Sticks and Stones

Writers: Remy, Suzee
Date Posted: 16th March 2011

Characters: C'thel, Tavia
Description: Tavia learns to skip stones with an unlikely teacher.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 1, day 3 of Turn 6

Tavia

C'thel stood near the lake's edge with his eyes closed. He had a stone in
his right hand. As he stood there he rolled it between his fingers, feeling
the contours of the rock against his skin. He stood there unmoving,
listening to the wind as it's warmth whipped past his ears.

}:Are you going to toss it or not?:{ Aloreth asked C'thel as he
watched his rider standing there. His head was filled with so many

random thoughts that he was growing tired of listening to them. Perched in
the water, he continued to wait. Patience growing thin, he asked again.

}:Are you?:{

**Yes. I was thinking.** C'thel opened up his large green eyes and stared
ahead at Aloreth who had burrowed, what looked to be, a soft spot in the
middle of the lake.

}:You won't be alone forever, mine:{ He told him, commenting on his
last thought.

**I know.** C'thel smiled and tossed the stone into the water, watching it
skip five times before it finally sank. "I can do better than that." He
said, turning to search for another smooth, flat rock.

Aloreth sighed and sank down into the water a bit further. He chose not to
comment.

"Nice." came the soft female voice. "I can never get them to skip like
that."

Tavia had been sitting nearby with her back against a tree while
Sawauth slept on the heights.

C'thel spun on the spot and looked around before his eyes finally settled on
the woman. He managed a half smile. "Thanks. I've done better," he said
honestly. His father had taught him how to make stones skip at least ten
times before they sank. He blamed his lack of skill on his thoughts being
elsewhere. Aloreth perked up and turned his eyes on Tavia.

}:Ask and you shall receive:{ The blue commented. C'thel cleared his throat.

**Shut it will you.**

"I'll teach you if you'd like," he offered. He'd really enjoy the company.

"Sure" she said with a smile and tossed away the grass she'd been
playing with before pushing up and dusting off her bottom. She walked toward
him. **There is a nice blue down here in the lake love.** she
told Sawauth. She could feel the yawn and stretch and just grinned.

}:Maybe I'll be down in a bit:{ was the reply. **Ok your loss** she
answered.

C'thel watched Tavia before he nervously turned away. He'd hoped for
company and now that he had it he wasn't sure how to go about keeping
it. It had been a while since he'd been alone with another rider. He

took a deep breath and then turned and watched Tavia approach him.

He held out the stone he had found and cracked a smile. "Show me what
you can do," he said, his tone light. Aloreth, although he appeared to

be resting, was eavesdropping on the entire scene. His rider's
happiness was his. If the atmosphere got awkward he'd splash the two
of them. That should liven the mood!

Tavia grinned at the blue rider, he had nice eyes she thought. "I

can't throw stones like you." she laughed. "I'm horrible at it. I mean
I can throw it but it just sinks." She tossed the stone over handed
into the lake and sure enough not even a single skip and it sank.

"See?" she spread her hands laughing at herself.

C'thel barked with laughter before realizing how rude that may look.
He wasn't laughing at her...well, perhaps he was. It was amusing! He
quickly covered his mouth with his hand and looked sheepish.

"You have to skim it across the top of the water," he explained
walking over to her. He searched around for two more reasonably flat
rocks. Dusting them off with his fingertips, he slid one into her hand

then stood adjacent with her at the water's edge.

"Like this." He leaned to the side a bit, pulled back his right arm
and tossed the rock forward at an angle. It skirted across the clear
blue water for six jumps before it finally sank near Aloreth. The blue

scooted out of the way. }: Nice, mine:{

"Come let me show you." C'thel stepped behind Tavia. "Can I?" he
said, asking if he could hold her hand...and her waist if she allowed.

Tavia was laughing along with him and ended still giggling. "Sure" she

said. "I'm Tavia."

C'thel positioned himself behind the beautiful rider and took her
hand. He leaned in close, shutting his eyes for a moment as he enjoyed
the scent of her hair. As he took her waist, he gave her a gentle

squeeze before whispering into her ear "My name is C'thel." He stroked
the stone against her palm and then positioned it correctly. "It's a
side sort of flick, see," he attempted to explain. "You must angle it

so that it skims across the waves when it lands."

She thought she recalled seeing him before around the Weyr but they
didn't move in the same circles. He must be quite lucky though since
she hadn't seen him in the infirmary either. She smiled at the way he

held her and stroked her palm with the stone. "Ok," she said. "Show
me."
C'thel guided her arm, being careful to not hurt her. When he was sure
that he had her in the right position, he urged her to toss the stone.
"Toss it quickly or it may not work," he said, stepping back to give
her room. He demonstrated again for good measure and waited patiently
for her to take her turn.

She reached back and tossed the stone just like he'd shown her. It
sailed toward the water and hit the surface and skipped. Her eyes
opened wide and she unconsciously held her breath but the stone sank
beneath the surface when it made it's next contact. She spun around
with glowing eyes and a little squeal of triumph. "Ha ha, yes! It
skipped"

The excitement in her eyes shone in his. He smiled widely as he neared
her. "Soon you'll be better than me," he exclaimed.

}:Without a doubt:{ Aloreth cooed as he swam around in the lake. He'd
watched the entire lesson and seemed very pleased with himself. He
hadn't needed to splash anyone. C'thel flashed his dragon a coy smile
and then turned back to Tavia.

"You're a fast learner. I wonder if there are more things that I can
teach you," he said as he turned to look out at the lake. He cast her
a knowing smile.

She grinned back at him "Or what you might like to learn from me?" she
chuckled. "Show me again." she said and turned back to look at the
lake.

Last updated on the March 21st 2011

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Sticks and Stones