Prepare to Engage (Open)

[kysseh]

The shallows of the river had disintegrated into a flying whirlwind of water and mud. What had begun as a resting cool-down after a good (if somewhat short) flight had turned into an all-out brawl when a luckless wherry had happened upon the riverbank, heedless of the danger nearby. They were downwind of it, Aliscia reasoned grimly, plucking at her mud-caked clothing as she waited with arms folded for the fighting to finish. Tanith was never very neat with her kills, and it seemed that a lack of proper exercise was making the green abnormally cantankerous.

"I think it's dead, dear," the greenrider drawled, rolling her eyes at the antics of her mindmate. The sound of snapping bones made the woman cringe slightly in sympathy for the poor wherry as a final strangled sound made it obvious that the creature was done for. The chaos of water, mud, and flesh finally died down, and the green dragon effortlessly flopped the wherry carcass up onto the bank with a flick of her head, her neck arched in obvious pride as she pounced on the thing with a great deal of vigor. “Faranth, my love, but couldn’t you have at least waited until the straps were off?”

A rumble of supreme smugness was the only intelligent response, as Tanith was too intent on digging her claws into the carcass to care about Aliscia’s opinion. The scarred green growled in pleasure at the kill, eyes whirling bright blue. She bugled in obvious delight at the mess she had made. No one could make Hers quite so frustrated as Tanith could.

The woman on the beach grumbled and ambled over to her mindmate, swatting the green on the nose when the bloodied muzzle look as if it might rub onto her clothes. Disgusting. “Stop with that noise. You’re nowhere even close to Rising, and don’t you dare get me dirtier,” she scolded, unbuckling the straps and then getting out of range of the green’s antics. Her gaze drifted over the straps, and she was disgusted by their state. Filthy, of course. “And now I have to clean these. Brat. You’d think I never make sure you eat. I am the one needing extra food, not you.”

Stop fussing. I am slightly hungry. It is dead. I am eating it. Now go sit down and be docile like a good eggheavy creature. the green said smugly, flicking a bit of mud at Hers with her tail. The effort was rewarded with a great deal of cursing and stomping, and the green made no attempts to hide the obvious whirl of her eyes. Truly, Tanith was not very hungry, but it was so delicious and available, this wherry. The green was happier to just rip tiny pieces out of it to eat. The afternoon was pleasant, and there was so much time to enjoy it.

Of course the green was going to take her time, Aliscia reasoned as she settled the straps over a rock to let them dry. The woman ran one hand through her short-cropped hair to ruffle it out of her face. Stupid sharding dragon was going to drive her out of her mind. The flight had been intended to get rid of the green’s excess energy and keep her rider in shape, but cutting it short was obviously not the best idea the woman had had in a long while. “Would you stop that?!” she exclaimed, stuffing her fingers in her ears as the green let out another bugle for the sake of being irritating. Shardblast that creature.

[Rei]

As the echo of the green’s bugle died away it was answered by another. This one deep, loud, and brassy. Kaaoloth swept close over the bank, kicking up wind from his large wings as he backwinged to a landing. Touching down he crooned pleasantly and fell to all fours…or rather threes for him. The brown arched his neck as he examined the scene before him. Rumbling a greeting to Aliscia he turned whirling green eyes to the dragon.

Fair skies Tanith. He remarked quite pleasantly. His own bonded was back at the barracks doing paperwork. They had not exactly been getting along the best lately and these excursions from his bonded where becoming more frequent. Large wings half furled themselves as the brown hopped closer, nostril’s flaring to catch the scent of blood. Feeding then?

He wasn’t sure whether or not Tanith was the type to guard her food viciously. So he took a few precautions against getting charged. Staying just out of striking range he crooned again, the sound meant to come across as reassuring. He wasn’t interested in stealing her food, he just wanted to see what it was. Curiosity may have killed the feline but Kaaoloth was much bigger than the average feline. Smarter too. He wouldn’t have survived as long as he had otherwise. He examined the smaller green for signs that she may be proddy but no glow was apparent. Pity…he rather liked this female and it had been so long since he last chased. Due in no small part to his bonded’s health. But Sel’n was fine again and so the brown himself was free to chase again.

Hunting out? He asked with interest. Occasionally Kaaoloth liked to do such as well, but he liked to tackle nastier prey. Felines normally. It gave him a bit of the thrill that he had lacked since leaving Fort. Mock battles where hard to be had here. In part due to his bonded. Sel’n didn’t like to participate in them unless it involved a partner he somewhat trusted. Currently the only one his bonded liked to spare with was E’rro and Ismaroth. Ever since their impromptu mock battle last turn the other brown pair had been the ones they most often sought. Although Kaaoloth would have liked to “play” with one of the greens occasionally, his wasn’t familiar enough with any of the fighting green pairs. Pity his bonded wasn’t here. The dragon wouldn’t participate alone. Too much risk. He would have to settle for Tanith’s company if she would deign to give it.

Tail twitching the brown dipped his head. He had been on his way to sun when Tanith’s bugle had caught his attention. Now he wasn’t sure what to do. It would be rather rude to just leave. Would you mind company?

[kysseh]

“You overgrown, half-breed hatchling of a wherry!”

Aliscia’s curses melted into splutters and coughs as the bugling shadow overhead turned into a low-flying brown that just had to stir up the dust with his landing. She covered her mouth and nose with the thankfully-clean neckline of her shirt, shielding her eyes with one hand as the brown finally settled himself on the bank. Her face popped back out from the shirt as soon as the air was breathable again, and her hands quickly planted themselves on their hips in a typical feminine gesture that usually preceded a good scolding.

“Yes, hello. As if I could miss your entrance,” the greenrider grumbled in the brown’s direction in response to his rumble. At least… she assumed he had been saying hello to her. Hmph. Dragon noises were terribly hard to translate at times. She wondered if the brown had mistaken Tanith’s noises for a signal of imminent Rising. Poor idiot male. So far from the truth, that was. “She’s not proddy, so why you even bothered to show up I have no idea.” The greenrider tried to brush some of the dust and drying mud off her clothes, grumbling quietly as she adjusted her belt around her midsection. Bother. It couldn’t get any looser.

Tanith had been alerted by the noise and had ceased her ripping into the carcass in favor of an aggressive display of ownership. Her wings rattled threateningly, a dry hiss accompanying them as her dark head turned to fixate one whirling eye on the brown. Idiot, this one. Wasn’t this the weyrlingmaster’s brown? She thought so and reminded Hers of that fact. He better not be assuming she was a weyrling, that lumpy, three-legged-

Tanith, behave!

The silent scolding was enough to make the hissing cut short, though the green was visibly displeased by another creature’s proximity to her toy-that-just-happened-to-be-food. She idly pawed at the carcass with one forefoot, her tail flicking back and forth in an almost feline gesture of agitation. Fair skies, indeed, though Mine seems to be somewhat limited in the time she can spend aloft. Such fussy creatures, humans. You seem to have lost yours somewhere. It was a very casual statement, one intended to gauge the brown’s response. Tanith was not the most clever of dragons, but she was no fool either. What was it doing without its human? It seemed quite odd to her.

The green swiped at the air with a forefoot and then settled back on her haunches, the front half of her body still somewhat hunched over her meal. He better not try to steal it. Since you’re here, you might as well stay. If you leave, Mine will complain about the dust again. Unless you enjoy hearing her scold you. Because some males just did like that. Salenth’s seemed to enjoy it when Hers fussed at him, a fact which made Tanith quite amused. A green scolding a bronze… how very funny. As for my food, it was stupid enough to wander upwind of us alone. A toy is much preferable to swimming. You really should have brought Yours. I am sure Mine is much more exciting company than the whiny little weyrlings. Tanith itched to sink her teeth into her rightfully-gotten food, but waiting until the brown was established as no threat to her ownership seemed wise. She didn’t trust him.

[Rei]

Kaaoloth backed up slowly at the threat display, muscles tensing for a quick take off. Tanith’s words however kept him from flinging himself into the sky. The brown fanned the air once, seemingly indecisive before tucking them closed against his body. Amused he crooned, eyes still whirling a pleasant green. Ah I am sorry for the unintentional dust bath I gave yours. Swinging his head around he crooned to the pregnant green rider before returning his attention to the hunched over green.

Lost his rider? The brown didn’t comment on such. He preferred to think of it as misplaced anyway. He hadn’t lost Sel’n, they just where not on the best of terms right now. Shaking his head to rid it of the sobering thought he lowered himself to the ground. It wasn’t that he exactly trusted Tanith. He trusted that she wouldn’t do anything this close to the weyr where help would come quickly. Besides hers was obviously egg heavy and would not be risked. Kaaoloth was closer to Aliscia than Tanith at the moment. Craning his neck he examined the rider again. I am sure yours would be much better company than many of the weyrlings. However mine is fussy in his own ways. As far as the weyrlings being whiny was concerned. The brown reserved judgment. He adored his weyrlings.

He watched idly as the green continued to pick and pull at her meal of “convenience”. Dimly at the back of his mind he felt a questioning prod. His had probably taken a break and found out he wasn’t lounging near the barracks as was the norm. Well they where not too terribly far away and Kaaoloth did not feel like uprooting himself to collect his rider. Instead he sent a quick flash of the location complete with Tanith and her bloody prize. The brown tactfully neglected to mention Aliscia. Pregnancy was a topic his flailed at.

Would serve Sel'n right if he did show up. Rumbling the dragon bespoke the green again. Yours is egg heavy I see. It often does make riders fussy I am told. Flicking his tail he crooned to the pregnant rider again. He did so love hatchlings and human ones where no exception. He would rather like to sire his own someday. His was fuss about that topic however and so it wasn’t often voiced.

[kysseh]

I would not mind you dusting her if she did not make such a fuss about it. Her complaints make me tired.

The green would have sounded almost bored if the keen interest displayed in her gaze was not so evident. Kaaoloth seemed unusually interested in Hers, and that made Tanith slightly edgy, not to mention possessive. The green had a few long-standing habits from her former home that had yet to go away. Her obsessive protective instincts toward Hers were evidence of that. Still, Hers seemed to be curious and not the least bit frightened of the three-legged beast, so… perhaps she could settle down and play with her prize. That would do.

Of course, Tanith could not resist passing on some of the brown’s comments to Hers, simply because nothing was better than a meal with entertainment. The green’s carefully-edited explanation that Kaaoloth was aware of Aliscia’s gravid state did not sit well, but that was exactly what the green intended.

The little woman puffed up slightly, almost comical in her frustration. “Oh, I am not that big yet,” she said crossly, striding closer to the brown to make sure he could see that she was annoyed with him. If she was only taller, then the protruding bump would not have been much in evidence. Hmph. At this rate, the whole weyr would know before long… if they didn’t already. “Glad you decided to stay, though. The brat could use someone to keep her on her toes.” The last statement was largely directed at Tanith, but Aliscia was disappointed to note that it fell on largely deaf ears. The green seemed to be ignoring her for the moment.

Now that it was established that the brown was not leaving, Tanith had no qualms about ripping viciously into her meal. The green flicked a strip of meat upwards, watching it turn over in midair before falling back down into her waiting jaws. Ahhh, so nice it was to get her claws and teeth into something that had been alive. The penned herdbeasts had nothing on a wild, squirmy meal. Granted, the wherry was long past the squirmy stage, given it was dead, but it was still a grand mealtoy. Mine fusses more that the hatchling inside her fusses. the green observed mildly, swiping her tongue along one claw to rid it of blood. What are you doing out away from the barracks? The weyrlings do not require supervision?

[Rei]

Kaaoloth rumbled softly as Aliscia started to scold him again. Chuffing in amusement he regarded the rider and lowered his head to her level. Carefully he brought his muzzle closer to her belly but did not touch. Instead he crooned softly. He had caught Tanith’s interested gaze and didn’t seek to cause her anxiety. She seemed to be possessive which wasn’t odd. He was possessive of his bonded in his own way as well. The brown adjusted his wings and they rustled softly.

He tried to speak to Aliscia through Tanith because he just wasn’t comfortable speaking to others, but now he couldn’t be positive that Aliscia would get his messages unaltered. It seemed that Tanith had already twisted his words once. Not unusual really, but bothersome. Not that he let it show. He thought the pregnant rider looked just lovely not large. Hatchlings where always good things. At least to him.

Raising his head he looked back at the green as she dove into her meal. Yes I can see that she is a bit fussy. Not that I blame her. Humans have to carry their hatchlings for an absurdly long time. Which always seemed quite odd to the brown. Still it was just the way things where he supposed. As for his being away from the weyrlings. My class has already graduated to personal weyrs and their lesson is not for candlemarks yet. It is nice to have a bit of free time. The younger dragons are being watched by Azrath and his currently. He offered in answer to her question.

It was nice to have some free time to himself. Even if only every once and awhile. Speaking of time to himself he could tell that his was on his way over here. Hmm curious. To warn him of the large green and her bloody meal, or not? Would serve him right to bumble into a mess. Then again he didn’t want him badly hurt. Sigh. Kaaoloth offered his a picture as way of warning before addressing Tanith. He didn’t want her startled by his either. Mine is on his way because he is horribly nosy. So I suppose yours will get some company after all.

Problem was, after meeting Sel’n Tanith’s would probably wish he hadn’t arrived at all. Oh well it really couldn’t be helped and his did need to learn to be more pleasant to people. It was a shame his didn’t have any friends. It was rather lonely by themselves. Not that it seemed to bother his to much. Although it did seem to bother him a least a little bit sometimes. Not that his would ever admit to such. Stubborn his bonded was…although that was probably one of the reasons Sel’n was still alive. Stubborn people where hard to kill.

As if thoughts of his bonded had caused the man to materialize Sel’n stumbled out of the brush cursing under his breath. Stopping short his eyebrows rose as he beheld Aliscia and he nodded his head in greeting. “I hope he hasn’t been making himself too much of a nuisance?” Kaaoloth snorted before lowering his head back toward Aliscia and crooning. What I a nuisance? Never. He replied to his bonded and eyed Tanith with amusement evident in his whirling eyes. This is my fussy rider. Perhaps they can fuss together for a moment? It is bound to be entertaining if they do. Flicking his tail tip he yawned. Maybe if we are lucky they can draw some more wherries close with their fussing?

[kysseh]

The appearance of the brownrider ordinarily would have made Aliscia roll her eyes. Now she was simply amused by the turn of events that had altered her original plans for the day. The brown head that hovered perilously close to her was making her slightly uneasy, but the fact that His was near… obviously, the brown was not going to be a problem. The little woman raised a hand to try to gently push the brown’s head away and was instead distracted by Kaaoloth’s eye so near her. Shard it all. He had to look nice, didn’t he?

“Great big brute. Who forgot to teach you about personal space and boundaries?” she groused at the large dragon, the hand lifted with the intent to push him instead landing on his eyeridges to gently scratch at them. She was forced to stand on tiptoe to reach, but that did not matter much. “He’s a complete nuisance. But… considering he is male, that is to be expected,” Aliscia remarked dryly, smirking over at the rider while she paid attention to the dragon. “Sel’n, right? I suppose I should know you better.” It was a statement of fact, not regret. What was past was past. Could not fix it now, could she?

Tanith tossed her head in mild irritation, not at all surprised by the brownrider’s arrival given the warning she received. Her nibbling at the carcass was growing more aggressive, a fact that was not lost on her rider. While Aliscia rolled her eyes at the green’s behavior, Tanith ripped off a flap of skin and shook it around with great vigor. It was great exercise, it was. I see Ours are taking great advantage of the company. You and Yours are lucky to have a break in responsibility. Do you have weyrmates to keep you from growing bored? the green asked bluntly, briefly considering shaking her bloody, gory bit of hide in the brownrider’s direction. That would be funny, wouldn’t it?

Unfortunately for the green, Hers got a whiff of those thoughts and immediately sent her an appropriately scathing look. “You might want to keep some distance between you and her. Messy eater,” the greenrider drawled in amusement, still patiently attending Kaaoloth’s ridges. “By the way, giant, you could bend just a bit lower. I can’t reach very well.” By Faranth, what was wrong with her brain? First she wanted to shove the brown away and scold him. Now she was paying attention to the beast. Clearly, pregnancy was destroying her mind, a thought that made her huff. At least the brownrider didn’t know about her condition. It wasn’t that obvious, was it?

More wherries? Why do we need more wherries? Tanith was asking of the brown, her gaze momentarily drifting over the brown’s twitching tail. But they will fuss, I am sure. Perhaps that will work to our advantage. Food and entertainment.

[Rei]

Kaaoloth made a low purring sound as Aliscia chided him and then went about scratching his eye ridges. Lowering his head as instructed he half lidded his eyes in obvious contentment. Good at this she was. So kind was this greenrider, amusing as well. He would have to make a point to remember her. Crooning low in his throat he brushed against Sel’n’s mind. Be nice. Do not chase her off. She is good at scratching, better than you certainly. You could learn from her.

Raising an eyebrow at his beast Sel’n snorted dryly. “Nuisance he may be, but he informs me that I am not allowed to chase you off. Your attentions seem to be very appreciated.” Shaking his head at his dragon he ran a hand through his hair. “The personal space issue is one we have worked on for years. He refuses to believe that anyone wouldn’t want his big head in their face.” Kaaoloth snorted in response, blowing Sel’n’s hair every which way. Darn he really did need a haircut. It had been far too long since his last one and his hair was now longer than he had ever worn it, falling to just below his ears. All so maturely the rider gave his dragon’s nose a smack in response. "Behave you brute." Not that Kaaoloth gave even a small indication that he felt it.

“Sel’n yes, and the brute you are so kindly humoring is my dear Kaaoloth.” Idly he adjusted his vision to include the green and her gory mess. “Aliscia if I am not mistaken?” He gave Tanith a wide berth as instructed. “Messy eater huh? Well there is something our dragon’s have in common. You’d be surprised how bloody Kaaoloth can make things.” Taking another look at Tanith he chuckled. “Then again maybe you wouldn't be quite so surprised..” If the Weyrlingmaster was aware of Aliscia’s physical condition he gave no indication. Kaaoloth’s large head was blocking most of her body anyway. Which was perhaps fortunate for her. Sel’n was very uncomfortable when it came to babies…at least his own.

The brown rumbled at the green’s words and his eyes whirled in shades of blue and green. Weyrmates? I am afraid not. We are alone. Not that Kaaoloth didn’t want a weyrmate. He would love one. His was just….well his. It wasn’t as if Kaao hadn’t tried to gain one in the past. His was just against the whole idea. For one reason or another. Silly his was. He had long ago convinced himself that no one would ever love him like Kaaoloth did. Yes no one could love him as the brown did, but that didn’t mean he was unlovable. Trying to tell Sel’n that was like trying to tell Rukbat not to shine however. Impossible. Snorting at that thought he flicked his tail. It was as Vanity often so eloquently said. Dummyhis was a dummy.

Tanith’s other comment had Kaaoloth rumbling in draconic laughter, his tail continuing to twitch. This green was amusing him quite efficiently. Yes entertaining they should be. I just though that perhaps more food would be appropriate. Sinking your talons into things can be so….satisfying. His tail tip ceased it's twitching for a moment as another thought came to the brown. Tell me Tanith, have you ever hunted felines? Kaaoloth’s eyes whirled faster that the thought. Now they are very squirmy. Very amusing to hunt as well. They think themselves quite clever. I think you would enjoy it.

[kysseh]

Obviously, male dragons were no more immune to attention than their human counterparts, Aliscia thought with an amused snort as Kaaoloth fairly basked in the affection she was paying to him. It was hard to be annoyed with something so obviously good-tempered, though, so the greenrider capitulated for the moment. That energy could better be spent elsewhere, saved for important things like cleaning up the riding straps and making sure her weyrmate remembered to eat regularly. Ridiculous man, that one. Always caught up in his work, he was. She would fix it.

Sel’n’s words promptly distracted her from that train of thought, and the woman childishly rolled her eyes in response, still not ceasing her attentions to the brown. “At least he isn’t being aggressive about it. Could be worse. Tanith has a nasty tendency to shove people over with the assumption of affection,” Aliscia commented offhandedly, watching in mild amusement as the brownrider promptly lectured his mindmate. As if the dragon would listen, she snickered silently. “That’s right. Aliscia. The one with the poor table manners is Tanith. I think dragons are messy by nature, the lot of them. She, though-“

The greenrider jerked her chin at Tanith as the green pounced again on her food and elicited a nauseating squelching sound from the carcass. Disgusting.

“-does it to be a pest.”

Tanith snorted and made a great show of ignoring Aliscia’s very existence for that brief moment. Likely, she would forget that she was annoyed within a matter of moments, but that thought hardly crossed her mind. Shame on her mindmate. Pest was hardly a sufficient word. ‘Insufferable,’ ‘aggravating,’ and ‘terrifying’ were slightly better descriptors. A shame to have your weyr all to yourself. Tanith remarked mildly to Kaaoloth, wishing Hers would move away from the brown so that she could properly ignore the little greenrider. That would serve her right, wouldn’t it? I am sure there are some wherries loitering around. This one could not have gotten far without others. Wherries are too stupid to run alone.

A predatory instinct was ticking over somewhere in the back of Tanith’s mind, and Aliscia momentarily paused her attentions to Kaaoloth to eye the green, wondering what the creature was up to. The brown’s question filtered through to her via Tanith’s own mind, and Aliscia flicked the brown with some amount of annoyance before resuming scratching his eyeridge. “No, we can’t exactly go hunting felines. I’m not in the shape for it, and we haven’t had the time since arriving,” she grumbled at the brown, pressing the heel of her free hand into her lower spine to ease some of the ache there. Ahhh, that was better. “So, I assume you got bored with your work, Sel’n? It’s too nice a day to be stuck indoors anyway. Haven’t the healers given you the lecture on fresh air?” she asked the brownrider around his mindmate’s head, wishing again that she was taller. “They seem particularly fond of informing me of the importance of fresh air and good exercise, as if dragonriders didn’t already know. Perhaps they think we’re stupid.”

[Rei]

Sel’n chuckled softly at Aliscia’s annoyance with Tanith. Oh he had been in her mood far too often. Kaaoloth was good at being an annoyance when he wanted to be. Hazard of the breed he assumed. Looking over at the green he flinched as the carcass squelched. It was a sound that made him want to squirm. Leaning idly on his dragon’s head he rubbed the opposite eye ridge. Sharding annoying beasts dragons where sometimes.

Kaaoloth rumbled apologetically as Aliscia flicked him. Pressing urgently on his bonded’s mind he formed and apology. Rider translation please? Tell her that I understand and she should be careful. I was only trying to make conversation. However once her lovely hatchling comes I would like to take them hunting if they would accept? Sel’n listened to the brown’s words with interest and raised an eyebrow at the hatchling part. She is pregnant? Yes but it is not your hatchling so you do not need to flail. It is probably Salenth’s. They are weyrmates if I am not mistaken. Ah….

Clearing his throat the Weyrlingmaster shook his head in slight amusement. Catching Aliscia’s eye he smiled slightly. “Kaaoloth wishes for me to assure you that he understands. He also wants to add that the offer still stands once your lovely hatchling is born. He would very much like to invite you and Tanith hunting with him.” Pausing he gave his dragon’s eye ridge a final pat. “I try and get out a bit every once and awhile. We usually go flying, but today Kaaoloth was sidetracked by your pest….err. Lovely green.” He bowed to Tanith to take any unintentional sting out of the words.

Talk about the healers had Sel’n shaking his head, a slight frown coming across his features. “Yes the healers seem to love to hassle. Some more than others but I suppose they mean well. Not that we need to be treated as children. As you say dragonriders tend to be active by nature. How could we not be with our large counterparts so intent on making us crazy?" Winking he continued. "Washing Kaaoloth is an exercise in itself. Especially since I tend to have to do it with only a mandyr for assistance. All day affair that.” Kaaoloth rumbled at that and unfurled his wings slightly. Yes he was large, but it wasn’t as if he intentionally made himself hard to bathe. Silly his.

To Tanith Kaaoloth replied. Yes wherries are certainly unintelligent. Though perhaps that is for the best. Intelligent wherries running in packs like felines was something Kaaoloth did not want. Not that he would have any problem killing a flock but the humans might be in trouble. Flicking his tail, he half lidded his eyes again, quite happy to bask in the attentions of the two riders. What a wonderful break this was turning out to be. And lo and behold….his rider wasn’t ruining it. Miracle that was.

[kysseh]

Tanith would have been delighted to know that the brownrider flinched at the noise she produced from her carcass-toy, if only Aliscia had made it public knowledge.

As it was, Aliscia thought that perhaps the green’s ego did not need any more feeding. One eyebrow arched at the rumbling sound the brown made, and she shifted her hand a bit to scratch at a different part of his ridge. Was that better? He had better tell her; she could not hear him after all. A brief thought flitted through her mind, and she peeked around the brown’s head at his rider, a smirk turning up the corners of her mouth as he caught her gaze. The offer stood, hmm? How kind of the pair to offer a hunting trip.

“Tanith and I would very much like to go feline hunting… once I’m capable. And feel free to call her a pest. Complimenting her will make her want to drool on you, I’m afraid,” the greenrider drawled pleasantly, not bothering to keep the amusement from her expression or voice. Her hand seemed unwilling to move away from the brown’s ridges, and Kaaoloth seemed delighted still with the attention. “I can see why washing him is a workout. You are a big boy, aren’t you, Kaaoloth?”

A snort from the vicinity of the carcass caught her attention, and Aliscia smirked in Tanith’s direction, aware that the green was picking up on her mood. Clever creature. “I’m lucky she’s small. It always makes me wonder why we can’t harness some of that free time that the candidates have. They’re so keen on getting into mischief, hmm? Too bad we can’t all claim one and make them be helpful,” she mused thoughtfully, rubbing at her chin with her free hand. That was a good idea, indeed. A grimace suddenly passed over her face, her back contorting to relieve some of the ache that was present there. The discomforts of pregnancy were becoming all too real as of late, and she found herself unable to relieve many of them. Guilt kept her from complaining to her weyrmate. He had better things on his mind.

The carcass was beginning to lose its allure. Tanith had eaten perhaps half of the edible parts and was satisfied, simply toying the dead beast around with one forepaw to keep herself occupied. Flick, flick, flick. You seem very content. No, you may not keep Mine. She belongs to me first and Salenth’s second, so you will have to get in line. Though… if you did feel inclined to fight Salenth’s…

The green purposely allowed the thought to trail off, occupying herself with nibbling at a bit of hide from the carcass to tease the brown. He wanted it, she reasoned. Too bad, it was, that he could not have it yet. She was not finished playing with it, but once she was finished, it would be traded for Hers. Hers needed a bath, after all. I do not suppose you would approve of the idea of giving the fleshlings a much-needed bath, would you? No, you are too serious by far. How silly of me to even ask.

[Rei]

Kaaoloth gave a low purring sound as Aliscia moved her hand to give attention to a different part of his ridge. Oh yes this one he quite liked. Not very many people gave him attention besides his. He was quite willing to unofficially claim this one. She was good at pampering. Lucky Tanith. Lidding his eye completely, he purred louder. The noise vibrated through Sel’n from his place leaning against the brown’s head and he snorted softly, reaching up to run a hand down the brown’s muzzle. “You speak of not complementing your own lovely green and yet you pamper my annoyance. Be careful or he may attach himself to you.” Shaking his head in something akin to mock agitation the man removed his hand from Kaaoloth’s muzzle.

“Yes well we will have to set up a hunting trip then. Kaaoloth will enjoy having a partner to showoff to. Although I am sure Tanith will be able to show him a thing or two.” Kaaoloth snorted at his and his tail tip flicked once. You make me sound as if I am stuck up. Not true Fussypantsmine. I would welcome the company is all. The words where surprisingly given to all present, this time Aliscia included. Although the brown did not like speaking to humans he got the impression that Aliscia would not mind and he was comfortable enough to let some things slip for the moment.

Sel’n chuckled and tapped the brown’s nose with a finger, the touch meant to reproach. Quiet you. Then he continued aloud to the greenrider. “He is big isn’t he. You know you may have something there. Maybe I will have to approach Emoyan about letting the candidates have a bit more contact with the dragons. I wouldn’t mind one of them washing Kaaoloth for me and I am sure you would not mind help with Tanith either, at least until your ‘condition’ sorts itself out.” The words where friendly enough and sincere. She probably could use the help. Couldn’t be comfortable when she was pregnant. Although S’rei most likely helped her enough. “Tanith would likely put the fear of Faranth into them. Good thing to. They need to learn that not all dragons are amiable, friendly, pushovers .” Kaaoloth grumbled then, his eyes taking on an amused blue green shade. Pushover was he?

To Tanith the brown remarked. Oh I know she is claimed. I would dream of trying to take her from you my dear. He crooned reassuringly in her direction. As for fighting Salenth’s, I do not think Salenth would take to kindly to that. No I don’t mind getting in line or snatching what pampering I can get from yours. With your permission of course Tanith. The words where very polite and straightforward.

Kaaoloth was not one to try and take what belonged to another. His tail flicked and a mischievous fast whirling came to his eyes at her next statement. Oh I do approve of such my dear. Mine could use a bath I reason. So much time around those so called snot nosed brats. Idly he yawned and then his tail flicked forward to seize his bonded, curling around him and lifting the man off his feet. Sel’n had time for a half yelp of protest before Kaaoloth flung him into the river with a well practiced tail flick. The accompanying splash was spectacular and as his came up sputtering the brown rumbled in draconic laughter.

Hmm maybe next time I should fling him farther. Sputtering Sel’n treaded water and glared poison at his dragon. “Kaaoloth…..” The one word contained all the displeasure he felt at his dragon’s latest action. What in Faranth’s name had possessed him? Tanith more than likely. Stupid overindulging beast. She wasn’t even proddy. Admittedly though his dragon had always had a soft spot for females he liked, and Tanith was on that list. Sharding brown.