(Open) Up Your Mind

[Zenniel]

The morning sun glared through the opening to the kitchens. It hit every surface that was in its way. Shadows arced lazily across the floor. Half of the front part of the kitchens was obscured in darkness. Farther in the back, a large fire roared with life. A lady bustled to and fro, sticking things in an oven above the fire. The smell of bread filled the kitchen area while the smell of klah prevailed in the front area. The drink made of wood bark filled the room with vaguely coffee-like smells.

It was early in the morning, the part of the day where the sun was at its brightest. This was the part of the morning where the sun was just cresting the ridges of the world. The glare was too bright for the girl who stumbled, almost blindly, up the stairs to one of the entrances to the kitchens. She had been up for a while now, but had only just felt the stirrings of hunger in her stomach.

Before doing anything else, the girl poured herself a generous helping of Klah. After downing the first helping, she felt immensely better; nevertheless, she still fixed herself another cup. Then, after asking the cook if there was anything to help with (the cook replied instantly to get out of her way, she had stuff to do), the girl sauntered over to the food that was available to eat. She brushed her brown hair behind her ears before picking up a fruit and biting into it.

The juice dribbled down her chin, and Liv absentmindedly wiped it away with a hand. Then, picking up a piece of meat and another fruit and placing them on a plate, she picked up both plate and her cup of Klah and moved over to one of teh seats out of the glaring sun. She sat down and sipped her Klah, then put it down and started to eat a piece of the meat. She let her mind wander... slowly letting her awareness falter.

[katgod]

The life of a Weyrbrat was not all that complicated. Netory woke before her foster parents and siblings because she was in the habit of waking early. Netory, at nine, was more than capable of getting herself ready for the day. She put on her dark gray wool dress and well made leather shoes. Then she took a hair band and pulled her dark reddish brown hair back. After this she went directly to the washroom and washed her face with the cloth in there, making sure to get around her mouth. Smiling at the stillness of the morning, she went into her foster parent’s room and seeing that they were still soundly sleeping, walked out of her home and into the already waking and bustling activity of the Weyr.

In the mix with many other people who either were morning workers or had breakfast plans, Netory walked into the Weyrhall. She was often alone more than with company, not that she didn’t like people she just didn’t really have many friends. The new Weyr hadn’t really helped that situation. Any friends she had made were now distanced by not only an ocean but by time. Of course she was only a girl and shouldn’t know so much about it. The girl kept her ears and eyes open and often entered into conversations with adults before other children. They had more important things to say, as far as she was concerned.

She entered the Weyrhall, happy to see that there were not too many people in line for food; she quickly grabbed herself a roll and a glass of redfruit juice. The young girl sat down across from a young woman who she didn’t know. Seeing as the other girl appeared to be in a daze or day dream, she didn’t say anything at first. The amount of time that passed seemed ages to the young girl but it was shorter than she thought. “Bad morning?” Netory sipped her juice, delicately placing the glass down on the table. “Well we certainly can’t blame the weather. I’m hoping to go to the beach very soon. My foster parents have said they could take me though I’m not sure how patient I can be. I’ve never been to the ocean before.”

[jerith]

Corin mumbled as he climbed the stairs to the hall. This being up early and having to actually do work, very overrated. And if getting up early wasn't bad enough, it seemed like it took forever to fall asleep. He was used to sleeping in a hammok, inside or strung between trees. And where was the ocean sound? The wonderful rhythmic crashing of waves, that had been his lullaby.

Corin got himself some juice and some meatrolls and fruit and took a seat with the others. He brushed his hair back from his face and settled in to eat smiling at the other two there

[Zenniel]

Liv was still looking into oblivion when the small girl showed up. She was not aware of the girl, or of the boy that ended up at her table only moments later. Instead, she just continued to stare off into space. She rather liked thinking about the random things of her past and her future. Before long, though, she was startled out of her revelations by the girl. The girl was a Weyrbrat, and Liv could tell for more than the fact that she was living in the Weyr. The girl was younger than a dragon candidate, so she could not have been searched.

"Hello." Liv said, blinking. "Not a bad morning. Just... strange." She did not elaborate. She rather just waited. She was not the one to first talk, it was the girl who spoke first, so the girl would have to name herself first. She did not much care for etiquette right now, so she didn't care if she was being rude.

Then the boy arrived. Eh, oh well. She just nodded to him.

[katgod]

"It seems normal enough to me. " She glanced at the young man who sat down, taking in his features even as she had the other girl's. Netory was only nine and while she understood that some people weren't talkative she wasn't too interested in having a conversation by herself. It seemed to her that these two were loser types who sat by themselves and didn't talk. What a waste of vocal chords! Any Harper would be ashamed. She snickered to herself knowing that they would both find her strange because she was too young to be there alone and without friends her own age.

Ahh well, she could find better people but she didn't want to move. She would finish her breakfast and go looking for someone she would prefer to spend a lazy morning with. Lessons didn't start for some time yet and her Foster parents were never too concerned as to where she went. They knew she had a good head on her shoulders and that she would go to her lessons. Besides they had her younger foster siblings and full brother to care for.

Today might be a good day to find R'ko and bother him. If that wouldn't work out then maybe she could see her mother, though she didn't think today would be a good day, or any day for that matter until one of the Golds flew. There wasn't anything she could help with either, though she would love to help her mother take care of Sheluth. She finished her roll in silence and downed her juice shortly after.

[jerith]

Corin rubbed his eyes and drank some more of his juice. Ok, world is slowly coming into focus. 'These girls might be one of the clutch mates when I impress. I should at least try and be nice to them.'

"Morning," He managed a sleepy smile. "I'm usually in a better mood, just not sleeping well here."

"I'm Corin, from Sea Breeze Hold. What about you two?"

[Zenniel]

Liv sighed. The girl obviously hadn't taken the initiative to speak. Instead, the boy did. After taking a thoughtful bite of her meat, Liv smiled. "Well hello to you, too, little girl, and hello Corin from Sea Breeze Hold." After yet another bite of meat, she said, "My name is Live. I am formerly of Telgar Weyr, and most recently from Star Hold." She smiled at Corin, whom so far had been the only one to give his name. The girl, it seemed, had other problems on her mind. Liv would not upset the girl's thoughts. Instead, she took a bite of a fruit, and wiped away the juices that had rolled down her mouth.

Her dream last night had been strange. She did not know how she had thought about it, or how her mind had made her dream seem real. Instead of thinking of the dream, she turned her attention toward the two sitting with her. Despite the fact that she had wanted to figure out who they were, she also wanted to figure out more about the boy. He was probably a candidate like her. She wanted to know what types of colors he liked... dragon colors of course. And how he was like.

[katgod]

Took them long enough, she thought to herself and looked up as the young man explained he wasn't sleeping well. Netory never really had trouble sleeping though why should she when there was little to really trouble her. Corin must miss the ocean. It would be wonderful to go to the beach. Maybe he would want to go to? Netory shook her head slightly, causing her hair to shift onto one shoulder.

"Sooo I'm guessing you are both Candidates." It was more a statement than a question, " I am from Telgar Weyr myself. Unfortunately I'm not old enough to be a Candidate yet." A slight pout touched her lips. It was clear that one day she had every intention of standing. "I don't know about the two of you but I think having a dragon is wonderful. Both my parents are riders and my uncle, aunt, half brother, great grandparents, cousins..." She stopped with a broad smile directed at the two people sitting there.

"Sorry I do tend to run on when dragons are the topic. " Netory, being only a child, hadn't really put any thought into saying her name. Her parents might lament over her lack of courtesy but she didn't see how her name would change the conversation. Besides, she wasn't that sure she liked Corin and Live yet.

[jerith]

"My family are all seafarrers. We have a small hold on one of the islands, just off from Starhold. Most of the boats pass through their on the way in." He smiled. Corin was actually starting to feel alittle better about being here. At least now there was someone to talk to.

He chuckled at the younger girl, "Yeah, I hope to be a candidate. And I like dragons, but I don't really know alot about them. I can tell you all about sailing, and shipfish."

He finished his food and smiled some more.

[Zenniel]

"I'm guessing you're Netory. Nice to meet you, Netory." Liv said, and, not thinking of anything else to say, she fell silent. She had heard of Netory's rant about dragons, and she sympathized. She would much rather talk about dragons and be the devil's advocate... but she thought the girl was too young to get what she was saying. Instead, she refrained.

Then Corin spoke, and that piqued her interest.

"Is it fun on ships, and do you actually talk to shipfish?" Liv asked, excitement shining in her eyes. She still had a couple more pieces of fruit to chew, and when she hastily did so, more juice flowed down her mouth. She wiped the juice away absentmindedly.

[jerith]

"Well...yeah. I mean, you can talk to any animal, shipfish are no exception. They don't really talk back though."

At least, he didn't think they did. He had heard them click and whistle, but never really speak words. Though there was a time he was sure he did, he just dismissed it.

"They are really friendly"

[katgod]

"I'll make a deal with you Corin, you tell me all about sailing and shipfish and I'll tell you all about dragons!" The fact that he had no idea how much she loved the water was probably a good thing. Perhaps he had no idea that the Weyrbrat now intended to make him one of her "friends" but she would. She was picky when it came to people she liked talking to. Live seemed a little less open about her life then the two of them but that didn't mean she wasn't a nice person.

She was clueless as to how the other girl had guessed at whom she was. Netory assumed the young woman had seen her at Telgar and recognized her. "Yes, I'm Netory." She smiled brightly. Corin had no idea who she was, she figured. "Oh, sorry, that was rude of me. My foster mother would be cross if she knew I forgot introductions." Netory bowed her head slightly and then looked up at Corin. "Some people know me because of my parents. Since you aren't from Telgar there is no way you would have known." She added, still apologetic in her own way.

"Shipfish do sound like fun though I doubt anything can compare to a dragon except perhaps a firelizard. Have you seen one?" Netory had not yet but she was hoping to if she went to the main Hold for a gather or something. Maybe even when she was at the Beach. She would love to go to see the ocean here. The water was supposed to be beautiful and clear and the beaches white. She could picture it.

[jerith]

"Sailing...," he took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He could feel the wonderful wind on his face, and smell the salt. The warm sun and the humidity. He took out his flute and played a long slow tune like the cry of the sea birds. When he stopped he tapped out a slow sound, like the roll of waves crashing on the beach.

"To be out on the water is the greatest feeling. Water and sky as far as you can see." He laughed. "Of course it isn't always like that. There are storms; they come up suddenly and they are violent," He drummed on the table with crashing rhythm, mimicing thunder. "You have to hold tight to the ropes, and keep the tiller steady, straining wiht everything you have." Then he stopped again. "And just as suddenly, they are gone."

He helped himself to more juice. "Shipfish, on the other hand, you just have to see to believe." he smiled and drank the juice

[Zenniel]

Live smiled, and then frowned. "Oh my! Shipfish seem wonderful and all, but I'm way past my time to start on my chores!"

She quickly got up and threw the fruit cores in the trash (or whatever they did with their trash), and then smiled at the two people. "I'm very sorry to leave you so suddenly, but I must go now."

Then, wishing goodbye to both of them, Liv hurried out of the kitchens. She was late, and she knew she was going to be later in finishing her chores today, too. So much for swimming later on.

(( Sorry, but I have too many threads, and I'm planning on another one. ._. ))

[jerith]

Corin looked alittle confused. He hadn't even had a chance to talk to Live, and she had seemed so interesting too. Netory was nice, but alittle young for him.

"Was it something I said?" He looked at Netory.