First Kill

Writers: Ames, Len
Date Posted: 21st March 2011

Characters: Cardella, G'wen, S'vin
Description: Neath and Awenth make their first kills, much to their lifemate's horror and stomachs.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 1, day 22 of Turn 6
Notes: Mentioned: J'nev, F'neb (NPC)

Cardella

G'wen watched Cardella as Neath flapped her large wings and took
flight. Awenth was just behind the two Weyrlings, waiting to join her
bigger sister in their first kill. "You going to be okay?" he asked the
smaller girl. Being Weyr-raised, he was used to seeing dragons kill,
but Cardella? He raised an eyebrow at her.

"I'll be fine," She assured G'wen. She'd seen the feeding pens for a
distance before. How bad could it be? Awenth was eager and Cardella
could feel her hunger as she shifted her feet and then raised her wings
to join her sister in flight.

G'wen watched Awenth gain some distance between herself and the ground.
"She's flying well, Car. Yeah, she's really looking good, very
pretty."

"Thanks G'wen," she replied, giving him a little bump with her shoulder.
"I can't wait until we can soar with them in the sky. That will be an
amazing feeling!" She was grinning at just the thought of what it would
be like to be on her _own_ dragon's back.

Neath circled around a small wherry, trying to cut a tight figure.
When she overshot the bird, G'wen muttered, "oh dear, she's not the
most graceful thing out there, is she?" The big green circled back on
the bird but it had already flown back into the larger herd.

"She's doing a great job, G'wen. Don't worry, they'll get the hang of it." Awenth tried to circle the way she knew she should, but her first attempts were awkward and she was rather off-balanced and therefore didn't complete a good spiral. Cardella shook her head.

"At least the pair of them have become friends, just like we are.
For a while there, I was worried. I swear Neath's the largest of the
greens from the clutch and Awenth must be the smallest. They make an
interesting pair," Cardella grinned. "Why don't we go sit in the shade
while they try and figure out how best to go about catching their prey."

"I think Neath's going to end up one of the largest green in this Weyr." The boy wasn't bragging, only stating the truth. At only three months old, she was already near the size of the smaller adult greens, and was still bigger than most of her male clutchmates still. Sitting down with the girl, G'wen casually put his arm around her shoulders. "I'm glad too, that they calmed down with one another. I think that sevenday of being the leader helped Neath as well."

"Awenth is due to have her turn soon. I think Neath did a good job leading, so did you," she smiled and hugged her friend's arm. She looked up a bit startled when she heard Awenth's call and watched with fascination as the green circled and dove, digging her talons into one of the herdbeasts. It was _not_ a pretty sight, as Awenth was rather awkward with her first attempts. Cardella gulped down the bile she felt as she not only watched but _felt_ Awenth's reactions. She closed her eyes and drew in a breath as she leaned against G'wen for support. "I didn't realize how much _I_ would actually feel. I mean I've fed her before, but this time it's..different." Her voice trailed off a bit.

He squeezed her shoulders but couldn't answer as just then Neath dove for another wherry, managing to grab it with her front talons. She staggered to land and raked the poor beast along the ground, disemboweling it as the bird screamed its death rattle. "For Faranth's sake, Neath, just kill the poor thing!" he screamed at her, angry with her indifference to the bird's suffering.

"I'm sure their skills will improve over time..._and_ we won't always have to watch the entire scene," Cardella said, knowing she wouldn't be hungry herself for awhile when she glanced up to see Awenth digging her claws and muzzle into the beast with gusto. "She's _very_ happy at least," Cardella added, having felt her dragons satisfaction, she'd always tried to shut out some of the more carnal thoughts that had come her way.

"T'bel said to imagine someone we can't stand as the herdbeast or wherry," he muttered, feeling a bit queasy as well. Whilst he knew about the feelings that came with his lifemate hunting, it hadn't been prepared for her indifference to any suffering her prey was going through. Even now as she eagerly snatched up the bird's entrails, he could see some movement in it. **Neath, stop what you're doing right now and properly kill that wherry.**

"I think I'm going to be sick," she murmured as she glanced up to the pair of dragons feeding with gusto. "Let's talk about _anything_ else so we can try and ignore what they are doing over there." She hoped G'wen had an idea for conversation, for all she could think of was the bloody mess she was seeing on the grounds.

"So how about that Weyrling ban being lifted soon?" G'wen was grabbing for anything. As soon as he said it, he flushed a bit, hoping he didn't say anything to embarrass her.

Her cheeks infused with color as well. **Of all the things to discuss.**

"Um," she started, "I've not really wanted to dwell on it overmuch. Do you have plans already? Are you going to see F'neb again once things are lifted?" Cardella wasn't sure what she would want to do. She and J'nev _had_ made up, but then they hadn't really had much chance to talk since then. She didn't think she wanted to sleep with him again until after she felt she really knew more about who he was. Yet, the weyrling staff was already encouraging them to get experience for the greens would likely rise sooner than all the others and a inexperienced rider during flight made things much worse. "I don't know how I'll be able to..." she swallowed, "you know, get ready for Awenth's first flight."

"Forget the getting ready part, I don't know how I'm going to deal with the Flight itself. I mean..." He shuddered, thinking about the prospect of waking up next to someone he didn't know, or didn't like. "What happens if the winning rider was horribly rough? Or really hates male green riders? I've heard some terrible stories about this..." And truth be told, he was far too small to be able to defend himself if he was confronted by a really angry rider.

She reached her arm behind him and hugged him sideways with a sigh. "How did we end up in this boat?" She asked. Then lifting her head up for his arm for a moment, she turned and grinned at him. "I know! We could treat our partners the way our greens are treating their dinners! That might really show them whose boss." Cardella couldn't help it. She dissolved into giggles at the thought of being so bold and outspoken and perhaps even a bit rough herself. _That_ was not something she could imagine. "I just wish we'd have more say in the matter."

"I suppose we just have to get weyrmates then. I mean, my da's blue catches T'bel's green every time." He hesitated when he thought about this last time, when his father's most definitely didn't catch Fanth. He sighed, thinking of what that must have meant to T'bel. "At least, we have gotten the worst of it out of the way. I mean, poor T'bel was a virgin the first time Fanth was caught. From what I've heard, it was pretty terrible. And he was younger than us now, so..."

Cardella swallowed a bit and looked at her friend. "I'm not sure I'd know _who_ I'd want Awenth to choose. I mean, J'nev and I are talking again, but there's still these lingering doubts. I wouldn't want to make things more difficult between us until I know more about what's really going on. Would you want F'neb's to catch Neath? Do you think you'd like to be weyrmated to him?"

"I...don't know. I mean..is it horrible to say I'd like a bit to be like S'vin? I mean, maybe not quite so slutty...but it would be a bit fun. I think." Did he want F'neb as a weyrmate? No, they weren't really_that_way. Not like Cardella and J'nev. "Hmm..I think F'neb is more like a friend..with extras, if you get my meaning. I'm not sure I want to think much about settling down just yet."

"I...I don't know," she replied, plucking at her skirts. "I'm hold-bred, remember? I'd have a hard time being so...so...free, like S'vin." She sighed, wishing that life would just give her the answers to what she was supposed to do next. "What exactly is it like to have a weyrmate, G'wen? I mean, is it like marriage in the hold? Marriage is nearly unbreakable there and I surely wouldn't want to get myself into a situation I couldn't get back out of."

"Oh no, it's nothing like that. You just fancy someone and move in with them. You don't even have to have mated with them in Flight. I know two guys who are both green riders and they're weyrmates. Or even a rider and a lower Caverns worker." He laughed and gave her shoulders a squeeze. "Remember, Car, you're now in a Weyr. You're free to be who you want to be, no one's going to_make_you do anything. Well, except fight Thread, that is."

"I know this isn't the hold anymore," she stated quietly, "but I'm not really sure how to just drop the things I've been taught my whole life. I wish I could be as comfortable with all of this as you are." She sighed and leaned her head back against his shoulder.

"Oh please! You think I'm comfortable about all this? I'm just as scared as any of you Holder types. Why do you think I never Stood before this last time? It wasn't because the life of a drudge was great, let me tell you." He mocked punched her on the shoulder, and grinned. "No way, all this sleeping around stuff makes me nervous too. And too, the thought of rejection!" He sighed and pointed at his face and body and added, "who the bloody shards is going to want_this_?"

She swatted at him as she lifted her head and gave him a stern glare. "Stop putting yourself down! If you want people to _want_ you, you have to believe you are worthy!" She was indignant to think that her best friend did not think himself worthy in anyway.

"I'm just being honest! Trust me, no one's sniffing around me unable to wait until I'm a senior Weyrling. It'll be a huge disappointment to whoever has to wake up and have me laying beside them, trust you me." He had lived here all his life with not a single come on in all his turns, and even F'neb was coaxed by Teseada, really. No, he knew he wasn't any sort of 'catch' for anyone.

She shook her head. Sooner or later he would figure out that he _was_ a good catch for someone. Once he started to believe that he would notice the looks that people sent his way from time to time. She knew it was something he would have to learn for himself. Looking up, she noticed Awenth cleaning herself and felt the dragon's contentment. "I think they're nearly finished."

Neath was sitting beside the smaller green with only a few feathers sticking out the corner of her mouth to show for all her work. "Yes, they're looking very pleased with themselves, aren't they?"

"Hey guys!" S'vin ran up to them. "I've been looking all over for you two. Raine wanted to have you join us in dragon poker. We need two more to make a team." He looked over on the hunting grounds. "Ah, your two giving it a try are they? Kadeth point blank refused. Something about not wanting to cause any suffering." He rolled his eyes at his blue's actions, before turning back to the barracks. "So you guys coming?"

Cardella looked up and smiled. "Sure. Come on, G'wen. I could use some practice in my dragonpoker skills." She stood and tugged on her friend, ready to go.

Last updated on the April 3rd 2011

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First Kill