Hard And Not Forgiving

Writers: Bree, Eimi
Date Posted: 3rd January 2007

Characters: Abrei, Zebrekhan
Description: Abrei and Zebrakhan make small talk when the bump into each other along the cliff trail.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 1, day 20 of Turn 4

Abrei

Zeb paused at the top of the cliff trail overlooking the river far below. He didn't need the break, his legs were barely tired and his pack was not so heavy. It had just been a quick day trip, just to remind his muscles how to move. But it was just so flaming beautiful he had to stop and take it all in. The hint of sea salt on the breeze, mixed with that earthy forest smell. The sound of the breeze rustling leaves on the trees. And the view! Looking down on the river raging below on the final leg of its journey out to sea, cutting through stone as the ages slowly passed. The effect water had on rock fascinated the geologist. Water seemed so soft, so weak, and yet it shaped the land in ways that left humans in awe. His silent contemplation was interrupted by the sound of footsteps coming down the path. "It's a beautiful day, isn't it," he said with a smile that deepened as he took in the sight of the charming creature walking towards him. Just when he thought the view couldn't be more lovely...

"And a beautiful view." Abrei smiled as she took a seat on a nearby rock and stretched her leg out in front of her. "I don't see other people up here very often, though."

"Oh, well, then I'll take this chance meeting as a fortuitous sign. My name is Zeb," he walked towards her and extended a hand in a friendly greeting.

Abrei accepted his hand with a nod. "I'm Abrei."

"You're a crafter?" he asked, not releasing her hand quite yet.

One eyebrow went up as she glanced at their hands, but Abrei didn't pull away like she might have before. "I'm the--I'm a healer. A surgeon."

"Beautiful and incredibly smart. How refreshing." He let go of her hand and took a seat on the rock beside her. "I'm a geologist myself."

"Oh? What sort of things do you do at the Weyr?" She shifted a little to face him, pulling her leg up so that she could rub at her knee. This was the farthest she'd walked since her original injury, and she was amazed to feel nothing more than a little tightness. "I teach now. I actually have only been at the Weyr for a short time, but I have helped Weyrs before. I helped scout the location of a Weyr before, and I have found veins of firestone that can be mined. Things like that. I was more of a mobile geologist than a stationary one. But I developed a bad back, and that was the end of my pack carrying days."

Abrei opened her mouth and then closed it again with a sigh. "I am resisting the urge to start asking questions about your back. You'll have to forgive me... I'm still quite new at carrying on conversations that don't involve healing procedures."

"Well, trust me, healing techniques are _far_ more interesting than talking about stones and rock formations." Zeb had learned long ago that such topics did not make for good pillow talk unless his bedmate either crafted in a similar field or was one of his students.

"But I don't know anything about stones and rock formations," Abrei pointed out. "I don't know why anyone wouldn't be interested in learning new things."

"Hmmm. Perhaps you and I should take a walk some time. There are several very interesting features around here. Some you may not even have noticed." Zeb noticed the way she continued to absently rub at her knee. "Are you a fellow sufferer then?" he asked, pointing it out.

"Mmmmm. I had a run-in with some very sharp rocks a little over a turn ago." Abrei rolled her eyes. "Sometimes my curiosity gets the better of me. I was climbing somewhere I shouldn't have been and I'm not particularly graceful."

"It sounds like you do know a little something about rocks then," Zeb smiled. "You know they're hard and not forgiving."

Abrei flinched a little at the memory of just how bad her original injury had been. "I would say I have a healthy respect for them now."

"And is your knee strong and healthy now?" Zeb asked curiously.

"Well, I walked up here on my own." Abrei smiled suddenly. "And it's the first time I've managed it since I was hurt, so I'm feeling pretty pleased with my recovery. Though I'm not sure I'm ready to walk back yet."

"I'd say that's quite an accomplishment!" And what a smile! "If you'd like I could sit with you and we could walk back together. It's comfortable up here."

"That would be nice." And a little awkward, unless she could find something to talk about. Though Zeb was a nice enough looking man. She supposed she could try flirting with him, though she didn't think she'd learned enough to be very successful. "I can't promise I'll be entertaining company, though. You might have to lead the conversation."

"All right then," he chuckled. She certainly didn't seem like she was used to talking to people along the trail. "Tell me what lead you to becoming a surgeon."

Abrei hesitated for a moment, but finally told the truth. "It was pretty much the hardest thing to do. I wanted a challenge. I always want a challenge. It's probably why I was so determined about getting my master's knots."

He was honestly surprised and impressed. "You're a _master_? I'm sorry, I just assumed you were journeyman."

"You wouldn't be the first," Abrei replied dryly. "But that's probably why I'm not very skilled at social interaction. I didn't have much time for it."

An interesting personal assessment. "Oh, well, I didn't say you weren't skilled in social interaction. I've known many people in my life who I would say were not skilled and trust me, they were all annoying. You are not. Your company is quite pleasant." As far as Abrei could remember, it was the first time anyone had ever disagreed with the idea that she was terrible with people. It brought a startled smile to her lips and a faint blush to her cheeks. "I hope that means that I'm getting better at it, then, and not that I just haven't started annoying you yet."

"Oh I very much doubt that will happen, Master Abrei." He did like to see that smile. "You know, I am a master myself, actually."

"Don't call me Master Abrei," she said quickly, wrinkling her nose at him. "I'm on leave from my duties, so I'm going to just be Abrei for a while." Besides, her title made her want to be back in the infirmary.

"All right. Abrei." He practically purred her name, his sparkling eyes and roguish smile telling her just how much he liked saying that name.

Abrei chewed absently on her lower lip for a moment as she tried to think of a proper flirtatious response. "And what about you?" she asked finally. "Do I have to call you Master Zeb?"

"Please don't. Just Zeb is fine. I'm not that old and crotchety yet." And he hoped he never would be so insecure with those younger than himself that he would need to have his full title used just to remind people he deserved respect. "Zeb." She seemed as if she was testing how it sounded. It sounded sort of nice.

Last updated on the January 4th 2007

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Hard And Not Forgiving