And They Meet

Writers: AL, Ames, Chelle, Eimi, Paula
Date Posted: 8th January 2011

Characters: Rosid, Valar, Sirgin, Wodi, Bayley
Description: The boys serve on the Hold's ground crew after threadfall.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 11, day 7 of Turn 5

Wodi had all his gear on and he was standing behind the huge shuttered
doors. As soon as fall had stopped falling, they would be sent out there
to search for any thread burrows. He knew the sweepriders would be going
by to see if they could help. He had been on the ground crew before, but
only for two other falls. He hadn't seen a real live burrow yet.

Rosid was whistling to cover his nervousness. He didn't want to think
about what was happening outside just now. Thank Faranth for thick stone
walls and steel shutters!

Sirgin was practically asleep, laying against the wall and using his
agenothree tank as a pillow. He had been on ground crews many a time,
and knew the chances of finding a burrow were slim. One thing he could
say for those dragonriders - they were thorough!

Bayley fidgeted and fiddled. He hated being cooped up but there wasn't
much choice. He'd hate getting eaten more. And of course as soon as
they were let out, he and the other boys were going to have to do some
work. At least they might have some free time after that. Maybe.
He looked over at his friend and elbowed Wodi. "Hey...I didn't tell you
what happened with Heidela yesterday." His mouth spread into a big
toothy grin.

Valar was too busy running his tongue over his teeth to try and dislodge
some leftover bits from his hurried meal, to really, truly care what
the others were doing or to focus on what was happening outside. Not
being the brightest glow in the bunch, he followed when others called. He knew how to handle the tank, and how to look for burrows, but at the moment, that didn't matter. All that mattered was the annoying bit stuck in his teeth.

He heard the name being discussed nearby, and couldn't help but tune in,
even just a bit, to find out what had happened.

"Oh, well..what happened?" Wodi didn't really care but he tried to seem
interested for Bayley's sake. Sometimes one had to be polite to keep
friends.

Bayley looked around, then leaned closer to Wodi and whispered a little
so only he could hear. "I kissed her. And she kissed me back!"

Wodi was saved by the sound of the big heavy doors opening. It was time
to work. "Congrats!" he said even as they headed out to check for
burrowing threads.

"Have you ever seen a thread in the ground?" he mused to Sirgin.

"Well, finally," Rosid grunted, stopping whistling. He adjusted the tank
on his back.

Valar picked up his own tank and hefted it onto his back. Grumbling
quietly to himself, he followed the others out for this somewhat labor
intensive task. On the way, he bumped into one of the others. "Sorry,"
he mumbled as he kept walking with the others.

Bayley heaved himself up with his gear and kept up easily with the
others. To be honest, he didn't mind so much looking for Thread. It
was better than doing some other things they set them out to do.
Like peeling tubers.

"Here, lads." Sirgin pulled a large flask out from his jacket's inside
pocket before pushing himself up using the wall. "My da's own brew.
This will keep the chill away for sure. The Vintner Hall's got nothing
as strong as this." He thrust the flask into Wodi's chest. The fact
that he'd already had a few nips was evident on his breath.

Wodi looked at him and then at the flask and frowned. He took a whiff
of the stuff and almost coughed. "I'm warm enough, thanks." He offered
it back to Sirgin as they spread out, looking for the threads.

"Give it here, Sirgin," Rosid asked. "The kids don't appreciate the good
stuff," he sneered at Wodi.

Valar snickered at Rosid's comments as he walked with the pack.
**What was wrong with that boy? Who wouldn't want a nice stiff drink on
a day like today?** He wondered. "I'll take some when you're done," he
added. Valar did just about anything Rosid did.

Rosid took a long swallow and handed the flask onwards to Valar.
"Some people shouldn't be let out of the nursery."

"Dragonriders don't drink before flying threadfall and I'd just like to
be able to focus on my duties, thanks," Wodi replied before walking off
over the mound to search for any burrows.

Sirgin snatched the flask from Valar's hands. After he took another
swig he handed it back. "That boy talks like a girl."

Bayley nudged Wodi. "Come on. Let's get to work." He stated, giving a
glance over at Sirgin and Rosid before turning away.

Valar had tried to drink from the flask, but frowned when Rosid took it
back. When he finally did get it, he took a long swallow and finished
with a swipe of his sleeve and burp. With a goofy grin on his face, he draped an arm over Wodi. "Come on, mate. It's really good." He grinned, showing his unkempt teeth and breathing his bad breath on the other boy. "Come on, take a drink. Else we'll think you don't like us!"

"Or maybe we don't like them," Rosid said with a nasty look.

Wodi had had wine before, but he'd never done any sort of strong
alcohol. The boy smelled it on Valar's breath and almost puked from the stench. "If you think a girl might kiss you when you smell like that, you're wrong."

Bayley snickered at his friend's comment and elbowed him in the ribs.
"Come on Wodi, let's head over there. See if there are any clumps."

"Like you would know," Rosid sneered. Spotting an assistant steward
eyeing them suspiciously, he nudged Valar and Sirgin. "Burrows waiting," he said.

Valar snickered at Rosid's words, then tried to stand up a bit straighter, as though that would somehow keep them from getting in trouble. "Burrows," he mumbled, finally turning his attention to the job at hand. He didn't _like_ it, but he did know he _had_ to do it.

Last updated on the January 23rd 2011

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And They Meet