chance that she’d got after her own search to flag down her rider.

“I told the other healers what happened, but it was decided that further questions should not be posed to the patient at this time.” Healer speak for the patient was upset and they were not about to push it. Despite how he and Kiyosh wanted answers, they had agreed with the ruling. They didn’t know how long it was going to be, but they expected that it would be a longer process, especially since she had a child to care for as well.

[smear:993300]In other words, we have no clues besides those I have presented. Unless I have missed something.[/smear:A0522D"] Kiyosh did not like that idea at all, but she wanted action more then she wanted to save face. [smear:993300]I combed the area shortly after the event, but didn’t find anything out of order. Of course, I have many a place I can’t go.[/smear:A0522D"]

[Cait]

Turnover. Well at least now she knew why she hadn't heard about it immediately. She'd been a bit...predisposed at the time. The fact that she'd even been allowed back to work so soon was something of a miracle. No doubt T'kar would hear of it though and stick his nose in her business. She was just a bit sore still, that was all. All the major injuries had been healed and if she was a bit drained, so what. She could sleep later. Clearly she had work to do if people were shoving pregnant women down stairs.

Drawing in a deep breath and ignoring the pinch in her side from still sore muscles, Dalonia reached up to scratch a cheek in thought.

This wasn't an ideal situation. Many days had passed, plenty of time for whoever had done it to cover their tracks. But Dalonia was inclined to believe the bird. If someone had felt strongly enough to kidnap the girl from her weyr and her sleeping dragon...it could very well have been the same people responsible. That man had gotten away after all. "Alright. I'll look into it. I doubt there'll be anything t' find at the stairs. Best bet is talking t' the girl." And asking some very pointed and targeted questions.

[Shoki]

Kiyosh was delighted that Dalonia agreed to help, and was about to start thanking the woman when she added part of her plan to the conversation. The Vulture turned to Cr’wean and they had a brief aside. Neither of them were quite sure when visitors would be allowed again. It might be possible that Dalonia could get around the normal visitor rules, but other than that, it was more a mental then a physical barrier to Chan’s health here. They turned back to the woman and Kiyosh spoke first.

[smear:993300]We aren’t sure when visitors will be allowed, but we’ll tell you the moment they are. Lucky the Lifewing on duty is a bit of a gossip among the other feathered.[/smear:A0522D"] Lifewings were social creatures by nature. Bonded or no, they had their own social circles and word tended to get around on the bird’s favorite subjects. The big birds often would keep tabs on others they fancied, and if they caught and inkling that they might be flying soon, would have others take shifts that had them straying from the Aerie. Kiyosh liked it, but found the antics of the adorable humans more intriguing.

“I don’t know how helpful this is, but I am pretty sure the kid’s father is K’tar. He was the one who got word to Kiyosh by Viarth. He looked pretty close to Chantrea at least.” Cr’wean was not an idiot, he just didn’t have an easy time dealing with romance himself. Not that he kept tabs on the Purplerider, but he did seem to keep meeting the kid under different circumstances. How was it that the kid already had a kid? Dragonriders, geez.

The pair looked at each other, trying to figure out if they had missed any other tidbit of information. They couldn’t think of it. Kiyosh turned back and Cr’wean kept his arms crossed but turned his head.

[smear:993300]If you need any help, feel free to tell me.[/smear:A0522D"] She tilted her head and brought it down, her version of a bow. [smear:993300]And thank you for your time. And your help.[/smear:A0522D"] Cr’wean looked at the sky out of the corner of his eye before turning them back. He was about out of time, he had work.