It's a Start

Writers: Miriah, Suzee
Date Posted: 17th May 2014

Characters: Ninaine, Tavia
Description: Tavia and Sawauth help Ninaine and Luneth
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 7, day 1 of Turn 7

Ninaine

Tavia

Tavia waited at the edge of the weyrlake as Sawauth took her time
rinsing off. Meanwhile she watched as a group of weyrlings approached.

"Well hello there," she smiled at one girl she recognized. "How are
you two this morning?"

Hanging away from the rest of the group, Ninaine was easy to spot and
as she heard the greeting, she turned. She recognized Tavia
immediately and gave a quick curtsey.

Luneth eyed the interloper with suspicion. }: She looks familiar. Do
we like her? :{

**She's not going to touch me, Luneth.** Ninaine patted the green
soothingly. "Good afternoon, greenrider." Her face was calm and
remote. "We're well. And you?"

"I'm fine," she smiled. "But it's days like this that I miss Dolphin
Cove. There would sun and a warm breeze." She moved forward as her
green came dripping out of the lake.

"I've never been." But she did miss Amber Hills...deeply. Luneth
watched the other green emerge from the water, her eyes watchful but
curious. Despite her curiosity, she never left Ninaine's side to go
play in the water like the others were.

Sawauth reached out a curious nose in the direction of the smaller
green but then her head came up when Glory popped into being and
settled with a satisfied chirp on her back.

"There you are," Tavia exclaimed. "Where have you been all day?"

Luneth eyed Sawauth and took a step back as the green stretched out
closer, but then settled as the older green looked away. The green
was so much bigger than she was and it was intimidating, especially so
close. But then her attention was taken by the little gold as well and
curiosity got the better of her as she took a little step towards it,
lifting her head to sniff.

Ninaine watched with surprise. It was the first time Luneth had shown
an interest in anything besides her. Her gaze shot to Tavia and then
back down to Luneth.

Tavia's brow arched back a Ninaine and she mentally encouraged the
little gold flit to make friends with the little weyrling. Glory
chirped and crooned to Luneth. She really did like weyrlings in
general. Then she shot up into the sky and dove strait into the lake.
A moment later she reappeared with a pop of displaced air and dropped
a wriggling fish in front of the green. With an encouraging 'bruuup'
she nosed it closer like an offering. ~~crunch squirmy fishy food
good~~ was the picture Tavia got.

Luneth eyed the offering and slowly bent to sniff at it, then looked
back at Ninaine. }:What is it? It smells good. :{

Ninaine face finally relaxed in a bit of a smile. **It's fish. You can eat
it.**

}: Its not cut up. :{ Luneth nudged it with her nose and cautiously
took a small bite. There was only the sound of the chewing before
Luneth's eyes began whirling more happily. }: It's _good_. :{ She
began snapping up bites with obvious relish, only stopping when
Ninaine reminded her to thank the flit. She did so, but then
immediately went back to eating the proffered fish.

Ninaine looked up at Tavia. "I think Glory has a new friend." It was
Luneth's first.

"That is a very good thing," Tavia smiled and winked at Ninaine. But
rather than push it she began to oil Sawauth of course Glory had to
pitch in and help in her own way starting on the bigger green's head.
Oil dripped down the sides of her head and Tavia chuckled. Glory was
much better at washing than oiling but she didn't mind when she tried
because she ended up oiling herself in the process.

Ninaine watched silently for a moment before speaking softly. "She
doesn't have friends."

Luneth peered up at her lifemate as a tail fin was slurped into her
mouth. }: I have you. :{ The reply was simple.

"She will," Tavia winked again. "You just had a rough start and our
lifemates are very protective."

Ninaine looked down as Luneth finished the fish and ambled back to
lean against her legs, watching the bathing green with wary interest.
"She doesn't show much interest in it. She doesn't seem to like
anyone, really."

"That's partly because of you," she said without looking at the young
woman so as to be a bit less threatening. "There are lots of people
around here who want to be friendly and help you. But if you keep
pushing them away because of a few..." she shrugged.

Ninaine immediately stiffened and drew herself up defensively. "I
don't make her dislike others."

Tavia didn't look at her but Sawauth did. "That's not what I said,"
she added softly. Finally she turned back around. "I'd like to be your
friend."

Ninaine was about to argue, but instead closed her mouth and looked
down at Luneth before shifting on her feet. "Because you feel sorry
for me."

Tavia shook her head. "Have yours ask Sawauth how I feel." Dragons
couldn't lie about things like that and Tavia knew she didn't 'feel
sorry' for the other greenrider. She really only wanted to help her
open up to what her life could be enough to trust someone to guide her
through the pitfalls.

She glanced down at Luneth, but didn't ask her. Instead, she shifted
on her feet and took a slow breath. "I guess that would be okay."

"Good," she said. "Because I need some friends. You know I just came
here from another Weyr not that long ago. I do miss my friends there."

Normally Ninaine wouldn't have asked questions, especially because of
the difference between ranks and it simply wasn't any if her business,
but she found herself asking before she could stifle it. "Then why
come here?"

"I have a little boy," she smiled softly. "His name is Kaiavin and his
father is here. He asked me to come."

"Oh. Your...weyrmate?" That was the term. Not husband, weyrmate.

"No," she said knowing their budding friendship just might go south,
but she also knew she had to be completely honest with the girl. "I
had one of those once though it turned out he wasn't faithful and I
tossed him out."

Ninaine said nothing at first, her face schooled quickly into
impassive politeness. "Men aren't required to be faithful. It's not in
them to be so." It was what she had been told more times that she
could recall. Women were to be the constant in any marriage...or
weyrmating...whatever it might be called. Men did the protecting and
the providing, so it was their due. It was up to their wives to
provide a pleasant home and body for them to come home to.

"Well, in this case we had both promised to be faithful outside of
flights. You can do that in the Weyr. I know lots of pairs who've made
that kind of agreement. Even the Weyrwoman at Dolphin Cove is faithful
to her weyrmate. But in my case he broke his promise to me." She
shrugged.

The entire conversation was making her uncomfortable. Personal
relationships were not so openly discussed at a Hold and to do so made
her skin twitch. It just seemed to be a violation of privacy. True,
Tavia was openly speaking about it, but to Ninaine, it should have
been kept private. So, she simply did not comment.

"You did venture an opinion," said Tavia at Ninaine's silence. "You
have an opinion and the good thing here is that you are allowed to
have an opinion." She smiled at the younger woman. "But don't worry
about it. There," she said looking up at a shining Sawauth. "Need help
with Luneth? They do like to look pretty."

Relieved that _that_ part of the conversation was over, Ninaine turned
to Luneth who had already began to eye Tavia once again with
suspicion. "I'll have to do it. She won't let you touch her. But thank
you."

Glory chirped catching the picture from Tavia's mind she grabbed som
sweetsand preparing to help wash the little green. "Glory, she doesn't
want us to help," she called.

}: The little pretty can help. :{ Luneth declared.

Ninaine's brows shot up in surprise and she glanced at Tavia. "She
doesn't mind Glory. " She spoke slowly as if disbelieving, but finally
ventured a slight smile.

Ninaine's normal sour expression was transformed but Tavia didn't want
to ruin the moment by remarking on it. "That's a start," she smiled as
Glory started washing in earnest.

Last updated on the May 25th 2014

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