DCW-DH: Called

Writers: Vix
Date Posted: 30th May 2007

Characters: Mahantan, Hantala
Description: Mahantan reflects on his task of the past Turn and that facing him now.
Location: Dolphin Hall
Date: month 3, day 28 of Turn 4
Notes: Hallmaster Mosler (not by name), Master Metlick
Notes: The scenario surrounding Mahantan's promotion was suggested by Cali
(Hallmaster Mosler) - my thanks for the reply to my email request while on
LOA!

The new Master of Apprentices skirted the dock area, heading for the beach
instead. It was early, the sun had not yet peeked over the horizon but the
eastern sky was steadily brightening. This was usually his favorite time of
day, the time when he could swim with Forrel and relax before starting his
duties.

But now he felt tense, his limbs heavy from lack of sleep and from worry.

He walked the edge of the water, foam from the waves swirling around his
toes, his gait even on the packed wet sand, though he occasionally
sidestepped a stick or small pile of semi-buried stones or other objects.
This stretch of beach had been clean when he had walked it last evening but
the tide had deposited more debris overnight.

"More to drag away," he murmured to himself as he walked, though as his eyes
took in the detritus he was relieved to note nothing that appeared to be
obviously the remnants of the hurricane's flooding of inhabited areas. There
had been enough of that in the past few days, enough of that since he had
been called to this place only two days after the hurricane had hit Dolphin
Cove Weyr and the Dolphin Hall that was now located here.

He had been called from remnants of destruction to more remnants of
destruction.

He had been called from a situation that had progressed slowly, from the
remains of the old Dolphin Hall at Topaz Sea Hold, destroyed along with the
Hold in a storm the Turn before. He had stayed behind, clearing the beach,
salvaging items brought ashore, guiding those who had remained to pick
through the fragments and to save what could be saved, to hide from other
eyes what was too painful to see. The work had been exhausting,
disheartening, and extremely slow. A turn later parts of the beach were
cleared, just as portions of the shoreside habitations had been burned or
repaired. But none of it was as it had been, would ever be as it had been.

And then the hurricane had struck this place, had struck the Weyr and the
new Dolphin Hall. In its aftermath, the Hallmaster had called on him once
more. This time he was called not only to sift through the remnants of the
storm and rebuild, but also to guide the young apprentices, as Master
Metlick, in failing health and feeling unable to face the position any
longer, retired. As new Master of Apprentices, it would be Mahantan's task
to help his charges cope with the destruction around them, to rebuild, and
to move on and learn the skills they needed as the basis of their craft.

"I thought that I'd find you here!"

The cheerful voice that broke into his thoughts brought a smile to his face.
He turned to greet its owner - his daughter Hantala, one of those
apprentices under his tutelage, separated from him for the past Turn as she
had moved on to the new location and he had stayed behind. "Of course, Tala.
My habits haven't changed."

"May I swim with you, Papa?" She addressed him by the name that she had used
as a toddler, the name that had been slow in returning when her mother had
sent her and her sister to live with him after turns apart.

"A little father-daughter time?" he asked pleasantly.

"It's the only opportunity I have," she admitted. "During most of the day
you're 'Master Mahantan' and I'm just an ordinary apprentice. I feel like
spending time with family for a change."

"Why not?" he replied. "Even though it's restday, I'll probably be called
upon to do at least some work, but first I feel like having a swim, and then
waking my other daughter so that the three of us can have breakfast
together."

"Perfect!" She splashed into the water, turning to glance back at him.
"Coming?"

"On my way!" He moved into the waves at a more leisurely pace, whistling
loudly toward the pod of dolphins visible on the horizon, calling Forrel and
her friends to join them.

Last updated on the May 30th 2007

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DCW-DH: Called