Midnight wanderings (OPEN)

[Rei]

Raylin sent a silent prayer to the heavens for Saeo’s obvious talent at improvising. The girl was terribly overly emotional at times and also completely unpredictable but she was anything but stupid. She felt bad for making her bleed but had to admit at the moment she didn’t regret it. She would find a way to make it up to her. She was positive the younger girl wouldn’t let her forget it.

The older candidate risked a glance at the rider’s face trying to gauge his mood. He seemed tired perhaps he would excuse them on the grounds that he was too exhausted to deal with their delinquency at the moment. Whatever the case Raylin had to admit he was very good looking. She blushed again. What was wrong with her? She was being completely idiotic. Trying to sway her thoughts to less dangerous things she gazed about the room, her eyes coming to rest of the brown hide of that infuriating mander. The creature was so darn smug. She idly wondered if they were all so obnoxious or if Stupid was just special.

[dragon]

The night had been a horribly muggy night, what with the weather warming up and all. And the humidity in the waterfall canyon made it all that much worse. The heat, Cloar could handle. But the humidity made it impossible for him to sleep.

And he wasn't even allowed to get up and go hang out on the railing, where it was cooler. Laying there wide awake, head pillowed on one upflung arm, Cloar just listened to the night sounds of the other lads sleeping. A couple of them were snoring, some snorting. The cocophany was keeping him awake just as much as the weather was ... Cloar considered going over to the door and opening it for some more air.

And then he was hearing a most peculiar sound. At first it sounded like a high tittering. But as it drew nearer, he was able to discern that it was indeed what sounded like a couple of girls whispering and giggling together on the stairs as they passed more or less silent-footed down toward the Common room.

What in the world were the girls up to?

Deciding that the curiousity was just too much to stand, Cloar slid out of bed. He pulled a pair of pants on over the top of his sleeping trunks, and padded barefoot toward the door. Opening it quietly, he peeked out down the stairs after them as they entered the common room.

Now he was really curious. What was in there to attract thier attention? Sneaking down the stairs himself, he peered into the room after them, hearing them continue to chat away in thier funny high girly voices. How in the world did they expect to go unnoticed when they were yakking away like that? After a moment of listening, he thought he might recognize one of the voices ... if that was who he thought it was, she was brand new to the weyr. If that was the case, maybe she didn't know there was a curfew. But the other girl ...? Surely she knew.

Hearing someone else coming in from the other direction, up the stairs, Cloar retreated back into some shadows up the stairs to avoid getting noticed. Shards, it sounded like they were running ... and growling? He lifted one eyebrow as he watched what looked like a 'mandyr running along with a scroll bigger than he was dart into the room. Followed shortly by a fellow.

Now, this might get interesting indeed.

Once the fellow was inside the common room, Cloar snuck back down again, and peered into the dark room again, and grinned as he saw what was going on. Ah. He recognized that 'mandyr. That was Stupid. Though he'd never met the thing, he'd seen it from afar. And that meant that the fellow was most likely ... Cloar couldn't think of his name. But he was a young bronzer.

Headed to the infirmary! His big fat left foot! They'd been going the absolute wrong way for that! Cloar considered speaking up and saying so. But he held his tongue ... no need to make enemies. Besides ... he was out of curfew, too.

[Avu]

Quite obviously Hold born and bred. At least that one, the one that Stupid had claimed as a temporary perch, was. It was blatantly obvious in the way she was flushing at the sight of him. A slight frown tugged the corner of the Bronzerider's mouth as he eyed the pair, too worn out to make any snarky comments as he normally might have. At least he was wearing pants. Because, come now, he'd been contemplating simply tearing out of his Weyr. Those Wing patterns were important, Shardit all. Not his fault that they were prudes and apparently couldn't handle seeing someone shirtless. He absently rubbed his arm, the frown a bit more pronounced at the conspicious lack of an explanation coming from the girl he'd labeled prudish, though he did turn his gaze onto the other girl as she began to explain.

Wait. "Sir"? T'rid reached automatically for the place on his shoulder where his Wingsecond and Bronzerider knots usually occupied, and remembered a second later that he wasn't wearing a tunic, and, thus, no knots. Great. You must be /really/ out of it, forgetting that, when that girl's face is a torch, Corinth commented sleepily. Not. My. Fault. Honestly. The girl would have to get used to nudity if she wanted to stay in the Weyr. She'd clearly no idea about Flights. Some sardonic part of the Bronzerider wanted to plop her down and give her the full benefit of the Candidate lesson that explained it, but...he'd forgotten that lesson a long time ago (i.e. right after it was given, over five Turns ago). "T'rid," he interjected. "Bronzerider of Corinth, Wingsecond of the Blizzard Wing."

T'rid was good at excuses, and he flattered himself at being able to pick holes in...just about anyone's reasoning. This one was...quite easy, really. "So, let me get this right. Your arm randomly starts bleeding sometime within the two hours between curfew and midnight, you wake up, find out it's bleeding, wake her," a jerk of his head towards the other Candidate, "up to take you to the Healers, and you...take a book with you? Not to mention you're headed in the wrong direction?" One eyebrow arched skeptically - although the girls were roughly his own age, which was...irritating. Slightly. You probably shouldn't stay long, you know... Corinth commented. We have sweep first thing in the morning, and then wing drills. And you're dead tired, too.

Still. T'rid could be stubborn when he wanted to be, even against Corinth - and his better judgement. He would have been perfectly content to sit there in silence and wait for her response, but Stupid, perhaps feeling Raylin's glance on him, frilled happily. Let chase pretty? he asked loudly of T'rid, and when the Bronzerider failed to react, he hissed, lunging from his bared shoulder to his earlobe and digging his teeth in. Let chase pretty! he demanded, his frill extended as the young man uttered a yelp of protest, his hand shooting up instinctively to the pinpricks. Get off! he snarled mentally. Chase! the 'mandyr insisted, including, as previously, both girls in the statement as well. The bronzer had been bitten enough by Stupid to know it was no good pulling, more's the pity, or he would have happily just stretched the 'mandyr till he snapped off. Grabbing the 'mandyr with both hands, one around his body and the other squeezing the sides of his jaws lightly, hard enough to break if met with resistance, the Bronzerider jerked him off, dropping him into his pants pocket with a disgusted look before he returned his gaze, rather sheepishly, to the Candidates.

"Right. Sorry about him. Accidental Impression." A mild shrug. "He got mad at me because I wouldn't let him Chase Llath when she Rose. As if he could Catch her anyways," he added with a snort. "He's not normally this obnoxious. Not...quite, anyway." He paused, head tilted in mild confusion as Stupid scrabbled out of his pocket, frilling at a dark shadow the Bronzerider hadn't noticed and proclaiming loudly: You! Ugly stupid! Come! He bounced on His' foot before darting forwards, skittering up Cloar's leg and burying his teeth into the Candidate's ear with another shrilling call. 'Nother bigstupid, petmine!

A distinct frown found the Bronzerider's mouth as he swung towards Cloar, one brow raised. "So what's your excuse?" he demanded of the Candidate. Stupid Candidates.

[nightingale]

Saeo's eyes narrowed ever so slightly as she fought the urge to grin. Despite the fact that it made their situation far more difficult to squeeze out of, she couldn't help but be pleased that the bronze rider in front of her was smarter than his good looks implied. She wouldn't have much respect for him if he wasn't -titles and knots ment very little to the girl if they weren't backed up by a good mind and a strong character. Still, she wasn't about to back down from her story on account of a little jabbing.

"I'm sorry sir, but are you accusing me of cutting my own arm open just so I would have an excuse to wander about at night?"

The one pale eyebrow that was visible beneath her fringe bangs arched in a gesture of disbelieving confusion.

"My having a book with me is incidental I can assure you -I just happened to notice that I had left it here when we came downstairs and it seemed silly to leave it."

Saeo had an answer for everything. It was something of a signature trait for her -a trait that had deeply annoyed many of her family members and harpers during her younger years. The girl's vivid imagnination had always allowed her to think on the spot, and while her explainations had been rather fanciful in her youth (It wasn't me father! A 'mandyr swooped in and tore up the hide!) the way they had shifted towards believability and rationality as she grew up had left many of them suspicious as to weather she had stopped lying or simply gotten very good at it.

"The infirmary isn't this way then?"

Saeo asked, honestly questioning this time. She knew that they had got a little turned around in the darkness, but she had been sure that -wait no, that was the wrong door, wasn't it? So the way to the infirmary was -she glanced over her left shoulder- that way maybe? She turned her full attention back to T'rid and grinned sheepishly, her head bobing in an apologetic gesture.

"Please pardon my ignorance then - neither candidate Raylin nor I have been here very long and we tend to get turned around quite often."

Satisfied that their alibi was as air tight as the situation called for, Saeo was more that pleased to allow T'rid to shift the subject in a different direction. His 'mandyr companion was perfectly charming in her perpetually rose-tinted eyes -perhaps even more so because he could draw an amusing reaction from Raylin just as readily as she could. She resisted the urge to speak in defense of the little creature as His appologized for his poor behavior -superior officers were beyond that kind of verbal scrutiny.

And then the strangest thing happened -well, not so strange really, because the little creature seemed to be rather fond of darting off places with no warning- but the perfect lunacy of the situation did draw a giggle from her throat. Even in the darkness, she recognized the boy Stupid had latched his teeth onto as the same one she had met only a few days earlier. She bit her lower lip in an attempt to stiffle her amusement, eyeing Cloar with gently mocking scorn. Maybe he wasn't as much of a stick-in-the-mud as she'd first imagined.

[Rei]

Raylin looked over at Saeo and pursed her lips. So much for the great backup plan the bronzerider, as he had just labeled himself obviously knew they were lying. For all Saeo's talent at improvising she didn't think their present situation could be helped much. Shard it all. Well it seemed in this case that perhaps honesty was the best policy as the saying went.

She turned toward T’rid but shut her mouth as Stupid frilled and spoke to everyone in the room. “Chase pretty?” she questioned. She cocked her head at the mander and tried to think of what the heck that statement could possibly mean.

Raylin didn’t have to wonder long as Stupid latched onto the bronzerider’s ear and sunk his horrible little fangs into the skin drawing a sharp yelp from the rider. Inwardly Raylin was pleased, the initial novelty of T’rid’s appearance had worn off and she wasn’t at all happy with the rude expressions he was shooting her way. It seemed she had irked him somehow although perhaps it was just her imagination. Not everyone was put out with her, although she seemed to rub the weyr bred candidates the wrong way. Probably because she was from a hold and knew next to nothing about her present situation, well she couldn’t help that the blue choose her could she?

Raylin’s embarrassment was quickly being replaced with a smoldering anger at the world at large. Similar to the feelings she used to be subject to back home. Would she ever escape it?, The discontent with her life? Now she doubted it. So caught up was she in her own thoughts she barely caught the end of the rider’s statement. “He chases greens?” she queried out loud, sending another appraising look at Stupid. She smiled slightly. “My my for a little thing you certainly have your own way of creating huge waves.” She directed at the brown mander.

When stupid shot of the rider’s shoulder and scrambled into the shadows Raylin groaned. Great someone else had blundered into the common room and it looked like another Candidate, this one male. Well if the rider was put off now he would be absolutely furious. The older candidate walked over to a table and sat down on the end of it. No sense standing anymore, besides she felt a stinging pain in her ankle and had the feeling that she had not escaped her fall entirely unscathed.

[dragon]

Cloar jumped when Stupid came at him, and backed away, trying to shoo the creature off him. But it seemed to do no good at all as the infernal creature continued to climb, even useing his shooing-motions as a ladder to climb up. "Go away, I'm not here!" He hissed.

And then he hollered when those teeth sank in his ear. "Sharding beast!" He swore, before grabbing the 'mandyr with both hands and squeezing the rude little beast as he pulled on him. Which only made Cloar yell again, as that obviously was not working. "Sharding beast!" He repeated again, this time a little louder.

He completly ignored T'rid's comment in his direction ... right now, the only thing that was important to Cloar was that thing attached to his ear!

[Avu]

T'rid was never at his best when woken up in the middle of the night - but that didn't mean the Bronzerider was either stupid or physically incapable, either. If he could row and run all the way from the rider Weyrs - third level, mark you - to the Candidate Barracks, he had to be pretty fit, as was emphasized by his build, but - still. He just wanted to go to sleep...was that so much to ask? He'd stayed up late, and would have to get up early (scorch sweep!), and - more likely than not - he'd stay up late the following night as well. This was - uncalled for, unneeded, and most of all, unwanted. Thus leaving him in a rather irritable mood. I said you ought to come back, Corinth quipped, seemingly unable to help himself. Come and get me? All right. But only because you seem more likely to sleepwalk into the river and drown than make it back alive,[/color] the bronze agreed cheerfully. I'm coming. Keep those Candidates amused. Ha, ha.

The younger Candidate's story left little to be desired, but quite frankly, the Bronzerider was still skeptical. Assuming that it had started bleeding sometime during the night - what were the chances of her waking up immediately and noticing? And then waking up another Candidate who was as new, according to her story, as she was, neither of them knowing which way to turn - not even the vaguest idea - instead of a more experienced Candidate? Besides, it wasn't as if T'rid hadn't sliced his palm open a few times before as an excuse to break curfew when he was new to the Weyr too. (Was it his fault that the people he wanted to prank weren't Candidates? Pft.) He knew all of the excuses, though his motives were far from as innocent as Saeo's were. Neglecting to mention that, he merely shrugged, lacking the energy to start a fight with a Candidate.

"Sure. Let's just go with that," he agreed, amiable for once. "But just for...ah, constructive criticism..." One brow rose as he regarded Saeo. "Next time, you fell out of bed and cut yourself...randomly bleeding is - unbelievable, not to mention your waking up. I'm sure if I cared to check your furs there wouldn't be any blood? I'd also suggest heading in the right direction for the infirmary." The idea of getting back to bed had him cheered up immensely - enough that he had ceased playing the offensive, at any rate. "Next...I don't know what your motives were, but aren't you a bit old to be doing immature things like breaking curfew? Not saying I didn't, but I was only fourteen at the time." Rubbing his ear where Stupid had bitten him, rather absently, he clicked his tongue. "And - honestly. Even sleep-deprived, you should've woken up a more...experienced Candidate if you're bound and determined to go breaking curfew by pretending you're going to the Infirmary and you didn't know where you were going." Another shrug as he prodded Corinth mentally. Coming! Besides, you're still interrogating that other Candidate. Patience, T'ridmine.

That the older Candidate had caught Stupid's mental yells didn't surprise T'rid in the least. The brown 'mandyr had a humiliating habit of addressing - everybody - the more crowded the place the better, and the more nonsense he spouted, the better. Needless to say, it left T'rid wishing that he could reverse Impressions. Pretty shine Stupid love, the brown 'mandyr explained, wriggling as he clung stubbornly to Cloar. "Chase. Like when they're Rising," the Bronzerider settled himself to explain wearily, but before he'd gotten far, she'd already put the pieces together. "Right. Dragonhealer Kalierre's Phremath first. Then I kept him - forcibly - from pursuing Aliscia's Tanith and the Candidatemaster's Mellith; Corinth wanted to Chase Llath, so I - again forcibly - stopped him from Chasing too." His lip curled as he flicked a distasteful glance at Stupid, who cooed happily. "I expect stealing things is his idea of a good revenge, and frankly if it's anything unimportant I don't think I care, but when he takes flight patterns for Wing Drills, that's going too far." At Raylin's comment, directed at not T'rid, but at Stupid, the Bronzerider couldn't repress a slight sarcasm from entering his tone. "Let's not encourage him to Chasing, hmm? Enough people are already doing that." Namely, Z'hin (who had merely threatened to). But one person was already more than enough, thank you.

The fact that his question went ignored was lost in the face of a new sound: Distinct, if faint - the sound of wings; the Bronzerider's head came around as Corinth's voice sounded in his mind, mock-irritated. Night-flying is ridiculously difficult, Mine. If we crash, I'm blaming you. You'd blame me even in the daytime, T'rid answered, shrugging dismissively at the Candidate, though his reaction to being bitten drew a faint snicker from the Bronzer. "Stupid, get off and come here. You three..." His gaze flicked to the girl's bleeding arm and he sighed. No doubt he'd get told off by Kemma if he let the Candidates trot themselves all over the place without guidance after curfew - and knowing his luck, she'd find out he'd a hand in it. If we crash /while transporting already-wounded Candidates/, Mellith's will eat you alive, if you're not already dead, Corinth informed him serenely. The response elicited a sniff from the young man. Because she's completely in a fit state to eat people, not checking her straps and whatnot, he responded icily, glancing at Stupid, who was shrilling indignantly through clenched teeth at Cloar's not-so-efficient attempts at removing him - and a flash of pain came through their bond.

"Candidate. Let go of my 'mandyr." His voice was suddenly cold as he crossed the distance to the male Candidate and seizing the other by the arms, digging his thumbnails into Cloar's wrists. He would let go - whether due to the Bronzerider's order or to the pain was his choice entirely - or else T'rid would knee him in the groin. Simple as that. While T'rid's voice held a nearly silent, venemous poison in its quietness, Stupid had no such ideals. YOU UGLY STUPID LEMME GO! he shrieked, digging his teeth all the tighter into Cloar's ear as he scratched at the boy's hands with his claws, writhing until - the 'mandyr shot out of Cloar's grasp, taking a flying leap onto T'rid's shoulder and hissing, frilling at the Candidate, eyes flushed with rage. YOU UGLY! STUPID KILL! the brown warned, his mental voice shrill with indignation. Where did this boy get off, yanking him like that?!

T'rid took a pace backwards, dropping Cloar's arms as he glared at the Candidate. I didn't know you liked Stupid that much. Well. He certainly doesn't deserve it. Love you, petmine. Love you love you. "Right." The bronzerider clicked his tongue lightly, irritation clear in his face. Is big ugly. Stupid kill? the brown 'mandyr purred hopefully at His, throwing another venemous glance at Cloar as he snuggled against His' neck, back to addressing the entire room. "Later. You can kill him later," T'rid assured Stupid, more out of habit than actual anger to the Candidate. "Look," he went on to the Candidates, half-turning to include Raylin and Saeo. "This is how I see it. You've broken curfew. You obviously need to go to the Infirmary," directed at Cloar, "and I'd probably advise you getting that cut looked at, too," at Saeo."I, meanwhile, need to sleep. Corinth and I will drop you all off at the Infirmary, if you're not scared of night flying, and if, Candidate, you so much as touch my 'mandyr again, I'll make sure to speak to the Candidatemaster about it. Don't think I won't, either; she's on my wing." -technically S'rei's wing, but while the Wingleader was sick, it was T'rid's. "With luck," he added, sarcastic again, "You may even be able to change that into a piercing."

Is big ugly ass! No touch my wingedstupid, Stupid protested, frilling at Cloar again. Clearly, the Candidate did not merit the Salamandyr's approval.[/size]

Edit: Wow, this got a /lot/ longer than I meant it to. ;; Umm...have fun? xD

[Rei]

Raylin raised an eyebrow in surprise was the bronze rider actually giving Saeo tips on lying? He was quite unorthodox it seemed. Well at least it didn’t look like they would be getting in any major trouble. For that she breathed a sigh of relief. She turned her head towards T’ rid as he explained Stupid’s rather unusual quirk. “I can see why his chasing is something you don’t want encouraged but it is rather unique don’t you think?” The candidate replied with a slight smile in Stupid’s direction.

The black haired girl turned to Saeo intending to ask her opinion on the matter of the mander’s preference for dragons when T’rid’s cold voice caught her attention. It seemed the male candidate hadn’t succeeded in removing Stupid yet and the brown mander was not at all pleased with being tugged at. Raylin flinched slightly at the obvious violence in Stupid’s tone. She wouldn’t be at all surprised if the little beast didn’t find a way of exacting revenge in one way or another.

She watched with interest until the little show was over and then her mouth dropped open at the bronze rider’s suggestion. A flight on a Bronze? You would have to be utterly insane to refuse! Not wanting to act too eager Raylin took her time descending from her perch on the edge of the table. She applied her weight carefully on her tender ankle to make sure it would hold. She winced in pain, weight was okay but she would have quite the limp it seemed.

Raylin stood most of her weight shifted to her good ankle to await their departure. Her mind drifted to the upcoming ride. She hadn’t had the chance to see a bronze up close and hadn't thought she would get to anytime soon. This was an unexpected and pleasant surprise despite the pain in her ankle. It seemed Saeo had been right about their “little” venture it had ended up becoming pretty exciting.

[nightingale]

Saeo only just managed to hold the instictive urge to argue her point further at bay. Had it been any other time of day she would have been more than pleased to bat the question of weather their breaking of the rules was justified or not. As it was, midnight was a poor time for argument. There could be no winner, and so she knew that it was best to take a hit on her pride than risk angering the bronze rider who seemed so willing to go easy on them.

"I'm certain I don't know what you mean sir -but I can attest to the fact that we truly are lost."

We'll call it a tie then, she thought with a small smile, and left it at that as her attention was drawn inexorably back to the hopelessly one-sided wrestling match between Cloar and Stupid. She held her tongue for much of the talking -it was just another opportunity to rub their benifactor the wrong abotu the time when T'rid's voice froze over.
What did that meathead Cloar think he was doing, being so rough with a bonded creature? It was his own fault for getting caught sneaking about anyway -poor little Stupid was only doing what any good companion animal would.

"I agree."

She murmured to Raylin under her breath in response to the 'mandyr's irritated jabbering.

"He is a big stupid ugly."

She finched slightly when the rider turned back toward them, half wondering if she'd been whispering louder than she thought before she realized that her taunting was not the subject he was looking to discuss. It took a few moments for the girl to register T'rid's words for what they were - a suggestion that he take them to the infimiry on dragon back. She suddenly felt very light-headed as what seemed to be all the blood in her body rushed to her head.

"D-drop us off? Sir, w-were just candidates -I'm not sure we're even allowed to make eye contact with a bronze without Kemma's written permission!"

The overdramatization of the statement was intentional -ment more as an expression of her joking enthusiasm than genuine concern- but deep in the bottom of her gut there was a gnawing, painful worry that he would take her seriously and send them off to bed. It would be a rather cruel joke to play on them, not that they deserved any better for thier rule breaking.
But then the hope came bubbling back up again. They were going to get to ride on a dragon. A DRAGON! Her eyes sparkled with barely contained excitement as she cast a sidelong glance toward Raylin. 'Arren't you glad you decided to toss your prudishness aside for one night you sharding twit?' She wanted to scream and tackle her friend to the ground.
The two contrary extremes of emotion were tearing at her insides, to the point where Saeo thought she might drop dead on the spot. Oh, tell us that you mean it sir, she screamed in her mind, fixing T'rid with the most pleading gaze her face was capable of making. Please!

[dragon]

Cloar was very glad when Stupid let go of his ear, and was even more glad to see the idiot creature back near T'rid's ear. He decided that he really, truely, hated that little runt of a creature. As he saw it, the 'mandyr deserved worse than it got ... after all, it had attacked him, not the other way around! A body was allowed to defend itself, wasn't it?

He rubbed his sore wrists where T'rid had also assaulted him, and was very glad that he had tough skin. The skin in the wrists was a fairly thin place ... and even having harder than typical skin hadn't saved Cloar from getting some serious nail marks in his hide. Cloar figured that if he ever saw Stupid coming at him like that again, he would be more than likely to use the 'mandyr like a ball one used a very hard bat on.

But he said nothing to anyone. His ear was throbbing, and he could feel his own blood dripping onto his shoulder from the multiple puncture wounds. He didn't even have to touch it and look at his fingers to know he was bleeding.

"I am not a fan of peircings." Cloar grumbled. He was tempted to simply go back to bed ... bronze ride or no bronze ride. But his ear hurt an awful lot. It was dark out ... was it really safe to be traveling around in the air on a dragon? But, again, the lad said nothing of his thoughts. At least the obnoxious rider was willing to take him to be seen to.

Who knew if that little runt had some sort of disease.

"Thank you." Was all Cloar said: both for finally getting Stupid off of him, and for the offer to take him to the infirmary. But despite all that, Cloar figured that he probably wasn't ever going to get along with T'rid very well. Not unless the rider was a far different personality during daylight hours.

What the two girls thought of him didn't even ever cross his mind. They weren't the ones that had been bitten, and as such, couldn't possibly know what they would have done in his stead.

[Avu]

Stupid was, fortunately, in a very good mood, at least concerning his Bonded, if not towards Cloar, and it showed in the brown's affectionate coo as his let him crawl into his pocket where he normally took residence. Pockets were warm, cozy places with an infinite number of amazing things to be found - Stupid adored pockets. Is love minepet, he crooned, pausing to frill at Cloar again. That big ugly die, Stupid kill, he added in a confidential tone, snuggling down into T'rid's pocket again. The Bronzerider sniffed, eyeing the boy with distaste. Blood didn't bother him - the fact that the Candidate was bleeding all over himself, and the ground where the blood dripped off, did bother him. He scowled - as if he was going to let that ridiculous Candidate bleed on his Corinth. Picking up a discarded scrap of fabric, he flung it at Cloar's head. "Wrap that around your ear, at least until it gets attention from a Healer. No need to spray blood all over the place."

His response to T'rid's sarcastic remark drew a low chuckle from the Bronzerider, albeit an unfriendly one, as he shrugged. One eyebrow arced at Saeo's - dramatic response to his offer. Right - bronzes were supposed to be amazingly lordly and whatnot, weren't they? You don't appreciate me. I should make you walk more often, Corinth commented. "I overrule your Candidatemaster," he responded absently, shrugging. "If you're scared, there's no need to come. Save me the time and Corinth the trouble anyways." A slight grin canceled out the words; if they were truly this amazed at simply the offer of a ride, he would have much fun in the air - particularly since Corinth wasn't wearing straps. He probably should warn them of that...but why bother? They'd find out soon enough anyways.

"Come on, then," he finished, swinging on his heel and starting out the door. As soon as he walked outside, Corinth's muzzle darted towards his face, the bronze dragon whuffling him softly. You're bleeding. Am I? T'rid reached up, touching his ear where Stupid had bitten him. Not bad. It's dried now anyways. I can take care of it myself - at least I won't eat myself for acquiring such a minor wound and daring to try to apply herbal salves like the healers probably will. The bronze snorted, the hot gust of air eliciting an irritated squeal from Stupid as the 'mandyr frilled at Corinth. Yuck smell! Big bronze butt yuck smell. You should teach the little cousin some manners. Because he /always/ listens to what /I/ say...kneel down, by the way. We need to get on.

The bronze dragon cast his gaze critically over the Candidates as he crouched obediently. Don't let them scream, T'ridmine. They'll wake the Weyr and we don't need a sleep-deprived Weyr on our tails. With a slight snort, T'rid vaulted onto Corinth's back, glancing at the others expectantly. "Get on. Step on his foreleg, bounce on your right foot a few times and jump up." He paused, and then proffered his hand for assistance, too. "If you need help, grab my arm; if not, I don't particularly care." The Bronzerider's face flicked into a brief smile, and he added, "Oh, by the way - if you scream, we're throwing you off." Oh, T'ridmine... Corinth sounded exasperated. The bronze snorted softly, offering the Candidates an encouraging croon. They shouldn't be scared of him...he wouldn't let His throw anybody off, not even Stupid.

[Rei]

Raylin followed behind T’rid obediently and stopped in her tracks at the sight of the bronze. Even in the darkness he was magnificent, his color could not be mistaken. In sunlight she imagined he would be a breathtaking sight. He was massive, easily twice if not three times the size of the blue that had searched her and defiantly more heavily muscled.

She took a deep breath and approached the beast after his rider had mounted. She paused beside Corith’s forelimb and bowed after he gave an encouraging croon. “Thank you Corinth for generously agreeing to transport us to the infirmary. I appreciate it immensely.” She looked into his whirling eye and smiled slightly before stepping gingerly onto his foreleg testing the weight limit her ankle would hold. Satisfied that it would hold up she prepared herself to mount.

Raylin ignored T’rid’s proffered hand and swung herself onto the beast easily, taking a position behind the rider. It really wasn’t too much different than mounting the runners she rode back home she mused to herself. Although runners where a heck of a lot shorter.

“Oh don’t worry,” The dark haired girl said to T’rid in answer to his comment, “It would take a lot to make me scream.” She gripped the bronze with her legs and flashed an encouraging smile at Saeo.

[nightingale]

"Don't get overconfident Raylin -I might just jab you in the side to put that statement to the test."

A faint grin flickered across Saeo's face, but it ws quickly overshadowed by a look of deep concentration as she climbed delicately onto Corinth's great bronze leg. Unlike her companion, Saeo hadn't even the most passing of experiance with mounting runners. To be sure, the only real riding she had ever done was on her brothers' shoulders when she had spained her ankle more than ten years ago.

"Uh...sorry if my socks are tickling you."

She murmured to Corinth, trying her very best not to cause him any discomfort as she steadied herself by pressing her hands against his side. The hide was warm and moist under her fingers -like well oiled, aged leather. She smiled. The simple fact that she was able to relate even this small detail of dragonkind to something in her own life sent a swell of pleasure rushing through her body.

The girl grunted softly as she attempted to hoist herself up onto the creaure's neck. The transition was graceless, but despite a couple of near-tumbles, Saeo managed to position herself just behind Raylin, between a pair of knobby ridges. She giggled despite herself, giving the Corinth's neck an affectionate pat.

"Oh this is lovely. I could get used to this."

She mused, surveying the darkened landscape from her new vantage point. She caught sight of Cloar still landbound and grinned, gesturing playfully toward him.

"Well come on then! Hurry up and get of before you bleed to death!"

[dragon]

"I'm not bleeding that badly." Cloar protested, even as he wiped the blood off his shoulder and pinched the rag around the bite on his ear. It hurt like all dragonfires, and he was half afraid the runt had given him some sort of disease.

But he climbed up onto Corinth's back anyway. He jumped from point to point quickly, maintaining as much upward momentum as he could until he managed to grab a ridge to hang onto. He had to let go of his ear for a moment to hoist himself up, but it wasn't a hard thing. His substantial biceps bulged largely as he pulled his own weight up the dragon's side. Getting on a large dragon behind three other people was no easy task ... considering he had to get around that wing and climb the dragon where there was no leg to really stand on.

Settling into position, Cloar used both hands to hang onto the ridge before him, even as he propped his knees against the dragon's side. Bleeding ear or no bleeding ear ... if he fell off, he'd have far more to worry about than a bleeding ear.

"I'm on." He said, once he was settled.

[Avu]

All three Candidates' mounts were regarded coolly by the Bronzerider, Raylin recieving a slight nod of approval, though her comment had him quirking one eyebrow in disbelief. Clearly she'd never been on a real dragon flight. T'rid supposed it'd be much more terrifying if he didn't trust Corinth with his life, considering how agile the bronze could be. Barrel rolls, flips, dives, drops. All had been accomplished at some point or another by the bronze with his Rider aboard, sometimes without straps. Tempted though he was to have Corinth do a few barrel rolls in the air just to squeeze a scream out of the Candidate, he resisted, shaking his head with a slight snort that clearly displayed his doubt as Saeo mounted. She wasn't too terribly bad, he supposed...and Cloar's mount drew a low chuckle from the young Bronzer as he stood, nudging Saeo and Raylin to move forwards as he plopped himself down behind Saeo and in front of Cloar, the safest place if he wanted to make sure all of his passengers stayed aboard.

Wrapping his arms around Saeo and Raylin till he could lock his fingers around Raylin's stomach lightly, he kicked Cloar's foot lightly with his heel. "Hang on to me. All three of you, grip with your legs, and by the way, if you ever mount a dragon again, you want to use your legs, not your arms." A slight sniff. "You're not supposed to pull yourself up, you're supposed to - vault up." Done with your lecture? All stupids, lecture, Stupid stated solemnly, including all three in his comment as he bounced lightly in T'rid's pocket, the lump quivering. Lessgo fly now, make stupid ums scream! Right. Right, go. Smooth flight. Just catch an updraft and go. Last thing I need is Kemma taking a bite out of me for killing a Candidate.

With a soft snort, Corinth flicked his tail, shaking his head lightly, indulgently, at T'rid's sarcastic statement, before he unfurled his wings, taking a few paces forward where a small, ten-foot waterfall dropped away. Uttering a warning thrum, the vibrations running the length of his neck, Corinth took a small hop, plummeting downwards towards the bottom of the waterfall before he twisted, his wings snapping out and sending them soaring forwards, an almost icy breeze pushing him forwards easily as he ascended into the sky, swerving and heading in the direction of the Infirmary.

[Continued here <3]