Harping On (1/2)

Writers: Leigh M-F., Setsuna
Date Posted: 7th June 2016

Characters: Tameira, Ashuli
Description: After her pupil apologizes, Tameira begins plotting her revenge.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 5, day 20 of Turn 8
Notes: Mentioned: L'exan.

It was well before any lessons would
begin, but that was okay. Ashuli needed time to do this. She wandered
the areas of the Weyr she knew, looking for her favorite teacher,
before she went looking for Tameira by the Weyr lake. It was so nice
out, who wouldn't want to be there?

Tameira hummed a soft little silly tune
as her eyes focused on the small blue hided form resting on her knee,
sitting beside the lake on a pleasant morning. A cloth of breakfast
rolls lay momentarily forgotten next to her in favor of the uncapped
jar full of oil, faintly scented with something that smelled a bit
spicy and sweet. A scent Marlais had taken quite a liking to, and
refused any other oil of any type. Had she been thinking that, it
would have brought a wry smile to her face. No, she was thinking of a
song, and she sang it softly to Marlais, who rested with his wings
slightly spread out and his eyes half lidded.

"Everybody knows about the pesty itch
the one you can never quite seem to
scratch
the one that pops up when your hands
are filled with this or that.

It pops up on your nose, then travels
to your toes
and just when you're about ready to
throw
what you've been holding;
Someone does a favor and gives it a
nice hard scrape.

Oh that pesty pesky nagging dragging
itchy spot
that only a scratch or oil can stop
and when you finally stop the twitch
you're so glad you banished your itch!"

She was half laughing as she sang and
rubbed more oil into the blue hide of her firelizard. He let out a
few chirrups almost in tune with the song, then returned to his
relaxed pose, albeit with a slight tilt of the head to direct
attention to a spot at the base of his neck. She smiled and
obligingly rubbed oil tenderly into the spot, making the firelizard
croon loudly with pleasure.

"Tameira!" There she was! And she
had a blue fire-lizard like her Papa's. Ashuli hurried over at not
quite a run. "Hi!"

Tameira was rubbing a bit more oil
along the base of one of Marlais' wings when she heard her name being
called. She looked up a little startled, then smiled some to see it
was one of her students. Ah it was Ashuli, the daughter of L'exan,
that blasted rider. She still hadn't quite forgiven him completely
for their last meeting, but the embarrassment had ebbed from her a
while ago. Marlais opened his eyes more and they whirled as he eyed
her a bit critically.

Marlais began bunching up his wings on
his back, and Tameira gave him a light stroke on the head and a
gentle light flick of the finger, a silent warning to relax. He gave
her a somewhat weary look before he began settling down a little,
though he still watched the young girl carefully, like one studying
something intently before rendering judgment. Tameira now directed
more of a smile to the girl. "Morning Ashuli. Enjoying a stroll
before your classes?"

"No, I was looking for you," Ashuli
said. "I wanted to apologize for the mean joke Papa played on you.
He can be a dummy sometimes. So I'm sorry."

A slow blink was the first response
Ashuli's apology got from Tameira. A little angry hiss was the first
reaction from the firelizard Marlais. Again, the light finger flick
warning from Tameira as she glanced down at him. He looked up at her
with injured dignity and Tameira frowned a little. "I was the
one he played the joke on, not you. No need to defend my honor, brave
warrior." Tameira lightly drawled. Marlais made a huffy little
sound and turned his head away from both girls. Tameira gave a light
roll of the eyes in exasperation at her pets behavior.

"Don't mind him. I suppose I'm
lucky he wasn't there when it happened, or your papa might have ended
up with scratches on his face." She fought the smile tugging at
her lips at the thought. Probably L'exans own firelizard would have
taken up his owners defense, and they'd have the blue firelizards
squaring off. Tameira sighed lightly. "But thank you for
apologizing, though you really hadn't needed to. I deserved it,
somewhat."

Ashuli shook her head, completely
unperturbed by the grumpy little blue. Demos was a lot like that too.
"Papa's too proud to apologize, and Mama says if someone does
wrong, they should apologize. So I'm doing it for him. And- And now
you can still be my teacher, right? I like you best."

She smiled a bit more at the girls
nonchalant manner. Marlais felt it and gave a somewhat questioning
chirp, turning his head slightly to look towards Ashuli with a single
eye. Tameira began stroking his hide with her oil tipped fingers
again as Ashuli explained why she had to apologize, but her hand
stilled when Ashuli questioned about her still being her teacher.

She looked up, a little startled at the
girls words and statement. She felt her throat tighten a little. She
knew the children liked her well enough, but none of her students had
said they liked her _best_. Now Marlais took full notice and began
making scolding noises at Ashuli, but Tameira laid her hand on his
head.

"oh Ashuli, sweetie. Don't tell me
you thought I'd stop being your teacher because of what your father
said. Of course I'll still be your teacher." She gave her a warm,
comforting smile, and extended her arm out in a welcoming and
offering gesture for a hug.

"Well, people get mad over less,"
Ashuli admitted, shuffling a foot and feeling foolish about her
assumption. So when Tameira held out her arm, Ashuli gladly came
closer, dropped to her knees, and hugged the harper, uncaring that
Marlais might take offense. She could handle a grouchy pet.

"Oh I got mad. Just at your father
though. I wouldn't be mad at you at all." Tameira smiled as Ashuli
stepped in and hugged her. Marlais gave a half glare, his eyes
looking between the intruding little girl and his owner, but he only
let out an annoyed chirrup before folding his wings up and settling
down on his stomach a bit. Tameira gave Ashuli a small squeeze and
chuckled softly. "Want to know a secret? I was so mad at your papa
for his trick, I threw a book at him. I didn't hit him though."

Marlais had looked up at Tameira
admitted what had happened, and began chattering in a manner that
seemed to indicate he was either agreeing with her actions, or
laughing at it. Tameira laughed a little at him, and that prompted a
brief bout of scolding chittering.

"Aw, someone's a grumpy boy,"
Ashuli cooed at Marlais. "Don't worry, one day Tameira will get
Papa, and he'll probably deserve it. And I can say that even though
I'm his precious girl and I love him."

Last updated on the July 18th 2016

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Harping On (1/2)