For the love of little greens!

Writers: Leigh M-F., Len
Date Posted: 23rd November 2013

Characters: G'wen, A'kua
Description: He candidates are taken out on an herb gathering trip
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 3, day 10 of Turn 7

"You can hang on to me a bit tighter; I won't break." G'wen looked over his shoulder at the much taller lad as he spoke. The way Neath liked to make deep banks, it was only prudent advice, after all. It was only a matter of time before she dropped supplies or someone doing that.

}:I'm big; I need the room,:{ the big green sniffed.

**The browns and bronzes are even larger, and they don't seem to have the same 'problem.'** All the same, G'wen patted her along her neck and peered over his shoulder once again to see if the candidate was taking his advice.

**I hang on any tighter and I'm gonna leave bruises through your wherhide!** Aluka thought, much more harshly than truly intended. He was still shaken up by the trip between that had been needed to get to this destination. He did not, under any circumstances, like between in the least. His hands were still trembling on G'wen's shoulders, which was really embarrassing. He hoped the greenrider had enough tact to not mention it; he might end up biting the poor guy's head off.

Just then Neath did what G'wen feared she would. With a dip of her wings, she banked so severely that she was almost sideways. Why she did this G'wen never knew, she only ever said it was because she enjoyed it.

"GAH!" In a desperate attempt to keep his balance, Aluka's left arm snaked around G'wen's waist and his right went across the collarbones, tightening and practically yanking the rider against his chest. "Straighten out, Ancients damn it!" he railed at the green. "If'm you're tryin' to impress me, it ain't workin'!"

Sniffing at that tone, Neath folded her wings, dropping at a much faster rate than she normally would have with an inexperienced passenger on her back. The lush forest which was their destination loomed larger as the three of them sailed through the sky. G'wen smiled, enjoying the strength in get wings, even if the monologue behind him was a bit distracting.

Said Candidate shouted something foul enough to make a listener's ears bleed at the sudden fall, and clung to G'wen even harder, squeezing his eyes shut. By the time they landed, he was shaking like a bush in a hurricane. "Are all'a greens this insane?" he asked, voice shaking as well.

"You think this is bad just wait 'til you meet the bronzes." G'wen twisted around to give the lad a quizzical grin. "Got your heart set on any particular colour?" As he spoke he loosed the riding straps so Aluka could slid down once he got his bearings.

"Na' a green, tha's fer sure," the redhead muttered with a decidedly thicker accent. "Na' if they're all'a this crazy." But then, the greens he'd ridden for weyr cleaning duty had been so well-behaved. Unless the craziness had been better hidden? "Dun wanna bronze if'n they're even worse." He took a slow deep breath, trying to get rid of the shakes, and slid to the ground.

"Browns are nice." G'wen leaned down to steady Aluka's slide down Neath's shoulder before joining him. "They're nice and steady." He handed him the feliis sack.

"Steady's good," the redhead said, taking the sack and slinging it over his shoulder. He double-checked to make sure the knife loaned to him was still in its sheath, tied to his belt. If he had lost it during Neath's stunts, he would have had to work overtime to pay it off. Seeing the tool safe and secure, he started scanning the area for signs of fellis.

"How do you like the Weyr so far?" G'wen trailed a bit behind the taller lad. Fellis picking had never been his favorite activity, his slack bag was proof of it.

"It's the best thing t' ever happen t' me," Aluka said, seeing no reason for artifice. "The hold I came from was worthless. Hated it. Woulda gotten t' Dragonsfall sooner if I coulda." He paused, squinting. Was that a streak of purple over there? He went closer to investigate. Ah! Fellis. The redhead drew the knife and skillfully started cutting off leaves, branches and berries, making sure not to take too much from one plant.

G'wen strayed after him. "What was it like, living in a Hold? Everytime I go to one they all act like I'm a freak, or something." He frowned a bit, remembering the time he was forced to stay in a Hold after collapsing.

The redhead grunted, somehow making the sound sympathetic. "Hated just 'bout everyone there, and a whole buncha people hated me right back. Men treated the people they shoulda treasured like trash. My own ma chose t' drink herself t' death 'cause she couldn' take the pressure." It was all delivered matter-of-factly. Aluka wasn't looking for empathy or ego-grooming; he was telling it like it was. He finished partially stripping one plant and moved to still another. A couple more stalks, and he would have to move on.

"Good thing you're here then." G'wen nodded before moving to another crump of fellis, only half heartily picking it. "You're safe here."

**Safe from everythin' but crazy greens and the stuff in the back o' my head,** Aluka thought, and then wondered where that thought came from. "Thanks," was all he said aloud, and moved on to the next plant.

Last updated on the December 15th 2013

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For the love of little greens!