Canine Training (2/2)

Writers: Ames, Clancey
Date Posted: 10th May 2011

Characters: C'jex, Dysali
Description: C'jex and Dysali get to know each other as they train their dogs
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 2, day 3 of Turn 6
Notes: Part 2 of 2

Dysali considered his statement for a moment, then finally nodded.
"Sometimes I have to tell Lillyth no, too, and that has got to be
imminently harder than telling a canine no! What do I do?" She
turned to look at him intently. If she could get Wags under control,
maybe it would help her get the rest of her life under control.
Maybe.

C'jex set to the task of helping her make small steps towards getting
Wags under control. He taught her motions to show Wags when it was
okay to jump up and ways to show Wags when it was not okay to jump on
someone. Luckily he had a few treats in his pockets and they used them
to reward Wags when he did what he was told. After a bit of time,
C'jex looked over to her and grinned. 'That might be enough training
for one day. Care to relax a bit and let the two canines romp a bit?"

Dysali took note of the motions and practiced them steadily with Wags
until he was not jumping on her any longer if she raised her hand and
said 'Off'. "Well, maybe he isn't as dumb as a wherry after all!"
She laughed, the sound infectious and light. It was an odd sound in
her ears. It had been ages since she had laughed.

She turned to look at C'jex in a new light. He had made her laugh.
That was good.
Her short curls bouncing, she nodded in agreement. "I would love to
relax, maybe go for a swim? I was an apprentice dolphineer before I
was Searched and Lillyth chose me. Do you like swimming, C'jex? Maybe
the dolphins will visit. I've made friends with some of them."

"I adore swimming," he replied with a grin, "and I'd love to meet some
of the dolphins. I can't say I've been lucky enough to have them
venture too near to me as they don't know me all that well." C'jex was
already pulling his boots and shirt off as he spoke. "Last one in has
to clean up after both canines!" He called as he stripped down to the
bare minimum and started racing for the water.

She joined him in his free losing of clothing; that was something she
had long since gotten as she grew as a dragonrider, and the longer she
lived in the Weyr, the easier it became.

She dived in smoothly, sleek as an otter, her apprentice turns as a
dolphineer showing up immediately

She paddled over to his side and winked. "The dolphins here are my
friends. I was a dolphineer before I Impressed Lillyth, an apprentice
only, but I've always been able to get along with them. My parents
were Masters in the Craft and took me swimming with them all the time.
Of course, they aren't friends of mine like those who live at Dolphin
Hall, but they will come and play with Lillyth and me, when we are
here, most of the time." She splashed him and looked up to see
Lillyth making her own way into the water. The dolphins would come
and see the green for certain. They liked her because she liked to
fish with them, and the fish almost always swam away from her, right
into the eager dolphins.

C'jex couldn't help but admire her and the way she swam with strength
and confidence. When she splashed him, he easily returned the favor,
laughing and grinning the whole time. "I can tell your time with the
dolphins has paid off. You swim like you were born into the water."
C'jex, while he loved the water, was not half the swimmer she clearly
was. "We aren't so different you know?" He said, swimming around her a
bit lazily. "You started your craft working with the creatures of the
sea, and I the creatures of land."

She blushed a little at the praise. "Thank you, C'jex." Then she
laughed, the sound infectious and light, even with the weight of her
sadness on top of it. "It is probably a near thing I was not born in
the water! My parents were salvage experts and spend most of their
days in the water." The blue eyes softened. Sometimes, she longed
for a mother to talk to, or even a father. She had only been 7 turns
when they died. Maybe if she had one of those, she would not be so
sad all the time.

}:You should not be sad. I am here. I will always be here. :{

Bolstered, as always, by her dragon's simple love, she took her turn
admiring C'jex. She turned with him as he made circles around her,
curious eyes following his movements. "You swim well enough,
bluerider. Perhaps you could even keep up with me. I do not really
Craft any longer, though I suppose I could if I wanted. But now all I
want to be is a dragonrider. And somedays, a canine owner." Her
smile turned wry at that, then she asked him, "You were studying
Beastcraft, then, before?" And she waved a hand toward Lillyth,
meaning before they had dragons.

"Aye," C'jex replied, stopping to tread water, "I've always had an
affinity for the creatures of the land, even from the time I was but a
young boy. I think the kitchen workers thought I was mad when I once
tried to catch a rat and keep it for a pet," he grinned impishly. "I
feel a strange bond with the animals. I've felt it even before Ohoneth
chose me." He shrugged from where he treaded water. "It's not anything
like the bond between rider and dragon, but I just found that I
_understood_ the animals, sometimes better than I understood the
people around me.

Dysali smiled shyly at him and came closer, swimming almost next to
him. "I understand what you mean, I think. People are ever so
mysterious to me. I've never been able to understand them really, or
grow close to any of them. Not like with Lillyth, or even Wags."
Her smile faltered. Except for one. "Well... other than...."
She lost her voice entirely and busied herself swimming away from him
again, then back close. She had to fight for words, as she fought
back the sadness that came with the thought of D'ren. She finally
said, quietly, " I'm glad Ohoneth chose you , though, C'jex! I
wouldn't have anyone to swim with today if he had not." Her smile
returned, warmed a bit and she added. "I don't think the dolphins
are coming today. Perhaps we should head back to shore? Its about
time for dinner, I think." She wouldn't ask him, no. If he wanted
to spend more time with her, he would say.

"I am glad too," he replied with a smile. He was enjoying her company
quite a lot. When the time came to head back, he followed, emerging
from the water and making his way towards his things. He glanced over
to her, admiring her once more.

"Did you already have plans for your evening meal?" He inquired as he
pulled his clothing back on and whistled to Malty who came bounding
with Wags beside her.

Her blushes were very pink, but maybe he wouldn't notice in all the
wet and clothing replacement. No one had paid her any attention,
really, since she and D'ren had...well..., since D'ren. She hadn't
actually gone looking for any, either, staying in her weyr alone, and
eating her meals there most times, or later so the dining hall was not
crowded.

But now... now it would be so crowded! Her wingmates would be there.
D'ren might even be there... Her heart flipped a little as she
thought of him. But she wasn't the type to think of making him
jealous. Their relationship had not been like that, and she wasn't
like that... she was honest, and she honestly thought she might like
to spend some time with this bluerider.

"Ahh, no. C'jex. I ahhh... I never have plans. " She blushed bright
pink again. "Maybe we could... eat together?" Shards take her
shyness! She had learned better in her turns as a dragonrider. But
she couldn't help it... not even a little.

"Come on. Let's eat then," he replied with a grin as he started back
towards the Weyr.

Last updated on the May 16th 2011

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Canine Training (2/2)