The future is listening [Rei]

[rii]

The wood and leather in his hands was a familiar feeling. Over the years he had to craft himself a new bow every now and then, but in the end his fingers curled loosely around the leather wrapped grip as perfectly as it had all the others. His fingers knew just how to space, how hard to grip, to judge the wood bending underneath his palm. It was just a downright shame that the heat of the summer was keeping the wildlife of the jungle beneath the canopy. Ba'sun, crouched high in the tree branches, squinted out over the haze that clung to the canopy.

Stir something into flight, would you?

What am I, Ekarth rumbled while rubbing his snot along a patch of rough bark. So itchy. Your canine to flussh your birdss? I will not aid in your laziness. You sshould come down here and oil me.

Later.

You ssaid that yessterday, and the day before, and the day before that..

...Later. Ba'sun sighed as he felt the tree shake from the irritated thump of tail from his dragon below. He had no real excuse to why he hadn't tended to the small cracks appearing in Ekarth's hide. Perhaps he was just being lazy, but he also couldn't deny the uneasy feeling that continued to settle on his shoulders when he woke in the morning. Restless. Ekarth described it as a dark wind blowing. Ba'sun didn't like the feeling and thus continued to try to find something else to distract himself until the 'dark wind' went away. Hunting should have been a nice, relaxing..

Ekarth hissed to himself and snaked on through the trees. He rubbed his itching hide against a thick trunk here and there as he slide as silently as possible through the jungle. It didn't take him long to find what he was looking for. A new rider. Ekarth coiled back into the shadows and dark foliage and waited all to much like the serpent he resembled. Just a bit closer and the young male's path would cross nearby. Ekarth's eyes slitted, blending in with the color of his hide as he watched his prey. Just a few steps now.. two.. one..

The sinuous blue struck, snapping out from the trees to pounce on the poor unsuspecting youth. In the blink of an eye Ekarth had the teenager by the waist band of pants and was trotting off down the trail with.. was that something white and small Ekarth saw trailing after him? More the merrier! My'sun, my new ssun. On a wind sswept hill by a billowing ssea, desstiny ssitss and waitss for thee.

[Rei]

I do not know Ermine. You are trying. That is all I know. The young albino dragon responded in a quiet tone, slinking through the sun dappled shadows to save his hide from being burned. Er’ani wrinkled his nose. “Yeah. But what if it isn’t enough. What if they won’t listen? What will happen to them then Lketh?” The teen was walking along in the shadows quiver and bow slung over his back. He had been practicing with targets for awhile and the pair where now on their way back to the weyr. Needed to get back before high noon or they would be trapped outside in the forest because he couldn’t risk Lketh burning badly again. For all that he loved the albino there were certain things that made life a tad difficult. Which reminded him he still needed to talk to Kalierre (a.k.a Lady) about those protective glasses for his eyes. I do not know. The answer was emotionless and quiet and made the boy shiver. "Me either."

Lketh noticed Ekarth before Er’ani. Probably because the albino only dwelled in shadows. But before the albino could quite figure out what the full grown blue was doing the creature was charging. Er’ani caught wind of Lketh’s concern and turned to face the shadows. Which did nothing to help his reaction when the blue pounced for him. Whether it was a flashback from the charging Millieth or something else that kept the teen routed and wordlessly terrified it really didn’t matter. The dragon was faster than him anyway. Before a moment had passed Er’ani found himself seized by his waistband and lifted into the air. Immediately the teen reached back for an arrow wondering if he could stab the beast from this angle. But Lketh’s soft voice in his head stayed his hand. Do not make him angry Ermine. Reasoning with him is probably better at this point.

Er’ani snorted. How am I supposed to reason with him with any success when he is prancing like some overexcited cat that caught a mouse? But just as he spoke to Lketh the blue also spoke to him. Twisting slightly to try and see Ekarth better the teen managed to speak, his voice holding perhaps the slightest tremble. “Your sun? I think you are a little confused.” Lketh spoke in riddles sometimes for fun but the blue’s words sounded like something out of the books the albino liked to read. In fact he could feel interest from his dragon at the words being spoken even now. Sighing the weyrling briefly debated just losing the pants to free himself. But prancing around half naked didn’t really appeal to him so in the end he simply sighed. “Look here you. Why don’t you put me down and then explain all this flowery chatter about destiny?”

Lketh trotted after Ekarth his legs working hard to keep him at least relatively close to the other blue. Drawing closer to the older dragon’s tail he crooned pleasantly. He wasn’t quite sure what to make of this. But he didn’t think that this new dragon would eat his, so he was content to slink after him in the shadows. His didn’t seem all that upset anyway. Pink eyes whirled a bit faster as Er’ani spoke and he chirped at his bonded. Much better than arrows.

[rii]

A ssun never knowss it is indeed a ssun. It doess not feel the warmth it emitss, or the light it sshines on the world. Thus, My'sun, it is not me that is confussed. Ekarth continued to high-step down the well worn path that would eventually lead out to the beach. In truth the blue never planned to go out that far if only for the reason he privately acknowledged the bounding hatchling behind him. However, there was a nice rock cropping not that far off to serve as a wind swept hill by a billowing sea. You can alwayss sspot a ssun because not too far away you'll alwayss find a moon.

Eyes twirling with silent laughter, Ekarth turned his head just enough to view the albino hatchling. The small blue playfully hopped a few times in show before swing his head (and Er'ani) back forward. If there was sound of ripping fabric in the process, Ekarth didn't pay it any mind. He did subtly slow his pace to not lose the pursuing Lketh. Do you claim to ignore desstiny, My'sun? Desstiny is what you meet at the end of the road you took to purpossely avoid it. You cannot esscape desstiny any more than you can esscape my jawss.

Ba'sun felt the tell-tale trickle of amusement from the bond that connected him to his eccentric blue. His gaze instantly dropped down to the trees in attempt to spy what could possible be so entertaining. The man knew his dragon very well, so that mental laughter could only mean one thing. Ekarth had found something, likely a someone, to torment play with. Ba'sun casually slid the arrow back into the quiver, the bow slinging over his shoulder before he began to make his way down. There was no question about where his dragon might be because Ekarth – a dragon that loved an audience – happily provided the direction of his destination.

As my new ssun, I musst remind you that I need oiling. Don't try and fool me, I can ssmell it on your handss. The pale hatchling looked to need extra care, and the young ones were known to need constant oiling as they grew. Ekarth had no doubt the weyrling carried a small bottle with him. Ekarth's long tail lifted and coiled playfully at the albino dragon. Little moon, what do you call yoursself?

[Rei]

Really? Could this dragon be any more confusing with word choice. Lucky for Er’ani Ekarth wasn’t all that hard to understand mostly because Lketh was completely sure of the blue’s meaning. No the albino did not talk much, nor often, unless he had something important to say or was asked a direct question but the weyrling was close enough to his dragon to understand meaning without words. Seamless was the pair’s communication and bond. Perhaps because of the trauma of their bonding day had forced such a tight bond, or maybe something else entirely. Like the fact that they still curled up together in slight paranoia every night. Although the paranoia had mostly left Lketh, it was still strong in his teenage bonded. Regardless the young albino understood Ekarth, despite his slurring, and so too in turn did Er’ani. Which still didn’t help the boy one bit apparently. What was he supposed to say to the high stepping blue to get him to release his hold? An arrow might have worked better.

Hmm maybe if he just went with it the blue would get bored? Most creatures created chaos for reaction. So maybe if he didn’t react negatively the dragon would just stop? Worth a shot. “Alright then. I’m the poor confused sun with the moon on my tail.” Didn’t take a genius to figure out that this blue meant the albino tailing them. Whatever the weyrling was going to say further was interrupted as Ekarth hopped and swung his head, the teen grimacing at the sound of ripping fabric. Well crap maybe it would be better to just lose the damn pants after all. Regardless it was obvious that they were going to need to be fixed or scraped anyway. Ekarth’s words made the weyrling almost inwardly wince. And his response was a bit less calm then he would have liked. “Yeah I know destiny is inescapable. Why don’t you try telling me something that hasn’t been shoved in my face every year of my life?”

Who was this dragon? Er’ani really couldn’t remember seeing him around and Lketh wasn’t any help. The albino had a memory for others comparable to that of a goldfish. He only remembered those he saw everyday. Like Behruth and his siblings. Anyone else he had ever met, it was like re-meeting them every time. Which made Lketh literally no help because even if the albino had met this blue, which was unlikely, he wouldn’t have remembered him. But ah here we went. A demand. Maybe he could work with this. Oiling? The blue wanted to be oiled?

The weyrling silently debated. Trying to remember if he did indeed have any oil on him. The dragon smelled it on his hands? But he hadn’t used any oil on Lketh today. Never did until the sun was well below the horizon, just in case they couldn’t completely avoid the sun in lessons. The only thing the teen had applied to Lketh was the sun balm the dragonhealer’s had formulated for them. Which he needed to redo again. Bother. “I don’t have any oil on me big guy. Sorry.” Again Er'ani tried to look at the blue. “And it’s not a lie. What you smell is probably the sun balm I use on the ‘moon’ behind you. So I’m afraid unless you have a private stash somewhere you are out of luck.” Maybe he’d drop him now.

Lketh was doing quite a good job keeping up despite his shorter legs. He realized that Ekarth had slowed for him and brushed appreciation against the other dragon’s mind for that. But he didn’t bespeak him. Not yet. Instead he kept up a constant stream of silent information for his bonded. His head tilted when he was directly addressed however, creamy pink eyes whirling in almost eerie calm. Lketh. Came the one word response, although the tone to the word was friendly enough. The young dragon after all was quite unconcerned with current events, unlike his bonded.

[rii]

Ekarth pressed his wings flat around his body to accentuate his tunnel snake appearance as he wove through a cluster of trees with ease. His long and narrow frame made the task seem eerily natural for a creature that was meant to rely on the skies high above. The tip of his tongue slithered out between the gaps in his fangs to sweep over the span of skin visible on Er'ani's back. Iss that sso? I would not think you old enough to have learned thesse thingss. If you know as much, then a little more you musst learn.

The terrain began to shift, the trees thinning and the incline increasing as Ekarth wound his way toward the rock cropping. Every so often he glanced back to make sure he had not lost Lketh – even going so far to curl his tail around the hatchling to urge him to continue. It wouldn't be far now and soon the young white could rest. If fate iss a fight you are meant to losse, then give it a good fight. The roadss are many and winding and fate doess not know them all. Because Fate iss not the path, My'sun. Fate iss, ass I ssaid before, at the end of the road. Fate iss little more than another name for death. How you finally meet up with Fate iss entirely up to you.

The knowledge that there would be no oiling at the end of this game was disappointing to say the least, but Ekath could tolerate the itchiness a while longer now that he had a new toy to poke and prod to his delight. He definitely wasn't going to drop Er'ani now that they were nearly there. Ekarth slipped out into the opening that was shaded under the bank of clouds and the tall spire of rock. And there, at the feet of his true rider, Ekarth deposited the young weyrling.

Ba'sun curiously raised a brow while scratching at the back of his neck. It only took a single glance for his trained eyes to pick out the small details that formed a story. His mind nagged at him that the kid looked vaguely familiar, but the northern coloration of the weyrling could have him easily mistaking him for some other half-remembered youth. "Eh," Quite the greeting. "He kidnap you too?"

Oh no, he didn't know that crazy dragon at all.

"Keeps babbling somethin' about oils." A smile quirked at the corner of Ba'sun's mouth as he doubled to offer a helping hand down to Er'ani. A noticeable glance went to the bow and quiver the younger male wore. "Were you out hunting?"

[Rei]

Er’ani actually shuddered at the lick, his body tensing and fingers twitching as he again debated escaping. But the blue dragon was moving quickly now and seemed certainly on a mission. At the very least his movements seemed to mean that the male had a destination in mind. The weyrling wrinkled his nose as the beast spoke again. “Yeah well appearances can be deceiving. Maybe I’m not as young as you think I am.” He retorted in an almost weary tone. “Besides you are always learning. Your entire life. That never stops. So I’m sure I have tons more to learn.” Like how uncomfortable being carted around like this was. And how to properly get away. Which obviously was something the teen was having a bit of trouble figuring out.

Lketh scrambled over and dodged logs as he wound himself through the jungle and after the blue who had captured his. As the trees began to thin and the area got more open the little albino had to be creative about finding shade and keeping his eyes half lidded against the painful sun. Of course this caused him to lose a bit of ground on occasion, but each time he fell behind Ekarth made sure he could continue. Curious. The young dragon, while he may not have understood the blue’s actions completely, was at least appreciative for the breaks and encouragement and made it known with light mind brushes to the serpentine dragon. He too listened to Ekarth with calm whirling eyes, not offering anything because he really didn’t have all that much to say. Nothing of importance anyway.

Fate is death? Fight death your whole life and it claims you anyway. Sure it was true so then why do people try to give it such a good fight? Er’ani wasn’t sure if this was really what the dragon was getting at or not but he gave a shrug. Or as best of one he could while dangling from the creatures mouth. “How I meet up with death is entirely up to me huh. Well what if I don’t want to meet up with it at all?” Which yeah was an impossibility but the boy was kinda curious to see what the blue would answer with anyway. In any case it really didn’t matter in the long run. Not when Ekarth finally suddenly dropped him. It was a good thing Er’ani didn’t try to really catch himself, could have possibly broke something that way. For a moment he simply glared up at Ekarth adjusting his pants and not noticing Ba’sun until the man moved to scratch his neck.

Lketh had quickly moved into the shade to pull up behind the much older and larger dragon, crooning softly to his bonded as Er’ani regarded the man who had just started speaking. He couldn’t remember if he had ever seen this man before. The accent was as familiar as his own was. Which immediately have him pause. Wastelander? Or someone from before wasteland. Hard to say.

Regardless the weyrling was leery. Although in truth Er'ani always was around new people. At any rate the guy deserved an answer and the teen wasn’t going to ignore that. “Yeah he kidnapped me. Then look me on a real pleasant trip.” Another look shot at Ekarth before his attention went back to the man speaking again. “Yeah apparently he wants to be oiled or something?” Er’ani tailed off and blinked at the hand offered to him before hesitantly taking it and allowing Ba’sun to help him to his feet.

When the man showed interest in his weapons the weyrling ran a hand through his dark hair in a rather nervous gesture. “Nah not hunting. Target practice. Was on my way back actually when I was abducted.” On his way back because Er’ani had wanted Lketh somewhere nice and dark for the worst part of the day. But this shade would do well enough for the albino. Especially if he kept to the places with the most shadow. “How’d he get you?” The weyrling rather thought it wouldn’t do to make a break for it. At least not until Ekarth got bored and left. So why not try and talk to his fellow prisoner?

[rii]

Fate alwayss winss. Cheat as many timess as you can. Pride yoursself in thosse momentss, because Fate iss an ancient player at thiss game. There are sso few that manage to trick her. However, time iss on Fate'ss sside. Together they will alwayss triumph.

Ekarth extended a wing to drape over the pale hatching. It had been easy to pick up on the young dragon's peculiar darting shadow to shadow. He playfully licked Lketh's eye ridge. He didn't think he had ever seen such a white dragon before. Though, with such a short memory span, Ekarth couldn't be certain. A humored croon rumbled in Ekarth's chest, You tasste funny. Another experimental lick found Lketh's snout.

Ba'sun kept Er'ani's grip a moment longer to be sure the kid had his feet. His other hand brushed away some of the dirt across the back of Er'ani's shoulders. The wariness the younger male showed wasn't out of place - and with the usual friendly smile in place, Ba'sun hoped to put the kid's mind at relative ease. The corners of Ba'sun's eyes crinkled as the smile widened a touch. It had been a long time since he had crossed paths with an archery novice.

"He slid across the sand on his belly like a snake, coiled around my leg and sssaid sssomething sso abssurd," Ba'sun glanced over at the blue as he mimicked Ekarth's peculiar habit of hissing in his mental speech. A quick grin and wink was then directed at Er'ani. "Fifteen turns later I'm still his captive." The sudden realization that the kid might not like reminders of what his own stand on the sands had been like (wasn't that a right fiasco), Ba'sun quickly steered the conversation away. "Who's teaching you?"

He lifted a hand to tap at the feathered ends sticking out over his shoulder from his own quiver. He knew that weapons were going to be implemented into the new weyrling lessons. Sadly he had been removed from the position of weyrlingmaster before he got a chance to teach much. It was still something of a sore subject.

[Rei]

Er’ani looked briefly back at Ekarth as the blue spoke. Well at least he got his answer. The weyrling tensed as the blue extended a wing to drape it over Lketh but relaxed slightly when the albino didn’t seem to care. No in fact the young dragon was quite happy about the added shade. With a croon he looked up at Ekarth, half lidding one eye as the blue licked him. Do I? The pale dragon asked, a small shiver running down him as the other blue licked his snout. With a chirp he returned the favor, tongue caressing whatever part of the older dragons muzzle he could reach. I am not sure if you taste strange or not. He admitted in a soft tone creamy red eyes whiling in soft shades.

Turning from the dragon pair the weyrling regarded Ba’sun again. At any rate the guy seemed really friendly. Even if the brushing off of the dirt made the weyrling feel a bit awkward. No Er’ani didn’t completely hate touch like his brother. But at times it still made him feel odd. He shrugged it off though when his companion smiled, the teen finding himself not able to resist returning the gesture. Even if the whole thing was odd and Er'ani was still trying to work out just how he had gone from target practice to being kidnapped he still couldn’t really bring himself to be rude to this man.

When Ba’sun started speaking again Er’ani’s eyes widened slightly as he realized just what the man was saying. So this peculiar blue belonged to him then? Maybe it was just his paranoia speaking but the boy couldn’t help wondering if he was part of some bizarre game of fetch. Had this been planned? But before he could rationalize it too much further the man, rider, was asking him a question. Shifting and eyeing the man with curiosity, and still a bit of suspicion, he lifted his head and straightened his posture. “M’ta. M’ta of Behruth is my Weyrlingmaster.” No M’ta wasn’t exactly an expert at archery but he knew how to teach and as far as Er’ani was concerned the brownrider was a great teacher. The best one he ever had. And a trustworthy person besides.

As Ba’sun tapped the arrows upon his own back Er’ani quirked his lips in a rather crooked smile. “You practice archery too?” Well now that was a bit interesting and only made him further wonder if this whole thing had been planned. If not then it was one hell of a coincidence. Not that that was impossible. Running a hand through his hair he inwardly debated before extending a hand to the bluerider. “I never got your name. I’m Er’ani. Er’ani of Lketh.” The weyrling still had his reservations. But well now he was just perhaps a bit curious as well.

[rii]

We could put it to the test, Yes, they could go around licking random dragons in comparison. A matter to be investigated and settled upon at a different time – if Ekarth remembered. His tail began to tick with mischief as he lowered his head to be alongside the hatchling's to slyly 'whisper'. I've sampled yours and mine, now you. It is now your turn to do the same and then we can decide who tastes funny. Ekarth was sure it would still be Lketh, something about the skin balm Er'ani put on him. The blue gave Lketh one last lick. Yes, very planty. You can start with mine. I can knock him over if that will help. He won't be mad..

People looked better when they smiled back – at least in the fashion that didn't relate to the smile of wanting to rip out someone's spleen. No, no. Er'ani had a nice smile; albeit still a touch wary – and growing faintly suspicious. Grow up with a dragon that enjoyed picking up random riders to play with and a man quickly learned to recognize and deal with the various reactions of said riders. Ba'sun liked to think he was fairly good at smoothing over people's ruffled feathers.

"M'ta," Ba'sun nodded in acknowledgment. If the shift in body language told anything, the kid thought highly of the knife throwing brownrider. Ba'sun's smile turned a touch wry. He wondered if Ja'kin hadn't yanked him out of the weyrlingmaster rank (a form of punishment Ba'sun still thought was unfair) that this kid would be as proud to have him as a weyrlingmaster as he was of M'ta. Shardit, he really need to stop moping over it. Although it did make him wonder about his dragon's actions. Ekarth knew how much he enjoyed teaching the younger generations. Had the blue been keeping an eye out all this time for some youth that just happened to be into archery, only to snatch up the student and deposit the kid right as his feet?

Ba'sun squinted suspiciously at his dragon. Naaaah. Had to be coincidence.

"You could say that." Practicing since, well, probably started younger than Er'ani. Ba'sun wasn't going to outright say he was the best archer around, but he had yet to meet anyone that could give him competition. He took the outstretched hand with a firm grip, his other hand coming to circle Er'ani's forearm to complete the handshake. No one needed to know that - as friendly as the action was - it doubled as a chance to gauge how much muscle tone Er'ani had in his dominant arm. Definitely a beginner. "Ba'sun." His chin gestured toward his dragon. "Ekarth."

Ba'sun adjusted the thin strip of leather that wrapped around his thumb. A playful grin was shot toward Er'ani before Ba'sun whistled a few notes. A snap from between and his pleasantly trilling flitter landed on his shoulder a moment later. Aello chittered to both males, fanning her wings as she stretched her neck out to offer an eye ridge for Er'ani to scratch.

"Well let's see what you've got," Ba'sun's eyes scanned the cropping before gesturing toward a short tree stump on the other side. Too easy. Ba'sun hated stationary targets. The older man sudden grinned sheepishly, ducking his head as his hand again rubbed at the back of his neck. "Sorry - it's a hobby of mine. Can't help but be a little over-excited meeting someone else that has interest in it. There aren't many here that venture away from blades and dragons."

[Rei]

Wings rustling as Ekarth spoke Lketh considered. Test it? Hmm now that was an idea. Like a experiment. Lketh loved to learn so he found himself considering the idea. Wondering how best to set up a test of sorts. In the end he dropped the thought for now as the larger blue lowered his head and his voice slid through his mind. Well that was one way to test it he decided. With a little chirp his eyes whirled a tad bit faster. Alright then. A test. Raising a forepaw Lketh gave a nod before reaching over to nuzzle Ekarth’s lower leg. Tilting his head he considered the humans before him, tail tip flicking, as he wiggled out from under the larger male’s wing. Oh you do not have to knock him down. Yet. If he proves to be too slippery you can. Opinion thus stated Lketh began to slowly approach Ba’sun, relying on his bonded to keep the other rider’s attention sufficiently as he circled to the left to approach the older rider from behind. All in the pursuit of further knowledge.

As Ba’sun repeated M’ta’s name Er’ani gave a short nod. Not needed but offered just the same, born out of years of habit when addressing someone your superior. The weyrling was used to being the lowest when it came to rank. Candidate since he was twelve, multiple teachers at Benden for this and that, and now even impressing at Selenitas still had him ranking pretty low. Not as low as before but still down there. Besides was there a color ranking when it came to them? As far as Er’ani knew he had the only Albino dragon in existence. Although Lketh was undoubtedly male and in build be was a bit dainty but still decently masculine. In size the teen was betting he’d end up like a blue. So that’s probably were they would fall in the end. For now though they were little fish in a very large and dangerous pond.

Giving a wry smile as Ba’sun warmly returned the handshake Er’ani felt at least a little of his suspicion relaxing. It would continue on under the surface perhaps just barely visible at times because of the boy’s near constant paranoid nature. But for now the weyrling was willing to give this bluerider the benefit of the doubt. There wasn’t a clear reason not to. Although the nagging thought still plagued him that this guy could be a Wastelander. One of those who had done their level best to try and take Lketh from him. When Er’ani finally did speak his tone was friendly enough. “Well met Ba’sun. Afraid I can’t say exactly the same for your dragon though.” He gave a quick glance at the blue. “He really should work on the first impression thing.” Although Er’ani supposed Ekarth couldn’t be all that bad if Lketh liked him so far. The albino while not a choosy sort still had his own complexities. He often randomly disliked things ‘just because he did’ and liked them for the same reason.

When Ba’sun whistled Er’ani tilted his head but the reason for the whistle was quick in coming as the green flitter burst from between in a flutter of wings. The weyrling gave a light smile as he almost hesitantly reached forward to touch an eye ridge as he was bidden to. “I have one too. Her name is Snowdrop. She’s sleeping right now. Normally curls up with Lketh around this time of the day.” Fingers still outstretched out toward Aello he gave the rider a curious look turning his head to regard the stump the man had gestured to. Oh. So he wanted a demonstration?

Er’ani debated for a moment fingers dangling just a few inches from touching the green before he gave a light smile. Well what could be the harm in showing this man what he had learned so far? Not much. Besides maybe he could get some pointers. “Sure why not?” His other hand reached back to grab his bow and one of his arrows. “Don’t worry about it. I can understand that.” He said with a nod.

“Most of my other classmates use blades of some sort too.” Personally Er’ani was absolutely horrible at close range combat or anything resembling hand to hand. The weyrling had a sharp mind certainly and he wasn’t physically weak. He just lacked the fine coordination or maybe the heart for it. Either way this suited him much better. “You just want me to hit the stump?” Came the question as he notched the arrow and waited for conformation.

[rii]

Aello's jaws opened wide as the fingers neared. A little closer, just a little..

As Er'ani's head turned to view the stump, Ba'sun lifted his hand and clamped his thumb and index finger over Aello's mouth, deftly saving Er'ani's fingers from being bloodied. Her wings flared as she attempted to tug herself free. Ba'sun released her mid-pull, sending the flitter tumbling backwards off his shoulder. A quick retreat between saved her from impacting the ground, and a moment later she appeared circling over their heads - scolding hers with a rapid chitter.

"I believe Ekarth gave exactly the impression he wanted to give," Ba'sun quietly mused while glancing side-long at the white lump lurking up behind him. A silent question went to Ekarth, but the blue only responded with nearly palpable amusement sent back across their bond. "Snowdrop, eh? Must be northern -" This Ba'sun already knew. "Snow is a foreign word around here."

The easy smile returned. Ba'sun reached forward to adjust Er'ani's fingers around the notched arrow. "Unless you think it's too easy." A wink. "I'm sure I can find something to offer a moving target if you'd like." His hand dropped away as he slightly behind and to the side of the younger male in preparation to observe the draw and release. In truth he wasn't too interested in the kid's accuracy at hitting a target. He wanted to observe the technique. The aim would improve with time.

Now, little moon, while mine is disstracted with concentrating on yourss.

[Rei]

Er’ani tried to ignore the scolding firelizard circling above them. He wasn’t sure what exactly had made her so irritated. Maybe that he hadn’t actually touched her? Oh well flitters were odd anyway. He’d make it up to her later. With a nod he examined the stump, keeping his fingers on the arrow. Although he could feel Lketh stirring at the back of his mind the weyrling wasn’t really all that worried about it. His dragon had never come off as sinister, or really quite mischievous either. Just calm and easy going. Likely the pale dragon was simply thinking hard on some subject or another. “Yeah I’m sure he did. He didn’t seem one wit apologetic about the whole thing either.” Not that the weyrling had been exactly expecting an apology from Ekarth.

As the older man readjusted his fingers on the arrow Er’ani gave him a questioning look but didn’t comment or readjust his grip. How Ba’sun had moved them felt alright. Not awkward, maybe even a little better than how he had them before. Hmm. With a smile he moved to plant his feet. “Yeah Snowdrop. I used to love those little white flowers when they pushed out of the snow. They’re so pretty and fragile.” Kind of like his firelizards wings. “Fit’s her.” He figured comments about snow would indeed confirm that he was northern. Although his accent was still really strong anyway. “I liked snow. Real shame we don’t get any here.” Some of his best memories were of snowfall after all.

With a little shake of his head Er’ani raised the bow and sighted along the arrow. “Nah. I once hit M’ta in arms practice with an arrow, while he was sparing with one of my buddies. But I wasn’t trying to. Only trying to distract him so Mo’rya could get a decent hit in. He was pissed. Moving targets are hard.” Grinning at that thought he pulled back and released with one easy motion. Looked like it was on target anyway. When it ended up shooting past the target, and a bit more to the left then he liked, the teen snorted. “I’ll get it next time.” As he spoke he reached back for another arrow, keeping his eyes trained on the stump.

Lketh tilted his head as Ekarth spoke and stretched forward just as Ekarth spoke to lick Ba’sun from the back of his neck up into his hair. With a soft chirp he then nudged the man’s back. He tastes different than Ermine. He confirmed before looking back at Ekarth. Do you think that maybe everyone tastes different?

[rii]

Ba'sun wasn't the most imaginative fellow – Ekarth made up for his lack of creativity – so the image of a flitter named for the small white flowers had him thinking a green firelizard with white polka dots. To each their own. He would probably have called her spot. Which, might have been a good name for his own firelizard. The chittering had stopped. Aello again gone to the space between once the arrow flew. As it passed the stump she appeared above the wooden shaft and snatched it out of the air before it could hit the ground. A second later she was back on Ba'sun's shoulder, dropping the arrow into his waiting hand and proudly fluttering her wings.

Yes, Ba'sun had taught his firelizard to fetch his arrows.

"You shot M'ta? Oh geeeeez," Ba'sun groaned loudly – clearly teasing the younger male about how bad of a shot he was. Meanwhile his fingers and eyes examined the arrow. He held it up before Er'ani's face, tapping the youth's nose to gain his full attention before running a finger along the damage feather flight. That's why it flew so much to the left. "Who made these – or are these just the hand-me-downs they give to beginners? I don't know how they expect anyone to learn correctly without the right tools. It'll make you start adjusting yourself to make up for the bad, thinking that's the right way to do things – but you should learn the right way first before you learn to adjust your aim or grip to make up for the – Eeeerrggg."

Ba'sun frozen, spine stiffening at the swipe of dragon tongue. Yuck. At least it didn't smell as bad as Ekarth's slobber – the blue scoffed. Pivoting around, Ba'sun narrowed his eyes on the white hatchling (who Ekarth had again draped his wing over, trilling praises at his little moon). Ba'sun pointed a finger at the white, shaking it menacingly before.. slipping back, grabbing Er'ani's shoulders and positioning the younger male between him and the two dragons. He shot the two blues a mock scowl.

"I must apologize," Ba'sun grumbled. At the same time he was reaching over to adjust Er'ani's grip on the bow, then again move the kid's fingers in how he held the arrow to the string. Testing the waters really. A touch here, a touch there. Get him somewhat use to the invasion of space before he full on adjusted Er'ani's stance. The kid wasn't, per say, wrong in his technique. There just was always room for improvement. Nothing like conversation to distract the kid from it all. "Seems my blue lug is being a terrible influence on your dragon. Shoot again?"

A terribly good influence, Ekarth commented privately to his. Again he ducked in close to Lketh to continue his playful scheming. To the white he spoke, That could be true, but you would have to tasste many, many people. I can help – sshould I ssample yourss to ssee how different they tasste?

[Rei]

Watching the firelizard fetch the arrow Er’ani titled his head. Well that was pretty neat. Snowdrop had been trained to flip book pages for Lketh. How much more training would it take for him to get her to perform as Aello had? Then again with her fragile wing sails, he didn’t want to risk hurting her. Hmm. Well he could always test it once and if it went badly scrap the idea. The dragon healers were used to seeing the weyrling by now anyway. What with Lketh and his various needs. Besides, when Snowdrop had been a baby she had had to have some wing repair done as well, until she learned how to use her fragile wing sails correctly. Hell, some days the teen wondered why they just didn’t make him part of the infirmary staff. Hmm.

Smiling at Aello, it was kinda cute how proud she was at her little trick, Er’ani make a face at Ba’sun’s groan. “Hey well it got the job done and that’s all that really mattered at the time.” He said with a light smile. Besides that no one had really gotten hurt. The weyrling still counted that day a success. When the arrow tapped his nose his eyes almost crossed in an attempt to follow it and he then wrinkled the appendage as the bluerider continued to speak. Yeah well he had actually made those himself, well him and Mo’rya, as a type of punishment at the time. Although M’ta had provided the arrowheads. The teen would have had to do it eventually anyway. And damn it he had been proud of them. Kinda hard not to let that sting a little. Although Er’ani supposed now was a better time than any to find out they were bad. Better now then say when he really had to use them. Pushing that aside for the moment he tried to listen to what the older man was saying.

Except it was decidedly hard when he saw Lketh over the man’s shoulder looking very much like he was up to something. It was hard to fight the laughter when the albino reached over and licked the man on the back of the neck. A few muffled chuckles ended up escaping anyway until the weyrling was grasped by the shoulders and turned into a human shield. One eyebrow rose at Ekarth and Lketh, the albino chirping up at Ekarth as the older blue trilled. What was that all about? It was necessary. An experiment. Ah I see. Kinda. The mental conversation with Lketh and added input from Ba’sun indeed completely distracted Er’ani and he was only minimally aware of his grip and fingers being repositioned. He didn’t object really once he noticed it however. Blinking at the apology he gave a shrug. “Nah I think it’s fine. Lketh is very much in possession of his own mind and actions.” That said the young rider turned to comply with the older rider’s request to shoot again, raising the bow and sighting along the arrow before letting it fly.

Lketh watched his with interest, noting the slight changes Ba’sun made and trying to determine if they made and difference, before Ekarth’s head stole away his attention. Hmm you are right we would need more to come to a more true conclusion. The pale dragon thought about that for a few seconds before giving a head bob to the much older blue beside him. You could do that yes. I think Ermine tastes different from yours but maybe it would be good to see if you thought the same as well. Yes that would be relevant information.

[rii]

The faint deflating in Er'ani's expression said it all. No point in back pedaling over the comments and complete the insertion of foot into mouth. Ba'sun would do better. He'd show Er'ani to make better ones - over and over again until his fingers bled. Are you sso ssure he'll learn from you? Ba'sun mentally shook off Ekarth's doubt. A side-long glance and an unconvinced grunt was all the older man gave in response to Er'ani's words. If he were to judge, he'd say that his blue was doing a good job at influencing the young albino.

Without warning Ba'sun slid up behind Er'ani, catching the boy's hands before the arrow was released. His foot nudged the younger man's forward, close enough now that his chest brushed along the back of Er'ani's shoulders. One hand gently touched Er'ani's elbow, pushing the drawing arm up to be parallel with the arrow. Ba'sun sighted the shot from over the boy's shoulder; voice low as it sounded near his ear. "You make the bow as well?"

Coming on a bit sstrong, aren't you Ssun'o'mine? Ekarth's eyes whirled with amusement at the instant mental snapping his rider shot back at him for the comment. The blue paid little mind to it all, instead turning his attention back to Lketh. Perhapss, He began slyly, Yourss could tasste mine instead - I forgot I already ssampled yourss. One lick sshould do the trick.