28.May.20, 02:13 PM
The crowd seemed to surge and grow by the second as the gatherers bustled about, browsing the booths’ wares and negotiating prices with their crafters. The tantalizing smell of roasting meat drifted among the moving bodies in such a way that it was nearly impossible to tell where the smell originated, and the sound of a harper’s guitar could be faintly heard above the din. Pushing a red curl behind her ear, Aederyn took a deep breath before moving from her hiding place at the back corner of a tanner’s tent to make her way to the front counter of it, searching for a small message pouch for Rudi. The mob seemed to press in on her, and for just a moment she longed for the freedom of the traces once again, with their big open spaces and lack of human interaction. She closed here eyes and steadied herself, forcing the sounds and smells around her to the back of her mind and focusing instead on the light, happy sound of that harper’s guitar. A few heartbeats later she shook her head and again turned to the offerings on the table. No luck. Plenty of leather, a few larger bags, some belts, even a pair of boots, but nothing so small and delicate as a firelizard message pouch. She frowned and bit her lip, her shoulders slumping slightly in disappointment. She thanked the crafter at the booth, though he didn’t seem to notice her as he was haggling with someone at the other end of the counter. She didn’t mind though, and ducked back down the alley between booths where it was a bit less crowded.
Maybe this was a bad idea. She had been thankful for some time off, away from her duties with the Weyrwoman’s children, as much as she had come to care for the kids. But now, here she was, stranded and alone at a Gather at a strange Hold. With a slight shock, she realized that this was the first Gather she has ever attended without Alekse or Meri at her side. She was well and truly alone here. She absently wondered if she should just wait back at the clearing for R’Dare and Kadaisicalth, but quickly dismissed the idea as they would likely be a while, enjoying the happenings up at the Weyr proper. She would join them later, though. She would like to see the Weyr, herself, but first, that message pouch…Rudi chirruped at her from where he had taken up a perch atop a nearby tent pole, and she smiled, signaling him to stay out of the way, but glad of his presence. His mellow curiosity calmed her somewhat. Determination renewed, she picked her way along the edge of the crowd, peeking over shoulders at tables and making her way closer to where the harper played at the edge of the dancing square, that stood empty and waiting for the evening’s festivities to begin in earnest.
Maybe this was a bad idea. She had been thankful for some time off, away from her duties with the Weyrwoman’s children, as much as she had come to care for the kids. But now, here she was, stranded and alone at a Gather at a strange Hold. With a slight shock, she realized that this was the first Gather she has ever attended without Alekse or Meri at her side. She was well and truly alone here. She absently wondered if she should just wait back at the clearing for R’Dare and Kadaisicalth, but quickly dismissed the idea as they would likely be a while, enjoying the happenings up at the Weyr proper. She would join them later, though. She would like to see the Weyr, herself, but first, that message pouch…Rudi chirruped at her from where he had taken up a perch atop a nearby tent pole, and she smiled, signaling him to stay out of the way, but glad of his presence. His mellow curiosity calmed her somewhat. Determination renewed, she picked her way along the edge of the crowd, peeking over shoulders at tables and making her way closer to where the harper played at the edge of the dancing square, that stood empty and waiting for the evening’s festivities to begin in earnest.