Not Really Used to the Sea

Writers: Francesca, Kastaka
Date Posted: 11th January 2009

Characters: K'sen, G'len
Description: G'len procrastinates hidework by talking to Kelasen.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 13, day 20 of Turn 4

Kelasen was headed back to the candidate barracks to study his notes from the classes some more, but really he was mostly at a loose end. Chores were done, it wasn't a mealtime, and only his general paranoia about anything that looked like study kept him reading his notes over and over.

G'len left the dining cavern, still munching on a meatroll. There was probably some hidework to do, but he didn't feel like it quite yet. Seeing a young man with candidate knots gave him a great excuse to procrastinate. "Are you new here?" he asked with a big smile. He liked to at least recognize all of the candidates, if not speak with them. However, with many new ones being Searched and transferring from other Weyrs, it was difficult at times to keep up.

"Pretty much," admitted Kelasen, awkwardly trying not to gazed too long or obviously at the man's knots - while he'd obviously had the deciphering of the things drilled into him by the Harpers, there just wasn't much cause to worry about those sort of things at a cothold, and so he hadn't a practised eye for it. A brief look of panic crossed his face as he wondered whether he ought to have addressed the man as 'sir' or not - he was pretty sure some kind of dragonrider was implied by what he could make out, and there were some other details, the meanings of which didn't immediately come to mind.

"Did you transfer from another Weyr, or were you recently Searched?" G'len ignored the boy's nervousness. New candidates tended to be a bit anxious, for a wide variety of reasons.

"Both," replied Kelasen, relieved that the man didn't seem to be irritated with him. It wasn't a smart-aleck reply, just the simple truth.

G'len nodded, taking in the information. He hoped the candidate wasn't finding it too hard to fit in with the others. "I hope you're settling in well. I'm G'len, Weyrlingmaster Third and also a Searchrider, so I take special interest in all candidates."

"I was Searched to River Bluff," mentioned Kelasen, partly because he needed to say something, partly in a defensive tone, as if to say that G'len needn't test his suitability again.

"Well, now that you are here, what do you think of it?" He spread out his arms as if to encompass the entire Weyr.

"Sandy," replied Kelasen with what he hoped was a jovial tone. "Seriously, does the sand ever come out of your shoes here? And I'm still not really used to the sea being right here." He realised he was babbling and broke off with a wry smile.

G'len laughed. "The sand and the sea do take a bit of getting used to. I much prefer them to mountains and rivers, though. Many dragons enjoy both as well." He thought for a moment of K'hetah's frequent complaints of his bronze's love of swimming in the sea. "And, we're lucky enough to be only about half a candlemark's walk from the Dolphin Hall. If you ever find yourself bored, or wanting to get even more of both sand and sea, you should venture over there. I know a weyrbred girl, Chalzie, who apprenticed there and would be happy to introduce you to the dolphin pod." He shrugged. "Just a suggestion, in case you ever want to get away from the noise of the Weyr for a bit."

"I've never met a dolphin," said Kelasen thoughtfully. He was only vaguely aware that such things as dolphins existed, having spent most of his life inland and the rest rather busy and distracted. "I can't swim, though," he admitted. "Not much call for it at the farm. Nothing bigger than a stream on our land." He looked worried - he hadn't thought of it before, but didn't dragons spend quite a lot of time around fairly deep water, being washed and so forth?

G'len nodded. Many young candidates arrived at the Weyr never having swum before. "Well, I've heard the dolphins are very helpful and can even support you if you go in the water with them. You should think about taking some swimming lessons too, so you won't have to worry when you wash other dragons or, maybe someday, your own."

"Probably a good idea," agreed Kelasen, wondering mournfully when he could possibly fit it in swimming lessons between chores, classes, endless re-reading of his notes from classes, and getting hopelessly lost.

"And, if you have any other free time, most dragonriders would be happy for help washing their dragons." G'len said with a wink and a smile. Being a candidate was overwhelming for many, but being a dragonrider was even more so.

Kelasen smiled weakly. He'd seen some of the other candidates hanging around by the weyrlake, but obviously they had less trouble trying to retain information from people telling them things. Hopefully it really would all come naturally when he had a dragon to look after, as he secretly hoped, and he wouldn't have to worry about remembering the vast tide of information from his classes.

"Are you on your way to class now? Or chores?" G'len hoped he was not keeping the candidate from his duties.

"I took some notes in class I was meaning to go over," explained Kelasen, hoping that G'len would let him go before adding any more 'recommended' duties to his pile.

"I have some of my own work that needs to be done," G'len replied. It was nice to know that at least some candidates kept up with their studies. "Well, Kelasen, I hope to see you around. And, good luck."

"Thanks, sir," replied Kelasen, although he muttered the 'sir' in case he oughtn't be being so formal.

Last updated on the January 18th 2009

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Not Really Used to the Sea