Northern Winds {Reqqy}

[Lotty]

Moo?

CRACK! Kierjaarth came down hard on the herdbeast, killing it in one deft move, and a few speckles of blood flying up and hitting the rider - still stuck aboard - in the face. The rest of the herd scattered, stampeding in different directions kicking up dirt and dust every which way. And Mi'rah, well he was absolutely horrified! Why would he do that? They haven't even made it to the weyr, couldn't he wait another hour? Why was he asking himself? Kierjaarth! What are you doing? I think you gave me whiplashhh... even in his head his voice sounded exasperated, as he hurried to wipe off his face, clear grime out of his now watering eyes, and check his shirt for any spots of red. This was just great, a blood covered Bendenite coming to ask for refuge, just makes his promises of peace to sound oh-so convincing.

Then the bronze crouched down, still refuses to answer his rider. Mi'rah automatically assumed that he was being as kind as to let his rider have an easy dismount, but this was simply not the case as a forearm crunched down on the bovine's head and sent another shudder down the rider's spine. Did it really have to be so graphic? Making sure he is dead. I'm not cruel. That was a little debatable, as jaws lunged forward and teeth snapped around the slaughtered beast's throat. So, so yummy. Exactly what the dragon needed after spending so much time hiding away up in Benden....

Mi'rah found himself hustling to untangle himself from the straps and shimmy off the dragon before he could make any more of a mess. The nerve of Kierjaarth! He just knew the dragon did it on purpose...to mess with him...to get revenge for pulling him away from the weyr where he Impressed, but the rider wouldn't give him the satisfaction of a battle over it. He instead took himself a good few paces away and already quaking in embarrassment over the horrible impression the dragon was making. He wanted to laugh, really he did! And if the situation - his quasi legal transfer - wasn't of such dire importance to him, then maybe he would.

You worry too much.

[Requiem]

Unknown dragon on the feeding grounds. Yeah. I heard. Normally you would have reacted by now, Salenth commented suspciously. Just was wondering if Ka'rys and Ciceroth would take care of it first. Lazy. Something like that. Shrugging his shirt back on, the blades disappeared beneath the clothing. He only openly wore a dirk on his thigh...common fare for dragonriders. Not even Ka'rys was aware of the hidden blades. Aliscia probably was, but...well, that was fine. Anyone who paused to think about it would have known that the bronzerider wasn't just someone goldriders walked all over, around to amuse the weyr with his unfortunately frequent blunders.

C'leon may have used him as a second for a time for reasons that had little to do with fighting ability, but the man wasn't stupid enough to put someone who couldn't fill the role in that position. S'rei could hold his own. And was a good deal more dangerous than the amiable, half-oblivious front he projected.

No straps? No. Bronze, you say? You heard. Eh. I'm getting tired of all this. Surely they don't think we'd expose ourselves by attacking him. We are exposing ourselves. Better than Rys. I wouldn't worry too much...they'll wait until they can reach a better target. Salenth didn't argue...mostly because he didn't disagree. Their image was a carefully cultivated one.

The large bronze landed to one side of the other, just enough distance to react if the... S'rei was down in a moment, ignoring the suspicion still worming through Salenth. "Mi'rah! When did they start letting you out?" The bronzerider approached the Bendenite with a ready smile, pure friendliness. He idly finished lacing up his loose shirt, cocking a brow at the other. "I must say, having Keirjaarth feast on our herdbeasts...pretty ballsy." No wingleader knots. If Mi'rah didn't know, then it was better he remain ignorant. He didn't need to mention that Mi'rah was decidedly not ballsy most of the time. The mild questioning in the tone conveyed that readily enough.

[Lotty]

Oh no! Someone was coming, someone was coming. Kier, you really did it now... What? Find food? Indeed I did. Ha ha... Not so funny silly bronze. The dragon took a second away from eating to look over at the approaching bronze. He was hardly bothered, besides, it wasn't an unfamiliar dragon after all, after a moment, after watching Salenth land he trilled a short greeting and took another bite of the livestock. You have good herdbeast here... As if that was plenty of explanation for their arrival. Clearly they were here just to eat...just passing through...if only it was that simple, but there would be time to explain all of that later, hopefully he could trust his rider to do most of the talking. The only problem was that he always took so long to get to the point, and Faranth forbid he start stuttering. Just don't stutter.

Mi'rah squinted...if only he didn't have all the dirt in his eyes he would make out the figure, that man... It was obvious from the dragon he was a bronzerider and from the huge silhouette that this man was very, very...S'rei? He rubbed his eyes clear of debris one more time...he should have cleared his ears out too because this man knew his name. It had to be S'rei. He knew the man went South a long while ago...and he was Weyrleader once too? Mi'rah didn't keep track as well as he should have, but one thing was for sure: this was surely unexpected...

"S-S'rei?" He grinned and rubbed the back of his head shaking off all that needless nervousness away. He was in good company again, but he still had to hold his tongue and watch his answers. He didn't really want to tell S'rei lies, but telling him that he left Benden without a word wouldn't go over too well, maybe he could just dodge the question all together, "Oh the herdbeast. Sorry about that. Kierjaarth just has a mind of his own sometimes. I think he just got excited about the open air or something...." he found himself chuckling a few more times about being ballsy. It was pretty bad when even Mi'rah saw the humor in that.

[Requiem]

Yes. It helps that most of the dragons hunt out of Weyr, Salenth commented dryly. The south was plentiful enough that the herds were mostly used only by dragons with sick or injured riders, or by dragons hunting for other dragons for whatever reason. That and weyrlings. Did you perhaps have a purpose other than sampling the bovines at Selenitas? He wasn't precisely cold, but the only warmth in the words were what politeness required.

The older bronzerider nodded, not sure whether to be embarrassed for Mi'rah or amused. Just as nervous as he'd been...what?...ten turns ago now for S'rei? Give or take one or two. Of course, it had been less for Mi'rah, but still long enough that they'd both noticeably aged. Really, the southerner thought to himself, the Benden bronzerider wouldn't have been unusual anywhere but a Weyr. The little bit of extra padding and receding hairline would have been normal. In fact, Mi'rah was aging better than the majority of Pern. But, eh, this was a Weyr and the man was bound to be regarded with some disdain, just as he'd been at Benden. Fit people generally couldn't see why others weren't.

"It's nice here, yes," the man agreed mildly. "You've got the watchdragons nervous, you know. Ka'rys is our Weyrleader right now." He paused for a moment, just to let that sink in. "Much as I wouldn't mind catching up with you, it would probably be in your best interests to state your business now, to me, before he comes. He's not the most trusting person." An understatement. Mi'rah...a Benden bronzerider...yes, that would instantly have Ka'rys suspicious. S'rei was plenty suspicious himself, still half-expecting people to erupt from the trees, but...

It was Mi'rah. The grounded bronzerider under C'leon. How likely was it that they'd use him as a distraction, when you approached the situation logically? Not very likely. It wasn't as if he was a friend of S'rei's or anything, either, and that was assuming they'd know that the eldest of Selenitas's wingleaders would be the one to respond. So something else was probably up. Hopefully. For Mi'rah's sake. S'rei didn't dislike the man, but he'd be the first to go down if this turned out to be subterfuge.

[Lotty]

Hmmm oops? Was Kierjaarth supposed to feel bad about eating the big, fat, herdbeast? He didn't think so. It was just the one, and he didn't have time to go hunting. Not when he was growing to famished, he simply couldn't tote around his rider on an empty stomach. He would just learn from this little trespass, because he'd be around for a while now right? His rider wasn't going to screw anything up was he? The dragon gave Mi'rah a good mental prod, before turning his attention back to Salenth and thinking of a good neutral answer, Yes. I am just carrying my rider around...and he decided that living here would be a good idea, it didn't really occur to the dragon that this would be a problem at first, so the next part was an after thought more than anything, That is...if nobody protests... He looked at Mi'rah's shuffling. How could anyone deny that?

It was slightly - in the smallest way - funny that he was making the watchdragons nervous. What nervousness contagious? If so then it certainly made sense, because Mi'rah was full of it, most evident from his hands clasping together and that pained laugh he had. He certainly gave away his emotions...."W-well..." How was he going to go about this? And why was it that now, when he needed it most, his brain just refused to work. The answers should be so obvious.

"I'm...umm," he needed to spill it, stalling wasn't going to please S'rei. You might as well just say it. You left Benden. You can't go back now without them asking where you took off to for days... Believe it or not the dragon was right, he had to stick with his story, "Benden doesn't need me so much anymore you know..." there wasn't anything for him to do when C'leon couldn't order him around. When there were no dragonless victims of massacre to inventory and sell, "And I just can't stand being bored..." Ha! He should just admit to his fear of being killed for being an (unwilling) minion of the former Benden madman, "So I asked to leave and there is really nowhere else I could go..." Everything was true except for the asking part, he was just banking on the fact that nobody cared about him, at least enough to notice him gone. He figured after a sevenday he'd be considered dead. He was clumsy, he could have fallen off a cliff or something...

[Requiem]

He decided that, did he? the dragon responded, a touch of amusement in his voice. The mild manner of teasing was noticeably similar to something S'rei might have said, and the man himself was rubbing lightly at his nose to hide the smile. Most weren't aware of how close the bond was between the two...that not only did they share everything with one another, but that they couldn't keep anything from each other at all. Selenitas has always been open to transfers, Salenth responded, almost dismissively. They never turned anyone away. They probably should, with some, but they didn't.

The older bronzerider watched Mi'rah fidget for a painfully long moment before he managed to stammer out one word. Not for the first time, he had to wonder how the other had managed to survive so long. This sort of behavior in a bronzerider was highly irregular. "You asked to leave." S'rei plucked at his sleeve idly, not looking at Mi'rah so the other wouldn't see the brief flash of irritation that he wouldn't be able to hide. The man absolutely abhorred lying, and that was probably noticeable in the inflectionless words he'd just uttered. When he looked up again, though, his face still held a mild friendliness. "I'd ask for your transfer papers, but that's really just a formality here...and doubtless you got them bloodied."

A mild shrug punctuated his words, the man turning from Mi'rah to give Kierjaarth a critical look. "A bit underfed, to be sure, but he seems healthy enough. Still. Probably should stop by the infirmary so the healers can look over the both of you. Selenitas accepts all transfers - legal or no. Was there anything you wanted to tell me?" he added, his greys partially narrowed.

[Lotty]

It was hard to believe that once he wasn't so...timid. Once he didn't even have that stall in his voice...and it wasn't so soft... He was younger then. S'rei never even got a chance to meet the same boy who first Impressed Kierjaarth. Shards, even the dragon sometimes wondered where that boy went. Needless to say, Mi'rah was looking immensely guilty as he hung his head and thought about what the older (but only technically) rider had said, the flavorless parroting of what he had just said. Was it that unbelievable that Benden would sponsor his departure? Or was it his hesitation that gave him away? He kept from hanging his head, and tried to keep a steady gaze on the other man, merrily laughing about bloodied paperwork, but still rubbing his hands together.

The seemingly trivial comment about the infirmary caught him off guard. He glanced over to his dragon - who was still quite content to be devouring a herdbeast - noting a certain thinness in his form. Shame he didn't have the same problem. He untwined his fingers and idly ran a hand down his side until it could hook into a pant pocket. He automatically assumed that S'rei had made a reference to his weight. He never understood the concern himself...he could see his feet, he could move around, he could haul the firestone and mount his dragon. It was true that he would never make a good runner, but he didn't know many men that would, "Do I not look well?"

Even he himself didn't realize it, but it was a distraction as his brain mulled over the last words. S'rei surely knew, "I never said I asked the Weyrleaders..." was that enough? Would that satisfy the other rider. He would understand his position wouldn't he? He had to leave Benden, and it was harder than one would think. He had to rearrange his loyalties...not something that a man like Mi'rah could do at the drop of a hat, but here he was at another weyr's mercy. His only hope was that he wouldn't be treated like a lame runnerbeast here.

Mine will take great comfort in that, even though it slightly bothered the bronze. Even though he did think himself something special, it didn't seem like good policy to just pick up anybody. But apparently it was all or nothing here, It's a wonder you aren't bursting at the seems with transfers. Where do you put them all? Kierjaarth was under the impression that Selenitas surely had a full roster already. Knowledge of the plague never reached the Benden pair.

[Requiem]

S'rei's smile was disarming. "You look healthy, Mi'rah. Perhaps not as lean as some of the people you'll find here, but...Selenitas isn't like Benden or Fort in that way. If you stand out, it will only be because you're a bronzerider. There are enough people here that...ummm...well, let's just say they don't concentrate on training their bodies as much as the average northerner." He was about to say that there were enough complacent riders in the south, but that would have definitely been at least mildly offensive, which wasn't his intent. So, yes, S'rei was a bit biased, too. You didn't spend...over ten turns...at the northern weyrs without picking up some of their biases. Like keeping fit.

The wingleader wasn't one to hold a grudge, no matter how distasteful lying was to him. Yes, Mi'rah had attempted to be deceptive, but at least he knew when to drop the charade, instead of continuing to insult S'rei's intelligence by trying to keep up the act. "I don't imagine they're too receptive to much of anyone transferring presently. Almost all of our transfers aren't quite legal." To be honest, S'rei himself was one of the last northern transfers to come to Selenitas under the full knowledge and approval of one of the northern weyrs. So naturally he wasn't likely to believe someone claiming otherwise. Selenitas didn't know what was going on at Benden right now, but C'leon loyalists probably wouldn't be high on their lists to allow to leave.

"No, I mentioned the infirmary because we had a plague sweep through here not so long ago. Took the Weyrleader, among others, in case you're wondering why Ka'rys is in charge." Of course it was general knowledge as to who their weyrleader had been...he'd been in charge during the siege. Fighting by S'rei's side to hold the stairs and prevent the attackers from making it up to reinforce the attackers above the falls, ironically enough. "The healers probably have some ideas as to how to prevent contracting it by now...most everyone here has either gotten sick, is immune, or something to that effect, but transfers might be susceptible. I won't pretend I know much of anything about healing." A mild shrug punctuated that.

Not as much as you'd think, Salenth responded easily. We have a nasty habit of losing them just as fast as we get them, whether to poison, attacks from the north, random disappearances or plagues. The bronze stretched, letting loose with a colossal yawn. In fact, our only adult bronzes right now are Kreyanth, Ciceroth, myself and a Selenitas-bred bronze, Idith. We lost two of our wingleaders just recently. Keeping anything from a new bronze to join the ranks hardly served any purpose, but to say that Salenth was just trying to be helpful would have been dead wrong. He was interested in seeing how Kierjaarth would react to this information.

[Lotty]

Despite the reassurance, Mi'rah somehow doubted his looks would go un-noticed. How many people had this odd skinny-fat man thing going on? And he, by now, was completely convinced that nothing could help. He went through all the same training as every other dragonrider on Pern, suffered the same rigors, and he still came out looking like this....but then again, being grounded by C'leon for turns did not help him at all, in more than one way. That sort of went without saying though. Still, S'rei was being diplomatic enough, and the bronzerider was very gracious in taking the information, he was most of the time, exceedingly polite in that way.

"Well, regardless...I don't think that they will be missing me anytime soon," he half shrugged, this was hopefully true, but he didn't see why they would search him out to drag him back north. Especially considering he was convinced they were going to do away with him one way or another. If he was useless, then it shouldn't have mattered. It's not like Mi'rah had any secrets to spill and by now Benden's new leadership should have figured he wasn't the type to try and pick up where C'leon had left off. If there were ever two more opposite bronzeriders then it was those two...despite being contemporaries.

So K'roi was dead then? He knew that name, he knew the figures from the Siege. Of course Mi'rah didn't do a whole lot with the operation, but he was there in the far background as usual, and knew all the ins and outs of Selenitas before he had ever laid eyes on it. He had to in order to offer back-up plans and help oversee the round up of their hostages. Of course, things didn't work out too well for Benden in the end. So of course he also knew the name Ka'rys, but he assumed that the man ascended to the position by way of a flight. Obviously it was a bad guess since he was just in charge temporarily...."It's too bad that someone survives battle and then succumbs to a nasty illness," there was a bit of sympathy there, but the northerner in him had a little trouble feeling too too bad, "but if Ka'rys is in charge, then what about you?" He almost always remembered S'rei as being a man of authority.

And here we were worried that we'd be a bit of a strain... Well Kier wasn't really worried, but Mi'rah had been. Having did away with most of the herdbeast (well, lets just admit it, he practically inhaled the thing) the dragon stretched, his body going taught for a second before relaxing again, and settling down on the grassy knoll. Kierjaarth was very carefully about pressing forward, for as little his bonded cared about being in charge, that still didn't stop him from wanting to catch a gold. Something that was rather impossible at home, but here, here there was nobody to tell them no you can't...and this lack of bronzes made for good odds. Just four? Probably best you don't advertise that, suddenly you'll have all the wrong bronzes begging to come in... Of course this mean that Kierjaarth was exactly the right kind of bronze.

[Requiem]

If anything, Mi'rah was even more skittish than S'rei remembered him, though - in all honesty, that had been several turns back. His memory could just be failing him. Still, he'd seen enough of the other bronzerider off and on...when had he come to Benden? 3001? 3002? Well before Threadfall, that was for certain. He'd spent at least four turns as a wingsecond for C'leon's wing...likely because the Weyrleader wanted to use him as a source of information but really was rather hoping he wouldn't be able to take the heat. S'rei and C'leon had never had much love for one another. But yes, Mi'rah he'd seen off and on during that time - all of the men closest to the seat of command at Benden had.

"The usual. Supporting the Weyrleader." S'rei's smile was wry. It would be a lie to say that he felt much the same about Ka'rys as he had C'leon, but their relationship was hardly any warmer. The Fortian would likely be more than just a little offended if the older bronzerider ever said what was on his mind: that, of all the people at Selenitas, it was Ka'rys who most reminded him of C'leon. He'd been playing this power jig so long it almost felt comfortable to work with the man through the blanket of animosity and unease. Even if S'rei didn't really have anything against Ka'rys himself.

Then he actually answered the man's question, though. "It's been a rough couple turns for me. I just took on a wing again, and really only because we're down two wingleaders. Haven't even met yet due to the plague." S'rei eyed Mi'rah critically for a moment. "Though...you'll probably end up with me, knowing Ka'rys. He wouldn't put you on the kid's wing, and he has little love for dragonriders from Benden." Not that this was really an asset...did Mi'rah even remember how to fly on a wing?

Salenth rumbled his amusement openly. You're here. You'd find out soon enough if I didn't tell you. And if the other bronze didn't realize that once he'd set claw here, he couldn't go back to the north, he was a fool. Of course, Kierjaarth could tell some other bronzes, but why would he? That would just reduce his chances. Admittedly, he had some decent chances, though, given his age, so long as his rider didn't attract too much scorn. Salenth wouldn't know how that wind would blow...he didn't think like most of the dragons here.

[Lotty]

Mi'rah was humored by S'rei's initial response. Supporting the Weyrleader? There was a crooked smile, "Some things never change..." Backing up Ka'rys? Surprise, surprise. Then again, he was equally predictable. This could be both a good thing and a bad thing. On one hand it always put him at a disadvantage in a fight...physical or verbal. The bronzerider was systematic, and once the pattern was figured out he was insanely easy to understand. However, on the other hand, you could always count on Mi'rah to be reliable. At every beck and call...whenever there was trouble, he was there to help.

The man didn't want to admit it, but he was really was relieved at the mention that he would fall into S'rei's wing. It was much better to be with someone whom he had at least some common ground with. If Ka'rys didn't like Bendenites then he didn't want to go through the torture of putting up with his wing, and he really didn't mind being bossed around by the "kid" but really? If one could avoid the situation then why not? Yes, this was the best possible situation, at least the other bronzerider knew where he was coming from. Not that he expected any favors...all he wanted was a smooth transition, "Well I'd be honored to be on your wing S'rei. Even if you seem less than thrilled to be at the head of one."

Indeed I am. Kierjaarth swished his tail back and forth. What else was there to really say to that? He was here, Mi'rah was safely in. Did he really have to resort to small talk? He hoped not. It wasn't exactly a skill of his, but being the stubborn type he tried anyway. You've been here quite a while I guess? He knew from his own rider that Salenth couldn't have spent his entire life in the south. After all, His and the other saw one another at Benden. So complicated this world traveling could be.

[Requiem]

"And some things change all too quickly," the bronzerider responded with a wry smile. He was irritated just a little by the implications the other made, even if he'd suggested as much just a moment ago. Why he'd be upset, though, was beyond him. It was true. Much as he didn't like that truth, he had supported C'leon in any way that mattered. Liking a man or disliking him made no difference in that respect. He'd sold out Fort - young though he was, it still wasn't excusable - rather than face the possibility that he might be interrogated and killed or, worse, Salenth might be killed should Fort ever discover that he'd been at Benden for less than a turn prior to joining the ranks at Fort. A preemptive betrayal. Then he'd killed for C'leon. Defended him in battle. Supported him against the other bronzeriders because he hadn't challenged him or spoken out against him. All, again, to preserve his own hide.

There were many things S'rei wasn't proud of. At least here, at Selenitas, everything was done to defend his home, and as long as Ka'rys's interests were the same...there was no conflict of interests. His like or dislike of the Fortian aside.

Blinking at Mi'rah's words, the pensive scowl faded. He wasn't sure he wanted to be around a man who reminded him so much of the less...glamourous...turns of his life. But he nodded, smiling mildly just the same. "There's no need to stand on formality here," he added, softly. Really, there had never been much need to be formal with S'rei. His only demands of the people he led were loyalty to one another and that they do their duty to the best of their abilities. Everything else wasn't important. As an afterthought..."You'll find my reputation here is somewhat different. I'd...rather it stay that way." Others at Benden hadn't had much contact with him, but Mi'rah was different. He'd know how much of the laidback, near-oblivious personality was a front. And S'rei didn't need that sort of trouble. His life was fairly comfortable here...these days.

"It's not set in stone, anyway. Just, if I had to guess..." A mild shrug.

I was Hatched here, Salenth responded easily. That much he remembered on his own. You didn't forget where you were Hatched. Mine says we returned here just before the little silent hatchling was hatched, his clutchmate's hatchling. It is getting bigger now. That was about all Salenth could fathom, of S'rei's explanation, but His was leaving quite a bit out anyway. The concept of time was not an easy one for dragons - even bronzes. If you have any questions...? About Selenitas, of course. He assumed that was why the other bronze had asked about how long they'd been here.

[Lotty]

It wasn't a frown, no, the look that washed over the rider's face was a bit more pensive, maybe a little flustered or frustrated but not angry or disrespectful. Mi'rah didn't think that he was being explicitly formal. Polite maybe, but his father had made sure to breed such etiquette into him at an early age, he really didn't know how to be any other way. That aside, he felt that he had been honest in what he had said, honored was a bit of a hyperbole, but he would be grateful no doubt, and he didn't know voicing this made it a formality, "Nonetheless," and ironically enough here he was being proper again, "I really mean what I say S'rei, I would be happy on your wing," and the rider gave his own casual shrug.

But if that was the way the other man wanted it, then it would be fine. Mi'rah could even pretend to not know him if it would help with the whole reputation thing. It's not like he never had to fake his way around Benden, shards, there were times he had to fake not knowing N'na and Th'dor and they were his best friends. Though, still that left him curious about the wingleader's current reputation, facade, whatever you wanna call it. Sure he'd find out eventually, but he couldn't help but wonder how drastically different it was from his own memories of the man. Most of the other bronzeriders at Benden could hardly be considered anyone to pal around with.

And now came the horrible parts of conversation, the lull where he couldn't think of anything else constructive to say. He shuffled a bit and noticed the sweat...it was cooler up north. He had been wearing his riding jacket earlier that day and it was just enough for the brisk weather, but here it was stifling, "I hope its not like this all the time..." he wiped off his forehead, the statement was for himself more than anyone else, but he said it loud enough...

Oh? You must have much pride for this place then... It certainly satisfied Kierjaarth's curiosities at least, actually it was interesting enough to relay over to his rider. Prodding him and telling him about how they were Selenitas bred and not so much their countrymen after all. A fact that Mi'rah negated when he calmly assured the dragon that it didn't matter to much anymore, they were down south now. Agree to disagree as far as the bronze was concerned. If I have any questions...then I'll be sure to find you, and he meant it too.

[Requiem]

S'rei watched Mi'rah mildly. If the bronzerider meant it, he could accept it at face value, certainly. Not that it was entirely hard to believe, given Fort riders couldn't be high on the man's list as far as people he'd like to fly under. He nodded. The man tended to be more amiable and outgoing...but something about Mi'rah had him slipping back into old habits. Never truly standoffish, there was a necessary distance that had to be maintained at Benden. Familiarity breeds contempt and whatnot. Hard to follow someone that you know too much about, and at Benden he'd relied heavily on the reputation - mostly built by Salenth - for being truly frightening when they took the field. Keeping quiet and establishing a polite distance kept the fear there...without making it so uncomfortable that he couldn't get anything done. Because if there wasn't some fear, you didn't make it as a bronzerider. Power was the only thing anyone ever respected there.

The southern man glanced at Mi'rah, a puzzled look coming over his face. "Like what?" Then he actually took notice of the sweat. It was only June...not yet truly hot, for Selenitas. Yes, he'd spent a good deal of time in the north, but, having been born and raised here, it didn't take him long to reacclimate. "Oh. It's just warming up, actually," he commented, with an apologetic smile. A lot of northerners had this problem initially. "That's why most of us don't wear our leathers unless we're drilling or flying Threadfall." Why he was just in a loose shirt presently. Long sleeves were almost a necessity under Rukbat's direct rays, but loose and breathable did something to soften the heat.

"You know, it's been a while since I've had a partner to run with, if you're interested. It'll get you used to the heat faster, too, if you just throw yourself into it." S'rei typically made the run to the beach and back at least a few times a sevenday, despite all the other demands on his time. It was a good few miles one way, but it was important to him to keep fit. He thought better, for one, and the northern weyrs had a nasty habit of showing up at inopportune times.

It is ours, Salenth responded, the pride that Kierjaarth had just mentioned clear in his tone. I have children here. Mine does. We were both hatched here. Something couldn't be more yours than that, could it? Wait...that meant he'd caught a gold. He puzzled over that for a moment. No matter, golds weren't of any interest as cuddling material. Too big, too demanding. You're always welcome to do so, Salenth responded graciously. It would probably be less bothersome than attempting to address a different dragon, at any rate.

[Lotty]

There he went again with the weight subject. Now, now Mi'rah. Being a little paranoid are we? I thought we were going to work on this... So, he was a little quick to jump to conclusions, but he was a little bit conditioned to be so. It was in your best interest to be a tad neurotic, to have a bit of fear in you if you wanted to survive up north. It kept you on your toes, kept the adrenaline going. It also left you with some awful nightmares, but maybe that was something this southern weather would cure him of.

He was left nodding shyly at the other man's offer. He was more than willing to fraternize, but he was scared to death of embarrassing himself. He was also stubborn and didn't want to admit out loud that he just wasn't sure he could keep up. Mi'rah was not short, not by any means, and he had a long stride, but he doubted he had a S'rei sized stride, and even if he did, how fast would they be going? "Um..." he smiled and laughed, "how fast is a run for you?" In his head all he could imagine were sprints. He didn't mind a jog, but full speed ahead just wasn't going to work for him...but then, shards it was time he quit his complaining. he had to prove he was a competent dragonrider somehow, "Nevermind that. In the morning I suppose?" Seemed like the smartest time to go about exercising.

Kierjaarth was amazingly amused by his rider's eager to please personality. Casually peaking over he chided his partner's giddiness, I bet if he asked you to jump you would ask how high... but before Mi'rah could come up with some kind of comeback for that, the bronze had already returned his attentions back to his new acquaintance/liaison/tour guide/whatever you call it. Clutches...and Yours has had some too? That is quite impressive. I can not claim the same... and then the dragon continued his teasing streak, picking at another one of Mi'rah's sensitive subjects, Salenth's has had clutches, I bet that you are getting too old for one...

Mi'rah shot Kierjaarth a bland glare, and in response the dragon so delicately crossed his forelimbs. So innocent.