Lazy Day (Wide Open)

[Rei]

D’nar looked out over the riverbank and allowed the wind to rush through his hair. Hero was less busy now that his children had been born, but he still visited Elegance regularly. Today the bronze flit in question was sprawled out on a sun warmed rock sleeping. Beside him was D’nar’s new bronze dragon Olanreth. Who was also sleeping. The small bronze hatchling was quite full and if you mixed sun into the equation it was no time before the little dragon was out like a light.

The bronze weyrling cast his fishing pole out into the river again and flipped his shoes off to dangle his feet in the cold water. Things where relatively peaceful again in Selenitas. How long that would last was anyone’s guess but personally D’nar hoped it would last for awhile yet. Thoughts turned to the recent hatching. He had gotten his bronze, and for better or worse he was stuck with the creature. Although he loved Olanreth to death, the little guy could be a huge pain in the backside.

[Rowana]

Merridan walked lazily down the river bank. She threw the occassional rock into the rushing water, but most she was out for the walk. This was her first day off in a long while and it was good to be outside again. She spent most of her day doing chores, which were either in the kitchen or running through the halls with food. It was nice to relax and not have to rush about. Maybe she'd practice swordplay later. She had brought her long dagger with her just in case. Auran was perched proudly on her head. Since Showoff had first claimed that spot, the blue had taken to sitting there to keep nasty worms away. He watched the world wearily for anything that might disturb the peace and quiet.

Mer spotted someone familiar and waved as she ran up to him. "Hey Danar," she greeted. "Or is it D'nar now?" She grinned upon spotting the sleeping bronze. "Sleeps a lot, does he? Congratulations, by the way, I don't think I got to tell you before." She had been busy and D'nar even more so with a new dragon to care for. Auran glared at Olanreth. Keep sleeping big shiny, he thought. If the dragon woke up and made a fuss, he wasn't afraid to challenge him.

[Rei]

D’nar leaned back as he heard his name called and his face split into a grin. “Mer! Hey what’s up?” As she spoke of Olanreth he shook his head. “Yeah he just stuffs himself into a stupor but it’s ok. They are supposed to do that. He will be out for a few hours at least. So if figured I would get some fishing in.” He gestured to the fishing gear beside him. “Thanks for the congratulations and the same to you for impressing one of Hero’s babies.”

The bronze fire lizard lifted his head when he heard his name and he examined ht two humans for a minute. Until the little flit caught his eye. Chirping in happiness he stretched an leapt off the rock to wing around the two humans and perch in his pet’s head. Hello baby! How was he? Was his treating him well enough?D’nar shook his head causing Hero to grip onto his hair to avoid being thrown loose.

Olanreth snorted and scrambled at the dirt before his breathing went even again. D’nar watched his bronze for a minute before turning back to the girl. “So Mer. How’s the new candidate master? I heard they appointed Kindrith‘s bonded. Is he doing alright?”

[Rowana]

Mer chuckled. "I hope they don't sleep like that forever. I may rethink standing for one!" She took a seat next to D'nar and glanced into the river. Fishing had never been her thing. Too slow and boring. But after the craziness of late, she could see the appeal. She grinned. "Thanks. He's a perfect little defender."

She glanced up fondly to wear Auran was nestled in her hair. Auran chirped curtly back to Hero. He was fine. His was the best, was there any question? He was working hard to make sure she was safe. He had no time for silly games when their was work to be done. He was still watching Olanreth as the dragon shifted in his sleep. The little blue flared his wings and hissed a warning, but the bronze snored on. Auran settled again.

Mer resisted the urge the throw more rocks that would disturb D'nar's chances of catching anything. "I haven't met him yet," she admitted. "We've been so busy with chores and stuff that we haven't even had time for class yet." That, and after the hatching she had been one of the few candidates left. It was hard to run a class with only two or three students. But now they had a few more trickling in, so classes would begin in earnest. "We have class later this week though," she added.

[Rei]

D’nar smiled. “nah he won’t sleep like that forever. Just when he’s a baby. They eat and sleep a lot. Just like all babies. I was rather surprised you didn’t impress. I bet you will when Hepaticath rises.” Turning back to his fishing gear he cast out his line and settled down to listen to the candidate.

Hero chirped in surprise at the curt answer he was given. Auran’s hiss at his pet’s bronze caused a warble to come from the bronze. That was his pet’s dragon it was not dangerous. Silly baby. Giving a flick of his wings he launched off his bonded to circle the weyrling dragon. Back winging he settled on Olanreth’s back and curled up. See the big bronze dragon was fine. His baby was obviously not a good conversationalist. Pity.

“Hmmm.” D’nar leaned back as he watched the makeshift bobber. The fish weren’t biting well today. “You’ll have to let me know how it goes. The Candidatemaster is a dragonless now. That changes people a lot. I don’t know how he’ll be personality wise. Maybe he’ll do well and maybe he won’t. Time will tell. You at least looking forward to lessons? They give you a break from chores at least.”

[Rowana]

Mer chuckled at Olanreth. "Big baby," she commented in amusement. She looked back to D'nar. "Thanks. You'll definitely see me at Hypaticath's clutch." It was nice to know people had thought highly of her. R'wign had been sure she would impress too. If they both thought so, she figured she had a good chance at the next hatching. As R'wign had said. It just meant her dragon hadn't hatched yet.

Auran flicked his tail at Hero. Figured shinies would band together. He wasn't intimidated by their rank or size. Mer mused to herself. She had actually met Kindrith briefly. She felt bad now, for thinking he was foolish. Whether he was or not, he had certainly been brave. He had done more to save the weyrlings than she had. "I hope he's ok," she said sincerely. She didn't even have a dragon yet, so she couldn't really understand what it was like to lose one. "Lessons will be a nice change. We never had time for them before Millieth's clutch. Did you have classes?" She thought she recalled D'nar being a candidate much longer than she.

[Rei]

D’nar chuckled at Mer’s comment. “Don’t let him hear that. He has an immense ego. I have no idea if he’d take offense or not, but I would definitely laugh.” The weyrling smiled at the firl and gestured to another pole. “If you want to you can fish with me. I brought that one so I’d have an extra in case this one broke. If anyone asks we’re doing our part to help out the weyr.” He winked at her and watched as Hero leapt off Olanreth. The bronze hopped to the water’s edge and watched the current for a minute.

“I’ve only been with Olanreth for a couple of seven days and really, to tell you the truth, I couldn’t imagine life without him. It’s hard to explain.” D’nar trailed off and smiled. “I guess once you impress at Hepaticath’s hatching you’ll know what I’m talking about.” Hero sprang aloft and made lazy circles above the two humans.

The bronze weyrling listened as Mer spoke, and when she finished he shook his head. “Actually I had a grand total of one class. Then the blue rider who was teaching us just stopped showing up. Didn’t matter to me though. I’m weyrbred. I already learned it all. My mother and her green Tianith where better teachers than any Candidatemaster.” if anything was turn that was. Weyrbred candidates had a better idea of what was to come than holdbred ones. If anything the lad was still of the opinion that wyerbred children made better riders. There wasn’t much fact to dissuade him from his belief either. Some holdbred people had a really hard time adjusting once they impressed. Really who could blame them either? Things where so different in a weyr.

[Rowana]

Merridan shrugged and picked up the extra pull. "I'll try anything once," she said, then grinned. "At least no one can say we're being lazy like your Olanreth." Mer glanced at D'nar before dropping the hook in the river. Fishing couldn't be all that hard, could it? "I hope someday I'll have a friend like him too," she mused.

She cocked her head as D'nar spoke about class. "Only one, eh? I hope we get more than that, or they'll overwork us with chores again just to keep us out of trouble." She chuckled at the thought. "Growing up in the weyr must have been fun. You look like you were born to ride dragons, that's for sure." She nodded her head back to Olanreth. "I wasn't surprise that you got bronze. It suites you." She leaned back. "I'm holdbred, myself. Hyphen. My father's Master Smith there."

[Rei]

D’nar chuckled. “Yeah fishing is easy. Olanreth is just bored is all. I am sure he will be a workaholic when he grows. I would prefer he didn’t stuff himself so much though. I worry he will get indigestion the little pig.” Flicking his line he frowned. The fish where sure taking their time now. “I am sure you will soon get your own dragon. Your strong. I’m sure you’ll impress well.” Hero dipped his wings and dove beneath the current just then. Moments later, he exploded out of the water, bronze hide glimmering. Landing on his rock with a fish clutched securely in his talons The bronze shook the water from his hide and lowered his head to examine his prize.

“Yeah it’s not all fun and games being weyrbred. Believe me you get your share of chores and you also tend to get in a lot of trouble.” He flashed her a smile and tilted his head when she spoke of Hyphen. The bronze weyrling wrinkled his brow. “That hold name sounds familiar…Oh! I remember now! C’oar’s from that hold, you know him? Big lad. One of my best friends. He impressed the clutch before mine. Brown Frosstyth. I stood for that clutch and didn’t impress. I knew my bronze was just waiting and I was right. Olanreth is so worth the wait.” D’nar smiled and turned toward the sleeping dragonet.

[Rowana]

Mer grinned at Hero as he returned with his fish. "Looks like Hero is better at fishing than us," she chuckled. Auran huffed at his sire. He was not about to be outdone! Tail twitching, Auran took off from Mer's head. Only to be buffeted sideways by the wind. Auran growled as he got back on trap. Stupid wind. It was its fault clearly, not the fact that his wing sails were rather large. Without another thought, he dived to the river to try his luck. Just wait! He would get the biggest fish.

Mer rolled her eyes at Auran. "I'd better be careful," she commented. "Or Auran will chase all the hatchlings away for being unworthy." That didn't mean she regretted impressing him. Far from it. She was still the best fire lizard in her opinion. Mer frowned in concentration. "C'oar? Let's see now. I knew a Cloar. His father and mine were both Smiths so they worked together sometimes. I think he left to become a candidate almost two years ago." She cocked her head thoughtfully. It could be the same boy she had known. C'oar was very close to Cloar after all, and brown sounded just like him.

So D'nar had stood too? Like R'wign and M'ta, and herself. Guess she really didn't have anything to worry about. She didn't get a chance to comment, because Auran chose that moment to splash free of the water. His return was much less graceful than Hero's and involved splattering the two with water before he alighted on a rock. He had his fish though, even if it was smaller than the bronze's. He was just as good! So there!

[Rei]

“Yep Cloar that’s him. Remember names are contracted once you impress for males. C’oar is his new name dropped the L. Brown Frosstyth is his dragon.” He smiled at Hero. “Aw that’s nothing for him watch he’ll catch like three or four and then between with them to his mate. He likes to feed her and her fair. Silly bronze.” True to D’anr’s prediction the bronze flit stashed his fish on Olanreth and launched into the air to circle again before diving beneath the water a second time.

The bronze weyrling sighed and jiggled the bait a bit. “Your Auran is pretty. Hero sired him right. My bronze is proud of all his babies. Your flit doesn’t seem to like Hero much but it’s ok. Hero is not one to provoke arguments. If something bothers him he has gotten into the habit of dumping it in the river.” D’nar leaned back as something caught the bait. “Oh I think I got something!” Further words where not given as he tested wills with the fish. In no time at all he had brought it onto the bank. ‘Huzzah! Not to big but the guys a good size.” Deftly twisting it off the hook he tossed it into a bucket not far away. As he re-baited his hook he smiled at Mer. “So how are the candidate barracks? I haven’t been there since I impressed and it seems the search dragons have picked up a bunch of new females. Maybe the dragons sense something we don’t.”

[Rowana]

"That's right," Mer looked thoughtful. "I wonder what my name will sound like shorter. I wouldn't be sad to lose some letters for a dragon." If fact, she might actually like it better. The fact that only boys got their names shortened had completely slipped past her. Auran watched Hero with disinterest. His fish was the best, he didn't need to get more. He turned back to his meal with a twitched of his tail.

"He is handsome," Mer smiled t Auran. "But he also has a bit of an attitude." She shrugged. "I can't imagine him any other way though." The conversation was interrupted by D'nar's shout and Mer leaned forward eagerly. She grinned as D'nar tossed the fish into the bucket. "I guess Auran and Hero didn't get them all." She jerked her line a little, but no luck. Maybe the fish just liked D'nar's better. "There are a lot of newcomers," she agreed. "It's nice, 'cause it was pretty lonely after you guys all impressed. We do have a few more girls than before. What does that have to do with anything?" She didn't really understand what D'nar was getting at. Wasn't it all the same, male or female, to a dragon?

[Rei]

D’nar shook his head and smiled at Mer. Who was he to burst her bubble? If she wanted a contracted name he would judge her. Really the candidate wasn’t to bad. She was actually kind of fun and easier to talk to that most females. Probably cause she didn’t act much like a girl at all. Well that was just fine with D’anr. Hero ignored his son. If he wanted to act stuck up so be it. He was still a silly baby. One day he would learn. He couldn’t fault him. He was his get after all. Gathering his fish by the tails he clutched them in his talons and gave a soft flute to D’nar before blinking between. No doubt to share the spoils with his adoptive family. The bronze weyrling watched him go with a smile. He adored R’wign’s flits himself. Hero’s affection was catchy. Really he didn’t even mind Roxie anymore.

Turning back to Mer D’nar raised an eyebrow. “Well this is just speculation. But. I think the dragon’s are searching more females cause it is about time for us to have another queen. I could be wrong but before Hepaticath we got a load of females to. Same deal I think.” The bronze weyrling frowned. “I mean Aslath passed and although, thank Faranth, Millieth’s clutch was all healthy we no deformities we still are probably due to have another queen clutched soon. It’s a proven fact that queens are clutched in times of crisis. Like when thread is due to fall. Then again I could be reading to much into it.” the lad flippe dhis line back into the water. “Any thoughts?”

[Rowana]

Mer cocked her head thoughtfully. "A queen, eh?" That would be good. After Aslath's death and the loses at the attack, a new queen would bring new hope to the Weyr. She wondered who would impress such a special dragon. She didn't consider herself. Queen's impressed to girls, and she didn't think she really counted as one. She might have preferred having a bronze like D'nar, but she knew that was impossible too. Like or not, she was a girl, at least physically.

Mer shrugged at the boy. "Who knows. Dragons are pretty smart though." She tugged a little at her line, but still now luck. "I just hope we don't fall short on boys, either. It's getting rather crowded with all the giggly girls around." Not that all of them really fell into that category. Some of them were quite nice, and not silly at all. But Mer had never really understood other girls. She'd much rather hang out with the boys. She might have even picked a bed in their dorm if it had been allowed.

[Rei]

“Yes a queen. It will be good for the weyr I think. Especially if Ciceroth catches Hepaticath. Ciceroth already has produced a queen. I bet he could produce another easy.” D’nar leaned back and looked out over the water. “You know what Mer? I think you would make a good Queen rider. Your outspoken and strong. You should concentrate on the queen egg I think.” The bronze weyrling winked at her and Olanreth rolled over to flop on his other side. The lad watched his dragon for a minute, but he didn’t wake. Shrugging he turned back to the girl.

“Dragons are smart and they will start picking up more boys after Hepaticath actually rises. Mark my words once eggs are expected the search dragons will be out in force. I’ve lived here all my life things get really busy when eggs are expected. I am worried though, we haven’t heard a word from Benden. Not even a whisper. That’s a bit odd. I wonder if we should increase security when Hepaticath clutches. Not that anyone would mess with her. She’s a humongous gold.” Falling silent D’nar cast his line out into a small pool of silent water along the bank. “Try to go for the still water Mer. More fish hang out where they don’t have to fight against the current.” The weyrling offered by way of suggestion, giving her another wink. She really was pleasant to be around. A change from all the frilly emotional girls. It was nice.