A Conspiracy >>

[Requiem]

The little blue was in an interesting mood today. Quite interesting indeed. Interesting enough, in fact, that Jabari couldn't help but watch his clutchmate curiously. Why was he skulking around like that? So when Hrorek flitted casually along, settling on another of the bunks in the room, Jabari rose and watched. The nasty little green who always scolded was not at all aware of her plight as Hrorek peered stealthily over the edge of the bottom mattress. He slid up onto the covers, scampering around Rawign's arm. Jabari chirped a soft inquiry. In the next instant, Hrorek pounced, chomping upon Roxie's tail. It was enough to wake her, but little else.

Hrorek wasn't about to stick around to see her reaction.

Jabari took to wing, thoroughly intrigued, now, by the war his blue brother was waging on these other firelizards. Hrorek swept up, divebombing the hatchling blue for good measure and causing the poor creature to roll over from the impact, before the blue streaked out of the barracks at full speed. Jabari was swift on his tail. The flits peeled out for the jungle, ignoring any followers who might be coming in their wake.

They wended through the trees like mad. The instigating blue caught sight of the small, silvery flash amongst the foliage. Hrorek circled once around the hatchling, who looked up, also intrigued. Putz chirped quietly, before taking to wing himself, ever curious. He popped between. A moment later, two small pops marked the blue's return, with Cherry in tow. The fair of noisy firelizards darted further into the jungle, before Hrorek came to a glade deep within the trees. He spiraled upwards and secreted himself in the branches, hoping that his targets wouldn't see him. Jabari had somehow missed Hrorek's disappearance, certainly. The brown flit circled the glade, creeling quietly. Where had his friend gone?!

***

Mutasim woke to see the last of the firelizards disappearing through the doorway. He blinked, instinctively glancing toward where Jabari always slept. Jabari? Throwing back the covers, the young man hurriedly yanked on his boots, not bothering with a tunic as he took off at a quick pace to attempt to catch the firelizards. It was certainly a colorful display that greeted him, disappearing into the trees just ahead. Jabari never left him. What was going on?

***

Mine... I don't want to talk about it. Do you understand? It's not important. Jessereth's gaze never wavered. You don't yell at me. Ever. Don't tell me this is nothing. Jessereth. HinMine. Why can't you just let it go? There's obviously something bothering you, and I want to know what it is. You're Mine. Why would you hide things from me? Now, what's wrong? You know what I just realized? The brown took a step to block the way out onto the weyrledge, seeing something in Z'hin's eyes. I haven't seen Hrorek in ages.

Mine!

But Z'hin had already turned, disappearing into the passages that led up to the area above the waterfall. He reached out to the blue, who immediately sent an image of a glade. Hrorek rarely invaded the personal life of His, but he was always willing to allow Z'hin back into his affairs whenever the man showed interest. The senior weyrling was effectively doing that right now. Darting for the cover of the trees before Jessereth could spot him, Z'hin slowed to a more sedate pace. Soon enough, he'd found the glade, the firelizards, and Mutasim.

***

Wrenth wheeled tightly. She'll be okay, you know. Are you touched in the head? The poor thing can hardly fly straight! F'lan was trying to sift through the myriad of images the overeager Cherry was throwing his way. I think it's over there. Do you see that glade? That's where Putz had taken her, the idiot. This ridiculous farce had interrupted the bluepair's early morning routine, and F'lan was not at all pleased. Putz was definitely in for a scolding.

They put down in the glade. The bluerider sat Wrenth's back for a long moment, surprised to find so many firelizards gathered in one place, and to note the others who had arrived. What was going on here? F'lan slid down from his dragon's back. It looks like they're having a party, Wrenth commented cheerfully. His merely sniffed. He stalked over to the two boys, glaring from one to the other. "Okay, which one of you is jerking me around?"

The brownweyrling he knew as Z'hin smiled an annoyingly open smile, though he didn't say a word. And the colorfully dressed candidate? He simply stared. F'lan felt his annoyance rising. "Well?!" At that moment, a small impact directed his attention to the green sliding down his sleeve, frantically scrabbling to get her claws in the material. Cherry. He brought his cupped hand beneath her, giving her a perch, before bringing the juvenile firelizard to his shoulder. She crooned, rubbing against his neck. F'lan turned his glare on the younger men once more. "I still haven't gotten an answer."

Luckily for the two silent boys, Cherry chose that moment to rejoin her brethren, thoroughly distracting the bluerider.

[glamourie]

Roxie woke with a start and rolled over, effectively waking Beggar up. Chittering her irritation (quietly, so as not to wake her human-thing), she rose to wing and then took off after the other blue - her movements, however, were not fast enough to stop him from waking Stumpy. Blue Beggar, in his confusion, blinked widely and then followed after his mate, fluting inquisitively. Stumpy wobbled pitifully, his hunger becoming apparent in his finally-woken state, and he spread his wings. The movement roused Li, who was sleeping on Rawign's shoulder. He spread his wings, and the two firelizards chattered back and forth before Li squawked... and went flying at top speeds after Roxie and Hrorek, bent on punishing his clutchmate for hurting the youngest of their group. Stumpy followed, for her had little other option. If he stayed, Li would not be there to protect him and then his person thing would have to and he was asleep!

And even as the firelizards chittered and chattered, Rawign did not wake. He merely rolled over, exhaustion showing itself on his face as one hand flew up to rest over his eyes. He was lost in dreams, for the moment, at least.

Once outside, Li, Roxie, Beggar and Stumpy were joined by a particularly inquisitive brown firelizard -- K'lir's Trouble. He chattered after them as they chased Hrorek, and if he could speak in terms that humans could understand, he would no doubt be asking what it was they were so upset about. What had he missed, spending time with the big green one and away from the evil land-locked bronze? Chitter, chitter~ The firelizards flew after Hrorek, coming to an abrupt stop in the glade.

Shrieking her outrage, Roxie flew over to circle a rock and looked around frantically. Then she took to chattering at the other firelizards, as if to command them. Li did not listen, but Beggar and Stumpy did, and they took to flying around in search of Hrorek, at their green's demand. She could be frightening when she was angry, and being disturbed was enough to infuriate her. That - that blue had bitten her. She would bite him back hard enough that he would remember not to bite her again, she would! Hissing, she circled the rock again, and then promptly flew into it with an audible clack. Not remotely disturbed, the green climbed up onto the top and bellowed loudly. Grrr!

* * *

"Rawign!"

The voice did what none of the firelizards could: it woke Rawign from his sleep. He jumped up and wound his furs tightly around himself before looking around in confusion, his long black strands falling over his face. Disoriented and groggy, he turned to look at the source of the voice. It was K'lir; he knew that from the slightly sarcastic drawl. Even one word, and K'lir was readily recognizable in how he spoke. Rawign was either getting good at identifying people or K'lir was just... one of a kind. Maybe both. He'd mentally go with both. Rawign brought both hands up and brushed his hair out of his face before turning to look at the entrance to the candidate barracks, the confusion on his face very obvious, and for good reason: Weyrlings rarely, if ever, came in there. K'lir was more common since, well, his room and furs were taken over by a wher (He'd whined incessantly about it) but... still.

"Hello, gorgeous," Rawign replied with a distinct note of annoyance in his voice; the more compliments he dished out, the more irritated he usually was. "What ever can I do for you?"

"Take a look around. Tell me what you don't see," K'lir replied, leaning in the doorway. He was the perfect picture of composure, and he had a salamandyr latched onto his shoulder. Showoff was giving Rawign dirty looks; he knew him as the flying dunghead.

Blinking twice, Rawign looked around. Cots, check, furs, check, clothes, check, flit-- flits. Where were his flitters? Alarmed, Rawign jumped off his bunk and proceeded to scurry around the candidate barracks, bed to bed, here, there and everywhere. Only after he was sure that his fair was completely gone did he turn back to K'lir, and the panic on his face was obvious. He almost never was without all of his firelizards. One of them always remained. He had four - a regular crew! What had happened to rid him of all of them? Without even one, he felt completely naked and alone. There was a sudden rush of panic somewhere in the back of his mind and he mentally reminded himself to breathe. If something had happened to any of his winged darlings, he would have known.

"Where are my firelizards?" he asked, assuming (correctly) that that was what K'lir referred to.

"Good question. Trouble is missing too. I was hoping you could tell me where he went; the last image I got from him was of your Roxie chasing after some blue." K'lir lifted one hand to gently rub his fingers over Showoff, who chirruped at him... and took to displaying at Rawign, as if to threaten. "I can't ask Trouble where they went, or ... try to get an image. Showoff hates him and he's afraid now." He shrugged, and then looked at Rawign expectantly. "Calistoth is demanding that I go find her slave."

Scowling, Rawign mentally reached out to Roxie, who sent back hurried images of the glade she was at, her tail where it was bitten, and Stumpy. Just that reassurance calmed him, and Rawign grabbed a shirt, pulled it on, and then gestured to K'lir.

"Come on."

* * *

Winged dunghead! Winged dunghead bad! Don't like! Bad!

The entire walk to the glade, Showoff protested Rawign's presence, a fact which amused K'lir. He toddled behind Rawign at a casual pace, while the older boy stalked ahead, obviously distressed. K'lir was not in tune with the emotions of others but he likened Rawign's fear to how he would have felt if Calistoth went missing. She was fine, though; she'd gone to sleep for the first time in two days in one of the empty Weyrling barracks. Since that wherry-brained wher had clutched in his furs, he hadn't gotten much sleep, and Calistoth hadn't either. K'lir was glad for her to be resting. The longer she was up, the more ornery she got, and as much as he loved her, there was only so much sarcasm he could take before he exploded. Especially since Showoff felt the need to insult Calistoth (he'd taken to calling her Vomit! ever since K'lir said the green soup served at dinner one day looked like vomit) every time she spoke. It was fortunate the green had grown up a touch -- she didn't even bother acknowledging the salamandyr anymore.

As they approached the glade, more people and firelizards came into sight. K'lir blinked, twice, then leaned against Rawign, as Showoff displayed threateningly at him (and was ignored).

"It's a regular firelizard bonanza; what, is someone serving free meatrolls? Trouble! Trouble, get over here," he said firmly, and the brown firelizard circled over to him before settling on his head and fluting sweetly. Dirt fell off of the little brown, from where he'd taken to rolling in it. Showoff shrieked up at him, but Trouble ignored the salamandyr. His person came to find him! His person came to find him! Sparkle, glimmer, shine!

[Requiem]

Jabari, who had been unable to find his friend, fluted plaintively to His. He winged cautiously around the thin humanthingy that he'd never seen before, coming to land on the shoulder of His.

The young candidate made no sound. Normally, that wouldn't have seemed odd, but the brown's claws had dug into flesh rather than fabric, drawing a noticeable wince from the lad and causing blood to well from the punctures. Mutasim shot a look at Jabari. The firelizard crooned apologetically, shifting his weight. Muta hissed. "Stop it already, will you? Just stay still," he murmured to the brown. Jabari's wings flared in response, brushing the face of His in passing. It seemed to help keep the firelizard from moving too much afterwards, though, so the candidate refrained from cursing the small thing roundly.

***

F'lan had been watching Cherry to make sure none of the firelizards would think of hurting her, only now partially satisfied. Two more approach. Great. We're going to have a convention here before we're through. Convention? One of the Old words. Ah. You might want to stick to our own language when talking to normal people, Wrenth commented, blithely ignoring the resulting glare of his bonded.

The blue folded his wings tighter against his flanks and began repositioning himself within the glade - which of course made it necessary for every other living thing to move to get out of his way. F'lan leapt the sweeping tail with a curse. What's the big idea? We're going to be here awhile. Wrenth promptly plunked himself down in the center of the glade with anything but his usual precision. In reality, it looked almost as if he'd fainted, but obviously he hadn't, as his head snaked forward to nip at His. You're blocking the sunlight. Move. F'lan cast daggers with his eyes, but still, he moved.

He may have been willing to allow Wrenth to go nearly unpunished, but when the annoying senior brownweyrling started chuckling at his back, the bluerider whirled on him. In an instant, he was standing nose-to-nose with the younger man, and though Z'hin easily had more power packing his frame than F'lan, the brownweyrling took a pace back. "You think it's funny, boy? It's not."

Z'hin smiled sheepishly. "I apologize, but Wrenth certainly seems to get the better of you." At the bluerider's advance, he leapt the blue's forearm with surprising alacrity. F'lan sniffed, knowing he'd only make a fool of himself if he tried to chase the teenager. Wrenth would make sure of that. Instead, he turned back to Mutasim, turning the boy and propelling him towards the candidate and weyrling who also had just come into the glade. "Now, what's going on here?"

That was when Putz discovered Hrorek's hiding place.

***

Z'hin leaned against Wrenth, whispering a thank you to the blue, who crooned happily in response. A disturbance drew his gaze up. One of the juvenile firelizards, a silvery blue, was darting in and out of the leaves, screeching excitedly. The brownweyrling hardly had time to wonder what the commotion was about before a warm body was wriggling its way down his tunic. "Wha-?!" The brownweyrling squirmed, the scrabble of claws tickling his skin as his firelizard attempted to find a safe place.

[glamourie]

Rawign blinked and looked at the clearing in confusion. So many firelizards... and Z'hin and a blue dragon and his rider. His head spun and he put one hand up against his forehead to keep himself steadied. He was mildly perturbed at having been bothered. If nothing else, Marra being gone had nearly completely turned Rawign into a hermit. His friendliness had departed completely, although there was never much there to start with. What remained was nothing short of emotional ice. His firelizards received the only friendliness he had, and they were all quite worked into a tizzy. Stumpy, Li, Roxie, Beggar and NotAnotherOne (Or N. A. O., codenamed Ennayoh) were the only things that meant anything to him, and he could feel surges of conflicting emotions from all of them. From Roxie, anger. From Stumpy, fear - and hunger. Beggar, too, was hungry, and Ennayoh was extraordinarily confused, curious, and - missing. Missing missing. He couldn't see him at all. Rawign frowned and looked around, momentarily ignoring the rest of the group to wander over to where Roxie was. His movements disturbed K'lir; he was oblivious.

"Roxie... where's the other hatchling?" he asked quietly, not realizing that it might have seemed odd for him to be talking to the firelizard and not talking to the people. But he got an answer: Roxie chirruped and looked up, her gaze falling on the little blue firelizard who was crawling along the ground near Z'hin's feet. Rawign flinched. "Heeeeey, youuu. Leave Z'hin alone. He has better things to be doing than --"

* * *

"-- being bothered by your noisemakers," K'lir finished, turning to look at Z'hin, Wrenth and F'lan - just as F'lan spoke. He raised an eyebrow, then glanced at Mutasim, Z'hin and Rawign. Then, being the clever individual he was, he smiled brightly. It was not a pleasant smile but K'lir was not a pleasant person. F'lan's question just seemed like such an obvious one that he could not bring himself to avoid answering it. He was incapable of being anything less than difficult and he was in quite the mood, evidenced by the way he'd woken Rawign up instead of just shaking him as any normal person would have.

Stepping around F'lan, K'lir lifted his arm quite exaggeratedly. "I've got it! I realize exactly what they are up to," he said, his voice completely deadpan and monotone, which usually signified K'lir at his most sarcastic. Showoff displayed on his shoulder, threatening Wrenth, as if he thought he could scare the blue dragon with how imposing his frill was. K'lir seemed oblivious, or perhaps he was spurred on by the challenge his salamandyr felt; he certainly wasn't intimidated at all, though F'lan wasn't that much bigger than him to begin with. "It makes absolutely perfect sense. They're clearly trying to organize a magnificent party here in this glade - a magnificent party for firelizards and their bonded and those who have no firelizards to look to them are quite obviously not invited! We're to be the founding staff and I recommend we pick a chairman for our organization."

Spinning around, K'lir promptly pointed at Rawign, who turned to blink at him doeishly. "I suggest the one with the most firelizards, at last count five. I hear Rawign is secretly a party animal in disguise." He grinned widely, ignoring the fact that Rawign looked vaguely scandalized by the suggestion. Rawign? Party animal? Yeah, and dragons had scales. So not happening. But then, that was part of what made it the best comment. And he was just going to ignore the fact too that he was being utterly unhelpful. It wasn't his fault that F'lan asked him something he had no way of knowing. He'd gotten there after them. Dur hur hur. "What do you think, Z'hin? Rawign for chairman of the Firelizard party? We can put his little bronze up as our mascot! -- Oh, look, he's so excited by the idea, Z'hin's begun to dance!"

Winged dunghead!

[Requiem]

Mutasim was certainly living up to his name at the moment. The candidate was effectively mute. In all honesty, he was resisting the impulse to slip a dagger between F'lan's ribs. And, well, he didn't really want to call attention to himself. Mutasim hadn't at all expected to come across so large a crowd in his determination to reclaim Jabari. The turns-old chafing scars along his neck and wrists seemed so obvious to him, he felt as if the scar tissue was burning. Trickles of blood wended past the even, predatory musculature that was never apparent under normal circumstances. The boy shot a pleading look at Z'hin.

***

The brownweyrling noted his friend's plight immediately, but he was a bit - preoccupied. Z'hin shot a glare at K'lir. Did the boy not know when to shut his trap? The bluerider had been upset enough with just a chuckle.

"Get out of there!" the man finally yelped, carefully sidestepping Rawign's youngest blue and snatching Hrorek from his perch above Z'hin's belt. The blue fixed His with a scandalized look before winking Between. "I have no idea how you manage five," he added to Rawign, moving to join the other young men, though he gave F'lan a wide berth. One look at the man's darkening features was warning enough for the young man.

***

What is that thing? Wrenth broadcasted publically, amused at the aggressive little creature that seemed intent on staring him down. It's awfully strange-looking. Wrenth brought his head a little closer to Showoff, snuffing mildly. F'lan merely glared at K'lir. What right did this little weyrling have, speaking to him like that? "As long as we're on the subject of Chairmen, I hear the slot at the head of the Committee of Deadglows just opened up. Allow me to be the first to offer my congratulations," F'lan sneered. Okay, so it was probablyt silly to pick a fight with a mere kid, but the bluerider was too annoyed to resist his impulses at the moment.

"Hey. You're not going anywhere."

***

Mutasim turned to face F'lan, baring his teeth in something that was anything but a smile. "No one's jerking you around, rider." He was rather surprised to find that this particular bluerider seemed impervious to his threatening air. The two exchanged glare for glare, neither moving.

[glamourie]

Rawign raised an eyebrow slowly before kneeling down to pick Ennayoh up from the ground. The blue chirruped in his hands and writhed about, and he held him with ease. Z'hin's words brought a bright, friendly smile, despite the surge of guilt he felt just seeing the brownrider. Some part of Rawign continually felt as if he'd done a terrible injustice to the few friends he had, by isolating himself so much, particularly after everything they had endured -- but when people were suffering, how was he to react? He was not a creature of comfort by nature and he did not know what to say. So, he'd done what felt natural and played avoidance. It wasn't fair and it was probably the worst show of friendship he could offer, but it was all Rawign knew. Other people were good at comforting. All he was good at was taking orders. The thought didn't bother him very much, not anymore.

"I manage five by ripping big chunks of hair out of my head on a regular basis. There's quite a collection under my bunk," he stated with a whimsical tone. "In truth, the two young ones do a lot of sleeping, Beggar is pretty independent, Li is a ditcher --" He shot a look toward the bronze, who chirped right back, clearly offended, "-- and Roxie listens to me .. sometimes. Li is the one who listens best, but he's taken to going to Blossom almost all the time to be with Mona. So, usually, I have Roxie, Ennayoh, and Stumpy around, and they sleep. Hrorek seems to be more mischievous than any of my fair are though?" He glanced at Roxie, who was busy puffing up and preening. There were not many males around, and she wanted them all to pay attention to her. Typical Roxie, who wanted to be the center of attention on everything. Rawign would have been annoyed a few months previous but he was used to her.

Ennayoh rolled in his hands and then chirped amiably at Z'hin, as if to say hello. The firelizard was a very friendly creature. Stumpy, meanwhile, chattered animatedly and took to bouncing around, his scarred tail flailing behind him. And all that Rawign got from him in terms of emotions was a blatant red flashing sign reading FEED ME.

* * *

"I think you mean just got filled," K'lir corrected sweetly, oblivious to Rawign talking to Z'hin. F'lan had his full attention, for better or worse, and that meant that he was completely absorbed in trying to agitate the bluerider. Most of that was because he was in a ripe mood, spawned from the fact that Showoff was angry. K'lir had yet to understand how to deal with a salamandyr, and the little bronze's emotions rode him almost as much as Calistoth's. It was particularly bad when they were conflicting, but both were irritated (albeit for separate reasons) and agitation brought out the impossible side of K'lir. He was getting better about being an obnoxious twit most of the time, but he had his moments. F'lan was getting to see that, whether he meant to or not.

The fact that he kept turning back to Mutasim was also irritating K'lir. Could he not see that he was the center of attention? Mutasim looked uncomfortable and angry, evidenced by the half-snarl expression he offered F'lan. Did the bluerider not pick up on the hostile I WILL KILL YOU vibes? Oh, K'lir wasn't spooked. Either he was too arrogant or too stupid to take it personally, and which depended on what mood he was in, but he was definitely intelligent enough to give Mutasim an air of space most of the time.. typically out of lack of interest. He found it fascinating that the oldest individual there was choosing to pick on the youngest without so much as a hint of embarrassment. And some part of K'lir was very, very angry about that fact. He didn't even like Mutasim. He just felt compelled to be angry for the sake of being angry and any and every justification was good in his mind.

Don't provoke him!
WINGED DUNGHEAD!
Be quiet, you tiny little noise maker!

K'lir twitched animatedly, and did what any sane person in his position would do: he tuned out Showoff and Calistoth. On his shoulder, Showoff hissed up at Wrenth, insulted that the blue had dared look down at him. As soon as he came closer, the salamandyr also snapped at the air - a warning. He would bite.

"Yes, that's mature, pick on Mutasim, just because he wants to leave. I don't see what that gains anyone, but what do I know?" He rolled his eyes, and then turned back to F'lan. "Get it through your head: no one understands why all the firelizards are here, though if you're as pleasant to them as you are to people, I can't say as I blame yours for wanting to find more amiable company. You remind me a little of a proddy queen, you know." Fine one to talk he was, but hey, K'lir never claimed he wasn't obnoxious. He was well aware of how rude he could be, particularly when he was in a bad mood, such as at that moment. Oh well.

[Requiem]

Z'hin regarded Rawign curiously. He'd been sick and injured during the time that this other young man became involved with that annoying harper, after which the journeyman disappeared seemingly from the face of Pern. The brownweyrling had hardly seen a hair of Rawign since he'd first been released from the infirmary. Not even after the attack on the senior weyrlings, when sympathizers seemed to be pouring out of the woodworks - something he'd found more than just a little aggravating at the time - had this supposed friend of his so much as shown his face. It was strange. Especially given the fact that Mutasim had been around and actually helpful. Z'hin would have thought that, of all his friends, it would be Muta who would be hardest to find. Not even close. He didn't find himself embittered, though. Merely curious. Rawign didn't seem to be the sort to abandon a friend, really. He hadn't during the feline attack. So what was this? He supposed it could have something to do with that harper girl...Z'hin still wasn't too very fond of her. Sharp-tongued wench.

Ah well. Whatever the issue was, it hardly seemed to be in effect now. The healer was talking quite freely. I know the little flier isn't with you. He's here. What are you up to? Talking. Is that okay? You can talk to me, you know. Psht. I don't want to talk about what you want to talk about. Just play with the little blighter, Jess, and leave me alone. Mine... What? Z'hin returned sharply. I'm just worried about you. The brownweyrling sighed. Yeah. I know.

Plastering a smile on his face, he turned his attention back to Rawign, an amused twinkle coming into his warm brown eyes. "You must have an awful lot of hair, then," Z'hin commented dryly. After all, the healer seemed to have more than enough on his head, now didn’t he? Must grow at a supernatural pace. The brownweyrling nodded at his friend’s explanation. That made sense. Still, it seemed like an awful lot of flitters, even if most of them didn’t give Rawign much trouble. Blossom. Yes, that’s where Marra was sent, he recalled. He chuckled at the healer’s tentative comment. “Yes, Hrorek has a mischievous streak. But he also disappears for days at a time, and he’s hardly noticeable even when he’s around under most circumstances. The flit loves to sneak.” Z’hin shrugged broadly. “It’s rare for him to do stuff like this.”

***

While F’lan had ignored K’lir’s ignorant ‘correction’ moments ago, he wasn’t about to ignore the greenrider’s next string of insults. The bluerider turned his cold gaze on the small lad. He regarded the weyrling steadily, attempting to put all his aggravation in that one look – and secretly glad to have a good excuse for breaking the staring contest with the tiny candidate. F’lan was too proud a creature, particularly when upset for what he perceived to be a good reason, to admit by lowering his gaze that Mutasim disturbed him. Cherry, however, was quite aware of it, and had returned to Hers, settling on his belt and wrapping her tail about his waist in a fairly decent parody of her initial Impression to him.

Wrenth had taken to regarding the smallest of the gathering thoughtfully, as F’lan’s unease pressed in upon him, and was completely ignoring the little bronze lizardy thing that insisted on hissing at him. Calistoth’s and the tiny’s resulting words to the blue fell on mostly uncaring ears. Why should he care if he upset something as insignificant as that? It was curious, yes, but certainly no threat to a full-grown dragon. When the thing snapped, though, he returned his attention to it. The blue growled. He wasn’t particularly territorial, but something that small should know better than to challenge him. Wrenth’s teeth bared, clacking shut not far from K’lir or the creature on his shoulder, just one more than twice the length of the offending creature. Maybe it was F’lan’s regard for the greenrider that spurred this. One could never tell.

“A proddy queen,” F’lan repeated, his tone deadpan. “Putz and Cherry are just babes.” The little green crooned at the sound of her name, snuggling into the stomach of Hers. “Naturally I worry when they suddenly take off, especially when one hardly ever leaves me. A proddy queen. You’re the one who seems to gain unhealthy delight from provoking people it would be wiser you didn’t. And no, you don’t know much of anything. Sharding child.” F’lan paused, glancing toward where Muta had been standing just moments ago. The candidate had disappeared. Frowning, he growled at K’lir, “You are up to something, deliberately distracting me.” The bluerider took a menacing step forward.

[glamourie]

Ennayoh rolled over again, and again, and again. Not unlike a little canine was the little firelizard in the way he rolled about in Rawign's hands and the Healer watched him for a moment before sighing. He didn't have any food on him to give the firelizard, so the tricks and begging were lost on him. He could have asked some of the others to go find something but Beggar was likely to eat it, Roxie was clearly in no mood to move, Stumpy was too small, and Li flat out would not do anything for the other firelizards unless he absolutely had to. Li was the best trained, but he disliked being disturbed for menial tasks as if he were... gasp, a pet. He was above such things, or so the bronze felt. Really, quite the group Rawign's fair was. Li was the voice of reason, Roxie the starlet, Beggar the oldest and most friendly, Stumpy the sweetest, Ennayoh the hungry and Rawign the perch for them all to sit on. He was avoiding firelizard eggs like the plague. Salamandyr too. And anything else that Impressed. No more. His head was likely to explode. Having three blues and a green already spooked him enough. At least it wasn't three greens and a blue though, yikes.

"It grows back well," Rawign said with a shrug. "They drive me nuts. Roxie won't listen to anyone but me, Li won't listen to me unless he gains something from it, Ennayoh is ALWAYS hungry -- as you can see he'd much rather roll places than actually fly and did I mention Roxie still can't land?" Accordingly, Roxie chirped and Ennayoh rolled over. "Then there's Beggar who won't stay out of the kitchens and I'm surprised no one has tried to flay me yet, and Stumpy who I think everyone and every thing picks on and he's scared half to death of Kalierre's salamandyr and her by association. He also doesn't think much of Li and anything bronze, apparently they all scare him. That includes the little noisemaker of K'lir's..." He shook his head, then smiled. "Rare of him to do this. He's lucky Roxie has no memory whatsoever. She's vindictive when she gets her head on straight but there's soooo many blues." He put a note of infliction into his voice to make it sound more feminine and wobbly, as if swooning; he was being deliberately showy. Rawign was nervous. He either didn't speak or joked around a lot when nervous. It depended on who he was dealing with. Z'hin seemed to bring out the joking side.

* * *

Lirmine if you don't make it stop I'll eat it!
Winged dunghead MEAN! You go away! Me better!

K'lir twitched visibly, not as a result of anything F'lan said, but from the arguing he was privy to thanks to the salamandyr and green. Unfortunately Calistoth and Showoff had yet to take to one another. Calistoth was in a foul temper all the time - both because there was a wher in his barracks (and he was friendly with the wher, which made Calistoth shriek in fury quite often) and because Showoff continually nagged at her. Showoff was grouchy because he didn't like having to share. Both of them being grouchy made K'lir want to stab someone in the eye for irritating every inch of patience (not that there was ever much, mind) out of him. It was a wonder he hadn't broken down into screaming fits.

"Babies," K'lir replied with a hint of amusement. "They're firelizards. Firelizards are independent and predatory. They are babies but they can and do take care of themselves. People just make it more convenient for them--"

Whatever else he was going to say was cut off quite abruptly by him actually spinning and screaming in fury. It wasn't so much angry words as one long angry sound. There was a reason. Wrenth's movements spurred Showoff into vivid hissing and a string of insults that only K'lir could hear, which were countered by Calistoth screaming insults back at Showoff because she mistakeningly thought they were directed at her. K'lir brought both of his hands to his face and backed away from Wrenth before shooting the blue an accusatory look. He didn't say anything aloud but the look said without words, Thank you for making this worse. Didn't he see that it was taking everything K'lir possessed not to bash someone's head in? F'lan stepping toward him didn't help anything. He just turned back to the bluerider, a redheaded storm of anger, and then gave up on controlling his nice, infamous temper. Everything just burst out at once.

"You sharding wherrybrain, if we knew what was going on, WHY WOULD WE BE ASKING?!" It seemed blatantly obvious to him. He brought both hands to his temples and then muttered to himself before backing away from the bluerider. He wasn't even thinking about him anymore, though. His head was wrapped around Showoff, who was calling Calistoth a winged monster, and Calistoth who was calling the salamandyr a deformed tunnelsnake. He kept his face schooled moderately calm, but the screaming made it clear he wasn't okay. He didn't do well under stress and two things that reigned his emotions in well suddenly fighting did not help him at all. Under normal circumstances he would have been okay. Sarcastic, but okay. It was a wonder he hadn't started crying in exasperation. Neither Showoff nor Calistoth listened to him and he felt like he was going to explode from the conflict, and it was made worse by the indignant reaction Showoff had to Wrenth. K'lir actually sat down, mumbling quietly, "Showoff, Calistoth, please stop fighting..."

[Requiem]

"So, like children but less manageable?" the brownweyrling responded with a wink. "I suppose you'll be turning grey soon." His words were just a tad too quick, in an attempt to mask the brief cloud that came over his features at the mere mention of Kalierre's name. The woman was a stranger to him. Even he, who wasn't the most prideful of men, found himself shamed at how much better she'd conducted herself during the crisis. That, however, was not the primary reason behind his subsequent avoidance of the healer. He hadn't expected her to fall apart or shriek as the other women had. No, and in that, she hadn't disappointed him. But neither had he expected such brutal savagery, an efficient cunning and skill that could only have been honed through practice, with the intent or design to kill. That picture stood at stark odds with the motherly figure she'd once been for him. Now, he felt he couldn't at all trust her, and any discussion of the woman invariably created a pit of distaste in his stomach.

The man had never observed - aside from the first meeting, though he attributed that to Marra's presence - in Rawign anything other than this joking manner, and thus did not find it strange. Now the shrieking scream of the small greenweyrling was an entirely different story. Z'hin froze, staring at K'lir in open astonishment. It didn't seem that the bluerider had done anything to hurt him, though...

***

F'lan found himself staring as well. The small teen had been lecturing him on firelizards, of all things, when suddenly he'd let out that horrible screeching. Turns of training flooded through the man in response, the bluerider instinctively falling into a defensive crouch, his pale eyes searching the surroundings for whatever unseen enemy had attacked K'lir. F'lan inched toward his Wrenth, the pair extending their will, such that - though reluctantly - Putz, too, came to take up residence on his bonded. Can you see them? No. I'm not so sure... But why else would he shriek so desperately? F'lan slowly straigtened, realizing that some unknown and likely insignificant demon plagued the boy, and not a natural enemy. The wingless tiny continues to throw insults at me, which I doubt he would if His was under attack. Perhaps the human is touched in the head? He's a weyrling. Eccentric, maybe, but your kind don't attach themselves to madmen. True enough. It could have developed since the Impression, though. The bluerider pondered. Finally, he decided that Wrenth probably had the right of it.

Wrenth stirred uneasily at the greenweyrling's glare. Do you see how he looks at me? F'lan certainly did. Rider placed himself between K'lir and his lifemate, eyes narrowing. Surely the child had lost his mind, and who knew what a madman would attempt?

The bluerider, who was a man naturally bloodless and pale, lost all remaining traces of color at the younger man's outburst. It wasn't so much the words as the distinct sense that this person was in no way in control of his own faculties that unnerved F'lan. Or maybe it was merely the shock of the scream. Blinking, he frowned darkly. Mine... The bluerider advanced toward K'lir, his intent clearly ominous. This child needed to be contained, obviously. Mine. We've the two wanderers. Let's leave. F'lan merely continued his advance, to be arrested by a hand strangely strong. He stared directly into unyielding browns, tempted both to back away and to push through the obstacle in equal measure. Indecision rendered him motionless.

"You should just leave." A flare of temper overtook F'lan, but he found it rendered quite impotent by the firm lock in which Z'hin held his eyes. Was this the same creature who had fled him just moments ago? The brownweyrling seemed transformed before him, and the bluerider found he had no desire to contest this younger man's will.

He turned on a heel, stalking off quite stiffly, though he turned back to meet Z'hin's probing gaze for a moment. "I've got what I came for." Thus said, he mounted Wrenth, dragon and rider soon taking to the air and leaving the odd scene far behind.

***

Z'hin certainly didn't know K'lir, beyond the occasional passing, though he was aware enough that this was Calistoth's rider and Rawign's friend. Nor had he been given any impression that the young man was anything but intelligent, if somewhat pissy. He watched to be certain that F'lan and Wrenth had left, afore coming to kneel near K'lir, his eyes at once arrested by the bronze salamandyr who yet seemed agitated. "And are you the cause?" he queried of the creature aloud, though not ungently. He knew, from observation and word-of-mouth, that these salamandyrs effected their chosen mindmate rather strongly. More strongly than firelizards, certainly.

"Well, you've certainly frightened the big, mean dragon off, haven't you? A brave and powerful thing you are." The man smiled lightly at the salamandyr. He was tempted to touch K'lir, but thought better of it, merely asking of the greenweyrling, "And you - are you all right? I've never heard so inhuman a cry part human lips."

[glamourie]

Whatever response Rawign might have had for Z'hin was cut off by K'lir's outburst, and he turned to look at the greenrider with an expression akin to horror. He knew K'lir well, and yelling and throwing tantrums was not unusual for him, but screaming was. Even when he was hurt K'lir didn't scream. Rawign had always found that strange -- the way K'lir would put up with just about any amount of pain. He yelled and bickered, but in pain he didn't make a sound. It was as if someone turned him off inside, or hit a switch somewhere that triggered a total lack of reaction from the green weyrling. More than once Rawign had debated suggesting to K'lir that he see a mindhealer - such behavior wasn't normal, natural, whatever term that was common. It was off, and a sign that there was something wrong inside. But K'lir wouldn't have heard it and all it would have done would be to cause a rift between the two of them. Rawign wasn't fond of fighting, so he'd let it go, just as he didn't comment as he cocked his head to the side to look at K'lir. The expression on his face, though, spoke volumes. It said his worry without words and left no room for doubt on what he thought. The unspoken what happened? was written clear as day across his features.

His expression cleared rather quickly, though, to nothing more than a blank nod in the direction of the bluerider as he left. Rawign didn't know him but he seemed a bit testy, and if he knew K'lir at all, he knew that testy behavior was likely to make the greenrider worse. Z'hin was right to suggest he leave. Once he was out of sight again, Rawign turned back to K'lir, expectant.

* * *

K'lir brought both hands to his temples, and otherwise overlooked the bluerider as he left. His patience was thin, so he closed his eyes and took several deep, soothing breaths. His screaming effectively shut Showoff and Calistoth both up, though more because they were both horrified - neither the green nor the bronze salamandyr seemed to know what to make of the obvious distress they'd caused their bonded. While it would no doubt not be long before they started up again, K'lir saved the moment of peace... at least, until a shadow cast over him, someone coming to stand closer to where he was at. He lifted his head and jutted his chin up just slightly, as though to watch Z'hin, but as it wasn't him that the brownrider was addressing, he didn't comment either; he would let Showoff answer for himself. The little bronze was certainly a very vocal salamandyr when it came to expressing himself.

Bad winged dunghead! Showoff leaned forward to look at Z'hin before hissing quietly. Then he scurried up to climb along K'lir's face (earning a light grimace in the process), and then settled on his head. Displaying once more, the little bronze chittered. I winner! I winner!

K'lir sighed, and brought one hand to his chin before looking at Z'hin as the brownrider actually spoke to him. But what he said was quiet, a whisper for K'lir, perhaps the most softly spoken thing he'd said in a month, "Calistoth and Showoff don't like each other. Showoff was upset to begin with, and then Calistoth got upset, and then they started arguing, and when they get angry with one another I feel like I'm being ripped into two pieces." It was an honest explanation, but also censored; it would no doubt not tell everything he felt, but it would give enough perspective to leave little doubt to what the problem was. "They fight constantly, and the more upset Showoff gets, the more upset Calistoth gets, and I feel it from them both and it just - it makes me feel so sick at times. Not to mention the headaches, and Wrenth may not have meant to but he made things so much worse by not just humouring Showoff. Not that I blame him but it doesn't make my head stop hurting. Showoff doesn't like the firelizards either... he wants to bite Rawign on the nose... Think you could hit me in the head?"