Where, oh where...

[nightingale]

"Lamb? Lamb honey, please come out."

Ke'rin called, sighing deeply as he ran a hand through the dark tangles of his hair. He knew that she was somewhere in the barracks, but scorch the whole place if he knew where.
The tiny flitter's games of guilt-laced hide and seek had become much more frequent as of late. In the past, they had only took place when something gave her inferiority complex a particularly hard jab. These days, with the newly appointed weyrling so wrapped up in caring for his newborn dragon, she'd managed to work herself up into a proper state of melancholy by fixating on how little time he spent doting on her now that Jaymith was in the picture.

Now, she was sulking -and far be it from the downcast little thing to suffer quietly, because her misery flowed from her in a never ending stream of mental hysterics. Oh she KNEW that Hers hated her! She'd made gold Shmee and gold Aslath mad at him, she'd embarrassed him in front of the riders and candidates and now she was being punished for it! Oh, and she deserved it, didn't she? Hers deserved a grand, big companion like bronze Jaymith, not a tiny, silly green like her!

Wordless assurances of his affection had no effect on the distraught flitter. No, he would have to prove he still loved her by tracking her down, giving her a cuddle and perhaps offering her some of his supper that night. That was how these little games usually worked, only now he had to work on a set time frame, because his dragon would be due for another feeding in short order. Well, she wouldn't be anywhere too difficult to access if she really wanted to be found. Somewhere in the halls? Maybe she'd wandered into an open doorway...well, he supposed his best option would be to ask everyone he came across if they'd seen her. She usually took great pains in leaving clues for him. He just hoped that this time wouldn't be an exception.

[Rei]

Ebolath cocked her head as she listened to the whimpering of some distraught creature. Her’s was oiling her little pale brother and she was quietly sleeping when the noise startled her. She padded over to a empty cot and nosed at the small quivering lump under the furs. Hello there little cousin is everything all right? I am Ebolath. There is no need to be quite so upset. I am here to comfort you now.

She grasped the covers in her needle teeth and pulled them off the little green flitter. Her eyes whirled a happy blue green as she nuzzled the tiny creature. The hatchling hated seeing people or things upset and did her best to remedy the situation much to her new bondeds amusement. Whatever has you so upset? Can I help? Her soothing mental voice drifted over the green flitter like a soft and warm blanket.

[nightingale]

Hello there little cousin is everything all right? I am Ebolath. There is no need to be quite so upset. I am here to comfort you now.

Lamb peeped anxiously as she felt the warm, soft furry she had been hiding beneath suddenly move, revealing what she could only consider the largest green she had ever seen in her life!

Whatever has you so upset? Can I help?

The tiny flitter chirped pitiously, her entire body vibrating with terror as the green dragon lowered her enormous head to nuzzle her. Oh big! Oh big and scary! She scuttled backward with a tiny squack, wedging herself under the discarded blanket until only her whirling yellow-green eyes were visible.

Oh oh, very big! Very, very big and oh, oh and she had been hiding, very large green, hiding from Hers because he oh, oh big...

Somewhere down the hall, Ke'rin's voice could be heard calling for her once again. Lamb raised her tiny head to listen intently before remembering herself, and retracting her head beneath the sleeping furs. The very large green would help her, please yes? She would let her hide for a little bit?

[Rei]

Ebolath chuffed in the dragon equivalent of laughter. Silly cousin I am not so large at all. In fact mine says I have a lot of growing to do. The green also cocked her head to listen and crooned as Lamb asked for her help. You wish to hide form the boy? Yes I will help. The hatchling turned from the bed and trotted over the doorway poking her head from the room.

She snorted to get the boy’s attention before speaking. Excuse me but I am trying to sleep if you must call out please do so somewhere else. She was nothing but polite but severed the connection with his mind immediately after her statement, pulling her head back into the room and closing the door with a swipe of her tail.

Ebolath then walked back to the bed and laid her head a couple of feet from the little flitter. You are very small like my blue cousin who mine is oiling right now. Would you like to meet my blue brother? He is very nice he will share his if you want. He shares with me all the time. The little green was nothing but polite and conversational. She wanted to cheer up this little cousin.

[nightingale]

Keirin was quite surprised to see a green head poke out of one of the open hallyway doors. That was Raylin's green, wasn't it? Her curt suggestion that he take his shouting elsewhere surprised him considerably.

"Wait...what?"

He called after Ebolath, only to find that she had already slammed the door in his face. He hadn't thought he was calling that loudly...

------

Lamb's eyes began to fade to a slightly less anxious shade of yellow-green as the green dragonet came to sit with her. She poked her head out from under the furs, craning her delicate neck upward attentively as she listened to the kind voice enter her mind. A small jerk of her head brought Raylin into view.

Oh! The very large green was green Raylin's? Oh yes, she knew blue Vega! Oh, but she would never want to share His! Oh no, oh no that would be very rude of her when she had Hers...oh, but Hers had bronze Jaymith now...and she was so very small and unimpressive afterall...
The tiny green drooped visibly as Ke'rin re-entered her thoughts. With a small, whimpering chirrup she pulled ehr neck into her chest, snuggling into the conforting warmth of Raylin's sleeping furs.

[Rei]

Ebolath crooned soothingly again. I am sorry little one perhaps yours does not realize how fortunate he is to have a little cousin at all. You are not all that common. He should be proud of you. His bronze is not as great as us greens. That is what Raymine says. The greens are the ones who are most useful in purging the planet of thread. You are a most lovely shade to. We are alike little sister there is no need for you to despair.

Raylin leaned over and peered at Ebolath. “Ebolath what are you doing?” The green hatchling raised her head from the bed and poked her muzzle at the little flitter. Little green cousin is upset I am simply trying to cheer her up. The dragon stated in a mildly contrite tone her eyes gaining a mild yellow tinge. “Oh I am sorry dear. I didn’t mean to upset you.” The Weyrling said quietly seeking to console her bonded. She approached the bed and sat on the edge carefully peeling the furs back to expose Lamb again.

“Oh this is Keirin’s flitter. I do believe he was looking for her earlier. Is she ok?” She is ok mine. Ke'rin, she put a slight emphasis on his name to correct her mine, has upset her terribly. He is neglecting her in favor of Jaymith. Vega winged in to land next to the small green flit. He snuggled up to her and nuzzled along her back. Was his scared sister ok?

Raylin stood an angry look flashing across her normally calm features. “Well perhaps I should have a chat with Ke’rin.” She said in a icy tone. She crossed the room and flung open the door. Leaving a startled Ebolath with the two flitters. Catching sight of Ke’rin as she rounded the corner she planted her feet and called after him. “Ke’rin! A word please.” She said in a firm angry tone her eyes dangerously alight. If anything made her angry it was neglect. Neglect was ,in a way, the worse kind of abuse.

[nightingale]

Lamb chirruped softly, sending a little wash of shy gratitute in Ebolath's direction. She was a very nice green, oh yes. She hadn't seen bronze Jaymith yet though. He was very large and impressive, oh very much so! Certainly more impressive than a very small green like her...oh, but here was green Raylin!

The tiny green warbled a shy greeting, shivering slightly as her warm furry was moved off of her once again. Green Raylin knew her, yes? Oh it was very nice of her to- oh and, here was blue Vega! How lovely it was to see him again! What a wonderful and kind green dragon His had impressed! Oh, green Raylin deserved such a kind a beautiful dragon, yes? The little fire lizard was so engrossed in the warm, kind meetings and greetings of friends new and old that she took no notice when Raylin left the room.

-------------------

A slightly miffed dragon hatchling was one thing, but an angry woman was one danger that Ke'rin would have given almost anything to avoid if he'd had the chance. His blood froze to jagged ice crystals in his chest as the venom in Raylin's voice reached his ears.

"Ah, Raylin."

He murmured as he turned toward her, hands lifted slightly in a subconsious gesture of surrender.

"A word about what exactly? Is there...a problem?"

He almost winced as the words left his mouth. Well obviously there's a probelm you dimglow, or else she wouldn't bee glaring at you like you're a smear of dirt on a freshly cleaned floor. He had always considered her a rather level headed person though. Surely he hadn't upset her so badly just my making a racket near her quarters?

[Rei]

Raylin continued to glare at Ke’rin as he approached her. “I will say there is a problem. How dare you be so cruel to little Lamb! She is so upset she has my Ebolath turning circles trying to cheer her up! I don’t know who you think you are but neglecting the poor dear in favor of your bronze is not in any way acceptable. You should be ashamed. My Vega and Ebolath are fed, oiled, and bathed together. I make sure each gets enough attention and both are completely content. Now you tell me why your little Lamb does not deserve the same treatment as your bronze no matter what her coloration is. Just because she is a green it gives you no excuse to treat her as inferior.” The weyrling launched into him as ferociously as Ebolath launched into her meals. Her rant tempered her anger enough so her next statement was spoken in a softer less harsh tone.

“I suggest you apologize to the poor dear for your horrible behavior and pray she decides you worthy of her forgiveness.” Raylin gave him a look that warned him against trying to defend himself. She was not in a mood to accept excuses. She hadn’t accepted them from her brothers and she sure wasn’t going to accept them from him.

Ebolath chuffed in amusement at the Lamb’s reaction to Vega. Ah so little blue brother is your clutchsibling like my Cherlilith is mine! We are very alike little sister both being green and having blue clutchsiblings. I do hope you will come visit me often. She layered her mental tone with as much love and appreciation as she could. The little cousin was beginning to cheer up and she had no desire to ruin all her hard work. Vega hummed in happiness. Yes the green wing was very very nice and His did deserve her. His was so wonderful and beautiful that she deserved every shiny in the world! Was Hers not just as wonderful?

[nightingale]

Ke'rin couldn't help but wince beneath the withering glare Raylin fixed on him. Neglecting Lamb in favour of Jaymith? Inferior? Where on Pern was she getting all of these attacks coming from? Well, he supposed none of it really mattered so long as he knew that his flitter was safe and sound in the girl's quarters. Now he just had to work on placating her guardian so he could bring her home.

"Raylin, I assure you I'm not playing favourites."

He said in a slow, measured tone, unable to shake the nagging suspicion that if he spoke too louldy or moved to suddenly, he'd find himself disemboweled.

"She found a sewing needle this morning and was trying to show it to me while I was bathing Jaymith. I asked her if she could show it to me later because I was busy and I see now that was the wrong thing to do because she flew off and I haven't seen her since!"

-------------------------------------

Lamb trilled pleasantly as she cozied up to Vega. Oh yes, blue siblings were rather nice, werren't they? Who was the large green's blue Clutchbrother? Hers had said that there were many blue dragons at Aslath's hatching.
Oh yes, she added hastily as Vega questione dher about Ke'rin. Oh, Hers was quite wonderful indeed. She didn't think that she could bring her lovely Mine every shiney in the world though, because wouldn't that leave no shinies left for everyone else? Oh, but she had found him a nice shiney -it was little and silver with a pretty little hole in the end- oh, but perhaps it had been to small, because Hers hadn't seemed to like it very much...but then, her shiney was far less shiney than bronze Jaymith...

[Rei]

Raylin arched a well manicured eyebrow as the boy spoke. “So she got this upset over a needle?” She queried a note of disbelief coloring her tone. "Well even if what you say is true she is quite upset. I recommend you apologize.” She felt no remorse for her previous outburst. Why should she? Lamb was obviously upset and her dragon’s anxiousness made her rather angry. She felt Ebolath and Vega’s questioning feeling simultaneously and sent them both reassurances.

“Are you coming Ke’rin?” She said abruptly as she turned and began to lead the way back to the room she shared with Saeo. “I’d rather get around to exercising Ebolath sooner than later.” Staying angry was easier than dealing with a male when she was in a good mood.

Ebolath raised her head as the two entered the room and her eyes whirled a blue green as she crooned a greeting to Ke’rin. Little cousin yours is here to speak to you. She stated to the little green flitter in a happy tone. Vega gave a chirp and winged to Raylin’s shoulder. He fanned his wings and then closed them with a snap. Scared sister would be ok now? The green weyrling smiled and rubbed her flitter’s eye ridges causing a pleased hum to resonate from his throat.

[nightingale]

Unwilling to drive his cause any further into the ground by arguing, Ke'rin nodded wordlessly and followed Raylin back to her quarters. He offered Ebolath a small smile as she greeted him, then made his way over to the bed where Lamb was once again trying to make herself invisible using Raylin's sleeping furs. He couldn't help but grin. With a slow, carefully measured movement, he lifted blanket just high enough to reveal the flitter's glowing yellow-green eyes.

"You're quite the hider beautiful. It's a good thing Raylin told me you were here or I might have walked right past."

Lamb warbled deep in her throat, sending him a wave of emotion that was a curious mixture of affection, sadness and embarrassment. Hers had missed her? He had come looking? Yes, he assured her that he had been looking quite thoroughly. He had been worried by the thought of her roaming the barracks all on her own. The tiny green was quick to inform him that she hadn't been alone. Oh no, green Raylin's had been there -and blue Vega and -oh! Her shiney!

With a small peep, the little green wormed her way out of the furs and scuttled onto Ke'rin's shoulder. Her shiny! Oh, but why was it on his shirt? She had thought he hadn't liked it...The boy's good natured chuckle was audible as he raised a hand to stroke her. Of course he liked it! She had given it to him after all, so why wouldn't he like it? Lamb trilled happily, wrapping her tail around the boy's neck in a full body hug. Her eyes whirled a pleasant blue-green as she turned to Ebolath. Oh see, see how nice Hers was? Oh he had missed and she had missed him, oh yes!

"I think she accepts."

Ke'rin said, hoping that the smile he offered her didn't come off as arrogant as it felt.

"Now what were you saying about exercising Ebolath? Jaymith and I could help with that if you like -as a way of repaying you and your for taking such good care of our beautiful little Lamb?"

[Rei]

Raylin watched Ke’rin’s interaction with Lamb and couldn’t help but smile. Perhaps he wasn’t as neglectful as she first assumed. No matter she would not apologize, there was no need to. Vega winged back over to his at that point and yawned before curling his tail around her throat and lounging on her shoulder. He was ready for a nap females were exhausting. Ebolath rumbled in answer to Lamb. Yes your’s seems very nice She supplied before padding back over the hers and rubbing her head against Raylin’s leg

Raylin reached down to scratch Ebolath’s eye ridges and smiled at the pleased hum that was given in response. She straightened up as Ke’rin addressed her and started to open her mouth to reply when Ebolath beat her to it. No She said fiercely I will not exercise with clutch brother Jaymith. He will laugh at me and scold me and I will not put up with three people hounding me. Raymine and my blue cousin are aggravating enough. With that she plopped down and gave a grumble her blue eyes taking on the barest traces of red.

“Well there you have her answer. No offense intended at all Ke’rin but she is a bit self conscious about exercising. She hates to do it but I am afraid if I do not push her she will be horribly overweight.” Ebolath grumbled further and Raylin kneeled at her side to stroke her. “I am sorry darling I am not trying to upset you.” Ebolath snorted but her bonded could feel that the dragon had already forgiven her. “Perhaps we could do something else later if you are dead set in making it up to us. But truly she was no bother. Both Ebolath and Vega enjoyed her company.”

[nightingale]

The boy gave a brisk nod, trying his very hardest not feel hurt by Ebolath's rather sharp rejection. He wasn't used to females tearing into him like so much overcooked heardbeast...but he supposed that he had nothing but his own ignorance and insensitivity to blame.

"Very well."

He said, offering them a small, weak smile.

"I'll make it up to you some other way then. Have a good afternoon."

Lamb chirruped a small, confused goodbye to her new friends as the boy turned and made for the door. Why did it always have to be Raylin that he irritated, Ke'rin wondered, tugging the door halfway shut as he stepped into the quiet hallway. Having Saeo mad at him he could deal with. At least then he wouldn't have to row her anywhere...
Lamb warbled quietly next to the boy's ear, pressing him as to why he was upset. Raising his hand to stroke the little green absently, Ke'rin shook his head. He wasn't upset. He was...just a little disappointed.

--THREAD CLOSED--