The Evening Before

Writers: AL, Cali, Jane
Date Posted: 28th April 2009

Characters: Leisenn, Trellyn, Alydelle
Description: The dolphineers are warned of a storm's approach.
Location: Dolphin Hall
Date: month 2, day 17 of Turn 5

"Big, big, biiiiig."

Leisenn sighed and thanked Tu for his help. She got to her feet on the floating wharf and watched as he swam away, out into the bay, though he was probably heading further afield. He was a young male; only a fringe member of the local pod and he spent most his time out exploring with the other young males.

When there was no more chance that she could see her partner in the gathering darkness she turned, her eyes being dazzled by the electric lights the illuminated the wharves before she ducked her head and made her way to the ladder up onto the fixed wharf. As her grey head rose over the low wall on the stone wharf she found herself facing another dolphineer climbing up from the floating wharf on the other side.

One of the apprentices. One particular one. Alydelle.

The girl was a problem in many ways but she did have some good points, including a well developed rapport with the dolphins - most likely because she spent more time with them than she did with the human residents of the Hall.

"Have they been telling you about the storm?" Leisenn asked as she swung herself off the latter and onto the stone of the wide wharf.

"Yes." It had been the source of discussion all afternoon - the dolphins wouldn't stop chittering about it. Sora had been hovering among them, coming out to nudge at Alydelle and her tummy, then darting back to nestle among the older, larger dolphins. The girl turned her face in the direction the dolphins had indicated. There were only wispy clouds in the sky at the moment, but Alydelle knew those usually meant there was more to come. If she squinted, she thought she could _just_ see a darkness far off, but it very well could have been her imagination. "They keep saying it's a big one."

"And _there's_ the reason we study for Turns to become dolphineers," Leisenn said as she glanced out beyond the headlands that formed the bay. "To judge how 'big' big-big-biiiiig is."

"I'd say it's pretty big." There was no humour in Alydelle's voice. She was well versed in how dangerous and deadly a hurricane could be. They were no laughing matter and she was grateful that the dolphins were able to warn them about such storms in advance and give them time to prepare. "The Weyr should know." Of course, Alydelle knew Leisenn would have no thought of keeping the information among themselves.

"Hmm. I would like to have a better idea. Tu's quite young and hasn't weathered all that many hurricanes. Not that I'm used to them in this location, either."

Trellyn walked up behind the pair, having just come back from a light dinner. "Any updates on the storm? Still headed this way?" She knew they could turn, but usually not this close to shore.

Alydelle turned and then almost shrank back, as if trying to hide now that there was someone else there. She did managed to gather the courage to speak up, however. "Harver is pretty old, he's been through lots of storms. He doesn't consider it as big as the last one, but he did say it's pretty sizeable."

Leisenn nodded at the apprentice's words. "And Tu thinks not directly _here_ but he's very vague on size. What are you getting, Trellyn?"

"It'll hit strongest north, but we'll still get plenty of it. It's a pretty slow one, so the winds aren't going to be as bad as the big one from last turn, so hopefully we'll not have near the damage." Trellyn knew they'd be getting reports in throughout the evening, and then the dolphins would head towards deeper water before it hit.

"There," Leisenn said, pleased with the journeywoman's report. "That's what we needed. Some sort of comparison between the events." The old woman nodded. "Now, we can start our own preparations and warn those up and down the coast that need warning. They Weyr," she said, glancing down the coast toward the broken volcano that was home to the dragonriders, "will no doubt want to know they're not in the same danger of flooding as last time."

"Still doesn't make me feel much better." Alydelle muttered and shifted as Sora gently nudged her feet which still dangled in the water. "Hurricanes scare me."

"Well you keep yourself safe in the Hall and you'll have nothing to worry about," Leisenn said, quite pleased the girl would stay out of harm's way no matter what the dolphineers were called upon to do during the storm. Sometimes the warnings went out in time and everybody found good anchorage before the storm overtook them; sometimes it didn't work out as neatly.

Trellyn looked towards the darkening horizon again before turning back to the two girls. "I'll write a message up with what we know if you want. I'm sure they've been warned though, the dolphins have probably been talking to old Talchie." If he was awake that is. The old dolphineer assigned to the Weyr dock slept away most of the day.

"A dolphineer who can sleep through the bell -" Leisenn bit off the suggestion that the old man needed replacing, aware of apprentice ears so close at hand. "But yes, write a note and I'll sign it. He might not have the number of dolphins here we can interrogate."

She nodded and jogged off the dolphineer's dock towards the main dock. The Dockmaster was sure to have writing supplies in his office, and it's be quicker than going into the Hall.

"And you, Alydelle, you get away inside. It's nearly curfew time for you, but thank you for your help. You certainly have a good rapport with our friends."

"Yes ma'am." Alydelle felt a mixture of disappointment and relief at the dismissal. She had wanted to stay longer with the dolphins, but if a storm was coming, it was best to be inside. She reached down, her fingers trailing over the glistening back of Sora before she pushed herself to her feet and padded off. She wasn't looking forward to another hurricane, but that was, unfortunately, a side effect of living so close to the ocean.

Leisenn didn't intend to stay out much longer herself. Just long enough to get this note sent to the Weyrleader and then talk to the dolphins one last time. If anything developed overnight the bell would be rung and they'd deal with it then - otherwise a good night's sleep wouldn't be wasted if there was going to be some hard work ahead of them.

Last updated on the April 28th 2009

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

The Evening Before