Ribbon Thieves

Writers: April, Noola
Date Posted: 30th April 2010

Characters: Panyin, Sarri
Description: Panyin must return his firelizard's new ribbon to its rightful owner.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 8, day 24 of Turn 5

Sarri sat underneath a tree, a few dragonlengths from the kitchen door
of the Hold, and rested a bit, trying to catch her breath. She'd been
chasing her little brother since they had been released from Harper
classes. The boy, who had recently turned nine and was a terror even
worse than Trhead in his eleven turns old sister's opinion, had yanked
her new ribbon right off her head while she'd been bent over tying her
shoe. Then, he'd made a rude noise and taken off running, shaking the
ribbon behind him, taunting her to chase after.

Now, she'd gotten into trouble before for running in the Hold. It
wasn't proper for girls nearly through with Harper classes and
therefore almost grown, her mother had scolded. What if she'd run
into someone? What if the Lord Holder had seen her? Wouldn't she be
embarrassed? Wouldn't she be ashamed?

Well, honestly, no. She wouldn't be. But you couldn't exactly say
something like that to your mother when she was in a froth, could you?
So, Sarri had nodded contritely and promised never to run in the Hold
again. But that was days ago and there went her brother running away
with her only hair ribbon. Of course she had to chase him!

The sound of a few affronted adults had followed her, but she'd been
too intent on her fleeing brother to pay attention and she'd
eventually chased him right out of the building and caught him. He had
gotten a head start and was quick, but she was taller and once in the
open where she didn't have to worry about crashing into anyone, she
covered the distance between them easily. She'd thumped her brother on
the head and snatched back her ribbon. He'd sulked off and so here she
was, catching her breath against the tree.

She lay the ribbon across her lap, and leaned her head back a bit. It
was cool out, which felt really good on her sweaty face. She wondered
if she was in trouble for running again. If any of the adults who'd
yelled would tell her mother or father. She hoped not. Somehow she had
the feeling that they wouldn't see the retrieval of her only hair
ribbon as a good enough excuse to dash through the halls the way she
did.

Sarri was so busy thinking of whether or not she might be in trouble
that she didn't notice a rustle in the leaves above her head.

A tiny pale green head looked down at her. It tilted back and forth as
it eyed the lovely ribbon. She wanted it. She dived from her perch and
snatched it quick. She hovered there in the air.

Startled by the sudden motion of something snatching of her ribbon,
Sarri jumped with a squeal. It took her a moment to find the green
firelizard, as she halfway expected her brother to have returned. Once
she spotted the little creature, however, she climbed to her feet and
reached for her ribbon, dangling in the air. "Give me that back, you!"

The green took off. The girls yelling made her nervous and she popped
/between/ back to her person. Panyin looked up from his loom when his
little green appeared. She was distressed and a ribbon dangled from
her claws.

"Now what have you been up to?" He stood and she landed on his
shoulder. He carefully took the ribbon and walked from his rooms. He
went on the hunt for the owner of the ribbon.

When the little green firelizard disappeared between, Sarri stomped
her foot and screamed in frustration. After all that, now the ribbon
was who knew where!

After a few moments, the little girl calmed down some and tried to
think of who's firelizard it might be. It was difficult. There were
dozens of green firelizards looking to residents of the Hold and Sarri
certainly didn't know them all. And, for that matter, maybe the little
green didn't even belong to a person! A moment's consideration
banished that notion though. She didn't think a wild flit would get so
close to her. But still, that left way too many people for her to know
where to begin looking.

Panyin wandered the hold. Really there where to many little girls that
had ribbons, and then again there were more women that wore them too.
Oh, well he will just have to continue to hunt. He wished his little
green would stop stealing from people. It was quite annoying. But, she
was also a little highlight to him. He saw a girl looking around like
she was trying to think of what to do next. Perhaps this is the one he
was looking for. "Excuse me. Would you happen to be the owner of this
rather lovely ribbon?"

Sarri heard the voice behind her and turned, seeing a journeyman she'd
never met before, but more importantly, she saw her ribbon. "Yes! That
is mine!" She smiled up at the man, reaching for the ribbon. Her eyes
shifted towards the little green firelizard on the man's shoulder.
"She's yours then?"

"Yes. And she has a tendency to take ribbons. I am sorry she made off
with yours. I am Panyin. If she ever does this again you just find
me." He smiled.

The little girl smiled back, feeling much happier now that she had her
ribbon back, and this time she'd had a much easier time of it than
when she'd had to chase her brother. The man had found -her-. "I'll
remember that."

"Here turn about and I'll help you put it back where it goes." He said
gently. She really was cute.

She turned and let him tie the ribbon in her hair. She wasn't entirely
sure how good a job he would do - he was a -man- after all and what
did they know about tying ribbons properly? But, she was too glad to
have it back and too polite to make her doubts known.

He quickly tied it. He was lucky. He had learned to tie ribbons
nicely. He used the skill when packaging one of his tapestries for
shipping. "there you go kiddo. Sorry Tiny took off with it." He
smiled. "If she ever does it again come find me I am a weaver of
tapestries. Ask for me if need be."

"I will, thank you." She peered up at the little green firelizard and
added, "Maybe you should get her some ribbon of her own. Then she
won't want other people's?"

"Oh she has a few. She just can't help it." He smiled. "You had better
get along. Wouldn't want your parents to worry."

Last updated on the May 3rd 2010

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Ribbon Thieves