Who

Amani, Xanthee

What

Amani and Xanthee play catch up as the goldling comes back to Igen for a visit.

When

It is afternoon of the sixteenth day of the seventh month of the twelfth turn of the 12th pass.

Where

Caravan Grounds, Igen Weyr

OOC Date 24 Nov 2017 05:00

 

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Caravan Grounds

Deep grooves in the hard packed earth criss-cross a large patch of denuded ground, bearing mute testament to the caravans that frequent this area. Despite the midden holes set back a ways from the main center of traffic, the air is sweet, redolent with the sagebrush that forms a loose perimeter around the flattened expanse. In what is as close to its center as the vague boundaries suggest, a stone ringed fire pit has been dug and surrounded with the odd log or two, ash overflowing from its darkly blackened core.


It's usually quite noticeable when a queen from another Weyr comes to visit. It's likely even more so when a visiting queen decides to set down in the caravan grounds rather than the Bowl. So it goes with Zymuraith, who announces her coming with an eager bugling before making her landing not far from the Zingari camp - something Amani might not have attempted, had she not remembered that most of the livestock are accustomed to the presence of dragons. A few react poorly, certainly…but Zymuraith simply watches them with a cool eye before stretching and preening in the summer heat. Amani can't stand her leathers for longer than it takes to dismount, immediately stripping away all she can get away with and folding them into a satchel before making her way into the Zingari camp, eager to reunite with the people that had taken her in two Turns ago. She sends her firelizards off in search of others as well…including a certain former Candidate classmate of hers who has not ceased to cross her mind since circumstances had them parting ways.

Doesn't need a firelizard to come get her, Xanthee was leaving the Tea Room when she spied a gold dragon headed to the caravan grounds. Having a good hunch as to who that might be, Xan took off at a run and is now entering the grounds, looking around until her owlish green eyes spy the southern goldrider. A squeal of delight escapes her as she sprints in Amani's direction, "Amani!" She cries as she comes up next to her and thankfully for the other girl, she stops short of tackling her because she is a weyrwoman now after all. "I figured that was you! What are you doing here?" She asks in one quick breath as she breathes heavily from her jog here.

Not a full weyrwoman yet, though close enough…and most certainly not feeling any particular need for decorum. Amani is actually bracing for a tackle, smiling broadly, and looks a bit shocked when it doesn't happen. "Visiting, of course," she answers, and pulls Xanthee into a tight hug - something that seems to be coming far easier now than when the other girl had first known her. "It was one of the first things I meant to do when Zyumuraith and I learned to go :between:, and since the time for it came up today…I took it." Pulling back, she looks the green-eyed girl over. "You're looking well, Xan. It's good to see you." Klah-dark eyes brighten with the growing of her smile. "Really good."

"You too! I'm so glad you are here." Xanthee says emphatically as she is hugged tightly and smiles back at the goldrider. She drops her voice a little bit, "I know Reveka will be happy to see you too. She seems to be having a tough time right now." Xan doesn't elaborate because that's not her story to tell. But then she changes the subject, and heads over to a nearby bench, sits and taps the wooden seat next to her. "Take a load off, and tell me all about Southern Weyr. How are things there? Your queen is in fine color by the way." She says, observing the niceties. "You guys are going to be graduating soon too aren't you?"

Amani's brows quirk concernedly as she turns an involuntary gaze back toward the mainpart of the camp. "I didn't see her right away; I heard she might be out and about…" And for a good reason she might not have been able to guess at before this. Having changed into the dark pants and green tunic of the uniform still required of her, she brushes needlessly at the front of her shirt and starts to sit before pulling up short, her gaze vague. "Actually, no sitting yet," she says, and chuckles softly as she focuses on Xanthee. "Zymuraith is insisting on meeting you, so you'd better come this way first." She's content to address questions in the meantime. "Southern is…well. It's winter. All it does is rain; I didn't think it would be possible for me to get tired of water, but I am. I have my own weyr, but I'm bringing what I had here back there because it needs some color. There might be green everywhere, but Southern could use a Zingari touch here and there, if you ask me."

Xanthee giggles and gets back up from the seat. "Well, who am I to refuse a gold dragon?" She follows after Amani and nods her head, "I think I would welcome a little rain right now. It seems to be sand storm after sand storm here the last few sevendays, just as one blows over another one comes up. I swear, sand has gotten places I didn't even know I had." she jests as they stroll along. "Your own weyr? Well that's exciting. How is being a rider? Everything you thought it would be?" Yes, Xan has more questions, but she tries to reign it back in an give her friend a chance to respond first.

Zymuraith is easily visible, as big as any bronze now and glittering with subtle iridescence in the the bright afternoon where she sits watching the camp with astute fascination. Her attention drops to Xanthee and her bonded, her great head lowering so that she might study the other girl more closely. "Zymuraith says it's good to meet you at last," Amani passes along, running her hand along her lifemate's nose. "She's picked you out of my memories a few times." As to the matter of being a rider, she looks thoughtful, folding her arms as she leans against Zymuraith's leg. "Parts of it are. Others… It's different from everyone else. Zymuraith and I are held apart; we're not like the fighting riders. And now we're only one of two gold pairs at Southern. Hannah and Dhiammarath, her dam…they left not long ago. I still haven't figured out why." And perhaps she never will. "So there's Bailey, and me. And it makes everyone so sharding protective. I even had an escort here." Though said escort has made himself scarce, thankfully.

Xanthee bobs her head in a bow to Zymuraith, "A pleaseure to meet you as well." As she sees the tender touch between the two of them, she smiles with a little pang for her missed chance, but doesn't dwell on it too much. "Really? I hadn't heard Hannah had left. That must be hard, being so watched you need to an escort to go anywhere." She ponders it for a moment, and then shakes her head unable to even imagine what that would be like. "Well I hope they let up a bit once you graduate for your sake." She says as she smiles inwardly. "I was meaning to write to you. I'm kinda seeing someone. His name's Malosim, or Mal, and he's a miner, and a totaly gentleman." Sighing happily, she clasps her hands to her chest. "We had our first date the other night. He is so sweet. Not at all like a certain brownrider."

Zymuriath rumbles softly, a gentle billow of breath stirring around both girls as she touches her nose to Xanthee's arm, then sits up again. Amani turns to start them back toward somewhere to sit, preferably in the shade. "I think they will, but my responsibilities will end up being their own reins," she notes with a smirk. "Zymuraith and I…belong to the Weyr now. But there's some freedom to go along with that, at least." And she'll be learning all the ins and outs of that firsthand very soon. "We'll be graduating at the end of the month. If you'd like to come." An opportune shady spot comes along, and Amani ducks into it to sit down on a crate, leaving plenty of space for Xanthee to do the same. The other girl's news about seeing someone is met with a lift of brows and an intent regard, as though she's looking for signs of the sort of fawning that went on for F'kan. But while she does see youthful starry-eyedness, she doesn't see that, and so gives a nod. "He had better not be. Considering said brownrider doesn't seem at all fazed by his time stepped back with the rest of us. I swear, if Quaverilth ever…" She bites back finishing the thought, shaking her head. "Never mind. I'm glad you found someone who seems to be a good guy, Xanthee, and I hope it stays that way. Maybe you might point him out to me, while I'm here?" she asks with a sly smirk. "The next time I'm around…I should have someone to introduce to you, too," she admits with a gentle flushing to her cheeks. Yes, there have certainly been developments over the past few months!

"Amani!" Xanthee exclaims at the revelation that there may be someone in her friend's life as well. "That's amazing! I'm so glad to hear that. Yeah, I learned my lesson about boys. Mal is different. He is fully vetted by my friend Daenerys. I don't know if you met him. He was a Tanner, but he's joined the Zingari now as a Trader. He's kind of like my big brother, he really helped after I came back in disgrace." she snorts sardonically, seemingly over her misstep in her last Candidacy. She just looks at her friend and shakes her head a little bit, "There's something different about you. You seem to be more sure, more comfortable with yourself. It suits you." As the graduation is mentioned, she shakes her head a little bit, "I'll give you my congratulations now, I'd rather not risk coming face to face with F'kan still. I don't entirely trust myself not to do something he would regret."

Amani will only remember Daenerys if she sees him, not being able to connect the name to the face despite having met him once. Though now that the man is Zingari, the odds that she'll run into him today are high. As for mention of being different, the goldling gives a tilt of her head, a corner of her mouth quirking upward. "I've had to learn a lot over the past Turn. About Zymuraith, the Weyr…but mostly about myself. I still am." What becoming a full rider will make of her will be a journey unto itself as well. Xanthee's reasoning about not coming down to the graduation earns a nod. "I understand. Though once Zymuraith and I are finished, you can just stick with us whenever you come visit. And maybe bring this gentleman of yours along…" And from there, Amani will fill Xanthee in on her own gentleman, Ibrahim, and the stories she's gathered to pass along since Impression. It'll take some time, but she doesn't care. Catching up with friends is what she's here to do!

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