The Joys of Complaining

Writers: Chelle, Paula
Date Posted: 14th January 2015

Characters: Sh'dori, E'rae
Description: Sh'dori and E'rae talk about complains and learn to know each other.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 11, day 4 of Turn 7

Sh'dori found himself accidentally bumping against the bluerider in the
crowded dining cavern. "Excuse me," he said, offering a steadying hand.
"It's crazy and crowded here today. It's like this horde never seen food
before."

E'rae gave an amused smile. "Probably has something to do with morning
exercises taking longer than usual." As a rider he usually ate breakfast
before going to bathe his dragon and then heading to drills. The Lower
Caverns folk and crafters tended to eat later. Today, though, the riders
seemed to be eating later, making the crowd larger. He felt a bit sorry for
the staff but there was nothing to be helped.

"Yeah," Sh'dori grunted. He wasn't overly fond of long drills either. "With
my luck, the klah runs out just before I get there," he complained.

"At least it's warm here so we don't necessarily need hot klah." On
occasion he'd done well with it cold. Shrugging, he continued with his
juice and toast. "Just glad to have food which means the holders don't hate
us."

"Ack, spoilsport. Don't you know that half of the fun is the complaining?
Doesn't matter what you're complaining about," Sh'dori said with a chuckle
which took a barb out of his words. He took himself some fruit slices and
cheese to go with the klah.

"I find I get less when I complain and more when I praise." Of course the
bluerider was towards the bottom of the rank order so he didn't expect
much. And he also didn't complain much because they fell on deaf ears most
of the time anyway. "Who do you complain to when there is no one to
listen?" That last line was almost somewhat bitter, but he couched it in a
wry smile toward the end.

"To my dragon. It's one way to just vent out feelings," Sh'dori said, his
tone now more serious. "If you just keep it all inside, you start to feel
bad."

"Leith knows how I feel so no need to complain to him. Besides, the way I
used to be...I tended to upset him a lot." He'd made improvement but he was
still seeing the mindhealer. At least he wasn't grounded and he was working
better with his wing. Of course he'd practically cut all his ties with
River Bluff and everything that had happened there in order to move forward.

"Well, we all are different and react differently. Each has his own way,"
Sh'dori said philosophically.

"Are you from here?" He didn't know the other rider well but he thought he
should. E'rae felt like it would settle him more into his new Weyr if he
introduced himself.

"I've lived here more than decade now, but originally I'm from Dragonsfall
Weyr," Sh'dori replied.

"Oh...I'm from Garnet Valley. A bit of the same, mountains and snow. I miss
it sometimes, but I can always visit." He smiled, thinking of the forests
of home. It didn't seem like that long ago that he had been Searched.
Still, so much had happened perhaps it had been lifetimes.

Sh'dori nodded. "I'm familiar with the hold, well, mostly with the
smithcraft hall and minecraft hall."

"Yeah my father is a tanner." Of course the smith hall had always been
around and there had been the minors nearby. E'rae, though, had been in the
woods more often than not. His attention had never been for the other
crafts.

"Mine was a woodsmith, like me," Sh'dori replied. "So, what do you do on
your free time?"

"Hunting mostly, though I walk the beaches a lot. And seeing my daughter,
Werenn. She's growing up quickly and is almost old enough to make her own
choices." It terrified him to a point, though he understood she had to
decide what to do with her life.

"I know how _that_ feels. I have quite a few children myself," Sh'dori
replied.

"Oh. She's my only." His voice choked for just a second-remembering the
three he had lost, not quite knowing still how to forget them. Would he
ever be able to go back to that tree again? He had carved two other names
onto it. Was it enough?

Sh'dori noticed it and let it pass without comment. He didn't know the
bluerider well enough to know the reason for his reaction and some people
liked to keep things private.

"How many do you have?" Of course some riders could never be sure but E'rae
had never been one of those. Something made him think Sh'dori might be.

"Fifteen and that's just the currently living ones," Sh'dori replied.

For a moment, E'rae was stunned quiet. He knew holders had large families
and had even seen such. A rider, though? That many children? Who were
living? Faranth. "Well..done."

"Thanks," Sh'dori said with a chuckle. "That's what I'm famous for."

Last updated on the February 11th 2015

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The Joys of Complaining