Avu
Weyrleader Ce'thian Rider A'emi Handler Sena Harper Matteo Weyrbrat Riaren
Posts: 2,439
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Post by Avu on Oct 14, 2008 16:13:17 GMT -5
You should take that advice, Corinth said, teasing again, as he doubled back and swooped a dragonlength above their heads, eliciting a shrill chatter from Stupid. The side of T'rid's mouth twitched in a half-grimace, which he repressed. Shut up and keep flying, he growled unwillingly. The last thing he needed just happened to be snarky comment that, unlike Stupid's meaningless waffle, actually made sense, echoing through his mind. No, he'd much prefer that didn't happen, although if Corinth was bound and determined to annoy him, there really wasn't much he could do to prevent him. Unfortunately. The bronze seemed content to an amused rumble, though, and then drifted ahead again. Stupid dragon.
Stupid was pleased. He'd twitched. Whether that was a reaction to his dive or something else was entirely beyond the 'mandyr, but it was a reaction and all reactions were favorable ones. He nibbled slightly at Z'hin's skin, definitely not hard enough to leave marks, but still enough to make himself felt, as he considered the offer. Finally, he released Z'hin and poked his head entirely out of his pocket. Stupid show, stoppit, he agreed, expectantly tilting his head back to look at Z'hin, although his tail, being curled up as he was, was in the way. Annoying, annoying...he scrabbled upwards, snagging it between his teeth and then peered up at the man. Now, he wanted to see. Noshow bite, he added threateningly, chewing on the end of his tail to make his point. T'rid, meanwhile, was acutely amused by the idea of taunting the Weyrleader to the point of being punched. "Really. It sounds like I should meet him sometime. You know, in public." At a Hold or something, during a Gather. It would be lovely whichever way it turned - if Ka'rys did punch him, the Holders would all see; if he resisted the temptation - and T'rid was quite certain he could make the temptation all but irresistible - it would be nice to mock him for a while, yes? Yes. That promised to be fun. "Congratulations," he added.
He substituted a more appropriate expression for the grimace at Z'hin's laugh. Shardit, it wasn't his fault - at least, with greens, there was a good chance the Rider in question was a female. And used to it. With a 'mandyr, though? For all his luck, it'd probably end up being some screwed up male Candidate who had never dared to loose his virginity before. T'rid shot a scowl at Stupid. "You Chase, I murder," he explained pointedly. Stupidha! At Z'hin's comment, he shrugged. "Who knows, if you're asleep and Stupid's determined, I'm sure he'd manage an inch or so." A slight smirk flickered across his face at the next suggestion. "I'll skip right over that and just glue him to your arm or something," he offered sweetly. "You don't have to give him back or anything - how does that sound?"
Stupid paused to consider the question. Jealous...of...Jealous of whopretties, he stated matter-of-factedly. Pretties, green pretties, big like Corstupid, pretties. Jealous of pretties, he finished contentedly, purring in amusement. T'rid had been categorically trying to decipher the meaning behind that and came up with..."Eh? I'm jealous of green dragons?" He blinked disbelievingly at Stupid, who squeaked in assent, bouncing with pleasure. Veryveryvery. T'rid groaned slightly, rolling his eyes. "I'd trade you," he commented grumpily. "Corinth's the reason I have him, a blue flitter that's probably busy staring at a wall right now, and I nearly got stuck with a stupid feline, too..." He supposed that it had gone to the girl. Kale-what's-her-name. He hadn't bothered sticking around after he'd made it very plain he wanted nothing to do with a feline. Something clicked, but he didn't quite figure out exactly what. Z'hin. The name...familiar?
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Post by reqqy on Oct 15, 2008 9:28:29 GMT -5
Z'hin sniffed pointedly, looking down at the little pest in his shirt pocket who insisted on continuing to gnaw at him. Now that he expected it, though, the sniff was the extent of his reaction. It didn't take much to figure out a salamandyr, after all, and Stupid clearly liked attention. Positive or negative. Only when the brown's head popped up did the brownrider gift the creature with a slight smile. "I can feel that." He was reaching for his jacket pocket when Stupid added the little ultimatum. "I don't respond to 'mandyr threats," Z'hin commented quietly, his hand falling back to his side. He surrepitously covered the pocket with his arm. The brownrider carried a wire in his pocket, amongst other things, that likely would cut the poor creature to ribbons if Stupid decided to jump right in.
He couldn't help but chuckle at T'rid's reaction to his description of the encounter with Ka'rys. "Congratulations? Don't tell me. You're secretly a masochist." A rather unfair comment, given Z'hin often threw himself into situations that were likely to get him hurt or killed. Still, it seemed odd that T'rid would go out looking to get punched. Quite odd. "You and Stupid have something in common, it seems. At any rate, you probably need a bit of coaching to work the Weyrleader up. He probably would just ignore you," the brownrider concluded, with just a touch of smugness.
"Who said anything about keeping Stupid? He's your terror," Z'hin returned, just as sweetly. "I'm like a grandparent. I get to come around, spoil the kid, and then you're stuck with him for the interim. Adhesives don't last forever and, at any rate, I'm sure his struggles are more likely to tear himself from me than to drag me along even an inch or two." The brownrider shook his head. Did this kid have no common sense? As like as not, the most discomfort it would cause him was the tearing of his skin. Which...was rather inconsequential. It was certainly nothing compared to the humiliation it would bring T'rid.
I know a few pretties who would love a 'mandyr like you, Jessereth commented from the river. Z'hin shot him a look. The brown never spoke to another living creature - with the exception of Z'hin and Millieth - unless he absolutely had to or had some vicious intent in mind. Z'hin was distracted by the bronzerider's comment, though, chuckling wryly. "I think you missed a small fact in lessons. There is no trading. You're stuck. Just as Jessereth is stuck with me, which he complains about constantly, even though I remind him that he was the one who did the choosing."
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Avu
Weyrleader Ce'thian Rider A'emi Handler Sena Harper Matteo Weyrbrat Riaren
Posts: 2,439
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Post by Avu on Oct 15, 2008 15:57:42 GMT -5
Just a sniff, that was no fun. Was it a surprise that Stupid stopped gnawing? (Besides, humans didn't taste very good unless you actually pierced the skin, and the 'mandyr had learned from various encounters with T'rid that that was not a particularly clever idea.) He purred happily at the smile he recieved, though, flexing his claws in the shirt, gripping at the cloth as he studied his surroundings idly as he waited for his reward. Except, apparently it was not forthcoming. Stupid hissed, frilling before he dove back down again, closing his teeth around the first fold of vaguely loose skin that he could find. Lightly. At least this person had addressed him nicely for the most part. Shoooowww, he insisted, gnawing slightly harder to emphasize that.
T'rid shrugged. Was something wrong with congratulations? He for one thought it highly amusing that Z'hin had managed to aggravate the Weyrleader to the point of being punched. He might think differently had he been on the recieving end of the punch, but for now? Very amusing. Weren't Weyrleaders supposed to be the calm, intelligent, leaderlike ones? Leaderlike people did not usually let themselves be irked that badly. Masochist, now - that was going a bit far. He shrugged again, more expressive this time, grinning wryly. "If it means that a bunch of people get to watch dear old Ka'rys punch me and be terrified about him, that's fine with me." He gave a mock-pout at the next suggestion. Him, coaching? Okay, perhaps he had yet to aggravate anyone particularly like the Weyrleader, but still - how hard could it be? Poke around, find the tender spots, bite. Or he could always get Stupid to imitate a certain bronze 'mandyr and steal Ka'rys's belt buckle. Surely it wouldn't be too hard to convince Stupid to do that with the right bribes. "Very well, O Great One, what do you suggest?" T'rid asked innocently, "Since you seem to have had such great success?" It wouldn't hurt.
The Bronzerider wrinkled his nose. Terror - that described Stupid nicely. Perhaps the brown 'mandyr wasn't the most irritating of all 'mandyrs ever to grace Pern, but he was still annoying enough that T'rid debated about squashing him at least once a day, usually twice. "Are you sure I couldn't bribe you to keep him?" he queried dryly. Perhaps he wasn't the richest of all people, but that didn't mean he didn't have a few marks, and he'd no need for them - if they got rid of Stupid, he would consider them very well-spent. Although it very much amused him to picture Stupid's cursing when the brown 'mandyr realized he was glued to someone, he shrugged silently. Like as not he would be bitten as hard as Stupid could muster as soon as the 'mandyr got loose.
Stupid perked up, his tail lashing in a show of interest as he wriggled. Whatpretty? Whowherepretty? he demanded eagerly. A pretty...yes. That was lovely. He would adore a pretty to call his own. Why didn't that big stupid bronze like Jessereth? He was clearly the kindest dragon ever if he could find a pretty for Stupid. T'rid glanced at Jessereth, a flicker of amusement rising in his eyes. He did snort in amusement at Z'hin's comment. Let Jessereth annoy or even help Stupid - whatever. "Unfortunately," he agreed. "Corinth thinks he was drunk when he Chose me. If all Jessereth does is complain..." He cut off with a shrug. Sorry, should I be kinder in pointing out that there's no way I would Choose you in complete sanity?
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Post by reqqy on Oct 16, 2008 0:00:31 GMT -5
"I told you I'd show you if you didn't bite. What makes you think this is going to work?" Z'hin questioned the small creature, somewhat bemused. It was uncomfortable, sure enough. If Stupid decided to seriously get at it, the brownrider was quite certain he'd be unpleasantly uncomfortable, but then, was that so unusual for him? Not at all. He was absolutely certain he could outlast the small creature. "I told you I'd show you, but you decided I must be a liar, and felt the need to threaten me. If you just stop biting and behave, I'll show you. Your choice. I don't much care either way. The secrets in my pocket can stay secret forever."
You must be out of your fluff-stuffed mind if you think he understood even half of that. The point being? It's pointless to reason with such creatures. Perhaps. But he amuses me, and it amuses me still more simply to talk to him in this way. Suit yourself. Don't be such a sourpuss. Of course I don't like talking to Stupid more than you. Now did I say anything that might possibly intimate that? Z'hin merely smirked at him.
The brownrider favored his companion with a puzzled look. "Why would anyone be terrified of Ka'rys just because he punched you?" Perhaps he was just too - corrupted - by the north, but it seemed to him that a punch was hardly reason for fear. Were the southerners really so easily frightened? Z'hin honestly couldn't say. That life seemed...all too long ago. And he'd never been any more a southerner than the transfers from the war-torn north - not really. Now, the Weyrleader attempting to strangle you with a vine. Yes. That could be considered worthy of concern. "You really want to know my suggestion? Ka'rys doesn't seem the sort to get violently angry easily and, like it or not, he could probably tear you apart without breaking a sweat. I'd say forget it. You probably won't be able to get a rise out of him, but, if you do, you're certain to regret it."
That was true enough. Z'hin was fairly sure he'd get his ass handed to him if he ever ended up in an honest fight with the weyrleader, and call it arrogance, but the brownrider had no doubt that T'rid didn't stand a chance against him, much less Ka'rys.
The brownrider shook his head, clearly amused. "Offer myself up as a permanent chewtoy? I doubt you have anything I want enough to convince me that's a good idea. Feel free to try, though?" He glanced toward Jessereth again. Don't tell me- There's an especially beautiful pretty at the weyr. Her name is Calistoth, and she likes 'mandyrs a lot. She has one of her own, but he's silly and chose a silly gold 'mandyr over the pretty. I can show her to you when we get back. If the brown had been within range, Z'hin would have slapped him.
"True enough. Jessereth refers to it as temporary insanity, but it sounds like they're both equally terrible about picking their bondeds."
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Avu
Weyrleader Ce'thian Rider A'emi Handler Sena Harper Matteo Weyrbrat Riaren
Posts: 2,439
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Post by Avu on Oct 16, 2008 16:49:55 GMT -5
Confusing...very confusing. Hadn't he just said that he didn't take threats from 'mandyrs? Which meant, didn't it, that he wasn't going to show him anything? Stupid chewed slightly, tilting his head to one side to consider. Nobite? he queried uncertainly. Nobite /show/, he added, releasing his hold on Z'hin and slithering upwards to peek out of the pocket again, tilting his head entirely backwards to squint at Z'hin. Stupid nobite, he promised solemnly, bouncing. Show. He cocked his head, considered, and then squirmed a little, adding in a more timid, questioning tone, Plez? Pleaaaz. Pleazzee? 'Please' was not a word that Stupid often heard, but he had heard it once or twice and it usually accompanied a request by a particularly polite person. That was good, wasn't it? 'Please' was good. It would do. Yes.
T'rid blinked, slightly puzzled by Z'hin's confusion himself. "Is it really normal for Weyrleaders to punch people in public?" he asked, raising an eyebrow in amusement. "Because, if not, I doubt Holders would want to get too close to someone who'd just punched someone..." He certainly would, but only if it meant he could get in a few taunts before disappearing again - and Holders didn't usually act so immature around the Weyrleader. At least, no Holder in their right mind would, although he was sure there were somewhere, people like him who took immense pleasure in taunting. He couldn't really be unique, could he? Certainly you can be. I can't think of anyone /else/ who's as irresponsible, irrepressible, /and/ immature. Pft. You don't count. He shrugged absently at his 'suggestion'. That wasn't a suggestion, no - that was more of a 'don't do it'. And honestly, how boring was that? "Hmm, well. You seem to have weathered it well enough - what did you do?" It was more of an amused query than a true curiosity, though. "Besides, if I was in public, I very much doubt he'd knife me." And, too, Corinth wouldn't just sit by and giggle (as he was apt to do when T'rid got himself humiliated) if he was actually being threatened.
Offer. All of his marks? No. It'd take more than that to get someone to take care of Stupid. He scratched his arm absently, glancing sideways at Stupid. "What do you think, how many marks are you worth?" Alla markkk! Stupid declared, wriggling happily. "Forget it," T'rid sighed, rolling his eyes. "I'll just sic him on you as much as I can and hope you amuse him for a while. And if not you, Jessereth," he added, as Stupid's head shot up sharply, his eyes fixing on Jessereth as he lashed his tail, considering. Very pretty? Pretty good. Yesyesyes. 'duce to pretty. Caltoth. 'duce, yesyesyes, good bigstupid. He frilled at the idea of choosing a gold 'mandyr over the pretty. How dare the horrible, idiotic littlestupid? Clearly a pretty was much better than any 'mandyr, gold or not. Green was prettier than gold anyways. Pretty's little silly, he stated solemnly. Brownshow, yes.
T'rid quirked his eyebrow in amusement. "Does Jessereth laugh when you get hurt? 'Cause Corinth laughs at me." Temporary insanity - I like that. "And Corinth has decided to adopt the whole 'temporary insanity' idea - apparently, he agrees." He rolled his eyes as the bronze rumbled in amusement overhead.
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Post by reqqy on Oct 18, 2008 7:47:09 GMT -5
Silly 'mandyr. Z'hin shook his head mildly. At least he was no longer biting. And was that...? A please? He tried not to show his shock, but he was quite certain it was fairly clear anyway. The brownrider smiled. "Since you asked so politely, and since you aren't biting anymore..." Reaching into his pocket, he ignored the wire and drew out another few items. A piece of twine, not very big, and with no obvious purpose behind it; a couple of 32nd marks; a small, carved object that looked vaguely like a whistle, although if anyone were to blow it they'd find it didn't make an audible noise - at least to human ears; and a few small, glittery stones that Hrorek occasionally collected on a whim. Nothing particularly fascinating, however, it would probably interest Stupid for a short period of time.
He snorted. "You're asking a rider recently returned from the north if it's normal for Weyrleaders to punch people in public? It's normal for them to execute people in public on a whim. At least, it is for R'anatar and C'leon. I don't know about the High Reaches Weyrleader." Actually, he may know a bit more about that man than he was willing to let on, but appearances were very important in this instance. "As far as Ka'rys goes, though? I don't think it's normal for him to punch people at all. He seems the sort to believe himself above that sort of thing. And yes, it would probably make more of a disturbance here in the South than it would in the North where they're used to...everything."
Z'hin had grown more than just a little serious. He rubbed at his face absently. All traces of humor had fled awhile ago, leaving the brownrider looking altogether grim and much more like what you'd expect coming from eight long months fighting in the skies of Pern. "He punched me...because I rubbed him wrong. I picked up on his hating to be called 'Weyrleader.' And when he questioned what I was doing, I mocked him. In all likelihood, I'd venture to guess that he doesn't trust me, so what I said carried more weight like that. Then I told him about Kale, and that ended with him trying to strangle me with a vine. So, in general, I'd suggest just not trying to rile him. It may turn out to be more than you expected."
Z'hin glanced at Jessereth. "I'd be worried at what he's telling your 'mandyr, T'rid," he stated, solemnly. "He's not the sort to do things out of the goodness of his hearts." Not in the slightest. Z'hin had known, on some level, that the brown had a vicious streak, but he'd never fully realized just how deep it ran until going north. Oh well. Far too late now, he supposed, because Jessereth had entered into conversation with Stupid. Yes, once we get back to the Weyr. I'll show you the pretty Calistoth, and you can go run off and live with her for awhile. She's sure to adore you. Would you like that? To go stay with Calistoth?
Z'hin frowned mildly at T'rid's question. "No, not really. The first time I got hurt, I nearly died. Twice. So...no, he doesn't generally find it amusing." That was something of an understatement. Jessereth's usual reaction was to seek vengeance on who was responsible and, if that weren't possible, to take out his frustration on whatever was closest and most annoying. The brownrider was quickly tiring of this conversation, so it was fortunate that they were coming up on the Weyr soon. Aside from teasing the younger bronzerider, T'rid was just...too young. Too naive, in ways. Z'hin found that emotionally exhausting.
He did manage a somewhat amused smile at his companion's last comment, however. "Glad to be of service to your dragon. That makes one bronze Jessereth isn't at open war with. Yet."
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Avu
Weyrleader Ce'thian Rider A'emi Handler Sena Harper Matteo Weyrbrat Riaren
Posts: 2,439
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Post by Avu on Oct 18, 2008 19:58:57 GMT -5
Good! P'litegood, Stupid exclaimed happily, bouncing again as he frilled, more out of pride than anything else. He was good, he had made the bigstupid show him what was in his pocket! He was just amazingly intelligent like that. The brown 'mandyr popped out of his pocket, skittering down his arm and eventually ending up on Z'hin's wrist, lashing his tail firmly around the man's wrist where it was narrowest to stay on as he nosed curiously through the belongings. Twine...his tongue forked out, considering it, and then he nudged it out of the way. A little wooden thing was met with much curiosity; Stupid flipped it over and over, contemplating it, and then frilled at it, evidently bewildered. Whatplez? he asked, and without waiting for an answer, nosed through the 32nd marks - clearly he'd seen them before going through T'rid's pockets, as he promptly nudged them out of the way again, too. Oh, pretty stones though! Stupid mouthed one, considering it. Stupid keep? he questioned, loosening his tail from Z'hin's wrist to better choose and pick among the stones. They were pretty!
Oh. Of course. T'rid grimaced slightly. Just figure that Z'hin was from the North - at least, recently so - he did seem to recall Jessereth Hatching at Selenitas. Or...something. He preferred to keep silent, though; he was blatantly (and rather indignantly) aware of the fact that he really knew incredibly little - or as little, at least, as he could survive with knowing - about the North. He wasn't about to trot on up there just to figure out what it was like, obviously - that just wasn't done. But neither did he particularly enjoy being next to clueless about the North. He knew what everybody knew, and quite frankly, it wasn't much to work with. Sigh. "Hmm." It wasn't really much of a response - T'rid acutely knew (and was rather sore that he was aware of it) the fact that it was a horrible response that clearly displayed his lack of knowledge. Well, pfft. As for Ka'rys? He didn't really know the Weyrleader too well, and didn't care to know, either. All he knew was that the Weyrleader lied about his age, which had been told to him by Corinth through Juliya. And he wasn't even sure if that was true or not.
He raised his eyebrow in amusement as Z'hin explained. Hated being called 'Weyrleader'? He'd have to remember that and...call him that every single possible moment if they ever met. Hmm...oh. That vague thought jiggling at the back of his mind finally clicked when Z'hin mentioned 'Kale.' Kale equaled Kalerary, which equaled that little girl who'd ended up having a new feline that day when Corinth had connived him into approaching E'ri about it. She'd associated Z'hin with 'home' - probably not for him to hear, but what he heard was hardly his fault when he was in the vicinity and people started talking. Abrupt change of subject, yes, but Z'hin could deal with that. "Kale being short for Kalerary? She got a feline cub, didn't she?" He couldn't see exactly why the mention of Kalerary would end up with Z'hin being strangled with a vine, but...eh. It was amusing nonetheless.
A shrug was the only response to the slightest suggestion of Jessereth luring Stupid to his death. "What's he telling him?" Pretty Calis'th, take Stupid love! T'rid blinked, frowned. "Ummm?" He shrugged again. "Whatever, I don't really care. Just as long as he doesn't go and suicide or something, he can do whatever. I'll just rescue him whenever he needs it." Stupid bounced excitedly, quite possibly prickling Z'hin with his claws - he was too excited to care at present moment. Yesyesyes! See pretty Calis'th, stay wi' her. Yesyes. Good bigstupid. "Calist - shardit, Calistoth?" And the puzzle pieces fell into the correct positions. "Is Jessereth homocidal to 'mandyrs, or just nuisances in general? Stupid, you stupid little idiot, Calistoth will sit on you." Nono. Pretty love!
Tell him thank you. T'rid threw a glance upwards at Corinth, who had drifted higher, following a thermal. "Corinth says thank you," he obediently supplied, deciding not to ask if there was something wrong with Jessereth that he chose to wage 'war,' as Z'hin put it, against bronze dragons.
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Post by reqqy on Oct 21, 2008 9:47:48 GMT -5
"It's a whistle," Z'hin replied, in quiet accomodation. "A whistle that only certain creatures can hear. I probably don't need it at Selenitas, actually," he concluded, mostly to himself. In truth, it was used for whers, trained whers...and he'd forgotten he possessed it. That would be good to hide somewhere in the event that another recent transfer from the north may be able to identify it. The brownrider resisted the urge to stuff the thing back into his pocket. That would only provoke more curiosity. "I'm sure Hrorek won't mind. He doesn't feel the need to keep them - just collect them. Possibly to remind me that he still exists," Z'hin added with a laugh. "Go ahead. Help yourself."
A brow rose mildly at T'rid's grunt. Men and their grunts. The brownrider was altogether tired of the grunting thing, though he couldn't really hold that against T'rid. Z'hin was a strange product of many factors, resulting in a somewhat chauvinistic person who still managed to detest arbitrary displays of 'masculinity.' Grunts were just one of those things that got on his nerves. Not that it was something most would ever learn, aside from the occasional northern rider who still likely had the bruises. You dealt with people differently, there. Either become someone's bitch or display enough individual strength that people respect you enough not to muck with you.
Not that he would ever have been a major force there, even had he stayed. It was mostly Jessereth's blatant aggression that earned them a place at all.
"Yes, Kalerary." He glanced at T'rid curiously. How would he know Z'hin's young ward? "And yes, unfortunately." He winced. "I told her she could keep it, and she's doing a fairly good job, but...well, she's six." That may mean nothing to the bronzerider. Z'hin had three younger siblings that he'd looked after - two living at this point, or at least there were two when his father more or less disowned him - so it was more than enough explanation for him. "At least it gives her a companion other than Hrorek when I'm out. If you think Jessereth's grumpy normally, try to confine him to a weyrledge for an extended period of time."
Blinking at Stupid's garbled words, Z'hin was far quicker to pick up on what Jess was up to. Okay, that's just too nasty. No killing of the pets. Got that? I'm sure Calistoth will be reasonable... And I'm sure wherries make the best pets. "Here, you'd best take him back before the damage becomes irreparable." As Z'hin and Jessereth emerged from the trees and into the upper portion of the weyr, the brownrider moved to mount Jessereth, sans riding straps. "He's very welcome!" Z'hin called, fully convinced that Jess may try to do something more direct if his initial intent was stymied.
Before the brown took to wing, however, he left Stupid with one parting thought - an image of the greenpair's weyr and the glorious Calistoth.
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