| About- It's not like he planned on Impressing the little blue-gold, it just sorta happened. Just like Impressing his little brown Charrli sorta happened, and just like his entire life just sorta happened. No one, including Jisyory, ever planned for anything concerning his life. No one planned for his birth, or the fact that he'd be gifted with runners, or that he'd turn out to be the son of a dragonrider instead of the Holder everyone thought. No one expected him to be apprenticed to the BeastCrafters when he was ten, and no one expected him to sneak into the Holder's rooms the night before he was supposed to leave and steal one of the flit eggs warming by the hearth fire there. Now, working at the stables for a place called DawnSisters, no one expected Jisyory to find himself some of the "missing" Falas eggs and Impress the gold-blue, Jisyory still included. He'd just stumbled across the eggs, hidden beneath the straw in the stable loft, right before the largest one began to crack. Jisyory hadn't known who the eggs belonged to, so he'd watched to see if anyone showed up. And when no one did, and the shimmery newborn rare crawled from her egg, he'd tossed her a couple meatrolls from his pouch out of sympathy, and instead had Impressed her. He'd named her Ulari, for no reason imparticular, and had taken a strong beating from the stable master who had "appropraited" the eggs for himself. Jisyory didn't understand why the old man cared, he'd managed to get the rest of them, two whites, to himself. But the whites had been male, and Jisyory got the feeling if the whites had been female the stable master wouldn't have cared so much about loosing the two-toned gold. The new stable master beat everyone, for any reason, and the Weyrleaders at DawnSisters were thinking of getting rid of him soon. This suited all the apprentices just fine, although Jisyory would be a little sorry to see the old man go, for despite his angry disposition, he was knowledgeable about runners. He was the only one who bothered to clue Jisyory in about certain runners traits and behaviour. No one else seemed to care much. But back to the present, Jisyory was met with much anger and jealously when he presented little Ulari. Most of the other apprentices (and Journeymen) didn't even have one fire-lizard, and now this outside Jisyory had two! That led to a lot of fights, and a lot of toughening up for Jisyory. So at fourteen, (two turns after Impressing Ulari-affectionately reffered to by Jisyory as his little cataclysm) Jisyory was a very hot-headed, unfriendly individual. It didn't help that the old stable master was gone, and none of the new ones bothered to promote Jisyory to Journeyman rank. It didn't help that every no one from the Weyr had ever Searched him, for more than anything Jisyory wanted to Impress. Search- Jisyory stood up, stretching the cramps out of his back, and wiped the sweat from his eyes. He'd been mucking out stalls all day, and the stables were like an inferno. All the runners were outside of course, keeping cool in the fields and in the shade. All the Journeymen and Masters were out there too, going over next turns breeding schedule. Only the apprentices were left inside the sweltering heat to clean up. And out of the seven apprentices, Jisyory was the oldest. But as Jisyory bent back down to finish his work, a small glimmer caught his eye, and peeking from the shadows Jisyory saw another set of eyes staring back at him. A small girl, ragged and thin (obviously a drudge's child), was watching Jisyory intently. She was holding a small stuffed rag doll of some sort, and sucking her thumb. Her hair was long, and surprisingly clean, but the rest of her was filthy. The two regarded each other steadily for a moment, before Jisyory put down his pitchfork and took a step forward. The girl lept back, frightened, and Jisyory smiled to show her he meant no harm. She smiled back at him, too young yet to realize one shouldn't be so trusting, and pointed up to the rafters where Charrli and Ulari were napping. The apprentice followed her gaze, and pointed up towards the lizards as well. "Would you like to touch one?" He asked her gently, not wanting to scare her. Despite what people said, he liked children for themselves, and not for recreational purposes. Only the truly sick and distorted minds would ever consider such a thing, and Jisyory wasn't one of them. He'd discovered that children were the kindest and most honest people around, and the only ones you could really trust with yourself. You had to be careful though, once they passed a certain, very young, age, they were likely to be trained to be corrupt like all adults were. The drudge child nodded, and reached her arms out eagerly as Jisyory woke up Ulari with a gentle mind touch. The gold was cranky, but willing enough, and floated down to her Impressor's arm. Jisyory held her out to the girl, who patted the two-toned queen's wings with a deep respect. She knows. Jisyory thought suddenly, and then draped Ulari around the girls shoulders. She knows what it is to have a bond-mate. I wonder how she does? But Jisyory didn't care, and didn't bother to think about it, he was enjoying spending time with such an innocent child. He wouldn't have put her any older than four, but when she took her hand away from Ulari she looked steadily at Jisyory and said. "I'm Taarine. My ma's in the kitchens, an' told me to come out here." "Why?" Jisyory said pleasantly, trying to judge her intelligance level so he could talk to her accordingly, but little Taarine just shrugged. "She says I bother her too much. Ha! I'm seven, and I don' bother no one." Taarine crossed her arms across her chest, and wrinkled up her little nose in disgust. Jisyory laughed gently at her, and all too soon a loud voice came calling for Taarine to come. "My ma." Taarine explained, clutching her doll, before darting quickly out of the stables and up towards the Weyr. Jisyory shook his head after her, stress of the day slowly seeping out of his body. Five turns later- "Hold still!" Taarine yelled at Jisyory, who was trying to feel the itching skin around his swollen eye. He'd gotten into another fight with Vrolen, one of the weyrbrats, and although Vrolen came out practically unscathed, Jisyory had a black eye and a sprained ankle. Taarine, of course, was "tending" to him. Even though she was only twelve, and drudge born, Jisyory enjoyed her company. He felt he gave her a lot of things she wouldn't otherwise have. She was suited for better than a drudges life because of it. "I'll move as I like." Jisyory told her, but stopped touching his face. Taarine smiled in that knowing way of hers, and gently placed the ice pack over Jisrory's right eye. "There." She said. "That'll help. Now if only you could stay out of fights, you'd have no more trouble with getting black eyes." And Taarine laughed, light headidly. Only around Jisrory could she afford to be giddy. When working, she had to maintain the serious, dumbness, of a drudge's presence. She hated that, and so she sought out Jisrory (whose positon would protect her) at every opportunity. She used him for that, but she'd grown fond of him as a friend. None of the other lowly girls such as herself had any friends at all, and here she was, with a nineteen year old man! Jisrory knew how Taarine viewed him, not as a close friend (as he viewed her), but as someone who was just there. Jisrory didn't care, in time Taarine may see him as otherwise. She was very mature for her age afterall, and Jisrory was very young for nineteen. In a few more turns..... "When are you going to go check on Lightshard and her foal?" Taarine asked casually, trying to sound polite and disinterested at the same time. It was no secret to Jisrory that Taarine had it in her head to have Lightshard's colt as her own. Taarine would have been great in the stables, it was too bad she was an official kitchen drudge. "Is that your way of asking to go with? 'Cause if it is, it wasn't very good." Taarine held the ice pack a little more firmly to Jisrory's raw flesh, and he winced with pain. But he didn't let her win. He just shrugged and pushed her hand away. "I can take care of myself, thank you." He took the ice pack from her, and away from his eye. "How's it look?" He asked sarcastically, and Taarine just snorted. "Take care of yourself huh? I doubt that." But she sighed, and scooted some of the floor's sawdust around with her bare toe. "Don't know why you've gotta be so difficult Jis. Why you gotta fight all the time? It's not good for you. Let's just go check on Lightshard now, okay?" Taarine edged off towards the wide doors, and Jisrory sighed. She was in one of her sallow moods again. He didn't know what brought them on, and he certainly didn't like his young friend when she was in one. But he'd noticed she was apt to be moodier whenever there was a clutch on the Sands up at the main Weyr; especially now since the Weyr had moved. "You know." Jisrory said suddenly. "I think I'll go up to the Weyr instead. I've got some message that need to be delivered. Why don't you go by yourself to see the runners Taarine?" And with that Jisrory stood up, brushing the young girl aside. She gaped open mouthed at him, and then stomped her foot. Jisrory smiled evily as he left stableyard, for everyone knew a drudge all alone by the runners meant a thief. That was the usual day for Taarine and Jisrory, but after that the two drifted apart somewhat. Six months later Taarine managed to get herself Searched by DawnSisters, and Impressed a green at the first hatching. Jisrory got fed up with life as an apprentice, and moved to a place where he could work and at least earn some marks. The place was a stableyard near Moon Shadow Weyr. Eight months later.... Jisrory sighed, and knelt down by the stallion's long legs, checking for any sign of inflammation. None. How good that was, for all the bay's fardling rider couldn't tell the difference between a thick muslce and a bruise. Jisrory didn't think ignorant people should be allowed to own runners. Or any type of animal for that matter. "Well?" The man asked, for he had been watching from nearby to make sure his "prize" was handled correctly. Jisyory stood up, brushing off his pants, and took the stallion by the halter back towards the man. "Just fine sir, near as I can tell. There's no sign of injury, he's just young yet, and still developing muscle-wise. He'll probably end up pretty thick." And Jisrory handed the halter of the runner back towards the other man, who took it somewhat distastefully. "Thick? I was told he'd be a lean racer, and you're telling me he's going to be strong muscled? Like a worker? I don't need more workers on my place, just some decent racers to earn marks." Jisrory hated this man instantly at that remark, who could be so stupid as to not know the difference between a thin runner, and a heavy one? Even a child could tell you the difference. Obviously this man was one who didn't rely on his brain to think. "No sir. He's just young, that's why he looks so lean now. He'll grow into a fine plower though, in another turn. His is a slow developing breed." "Well, I can't have that." The man looked worried, and then shook his head. "No. I can't. I need a good racer. I've got the marks to back this large fellow up. What have you got in the stables now? Mind, I don't really care how fast he is. I've been bragging a good racer for a few months, and all the lads are eager to buy it. No harm pulling a fast one, hey boy?" And the old man nudged Jisrory, now twenty and hardly able to be classified a "boy", in the ribs. Jisrory coughed a bit, but nodded. "Whatever you say sir. But tell me now, how much did you pay for this animal?" And Jisrory took the stallion's hatler back, and turned him loose in corral he had just been checked in. He'd set him up in the barn later, but for now he had business to attend to. Although in all honesty Jisrory didn't like this kind of business at all. "For him? Why, I paid a good thirty Fort marks." Jisrory knew the man was lying from his teeth, the stallion wasn't worth more than ten, but he kept quiet. In the matter of business, you take some losses. Jisrory quickly cut the thirty in half, and took the man to the part of the stables where the runners in that price range were kept. It was a few hours later that Jisrory saw the man leaving, on top of one sturdy riding horse, and leading a dainty young runner behind him. The runner was a pretty thing, but hardly fast. The large cob Jisrory had sold to the man for riding, for the his large frame could hardly be good for the racer. Jisrory scowled as the trio left, but reached into his pocket and felt the five marks there. One of them was his. He recorded the sale in the books that afternoon, and put his payment into the jar under his bedding. If you saw him doing it you'd think he was stealing, but in truth he was entitled to the one mark, legally. He just didn't waste his money at Gathers like all the other stablehands did. He was saving his to buy a runner of his own, and then after that, maybe some land where he could farm. He had plans on making it all the way up to a cotholder, and wouldn't he be well off then? Suppose it's time to go get that stallion back in here. He's not so bad to look at, perhaps I can get away with putting him in with a couple mares for breeding? We need more drafters around here. But as he was walking out to get the horse, Ulari came shrieking from the sky, and all but nailed herself to Jisrory's shirt. "Shardling flit!" He yelled at her, as he tried to untangle her claws from his skin, but moments later Charrli came up in the same fashion, and landed frantically onto Jisrory's shoulders. The two flits fought over the high position near Jisrory's head, while Jisrory cursed at them and tried to detach them anyway. It was only after they both settled in, cramped one to each shoulder, that Jisrory looked up and realized what they were frightened about. A blue dragon was circling lazily in the sky, obviously spiraling his way down towards the stables. Jisrory wasn't frightened of the dragon, having lived in a Weyr most of his life, but was apprehensive about what the rider could want, and where he was from. Of course he's from Moon Shadow! Jisrory told himself sternly, and watched calmly as the dragon landed about twenty meters away. He had wanted to go get the stable master, but decided it would look rude if he went rushing off right at this instant. Besides, he'd know why the rider was here in another moment. "Heyla!" The rider, obviously a man, shouted at Jisrory. He was coming up towards the lad quickly, and carrying a large envelope of some sort. It was made of that new, thin, hide-paper. Jisrory stared at in with appreciation. Soon enough this type of paper would be everywhere, even available for the drudges to use, 'cause it was so cheap to make. "Rider." Jisrory said, bowing his head respectfully, but the rider just grinned and shook his head. "No need. I'm U'scu, here to deliver a message from Weyrwoman Kayrasa. This here's the official part." U'scu lifted his arm to show the envelope tucked safetly beneath it. "But what she wants to know is if your place would be interested in buying a few runners from us. We're overstocked this year, and you people are closest." "Yes sir." Jisrory said, disregarding the dragonrider's request to not be called by that title. "But you'll need to talk to the stable master about that. I'm just a hand here, and couldn't tell you much. I ain't allowed to deal with business in quanity." And Jisrory motioned for the rider to follow him into the stables. U'scu nodded his head appreciatively, and followed. Jisrory was finishing up his chores when he noticed the dragon was still lounging about in near the stable. He'd thought he'd heard some commotion from the runners and other hands earlier, and this would explain it. Jisrory shrugged, and started to go up to his bed in the loft when he saw the blue turn his massive head and stare directly at him. How odd. Jisrory thought, and took a few hesitant steps forward. Closer. A voice commanded, and Jisrory jumped. What was that? But inside he knew it was the blue. Jisrory didn't know how to react. By coming closer. The cheerful voice said again, and Jisrory was too shocked to do anything but obey. "Yes?" He whispered as he neared the creature, and he heard and saw the dragon rumbling. Just wanting to get a good look at you human. That's all, you can go. And the blue turned his head away to stare up at the stars as they started to appear in the sky. It was then that U'scu came out of the stable office, looking extremely pleased with himself, and stopped short when he saw Jisrory standing so close to Zayanth. It only took the rider a moment (and a short questions to his dragon) to figure out what was going on, and what needed to be done. "Hello again." U'scu said in his cheerful voice as he came up behind Jisrory. The boy visibly jumped back, and started to stammer an apology, when U'scu raised his hand to stop him. "Hey now, you did nothing wrong. But can I speak for a moment?" Jisrory nodded, watching the rider warily. "Good. Now, I'm in a rather big hurry, this business here took me longer than I expected. So here's the blunt end of this, and you can say no if you want to, but, how would you like to go with me to Moon Shadow?" "You need a stable hand?" Jisrory blurted out, and U'scu looked at him oddly, before a wild grin covered his face and he started to laugh. "A stablehand? Goodness no, I meant as a Candidates. We've got a clutch on the Sands you know, and Zayanth here seems to like you." "I see." Said Jisrory, and he felt shaky all of a sudden. He'd lived by the Weyrs all his life, and now they were Searching him? He was almost too old to stand. Well, in another five turns anyway. But Jisrory's mind worked quickly, and with a small crooning noise from Ulari, who'd he'd forgotten completely about up on his shoulder, he knew which was this was going to go. "I'll go with you." Jisrory said. "Just let me get me things." U'scu grinned again, and nodded. "Excellent. But hurry up, I haven't got all day." So Jisrory was just Searched, the way everything else in his life happened just. |
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| Jisrory's Stats Name- Jisrory Age-20 Rank-none Personality- Jisrory is isolated and angry. He is apt to get into fights, but this surprises people when they first meet him, because he appears calm. Appearence- Jisrory is average looking. He is on the short side, with short dark hair and dark eyes. Pets- brown fire lizard Charrli gold-blue fire lizard Ulari Dragon-none |