It's not always rainbows and butterflies ~Tags Rii

[Rei]

Ruliana sat watching her sleeping green for a few moments. Amalath was just about two weeks shy of two months old now. Just in that small expanse of time it was amazing just how much she had grown. Still most of the little green’s time was consumed with sleeping, eating, and being bathed. A small bit of playtime was mixed in as well but it seemed after her feedings the green was content to just sleep. Not that the weyrling minded. It gave her time to think. Which may or may not have been a good thing depending on how one looked at it. Impression had been the best thing that had happened to her in all her seventeen years. Never again would she lack a friend, a confidant, someone who loved her more than words could ever describe. It was like he green was half of her soul. A half that she hadn’t even realized had been missing until they locked gazes.

Twisting a piece of grass in her hand the girl bit her lip. Weyrlife was different. Unlike anything she had ever imagined. There was still a bit of doubt running about in her head from time to time. What would her father say when he found out just where she was. That she had impressed a dragon? Ruliana was willing to bet his reaction would not be favorable. After all she was the only true heir to the hold. The only baby born to the lady and lord holder. Ruahnorne no doubt by now had people searching for her. It was only a matter of time before he found out where she was. Then what? The weyrling wasn’t sure what would happen then. He wasn’t going to like the fact that she had impressed. It bound her to the weyr. She couldn’t give up Amalath. One couldn’t give up their soul after all. Swallowing on that thought the dark haired woman closed her eyes and closed her eyes.

Without the slightest hesitation she started in on her part of a duet that her new harper friend had been urging her to learn. She had met him not long after impression and purely on accident. He was polite, nice, a real gentleman really. Shame he was only up around nighttime. He was good company. Reminded her of back home a bit really. Her voice was quiet at first then gained in strength as she grew more confident with her tone.

He was like frozen sky
In October night
Darkest cloud
Endless storm
Raining from his….

The greenweyrling suddenly stopped in response to a sudden sound. Eyes widening in nervous apprehension she turned her head in the direction of the sound. “Hello? Is someone there?” She couldn’t quite keep her nervousness out of her tone. Her eyes snagged on Amalath’s sleeping form. Surely no one would bother her with her dragon here. Right? Even if the dragon was a baby she still was quite a bit bigger than your average large dog. Had bigger teeth too. Not that Amalath would hurt a fly but they didn’t have to know that.

[rii]

The edge of knife slid easily through the skin of the pear. With two intersecting cuts Kostya removed a wedge of the green fruit and brought it to his lips as he watched the weyrling. Not actively, for at the moment his back was against the wide trunk where he had been the entire time, not in line of sight of the girl and her young green dragon. She hadn't noticed him when she had come, with that painfully distant gaze of one lost in their thoughts, and in turn Kostya had not drawn attention to himself. The newest candidate merely rolled his weight across his shoulders, shifting from one side of the trunk to the other to keep the vaguely familiar girl within glance.

Her movements were what made him watch; not the bounce of a youth out to play, nor the forward determination of a drudge. There was a particular glide to Ruliana's airy posture that made Kostya's pale eyes narrow. But for now she sat, straight.. proper.. surrounded by the wild growth of the jungle. The clashing imagery earned an amused smirk. Didn't belong here, did she. Her voice though.. there was a redeeming quality. The words danced on the tip of his tongue as if he heard the song before – it was a duet, wasn't it? So who was she singing with.. or about.. in her mind. Hard for him to comprehend a woman could sing like that, with the emotion, without it having a base somewhere in her life.

But – snap – Kostya's angling around the trunk caused her song to end, and his position to be revealed. The tall youth didn't falter, merely continuing to step forward with a casual stride to bring himself fully into Ruliana's sight. Barefoot he came, dressed in the light brown pants and vest that was loosely laced closed over.. skin. A curious silver ring tied close around his neck, belt and small sheath on his waist ended his attire. The light tan across his body, and the rather earthy appearance showed well enough he had melded in with the Southern lifestyle in a short amount of time.

"I didn't mean to startle you," The words hummed with the faintest touch of playfulness as his gaze dropped to the slumbering green. Ruliana couldn't be that afraid, if her little dragon had not awoken in alarm. Kostya's path took him near enough the green, just to see if she would stir before he got closer to dark-haired girl. The knife bit into the pear again, pale blue irises never straying far from Ruliana's face. "Or interrupt. You have a lovely voice, although that song.. from the lyrics I can recall are a bit – dark."

His brows rose briefly at the last word and he extended the knife blade with the piece of fruit offering to her. "Kostya, by the way, I remember seeing you on the sands." His leg still hadn't full healed for that mauling. The blue's claws had nicked a tendon and was taking it's damn time in repairing itself. A smile dance across his lips, a knowing humor in his eyes as he spoke the next question. "Enjoying weyrlinghood?"

[Rei]

Ruliana’s wide blue eyes took in the figure before her. Taller than her. Not by much. Lean, lithe, with blue eyes like hers but of a lighter shade. His hair too was light where as hers was inky black. Comparisons and contrasts. Moving her hands to fold them in her lap she titled her head up at the man and gave slight hesitant smile. His clothes said nothing about him. He wasn’t wearing knots but she remembered him from the hatching. He had been the one of the men speaking to Jazzheera. The one who had gotten mauled by the little blue. Hadn’t impressed. So that made him still a candidate. His words caused her smile to become more genuine and she have a dismissive gesture before speaking. “It’s okay. I just hadn’t noticed you. I tend to get startled easily anyway.” Curiously she regarded him as his eyes dropped to Amalath.

The green in turn continued to slumber. Her back leg twitching once before her breathing evened again. Apparently at ease for the moment. To be honest Ruliana herself did not feel threatened by the boy. Not currently at least. Still blue eyes tracked the knife as it bit into the fruit, until Kostya spoke again. Her eyes then returned to his face. “Thank you. I enjoy singing.” Her hand reached up almost automatically to take the offered section of fruit. Trusting she was, but not to terribly trusting. In the back of her mind there was doubt. But she knew better than to express it outwardly. A small smile flickered over her features. “Yes the song is a tad dark. But the melody is nice.” She shifted, bringing the section of fruit up to her lips to take a bite. It was good. Chewing slowly she swallowed before speaking again.

Extending her unoccupied hand out to him, out of habit, the weyrling titled her head. “Well met Kostya. I am Ruliana.” Turning her head she gestured to the slumbering dragon. “That is my Amalath.” Finishing the piece of fruit she absently wiped the juices off on the grass. “It’s okay. So much to learn and do. It keeps you busy but it is worth it. All worth it.” Her eyes automatically fixed on Amalath, a softness coming into them, as she reached over to trail a hand down the dragon’s back.

A soft sigh left the small green and she shifted although she did not awaken. Moving her eyes from the green back up to her present company Ruliana titled her head and regarded him with interest. “How is your leg? I remember you got injured. I hope it wasn’t anything too terrible.” His slight limp had been noted and it was one of the first clues she had as to his identity. She idly wondered what had made him approach her. Curiosity more than likely.

[rii]

The soft smile still present, Kostya's gaze followed the movement of her hand with veiled interest – cold blue irises shimmering as they dipped to watch her fingers delicately remove the fruit from the flat of blade. He wiped the knife along the side of his thigh, removing the juices before sheathing it at his side. The smile brightened as she spoke – such a lovely little bird, singing sweetly those polite words; the only song she's ever known in her life. Imagine if she slipped, what a flush – what a ruffle of feathers – she would show.

Birdie, birdie, what are you doing out of your cage..

"It shows. Although it seems with that particular song.. you are missing your singing partner?" Kostya paused before taking her hand, noting the peculiar way she turned it as if presenting it to him more than offering. He took it lightly between his fingers, giving it a light squeeze and curbing the eccentric impulse to press a kiss to her knuckles. Instead he politely bowed his head to her. Kostya had recognized the regal routine in the girl from the start, and now it amused him further and further to pick out each of her mannerisms. So far away from home little bird..

A slow nod to her words as he moved around, folding his legs to sit just aside from Ruliana and share a gaze at her slumbering dragon. "All worth it," His tone almost wistful as he repeated her words. Let her think him a candidate regretting not impressing. He doubted she thought it all worth it, considering that far-away look clouding her earlier expression – but could hardly say something negative, could she. A half smile quirked at the side of Kostya's lips.

"Healing," He answered playfully, reaching down to roll up his pant leg to mid-calf and let her view the scar; his little permanent reminder of his first standing. The would be a second, no doubt, as long as Marsayis continued to wallow in self-pity over their losses and refused to travel in the oppressive heat. The youth eased back onto his elbows, eyes drawing slowly along the side of Ruliana's face. "You look familiar." More than a hint of leading in the words as he watched her profile for reactions.

[Rei]

Ruliana gave a demure smile as Kostya took her hand. “Yes. I’m afraid my singing partner is only around at night. I meet with him a few evenings a week. We are practicing that song currently.” She examined him as he gave a squeeze to her hand and then a head bow. When her hand was released it again found it’s place properly in her lap. Shifting slightly to make herself a bit more comfortable the weyrling followed his movements as he sat. Tilting her head she watched him gaze at Amalath and a knowing smile uplifted the corners of her mouth. He had not impressed. Perhaps he was a tad upset about it? Having just come to the weyr mere days before the clutch hatched Ruliana wasn’t sure what she would have done had she not impressed. Probably stayed and still played at being someone she was not. Aleta. Which she obviously hadn’t done a good job of. Even with the name change and the cutting her hair.

Her hair still just barley brushed her shoulders now. It had been odd at first but she had gotten used to it. The hardest part of her ruse had been trying to act like the common folk. A few times Ruliana was sure she had almost given herself away considering the odd looks a few of the sailors had given her when they had left Nerat. Her hand idly trailed along her dragon’s back and the weyrling smiled at Kostya. “She’s not much of a conversationalist when she sleeps. When she awakens I’m quite sure she’d be glad to talk your ear off. If you wish you may pet her. She wouldn’t mind. Do you regret not impressing?” He probably did. Next she went for reassurance. “There will be plenty more chances I am sure. Selenitas has three queens now. One of the others will rise eventually. There are also whers. I didn’t know that until I met Dmitri. He’s the one who is teaching me the song.”

Trailing off Ruliana removed her hand from the green and clasped them in her lap. “The gold wher was due to run soon I heard. So you would have a chance to impress there. If you chose to go to the hatching I guess.” It suddenly dawned on her that she was being a tad chatty. Whoops. It was probably due to the fact that she really didn’t speak to anyone aside of Jazzheera. She wasn’t sure still just where she fit into things. It was a disorienting feeling. Not quite knowing your place or how to act.

Shaking her head the weyrling gave a sheepish smile. “I’m sorry. It just dawned on me that I am talking an awful lot.” Kostya didn’t seem to mind though. When he suddenly started to roll up his pant leg she blinked in slight confusion until she realized he was showing her the scar from the hatching. Giving a sympathetic wince Ruliana resisted the urge to scoot forward for a better look. That would be impolite. Perhaps thankfully she was saved from having to think too much on it by the candidate’s next statement.

Wide blue eyes fixed on his face. Oh dear. Yes Ruliana was using her real name now. But well the circumstances of her coming. The whole impressing thing. Her previous rank. She wasn’t sure how many people really understood. How it would be reacted to when it all did come out. Yes she thought about it. But well she didn’t dwell on it. Not usually anyway. Licking her lips nervously the weyrling’s hand again rested on the sleeping dragon beside her. “Familiar? Well I was at the same hatching you stood at. I also came south for the gather at southern. Perhaps you remember me from there? I sang most nights.”

[rii]

Apologizing for talking in a conversation. It was almost cute, and Kostya amused himself with a tangent thought or two – toying with the idea that she was raised to listen, smile politely, nod in all the appropriate places. Kostya's eyes narrowed thoughtfully, scanning Ruliana's face as if searching for some other truth of where he recognized her. Play that he's not satisfied with her answer and let her sweat it out a little while he savored that near-panicked glaze to her blue eyes. In truth he had never seen her before coming to the weyr. Could estimate it was somewhere north, in Benden territory judging by her accent – just some lord holder's daughter that had flown away from home. Gone and bonded her self to a filthy Weyr. Daddy will be so disappointed – or had daddy been the one to send her away. Such curious possibilities.

Shrugging loftily with one shoulder, Kostya smiled as his head canted to the side. "That must be it. I don't remember hearing you sing – you've a voice that's hard to forget. But I must have seen you in passing there." His gaze was still intently on her face, ever watchful, but at the same time it was expected to give her his full attention since he was talking to her. Rude, wasn't it, to talk to his own feet or from over his shoulder.

Kostya sat back up, extending an arm through the very edge of Ruliana's personal bubble space to touch the green dragon. His hand nearly brushing hers as he took up her offer to pet Amalath. "She's warm. Like the sands were on the hatching." His fingers lingered to feel the rhythmic rise and fall of the dragon's chest. "I'm not interested in bonding to a wher. I don't know your friend, Dmitri, but to me the lifestyle of a handler is unappealing."

Of course, being a dragonrider didn't strike his fancy either. No need to mention that. "I don't know how many more hatching there will be for me. I assume there is a cut off age. Twenty turns now.." A side-long glance at his dark haired company. "And how old are you?"

[Rei]

Ruliana was very uncomfortably aware of Kostya’s searching gaze and she had to fight off the shiver that traced icy fingers down her spine. There was not reason to be nervous. None at all. Still the icy feeling persisted at least until he smiled and she relaxed a little. Yes that had to be where he recognized her from. The small bit of nervous apprehension had rousted Amalath into a near wakeful state but still the green dozed. Her sleepy mind still not completely in the realm of reality, stuck somewhere between slumber and wakefulness.

It was a disorienting feeling and it caused the weyrling to feel a tad disoriented for a moment as well. The candidate moving was what broke the spell. The intrusion into her personal space was noted and viewed with objectivity for the moment. Perhaps he hadn’t realized how close he was in his desire to touch her dragon.

Amalath’s eyelids fluttered at the unfamiliar touch but her breathing remained deep and even. It wasn’t a bad touch. Ruliana’s fingers curled away from Kostya’s automatically. Immediately she regretted the movement but their was no taking it back. Moment by moment the weyrling tried to force herself to relax a bit. He was nice. What was wrong with her? To long without company most likely. The parlor games she had played back home didn’t really count as interaction. Not true interaction. One had to keep up a careful façade.

His voice brought her back from her self scolding thoughts and a soft smile curled her features. “Yes she is warm, soft to.” The dark haired woman found herself nodding in response to his comment about the whers. “Yes the night life is different. I much rather prefer the light of day.” Night time was full of mystery, darkness, and of course the unknown. Not to her liking at all. “Well you don’t have to worry to much. They have at least two clutches a year I am fairly certain.” At least it seemed they had at Benden. But then how many queens did Benden boast now? She wasn’t sure, but quite a few. Certainly more than two. It stood to reason that Selenitas would be similar in clutch production. Besides the queens hear where rather young still if she remembered correctly.

Ruliana’s hand moved from Amalath then to take it’s customary place in her lap. Kostya’s admission had her smile faltering for a moment as she tried to recall the rules of being a candidate. It hadn’t been so long since her half brother R’ahre brought her to the weyr as a candidate and she spoke to Emoyan. “If I remember correctly candidates are supposed to be between the ages of twelve and twenty two. At the end of your twenty-second turn you can’t stand anymore.” Mentally the weyrling did a bit of math. “You said you are twenty correct? Well that gives you at least four more clutches to stand for. Possibly more depending on what month you where born on.”

The smile returned to her face. Blue eyes met his lighter ones and she slightly titled her head. “I turn eighteen next month.” Part of her wondered why he wanted to know. Shifting and giving Kostya a look of interest she spoke again. “Where are you from exactly? You accent is a bit familiar. It’s not southern.” Definitely northern but she couldn’t quite tell from what part of the north.

[rii]

Kostya moved, faster than Ruliana's withdrawal of hand, to snatch the wrist before she could politely clasp hands into her lap. Suspended between them in an unyielding grasp, Kostya's pale eyes once again scanned over Ruliana's face. His own expression devoid of emotion, but he purposely dragged out the moment just to see the fear or uncertainty fill her eyes. Then, features smoothing into another soft smile, Kostya gaze dropped to her captured hand. Gently he turned the limb over, fingers of his other hand touching against her palm and fingers.. reading her life lines? Rather, looking for calluses. Soft skin, hardly looked to have a seen a real day's work until recently with the task of bathing and oiling a young dragon.

So she was currently seventeen turns. Most girls worth a mark were joined – willingly or not – around fifteen or sixteen turns. His own sister had been that age. Young, beautiful, just like the little bird. A whole life ahead of her, and as any young woman might be, his sister would not agree to be joined to a man she did not love. Such willfulness had cost her life. Thus it amused Kostya to hypothesize that Ruliana had fled an unwanted joining. She was around the right age, if a touch older, and such well trained song birds were expected to uphold that particular duty. Could hardly see anyone opening up the door of the cage to set her free – too much had be invested in this one to just let it escape.

"Born at Ruatha Hold," Again a touch of playfulness crept into his tone as his fingers loosened to release Ruliana. Albeit Kostya was disinclined to allow Ruliana to fly away if she tried. He wondered, a touch of amusement brightening in his eyes as his smile took on a distinct feline quality, if she realized that asking him where he was from opened up the conversation for him to inquire the same of her. That would be, of course, assuming that she was purposely hiding that information. The way she had stiffened earlier at the idea of being familiar, then dismissed it to being seen at the gather – yes, those spoke well enough she was trying to keep a secret.

Kostya had a good idea of what it was, but he wasn't ready to fully reveal that truth. Preferred to watch her shift in discomfort but mask it under years of deeply ingrained etiquette. "Traveled abroad with a friend. We decided to come south and.. found our ship taken by a storm at sea. Lost everything but our lives. Spent the whole night drifting on wreckage Luckily we got picked up by a dragonpair the next day. Been here since.."

Tilting his head toward her, Kostya decided to he would give Ruliana a fair chance. "And you, what's your story?"

[Rei]

Ruliana actually started a bit when Kostya grabbed her hand. Her eyes flicked briefly to his and then fell to her dragon unable or unwilling to return his gaze. Her heart rate had sped up a bit in her discomfort she could feel in pounding in her ears. It wasn’t really the candidate that had her so nervous. It was the grabbing of her hand. It reminded her of how Kelor used to grab her, swift and viselike. Swallowing at the sudden lump that formed in her throat the weyrling didn’t move as the man examined her hand and palm. Whatever was he doing? Her blue eyes flicked to his face almost as if afraid. The candidate seemed deep in thought. To be honest Ruliana was a tad apprehensive. Should she speak? Probably not. The weyrling kept her silence merely wishing for the release of her hand.

Amalath beside her bestirred then perhaps in reaction to her sudden anxiety. The pale beast yawned showing off a mouth full of sharp teeth before curling and stretching each of her lids peeling solely back to reveal whirling green eyes. It was about that time that Kostya released his grip and Ruliana had to fight against the urge to snatch it back. Instead she withdrew it slowly and rubbed her wrist once with her opposite hand before dropping both back into her lap. Titling her head she reached for her waking dragon as the candidate spoke. His feline like expression did not escape her notice but she was concentrating more on his words. Born in Ruatha. Traveled with a friend, shipwrecked and brought here. Hmm. So what had they gone south for? It was curious but she was polite enough not to ask outright.

Ruliana slowly stroked Amalath as she made the transition to full wakefulness. The pale green snorted lightly, her tail tip twitching as she regarded the human making hers so nervous. A soft croon left her throat. Perhaps he did not realize he was making hers feel so funny? Her head moved to Ruliana’s lap and she pulled back her lips in a draconic grin at the candidate. Still she did not speak yet because she could sense hers was willing to speak and Amalath was nothing if not polite. Her love could go first.

Ruliana hazarded a soft smile at Kostya. She would tell him. Not the entire truth. But enough of it. “My story? I’m afraid it may be dreadfully boring compared to yours. I’m a singer. I bartered my voice for a trip south. Fell in with a harper who thought I was his property. I ended up finding family here who helped me escape him. After leaving the harper’s employment I was searched by a blue riding pair. R’ahre of Ahth. I got here days before the hatching. I’m still adjusting. I’m not used to the way things work here yet.”

She is mine now. Rulianamine is the best. That was why I picked her to be mine. Amalath said softly allowing both the humans to hear her. She was not shy about speaking to others. Not at all. In fact she often made herself part of the conversation going on around her. Lifting her head from her bonded’s lap she sniffed at Kostya. You smell good. For a human. Do you find my Ruliana interesting? I would bet so by the way you stare. Her muzzle prodded the man’s arm, her interest in him clear. Ruliana in turn just smiled at her dragon. “Please excuse her. She delights in being part of the conversation. I am told that is odd for a dragon but she has no qualms about speaking to everybody.”

The pale green crooned. Why would it be odd my love? I am making it easier on you. This way you will not have to translate for me. Much easier. Amalath quipped privately to hers before turning her attention back to Kostya. Ruliana smiled softly. One good thing about Amalath waking was that it took a lot of her anxiety away. No longer was she alone with the man. Her blue eyes sought out the candidate again. Mustn’t be rude.

[rii]

Kostya was ever so tempted to take the girl's chin and force her eyes back to his. It was a patient game, though, and the candidate curbed the impulse. Instead he savored her servitude behavior through half-lidded eyes. Flighty thing – if only he had kept a grasp on her wrist he might have felt her fluttering pulse. Albeit Kostya didn't need to be able feel her palpable nervousness. He could read it offer her by other means. Practically smell the first pangs of fear wafting off her. Such a .. lovely aroma.

Pale eyes slipped down to the waking hatchling. A burden, that. Would probably squall and screech, lash out with claws and teeth if he pressed more firmly on Ruliana. Such a shame. Things were just getting interesting too. "Indeed," He responded to Amalath instead of commenting on Ruliana's story. As he guessed, she revealed nothing about her life before jumping ship. A pity – for her – here had given her a chance. Reaching over, Kostya slide his fingers along Amalath's snout in praise. "She is a stunning girl. You chose well, Amalath."

His flicked a glance up at Ruliana's face at the apology, then returned to conversing with the dragon. Polite were his words, but it was clear enough to those from an outside perspective that he was treating Amalath as a child. Why not? She was a mere hatchling still. Tiny enough to curl up in a lap if she so pleased. Nothing like the large creatures that perched like gargoyles on the weyr ledges. "I do find your Ruliana very interesting. She comes from a place far across the ocean. As lovely as she is, I bet someone is missing her dearly."

A subtle hinting there, though Kostya didn't care to view Ruliana's face in that moment. How much of a profit, he wondered as he continued to lavish attention on the young green, would there be in returning a runaway daughter. It would depend on the status and wealth of the family was, he ventured. She could just be another pretty girl. Yet the manners, the posture screaming of her past life. Kostya couldn't help but hate them – after what they had done to his beloved sister. An ends to a means, the little bird.

"I probably smell good because of.. " Kostya turned, brushing Ruliana's arm as he retrieved the half eaten pear. He put it up to Amalath's nose for her to sniff. "Do dragons like fruits?"

[Rei]

Ruliana kept her eyes on her green as she struggled to slow her heart’s rapid beat. Why she was slightly frightened of Kostya she couldn’t exactly say. It may have just been that he was male but that wasn’t truly it. It was the way he was interacting with her. It seemed sweet but there was definitely an underlying emotion there. What emotion exactly the weyrling wasn’t sure, but it was making her terribly nervous. Amalath sensed this and her tail tip wrapped around her bonded’s wrist, her mind brushing against her’s in comfort. Titling her head the green hatchling allowed the stroking to her snout. Whirling eyes examined Kostya with interest that she didn’t even try to veil.

Yes I did choose well. I chose the best on the sands after all. It was technically a biased comment, considering Ruliana was hers, but Amalath did truly believe she had chosen the best. The pale green wrapped her bonded’s mind in these comforting and uplifting thoughts. Lovely was hers, wonderful, smart, loving, patient, confident, brave… The list went on and on and in the face of these overwhelming thoughts and undying love, Ruliana couldn’t help but smile warmly at the dragon. Her mood considerably buoyed by the dragon’s devotion and confidence in her.

The weyrling’s eyes flicked back to Kostya and she smiled at him again. The gesture from her dragon temporality derailing her fear and anxiety. Amalath was with her after all. What could he do with her dragon here? Nothing physical surely. Her fears where probably unwarranted anyway. Then the candidate was taking again. Still to her Amalath. His words shot another icy flare up her spine. Someone missing her? No. That was wrong. Well probably not completely, but she couldn’t go back now. Amalath bound her to the weyr. There was no going back. Even had she desired it, which she didn’t. Lady holders did not rider dragons. Even if they did she wouldn’t go back north. She had been trapped there. Slowly dying inside. Trapped.

Amalath in turn crooned, her tongue coming out to lightly brush against the candidate’s fingers. Yes Rulianamine comes from far, far away. The comment about someone missing hers made the dragon head tilt in consideration. If they missed her they should have sent someone to find her. For now she is mine and will always be mine. The pale green retorted, her tone changing into something terribly close to possessive agitation. Nothing would take hers. For Ruliana was hers. No one else’s. Belonged to Amalath she did. Her tail tightened imperceptibly about her bonded’s wrist in response to those thoughts. The pale green allowed the stroking to continue however. She was nothing of not polite and this male had not given her any reason to be rude. He was quite nice and he thought hers was interesting. Obviously this made him smart. Even if he did think hers was missed somewhere. Surely hers did not miss those people. If she did Amalath would know.

Ruliana found herself in an awkward position. The comments from Amalath where nice and comforting, but it was obvious she was being left out of the conversation. Trained not to interrupt and not to speak unless first spoken to, it was second nature for her to keep quiet. Instead she paid attention to her dragon, lightly running fingers over the pale creature’s back in a display of affection. The brush to her arm was noted with a barely suppressed flinch. Not expected it had been and the weyrling’s eyes flicked back to Kostya as he extended the pear to her green.

Amalath sniffed it curiously and her tongue lightly caressed the fruit before she rumbled. It tastes funny. Ruliana laughed, a bell like sound. “I think she prefers her food to have once been of the furry or feathered nature.” The green huffed at that, her tongue retreating back into her mouth. The weyrling hazarded a slight smile at the candidate. Perhaps he wasn’t so bad. Sometimes she was too introverted for her own good she supposed.

[rii]

Kostya made no visible acknowledgment of her flinching from his touch. A normal mind might feel insulted by her reactions. Unfortunately for Ruliana, Kostya only delighted in her displeasure at being crowded. Utterly amusing that her manners kept her trapped beside him. He was enjoying the dynamic of the social interaction a little too much. Although a part of him was a touch disappointed that Amalath didn't unknowingly reveal the origin of the little bird.

Pale blue eyes narrowing with amusement, Kostya smiled at the green dragon and her whirling eyes. "You are absolutely right, Amalath. But I'm sure someone is looking for her," His eyes shimmered with suppressed mirth. "I doubt they will think to look here." So far, so out of place. Hardly suited to a lady, the candidate commented privately.

Drawing the fruit back, Kostya took a small bite while returning his eyes to Ruliana. Her slight smile noticed, and warmer one returned to comfort her – or send her mind swirling with doubts – Kostya was content with either direction the weyrling took. He was a highly adaptive individual and would make due with what he had at hand. "I'm sorry, am I making you nervous?" The genuine note of concern in his tone was an easy thing to feign, along with the manipulation of his features – his brows drawing together as if troubled by this dilemma. "My apologizes. I know I'm northern.. but the south has a way of rubbing off on you. They're a real friendly sort. Don't exactly have to worry about one of them plotting to sink a dagger into your back."

Or plotting to converse with a good friend about the possibilities of taking the pretty Lord holder's daughter back to be locked up in her birdcage. There had to be a profit in there. A tricky business though, couldn't right as well hand the girl over and come out of it empty handed. Mm, yes, he would have to converse with Marsayis about the little details. Perhaps obtaining a bit of money would help to inspire his friend into moving on.

[Rei]

Ruliana was slowly starting to feel more at ease. Prodded in that direction by Amalath’s ease with Kostya. The green saw no reason to feel anxious or unnerved by the man. Instead she was merely curious. Hadn’t interacted with many people yet. He intrigued her. The pale green gave a soft croon her head tilting as he spoke again. A soft purr rumbled form her then and her eyes whirled with soft green shades, entirely unperturbed and it showed as she spoke. They can continue looking if they wish. It matters not. Ruliana is mine now. See it was simple. Fact. Hers was hers and no one would take her. Not if it was in Amalath’s power to prevent it. Really the young dragon was fast becoming bored. If they didn’t find hers that was good. If they did well to bad. Yawning the hatchling displayed her not so innocent looking teeth and then titled her head back to nuzzle Ruliana.

The weyrling in turn laid one hand on the hatchling’s head stroking down her eye ridges and drawing a pleased hum from the little creature. Her eyes however fixed themselves on Kostya as he took a small bite of his fruit. Food that Amalath had licked. It was odd to her that he still wanted it but who was she to judge. Noting his warm return smile her anxiousness further faded. Obviously she was being extremely silly. He was just trying to be nice and she was being a bit to unbending. As usual.

Ruliana gave a brighter smile at his words and she waved her hand in a dismissive gesture. “No need for apologies. I am sorry. I’m still getting used to the weyr, the south, and how things work here. I’ve been a bit of a wreck. Nothing you’ve done.” Another smile was given to the man and she felt her mood settle slightly. See she had been being silly. Nothing to worry about.

Kostya’s admission about being drawn in by the south had her giving an amused smile. “Yes people are a lot more friendly down here. It is hard to get used to it.” There was no point in pretending she was comfortable in the south. Ruliana was well aware that she came off as very northern. Her upbringing too made her stand out. More so now than ever. But it was difficult to try and distance herself from it and she found herself slipping into old patterns again and again. It was a cycle she needed to probably break. There was no need to be so polite and poised but it was something she had been doing her entire life. It would take time. Her eyes flicked back up to Kostya and she gave a soft smile. “You are obviously a lot more adaptive then I am.” Amalath was quick growing bored and hungry. Even the man’s funny tasting food was starting to look good….