The Stresses of Moving

Writers: Anwen, Eimi
Date Posted: 22nd June 2006

Characters: U'kaiah, Maiz
Description: U'kaiah helps Maiz unload
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 12, day 5 of Turn 3

}:Almost done:{ Indyath told her rider encouragingly.
Piled around the green were bags and boxes that had been unstrapped. Moving certainly was a labor-intensive process.

**Easy for you to say** Maiz replied. She was sweaty and out of breath. And there were still two more boxes and a bag to un-tie. Of course, these were the ones highest up, where they were difficult for Maiz to reach. Balancing one foot on Indyath's raised leg, Maiz extended her opposite arm as far as possible. She couldn't quite reach the strap. Knowing it was a stupid move, she streched onto her toes. This allowed her to ease the strap free.

Of course, she hadn't considered that the box was heavy, and with one hand she couldn't hold it. The box wobbled, Maiz lost her balance. Before she knew it, the greenrider had landed on the ground with a thud, the box hitting her shoulder during its own fall to the earth. U'kaiah watched as the greenrider fell back and winced painfully when the box impacted with her shoulder. "Hey, are you all right?" he called, running up to be sure she wasn't seriously hurt.

"Fine," she replied testily. It wasn't him she was mad at- it was herself. "Unless of course you count being an absolute dimglow."

"Do you have enough boxes here? It almost looks like someone's moving," he said as he righted the box and reached down to give her a hand up.

"Someone is moving," Maiz confirmed, as she brushed dirt from her tunic. "Indyath and I are moving into that weyr there," she pointed to a ground level weyr near where they were standing. "Ah, I see," the bronzerider nodded, trying not to chuckle outright. "You know, your green would fit inside that opening on the ledge there. It might make unpacking a little easier."

The greenrider sighed. "It would be much easier.
However, Indyath wanted to stay out in the sun and I decided to indulge her. In any case, being under the ledge wouldn't solve the basic problem of things being tied to high up on Indyath's back for me to reach."

"That is true," U'kaiah nodded. "Do you think she'd let me reach up there and untie those for you? I'm slightly taller."

Privately Maiz thought that 'slightly taller' was the understatement of the turn- she was just 5'5 while he was well over 6 foot. "If Indyath doesn't say yes, then I can always threaten to never give her a bath again."

}:Hey:{ the green protested to the teasing. }:I would have agreed without you getting mean...:{ "May I then?" U'kaiah asked, turning to the dragon politely. He wasn't about to step on a dragon without knowing he had permission.

Maiz began to wonder, not knowing who this man was, if he was uncomfortable around dragons. "If you don't feel comfortable with her, you could just boost me up so I can get them."

"Well, I have to to admit my bronze and I have been hurt by greens before," U'kaiah chuckled, pointing to his shoulder knots, "but I'm pretty sure I can handle her. But I would certainly hear it from Kalamath if I made a bad impression on your pretty green lifemate by stepping all over against her wishes."

Maiz dropped her head to stare at the ground and blushed, feeling stupid for missing his shoulder knots. "Indyath said its ok," she said quietly. "She's not shy and knows that you are helping me."

The bronzerider studied the young woman a moment. He decided she must just be shy, moving to a new Weyr and all. It was understandable, but he got the distinct feeling from the way her eyes were fixed on the dust he wasn't exactly making the move any easier. "So," he cleared his throught, determined to try again, "where are you and Indyath coming in from?"

"Vista Point," Maiz said sucinctily. Her past was certainly a train of thought that she didn't want to follow. Instead of looking at the bronzerider, she concentrated on gathering all her bags and boxes into one neat pile.

**Friendly sort,** U'kaiah thought sarcastically as he stepped up on the green's forearm to until the top boxes. "What brings you to Dragonsfall?"

Such a simple question. With such a difficult answer.
A question she was entirely unprepared for. She tried to formulate words, to make up some sort of excuse-
instead she burst into tears.
**Oh, shards...** The bronzerider looked over his shoulder at the bawling woman, annalyzing the words he said, how he said them... Did he do something? He silently untied the box and hopped down from Indyath's leg. "I'm sorry, did I... Are you all right?"

Maiz, wiped her eyes, sniffling. "I'm fine," she assured him. Once again, she wiped her eyes. "I'm sorry."

"I didn't mean to pry," he said gently as he set the box down in front of her.

"It was a simple question," Maiz said. "Just one I can't really answer. At least not now."

"All right, I can understand that. But just as a word of warning, its a question new transfers are asked. Frequently. You might want to think of something, at least a partial answer, that you can..." **say without bursting into tears** "Be comfortable giving. It doesn't have to be the whole truth, after all."

She nodded, took a deep breath. "It was time for a change. Is that answer enough?"

"It sounds perfect to me," U'kaiah said with a small smile. "Can I help you carry any of this in?"

"If its not too much trouble. I really appreciate the help. And I'm very sorry for crying," Maiz told him, while slinging a bag over her shoulder. The bronzerider shrugged and picked up the box once more. "They say moving is stressful. I suppose you have a good reason to cry."

Reason or not, she was still embarased. Suddenly, something occured to her. "I don't think I caught your name."

"U'kaiah, rider of bronze Kalamath."

"Nice to meet you," she said automatically. "I'm Maiz, rider of green Indyath."

The bronzerider smiled, glad to be getting off on better footing now. "Well... welcome to Dragonsfall, Maiz."

Last updated on the June 22nd 2006

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

The Stresses of Moving