Catch the Thrill [Open]

[Sparrow]

"I've been told any dragon will obey a Gold, and I assume the same works for fire-lizards. From what I've seen, at least, if a Gold actually does make an explicit command to a wild lower ranker, it stops. The problem," Chan rolled her eyes, "is that they don't want to drop to the level of talking to Greens or Barreds." She didn't think it was the quite the same with dragons, but fire-lizards were definitely very prejudiced.

Dragons were quite prejudiced as well, but they knew better that sometimes they simply had to communicate with the small dragons to keep things under control. Queens, at least. Chan had never heard a word about a friendly Bronze, and her brother had been a Bronzerider. "I guess that's why Greens make such horrible mothers though. They're the lowest ranked."

[wolflover1458]

Zipperacreous nodded. "Green firelizards are bad mothers, and I expect Barreds are too. The wild ones leave their clutches all the time." The only reason the tame ones didn't was because their owner was there to look after the eggs as well. "I wonder if the dragons would act the same way, if they were fertile." Somehow dragons just seemed like they would be smarter about caring for their eggs. The Gold firelizards did a fine job of caring for them though.

Green dragons weren't fertile anyway, so it didn't really matter. Zipperacreous was actually glad they weren't, since that would just mean more dragons than Pern could handle. They would need more candidates too, and there might end up being far more dragon riders than any other people on Pern. They might need dragons to fight Thread, but they didn't need an overpopulation of Greens and Blues.

[Sparrow]

Chan shrugged. "From what I've heard, I doubt a Green dragon would have the patience to sit a clutch. Not to mention the Golds would probably chase them off the sands just because they don't like them." She had heard about it with wild flitters. "Supposing the Green laid it on the actual Hatching sands at all which, if they're anything like fire-lizards, they wouldn't." Chan laughed.

Green flitters, and some Barreds too, were notorious for laying their eggs in the worst possible places. They laid them, abandoned them, and pretty soon they were eaten by tunnelsnakes or whatever other carnivore happened by. It was a good thing, since it kept the small flitter population in check, but it struck Chan is entirely silly and pitiful. She didn't like the idea of things just not caring what happened to their young.

[wolflover1458]

That made sense. "I guess it'd probably be best if they weren't good mothers. Otherwise there would be way more dragons than Pern could handle." It was quite the same with dragons and firelizards. Only the Queens that laid clutches really had their eggs hatch. The Greens and Barreds just weren't quite the same as the Golds. They weren't natural mothers as firelizards. Otherwise they wouldn't leave their clutches everywhere.

Petal was most definitely not a good mother. She had never really found a good spot to lay her eggs, and if Zipperacreous hadn't moved them, some would have been squished. She doubted Flutter would do any better. In fact, she would probably end up doing worse. Unless her attitude suddenly changed and she became calmer. That didn't seem to likely though.

[Sparrow]

"And they would all be crazy Greens and Blues and Barreds, laying more and more of them ever few months." It would be bad news. People worried that there weren't enough dragons to protect people now, but if Greens and Barreds started clutching, there would soon be way too many.

"So how much do you have to work as a Healer? You said earlier your fire-lizards were excited after being cooped up all day; were you working then?" A human healer would be very different, Chan figured, from one that worked with animals. They would suddenly be predominantly indoors, as the most obvious switch. It had always been a relief for her husband when he got to come in after a day out in the sun.

[wolflover1458]

"Well, I don't always stay inside. I decided to spend the last few days going through everything I know so I don't forget. It'd be bad to forget something the moment I have to remember it. I could have gone outside, but I didn't bother, so I kept the firelizards inside with me. Flutter didn't like it. She can't fly around as much. Usually being a healer doesn't take to much sitting around, except for the memorization part of it." Zipperacreous had really not gone outside for a break before because there was a dragonrider around, but the information seemed quite irrelevant.

Either way, Flutter had gotten very annoyed with being stuck inside the whole time. When Zipperacreous had finally decided to get out and about, the Barred flitter had been extremely happy to finally have somewhere she could stretch her wings. Thinking about it, Zipperacreous wondered how long Flutter could last without flitting around and investigating something. Somehow she just doubted the Barred would be able to take it for long.

[Sparrow]

"Ah yes, that would get dull." Really fast. Chan was not a reader. She had been impatient with Palton when he had to get back to the books. Past written recipes, baking required no reading. Chan had memorized everything she used often too; studying was something she did very rarely. "Luckily for me, cooking requires experimentation to progress, not studying. There's a good reason why I'm not a Healer... I hate that."

Not to say she was going to go bouncing off walls and chattering up a storm like Flutter had likely been doing. Rather, she would probably start talking to the hides and come up with all sorts of analogies for just how dull it was, and in doing so totally lose track of whatever she was reading.

[wolflover1458]

"Yes, it can get boring. I enjoy it though. Well, not the studying part, but the whole idea that I'd be able to help people." Zipperacreous really hadn't done a whole lot of that, and she knew more of the theory part of healing rather than the actual part of it. Experience was to be gained though, and Zipperacreous was sure that, eventually, she'd be good at it. Maybe not perfect, or up to to the level of a Master, but she would be a better healer some day. It would be a few Turns for sure.

By then, she would have more firelizards too. Maybe she wouldn't have reached her goal, and maybe she never would, but if she still only had three by the time she really knew what being a healer was, then she might as well give up on it. She had all the smaller colors, and those were the easiest. Zipperacreous still wondered if there were any Queen firelizards at the Hold. If there weren't, she didn't have a chance of getting anything better than a Brown from here.

[Sparrow]

Chan nodded. "That makes it all worth it." She leaned forward, resting her elbows on the counter. "You know, bakers get to help people too. Food and stuff. You'd die without it." She laughed. It wasn't exactly saving people from injury and illness, but people couldn't really recover from that without eating while they did so. Food powered everything.

Healers got paid for their work though, whereas bakers had to sell their work to make anything. Funny just how different that was. Luckily Chan had plenty of friends that made steady customers of themselves, and possibly even a new friend now, although she wasn't sure how often Zip ended up in this part of the Hold. She had followed that fire-lizard down though... so how far away could she be?

[wolflover1458]

Zipperacreous smiled. "True. I've never really thought of it that way before." It was completely true though. People had to get food from somewhere. Without it, healing wouldn't exactly be any good. Every healer knew how important food was. Well, everyone did, really. Certain foods were better than others though, and not everyone was completed educated in that. There were plenty that were; Chan probably was. She just seemed like the type who would know about all the different kinds of foods and which ones you should eat more than others.

It was a good thing some people were still interested in preparing food. Zipperacreous knew she probably didn't have time for it herself, and there were plenty of other people who didn't either. There were people who made it their profession, and that was excellent. It was strange that no one really seemed to realize that. Bakers and farmers and all the other people connected to food deserved a lot more recognition than they seemed to get.

[Sparrow]

Chan laughed. "I hadn't either, but it came to me just then." It was a thought she liked though. It was good to find connections between trades so they didn't get all high and mighty and separate, like dragonriders were. People could make tributes to them, but not hang out and chat. Dragonriders never hung around longer than they needed to at a Hold.

That could be changing soon, considering recent events. Chan hoped not. She didn't really like the idea of dragons frequenting Danac. At least they most likely wouldn't be coming around to her part of town. The edges of the Hold were not places with anyone prestigious enough to attract the interest of a rider.

((Well, speak of the devil.))

[wolflover1458]

Even if Chan hadn't thought of it before, it was still very true. Zipperacreous wondered how many other people thought about that. There were probably a whole bunch of important going-ons that didn't get noticed because they were simply overlooked. The major Crafts were the ones that everyone noticed, but every one at the Hold had a role to play, and most of those roles were very important. Zipperacreous wondered how many realized that their role in life was vital, even if it wasn't the most glamorous one. Lords might get noticed more than their subjects, but without the common people, the Lord would have nothing to rule over.

It was a very strange thing to think about. Zipperacreous hoped it wasn't something she'd forget fast either. Maybe it wasn't a useful thing to think about, but it was still interesting, and if she ever was in a situation where she could make someone realize that, it would be very nice to remember. She always hated thinking of something she should say after it was too late.

((This is me having nothing to post. I ramble about what they're thinking about.))

[Sparrow]

((Well then, ending this. XD))

It wasn't often that N'ren ended up in this part of town, but he had been in need of finding some obscure shop to find a gift that wouldn't be easily traceable. Also cheaper. He didn't make a whole lot of money as a rider; they generally took care of themselves and had little use for marks. Johannesth walked slowly along behind him, wings pressed to his side and sleek form being the main thing that let him maneuver among the buildings. They weren't too close- most people had gardens and the like, and it was simply unsafe to crowd buildings, but the dragon didn't feel entirely comfortable. He should have stayed on the heights, but he wanted to see where N'ren was going so he could break the secret later.

N'ren was getting hungry too- he had failed to grab something back at the Weyr. Tak and Torch were looking like they could use something to eat too. Conveniently, he was just passing a bakery, and through the windows he could see a woman with fire-lizards. Well, that ought to do. He stepped in. Johannesth pressed the side of his face to the building. He had never seen a bakery before, may as well take it in while he was here.

~~~

Chan, of course, didn't miss the enormous Tan dragon suddenly striding up to her bakery, following what was obviously his rider. "By the first egg," she gasped, eyes widening and mouth falling open a bit. This was definitely unexpected- and unwanted- company. "You're not Searching my daughter, boy," she growled, glaring daggers at the rider as he entered the building. There couldn't be any other reason for a rider to show up.

[wolflover1458]

((I think Zip might die of shock XD))

Petal's frightened cheep, and Chan's comment, brought Zipperacreous to notice the giant dragon looking inside the shop. What was a dragon doing here? Hadn't they all left by now? "I've got to go, do you, do you have a back door?" Zipperacreous said, trying to sound calm and not squeak. It was hard to think with a dragon watching her.

Flutter was glancing at the dragon with curiosity. Petal and Shimmer seemed to think otherwise. They both flew back to Zipperacreous. Shimmer stuck his head behind Zipperacreous's neck, hiding in her long brown hair. The Healer reached forward and started to grab Flutter, who let out an annoyed squeak, but then changed her mind and carefully grabbed what was left of the loaf with Flutter still on top of it. She hugged it to her chest before taking a few careful strides away from the window and turning back to Chan.

"Yes, yes, I really do have to go," she said softly, more to herself than anything and still warily eying the dragon out the window.

[Sparrow]

Chan's gaze flashed over to Zip. A rider turned up and she had to go? Suspicious? Possibly. "Yeah, you'll have to go through the house though." She looked at the rider, who was struggling to assure her he didn't want her daughter, but was just there or some food. "Excuse me a moment," she told him coolly. "Follow me, Zip."

She led the Healer across the bakery and through a door that opened into the house-half of the building, across the small dining room, and to the back door. She held it open for Zip. "Sorry if I made you late for anything." It didn't look quite like that though.

[wolflover1458]

Zipperacreous followed Chan out, glad to have a quick way out. She wasn't going anywhere near that dragon. "Thanks. I shouldn't be late. I just can't stay here. Sorry," she apologized quickly before turning and heading out the door. She had no intention whatsoever of sticking around where there was a dragon involved. Why had it even shown up here? She wasn't sure.

Petal seemed a lot happier to be away too, although Shimmer was still nervous. Flutter didn't even seem to notice; she'd gone back to chewing at the bread and was ignoring the fact there had been a large dragon staring at her out of a window just moment before.

[Sparrow]

"Alright." Chan couldn't suppress that sneaking suspicion that something was going on here that she ought to know about. Hopefully she would run into Zip again so she could find out. At the moment, however, she had a customer to deal with, and headed back into the shop to take care of him.

Riders. Even when she got to make a little money off them, they did little but cause trouble.