New Friends

Writers: AL, Cait
Date Posted: 10th January 2009

Characters: Meledei, Navan
Description: Navan meets another candidate, Meledei and the two chat.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 13, day 10 of Turn 4

"I'm glad that's done." Meledei leaned upon her broom, her teeth white against her tanned skin as she flashed a smile at the candidate who had stopped next to her. She had seen him before, but there was something about him that made her think he should be a bit more familiar to her than he was. She couldn't think of what, however. Perhaps she would remember later.

It was quiet in the dining hall, save for the soft chatter of the candidates who had been assigned to sweep the floors after dinner. They had come to the end, food and dirt swept and disposed of. Several began to make their way out, placing the brooms in their assigned spaces. "It seems a daunting task," The girl mused, "But it's not so bad when you get enough people doing it."

Navan grinned back. "If you get enough people doing anything, it just makes it easier...and more fun." He'd never been one to mind chores, especially if he had company to make it less boring. "I'm Navan, by the way. Not sure we've met yet." And he'd made a point of meeting most of the other candidates, he liked to know the group, especially when it was this large.

"I'm Meledei." The girl stuck her hand out in greeting toward the young man. Why was he so familiar to her? It was going to bother her, she was certain. "Well met."

Navan shook her hand, chuckling as he realized he knew the name, just hadn't known her face. "I've heard about you. My little sister's been chattering about how happy she was to find someone to help her with her little feline and how wonderful it was to meet a friendly face. So it's definitely a pleasure, Meledei."

Meledei's eyes lit up. "Oh! You're Teiluka's brother! That's why you seem so familiar." She could see the difference then, having been mentioned. It wasn't enough to call them twins, but it was enough that she could definitely tell they were related. "I didn't realise you were her brother."

Navan nodded. "She doesn't like to admit to being related, for some reason. Maybe I threw her in the weyrlake a bit too much during her childhood, who knows?" He grinned to show he was joking. He and Teiluka had always gotten along very well for being siblings, something that had likely saved their sanity when growing up in such a large family. "Were you an only child?" He asked curiously.

"Yeah, no brothers or sisters - just me." The motioned for Navan to accompany her as she made her way to where the brooms were being put away. "You've stood before, but Teiluka hasn't?"

Navan laughed and followed her, putting his broom away with the others. "Yep. For about two Turns now. And I'm not even a dragonhealer. I think I was just never as nervous about Standing, it just didn't occur to me to Stand until I really got to see the consequences of Fall. And I'm not as afraid of failure, though of course I don't have to make a life change if no dragon decides to pick me."

"Same here." Meledei stepped to the side to get out of the way of other candidates. "I'm a beastcrafter, so if I never impress, I'll just keep on doing what I've been doing. But you're a healer?" She glanced over at the knots that decorated his shoulder. "Just not a dragonhealer."

Navan nodded. "Yes. Hadn't really decided on a specialty yet and when there was all the talk about needing more riders, I thought I'd try Standing. I like dragons, obviously, but my interest has always been more in people."

"And mine has lain more in animals." Then, with a grin, Meledei added, "But I do like people. I think we have free time now. Where is Luka? I didn't see her among our group."

"Probably holed up somewhere with her hides. Anytime she doesn't have to tear herself away from reading or studying, that's where you can depend upon her being." He smiled. Truthfully, Navan couldn't blame his sister. She didn't like people, not everyone did. But personally, he would much rather be talking with someone than studying.

"Maybe I'll have to drag her away from the hides." Teiluka had eaten dinner that once with her and some other candidates, but Meledei hadn't seen her much beyond that. Was it shyness? "Get her out more."

Navan's grinned from ear to ear. "That would be wonderful! I'm always trying to get her to go out and meet people, but since I'm her big brother, sometimes she likes to just ignore me. Or tell me I'm being too nosy," he added ruefully. Being nosy was admittedly one of his larger faults. He just couldn't help it sometimes, especially with his little sister.

"She seemed nice, if a bit hesitant." Perhaps if Meledei brought conversation up regarding her feline. Well, asking about the little creature would certainly give her an excuse to start a conversation in the first place. "I met her when she was bringing her feline in to be looked at."

Navan laughed. "She was so worried about him. Not that I'm laughing at her worry, mind you, but one of the few things that'll yank her away from her hides is Kink. She loves that little feline and he's a rascal, for sure. Did you end up finding anything wrong with him?"

"I wasn't the one that looked at him." Meledei admitted with a half smile. "I'm just an apprentice, but I showed her to someone who could help her. I had to get back to work so I don't know what the prognosis was." Evidently neither did he, despite being her brother. "Anyway, it will give me an excuse to talk to her."

"And that's always a good thing. She needs more people to talk to." Navan smiled. "I haven't talked to her in a little bit, so I hadn't heard. Hopefully he's fine and thanks for helping her out with that."

"I'll go find her later." Meledei promised. "For now, chores are over and I think we have some free time. I'm going to go spend it relaxing."

Navan grinned. "Can't blame you. Mind if I join you? Assuming it isn't some...private thing, that is," he added, mostly teasing but not truly wanting to intrude either. He might be an extreme extrovert but he knew his boundaries.

"I'll probably go for a swim and you're more than welcome to join me." Meledei stated amiably. "Unless you'd rather do something else? I'm pretty easy, and I do enjoy company."

"Sounds wonderful to me," Navan replied happily. "I might need to go find a change of clothes, but that sounds fun."

"Well then, why don't I meet you on the North side of the bowl in about a half candlemark?" Meledei suggested.

"Sounds like a plan! I will see you then." Navan grinned and wandered off to go find his swimwear, excited to have someone new and fun to hang out with and especially to swim with! He loved swimming.

Last updated on the January 18th 2009

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