A Surprising Request

Writers: Devin, Eimi
Date Posted: 2nd September 2005

Characters: N'vanik, U'kaiah
Description: N'vanik asks if he can help out Dolphin Cove
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 7, day 8 of Turn 3

N'vanik

"Hey, Fearless Leader." N'vanik called as he led his bronze into the
weyrlake. "Fancy meeting you here."

"Good evening, N'vanik." U'kaiah gave his wingrider a nod over his
shoulder as he scrubbed at the hide at Kalamath's shoulder. He always
knew there were Candidates and holdbrats a plenty who would love to wash
his bronze for him, but it was always an activity he enjoyed, and
usually reserved for him alone. The wingleader couldn't help but wonder
if N'vanik, as disagreeable as he was, took the same kind of pleasure
washing his own lifemate. "Do you bathe your dragon alone today?"

"I usually do." Lifting a brush, N'vanik set to work on the bronze hide.

The wingleader nodded to himself. That solved that question. He turned
back to washing his own dragon. Maybe N'vanik could work out some of
his excess agression on the exercise.

After a few moments of silence, N'vanik turned to the other bronzerider.
"Can I . . . ask you a favor?" He said with some difficulty.

U'kaiah tried not to drop the brush into the water in his surprise.
"Ah... Of course."

"I'd like to help out at Dolphin Cove. Maybe you could put in a good
word for me? Or something." He was already beginning to regret asking.

The wingleader stopped his brushing at looked over his shoulder at
N'vanik. He couldn't be serious! "Uh... I don't know, N'vanik.
You're still settling in here, and..."

"They need all the help they can get over there and I thought--" He
broke off and shook his head. "Nevermind." He knew this was a bad idea.

"It's not that your desire to help is unappreciated N'vanik," U'kaiah
said quickly. Truth was, he was surprised the man thought of anything
beyond himself enough to even think of it. "I know we all want to help
as much as we can. But we cannot risk all our bronzes." He figured
this was at least a diplomatic answer. "Perhaps we can find another way
that you can help."

"Don't give me that." N'vanink said in annoyance. "Why don't you just
tell me the truth --you don't trust me to help out. You think I'll cause
problems."

"I know you are good at fighting Thread. But, yeah," U'kaiah said as he
turned around to face N'vanik fully, "I don't think you are right for
the job."

"Think all you want. You don't know anything about me." The wingrider
turned back to his dragon, who was sending him soothing feelings.

U'kaiah shook his head in frustration as he looked at N'vanik's back,
tense and aggitated. The man would just never understand that he does
it to himself. He turned back towards his own dragon. **What does Trae
see in him?**

Last updated on the September 3rd 2005

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A Surprising Request