Reunited Once More (Sheari)

[Chey]

I'nos couldn't help a pang of loneliness. He hadn't felt this lonely since home, way back in Hyphen. As a Candidate, he'd always had friends, most particularly K'nale. Sure, he was social, and his antics as a social butterfly with a class clown dragon always gathered people near, but nothing made him feel complete like a good talk with a great friend. Most of his friends had been sent north to Inverness and the one who hadn't refused to speak to him simply because of Tirneth.

Easy, Mine. Don't look now. teased his dragon lightly from his position not far away. Look over there, Mine.

I'nos raised his head to where Tirneth had directed and his spirits soared. K'nale stood there with his blue, Kormath. What was he doing here? Wasn't he supposed to be in the north? He'd been moved! What? Despite I'nos' confusion, he couldn't help but hurtle towards the person he viewed as the brother he'd never had. He embraced K'nale strongly, laughing a bit in his confusion at himself.

"K'nale, what are you doing here? I thought you were in the north?" I'nos said, breathing heavy from his short sprint.

Behind him, Tirneth crooned lightly to Kormath, jumping down to awkwardly fly to the pair. Hello, brother. I have missed you so, as Mine has missed Yours. How was your stay in the north, dear Kormath?

[Sheari]

It was cold and wet. It wasn’t so much that K’nale disliked Northern weather (he’d been raised in Fort Hold itself), it was more that he disliked the constant damp that his old watch dragon weyr offered. To that extent, he was given more and more reasons to spend time with his family. Morrigan, as well, had not taken well to the cold. The green often took to curling up in the loose fur on Cleric. The dog had ceased minding being a mount and simply took it. Today, however, K’nale had other plans. He left his room to walk into the chilly weyr, wrapped in riding gear. Kormath, his adventuring blue, was evidently not on his couch.

Are you ready to go?
Oh, delightfully,

With deft movements, K’nale attached the riding straps to his dragon, and then climbed on. Cleric as well, with Morrigan clinging to her fur, waited for K’nale to move her to her place in front of him. The dog was reluctant to leave her little hearth, but she would not be absent from her person’s side. The blue was giddy, waiting for K’nale’s signal. With the destination in mind, Kormath traveled between.

The air was humid and quite a bit warmer in the south above the watch heights of Selenitas. As well, quite a bit thinner. Since their hosts were facing the other way, K’nale directed Kormath to circle down behind before landing on the ledges. It didn’t take long before the young man was being hugged. “I’m here to visit you, and do you know how hard it is for Tirneth to keep a secret?” he asked, laughing.

It has had its pleasant and unpleasant times. At present it is cold and wet. It is a bit fun to live in a place so different from a weyr, but I can not wander as please…the northerners…they are not too fond of lone dragons roaming about.[/I] The blue’s tone was amused and a bit frustrated. He did so love to roam and adventure.

[Chey]

I'nos laughed at the comment about Tirneth. "Oh, Shards, yes. That dragon can't keep a secret to save his life! Can you hardly blame him though? He never gets angry, though my sullen moods agitate him like you'd never believe."

That they do, Mine. Tirneth put in.

"Oh hush, no one asked you." I'nos chided with a smile. He turned back to K'nale, as giddy as a child again. "How long are you staying here? Oh, hey Cleric." He petted the dog absently like he used to in the old days, almost five to six years ago.

Oh, poor Kormath. Tirneth teased. You and I shall have to roam sometime while you're here for an adventure. The whers have all the fun nowadays. It will be fun to spend time together.

"Be careful." I'nos said absently, overhearing what his dragon said to Kormath. He knew he should probably tell Tirneth no, but how could he tell him no when he knew that if he succeeded in convincing him, K'nale and he would be up to some sort of tomfoolery and shenanigans by the end of the night. And very well might get in trouble, but its worth it when you reap the spoils of a well-executed adventure or prank, in his mind.

Tirneth was becoming a bad influence, it seemed. The social butterfly before Tirneth would have never dreamed of getting in someone else's way for a laugh.

But that's what makes it fun! Tirneth's eyes were greener than usual, as if he were more amused than his constant clown self was.

[Sheari]

The dog lavished in the attention. She loved her person, but she loved attention as well. Cleric was more than happy to simply sit next to I’nos and get her head rubbed and ears scratched. Morrigan, displeased by the lack of attention she was receiving, turned and flew off. She would find herself a couple of nice bronzes to dote on her. Maybe a brown too, but browns were always a bit more intelligent than bronzes around females like her and didn’t listen nearly as well.

Oh, I do love to roam…[/I] Kormath replied a bit dreamily. Even now his wings itched for flight without straps or rider. True, he adored K’nale, but the free sky was a lover he could never resist. K’nale caught the wave of Kormath’s desire and sent him a mental prod. No, no flying without straps. The two-toned blue snorted. The whers up north all seem a great deal less intelligent than the ones down here. There are so very few, even. And all the other dragons don’t talk to me much, hardened by war as they are and as southern bred and inexperienced in such things as I am.[/I]

Kormath turned on the watchheight stones, half unfurled his wings, and fell a few yards before picking himself up again. He couldn’t remember where his old weyr was, and it was probably occupied anyway. Where to, oh brother of mine?[/I]

K’nale was not pleased with being left. “Good thing this place has stairs,” he muttered. A dragon was the best way to deal with the watchheights, but stairs were always there. Stairs and patches of smooth incline. “Food? I’m starving!” the bluerider laughed. If he’d missed a mealtime, there was no doubt scraps they could pilfer form the kitchen. “So, what’s been up with you?”

[Chey]

I'nos laughed as Cleric nosed his hand, looking for more attention. Same old Cleric, it seemed. The little firelizard seemed impatient and flitted off to go do whatever.

Where ever you would like to brother, Tirneth replied. You cannot put a limit on adventure!

I'nos watched as Tirneth jumped and unfurled his skinny wings, following Kormath down with a bit of displeasure. As he heard K'nale mutter, he couldn't help but grunt in agreement. Getting around everywhere was easier with a dragon and it'd been so long since he'd walked the weyr that he might actually have forgotten how to navigate some of the halls. Which wasn't good because it wasn't like Tirneth had the best memory in the weyr to remind him of things. Oh well, he figured it was like shining a gem or making some new piece of jewelry after years of not being in practice: it would come back to him, little by little, he just had to try.

K'nale asked for food and I'nos was vaguely aware of his stomach rumbling as well. "Sure, I haven't eaten in forever as well. Shall we go get something to eat while the dragons are off playing adventurer?"

You know it! Tirneth crowed happily, his tail twitching. Come brother, let's go have fun while our humans talk!

I'nos laughed at Tirneth. Way to behave like you just got out of your egg, love.

Now that was just low. Tirneth said, albeit with a dragon smile and a chuckle. It seemed like there was no insulting him, not even by calling him a hatchling, which was usually enough to get any dragon's tail in a twist.

Yeah, you're insulted. I'nos thought sarcastically, gesturing to the stairs as a silent question for K'nale.

[Sheari]

"I do so hope they have something rich. I am so sick of meatrolls and bread!"

Yeah, the walk down was much more difficult than just flying into the weyr. His classes at the harper crafthall had always been quick and easy to get to and often on level ground. His southern-bred Kormath, however, often opted to stay in his weyr. War-hardened northern dragons saw him as inexperienced, young, and "squishy". The blue had to agree with the first two, but he never understod what they meant by the third.

K'nale pulled out his short little flute to have something to play with since he was not quite sure what to do with empty hands. He was now so used to having an instrument, stylus, or riding leather in them. "So, they keeping you busy? I know they are...up...where I am," The bluerider wasn't sure what effect saying "Fort" would have in the South. Since escaping the north, he'd spent enough time in the south to Impress before being forced back home.

Kormath, New Selenitas born, reveled in the air. He was less awkward now, though he still didn't quite have the feel of his wings. He had never felt as comfortable with anyone as he did with his brown brother Tirneth. I would propose a hunt, star-struck one, but it just feels so good to fly! he exclaimed. Closing his wings he rolled to his left before leveling out. On a whim he did the meneuver again, only to the right and only by half a turn. Leveling out upside down, he glided before he faltered and twisted right side up.

Let's chase birds![/i] Kormath crowed. Swooping over a flock on the ground, he buffetted them up before catching one in his mouth and swallowing it whole.

[Chey]

Tirneth had always felt self-conscious about his wings; it was just the way he was. But when he flew with his brother, who seemed to have the opposite problem of him, he didn't care. Kormath was his bluebrother, his clutchsibling. It was just natural.

I couldn't agree more brother! He crowed, leaping into the air after him. A hunt would be spectacular! Under such lovely stars too; who could argue! Swooping under Kormath, he crunched a bird between his jaws, going down nearly whole and then snagging another.

Easy there, I'nos cautioned his brown. Don't be going and getting too excited now. He sighed and started down with K'nale, wishing that Tirneth would at least give him a ride down before taking off but it seemed unlikely. Just as K'nale was I'nos' closest friend and probable brother, Kormath was to Tirneth and there wasn't a moment to spare before their notions of having some grand adventure would overcome their minds.

I'nos laughed at K'nale's remark. "Indeed, rich food seems to be all they have here, though I've eaten it for five years; I can hardly complain, can I? I couldn't imagine eating meatrolls and bread day in and day out!"

His very stomach rebelled at that thought. He'd become accustomed to the rich and decidedly 'southern weyr-ish' taste that they put in the food here and he'd probably be sick if he'd had to eat northern Hold or Weyr food for any prolonged period of time.

As K'nale pulled out his little flute, he remembered that K'nale had indeed been a Harper, or at least one in training, before Impressing to his blue. He'd hardly heard anything at all of the man, other than his posting to the north, and I'nos wasn't even entirely sure he remembered where his friend had been posted. Call it bad manners if you will; he'd had slightly more pressing matters on his mind remembering the posting of all the dragonriders. He might make his head explode just trying- as he'd already bitterly reminded himself, neither he nor Tirneth had the best memory in the weyr.

"So, K'nale, forgive my horrid memory, but where have you been these past five years?"