Getting a fresh start

[Bahbah]

Rhys paced in the common area of the candidate barracks. It was normally a pleasure to see the looks of all the unImpressed candidates march back into the barracks and confine themselves in their rooms until next time, but today, Rhys held no exact emotion toward any, Impressed or unImpressed.

Stopping after the umpteenth time of reaching one wall to the other, Rhys stopped and made himself comfortable in one of the armchairs. It probably wouldn't be long until the room started to fill up with candidates and their words of why they didn't get a dragon. It was hard, true, to accept the fact that first time of standing and not Impressing was hard, but surely they would understand later with time that not everyone got the luxury of finding their lifemates the first time.. Shards, sometimes the second or third was the charm. Now, where were those unImpressed candidates?

[Houka Ryuu]

Kira and Sirai
Since they didn't really need the Candidate Robes anymore, they handed it over to one of the drudges who will have it cleaned and prepared for the next person to wear.

Using the tunnels, they made their slow-way towards the candidate barracks. Upon entering the Common Room, they were surprised to see someone waiting inside, sitting in one of the armchairs.

Kira and Sirai looked at each other not sure who the person and what they were doing there. Kira shrugged her shoulder letting her brother know that she didn't know who the person was nor what he was doing there. Unlinking their arms, Kira approached the man sitting on the armchair.

"Excuse me but... who are you? And, what are you doing here?" Kira asked the stranger with one of her eyebrows raised as if to suggest that the person she was talking to did not have the right to be where he currently was.

Sirai just nodded his agreement at his sister's questions. He too wanted to know who the man was and what the man was doing inside the Common Room of the Candidate Barracks.

[Bahbah]

to Kira & Sirai

Thinking about all the things that he could be doing right now, Rhys began to wonder what Sharddit and Dimglow were up to. It wouldn't be of no sureprise that they were avoiding him, but nevertheless, he hoped that they weren't causing trouble. Of course, Rhys didn't ponder too long on the two flitters as a couple of candidates finally arrived. They were either really close relatives, or friends as what the candidate master thought of; he didn't think much on the topic. Being questioned once the two recognized seeing someone else that they probably weren't familiar with, the man exhaled a bit heavily, in terms of a heavy sigh.
"I am Rhys, the new Candidate Master,"
Rhys appeared calm in his words as he glanced only briefly at the two candidates before him. A thought ran across his mind, and he almost sneered from it, but keeping himself neutral, the man continued on.
"so surely that explains my presense."

Finishing himself, Rhys cleared his throat and looked about the still empty room before looking at the woman who had questioned him.
"You two aren't the only ones left unImpressed. Where are the others?"
Though it brief, Rhys did sound a bit irritated at having only two of the failed to Impress candidates in the facility. He was sure that an announcement had been made for any left standing where to come to the candidate barracks for further instruction. Obviously these were the only two to comply to the message.

[Houka Ryuu]

Kira and Sirai
At the mention that the person before her was the new Candidate Master, Kira was taken aback. She never really realized that now that there were newly Impressed pairs, R'sul wouldn't have the time for those that were left standing in the sands.

At Rhys' question about where the others were, she looked back at Sirai a question in her eyes as is to convey the question, do you know where the others are?

Sirai just shrugged at his sister's questioning look. It was then that their flitts finally caught up to them. Gold Empress squawked indignantly at Sirai for leaving her behind in the tunnels while Blue Odd true to his name behaved oddly as he hovered near the face of Rhys as if scrutinizing the Candidate Master.

Bronze Emperor flew straight for Kira and settled on her right shoulder, his tail twining around her neck for support. Green Greenie also flew straight for Kira and settled on her left shoulder, her tail wrapping around Kira left arm. Emperor was sort of hiding behing Kira's hair but Greenie was curious enough about Rhys that she chirped an inquiry at him.

Sirai sighed as he called for Odd, "Odd! Shards, that's the new Candidate Master. Don't go hovering in his face like that." as he tried to entice Odd away from the face of Rhys.

Odd didn't seem to want to listen to Sirai's order for he continued to look closely at Rhys as he hovered in the air. Empress having calmed down a little, settled on Sirai's right shoulder and promptly wrapped her tail around his neck for support. When Odd didn't obey Sirai, Empress warbled a warning at Odd to leave Rhys alone. Odd looked at Rhys then at Empress and back again. He seemed to be contemplating what to do but in the end, he complied with Sirai's order and flew towards Sirai and settled on Sirai's left shoulder.

With the flitts' antics over with, Kira answered, "I am sorry, but we don't know where the others are." And noticing Greenie's curiousity at Rhys, she added, "Oh, this is Greenie." as she lifted her left hand to gently caress Greenie's head. "And this is Emperor." she added as she then lifted her right hand to gently caress Emperor's head. Then looking at Greenie, Kira said, "That's Rhys. He is the new Candidate Master."

Sirai finally having Odd behave himself decided to introduce themselves. Stepping closer and standing on Kira's right, he said, "By the way, I'm Sirai, and she's my sister, Kira."

At which point Kira gave him a smack on his head again. In a hissed whisper, Kira said, "I told you I can introduce myself, you dimglow."

Sirai just rubbed on his poor abused head as he whispered a reply, "I know that! However, you forgot to introduce yourself when you introduced Greenie and Emperor." Then he added, "And stop smacking my head!" in a complaint as he scowled at Kira.

Then remembering about Odd, he turned to face Rhys and said, "Sorry about Odd. He's the blue flitt that was hovering near your face. He's always been odd like that." in an apologetic tone.

And of course, he remembered to introduce Empress as well. "And my gold flitt is Empress." Sirai said with a smile.

"Did you manage to hatch some flitts of your own?" Sirai asked Rhys not even wondering why Rhys was waiting for the unImpressed in the Common Room of the Candidate Barracks.

Kira scowled back at her brother. So far, she hasn't been able to introduce herself properly since Sirai somehow always managed to introduce them before she ever did. However, she wasn't really interested if the Candidate Master managed to Impress flitts so she turned again and sat in one of the chairs to wait for the others.

Sirai noticed Kira moving to sit in one of the chairs. However, he stood where he was waiting for Rhys' reply to his question.

[nerdtron]

As Aralex walked into the common room of the candidates barracks, he had a smile on his face. he had just been thinking about the good times he had had with his sister and parents before everything had taken a turn for the worse.

When he looked up, for he had been starring at the ground the whole time while thinking, he saw Kira sitting in one of the lounging in one chairs and Sirai starring expectantly at an older man whom he had never seen before.

The man looked up and looked at him with an satisfied expression and opened his mouth to say something, but closed it with a look of irritated confusion.

Aralex was rather confused with the man's reactions. "Is there something stuck in my teeth?" He asked, trying to figure out who the man was. Upon not being able to think of anything else to say or having any luck figuring out who the older man was, he walked to the empty seat next to Kira and plopped down, adopting a bored look while still smiling.

[Houka Ryuu]

Kira
As Kira sat waiting for other unImpressed candidates to finally make their way back to the Candidate Barracks, a young lad finally managed to join them. Like she and Sirai had been, he must be wondering who the older man was with them.

Kira heard the lad ask if there was something stuck in his teeth. Curious as to why the lad would such a question, Kira scrutinized the boy's teeth for the lad had chosen to sit beside her.

Greenie, noticing that Kira was looking at the lad, she chirped a greeting at him. Emperor just tried to hide further into Kira's hair. At least, his head is hidden in Kira's hair but his body was still visible on Kira's right shoulder.

Not finding anything stuck on the lad's teeth, she said, "There's nothing stuck there." in reply to the lad's question although he probably had not meant for it to be answered.

Then finally realizing that she was never formally introduced to the lad and before Sirai could introduce them again, she said, "I'm Kira." Pointing to her brother, she added, "That's my brother, Sirai." Then pointing to the older man, she said, "That's Rhys, the new Candidate Master." And in the next breath, she asked, "And who are you?" in a drawl. In her hurry to introduce herself, she forgot to mention the names of her flitts.

[nerdtron]

Kira had said all of that so fast Aralex had to think for a second to comprehend what she had said. Deciding to leave introducing himself to the other two until later, he focused on Kira. "My name is Aralex. Its nice to meet you. Thank you for checking my teeth for me." Aralex said as politely as he could, sitting up straighter and changing the look of boredom he was wearing to one of genuine interest.

He then noticed the small green flitt on her shoulder "Whats the little green guy on your shoulders name?" He asked, barely able to believe someone was actually being nice to him and trying to have a conversation, even if she talked really fast.

[Houka Ryuu]

Kira
Greenie squawked indignantly at being referred to as a guy. But she was still interested with the lad that she fly-hopped down to the armrest that Kira had been sitting on and perched there looking up at the lad. Her eyes a whirl of green color. She looked as if she was waiting for the lad to pet her or give her a scratch.

Kira also didn't like Greenie being referred to as a guy so she said, "Her name is Greenie." with an emphasis on the word her. "She's my second flitt." Kira added.

Kira tried to get Emperor free from her hair and managed it without too much hassle. She introduced Emperor who was now perched on her right arm, she said, "This is my first flitt, Emperor."

Emperor, not really interested with other people just cheeped a greeting at Aralex and promptly got back to his perch on Kira's right shoulder and proceeded in hiding behind her hair.

Kira just sighed in frustration when Emperor once more tried to hide in her hair. Aloud she said, "You'd think with the name Emperor he would act more like his name suggested." to no one in particular.

Then remembering Aralex, she asked, "How old are you?" She knew from looking at him that he was younger than her but older than Sirai so she was wondering how old he really was.

[nerdtron]

" I'm 17.let me get this straight, Shes Greenie And the one hiding in your hair is Emperor," He said, pointing at the two flitts as he said their names and trying to memorize their names.

"Does she want me to pet her?" Aralex asked, Remembering the record he had read about flitt eye color.

[Houka Ryuu]

Kira
Kira contemplated a little as she heard him say that he was 17 Turns Old. He was too young to be considered a potential mate in Kira's opinion. But, he is older than Sirai and it probably wouldn't hurt making friends with other people. It would at least give her more people to order about, especially those that were younger than her. She thought with a decided evil glint in her eyes as she eyed Aralex. She was already thinking of ways she can order him about when his question brought her out of her silent machinations.

Looking down on Greenie, Kira noticed that the green indeed looked liked she was waiting to be petted. She sighed a little in pity for her Greenie for she was usually more focused on Emperor more often than not. The little one is probably lonely not being fussed about like Emperor is. Kira silently told herself.

Looking back up at the lad, she said in reply, "It would seem that she is. Go ahead and give her a scratch just behind her eyes. Emperor likes that spot so she probably likes that spot being scratched also."

Then thinking better of it, she added, "Actually, why don't you mind her for a bit, I want to ask something that just crossed my mind." She silently gave Greenie an order to behave and stay with Aralex for a little while.

She then got up to approach the Candidate Master leaving Aralex to keep an eye on Greenie for a little bit. She stood once more on Sirai's left and asked, "It just crossed my mind, how come you became the Candidate Master? Shouldn't the Candidate Master be someone knowledgeable about dragons?" She stood there waiting for a reply with Sirai.

Greenie just briefly looked back at Kira as Kira stood up to approach the Candidate Master. She didn't mind being told to wait with Aralex. Actually, want she wanted was to have someone's undivided attention. There were times that Emperor in the way when she wanted to have some alone time with Kira. So, she settled for the next best thing. She once more looked back up at Aralex waiting with hope in her eyes that he would give her a scratch or a caress. She also transmitted images of her being petted or scratched in places that she liked best.

[nerdtron]

Aralex was more than glad to spend some time with Greenie. As he scratched her above the eye ridges, he thought about Kira. She seemed nice enough, and she had two flitts, which he thought was extremely cool. He wished he had a flitt more and more every time he saw one. Kira was also attractive, and probably the only attractive girl to ever give him a second thought.

As Aralex continued to scratch Greenie's head, he leaned back and expectantly waited for Rhys's response to both Kira and Sirai's questions.

[Bahbah]

The unexpected arrivals of several of those wretched mini-dragons did not at all cause Rhys to flinch. However, he did become slightly annoyed at how dangerously close one of them was getting. He had to resist very hard not to swat at the curious blue flitter, but that wasn't necessary when the blue was finally called off.

Without much thought, Rhys just shrugged off the violation of personal space by a blue flitter when he was asked if he managed to obtain some fire lizards as well. Let's just say before the man could even so much as nod, a dark bronze popped out from between followed by a colbalt blue appeared and settled themselves on a table not too far from where Rhys was sitting. Rhys didn't even bother introducing the two when another candidate appeared. Not really giving two Bitran marks from the look on the new candidate's face, Rhys merely kept quiet as he watched the three candidates talk amongst themselves.

Not too long into the three's candidate, the female from the first two candidates got up after saying something to the newcomer male candidate and approached him with a question as to why he was candidate master and the criterias needed for such a position.

Considering the view from the question asked, Rhys lifted a brow and cleared his throat in a muffled, yet gruff sound. Just as Rhys was about to explain the reasoning, the dark bronze chirrupped, followed by the colbalt blue.
"I'll feed you two in a moment."
The look on Rhys' face wasn't one of annoyance or haste, instead he remained emotionless before his attentioned turned toward Kira, and even toward the other two who were undoubtedly wanting to know as well.
"If you must know, I was asked by R'sul. I have an untapped knowledge of dragons then you would assume, even if I lack a dragon companion."

This time, Rhys held a slightly harsh tone, yet he overall remained cool on the matter. That was all that was needed, and if they wanted to know more, than it was just too bad on their behalf. Should they complain about it, well, then Rhys really wasn't one to be overly concerned about it, and he highly doubted that R'sul wouldn't've cared as much as he did. Turning from Kira, Rhys pulled a a large strip of dried meat from his riding britches and tore it into feedable pieces to give to each the bronze and blue fire lizard. Scritching the blue on the eye ridge, Rhys closed his eyes as he fought back the memories of Izumeranth, only, he was brought back when the bronze nipped rather hard on one of his fingers.
"Sharddit! Git, the both of ya now!"

[Bahbah]

Looking at the few left candidates, Rhys cleared his throat after dismissing his two fire lizards, but mostly to catch all of their attentions.

"Since this seems to be the only group left, whether there are more candidates or not, I'm going to the point."
Without knowing, Rhys' upper lip curled in a rather aggitative way as he viewed each of the three candidates.

"I'm not going to pretty up my words to soften this whole situation up, but Impressing a dragon is not really everybody's thing. While you have recently witnessed some of your friends, or even family, Impress upon the sands a while ago, you may feel like you don't deserve to even attempt another Stand."
A brow lifted, and Rhys' tone grew stern as he continued with his little speech, surely somewhere along the lines he'd sound sympathetic.. somewhere.

"It's up to you, personally, as to whether you want to or not. I won't make you humiliate yourselves again if you choose not to, but sometimes it simply takes time before the right dragon finds you upon those sands. Just be patient."

Rhys closed his eyes for what may have been minutes before opening them.

"Do any of you want to go back to your regular lives before you became a candidate, or would you like to try again? I will make this clear before you make your choice, the next few months until the next hatching will not be easy. You will learn the lessons that a candidate should learn before then rather than going blindly like you all did on this one. You will work alongside the weyrlings in some lessons, and you will pretty much be like a grunt to anyone that is of a higher rank than you, which is everyone. Anyone disobeying an order from a higher ranking person and I am told of it, will be punished for I only tolerate to an extent."

Pausing briefly, Rhys found himself pacing a bit back and forth before stopping.
"Any questions and, or comments?"

[Houka Ryuu]

Sirai
Before he could comment about the new flits that arrived, Rhys, the new Candidate Master started addressing him and the others that were currently present in the Common Room of the Candidate Barracks. As Rhys started speaking about Impressing, Sirai unconsciously moved backwards to find a seat for himself. He ended up sitting beside the other lad that was talking to his sister. He didn't turn to introduce himself for now because he was focused on what Rhys had to say.

Empress was perched on his shoulder while Odd for a miracle was behaving himself as he settled on Sirai's lap. He idly caressed the blue flit on his little wedge-shaped head. Slowly, Rhys' words were digested by his brain and he understood what Rhys was getting at. After Rhys stopped speaking, Sirai looked towards his sister, he didn't have to speak with her as he already knew what he wanted to do with his life. He wanted to try Standing for the next Hatching. He didn't know how long that would be but he was sure that in order to have a hand in saving Pern, he would need to be a dragonrider himself.

Clearing his throat to speak up, all he said was, "I would like to Stand for the next Hatching, and the next, and the next, until I finally Impress a dragon." with a voice full of determination. His eyes sparkling with a future only he could see. He was already imagining himself flying a-dragonback to fight Thread and save Pern.

Kira
Kira blinked in an almost stupefied expression as Rhys informed her that he had been specifically asked by R'sul to be the Candidate Master. Not only that, he said that he had untapped knowledge regarding dragons. That phrase alone made Kira's mind whirl in a torrent of questions but she never got a chance to voice them out loud for Rhys started speaking about Impressing and whether they all wanted to continue Standing or to go back to their regular lives.

Like her brother, once Rhys started speaking, she also stepped backwards until she found a seat which ironically enough was on the other side of Aralex. She and her brother had sandwiched the lad in between them when they sat in their seats.

Greenie leaned her head into Aralex's scratchs. She definitely liked being scratched on the head. She crooned at him to show her appreciation and also to make sure that he kept doing so. She rarely got caresses from Kira so she will dearly love anyone who will give her tender loving attention. Emperor on the other hand was still trying to hide himself in Kira's hair. He really did not live up to his name at all.

After Rhys stopped speaking, she felt Sirai looking at her direction and then heard him declare his intent to keep on Standing for the Hatching until he Impresses a dragon. Not to be out done by her brother, she nodded in agreement with his declaration and after he finished speaking said her own opinion.

"I too shall keep Standing until the day that I Impress. My brother and I will become dragonriders who will surely help to save Pern from Thread." Kira said with vigor and vitality.

Greenie and Emperor warbled their assent with Kira's decision just as Empress and Odd thrilled in agreement with Sirai's declaration.

[Rye]

Thalon

Quietly opening the door, Thalon prayed he wasn't late. Rhys wasn't known to be forgiving of such things, and he doubted the new candidate master would accept his excuse of being stopped by R'sul on his way away from the sands. Swearing under his breath, he slid into the room and was immediately met by four pairs of inquisitive eyes.

Looking around, Thalon noted the other candidates. Aralex, Kira, and Sirai he knew from hearing their names called; not that he ever spoke to them. Turning slightly, he nodded respectfully to Rhys as he spoke his apology.

"I apologize for my tardiness."

It wasn't much, but it was all he offered. He doubted Rhys would comment, as the old ex-Rider knew him from his old Weyr, his home before the plague. Dragging his brillant blue eyes from the Candidate Master's hard face, he strode to the back of the room, choosing a seat behind all of the others. Now, he could see the whole room without worrying about prying eyes on his back. His past was his own, and no one else was entitled to know of it.

As he relaxed against the chair, Thalon crossed his long legs out in front of him and leaned back, letting his thoughts wander back to the hatching. Everything had went well; they had a Queen, for Faranth's sake. Soon the Weyr would be replenished and dragons would once again be roaming the skies, not just the lonely Xennoth. The blue was ecstatic after the hatching, and Thalon couldn't help but to smile at his happy mood.

Returning his mind back to the room, Thalon looked straight up to the front and watched Rhys, awaiting either a reprimand or a continuation of what he'd been speaking of. The young man's face was once again hard as he watched his old mentor, and his eyes seemed like cold ice as he was reminded of Rhys's old dragon, Izumeranth, and the fall of the Weyrs. Shards, none of these candidates really knew what the ex-Rider was sacrificing for them, did they?

[Houka Ryuu]

Sirai
At the arrival of another person, Sirai blinked and thought, Oh, that's him, the rumored relative of R'sul. Wonder where he has been. I haven't had the chance to talk to him. And no sooner had the thought passed his head, Sirai went closer to the new arrival. He looked almost as old as his sister, Kira.

He plonked himself in a seat beside the man. Empress squawking at Sirai at the sudden movement. Odd, not minding the change in venue, not that Sirai went anywhere new really, Odd settled down beside the chair next to Sirai.

With a smile on his face, not even intimidated by the ice cold eyes of the man, Sirai said, "Hi there. We've never formally met. I'm Sirai." as he extended his right hand for a handshake.

[Rye]

Thalon

Movement drew Thalon's eyes away from Rhys's face, and the young man turned just in time to watch Sirai get up and make his way over. Sharrdit. What in shells did he think he was doing?

"Hi there. We've never formally met. I'm Sirai."

As the boy sat down, Thalon looked at his bright, inquisitive face, then at the outstretched hand. After he'd pointedly looked at the boy's offer of a handshake, Thalon dragged his eyes back to the boy's face and said simply,

"I know."

After staring Sirai in the eyes again, daring him to reply, Thalon looked over to his firelizards. They were pleasnt little things, but he tried to avoid the firelizards if he could; they reminded him too much of dragons.

[Houka Ryuu]

Sirai
Sirai shrugged his shoulders as he dropped his extended hand to his side. "So, you must know all the nooks and crannies of this Weyr. Do you think you can show me some time?" Sirai asked the older man. He'd wanted to go exploring more but with becoming a Candidate, his movements had been watched and told not to go wandering around lest he get lost. With someone who knew the way, maybe he'll get to know more about the ins and outs of the Weyr.

Empress just settled back on her perch on Sirai's shoulder and warily eyed Thalon. Odd, being the odd flit that he is hopped onto the arm of Sirai's chair in between Sirai and Thalon. Then, Odd thrilled a greeting at Thalon. Then, the blue flit sort of chirped perkily as if an idea flashed onto his mind and then, before Sirai could stop the blue flit, Odd hopped down from the chair's arm and was suddenly on top of Thalon's lap. Odd, looked up at Thalon with eyes begging for the man to give the blue flit a scratch or a caress.

[Rye]

Thalon

"So, you must know all the nooks and crannies of this Weyr. Do you think you can show me some time?"

Quickly Thalon's gaze darted back to Sirai's face, and he was hard-pressed not to reply with a firm, immediate no. He restrained himself, though, and after watching the boy's face studiously for a few moments he replied somewhat harshly,

"Maybe."

Shells. He didn't mean to sound so... cold, but that's just who he'd made himself become. If he closed himself up, he didn't hurt so bad, and life was easier, even if it wasn't as full.

Thalon's attention was then diverted as the blue fire-lizard hopped gleefully into his lap. He stared at it in shock for a moment, and, after a wary glance at Sirai he reached out tenatively to stroke the blue's neck. As his fingers touched the blue's hide, though, Thalon couldn't have been prepared for the memory that shook his frame.

The bronze's hide was smooth under his fingers, and he couldn't supress the smile that pulled at his lips as Zaventh crooned in pleasure. Even if it wasn't his doing the oiling, the bronze still immensely enjoyed the activity. Thalon, his grin widening as he felt the dragon's contentment, went again to reach for another oil skin, only to jump as Zaventh keened in sudden grief and loss. The agonized bronze, mad with grief, only sent one thought to his rider's child before he blinked between.

He said to tell you he loved you.

No. No. His father was NOT dead. Tears streaming down his face, Thalon ran into the other side of the Weyr, only to be held back by a lady healer...

Flinching away from the blue, Thalon shut his eyes tightly and shook his head, hoping to shake away the sudden flash of memory. Shells. Would he ever be normal again?

Thalon's eyes, as he looked back at Sirai, were cold again, but tinged with a deep, horrible grief.

"I...uh.."

He didn't know what to say, but he knew for sure the kid would think he was a crazy wherry. Well, maybe now he wouldn't want to be shown around the weyr...