From:  Andre Oliveira <oliveand@bellsouth.net>
Date:  Sat Jan 5, 2002  10:23 pm
Subject:  [DL-T] Behold the power of meat

Day 2
Morning
Med Center

Entering the building the first thing Soucivi noticed was a very weak
smell emanating from within that immediately wiped the smirk off of his
face. It reminded Soucivi of sleepless nights and strong headaches.
Diluted with the fresh air he had brought with him by opening the door
it was nonetheless strong enough that its source was obvious...vomit.

"Seems I wasn't the only one drugged last night." he thought.

"Excuse me, who can I see about visiting a friend of mine?" Soucivi
asked the nearest person who looked like they worked there.

The woman replied "Sorry, many people came in last night and passed out
before we had a chance to find out their names. I can only help you if
your friend came in here with someone who wasn't drugged." She sighted
and said, " I think you'll have better luck in a few hours once they've
regained consciousness and we've been able to find out who they are."

Soucivi thought this over and remembered that his training began that
day and he wouldn't have a chance to return until late. By then he was
sure he wouldn't be in the prankish mood anymore. Then an idea came to him.

"Well my friend was in a fight last night. Does that help?"

"Oh are you friends with that boy from the circus or the guard he was in
a fight with?"

"Well actually...err...I don't really..." Soucivi stammered. He had no
idea what Fal'k did for the warren. "I'm actually a friend of both of
them." He showed his most convincing smile hoping it would fool the woman.

"Some friends you got there." She said raising an eyebrow, "Do you have
any idea what they were fighting about. One of them took a real nasty
stab wound you know."

"Oh I think they were fighting about a woman."

The woman nodded and mumbled something under her breath that Soucivi
thought sounded a lot like "men".

"Well your circus friend is down this hall on the last door to your
left, your friend the guard was dismissed since he only received a
couple of bumps and bruises. Though I doubt he will be a guard much longer."

Soucivi thanked the woman and began walking down the hall. He knocked on
the last door to his left. He was surprised to hear a woman's voice
answer, "Come in."
Soucivi stood there pondering what to do. The situation had not been
what he had been expecting at all. He had hoped that his Peeping Tom
friend had been here at the warren alone, with minor injuries, and
easily identified. Now he wasn't even sure this was indeed the right
person he was about to walk in on or if the person was well enough to
take a joke.

"Oh what the hell. I'll just say that I got the wrong room if it isn't
him." he said softly before he opened the door.

Soucivi walked inside the room to find a beautiful redheaded girl
looking at him with a questioning look and the lanky looking Fal'k on a
bed with a bandaged side. At first Fal'k shared the girl's expression
but within a few seconds it quickly turned into a look of surprise and
then to a expression of suppressed anxiety, "Oh... err...hello...what
was it again? Soucivi right? How have you been?" Fal'k said in a
sheepish smile that reminded Soucivi of a boy caught with his hands in a
cookie jar.

Soucivi looked at Fal'k. His original plan was simply to give Fal'k a
scare. But now as he looked at Fal'k's bandaged side and at the lovely
young woman next to him he lost all of the previous humor and decided
that this was not the right time for talk of the last day's doings. Well
at least not until he was alone with Fal'k and he was sure that he
wouldn't pass out. He sighted and then smiled.

"Better than you it looks like. I heard from your hatchling that you
were in a fight and I decided to come here and see how badly you were
beaten up." Soucivi responded while pulling himself a chair on the wall
left of the bed.

"Well not as bad as it could have been but definitely not as well as it
could have gone. The bastard brought out a dagger and... well you can
see the results. So you've heard I've joined huh?"

At this point Soucivi smiled nastily and some of his old humor returned,
"Yes I have. But that mean you're basically stuck here in the warren
huh?" Soucivi tried hard to sound as if this was a bad thing.

Fal'k smiled sheepishly again and said, "Well...err...yes I think you
can say that. Brandy why don't you go grab me some water, please."

At this point the redheaded girl stood up looked at Soucivi then at
Fal'k and said, "Sure I'll be right back" She then turned and left the room.

"Nice looking girl you got there." Soucivi said as she left. When
Soucivi looked back at Fal'k his expression was completely different.

"Why don't you stop with the pleasantries and just tell me what you
want?" Fal'k said annoyed. "I don't like being in this sort of situation."

Soucivi was slightly taken back at the change in Fal'k attitude, but he
responded by smiling menacingly again and said, " Well if you must
know... I originally was simply going to blackmail you but after finding
out you've joined I decided to change my plans a bit."

"What do you want?" he asked again

"You're dragon, his name is Airsight right?"

"What do you want with him?"

"I've heard from my hatchling that he teleported to you when you got
hurt. That's an impressive thing for a newborn hatchling to do.
Especially since most dragons need to be in flight to teleport."

"Look you leave him alone. If you want to blackmail someone blackmail me
and not my dragon!"

At this point Soucivi laughed and slapped Fal'k's shoulder. "Don't be
such a old woman! I'm not going to hurt him or anything. I just thought
since your going to be stuck here in the med center and you probably
don't know anyone in the warren yet I could take care of him until your
back on your feet."

"What?" Fal'k said non-believingly.

"You know, oil him and such."

"So you just came here to offer to look after Airsight while I'm in
here?" he said still not quite believing him.

"Well I didn't exactly say that."

"Then what else did you come here for?"

Soucivi stood up and looked at Fal'k "Well someone who's as skilled as I
am in the shadows...well that someone could be really fun to have around
if you know what I mean."

******
Tag Jason
******

Afternoon
The Green just outside the Hatchling Barracks

Soucivi sat on the grass under a tree with Dargen curled half-asleep
next to him. After being told that his training would only begin on the
next day he sat there recalling the events that had changed his life so
drastically in the last two days. Meeting Fal'k in the dead of night,
Dargen joining with him, Tanda acting like a mad woman. Tanda being the
person he most thought about. It all seemed to be happening to someone
else. He sat there stewing for a while longer until he finally gave up.

<Don't worry so much my rider.> Dargen said, <I'm sure that female
simply wanted to mate with you but became upset that she fell asleep
before she had the chance.>

<You know Dargen, that's the best explanation I've had pass through my
head all day.> Soucivi said scratching the hatchling's eyebrows <You're
lucky to be a dragon. You don't have to worry about half insane females
when it comes to mating. Since we have the rest of the day off we should
go see Dalmar to check that your healthy and find out what does bumps on
your jaw are.>

<I know... a little lower please...there that's the spot!> the hatchling
stood up and stretched and then looked at Soucivi in the eye. <Tell me a
story first!>

<I don't know any good stories Dargen.> Soucivi said smiling at the
little beast. <But I can play a little. Would you like me to play
something for you?>

<Yes! I like music!>

<All right. Don't go anywhere. I'll be right back.> Soucivi stood up and
went inside the barracks.

Dargen laid down where Soucivi had been sitting and waited patiently. In
a few minutes Soucivi emerged from the barracks carrying something that
looked like a foot long two headed snake with holes all over its body.
Soucivi sat down and showed his instrument to Dargen.

<What's that?>

<This is my instrument. You see this end?> Soucivi pointed at the end of
instrument that would have been the snake's tail. <It's the mouthpiece.
I blow in this end and the air is split between the two pipes. One makes
a deeper sound and the other one is more high-pitched. This..> he said
pointing at a little lever beneath the mouthpiece <This I use to direct
the air between the two pipes. If I move it to one side all of the air
goes to that side and if I leave it in the middle the air is split
evenly. So I can make it sound like three completely different
instruments and I can also make it sound like there are two different
instruments playing at once. Got it?>

<No. But play anyway.>

Soucivi smiled and began to play. The song was slow and enchanting.
Dargen watched fascinated with the way his rider's fingers danced on top
of the holes but soon lost interest as the song began to lull him to
sleep. Soucivi stopped when he heard Dargen's snores. He gently picked
up the hatchling, which was already rapidly gaining weight, and began to
carry him to Dalmar's remains of a clinic. But before he had made it
half way to the clinic Dargen jumped off of him suddenly and chirped.

<What's wrong?> Soucivi asked worried.

<There's trouble!> Dargen pointed his head towards a spot on the green
where dragons were beginning to roar and were loading up on coal.

<What's going on?>

Dargen stood still for a second talking to other dragons and then said,
<There's been a dragon attack at a place called Raisa.>

<Wild dragons?> Soucivi questioned with a sudden memory of a blue dragon
with blue flames.

<No, they tell me they have riders!>

Soucivi stood standing there dumbfounded, staring as riders began to
mount and fly off in formation.

<Is there nothing we can do?> Dargen asked fiercely.

<No... I don't think we can. Except try and finish with our duties,
which include you being checked out by Dalmar. So come on and try not to
worry too much.>

They walked in silence watching dragons flying off and landing to be
loaded with coal. They arrived at the clinic and began their search for
Dalmar.

*****
Tag John. I didn't know if you would be busy with the twins so feel free
to make Soucivi and Dargen wait if you want. It will give Soucivi a
chance to practice his instrument.
*****
Day 3
Dawn
The Hatchling Barracks

Soucivi awoke in his unaccustomed bed. He stood up, stretched, scratched
his chest, and began changing. He had been told to meet Eth'n and Warton
on the Green one hour after sunrise, he figured he could afford to be a
little late and get some breakfast. He washed his face, felt the hairs
on cheek, decided he didn't really need to shave that day, tied his hair
back and steeped outside. He breathed in the crisp morning air and began
walking towards the Dining Hall.

Entering the hall he quickly grabbed a plate and went to get his food.
As he finished loading his plate with various fruits, some cheese,
bread, and a slice of ham he felt eyes upon him. He looked behind him
and briefly made eye contact with Tanda who was sitting at a table not
to far off. He saw her turn a bright shade of crimson and grow a sudden
interest on her food as she quickly shot her face downward at her plate.
He then saw a younger boy sitting across from her say something and
Tanda responded by snapping a harsh whisper at him. Soucivi had a sudden
urge to go and sit next to her and demand to know what was going on in
that insane head of hers. He made a motion to do exactly that, but
stopped, changed his mind, and sat on the opposite side of the hall from
her. He ate his food alone and in silence. As he went to return his
empty plate he heard Dargen's voice in his mind.

<My rider, Pepper kindly reminds you that you did promise to apologize.>

Soucivi doubted very much if that little monster had been half as polite
as Dargen was making her sound.

<I hardly think being forced to promise under threat to have my nose
bitten off counts, Dargen.>

<That may be true... but you want to talk to her anyway.> Dargen said in
a sympathetic tone, <You'll feel better...>

<Yeah, I know...>

Soucivi inhaled deeply and began walking to where Tanda was sitting.
Tanda looked up and noticed Soucivi was walking towards her. She said
something quickly to the young boy and began walking quickly towards the
exit. Soucivi began to walk faster after her but she was nearer to the
exit than him. Soucivi stepped outside and spotted her walking quickly
in the direction of the barracks. Soucivi began to jog and when he was
within reach he grabbed her wrist.

"Tanda, I have to talk to you." he pleaded.

She looked at him with a glare that could crack stone and said in a
forced voice "Don't... touch ...me!"

Soucivi let go of her and let her begin to walk away again. He looked at
her for a few seconds and then sprinted to her side and began walking
next to her.

"What do you want?" she said coldly.

"I want to know what I did and what I can do to apologize. Isn't that
obvious?" Soucivi said in a slightly irritated tone.

"We're late for training." Tanda said icily, "We should hurry if we
don't want Warton to bite off our heads."

"But I... all right" Soucivi mumbled defeated. Tanda was obviously still
too upset to want to talk to him.

Soucivi saw Tanda's expression soften. She opened her mouth like she was
about to say something, but then seemed to change her mind and made her
face seem cold and distant again. So one with his head down in thought
and the other trying to look towards the barracks with occasional
glances at her companion, the duo soon walked to the entrance of the
barracks. There, Pepper and Dargen were already waiting for them. Pepper
glared at Soucivi and then began to walk next to Tanda on their way to
the already forming group of newly joined.

<Well I talked to her. I don't feel any better.> Soucivi said to Dargen
as they walked.

<Why don't try giving her some food? I know if someone gave me something
nice to eat I'd forgive them.> Dargen suggested.

<I don't think she'll appreciate a big hunk of meat as much as you would.>

<Well if she won't take it, you could always give it to me.> Dargen said
with a happy chirp.

They stood before the maroon dragon and Tanda made her way among the
trainees to stand as far as possible from Soucivi. Soucivi stood
awkwardly for a few seconds until he heard Warton's deafening roar and
thought that he would indeed bite his head off for being late. After the
initial shock was gone he withstood the barks and orders of Eth'n. After
a few more minutes of the verbal barrage, Soucivi received his
instructions and read them.

It seemed basic enough, so after the conjoined twins finished Soucivi
volunteered himself and Dargen. Soucivi led Dargen to the starting line
and waited until he heard Warton's cry which would signal them to start.
They heard the roar and Dargen was off like the hounds of hell were at
his heels. Dargen completed his tasks without any major incident and was
soon panting next to Soucivi a few minutes later.

<That was fun! I want to go again! I bet I'll go even faster next time!>
Dargen cheered in Soucivi's head.

***********

At the completion of the last hatchling's race, Eth'n landed and lead
them to two cow carcasses. He then assigned two teams, one team for each
cow.

/Snip from Two Meanings of Green/
Eth'n instructed the newly joined riders on the art of butchering cows for
the feeding of their dragons. While they accomplished the gruesome task,
Eth'n continued his lecture on the general care of hatchlings and the
importance of dragon oil.

"Young dragons grow swiftly. They'll be growing so quickly that their skin
will become itchy. In order to maintain healthy skin, your dragons will
need to be oiled twice a day during this period. I suggest wearing old
clothes while you oil your mates," Eth'n grinned.

/End Snip/

Soucivi didn't really listen as Eth'n explained about hatchling skin
needs. He had already learned from K'rvey that oiling was a necessity
and had already begun the day before. He instead concentrated on the
cutting of the carcass. He finished quickly and without too much
trouble. His father had taught him some skinning techniques before he
had died and Soucivi had memorized them by heart. In a few minutes he
had carved out a nice chunk of bloody meat for Dargen, who ate it with
relish.

When Dargen had finished his food he soon was in the mood for a nap. He
decided that the shade of a nearby tree would do nicely. Soucivi stood
up and looked at his bloody clothes. He walked over to Eth'n and said,
"Excuse me sir."

Eth'n's look immediately made him wish he hadn't even stood up. " '
Excuse me sir?' You better damn well have an excuse for talking to me
and not feeding your hatchling!"

"But... but I'm done, sir. I just wanted to ask you if it would be all
right for me to clean up. Umm...sir."

"You're not done."

"I'm not?" Soucivi asked bewildered.

"You're only finished when everyone else is finished. And from I can see
your team still has one person who's having some trouble." He said
pointing at a grunting figure with brown hair messy with cow blood.
"Give her a hand and then you're done. With the cow at least." He smiled
and turned his back to Soucivi. Soucivi walked to the grunting figure,
put on his most charming smile, and said, "Need a hand?" Tanda looked up
at him and glared acidly.


<See! Meat does help!> Dargen cheered from beneath his tree.

******
Tag Dave
******

Submitted by:
Andre Oliveira
aka
Soucivi and Dargen