Fear lesson one

[Kisha-Ra]

Lesson one:
Classroom: Care and Feeding of Dragonets
Training Field: Cleaning and Oiling Dragon Hide

Azrath radiated as much disapproval as one dragon could when what his rider could see of him was mostly a great whirling eye pressed against the classroom window. However when one was mindmates with said dragon that could be quite a lot. You are being dramatic on purpose again.[/color] The blue’s voice reproached as he moved away from the window.

of course. I can’t make myself someone they’ll love, so I can at least be intimidating. Darya replied calmly, moving around to stand calmly in front of her desk. The weyrlingmaster was dressed all in black, purposefully emphasising her pale skin and greyhound lean form and making her pale blue eyes look like shards of ice in her face, and if she looked more than a little like some great bird of ill omen, so much the better.

I don’t understand why you don’t just bring them outside right away.[/color] Azrath complained, everything was set up for the lesson to take place on the training field, the classroom wasn’t needed.

first, I want to intimiade them in a confined space so they can’t run off, second they might want to get some things to take notes with. You never can tell. So, be a good little blue and call them, hmm?

Yes oh infinitly wise rider…Junior Weyrlings. Your presence is required in the classroom.[/color] Azrath switched from private communication to an announcement to all of Millieth’s hatchlings and their riders, that would hopefully be loud enough to wake even the soundest sleeper.


Cr'oph and Bronze Mavenath
R'ven and Brown Trilaranth
Dy'shi and Blue Chakraith
L'nu and Blue Paglieth
J'naes and Blue Barienoth
J'ash and Blue Craivaruth
K'lin and Blue Picarth
Casta and Green Posilanth
Dyudahlii and Green Nemmalorith
Erilena and Green Feyrianth
Cer'c and Green Harmonyth
Kiana and Green Tuelzanth
X'rx and Green Eveyth

[dragon]

Paglieth perked up at the sound of some other dragon calling to him. Mine! We don't have to go to lessons today! He bounced to all four feet, and then sat down again just like a canine, tail flopping all over the place like it had a mind of its own and was possessed.

"That's nice. Why did they cancel it, then?" L'nu answered, trying to figure out how to tie an absurdly long belt into a knot that didn't involve a giant bow on his waist. That was just ... so girly. Eventually he gave up and wrapped the length around his middle a few more times to try and take up some of it. He'd never really worn a belt before, and as such had no real idea what to do with it. But a shirt this big really needed to be belted down, lest he look like a walking tent. He had heard today was the first lesson, and he did kinda want to be presentable. But, hey, if lessons weren't happening, what was the point? Walk around, look like a dork, and get laughed at. Hey, that was normal enough, he supposed. People already laughed at him. So why not?

He gave the belt a last tug and a double over hand knot before shrugging in the shirt to keep it from pulling his shoulders down so hard. "So what do we do now?" He asked of his blue friend. It hadn't been very long at all, but L'nu was already quite fond of his new lifemate.

Go to lessons? Paglieth suggested, helpfully.

L'nu just gave him a strange look.

[Requiem]

X'rx peered in his reflective glass, winding the ribbons that Eveyth had gleefully picked out through his usual side braid, the remainder of his dark hair curling softly around his slender shoulders. The young man was wearing the clothing he'd pieced together for the Gather, as it wasn't quite so worn as the other small bits he owned, and he'd tailored it to his slender frame nicely. It wasn't that he was out to impress anyone, really, but X'rx did like to look nice, and it had become something of a calming ritual. Much like cooking or swinging a handaxe. Besides which, it showed respect for oneself, and no one respected you as a person if you didn't at least respect yourself. Not that he was likely to put that into words. People tended to look at him strange when he spoke such thoughts, as if a drudge had no right to think that way.

Both Eveyth and X'rx paused upon hearing the summons, the hatchling immediately butting up against him as his eyes strayed back toward the makeshift mirror. You always look perfect, Eveyth stated definitively, nudging at him again, though there was a definite edge of amusement to her 'voice.' The green found his silly human habits and worries endearing, if unfounded. No one was more beautiful than Hers. We must not be last. The Azrath's will be upset. I like her. So do you. Upset would be bad.

That point, at least, he could concede. "Hey, Dy, hurry it up! I'll tell her you're on you're way," X'rx called, as Eveyth literally pushed him out the door. The greenpair hurried into the classroom, surprised to find they were first. Or, rather, X'rx was; Eveyth literally bounced in place. Look! They'd won! She greeted Darya with a croon, and X'rx flashed a smile, before glancing toward the desks. "Should we take a seat, or...?" They were supposed to be outside today, if he recalled. "Oh, and Dy'shi will just be another minute." Couldn't forget his roommate.

[mierce]

Indeed, Cer'c was sound asleep. So much so that the announcement barely stirred the boy as he laid curled against his tiny Green. He had spent the entire day yesterday shuffling archival scrolls back and forth in the records room with far more enthusiasm than his body had energy to match. As such, he was simply put passed out other responsibilities be damned. Harmonyth, however, opened her eyes and lifted her head. Hers sleepiness seeped into her own level of awareness so she was a little groggy as well, but now was no time for slacking. The Green rose and shifted away from Cer'c, allowing him to roll onto his back now that she was no longer there for him to lean on.

Cer'cmine, she crooned, nudging his shoulder. We need to get up for lessons.

Not surprisingly (though much to Harmonyth's dismay), she was only acknowledged with the same steady breathing from her bonded. She tried again, this time earning a distant grunt on a response as the boy rolled over onto his side, pulling his blanket tighter around his body.

Cer'clove?

"Tired..." came the reply, no more than a murmur.

Well, this wasn't going to do. Spreading her wings, Harmonyth lifted herself from the bedding and hovered over her slumbering rider. She carefully closed her talons over the edge of his blanket, then yanked it back with enough force to physically jerk Cer'c along the bedding a few inches... and to send a certain brown flit tumbling out of the folds.

Eee bounced along the bedding and onto the floor where he staggered a moment before lifting himself into the air to hiss spit and shriek at the presumptuous Green. Who did she think she was, so rudely throwing him out of bed! This in turn only prompted Harmonyth to hiss back at him---him. Stupid flitter.

Still, all this wasn't enough to rouse the boy completely, but at least it left him blindly reaching for blankets that were out of his reach.

Knocking the annoying brown out of the way with her tail, Harmonyth dropped the blanket at the foot of the bedding before fluttering to hover above Cer'c. We need to get up, she reiterated. The brown reappeared again, landing right on Cer'c head where he proceeded to jump and blabber up towards the Green. At last, the boy grunted and reluctantly sat up... once again sending the brown rolling downward.

Eee landed in Cer'c open palms where he looked up at his owner with seething contempt, but Cer'c only smiled apologetically to him before setting the flitter down on his nightstand. The brown wasn't happy though, and continued to throw a fit even as Cer'c slowly got up and set about washing up and getting dressed.

Luckily, by the time Cer'c left the room, Eee had calmed down and could be found lounging in the bedding furs. Harmonyth trailed behind Hers as they made their way towards the classroom, noting with a touch of concern the lack of energy in Cer'c steps. Is something the matter?

"Just tired," Cer'c said with a casual smile tossed back at her. Harmonyth's eyes swirled a muddled yellow. She didn't quite believe him, of course. Surely just climbing ladders all day was not enough to make Hers as exhausted as he appeared!

Nonetheless, they had arrived at the classroom by then. Cer'c looked around to see that he was the second person there. He waved cheerfully to X'rx and Darya (one hand each), then shuffle further into the room as as to not block the doorway.

[rii]

You thought the lessons were outside.
They must have changed plans.
Annoying.
A little.

R'ven began to steer their morning stroll to head back toward the main section of the Weyr. A leisurely pace to accommodate Trilaranth's unique stride. Their path had been set to circle the training field, but any plans of not being late for lessons quickly vanished. The fawn colored brown let his long tail thump audibly against the hard packed earth. His muzzle was lifted to look along the path back to the Weyr. How far to this classroom?

"I think the lessons are more for me than you. I'm sure you could nap once we get there." R'ven answered the real question behind the almost polite inquiry. Trilaranth had been quick to pick up on his own habits, but the brown couldn't hide anything from him – and he couldn't hide anything in return. Something of a bother, really. The fact that R'ven hid any malcontent thoughts behind cordiality is likely why the brown had been keen to adopt the quirk; albiet for entirely different reasons.

Upon arrival, Trilaranth preceded R'ven into the classroom. Powerful frame pausing as his neck arched back to survey those present. His tail lazily swayed to the side as he waited for his to enter as well. No one would be over looking them. Impossible to miss. He directed his perma-snarl at the ominous weyrlingmaster. R'ven felt the inkling of humor begin to seep over the shared bond, but put forth an apologetic smile all the same. "Hope we're not late."

Why apologize when we are..
Third.
–Third to arrive. We are not late. The others, however..

R'ven gave a faint shake of his head and moved off to find a seat. Trilaranth, however, turned right on the spot and sat down so that he was facing the doorway (barely allowing room for others to easily enter). He wanted to know who, aside from his two green clutchsisters, would be arriving promptly for the lessons and who would not. His interest leaning more toward who would be the late arrivals.

[Ember]

I know you heard them, Dy'shiMine.

Chakraith's voice added to those of Azrath and X'rx made the boy open his eyes with a sigh. "I know, I know. Lesson time." He rolled out of bed and slipped on a pair of pale green shorts. His blue was a pretty good judge of clothes, so as with every morning the blue dug into his clothes and pulled out a shirt that matched better with his choice of shorts than any of the others. "Thanks Chakraith," he said as he took the tan shirt (he actually owned something tan?) and put it on.

Once dressed and a comb dragged forcefully through his hair the pair made their way to the classroom. At least X'rx had notified the teacher he wouldn't be long right? The extra time he'd taken getting ready shouldn't cause any trouble for the class. Chakraith agreed mentally, though underneath that was the silent idea that he ought to wake up sooner. Since he knew he ought to get up sooner he didn't say anything about it. The blue was just pointing out the truth...silently.

Dy'shi was pondering the fact that he could understand her even when she didn't say anything when he got to the classroom. As the two stepped inside he paused in surprise to find his immediate path blocked by a brown. He took a moment to look at the others while also edging around the brown guard. So few people! He didn't expect to be earlier than most of the others. Once past Trilaranth he wandered to where X'rx was and smiled. "Thanks for the second wake up call. I'm a bit slow at first."

Chakraith had paused a little longer at the door. She nodded in greeting to Trilaranth. He was a bit in the way where he was. If someone came in and didn't notice him right away him and the person entering may be hurt. If others are not careful they may run into you there, she told him simply, in her clearly feminine mindvoice. The way she said it was deliberate. She wasn't putting the blame on him for being where he was or he may take offense. With her piece said she moved towards Hers and sat next to him.

[lex]

We won’t be late, will we? Posilanth’s voice betrayed her agitation as she began to walk slowly to the classroom. Oh, oh…I couldn’t bear to be late…they won’t be angry with me, will they? I couldn’t bear that…

“Hush, dearling,” Casta told the little green gently, using her most soothing tone of voice and resting a hand softly on Posilanth’s head to keep her calm. “Not to fret. We’ll be there soon enough, and Darya will understand.” The pair had woken early, and decided to make the most of a beautiful dawn to go and sit by one of the many pools and have a chatter in the sunlight. As a result, they were further away from the classroom than was ideal, and as walking was always a stressful activity for Posilanth, Casta was beginning to curse her choice. “Why don’t you tell Azrath that we might be a while?” she suggested, and at once the green warmed to the idea.

Walking took up so much of Posilanth’s concentration that she had to pause for a moment while contacting Darya’s blue: Azrath? This is Posilanth. My rider is Casta. We’re coming, but walking is so difficult for me…we may be a little late. Please don’t be angry! I promise it won’t happen again! The distress the green was feeling was clearly evident in her voice, and Casta hoped that the blue would realise that this wasn’t just an excuse. Posilanth’s difficulty walking was something she was rather concerned about – although she supposed that once the green learned to fly, it would no longer really be an issue.

“Concentrate on counting your steps, Possie. That usually helps.” Indeed it did, and Posilanth calmed visibly as she counted every pace of her small paws. They walked steadily to the weyrling barracks.

Their progress to the classroom had been slow, but to Casta’s surprise they weren’t the last to arrive. Maybe the others hadn’t yet come out of bed, and still needed to get themselves washed and dressed – she was lucky to be an early riser, then. Pausing for a moment, she checked her appearance (comfortable trousers, well-worn shirt, knots in place, hair neatly pinned up) – it wouldn’t do for her to be scruffy for her first lesson, after all! Peering in, the weyrling gave Darya an apologetic smile before coming in through the doorway. “I hope we aren’t too late,” she said, deciding not to mention Posilanth’s difficulty walking. Admitting that there was anything less than perfect about her dragon was difficult, and she also didn’t want to seem as if she was making excuses.

When Posilanth entered, she uttered a surprised chirp when, suddenly, she was face to face with Trilaranth. Oh! Hello, she said to him, and her eyes which a moment ago had been whirling in agitation became a warmer hue. He was so big! And so…handsome! Suddenly shy, the little green shrank away a little. My name is Posilanth, she told him, her eyes wide and appealing. What’s yours?

Casta had found her seat relatively near to R’ven, and she cast an amused glance back at her hatchling. Whoever would have taken Posilanth for a flirt? It wasn’t just that, though – as much as she liked him, with Trilaranth’s position in the doorway, the green (with her appalling sense of spatial awareness when she was on the ground) couldn’t even begin to think about how to get past him.

[jaq]

Dyu was up feeding Bawnii and Klaiid when she heard the announcement for class to begin. She quickly finished her tasks and grabbed some strips of meat for Qinaii on the way out.

Qinaii, impatient as always, was already bounding out the door, chattering back noisily to Dyu and Nemmalorith for them to hurry up. He did not want to be late to these lessons as they nearly were for the candidate lessons.

Come on Nemma, let's go before Qinaii gives himself a panic attack. Dyumine, I don't understand why Qinaiiyours is always in such a hurry. Dyudahlii shrugged and followed Qinaii out the door, Nemmalorith trailing right behind.

Urged on by Qinaii, they reached their destination quickly. Many students were already there but at least Dyu wasn't late. Try to behave around your clutchbrothers and clutchsisters Nemmalove. Dyu warned as she took the last steps into the classroom.

[dragon]

Someone was clearly confused. That or being deliberately misleading. Or accidentally misleading. People were moving toward the classrooms in a definitive fashion that had L'nu wondering. He shot another glance at his blue, then ran both hands through his ear-length fluffy hair. As a result, it stood out even more making his sandy mop look more like a fro for a few minutes. Well adjusted to having difficult, fluffy hair, he really didn't care. So long as it stayed out of his eyes. It was almost time to trim it again ... it was getting too heavy.

"Come on." L'nu decided, heading out of his room and up the hall to the classroom. He edged past Trilaranth and Posilanth to get inside, and sidled quietly over to a seat. Sitting down there, he glanced around, hoping no one noticed that he'd been tardy in showing up...

Paglieth, for his part, followed as far as he could, before piling up behind his brown and green siblings. Edging up beside Posilanth, he burbled a greeting to them both. Well ... in tone, it was a greeting, anyway. Most wretched day to have a class! Horrible to see everyone here all gathered together. We should never do this again! Ehhh ... er... that's right. No! Not right. Um... He stumbled, realizing he was saying things all wrong again. Hi? Paglieth offered, trying for a simpler greeting that was harder to screw up, even as he sat down barely inches from Posilanth's side, also facing Trilaranth. He certainly wasn't going to get inside as long as there was a dragonet commune going on in the doorway...

[Shiny]

Eyes still crusted shut for the most part, J'ash continued stumbling after Craivaruth, who was directing his zombie-Bonded out of harm's way. You really need to work on waking up faster. Rubbing away some gunk with a sleeve, J'ash ignored the peanut gallery and focused on waking up. He didn't want the Weyrlingmaster to see him in such a state!

"How late are we?" he croaked, blearily looking around. They were in the middle of a hallway, and judging by the looks people were shooting him, he'd been walking like a drunkard. Well, we aren't early, that's for sure. And if we don't hurry up, we will be late. Why can't you be more like C'erc? Even if Harmonyth had some trouble getting him up, he still roused earlier than you. "Yes, but you put no effort into waking me up, unlike his Green. All you did was poke me with your tail. And you know I can sleep through a shrieking vixen!" Huffing, the bi-coloured dragon trotted slightly faster, tail twitching side to side in annoyance. J'ash had to jog just to catch up with his grumpy dragonet.

After traveling down a few more corridors, and with Craivaruth practically plastered to his side once more, they neared the classroom. I promise I'll try harder to wake you up from now on. J'ash smiled down at his dragon briefly. "I don't know whether to be grateful or scared."

Entering the room cautiously, J'ash bowed his head in respect to the Weyrlingmaster before shuffling to take a seat. It looks as if we are not the last. The dragon's "voice" turned sour. Nemmalorith and her Bonded were quicker than us to arrive. This is unsatisfactory, J'ashmine. Sighing, J'ash glanced at the Green and Dyudahlii - and gave her a quick, polite smile - before taking an empty seat a few desks from the front. His breath was temporarily knocked from his chest as Craivaruth jumped and sat on his lap. "I really hope this chair can take all this weight," J'ash muttered, so as not to disturb the others. "Y'know, you've already grown quite a bit since you hatched. Soon, you'll be too big - too heavy - to do this." J'ash's arms hung loosely around the dragon. "And I'm sure Nemmalorith will leave you be if you leave her be."

[Rei]

Mavenath entered the classroom with a light prancing gait. The bronze paused in the threshold for a moment until his clutchsiblings turned to look. With a croon he arched his neck and dipped his head in greeting. Good Morning siblings. I trust you all had a good night? He directed his speech at all those present in the room. The croon was meant as a welcome to their specific bondeds. Let it never be said that those present before him he was not fond of. Because he was. They where all his siblings and so claimed whether they realized it or not.

Cr’oph walked up beside his bronze and scowled. Come on Mave. He don’t have all morning for you to greet them you know. Let’s find somewhere to sit. The bronze huffed and nudged his bonded, his eyes a bright green. Certainly. Without waiting for his bonded, the bronze carefully picked his way to the front of the classroom where he settled next to Eveyth and X’rx. Cr’oph offered the other weyrling a small smile. “Hey.”

~~~~
Feyrianth bounced into the classrooms with a happy warble. Good morning everyone! Immediately she paused and swiveled her head around to look behind her. Erimine hurry! Almost everyone is here already. Erilena appeared after her dragon and chuckled. “I see that. Morning everyone.” Quickly she ushered the small green to the back of the group and settled down with her. The small green snuggled into her bonded’s side with a sigh.

Feyrianth flared her wings once before tucking them tight to her back. Do you think the teacher is mad? She looks mad. Erilena gave a quick glance to the weyrling master before turning back to Fey. “Hush darling. Try and keep quiet now.” The last thing the weyrling wanted was negative attention. They pair already got enough attention due to Feyrianth particular deformity.

[subtlemystery]

Junior Weyrlings. Your presence is required in the classroom.
"Yep... Five more minutes."
Nope, not five more MineK'lin. Up now, so we may go to lessons! That should be fun and exciting don't you think? ... Mine. You have to open your eyes when you get up, or you'll walk into something. Picarth's voice was disturbingly chirpy. Happy. Loving. Amused. It was horrid, especially since K'lin was trying to sleeeep. He'd promised himself that he'd never, ever ignore Picarth, because behind that chirpy voice, he was sure there was pain of some kind.

"I'm up!" Have a happy attitude, that's it K'lin. Glancing at his dragon as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes, the smile automatically brightened when Picarth happily crooned right back at him, wings shuffling against his back, ever so lightly as he stepped away, allowing room for K'lin to stand, dress and wake him self up. It didn't take long, surprisingly. Perhaps it was Picarth's positiive attitude that was coming off him in waves, or maybe he was just happy to have Picarth there, so it was fine to be woken, even if it was for a lesson of learning. It would be about Picarth, so K'lin would love it.

For all his chirpy nature, the blue walked carefully, sticking close to K'lin's side. After the healers had worked on his eyes, and done what they could, Picarth had settled, but K'lin hadn't. Knowing his dragon would be crippled because of those others, those fighting... Grinding his teeth slightly as he glanced away from Picarth, the blue then thwapped him lightly with the side of his wing, his good eye whirling a bright blue of contentment.
I do not mind. We must make the best of it, right? After all, it was not their fault, and the lesson is something far more fun to dwell on! With that he bounced forward, entering the classroom ahead of his rider with a bright,
Good morning! What a fine day it is, is it not, siblings?

Following Picarth's example, K'lin smiled and waved around the class, his eyes going to the weyrlingmaste,r and freezing. She looked... Creepy. Was she evil? Did she secretly want to send them all between so they would never return, secretly want to make sure the weyrlings never passed?!
She could be lovely. I'm sure she is.

[Kisha-Ra]

Most of her class had arrived in good time, Darya suspected Eveyth of making X’rx run to be there first though. Stepping forward she swept a glance around the classroom, noting who was there and who wasn’t (with a little help from Azrath, who had carefully learned all the hatchlings names) and taking in the mostly blocked doorway, before her eyes were drawn inevitably to the most obvious of the mutations.

The green with two sets of wings was the most obvious, but at this stage all Darya could do was give a sort of mental shrug to the whole issue. If dragons like Phremath and Adith could cope, Feyrianth probably would as well, dragons were very adaptable as long as their riders were supportive, but who knew what hidden secrets lay in the rest of this clutch of young dragons? Well, their bondeds, she hoped.

Abandoning her counter productive line of thought Darya looked around the room again, attempting to make eye contact with each weyrlingrider with varying degrees of success. ‘Alright everyone, welcome to your nightmare. I’m Darya, and you’re all stuck with me for the next eighteen months.’ It seemed like as good a place as any to start. ‘In short, if you don’t like me, too bad. Try and make sure your pranks don’t interrupt lesson time.’

‘Today, we’re covering dragon nutrition and caring for dragon’s hide. So everyone has five minutes to be out on the training field with their banded. If you wearing clothes you don’t want to get dirty, change them quickly, and if anyone knows where the last two of this class are hiding, tell them they’re late. See you in five minutes.’ With her brusque introduction over Darya strode out of the room, carefully avoiding stepping on the dragons that occupied the doorway.

You were not nice to them.[/color] Azrath reproached as Darya came into sight and moved swiftly to yank stained sheets of canvas off of the first part of today’s lesson. Rough heaps of animal matter; bones, hides, and organs, as well as what most people would consider edible meat, had been dumped in a rough semi circle at one end of the field. Let it never be said that Darya was going to be a pleasant teacher.

[Shiny]

J'ash smiled and greeted everyone who came through the door after him, while Craivaruth muttered his greetings to his clutchsiblings. The weyrlingmaster spoke, then left.

'Intimidating, isn't she?' I have a feeling that she will not like your eccentricity. If you want to get in her good books, try actually acting rational. J'ash pouted. 'But acting rational's no fuuuunnnn...'

Craivaruth's noticeably bulky form made a loud thud as he jumped from J'ash's lap and onto the floor. Flapping his disproportionately long wings, J'ash smiled, sensing the excitement growing in his grumpy friend. He couldn't help but be a little excited himself - this was the first big thing that he and Craivaruth were going to do together! Up until then, they hadn't done too much out of the norm, but now they were taking another step towards becoming full-fledged Dragon and Rider. Maybe he would get to actually befriend the other Fear Bondeds!

As J'ash stood from his seat, he gave a quick glance around and spotted Casta. Remembering their accidental meet in the Main Hall, he smiled brightly and waved excitedly at her. Craivaruth's short neck twisted as he looked back at His and snorted softly. Really, you're too happy sometimes, J'ashmine. Come on. We don't have much time, and I want to beat Nemmalorith there![/color] And like a dog that had stopped to sniff something good but was getting dragged away by its impatient owner, J'ash pouted once more and followed the blue and green dragon.

As they approached, Craivaruth seemed double as happy, practically prancing ahead of His. We're first! And I get food![/i]

The smell that hit the snowy-eyed man like a brick wall was not pleasant. A hand in front of his nose, J'ash's face screwed up as his stomach tumbled around. "That smells like carcasses rotting in the sun." Well that's what they are, J'ashmine. And is smells delicious.

"Ugh."


[/size]

[Requiem]

Before Darya could respond to his question - stern as she looked, he doubted she actually meant to ignore him and Eveyth avidly seconded the thought - X'rx caught sight of Cer'c and returned the other greenweyrling's wave. Oh, look, it's Rilly! Eveyth exclaimed in his mind, winding around his legs and crooning to the strong brown striding into the room. After that they just seemed to funnel in quicker than you could keep track. Chakkers. Dy'shi received a rather embarrassed smile in return for his thanks, X'rx nodding his head awkwardly. Posilanth. Nemmalorith. Paglieth. Craivaruth. Ah, Cr'oph and his bronze.

Oh, very well, Maverick, Eveyth responded, with no small amount of affection. It seemed she renamed all the dragons she took a shining to. (X'rx strongly suspected that this was some sort of claiming, though the green avidly denied it. At any rate, any dragons bonded to X'rx's better friends seemed to instantly achieve that status.) Mine is a most comfortable couch. She squirmed between X'rx and 'Maverick,' intent upon touching them both at once and crooning in utter contentment. The smile sent back Cr'oph's way was broad enough to display his extreme relief at having his friend here. Change was not something X'rx ever weathered well, and this was so new.

Eveyth's head lifted as she spotted 'Fairy,' the only one of her 'favorites' who was bonded to someone X'rx hadn't ever really met. Eveyth found her gorgeous, though, and apparently couldn't resist the nickname. She crooned welcomingly to the other green. Picarth funneled in, then...and apparently that was when Darya's patience ran out, even though they were still missing a couple. Barienoth and Tuelzanth, Eveyth supplied helpfully.

Nightmare? X'rx blinked at Darya blankly. What do you think she means? I don't know. What's a nightmare? On that helpful note, X'rx had to scoot aside to give Darya room to pass as the Weyrlingmaster breezed out of the room, leaving the young man more than just a little confused. Eveyth, however, had the right of things. She butted up behind his knees and pushed him toward the door until he got his legs working.

Didn't you hear? Only five minutes. Less now. Why did we even meet in here? But Eveyth couldn't be bothered to wonder about such trivial matters.