An Everything Hopeful

Writers: Devin, Chelle
Date Posted: 19th May 2012

Characters: J'kri, P'nal
Description: Jykri helps removove Jodeth's straps after Fall, and chats with P'nal.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 8, day 2 of Turn 6
Notes: Mentioned: W'ser

Threadfall was over and Jodeth was one of the last to come down. P'nal
quickly received the casualty count from the healers. Then, the brownrider
found himself looking around at all the people scurrying around. Things
were well in hand by now, but it was still hard to think about the ones they
had lost. Sighing from atop his dragon, he slipped off and fell to the ground.
For a second, his legs buckled from being so long in the saddle, but he righted
himself, shaking slightly.

Jykri was nearby. "Do you need any assistance, sir?"

"I.." He looked back at his brown whose sides were heaving from their
recent exercise. "Will need to get to the weyr and get his harness off."
He also needed a bath, but he could likely manage that himself.

"Yes, sir," Jykri agreed automatically, then realized he wasn't quite
sure what to do. "Do you need help getting there?"

"Mmm...." As a ranking rider, P'nal had been able to get a lower Weyr which
meant he didn't have to fly up and down to get to it. "I think I can do it." He
started walking towards the edge of the Bowl then, Jodeth following along behind
him. The brown made sure not to get too close to the candidate, lest he step
on him in his tiredness.

Jykri trailed along next to P'nal. His mind drifted, wondering what it
was like up there, fighting Thread. What did it feel like to come back
home after that?

When they reached the weyr, he started climbing the steps and paused when
he reached the ledge, leaning against the stone. The brown gave an odd half
hop, half jump and landed on the ledge, waiting for his harness to be removed.

The Candidate had a little experience with removing straps, so he got
to work, trusting P'nal would correct him if he made any mistakes.
"Are you from the Weyr, or were you Searched?" Jykri asked, trying to
make small talk. Chatting helped work go by faster.

"Mmm...Searched. I was craftbred." Of course, he'd also become a crafter himself
and continued during the interval while he could. Now it was something he did in
his spare time as a hobby mostly, though he could make a few marks on
commissions now and again. Thankful for the boy's help, he started to remove his
heavy flight gear.

Jykri perked up. "What craft?"

"Well....I ended up becoming a tanner when I apprenticed to it, but was born
at the smith hall." With his helmet and goggles off, as well as his jacket, he
sat down on the stool there and began taking off his flight boots. The things
had a thousand laces.

"Do you still practice your craft? Do you have a specialty?"

"Aye, I still do sparingly. Since I became wingsecond I have less and less time,
though." He frowned, though he didn't regret it. His dragon and his duty to his
Weyr came first. "Hide curing is my specialty. Quite a smelly process."

"Why did you choose curing then?" Jykri leaned up to unbuckle another section.

"There's something about turning a hide into something that can be
used for other purposes. It's quiet work and I like to think a useful
skill-especially for a dragonrider." It did often come in handy, much as
he didn't really think about it.

The Candidate was almost done. "So I guess you know a lot about straps?"

"Indeed. And flight jackets, wherhide pants, boots, belts...you name it, I can
probably manage it." He was coming back down now from the drain of fall.
P'nal felt his even keel returning and it also helped that Jodeth was calming
down as well. He could feel the brown's heart beating.

Jykri got the last of the straps unbuckled and carefully folded them
up. "I'll come to you for advice then, when we get to making straps.
Well, I mean if I _do_ manage to Impress."

"You'll have lessons with the Weyrtanner for that, though I'm around if anyone
has extra questions." As it was, he didn't have much time for that sort of thing
anymore, but he supposed he could make a little bit. "If it's supposed
to happen,
it will. Give it time."

"I suppose if I don't Impress right away, it'll give me more time to
learn. Dragon anatomy is _fascinating_." He looked at the huge living
example next to him.

"Very true. So different from us at least." P'nal wasn't exactly interested in
that vein, but he found himself smiling at the boy's exuberance. "I take
you're a dragonhealer hopeful for W'ser then?"

"I'm sort of an everything hopeful." Jykri laughed. "But dragonhealing
is new to me, so I'd like to learn as much as I can."

"A useful skill indeed once you impress. I did the lessons we all had to do,
but didn't go any further. Still, I admire the folk that do." He and Jodeth
depended upon them.

"Me too." Jykri finished folding the straps. "Should we head to the
weyrlake, then?"

"Actually...I'm going to sit this one out for a bit. I've got to get a bath
of my own but even with help, there's no way I can manage bathing him.
Jodeth's ready to sleep anyhow. I thank you though." The dragon rumbled
his own thanks before crawling inside onto his couch. P'nal moved to hang
up the straps. He'd scrub them with saddle soap after resting.

"You're welcome, sir. It was nice to meet you." He waved at the rider
before turning to leave.

Last updated on the June 1st 2012

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An Everything Hopeful