Early Risers

Writers: Paula, Chelle
Date Posted: 4th March 2013

Characters: Qorri, Calla, Ciendra
Description: It's the morning after Hatcing and Ciendra chats with the Headwoman while doing her chores.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 12, day 8 of Turn 6

It was the morning after Hatching feast and Ciendra woke up early in a
almost deserted candidate barrack. The weyrbred candidates had all moved
back to their families and there weren't many Searched candidates who
didn't impress. People were still sleeping off last nights drinks when she
got up, washed quickly and got dressed. She knew there was work to be done
in the kitchens. Cleaning up and when people started to woke up, they would
want klah, lot of klah. She liked working in the kitchen.

When Ciendra arrived to the kitchen, she found out she wasn't the only
early avian. Calla was there, slowly stirring a pot of porridge with
mechanical single-mindedness and munching a fresh bread with his free hand.

"Morning, Calla," Ciendra greeted and Calla nodded at her as his greeting.
She looked around. There have to be somebody else wake too, to have told
Calla what to do (and when to stop). However, her stomach grumbled and
little bit of breakfast would give her strength to do her work. "Is there
bread and klah for me too?" she asked Calla. Calla nodded again and pointed
a side table with his bread. Calla rather liked this new girl, she was nice
and patient with him.

"Thanks" she said and went to pour herself a mug and take a bread.

Most of the cooking at Dolphin Cove was done in the evenings due to the hot
weather. However, there were still things to do in the mornings such as
baking bread, brewing klah, and pouring beverages. Sometimes they made
oatmeal or porridge besides the usual breakfast food like eggs, bacon, ham,
and sausage. Qorri was usually up late the night before with Cook but due
to the hatching she had gone to bed early. So now she bustled in, apron on,
and spoke to some of the kitchen ladies before approaching Calla. "Morning
Calla."

Calla resorted to just nodding again.
Ciendra had gotten herself klah (with milk, without it it made her stomach
churn) and bread with butter and last evenings steak's leftovers.
"Good Morning, Headwoman," she said perkily. "What would you like me to do
today?"

"Cook's got the meat going and the baker has the bread. Can you fry the
wherry eggs?" That was quick and easy enough. Qorri had a bunch of those
sitting that had been brought from refrigeration. A wherry egg was larger
than one from poultry, so it didn't take as many. There was also gravy to
see to.

"Yes, ma'm," Ciendra replied. She was eager to please, so she wouldn't get
sent back to Green Valley.

"Wonderful." Turning to Calla, she picked up a spoon and tasted. "MM done.
No more Calla-the porridge is fine. Please get out the milk so we can do
some gravy?" That was easy enough though Qorri would do the cooking and
stirring herself.

Calla nodded and let go of the ladle. He moved to fetch the milk from cold
storage.

"I don't know if I should feel sorry for him or not," Ciendra said, her
gaze following him. "He does seem kind of happy."

"Ah dear, there's no reason to pity him. He is able to work and he can
contribute. The best part is he doesn't know enough to know what he's
missing. So most of the time he is happy." Qorri shrugged, glad for his
labor. He was more dependable than most of her normal drudges.

Ciendra nodded. That was the impression she'd gotten from Calla.

"So Ciendra-you're new. Tell me about yourself." Qorri liked to know who
she was working with, especially if it might be for any length of time.
This girl was her responsibility anyhow since she was a candidate.

"I'm from Red Rush, it's part of Emerald Falls hold. My parents died in a
fire around Turn ago and I was sent to live with my aunt in Green Valley.
I've been working in the kitchen since I finished my harper classes,"
Ciendra replied.

"I was a holder too until I became a crafter's wife. Then I ended up here."
She thought about her late husband for a bit before focusing again on
Ciendra. So the girl had traditional values which might not work so well in
a Weyr. She'd have to keep an eye on that. "So you came here when you were
Searched... How do you like it so far?"

"It's been great," Ciendra replied. "The candidate lessons were so
interesting. Of course, there are a lot of things I still haven't gotten
used to, like male greenriders."

"Mm they're an interesting lot. So are the blueriders.." Her mind went to
C'jex before it came back to the task at hand. "Are you adjusting to
Weyrlife?"

"I'm still blushing a lot," Ciendra answered. Otherwise she wasn't
bothered, if she only got past her shyness.

"Mmmm not seen a lot of barely clad people, I'll wager. And open displays
of affection... Were you ever courting, Ciendra?" She knew the girl was
young, but at her turns in a Hold-there could have easily been some young
men thinking about it.

"No, I wasn't," Ciendra replied and blushed.

"Well don't worry. Although I'm sure the men around here will probably
start asking. If you have any trouble at all, you come tell me okay?" Qorri
didn't like her girls bothered. If Ciendra wanted the attention, that was
something else though.

"Yes, ma'am. I don't want to rush anything," Ciendra replied, just the
thought made her nervous. She didn't feel ready for courtship...or to what
followed after it. Perhaps it was just a good thing she didn't Impress this
time.

"Good thinking. You've got a lot to get used to already. No need to add
more." Qorri often saw the holder girls get overwhelmed. It was easy enough
thing to do especially if they had never been to a Weyr. She remembered her
first time and how it had been but she hadn't been alone either. Her
husband had been with her.

Ciendra nodded, concentrating her task at hand.

Last updated on the March 26th 2013

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Early Risers