Wings to the Mind (Ghost) | 75.08.18

[Moo]

Rise and shine, Orabel. Come and meet the dawn.

It was the same phrase every morning, but it was their routine, and theirs alone.

With a sleepy grin, Orabel pushed herself to a sitting position on her bed and rest her back against the wall. Truth be told, she had already been awake for some time, but getting out of bed took a little longer. The morning was her favorite part of the day. The Weyr was still quiet, and not as busy as it got around high noon, but perhaps the most important fact of all was that it was their time for songs. Dragon-songs, bird-songs, no matter which kind it was, the morning was the best time for it.

For the majority of the time, Orabel refrained from joining in with her dragon's crooning - but on the occasion that the Pink dragon found a good tune, she knew she would be singing made-up lyrics right along side her. And they must have been on to something good, because they hadn't heard any complaints yet.

After she rose out of bed and pulled on the same top, pair of pants, and rider's jacket she had worn yesterday, Orabel reached for a couple of ribbons and tied her hair up. She moved over to her sleeping firelizard and brushed two fingers against his side. His wings twitched funnily in his sleep, and she bit her lip to keep from laughing and waking him up. He was still young, and needed what rest he could get.

I'm gonna grab something to eat. Meet you at the normal place?
That works, but hurry, you'll miss the sunrise.
I'll be there, don't worry!

Slipping on her boots, laces tucked inside the shoe, she took the stairs down the narrow passageway two steps at a time and headed for the dining hall. It was busier down here compared to the quietness of her weyr, but not by much. There were a few older riders already awake, discussing the day's plans, and her lips twitched with a brief smile. They were industrious members of the Weyr and had their lifes together. She hoped someday she would, too.

After shimmying into the busy kitchen and nicking a mug of klah, as well as a thick slice of bread covered in jam, Orabel hurried on up to the Heights. It was the perfect spot to view the sunrise, and to broadcast any songs that one had in mind.

She heard her dragon before she saw her, and then rounded the turn and moved her way toward the Pink. She had already began to hum a quiet tune, her tail tapping in time with the music. Orabel nudged Alineshith with her elbow to let her know she was there, then took a seat at her side.

"So what d'you want to do today?" she asked, blowing on the hot drink before taking a sip. "There's always flight practice we could work on."

She paused her humming and looked over. We could always use the practice, she replied, eyes a pale blue. The Weyrling Master might have extra work we could do as well, if you wanted.

Orabel made a noise in her throat as she chewed a piece of her bread. Maybe...but I'd rather be outside today. Wouldn't you?

The humming continued. Let's decide after the sunrise, shall we? We just might be surprised.

She tried not to laugh as she swallowed and took another sip of klah. Though Alineshith had put her question off in favor of the rest of her song, she did have a point. No sense in worrying over something that hadn't happened yet. And besides, maybe something better would come up to distract them.

One could hope. Paperwork with the Weyrling Master didn't sound like much fun right now.

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

Pant.

Pant, pant.

K’tar rolled over, throwing one arm across his face. The attempted block was in vain though, and he sat up with a curse when Altahyr’s long, wet tongue ran across his face.

The canine moved in for a second lick, but K’tar fended him away with one hand while pulling on a shirt with the other.

“I get it, I get it, you want food.”

Altahyr jumped up in air at the last word, his front feet coming level with K’tar’s shoulders.

K’tar laughed. Viarth?

Been up. We should go to the kitchens, then you can feed yourself and Altahyr, and we can see who is up and about.

Viarth never tired of hanging out in places where he would encounter large groups of people and dragons, so that he could say hello to all of them. There was very little that the happy Purple enjoyed so much as a good conversation.

They emerged out of between perhaps four seconds later, Altahyr, as always, strapped down behind K’tar. The air was echoing with a humming song as they spiralled down into towards the WeyrBowl. It probably wouldn’t have taken much longer for them to fly the distance straight, but Viarth objected on principle to spending more time than was required in transit, and also objected on principle to expending more effort than was absolutely required.

After dropping off K’tar and Altahyr in the Bowl, Viarth sprang into the air again, aiming to settle on the Heights near the singing Pink.

Greetings Pink-sister-Alineshith. How are you today?

K’tar came out of the kitchens, several meat-rolls the richer, and looked around. You could have waited, you know, he told Viarth before setting off for the Heights.

Why? Walking is good for you, Lord Famoran told you that, remember?

K’tar sighed, though he couldn’t have been too tired, for he took the stairs to the Heights two or even three steps at a time. He rounded a corner at a fast jog, only to come to an almost sliding halt when he emerged to find a Pink and her Rider between him and Viarth. Altahyr nearly ran him down, only coming to a stop when half of his body was extending past K’tar’s legs, his back wedged between K’tar’s thighs and the wall.

Altahyr opened his mouth and started panting, his long pink tongue lolling to one side of his mouth.

“No jumping,” K’tar said, pushing Altahyr’s head down.

I hope her name’s Orabel, think it is. “Good morning… Orabel?” he continued, returning his focus to the Pink’s rider. She’d been in the same Weyrling class as him, but they hadn’t interacted much.

[Moo]

Alineshith looked up and over as her clutch-sibling was hovering in the air before her, and her eyes swirled with happiness. He had always been a very fun dragon to be with, so she hoped he would be staying for a little while. Hello, Purple-brother-Viarth, she replied sweetly, opting for his colloquialisms. The day has yet to begin and already I am singing. It is a good and fine morning!

She scooted over to make more room for him on the Heights. He should sit right next to her and they should talk. But first, the pleasantries were in order, even if she did want to discuss music and similar sorts of things. How are you and your Rider?

Dragons were decidedly not a rare sight here, so Orabel glanced up at Viarth, nodded, and continued to eat in silence. She knew that Alineshith had taken care of the customary greetings, so she wasn't concerned.

At the sound of a voice behind her, she looked over her shoulder. Ah! One of her old classmates. She put two and two together quickly - Viarth was K'tar's, of course. How could anyone forget the runner incident? They were a good pair together, but they did seem to be more prone to trouble than most.

And then she saw the dog.

She had been around canines enough to know that if there's food, they'll want it, and she was not about to let that happen. Instinctively, Orabel stuffed the rest of the bread, chewed, and swallowed - or, tried to. It was a bad idea. Coughing into her arm, she held up a finger for K'tar to wait a moment, her eyes watering, and then chased it down with the rest of her klah.

"Whew! Oh man, that was bad," she laughed to herself, and wiped away a stray tear. "Hi there, K'tar! How've you been?"

[Ghost of Fire (Fëanáro)]

Viarth smoothly circled around and landed beside Alineshith. He did much better at the maneuver now than he had the first time he’d tried it (also in front of Alineshith) wherein he had managed to — accidentally — perform three-quarters of a barrel roll.

I am glad to hear that you find it a fine morning as well. My rider and I are doing well. Does your rider likewise enjoy the day?

Altahyr cocked his head. The human was making funny noises, and holding her arm in front of her mouth. Confused, the canine padded forward and applied his wet nose to the human’s upper leg.

K’tar grinned. Laughter had that effect on him, when it didn’t make him join in the laughing himself.

“I’ve been doing pretty well, excepting trying to wake up for third night-watch. What about you? I heard you were helping the WeyrlingMaster out some.”