An Old Face Returns

[Dragon]

The bugle of a bronze could be heard as the dragon blurred through the skies of Pern. His rider preffered flying straight. In the weyrbowl the two landed with a heavy thud. Wrapped around the rider's shoulder was a blue flitt. It chittered wildly at the familiar surroundings.

Just how long had he been gone? It felt like an eternity but he was yet again back at his old stomping grounds. The weyr he was currently at heard the news that this weyr needed more bronze riders and he decided it was time to return. The bronze lowered his head and surveyed the surroundings a bit more. His rider patted him on the side of his head.

The rider walked off a little ways from the dragon and began taking it all in. Finally he said something, aloud to himself, "Gerenanth, Azure. We're home".

[Akki]

Akki was in her weyr at the moment, trying to make her appearance seem at least partially decent. Her hair was a mess, her clothes were slightly rumpled, and I'm sure you can imagine the rest. The blue rider didn't even look up when the bugle reached her ears, she was desensitized to the sound now, it didn't startle her anymore. She placed a hand over her mouth, trying to hide her yawn from sight as she looked at her blue, whose head was perked up. Hurry up and fix your appearance to your liking. You'll be interested in whose dragon just bugled. Ebbeth said, a sly grin forming on his face.

Akki cocked her head to the side, but took his advice and finished up. Her hair was fixed, no longer poofy and knotty, and as she stood up she straightened her outfit. The blue had more her curious with his statement, and we all know that Akki is weak against curiousity. She climbed onto Ebbeth, who was waiting as patiently as he could for the rider, before he pushed off, wings pumping as he headed towards where the bugle came from. As the dragon descended in a slow spiral, Akki narrowed her eyes, trying to identify the dragon that had just entered the Weyrbowl. He seemed familiar.

As Ebbeth hit the ground, with a fairly loud thump, a hand flew to Akki's mouth as she spotted the rider of the bronze. The dragon was familiar after all, she just hadn't seen him for a while. Sliding off of Ebbeth as quickly as she could, she basically ran to the rider, wrapping her arms around him when she reached him. "G'han!" She cried, obviously happy to see her friend. "Where the shards have you been! I hope you know you're going to get a long lecture from me, telling you how dissapointed in you for leaving me like that suddenly." Akki said, releasing the rider so she could shake a finger in his face.

Greetings Gerenanth, it is good to see you again. Ebbeth said sincerely before adding, I hope you didn't leave the weyr because you realized I'm the superior dragon out of us two

[Dragon]

G'han smiled as he saw his old friend run at him. He returned her hug. It had been so long since the two had seen one another.

In your dreams Ebbeth. We left because G'han transferred to another weyr. He felt it for the best but then returned when he heard need of bronzeriders here. We missed this place so we thought it a good idea. And how have you been Ebbeth? Still aging I see. Gerenanth gave an amused snort.

G'han gave a smirking glance at Gerenanth then returned his gaze to Akki. "I transferred to Ista Weyr for awhile. Then transferred back. Figured I'de be G'han the traveling, lone, bronzerider. Had a nice ring to it. So tell me Akki, how have you been. It's been so long since I've seen you", he said to her.

[Akki]

I'm sorry to hurt your self-esteem like this, but I don't dream about you. Many people will be glad to see your back. Well, they'll be glad to see your rider at least. Ebbeth returned, glad to be able to banter with the bronze once again. Not as much as you are Gerenanth, I see your hide seems to be getting a little dusty. You look older than any other dragon. Ebbeth sniffed as if he was ashamed to point out this fact, a fact that he happened to make up but that's beside the point.

"Now why would you do that? Leave Dark Moon. Tch, you're silly person G'han." Akki said, shaking her head as she gave G'han a mock scolding. "Oh well, at least you had enough intelligence to come back I suppose. Then again, if you had intelligence you would have sent a note to me saying you were coming back and I could have thrown together a proper welcoming for you two." She said, nodding absent mindedly as her idea of an ideal welcoming group flooded in to her mind. "I hate to burst your bubble, but now you're just the lone, bronzerider. I mean, I'm the only one out here. Sorry G'han, but it seems like you have a new title.".

"How have I been? I've been feeling like an Akki. Happy, annoying, joyous, and pestering. Though I don't think pestering is a good word to describe it. Though I don't think I've been too bothersome. I'd ask Ebbeth but he'd say that I was unbearable." She said, waving her hand in the air aimlessly as she babbled about nothing. "There's three new mutants now also G'han! A moonstreak, a yellow, and a copper. And there was another gold. It was a really good hatching, I wish you didn't miss it.". She looked over the rider, and then asked, "And what about you? What's been happening?".

[Dragon]

I assure you it doesn't hurt my feelings. Infact I feel relieved. And Ebbeth you know this is a lie. I bathed before I got here and you should be more worried about your hide. It looks like your color has faded since I've been gone. Perhaps you will turn colors, become a mutant. A grey. That would be interesting.

"So Kaith had another good hatching then? That's good to hear. As for me, mostly just attending to my duties in the weyr. Although I did manage to hear news of my family. Some weyrfolk were talking amongst themselves and mentioned my brother's name. When I asked them they definently confirmed it was my brother though their tone had me worried", he explained to her. He took a breath then said with a smirk, "Oh I don't mind not having a welcoming party. Dinner with an old friend would be good enough for me".

[Akki]

Your feelings aren't hurt, but your pride is probably. I apologize if I wounded it. Ebbeth said, trying to sound sincerely apologetic which was failing pretty badly. I think being a grey would be quite entertaining. I'd probably get more attention than you, but what else is new? You can tell by all the other dragons, just crowding around to talk to you here, are very very happy to see you. Ebbeth quipped, a dragonic smile appearing on his face.

"Oh yes, better than good actually. And there was so much drama before hand, the egg that was stolen and such. It was a very angsty weyr for a bit there, filled with suspense and mystery. You would have liked it, you could have sleuthed around looking for the egg and such." Akki said, imagining G'han crawling through dust, looking for clues or anything like that. "Oh. Duties. Ick." She said, scrunching up her nose and making a face of disgust showing her opinion on that subject. "Your brother? I didn't know you had one. Or did I? I have a really horrid memory, so you might have told me before. What do you mean thier tone had you worried, nothing bad happened, right?" She said, scrunching her forehead in concern.

Her face soon lit up though, a large smile appearing. "That's good enough for me too then." She said, happily as she hooked arms with the rider. "To the kitchens later on then, for some food." She said, nodding. "Hey! Wait. Who you calling old?" She said, frowning slightly.

[Dragon]

No, my pride isn't either. But I'm sure yours is. I mean it must be hard dealing with the fact you are an old wherry. I'm suprised you even remember anything.

"Yeah. I might not have mentioned it. And nothing bad from what I heard. Although all I heard was that he was alive", he explained to her. He cleared his throat and clarified to Akki, "I didn't mean it like that. It's just that it's been some time since I've had any contact with you. It feels like ages since I've seen you last". He smiled at her as the two walked along arm and arm. "So just wondering, seeing as how your leading me along. Just where are we headed to?", he asked.

[Akki]

Gerenanth, I should have known your sight was going. You must hardly be able to see me. It is obvious I am no old wherry but a lovely blue. Poor Gerenanth, your memory must be on the fritz. Aging badly does that to you I suppose. Ebbeth said, shaking his head side to side as he sounded solemn and sad for the bronze.

"You might not have? Having a brother isn't something you don't mention G'han." Akki said, pretending to scold him once again. "And I'm glad the news was nothing bad. I hope you see him soon because sounds like you haven't seen him for a while." The rider said as she tucked some blonde hair behind her ear so it wouldn't fly into her mouth as she babbled endlessly to her friend. She scratched her nose as she listened to G'han before snorting, and pointed out, "You have no one to blame but yourself for that, kid. You could have sent your flitt to me with a note or something, I had no idea where you went so I couldn't send Sargon on a mission. However, sending him off with no coordinates sounds awfully fun.".

She blinked, looked at G'han, her face scrunched in confusion. "I'm leading? Oh. I was following you. Well, I thought I was at least. But I guess I'm not then. I guess we're heading to the Kitchens so we can get some food. Maybe people will be down there and will come and greet you. But only before saying 'Who are you lonely old man?'" Akki said with a grin, and a wink.

[Dragon]

And your mind is deteriorating. You are not a lovely blue but an old wherry head who's going to become an old grey wherry head.

"Well the past can be a hard thing to mention, but yes. I had a younger brother. And sorry but I guess I just got so busy. I meant to write you a few times", he said to her. He then remembered and went to digging in a bag on Gerenanth. In it were a few folded up letters. Something meant to be sent but as though the person had not had enough time to send them. He pulled one of them out and said, "I did manage to keep them. Though most were unfinished". He showed one to her, one of the first few he wrote:

"Dear Akki,

Life at this weyr is as busy as ever and I seem to get so caught up in my surroundings. I made sure to remind myself to write you today when I had the time. Things seem so out of place not having you guys around, especially you. Sure there are a few dragonriders with the same sort of humor but none like yours. Sometimes I look over my shoulder hoping your there, but then I remind myself where I am and realize how quiet things are here. Makes me realize what I missed out on, it makes me realize-".

The note ended there. "See I did give it an effort to write you", he said to her with an uneasy smile. He composed himself and said, "Why yes you were leading and I hope no one says that to me. I don't want to feel old".

[Akki]

Oh Gerenanth, this is a sad day. I didn't know your mind was going too. Is your rider aware of the fact you have a case of insanity? Ebbeth asked, making his voice seem sincerely concerned. Turning to Akki and G'han, the blue dragon said aloud Are you aware that your dragon has a large case of insanity? I advise locking him up so it can't become contagious.
Akki rolled her eyes and stated, "Ebbeth, don't tease the large insane dragon. He'll get mad.".

"Unless it's a happy past, then it wouldn't be hard to mention. I mean, what if you lived in a place where...I can't think of anything. I was going to say where dragons roam but then I was all 'Oh shards, that sounds familiar'. So forget that." Akki said, getting a small frown on her face, as if she was mad at her self for failing to think up a happy past. She waited as he got something out of the bag, and plucked the note out of his hand. Taking it, she flopped down onto the ground, sitting cross-legged. "I can't walk and read at the same time. I walk into things." Akki said, looking up to G'han, as she admitted this rather shamelessly.

She read the note, snorted once of amusement before folding it up and looking up at her friend. "More people with my sense of humour is not a good thing G'han. The world would collapse onto itself, it'd be pure chaos. And now what all of us Akki-humour people would do? Make a joke about it, probably. And me being over your shoulder is creepy and slightly stalker-ish which means I would have loved being there cause then I could scream boo." She pointed out as she pushed herself off of the ground, straightening out her clothes.

"Okay, okay, you get pointes before attempting to write to me. Content?" She offered as she flicked off some dust. "I decided that I don't want to ever get old. I don't want to become all wrinkley and gray haired, sure it'd be an adventure, but I like the idea of staying this age." She said with a grin.

[Dragon]

"Yes Ebbeth. I was aware of that the moment he hatched. Better watch it though. He is bigger than you. He may mistake you for food and Gerenanth is a very messy eater", G'han commented with a laugh. The bronze simply snorted.

He then looked down at Akki as she read the letter then as she got back up. "I think the world could use a good joke sometimes. Maybe make things less tense and dramatic when there is no need for it. And yes I am content, because I did make the effort and sorry Akki but all of us will grow old. It's nature's way unfortunantly", he said to her.

[Akki]

Ebbeth didn't reply, but gave a snort of amusement before pretending to preen himself, as if he was the better dragon of the two. "I agree Ebbeth. No offense, but you look mighty tasty and Gerenanth could get really hungry and be all 'Shards, he looks tasty.' and then eat you right then and there." Akki said nodding her head, as if it was broken. "Then again. I'd hope Gerenanth had a better sense of what good food is.".

"But only sometimes. I have this thing, when I don't know where the sometimes ends. Then I'll make a joke, and it'll be followed with an awkward silence. I'm pretty good at making awkward silences." She said with a grin, giving the rider a thumbs up. She shook her head, letting her blonde hair whip wildly around her before settling back around her face when she stopped. "I'll find a way to stay young forever. Or I'll die young. Either way I'll be happy.".

[Dragon]

"Well that's nothing new. You always had a way with making awkward silences. He hooked her arm with his and decided to continue walking. "You know what. Since it's not dinner time just yet, and I'm not hungry right now. How about we just walk around the lake? It's been too long since I've seen a sunset at the lake. He gave a sigh and remembered all the good times he had here, especially at that lake.

[Akki]

"I guess I did. I mean, can I count that as a talent? Like when someone asks me if I have any talents I can say I make really long awkward pauses that will make you fidget uncomfortably?" Akki asked curiously. "But I guess if I said that, that'd create a pause. But then I guess they'll know what I say is true, right?". Akki knew she was basically talking about nothing here, but being who she is, she was okay with that.

She let him hook arms with her and grinned, nodding, "I like that idea. You can never get enough of the lake.". She snorted slightly, "A sunset at the lake? Why G'han, are you going feminine on me? That'd be pretty cool though actually, we could do each others hair. It's hard to do your hair by yourself.".

[Dragon]

G'han just laughed at her as she talked about it. "Akki I've missed you, that's for sure", he said still laughing. He gave a pause, cleared his throat and said in a deeper tone, "I am not going feminine. I just wanted to see the lake, especially since it's around sunset now. I don't see anything feminine about it..."

Gerenanth gave a laugh and said to Ebbeth. Will you ever understand human behavior? He found his rider to be quite funny at this moment.

[Akki]

"Missed in a good way?" She asked cautiously before adding, "But I suppose you can miss someone in a bad way, can you? I mean, I've never heard of something like that before but you never know. It could happen.". "Aw, calm down G'han. I meant that in a good way. Don't take it so personally." She said with a grin and a roll of her eyes. "I just haven't met too many males that enjoy sunsets that's all.".

I have Akki as a rider, with her I may never understand wha thuman behaviour is. Or normal behaviour for that matter. She's too strange, but I love her none the less. Ebbeth said, opening his jaws to let out a silent yawn.

[Dragon]

"Well I guess I am one of few guys that enjoy the beauty of nature then", he said to her as they neared the lake. "And I suppose you could miss someone in a bad kind of way. Like stalkerish kind of way? Notice how that phrase pops up between the two of us? How weird", he added. Azure saw the lake up ahead and with a loud chirp darted towards the lake. G'han gave a laugh and said, "I suppose he missed it here as well". With that Gerenanth stretched, gave out a yawn of his own and headed for the lake himself.

[Akki]

"Maybe. Or, here's another theory, I just never asked any other guys their opinion on nature. I'll ask one next time I see one though, and we'll see. Then maybe you won't be as special as you think you are." Akki said with a laugh. "Maybe it means that we're meant to stalk each other, you can never know. Then again, I don't like the idea of being stalked. However, me stalking someone is nothing new.".

As the bronze headed towards the lake, Ebbeth opened up his wings and jumped into the air, his wings pumping slowly as he flew towards the lake only to curl in his wings, and fall into the water with a large splash. "Oh great, this is exactly what we need. How much do you want to bet those two will start a water war or something like that." Akki groaned, with a small smile, as she unhooked arms and ran towards the lake.

[Dragon]

"Never said I thought of myself as special and you're right. You stalking people is nothing new. I wouldn't do it however. Unless it was some joke", he said to her. Then watched as Ebbeth dove into the water then Akki running out to the lake. Gerenanth spiraled down into the water creating a huge wave that engulfed the poor blue flitt heading towards the water. Azure let out an alarmed chirp as he the wave swallowed him under. Moments later he darted out, chittering madly. He was very upset at what had happened. G'han couldn't help but fall to the ground laughing at his poor flitt. He composed himself then said to Akki, "I certainly hope not. Then I'de have to change before having dinner and these are some good riding clothes I have on.

[Akki]

"Oh G'han, I know you like to think that you're more special than everyone else." Akki laughed as she slowed down her pace, gradually coming to a stop. "No, I suppose it's not anything new. I was born to stalk people, that and talk forever. That's my life purpose." Akki said with a grin, imagining being able to talk forever without ever not have a topic to talk about. That would pure bliss in her opinion.

"G'han!" Akki said, scolding the rider. "Don't be so mean to your flitt. You okay?" She asked the blue flitt as he chirped and chittered his obvious resentment for what the bronze dragon just did. "I'll get him back for you, promise." Akki vowed to the flitt with a wink. She looked over at G'han and made a fake pout, "Aww, is little G'han afraid of the water?". Turning to face the lake, she teetered for a moment at the waters edge before diving in, ignoring the fact she just soaked her clothes for the day.