Hurricane Hatching Feast

[Kino]

[Sorry if Jil's is a little short. I can't think of much for him to do while sitting there and replying to a question xD]

J'kiran looked up at X'ions question, glancing back down to his plate for a moment. He couldn't exactly tell the boy that he'd been upset because he'd felt unwanted by him. Especially not when he'd just gotten up to sit by him, which obviously negated that.

"Well," he replied, looking back up to his brother. "With Kaenith asleep, I guess I was just feeling a bit lonely."

- - -

K'ris had just leaned forward against the table once more when Raska suddenly addressed him. He sat up quickly and looked across at her, a bit surprised at the sudden volume of her voice...but not all so much, considering who it was. The boy narrowed one eye and lifted the eyebrow of the other.

"How should I know why she wanted to know about my past?" He shrugged. "I've never thought it was all that interesting myself." K'ris glanced over to Kestrel as she excused herself, following her path and noticing she was heading over to Tieler. Well, that was good of her. He looked back to Raska then. "And if her feelings are hurt, it's not from anything I did." He quirked an eyebrow at her again. "I'm not the sort of person to go around getting fun out of hurting other people." Not that that was a verbal finger point, or anything.

He looked to T'kal when the boy spoke up, and nodded in agreement to show that he wasn't intentionally ignoring the boy.

- - -

Tanwen was half expecting L'der to simply dodge to the side and ask why she was trying to kick him. For all she knew, the form that he'd taken up to ask her for a dance was just coincidental, after all. But he didn't. Her own heart sped up a bit when she was suddenly tipped backwards - not from any emotional reaction, though. Her body was simply trained to react to these steps and ready up an energy reserve for the steps to come. Really? He had been taught this? What on earth had he done - or gone through, for that matter - that would have made Master Mercer think he was worthy?

When he tipped her back, Tanwen's foot instinctively pressed off of the ground in the last moment to help along the build of momentum. She threw her arms over her head to touch the floor, tipping completely over in a flip and bringing her legs over as well. As soon as her feet met the ground behind her she lifted back up into a standing position. Tanwen balanced on the balls of her feet for a moment, knees slightly bent, and she raised an eyebrow at the boy.

"Well then..." she said, and she pressed off the ground to dart towards L'der. A moment later she leapt forward, looking almost as though she was planning on leaping into his arms with a dance manuever.

[kestrel]

Kaiya stood up as she replied, "her name is Prydath, and you're right-she's also a green," while heading toward's Wolf's table. On the way there, she saw an interesting little interchange between what looked like her fellow Weyrling R'yo and R'xis and Wolf. Whatever it was, it had them both pale, and then laughing. It even looked as if R'xis were protesting before Wolf hauled both boys up, and they began to walk towards a table that was in the corner-a lot more private than the other tables out in the middle. She glanced at Marletta, with a curious sort of grin, before admitting, "I have to wonder what that was all about-come on and lets see if we can't find out, hrm?"

When she reached Wolf's table, she sat down beside the other girl with a smile, and then asked in her usual outright manner, "that looked interesting-what was it all about, praytell?" She smiled, hoping Wolf would be kind enough to share. If not, she would have to speculate. No one had really had much chance to talk to her after she'd impressed Prydath, since they'd been at 'evacuation' stage by then. It felt...different...now that she'd impressed. Like there was another half to her that she'd known all her life, but didn't know at all! She knew that Wolf, having impressed, and Marletta, also having impressed at this hatching, would at least be able to also understand. It was rather reassuring. She kind of felt bad for those who hadn't impressed, though. She was sure next clutch around that they would, however.

~~~~~~

R'yo was at a complete and total loss when Wolf suddenly turned pale. He fretted for a moment when she'd begun to look like she might be choking-had he offended her? Maybe it was rude and wrong to even assume that his dragon might catch her gold...what had he just done? He turned crimson red and then noticed that R'xis had burst out laughing, and then, for some reason, Wolf started laughing as R'xis went pale.

R'yo had no clue what was going on. It was as if there were a book that R'xis and Wolf were reading, and he wasn't even on the same page-no, he felt like he were reading another book entirely. What could it be about what he'd said that could make them both turn white, and then laugh? He was feeling mollified, and looked helplessly from one to the other, not knowing what to do or what to say. So he said nothing, hoping that they would clue him in, for he had no idea what to think or feel about their reactions.

That's when Wolf and R'xis stopped laughing, and R'xis looked horrified and told his sister 'no!' in a rather persistantly horrified tone. What on Pern was going on? His eyes widened when he ws suddenly hauled up, and then R'xis addressed him. A little talk, he began. And then he said something that caught R'yo completely off guard. A word that he knew, but had no idea why R'xis would ever bring that up. It was R'yo's turn to turn pale, as his mouth hung open like a stranded fish, and then he turned so bright red that his face nearly matched his hair, and he stumbled, nearly tripping over his own two feet. All that came out was a squeak, as he stuttered, "s-s-say what?" How had this come up? He was so confused by now that he couldn't think straight. He'd said nothing about that! He would never, in the prescence of Wolf, especially! He was too muddled to do anything but allow R'xis to haul him over to the corner, where it didn't appear anyone else would be listening.

He looked wide eyed at R'xis, a bead of sweat dripping down his face, his eyes looking about frantically from over to where R'xis was to where Wolf was, and then finally back at R'xis, managing, "w-why? I mean, I didn't say anything about that-why are we going to talk about...y-you know...th-that?" The usually calm and smiling boy was now a jumble of stuttering words and crimson faced, looking as if he'd swallowed a sour and not quite ripe fruit, and like he was about to run away and yet couldn't move.

R'yo knew the basics of how...that...worked. Boy and girl. Boy likes girl, girl likes boy. Boy and girl fall in love, and got closer, and those things happened...eventually. Just...not to him, that he could remember. He was almost sure he'd never...no, he knew he'd never! Did R'xis think he wanted to do that with his sister?! He began to hyperventilate, and then stammered, "oh shards, oh shards...R'xis, I didn't do it with your sister!" Then, turning pale, "oh shells, oh shells...I mean I didn't think about doing that with your sister! Please, you have to believe me! I mean, she's a very nice girl and I don't see why someone wouldn't want to do that...with her, I mean...but I haven't thought about it! I would never-you would know if I ever did-because I'd tell you! But I didn't tell you! I mean, because I didn't-think about it, I mean! Or do it!" He was speaking so fast his words were coming out all in one string, as he finally looked at his feet, then back at R'xis, and mumbed, "you do believe me, right?" His eyes were forlorn and pleading, as he then said quietly, "I think maybe I like your sister, because she's nice and pretty and everything...but I haven't ever...thought about her that way..." He suddenly felt very horrid, wondering if he should have, maybe, because was that normal if you liked someone a bit? No, that was just perverted. He only liked Wolf's personality and seeing her smile made him smile. But as of now, they were just friends, and you didn't think about friends like that! Besides, even if they weren't friends, he'd respect her enough not to ever be thinking like that...right? Right. He felt ill, as he continued to look imporingly at his friend, hoping he wasn't mad at him. But why had they laughed, then? Maybe they thought it was funny, even if it weren't true...that was good, right?

~~~~~~

Raska listened to K'ris, not for a minute missing the proverbial 'finger pointing' at that last comment. She smirked, but it was cynical, and she said cooly, "'course you wouldn't, 'cuz you're too much of a goody two shoes for that, huh shorty?" Then, coldly, "I never hurt anyone who didn't hurt me first, you got that? Or hurt one of my friends. So shut your sharding mouth and don't assume you know anything about me or what I do! If they're snot nosed little meddlers who think they know everything like you? I might consider showing them that it's not worth meddling with me and thinking they know everything. I hate people like you!" she spat, and then, "always thinking you know everything about everyone just because you think you're better than them! Judging people when you don't know 'em, thinking just because they aren't your sort that that must make you right about 'em. You don't know me, or why I am the way I am. So don't you dare pretend like you do!" She then glanced over at Tieler, and said more cooly, "I don't have 'fun' hurting people. But I don't like most people, neither. They all are like you. Judge people, think they're better just because they fit into that limited and narrow category of what you deem as 'good'. Me and Tie? We aren't bad just 'cuz we aren't like you. We're us, and if you can't accept that there's more to us than what you see, then you're stupid as wherry dung and not worth a sharding second of our time!"

Of course, meanwhile she was wondering what Tieler could have wanted to know about this guy's past so much that she'd have bothered to drag him off to ask under pretenses of 'sorting him out'. She narrowed her eyes at the boy, then stroked Kero as she often did when thinking, before asking blatantly, "what did she wanna' know? Maybe he's onto something," she acknowledged, jerking a thumb at T'kal. "If she does got some twisted thing for you, for shells knows what reason, you'd better not hurt her, and you'd better let her down nice if you don't like her that way. You lead her on and I'll gut you like a packtail, you got it?" She glared at the boy. Honestly? She didn't think he played like that. Didn't think he'd lead Tieler on if her friend had some sort of crush on him. However, they were out of each other's leagues, anyway. Tieler was a Candidate and K'ris was a Weyrling. There were some rules you didn't break. That was one of them. Of course, she was never known for keeping rules. However, K'ris didn't seem the sort that would put his dragon at risk just because of some girl. He would keep the sharding rules, he would.

Raska knew deep down that she would, too. She might be a rule breaker, but she wanted a dragon so bad that she would never break any rules concerning her own dragon. And then, Tieler would probably be a Weyrling soon, too! That'd be what, three years or more? She snorted derisively. It was a crappy deal, that was for sure. Not like she cared. Boys were as useful as turds to her. However, she had Tieler's back, and if she liked this guy...ugh. Short, smart mouthed know it all, was what he was. Why couldn't Tie have gone for someone like that X'ion guy. Shells, he'd even gotten a bronze, after all. Still, same rules would apply. Better to just forget the opposite sex altogether, and concentrate on what counted. Like her flitt, or, in Raska's case, her feline! She chuckled inwardly, seeing Kestrel over with Tieler, and figured she'd give her some space if she wanted to actually talk to that other girl...

~~~~~~

Kestrel was surprised to see that Tieler looked troubled. Something was the matter, and she wasn't happy to see it. When Tieler finally acknowledged her, it was obvious her mind had been somewhere else. She looked like she was sweating, almost. However, just then Alias popped in, and Kestrel smiled and pointed, saying gently, "well, that answers that question," then, with a smile and a pause, "I asked how your flitt was doing. But it looks to me like she couldn' be in better hands. She looks beautiful, really. I couldn't be happier with whom she chose," she said, as Roksha blinked out of between, sensing hers was near one of her clutch. She chirruped to Alias, and then without hesitation, flew over and nuzzled the younger flit, crooning to the pretty little thing. Kestrel chuckled, and said admittingly, "did you know, Roksha is especially proud of having clutched your Alias? I think if a mother played favorites over her clutch, Alias is the one Roksha has picked to favor. She often sends me images of Alias, and I can practically feel the smugness and pride in her when she does!"

She was treating Tieler as an equal, and making it obvious that she wasn't one of the people in the Weyr who judged the girl-or her friend, really. Her friend might have been rougher around the edges, but Kestrel had an easier time seeing the good in people than most. So, "your friend is worried about you, you know. You're lucky, she seems like she's a really loyal person. Would defend you to the end, that girl, I think!" she said with a smirk. Once again, she took a quick glance around, searching for the familiar black hair and skinny frame of Hasima. She didn't see her, so turned her attention fully back to Tieler, brushing a strand of her hair out of her face, since it looked like it was clinging there due to the cold sweat the girl appeared to have broken out in. "Hrm," she commented, and then, "you've got really pretty hair. I'd kill for hair that color-though I don't think it'd go too good with my eyes!" she admitted. Her eyes were really one of her best features. Golden, like a hawk's-and her namesake, Kestrel. She leaned back against the wall-kneeling on your feet got a little hard after a few moments, and waited for Tieler to have time to react to this all.

~~~~~~

X'ion shrugged, and then replied, "no use in getting lonely. Lots of people here, bet they would be plenty happy if you joined them. I mean, you did get a bronze, after all. Bet some pretty girl would just love it if you went to talk to her-bronzerider J'kiran," he said, a hint of teasing humor in his voice, as he continued eating in between sentences.

He poked at a piece of roast wherry, and then, "so, what do you plan to do after today?" The question was kind of open ended, and so, "I hear that we'll be given a couple of days to adjust to having our dragonets, but then Weyrling lessons will start." He wasn't looking forwards to Weyrling lessons. Maybe it would be better, because he now had Azaranth. He didn't have to feel so alone now. J'kiran would be there with Kaenith, as well. During Candidate lessons he'd felt completely singled out, as everyone at least seemed to have taken to someone, or a certain group. They could mingle, but he felt always the outsider. Not that he'd really minded, but it did get to him every once in a while.

~~~~~~

T'kal smiled at K'ris, and then, at Raska's comment that he might be onto something, he said, "of course I am!" Then, to elaborate, "she's not comfortable admitting why she was dragging him off like that, and when she did, it was to ask him about his past. Seems to me a girl like her who usually doesn't care, suddenly is interested. It all adds up, really," he said, waving his fork in the air to pointedly add emphasis, before stabbing a meatroll and taking a bite. Yeah. Cool as could be, T'kal was. Then, to K'ris, "be careful with that one. She's plenty cute but you don't want to step on her toes, trust me. She'll eat you alive!" he said in a mock scary tone, and then added, "mwah ha ha ha!" Then, more seriously, "but really, now that you've got a dragon and all, better make it clear where you stand. Pretty girls are great, but you and I know what comes frist." Then, mournfully, "I wish I'd have gotten a pretty girl or two before impressing." He sniffled, and then said, "how about you, Raska? Will you do me the pleasure of a romp in the hay?" His eyes glinted mischieviously, and he laughed when Raska shot a look that could have killed. "Whoa, calm down, girl. You know you were tempted," he said, and when she huffed in annoyance and ignored him after muttering, "in your dreams, he turned to K'ris and said, "see? Told you she liked me."

[Sparrow]

Marletta followed Kaiya to Wolf’s table with a surprised look upon her face as R’yo was practically dragged away. She nodded when Kaiya said they should find out what had just transpired but Marletta was a little hesitant. She didn’t really know the others, she whispered to Kaiya, “Are you sure it’s alright if I’m here,” she pointed to where R’yo clearly looked unsettled; “If that was something private I really don’t want to seem like I’m intruding.” They had made it to the other table and Marletta sat down next to Kaiya sending Wolf a small smile and a quiet, “Hi.”

((If you were waiting for me, lo siento))

[Wolf]

“My well then is that... I didn’t expect this,” L’der said quietly. The boy met her lunge, taking her hands in his, their palms pressed against each other’s. A chuckle resonated from his chest and he says in the same quiet tone of voice, “But one must expect the unexpected, right?” Then, he uses her gained momentum to swing her upwards, holding her with no visible strain as she does what could appear like a handstand, up over his head, letting her fall back behind him with care. She knows what she’s doing. Her, of all people though? What are the chances? He knew better than anyone that irony just snuck up on you like a hungry wildcat. If anything he was glad that it was her, for in his mind she was a girl whose talent would be put to good use. He didn’t at all think of the people around him, of how things would look to the onlookers. All that he was really focusing on was her, and he couldn’t tell if that was a good or bad thing at this point, what with his mind and all...

All he could think at this point was bring it on. He was most positive that she could keep up, he had absolute faith that out of any one she could give him a run for his marks.

~ ~ ~

Tieler wondered where this girl was coming from, when really she didn’t know what kind of a person she was at all. Did some people just sense things? Well wouldn’t she be disappointed to know that she’s wrong. “You do, you really think that?” she said after her having made the comment about Alias having chose the right person. Her question wasn’t really a question, or at least to her, since she wasn’t requiring an answer. “Well...” she clenched her jaw, “thanks.” She looked away from Kestrel, having trouble holding eye contact with anyone; she hated having people staring at her. It was only right to pay them the same courtesy, that and she wasn’t free of guilt. Tieler had the hint of a smile while listening to Kestrel explaining Roksha’s feelings, able to see what the girl meant just by seeing the two flitts cuddled together. Alias’ eyes were a mix of blues and greens, and Tieler could feel the waves of happiness rolling off of her like a mist. She appreciated having her clutchmother there, and Tieler wondered if a flitt ever left their bonded for others of their kin.

A new thought broke into her mind when Kestrel brought up Raska. She looked over to the black-haired Candidate, wide eyed. I never really considered that she... I mean, she does but... She snorted, looking back to Kestrel, not seeming angry but disappointed. “Well her friendship is misplaced.” She wasn’t joking; she wasn’t trying to receive pity, shards no. She was simply being honest with Kestrel, and that was possibly the greatest gift that she’d ever bestowed anyone. “Though yes,” she swallowed, newfound feelings of guilt causing her fists to clench, “she’s a good friend.” Tieler chuckled bitterly, not feeling as if she deserved any compliments, especially not from this innocent Weyrling. “A persons looks is hardly what matters,” she blurted out before she could stop herself. She shifted uncomfortably, wondering how it was this girl made her say things she didn’t want to say. Again, before she knew it, she was inviting her to sit. “You can sit if you want you know; I don’t bite.” Her invite ended-up sounding more like a rude response to Kestrel’s moving about. She downcast her eyes and stared at her lap, knowing that she’d done far worse than biting.

~ ~ ~

R’xis nearly doubled over in laughter, he just couldn’t help himself. Hearing R’yo so nervous about the subject, and completely taken aback with what he suspected he was being accused of, was too much for him to take. Not to mention, R’xis was blushing himself for the subject was something he never spoke of. “R’yo, I would say let’s forget about this, but I think there’s some things you need to know. First off, when a dragon flies to mate...” He then paused, was this really the right approach? He leaned his face against his hand as he thought of a way to word it better, and then started off more slowly. “Okay... You know how people have urges?” He nearly wanted to kick himself when the words had come out of his mouth, but he kept on going anyhow. “Well dragons do too, and there’s a time when they rise to mate because these urges bid them to do so. Now, when a dragon rises to mate, particularly Gold, all the other dragons want to try and catch her. The only dragons capable of doing so are Bronzes and Browns, the Blues stick to flying the Greens you see. So, anyhow, the dragon that catches the other mates with them and the two become mates, as it were.” R’xis stopped to clear his throat and take in R’yo’s reaction to all of this. He bet that the boy had caught on now to what he had really said to set off the two siblings. “Although, you know how the bond between dragon and human is very strong? Well, it’s so strong, that when a dragon rises to mate their riders share a... sexual experience also. Now, they don’t have to stay together, but some do, and some woman even have the rider’s child. Now, I know this is probably a lot for you to take in, so, yes. I’ll give you a minute.” R’xis stopped talking, hoping that he hadn’t overwhelmed R’yo. He was betting that the innocent boy felt pretty embarrassed right now, just about embarrassed enough to have his own dragon eat him.

Wolf, in the mean time, was glad that the boys were gone. It had taken her a while for her to be able to feel her face again. She began blushing once more when Kaiya brought up the subject, she didn’t want to embarrass R’yo by talking about it with others. “There was just a misunderstanding about the subject of Flights,” Wolf chuckled, figuring that she’d never be able to forget what had been said, right down to the last word. Eager to change the subject, she said what she had originally wanted to say to the pair. She nodded to Marletta’s shy greeting before speaking.
“I had wanted to congratulate you both on your impressions! You both impressed lovely Greens, no? I’m very happy for you, I can’t even begin to express just how much. Being a dragonrider, well, there’s nothing like it.” Wolf beamed with pride, pride that these two were a part of Dark Moon. “The hatching was quite a turn out, though it’s no surprise, Kaith always breaks expectations with exceeding them.” She was becoming nostalgic, she feared, and didn’t want to go off on the girls about all that she remembered about the Weyrwoman and the Senior Queen from her younger years. Unable to help it she said: “Kaith saved my life you know. Her and Christae both, I’ll never forget that day. It was the very same day that I came to Dark Moon Weyr.”

[Kino]

J'kiran smiled at the reply from his brother. "Actually," he said, giving a small shrug as he did so, "I usually always feel loneliest in a crowd of people." That was truth enough. He'd never felt incredibly lonely before, because he did have his parents and a few friends - mainly Kestrel, back at the Hold. But whenever he'd been in a crowd, that had always been when he'd most noticed the families sticking together. The boy nodded afterwards, going on to reply to the rest of X'ion's comments. "They probably would," he said, "But I don't really know many people. I know some names, but I only really know Kestrel." He gave a quick smile and a short laugh. "It's kind of funny though; you are right. A lot of people here probably want to meet the new bronzeriders, and here we are just sitting with each other."

The other question was brought up not longer after, and J'kiran thought on it for a moment. "I'm not sure," he said. "I guess I might explore the Weyr a bit - inside and out. I haven't really seen much other than where we've been for candidate lessons. A few days off between that and weyrling chores seems like just the time to learn my away around." He smiled. "Especially now that it looks like I'll be here for good." J'kiran blinked once, and then brought a hand up to his hair. "I completely forgot! I'll have to send my parents a message about all of this." He didn't specify, but 'all of this' certainly didn't only mean his impressing - though that was a big part. He turned a somewhat shy smile up to X'ion. "You know, they'll want to meet you - eventually, I mean. You know, in time."

- - -

As soon as he'd said the words K'ris realized his mistake, and he silently cursed how muddled his mind was. Even if he did feel more awake after Tieler had dragged him off, he was clearly still in desperate need of sleep. "Look," he said, resting his face against his hand for a moment. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it that wa--" Of course, that was when Raska started off on her rant. K'ris looked up in surprise as she went off, staring at her and keeping quiet as she continued on and on. At one point during her speech, though, his expression turned from surprise, to something more upset than that. In the moment where she paused between her rant and her next comments, he put in his own two scents.

"I never tried to say I knew you," he said, shaking his head a bit as he did so. "And I'd never think I was...better than someone, especially not on any sort of...of judgement." He paused for a moment, looking more flustered than anyone there had likely ever seen him - except perhaps T'kal, on that first day he'd arrived. "I wouldn't try to pretend like I knew anyone," he said, looking back up to her. "And 'my sort'

---

Admin's Note:[/hr]" he asked, his voice tinged with a bit of anger. "Well, my 'sort' is certainly not something I would consider better than anyone! I mean, I'm pretty sure I've met some drudges who look like they had it better off than..." he shook his head, and gave a rueful half smile, looking back up to her once more.

"You tell me not to pretend, but you sure seem to think like you know me." He gave a short laugh, but not an amused one. "For all I know, you do. Maybe I ended up somewhere you have family one time. I wouldn't be surprised! It's not like any of them ever took the time to get to know me, some holdless fosterling who was just there to help and then leave. Shipped off from hold to hold with a bunch of cargo, like some...some product! And all the time thinking I was loosing my..." No, no no. He wouldn't go there. He wasn't looking for pity.

K'ris gritted his teeth for a moment and took in a few breaths half through his nose. "Raska, I'm sorry for what I said," he went on. "And I'm sorry if you thought I was judging you, or trying to...act like I knew you. Because I don't know you." He stood up from the bench, shifting his gaze to look at her once more. His voice dropped down from the elevated one he'd been speaking in; still upset, but not quite angry anymore. "But you don't know me."

Then the other comments had come up, about Tieler having pulled him aside, and a comment that T'kal had made that he'd rather missed the first time around. His expression turned into something more flustered, and far more confused. K'ris shook his head. "I don't know what you guys are talking about," he said. "Where would you even get that..." he shook his head. "She was just asking about my past. That's..I mean...you're just looking into something that's..." he shook his head again, stepping over the bench. The two topics were so different, and he was just too tired to deal with it all right now. "You know," he said, "I'm just going to get some more juice, OK?" And he walked off into the crowd towards the tables of food to do just that, stepping around the dance floor to avoid what looked like it was turning into quite the exchange of steps.

- - -

Tanwen could still hardly believe this was happening, but she was already moving into the instinctive movements of the dance. Building her own momentum and using her partner's to continue on. That's what it was all about. Using the other's momentum to your own advantage. She held tightly against L'der's palms when he pulled her up in mid-leap, keeping her legs straight for the moment that she was suspended, and then tipping them behind her as he started to let her down on the other side. Tanwen landed on her feet with her back towards him. She released one of his hands, but held tightly onto the other one, and once she was firmly on the ground she gave that outspread arm a tug to turn him.[/size][/font]

[Torva Anian]

Satnee relaxed when the green finally went to sleep in the makeshift bed. It was a disconcerting moment when she realized she had no more private thoughts. Even if she got too upset when the dragon was sleeping, it was liable to wake up and know. She followed the crowd and filled her plate before sitting down and staring ahead without seeing. After a few moments she glanced around, she supposed she should play meet and greet with the Weyrlings, but she didn't want to be seen going out of her way to say hi. After all, ... well, she'd just lose face if she did.

~~~~~~

Sorcha sat as she mulled over the thought that the tiny dragon would be in the Queen's wing. After all, weren't all mutant's in it? It would be the first male, well, she assumed it was a male. She couldn't really bring size into this because her dragon didn't even rival a brown in size. Good thing for him though, most of the dragons didn't quite know which wing they were in due to the loss of the Weyrleader.

(( Pfft, lame I know, feel free to bother them or Kallan....Please v.v; ))

[kestrel]

Kestrel listened to Tieler quietly, not intrurrupting the girl but letting her speak, just knowing that another was listening and she was free to say what she wanted to. When she was through, Kestrel chuckled and then replied, "don't take this the wrong way, but I think that perhaps your bark is worse than your bite-unless you're seriously provoked, perhaps." She sat down, leaning up against the wall and then repied, "don't thank me. She chose you, so she knew what she was doing," she replied in response to the issue about Alias. She had been carefully thinking about what Tieler had said, and paying attention to her expressions. There was lot of guilt and self-loathing in her attitude and her look. She'd seen it before, and she didn't want to say anything to upset Tieler even more. However, sometimes it was just better to be completely open and honest. Sometimes, what a person needed was to know that they could let someone in on things, and feel safe that they wouldn't be judged, or know that they could let the truth out about whatever was eating at them so that it didn't consume them.

"No, you can't judge a person by their looks. Nor can you really know who a person is or what their problems are just by seeing how they act, or making an assumption based on their actions without finding out the real reason behind it," she began, and then, "take me, for example." If you wanted someone to trust you, you had to give them your trust in turn. Kestrel never really talked about herself, and didn't talk about her past. This would be the first time since she'd left her hold that she'd ever spoken about it. Hasima had never asked, so she'd never brought it up.

"I grew up in a small Hold. My mother passed away when I was younger. She drowned in a fishing accident during a storm, and I don't think I've ever been the same since. My father told me to go hide in the cabin, and I blame myself all the time for the fact that I couldn't do anything to help when my mother went overboard. It was the worst day of my life," she admitted, and then, "well, there's a second worst day." She smiled wryly, and then, "I always had male friends growing up. Guess you could say I got along better with them because the girls wanted to play at being pretty and looking at all the guys-you know how a lot of girls are, I'm sure. Kind of air headed and superfcial. I thought that with guys what you see is what you get." She paused, and then said, "well, one day, I was out with my best friend-a boy, of course-and he had a bit to much to drink, and tried to force himself on me. I couldn't fight back because he was my best friend and I was too scared to boot. I tried everything to get him off of me, but he was a lot stronger than I was then." She stared out blankly across the dining caverns, remembering what she tried not to remember, and then, "I had a knife, for protection against wild wherry and for wild game, like fish-to clean them with so they could be cooked," she explained. Then, she said bitterly, "there was no other way, so I took the knife out of my boot and slashed him with it, in the first place I could get to-it happened to be his arm." Again, a pause, "he only got more angry and tried to take it from me and use it against me. So I panicked, and slashed again-this time I got him on the tendon at the back of his heel, and he went down." She looked bitter, now, and admitted, "and then I ran away. He was the son of the Lord Holder, and I'd crippled him for life. I'd gotten his achilles tendon, and now he only has the use of one leg to walk on..." She looked over at Tieler, face calm once more, and said, "I was protecting myself, but since then I've been afraid of men. I learned to fight and protect myself since then-don't tell your friend over there, but she's an amateur compared to the level of training I forced myself to receive. And I used that training, unnecessarily, against boys my own age who I considered dangerous, or bullies. I beat them to a pulp if I found them even remotely threatening. I really hurt these guys, because of my bitterness and anger towards the boy who'd hurt me. Eventually I ran away from every place I'd chosen to stay. I found Roksha right after the incident with the first guy-my ex best friend, now. I've been banned from my home Hold because I was too afraid to tell any but my father the truth of what happened. I even almost beat one boy younger than myself to death, just because I found him with his arm around a girl, who was uncomfortable and telling him to stop it." After that, I realized I'd almost killed someone because of my anger. Since then, I won't fight anyone," she admitted. Then, with a wry smile and a chuckle, she said, "see? Bet you didn't think that I'd ever be like that. Usually all anyone sees of me is a frail sort of person who sticks to herself for the most part. I don't even think J'kiran, who grew up in my hold, knows anything about what happened and why I never came back."

Then, looking Tieler in the eye, she said solemly, "you have the same look I wore, and still wear when no one is looking. So I know that, like me, there's more to you than people know. You bear a weight of a guilt that is too much for you, and you're letting it eat you alive, like I did..." she trailed off, and then, "but one day, unless you confront it, it will eat you alive, and you may just repeat your mistake, or not be able to handle it anymore and completely destroy what's left of yourself." She grew silent, then, looking away and staring out over the dining cavern once more, a rather haunted look crossing her golden eyes as she did so. She said no more, however. She left it open for Tieler to take her time, to react as she would.

~~~~~~

X'ion shrugged, still eating slowly and listening to J'kiran with a silent sort of bemusement. He briefly jerked his head over and out at everyone else, and said, "if you want to you can go mingle. I'm happy here, personally. I'm not exactly a social type, in case you hadn't noticed. I'm sure if they've got something they want to say, they can come here and say it," he finished, and then, "you nervous at all? About having got a bronze, I mean. They fly golds, you know-might end up with you in the hot seat as Weyrleader some day...or maybe they'll expect you to be Wingleade, even..." He didn't admit that he was nervous-beyond nervous. Being in charge of anyone or anything didn't appeal to him in the least. Even less than than appealing was the thought of flights. He didn't really have anything to do with the opposite sex. Sure, he liked a couple of girls here and there-he wasn't homosexual by any means. He just didn't know how to be himself around them-whatever 'himself' was. Maybe he'd made it too obvious that these were his own worries.

However, in response to J'kiran's last bit, he looked highly unsettled once more, and then said, eyes narrowed and poking at a piece of tuber, "look. I get it if you want to tell them I exist and all-but they're going to have to wait a bit on that whole 'meeting' thing. I'm not ready for that yet. I barely even know you, and if you want this to work you're going to have to let me take it at my own pace. I don't like feeling pressured or rushed into a situation I haven't even gotten a feel for. So could you just slow it down, a bit? I'd rather just get to be...friends...first." He said it all levelly, not wanting to offend, but it was true. J'kiran was rushing into this head on, but he had barely even gotten used to the idea or concept of the matter. He needed to take it slow, and if J'kiran rushed things like this he knew he'd be tempted to just back off. It wasn't that he wasn't at all interested in his brother, or even that he didn't like having one. It was that he didn't know how to perceive something that just came out of nowhere, when he'd lived his whole life thinking he was an only child, living the life of a reclusive loner, of sorts. He hoped his...brother...could understand where he was coming from.

~~~~~~

When R'xis began talking, at first R'yo was very, very confused. However, as he remained silent, and R'xis went on, R'yo turned a new shade of pale. There was pale, and then there was so white you looked like a sheet. However, in the next moment, the color changed drastically. R'yo went so red, it looked like all the blood in his body had gone to his head. The way R'xis explained it made him feel...perverse in some weird way? Sure, he...well, didn't every guy? Sometimes...yeah well he was a guy! That happened, it was normal, right? He felt butterflies in his stomach as the color in his face refused to drain, as he tried to look at anything but his friend's face, who was obviously finding this whole situation funny.

When he had a chance to talk, to understand fully what he'd done, he said in a squeak, "oh." Then, still red, "I don't think I want to catch Ersith anymore." He was glad he had sat down, or else he might have had to. He glanced over at Wolf, an then, "so now...she thinks....she thought?" His face couldn't go any redder if it tried. He thought Wolf was a nice girl, and cute enough, but he was shooting for friendship...not...that. He wondered if Wolf thought he wanted something more than that, and felt suddenly quite horrid that he'd perhaps messed up their potential friendship because of misconstrued mistakes. He looked at R'xis, his expression one of tortured misery, then asked, "do you think she'll still want to be friends with me? If I gave her the wrong impression about what I wanted from her, she's going to hate me!" He really was too innocent, and everything he'd done up to this point had been in attempts to be friends with the person who was apparently most important in R'xis life. Now, though, what if he'd messed that all up, and Wolf thought he was some...some pervert? He looked forlornly at the ground, cringing inwardly.

~~~~~~

Raska didn't like people who gave her what she defined as 'sob stories'. If he hadn't stopped when he had, she would have probably told him to can it, that he wasn't the only one with a sharding bad past, so to get over himself and not to tell her because she really hadn't wanted to know. Still, while she didn't exactly feel bad for him-everyone these days had a story, including her and, she knew, definately Tieler-so she wasn't interested in his at the moment, since she hadn't asked. Still, she heard him out. She wasn't really so mean, and he did apologize-and he had a sharding point, too. She had to give him credit for that, at least-the whole throwing words back at someone was usually her thing to do. She smirked and watched him walk off, slightly curious. He wasn't so bad so far as people went. A little whiny, sure, and a shorty who didn't look like he could take on a tunnel snake. But still not so bad compared to a lot of people. Not tha she'd ever admit it to him. She put her face on her one hand, eating her food, and yet poking at it periodically. Tieler was still gone, leaving her with T'kal. Who suddenly stretched and got up-presumably to go for seconds, since his plate was clear. She watched him go, sighing and shrugging as she fed tidbits of her plate to her feline, and waited for Tieler or someone to come back to the table. One was a boring equasion.

~~~~~~

T'kal had indeed finished his plate, which hadn't had too much on it for the first helping, and was going back for more. However, he spotted a new Weyrling sitting on her own, and, curious, went over to see what she was doing all by herself when everyone else seemed to be interacting with someone else. He recognized her as the girl he'd seen with a green, and, with a grin, took a seat across from her.

"Hey there-congradulations on your impression. She was a really pretty looking dragonet-what was her name?" And then, "I don't think I met you, or I'd be sure to remember a face like yours! I'm Tikal-well, T'kal now-doesn't sound too different, does it?" Insert a quirky grin here, and he went on, "I impressed that itty bitty white, his name is Sarcth, just in case you were going to ask-which I'm sure you would have, even if just to be polite!" He seemed highly amused, a mischeivous glint in his blue eyes as he put his elbows on the table, and his face in his hands.

~~~~~~

Kaiya smiled at Marletta, and waved a hand dismissively, replying, "of course you should be here, don't be silly!" Then, when Wolf congradulated them, Kaiya broke out into a really, really wide grin. Obviously the grin was related to her dragonet, whom she was absolutely silly beyond belief now loving to death. "Thanks, Wolf! Her name is Prydath-I don't remember if I told you that-I tend to call her my 'Minty green' though, due to her color. She seems to think it's amusing-I think it's just plain cute! She looked over at Marletta, and then said, "any nicknames yet for yours?" She wondered how many riders even had nicknames for their dragons-was it silly that she did? Oh well. She liked it and Prydath certainly didn't mind it-so what else mattered?

[Akki]

“I don’t think I own that many nice clothes.” Z’ayr said outloud, eyeing the outfits he had thrown onto his cot to examine.
I wouldn’t worry too much. Everyone will look drab compared to me. Dinayth said simply, his eyes whirling a content green as he stared up at his newly bonded.
Z’ayr rolled his eyes dramatically, “I don’t think so, m’dear. I will always look ravishing, no matter who I am standing with.” And with that said, the boy peeled off his candidate clothes and threw them onto the floor. Was he really no longer a candidate? It seemed so weird that in a small span of time everything could change. He shrugged and picked up the outfit he would wear tonight. He slid on his black pants, frowning slightly as he noticed a couple of creases in them. He then slipped on his shirt, carefully so there would be no wrinkles on it. It was a maroon color, and he deemed it fancy enough to suit the feast tonight. It was the only shirt he had right now that wasn’t covered in wrinkles, which he considered a grave enemy of his. Flamboyant people never wanted to see wrinkles on their clothes, he thought with a sniff.
He turned, place a hand on his hip and winked down at Dinayth, “Ready to completely dazzle everyone in the feast?”. The small blue was already used to Z’ayr’s odd behaviour and thought nothing of the pose his mine had.
Dragons and people will be jealous of us. We are making quite the dynamic duo tonight. Dinayth said, before pausing and snorting in disdain. You have wrinkles on your trousers. I’ll forgive you for that tonight, but next time we need to get rid of those.

----

"This is /all/ your fault Z'ayr." Akki announced loudly, emphasizing the 'All', as she strolled into the lower caverns. "I would have been perfectly on time, if it wasn't for you and your flitt." She sniffed, straightening out the simple white dress she threw on for the hatching feast. She had every intention of making it on time, for once, to the feast. However, as she was walking here a tiny golden flitt decided to burrow in her hair. She tried to get the critter out, but that just made Aesa burrow further, making even more knots. Hasima found the bluerider frantically trying to remove Aesa, and picking up the hem of the dark blue dress, hurried over to her friend to lend a hand.
Both of their attempts seemed fruitless though, the golden flitt simply didn’t want to leave. Of course then Akki’s own flitt decided to make an appearance and join in the fun and games. Sargon attached himself to his owners head, chirping happily. This was what Z’ayr waltzed in on. He had wondered slightly where Aesa was, but didn’t think too much of it until he saw the familiar glimpse of golden hide buried away in the bluerider’s hair.
It had taken quite a bit before they managed to get all of the flitts out of her hair, and by then it was safe to say that they were all late for the feast. Or fashionably late, as Z’ayr put it.

“It’s not my fault at all! We would have been done so much sooner if you stopped being all ‘Get it off! Get it off!’” Z’ayr said, pantomiming Akki as he threw his hands up in the air. He looked over exasperatedly to Hasima, who was using three fingers to hide her small smile at the bickering going on in front of her. It wasn’t his fault that Aesa found it amusing to tangle herself in people’s hair. Besides, he was still convinced that the small gold was going to claw off his face any minute so he preferred that she was in someone else’s hair and not his.

“Oooh, boy. You better get out of my sight and fast. Otherwise I’ll get you and your pretty little dragonet too.” Akki said, hooking arms with Hasima as she steered them towards R’xis. The blue rider plopped herself near the boy and huffed, “Make sure to spill something on Z’ayr tonight for me, R’xis.”

Z’ayr sat beside Hasima and made a face at Akki, “It still wasn’t my fault. Stop being a bitter old lady. And Hasima, be a complete dear and save a dance for me tonight, yes?’.
I’m starting to like this female blue rider. She called me pretty. Mind you, dashing and handsome would have been more preferred.

[Torva Anian]

She was flustered to say the least. One moment Satnee was just sitting around, enjoying her alone time, or at least trying to convince herself she was enjoying it, and then another this guy sweeps in talking non-stop. She leaned back and raised an eyebrow at him as his little monologue came to an end. Teach her to wish she was talking to somebody.

"Elieth. And I wouldn't have asked about your dragon. I'm just a drudge and have no interest in the affairs of dragon riders." A frown marred her features, "At least, I didn't before she ... well, before she talked to me." Satnee glowered over to where the green was happily sleeping off her first meal. "I didn't want to be a Candidate, Dragonrider, or any of it," she suddenly confided. "I was perfectly happy with just cleaning up around here. I'm not even sure I do well with heights." She shook her head before looking back at the boy, T'kal was it? "And you should hear her. Not a nice word in her. All insults and fiery attitude. She's going to be trouble." Satnee didn't mention that it might be because she had spent the dragon's first hatching moments telling Elieth how much she hated dragons and didn't want one.

She picked up her drink and sipped it to have something to do. She was regretting saying so much already. Hadn't she just met him? Obviously he'd just wanted to swap dragon information and then go to someone else and do the same. Well, there was no way she was going to do that, that'd mean she'd completely accepted it and maybe liked being a weyrling. She set the drink down, she just needed some time to think about this. A huge feast was not the best time for some heavy thinking sadly.

[Wolf]

{{ Have one of your characters join Wolf's little group Torva. xD Perhaps Kallan. }}

L’der turned, finding that he was facing Tanwen. The boy then leaned forward, making it appear as if he was going to crouch. His face came close to hers, her breath hot on his face. His face, yet, was not touching hers. Then, in a sudden movement, he jumped back to the opposite side of the circle that had been formed by those watching.

Shards, should’ve, would’ve, and could’ve kissed her. And that was one of the closest chances I’ll have ever had, but no, alas, I couldn’t... This wasn’t about him, this was all about what they were creating together. In a burst of their built energy, L’der ran toward her, leaning forward and performing a punching motion; making to hit her. Well to others it would seem as if he was going to, he knew better...

~ ~ ~

What was it with Kestrel and pegging her down? Tieler had really thought she was harder to read then that, and at this present moment she felt completely exposed, in a sense. Normally her reflex mechanism would be to lash out, and perhaps she would’ve, had it been anyone else. Instead she listened, not saying anything, but showing that she was being attentive by looking at her while she spoke. Kestrel had paid close attention while she spoke the bit she did, so wasn’t Kestrel due to have the same respect paid to her? Tieler thought so. At one point the air seemed to be gone from her lungs, and Tieler bit her lip hard, hoping that she wasn’t drawing blood. Never had she expected Kestrel to have led such a life, the girl was such a... softie. There’s more than meets the eye with her. Not only her, but likely everyone else too. That not only accounted for K’ris, but even for Raska she bet. She shrunk down some, sinking back against the wall, as if preparing to take a nap. With a bit more difficulty, yet still doing so, she gazed upon Kestrel. She let a few moments of silence pass, taking in all that the girl had told her. Why had she chosen to tell her this exactly? Maybe she’d expected that she’d fess up to what was really going on with her if she told her “Kestrel’s Life Story” first. Tieler sighed, more guilt rising-up when she realized that she couldn’t say anything just yet. Even though, a part of her wanted to, for the first time, possibly open-up.

“I’m so sorry, that had to have been rough. Can I ask you something though, how do you cope now? I mean, I know at one point you coped in the wrong way... How have you coped, all this time, not being violent any longer, and not having told anyone and all?” Tieler wondered, sounding human for once. She felt really shy talking about this, and a blush coloured her face. She felt weirder then she ever recalled having felt, and yet she half liked the feeling. “I’m not so good at this... Talking, I don’t really, I mean, I just don’t do it.” Was she apologizing, again? And what for, not being able to be more of a friend perhaps? How can I be a friend when I don’t even know the true meaning of the word.

Tieler, from her side vision, spotted the trio walking in: Akki, Z’ayr, and yes; Hasima too. She suspected that Kestrel wouldn’t be around much longer, every time she’d ever seen her she’d been with that Yellowrider. She hoped that Kestrel herself wouldn’t notice, but even if she did, Tieler wouldn’t blame her for up and leaving.

~ ~ ~

R’xis patted his friends shoulder, shaking his head the whole time R’yo had talked about being worried over what Wolf would think of him now. “Wolf’s not like that, she knows that you don’t understand, just like I knew. Otherwise we wouldn’t have been laughing bud, no worries.” He gave R’yo thumbs up, hoping that the boy would manage to restart his heart. “Go on over and talk to her, she’ll probably just have another nice chuckle, and even apologize for not having been the one to tell you herself why the whole situation had been so funny. Don’t worry so much R’yo; Wolf knows that you’re a nice guy, clearly, because if you haven’t noticed I don’t really hang out with just anyone.” He chuckled, patting R’yo’s shoulder a second time. He really did hope that he’d be all right.

Good thing the talk about Akki having taken off didn’t get around to him, because from the looks of it had been nothing more than a well-started rumour. When she came in, dressed in a dazzling white, it was his heart that needed restarting. When she came and sat down, making the comment she did about Z’ayr, he laughed good naturedly.
“No problem, anything for you. Better watch out,” he said, pointing a finger at Z’ayr. “Akki can be pretty persuasive, and I wouldn’t want you looking like a mess at your own hatching feast.” He took a few steps closer to Akki, standing behind her chair. He hung his arms down on either side of her neck, glad that she’d made it. R’xis looked over to R’yo, not wanting the boy to think he’d been forgotten. R’xis never abandoned a friend. “R’yo here impressed a large brown, I must say, he was an impressive sight indeed.”

Oh please, none are more impressive then I! Ersith bellowed out for the whole group to hear. “Ersith, you wake up at the worst of moments, you know that?” R’xis sighed, rolling his eyes. Well, now that she was up, this was going to be one heck of a night.
“It’s good to see you. You look beautiful tonight, like always,” he said to Akki, leaning down to whisper into her ear. He then raised his eyes, looking to Z’ayr, not wanting to forget: “Congratulations on your own impression by the way. Your blue is quite unique, from what I’ve heard; should be loads of fun handling him, no?” R’xis smirked, having heard others mentioning the boys blue on his way in.

~ ~ ~

“I don’t think you did tell me before, no, I’ll keep her name in my memory bank. As will Serinth I’m sure.” “Mm, yes, I think Minty Green is a befitting name then.” Wolf tilted her chair back, it standing on two legs. Now, any sensible girl would realize this was a bad idea when there was nothing behind them to support the back of the chair. Thing was, no one had ever accused Wolf of being sensible. She looked over at Marletta, interested in what the girl would answer. “Yes Marletta, have any nicknames in mind? If not, that’s all right; most hatchlings I’ve seen don’t hold it against their riders.” Joking, she attempted at a wink to make sure that the girl knew she was.

Looking behind her jus to see how things seemed to be going with R’xis and R’yo, Wolf’s face was a perfect expression of shock and surprise once she spotted just how many had gathered over there. I’ll have to congratulate the flamboyant boy on his impression, she thought, turning back to her group of three, including herself.

[Kino]

J'kiran thought for a moment on X'ion's comment about socialization before replying. "I'm not sure I'd say that I'm not social," he said. "But...I've spent so much of my life out in the fields at my parent's farm, with our herding canines, I'm afraid I'm just not used to being social." He offered a smile and shrugged slightly. "I suppose I'll have to get used to it though, what with Kaenith having chosen me." He looked up quickly with the mention of Weyrleader, and he seemed genuinely surprised at the comment.

"I hadn't even thought of that!" he said. "That is, I know it's something that bronzerider's always have the possibility of, but it hadn't occurred to me." J'kiran thought for another moment, then shook his head. "Actually, I don't think I can picture myself as any sort of leader. The most experience I've ever had in a leading position is leading a flock of herdbeasts." He shook his head once more. "Faranth's first, this shall be an experience."

J'kiran looked back to X'ion when his previous comment about his own parents came up, and he sat up with a lightly confused look. He hadn't wanted to worry the other one so much! "Well, I know they'll have to wait," he said. "I did say 'eventually', there's no need to rush into anything." The redhead offered X'ion a smile that he intended to be reassuring. "I can't exactly introduce you if I don't even know you yet."[/size]

[J'kiran's speech did indeed get more 'formal'-esque xD That's how he was when he first came into the Weyr, I just sort of fell out of it a little bit...but I got it back for him now. Is how J'kiran generally talks =P

- - -

Also...I'll bother Kallan. I'm not sure where he is though...so...I'm just going to guess he's sitting at a table? If not, do let me know xD it's easily fixed]

When K'ris reached the table with the juice he glanced back at the table he'd been sitting at before. He noticed that Raska was sitting alone now, and suddenly felt like putting off heading back any time soon. He didn't really dislike the girl, but after the exchange they'd just had he wasn't eager to be sitting alone with her. As he poured himself a cup he looked out over the rest of the crowd, looking for any other familiar faces. Unforunately he didn't know many people. Kestrel was still with Tieler, T'kal was talking to one of the new greenriders. Hasima had just entered, but she was already with another crowd. Then he spotted another boy he'd met at the clutching - Kallan, he thought it was. K'ris hadn't really spoken to him much outside of the event, but he figured he could now.

So he headed over through the crowd, dodging around the circle that seemed to have formed in the center. He also peered through the people to take a look at what the two there were doing, not actually having expected an elaborate dance to be done during the feast. When he neared the table that Kallan was at he turned over to the boy and offered a smile, lifting the hand not holding his juice up and giving a short wave.

"Hey there, Kallan, right?" he greeted, coming to a stop near his table. "We met at the clutching, I think? I'm Khris - K'ris now, actually, if you can even hear the difference." The weyrling nodded to the seat across from Kallan. "Looking for someone to talk to?" K'ris had never been one to just go over and sit down with someone he didn't really know.

- - -

When L'der turned to face her, Tanwen took a step back on her foot to brace her position. She released his arm when he was facing her, bringing her own arms out in a graceful movement and bending her knees in a crouch. She leaned forward as she did so, and that's what brought their faces so close that their noses were almost touching. It was not a position she'd be caught dead in if it hadn't been a step in the dance.

A breath after she'd leaned forward towards L'der she pressed off from the ground and sprung backwards into the air. She didn't flip this time, but rather stayed upright, letting her feet trail after her and then bringing them underneath her so that she landed in another light crouch on the edge of their circle, straightening afterward. The pause here was only a moment long, and then she was dashing towards L'der. She was reaching forward for L'der in the same motion that had him reaching towards her, and she met his punch, wrapping her own hand around his wrist.

[Wolf]

{{ Getting the "magnificence that is" wrapped up here. }}

L’der, with a tug, pulled her arm and spun her so that her back was against his chest. Keep it together, he mentally chided himself, having crossed Tanwen’s one arm over her. He then pulled her other arm across her as well, holding her there with her arms crossed and each of her wrists held by his. He could feel a twitch coming on at their closeness; he hadn’t really been able to achieve too much contact in his time at the Weyr. This only made him more determined to stalk after someone who was willing to feed on his unusual methods. He was betting that if he stopped bugging Tanwen she might just let him leave, though a part of him told him that she’d care without giving anyone else the idea that she did. He liked spending time with her because she was different, and most girls these days weren’t. He knew that Dark Moon Weyr had a varied selection of girls, most of which would get him in trouble for trying to have any kind of relations with them. Meanwhile, he’d also be breaking the rules by trying to woo any rider because he was in fact, himself, a Weyrling. Sure, L’der knew the rules, but to him rules were just something meant to be broken, waiting for the right person to come along who knew exactly how to justify.

[Akki]

Akki shrugged nonchalantly, “I need to be persuasive if I want people to do what I want.”. The girl grinned for a second before nudging R’xis slightly with her elbow, “Man, remember the last feast? Now that was golden. Fights were erupting everywhere; it was a very magical moment.” Akki looked up at the boy as he wrapped his arms around her neck, and slightly pressed the side of her face on top before frowning delicately. “Geez, I think you might have walloped me one Hasima, when we were extracting Aesa out of my hair. You got a good arm.” Akki said to the yellow rider, who blushed furiously. The shy girl vaguely remembered accidentally hitting Akki when the gold flitt was clinging desperately to the blonde hair.

“Well, come on then R’yo. You can’t just leave me hanging, I need some details. What’s your dragon’s name? What’s he like? Do you think he would be all arrogant like a bronze when he’s older or will he be a big old flirt?” She asked, leaning slightly on the table as she quizzed the boy. She loved hatching feasts, she loved going around and finding every single detail about all of the new dragonets. Plus it was an easy way to go chat up some people. She snorted loudly, proving she wasn’t the dainty lady she should be, “Me? Looking beautiful? Ha. When I thought I was vaguely decent looking to make an appearance, I had two flitts decide it was a grand idea to try and living in my hair. It just went worse from there.”

“So here’s the question, are L’der and Tanwen a thing?” Akki said with a crooked grin, casting a glance towards the two dancing.

---

Z’ayr lifted his hands, palms facing out in an ‘I surrender’ gesture. “I deny anything that she says. I was simply trying to get ready for the feast and I heard a lady in distress, and I rescued her. If anything, she owes me one.” The boy said with as much dignity he could muster up. Z’ayr used a hand to dramatically flip his short hair before turning to R’yo with a grin, “Yeah, what’s your browns name? And congratulations on, you know, Impressing and all that.”

Z’ayr leaned back in his chair, arm resting on the back of it as he grinned. “Dinayth? He’s almost as flamboyant as me, haha! I think Dark Moon better watch out, me and my little blue are going to complete fab this place up.” He really didn’t even bother hiding the fact that he was so out of the closet at this point, but then again most people probably should have realized this by now. The boy leaned towards Akki, and also whispered in her ear, “And I’m going to completely fab up your wardrobe m’dear.” The blue rider laughed loudly, not realizing that to others it might have looked like Z’ayr was whispering sweet nothings into her ear.

Z’ayr quickly looked over at Tanwen and L’der with a whine. “Whaaaat? How come L’der is dancing with her? I want to dance with Tanwen too! How unfair. This is your fault Akki, if you hadn’t caused all that drama I would have made it on time and would have been able to get Tanwen before him.” He turned away from the sight of the two dancing and pouted dramatically. “Hasima, you’ll dance with me won’t you? We’ll have to show those two up and amaze everyone with our complicated and amazing dance steps.” The yellow rider once again blushed deeply, a sight everyone was used to now. She was a little less shy, but not enough to calmly stroll out with someone and start dancing.

[Kino]

[As Wolf said, we're just moving quicker with L'der and Tanwen 'cause they're just dancing xD Once they're done they'll fit back into the order with the rest.]

Tanwen allowed herself to be turned and pulled into L'der's grip, following along with his momentum when he pulled her arms across her chest. With the way their hands were positioned she was able to grasp onto his wrists as well, so that they were holding each other's wrists, and a moment later she tipped forward quickly, holding tightly onto his wrists in a way that would - using their built up momentum - tip him over her back. She tumbled forward along with him, twisting as she did so, and mid-tumble she let go of his wrists and twisted her own wrists to free them. That would send L'der to finish the tumble she'd started him in, and leave her free to finish her own a moment or so sooner. She landed on her feet and drew herself up, turning to face L'der who - if he was still keeping up - would already be in position. She didn't even wait a moment that time, simply started into the next movement, lifting her left leg in a motion as if to kick at his head.

[kestrel]

The fact that Tieler was paying attention wasn't in the least lost on Kestrel. When she finished, she was glad Tieler wasn't appalled or anything-not that she'd really expected her to be. She was sure Tieler had stories of her own to tell-perhaps that's what made her more comfortable telling her? With Hasima, the girl was so quiet and shy-she'd lived a quiet life, and Kestrel would perhaps tell her about her past, if she'd asked. However, they never had talked about it so it was a first for Kestrel, too. It felt good to let it out, though. Someone knew, it was kind of nice. Still, she chuckled and then shrugged at Tieler's saying she was sorry, explaining, "you don't have to be sorry about it. Yes, it was hard...but no one claimed life was full of bubbly pies and flowers, did they? I consider myself lucky, actually. Many people have had it worse than I have. I'm glad it wasn't worse, really. Much of it was my own doing, because I refused to see what I was doing, the wy I was acting, was counterproductive. It accomplished nothing good, neither for myself nor those I behaved like that against. So in reality? You don't have to be sorry for me. I'm sorry for the way I behaved..." She listened quiety to Tieler's next query, or queries, rather.

It was just as she suspected, though. Tieler had a sort of secret of her own, and she was afraid to talk to someone about it. Probably, she was afraid of how people would see her, or how she would cope with herself after they knew. As was, she wasn't coping very well at all. The haunted look, and the expression of pure guilt-that had been her not too long ago. However, whatever Tieler had done, it seemed to almost be...more...than what she'd done. Question was, was it an accident at the time, or intentional, as hers had been? The only thing that could cause such guilt to that level had to either be intentional or a very bad accidental outcome based on her behavior. She didn't guess at it. There were too many possibilities, and if Tieler hadn't told her, then best wait and not speculate.

Kestrel leaned her elbows on her knees, and in answer she began, "well, first off, you have to be able to accept that what you did was in the past. Whether intentional or not, if you're feeling bad about it obviously you have either changed from who you once were...or the event or accident is causing so much guilt that you wish it had never happened, that you could go back and change what you did." She paused a moment, and then went on, "thing is, Tieler? I coped by finally realizing that I couldn't go back and change it. What's done is done, you have to stop living in the past or you'll destroy yourself and ruin any chance you have at a future. I realized that what I did wasn't right. However, what I did was my fault. No accident. Depending on what it is that's bothering you, you can either realize what you did was wrong if you did it intentionally-or accept that it was an accident and that it was not done purposely, so you need to realize there's nothing you can do to change it, and that it wasn't your fault. If your behavior caused that accident, it was still an accident. If you're feeling this eaten up by it, then obviously you're sorry it happened." She smiled reassuringly.

"Another thing that helped? Someone decided to talk to me. Even though I didn't end up telling them what my problem was, they could see I was miserable and that there was more to me than just the rough and tough attitude I portrayed then. And don't feel bad, either. I don't know if you've noted it...but I'm not good at talking to anyone either."

She sighed lightly, and then said, "look. Past is past. This is now, and you have a future ahead of you. You've got a friend here-maybe more than one, if you want...and you need to stop living in the past. You can't change whatever happened then-but you can change what happens from here on in. You can be whoever you want, and all the choices you make from here on in are your own. All you have to do is accept that what's done is done. If you're truly sorry for it, I'm sure whatever happened will be forgiven by those around you. They'll see you sincererly are sorry, and that will make a big difference. Besides...I think a true friend? Will still stand by your side no matter what you've done, and learn to see you for who you really are." She smiled and then leaned more against the wall, rather comfortable where she was.

At that moment, she noted Tieler glancing over at something. Ahh...Hasima was here! She smiled but didn't make any move to get up, not even a shift. She grinned and then said to Tieler, "Hasima is here. She's the only person I've befriended here at the Weyr so far...but even she still doesn't know about my past. I'm going to probably see her after the feast. I think I'll just hang with you though, if you don't mind, that is..." she looked questioningly at the other. So far, it didn't seem like Tieler wanted her to leave her alone or anything. But she might want her space, and Kestrel wasn't about to crowd her.

~~~~~~

T'kal listened interestedly to what Satnee had to say, a good natured lopsided grin on his face when she confessed that she didn't even want to be a Weyrling. When she was through, he said sincerely, "well, did you ever think that you were cut out for more than just cleaning? I think maybe Elieth saw that you were meant for more than just that. Dragons know exactly what they're doing when they choose someone. Sure, maybe it wasn't what you wanted originally. However, maybe somewhere deep down you're happy she chose you, and you just don't know it yet."

Then, with a shrug, "well, sounds to me that you're not hiding the fact that you didn't want to impress. Maybe Elieth knows it, and she isn't happy that you aren't glad she chose you. Perhaps if you were accepting of her, she'd be nicer to you? It's not like a dragon to insult her chosen...not without a good reason, anyway. You're going to tell me you've been nice to her? That you've let her know you're happy she impressed to you, and that you love her?" He crossed his arms over his chest, one eyebrow raised inquiringly. Then, as an afterthought, "oh-my white's name is Sarcth. He's sleeping over in the corner with the other dragonets."

~~~~~~

R'yo smiled at R'xis reassurances, and practically beamed from ear to ear when his friend reassured him that he was worthwhile as a freind. When Akki approached after they'd walked back to the table, he shot R'xis a knowing smirk. Since Akki and R'xis were now officially an item, R'yo was happy for his friend. After all, they'd waited so long for R'xis to graduate to a full rider. Finally, they could be open about things. That was one thing they'd said in Candidate lessons-he figured the 'flight' lesson would be for Weyrlings-he was rather glad he'd heard it from R'xis first though! Candidate lessons had told them that there were to be no relationships at all, not when a Candidate and not when a Weyrling. Well, that was fine by him-he wasn't really into the relationship phase just yet-he was too busy trying to be friends with others to worry about that, and just keep ahead on what was what, and dragon stuff.

When he sat down again, it was on the other side of R'xis and he shot Wolf a very, very sheepish grin, shrugging in a sort of 'now I know, won't happen again!' mannerism, before Akki assailed him with questions. Quite flustered, he also noticed that there was a very...odd...boy sitting with them. He recognized him as Zuhayr from Candidate lessons, but he could never figure the guy out! He talked kind of oddly, and he acted rather oddly, too. He'd have to ask R'xis about that one...but, in the meantime, he colored slightly when R'xis mentioned his 'large brown' and then answered Akki, "urm...I'm not sure? He doesn't seem at all flashy or showy, or conceited. So maybe he'll be that other type? Flirty? Or something...he seems really cool and down to earth, and kind of smart for something that just hatched and all! Anyways, I like him lots. R'xis was right, though-he's pretty big. He was almost as big as one of the bronze colored ones...well, maybe not quite that big, but close enough!" He was grinning, talking about Resith made him grin a lot, he noted. Then, he added, "oh! His name is Resith, by the way!" He then said, to Z'ayr, "congradulations...you've got a nice dragon there. What's his name?" He said his, pretty sure that blue was male, and then, "or her?" He wasn't one hundred percent sure, though! He didn't want to insult either Z'ayr or his dragon, that was for sure...and his dragon was kind of 'pretty'.

~~~~~~

After J'kiran spoke, the fact that X'ion's posture relaxed notably was quite obvious. He let out a small breath of air, and then admonished, "yeah, it should be...I really hope I don't ever have to be in a leadership position. I'd rather just get used to the idea of having impressed, and concentrate on whatever lessons we do, and then there's getting to know you, and figuring my other issues out..." he trailed off, and then, with a derisive snort, "I can't believe I even impressed a bronze. Should have been blue....or something." He sighed, and took a bite of his food, before giong on, "so, what're your parents like, anyhow? I mean, they're obviously not your biological ones, like mine aren't. But I still consider my parents that raised me to be my mom and dad, y'know?" He got a sort of uncomfortable look, though it passed quickly enough. He didn't usually talk, and it was obvious that when he did, it wasn't about anything personal...

~~~~~~

Kaiya smiled, looking over at Marletta awaiting an answer, as well. She hadn't even given her dragonet a nickname on purpose. It had just sort of happened, and Prydath had accepted it with a seemingly happy attitude. The green was pretty lighthearted, after all. She seemed almost like she'd be a challenge, in a sense, but not? It wasn't easy to figure out. Prydath wasn't like she expected a green to be. She'd always pictured them as flirtatious, very over confident and a tad touchy dragons. Prydath didn't seem that way, though, so maybe she would change as she got older? She wondered how much of who she was as a person would influence how Prydath grew and turned out. There was an ineteresting thought. She intended to question Wolf about that matter after Marletta replied, now that it was eating away at her curiosity!

~~~~~~

Raska was now at the table alone, and kind of bored. She didn't want to interrupt Tieler, so she concentrated on just eating her food and then noticed the pair making a scene with some 'dance' in the middle of the floor. She snorted in bemusement...go figure. Leander had always been such a show off, and though she was a tad surprised to see his 'dance partner' was the still-candidate Tanwen, she still thought they were making a pathetic scene. Showing off in the middle of the hatching feast-for Faranth's sake, what were they doing that for? Likely for the attention. She had no doubts about who initiated that, but still, they looked rather stupid making a huge scene. Some were staring, others chuckling, while others looked as nonplused as she felt. God, that guy was pathetic. No wonder he'd be the guy to get a green rather than a bronze. He behaved like a total and complete idiot. Still, she thought he was at least kind of attractive-ugh. Now she was disgusting herself. She poked at her food, feeling slightly out of place, back to the wall behind her as she sighed.

[Sparrow]

Marletta beamed as Wolf congratulated them on the impression, “Thanks,” she was almost so nervous that she almost replied with ‘you too,’ thankfully she didn’t. “I like your nickname for Prydath, Kaiya. Minty Green works well.” Marletta paused while Kaiya asked if she had thought of a nickname, “Actually I haven’t thought of a nickname, I think I should though, Issaeyith is a bit of a mouthful but, you know, we just impressed this afternoon so there hasn’t been much time to think of one especially with the evacuation and stuff.”
She bit her lip thinking for a moment more, “The only thing I’ve noticed about her is she’s a bit of a worry wart and perfectionist but I don’t think either of those traits would result in a pleasant nickname.” Marletta shrugged.

---

Sh’rel had downed his glass of wine, by the time he had finished his meal and glanced over to where it looked like a group was gathering. What he saw confused him for a moment, but unless he was mistaken, and that could very well be at the moment, but it looked like Akki, Z’ayr and Hasima were across the room. He’d heard a rumor that they had transferred to another Weyr.
You are not mistaken, they are back. Rolaranth helped his rider sort it out.
The brown rider made his way to where the group was formed, “Akki! Hasima! Z’ayr!” he said probably louder than he intended, “Looks like you’ve finally made it here. Congratulations on your impression to your fine blue Z’ayr.”

[Dragon]

Kira entered the feast a bit late, but it was apparent as to why. She'd spent that time prettying herself up. It was in her personality to enjoy attention, especially of the male persuasion. Her dress fit in all the right places. It hugged her curves just right, the neckline showed the tiniest bit of cleavage. Enough to entice without looking inappropriate. The dress itself was red, buttoned from waist to neck from the front and perhaps one of the best dresses of few she brought with her.

She walked in, eyes cool and steps calculated. Her hair bounced slightly with each step. She almost looked like a predator stalking her prey. As she made good distance from the doorway she nodded politely at each individual thoughtful enough to greet her and for any good looking guy, a coy smile along with it. Her dragonet was asleep, the same with her feline. She had no one to accompany or follow her this time. But her lonely status wouldn't stay for long, she had a mind to get to know others. Her thoughts insisted on establishing some ties, some connections, some friendships, and so on.

Her gaze fell upon a group of girls chatting to themselves. Some were more familiar to her than others. She decided to start socializing there. She walked over to them, that couger like attitude practically gone and replaced by a more appropriate polite attitude. She glanced over to Marletta and Kaiya. "Congradulations on the impression", she said kindly, with a sweet smile. Then her attention was turned to Wolf. "Ah and you would be Wolf, I assume? My name's Kira. Pleasure to meet you", she introduced herself. It only made sense to introduce yourself if you knew the person's name already. Otherwise, that'd come off as a tad rude, or suspicious.

[Wolf]

R’xis could not help but laugh, that last feast had indeed been something! He remembered the one man that had harmed Akki, which made an abrupt end to his laughter. “Yes... It was something, you were quite something also. The way you tried to handle that situation.” He hung his head a bit, eyes closing over briefly, “I just wanted to pummel that guy.” R’xis wasn’t one to ever talk about settling things with violence, but, in this case? He’d made a very rare exception because it had involved Akki and her safety. She had proved that she was extremely capable of taking care of herself, why wasn’t he surprised? If anything she’d be taking care of him, he bet, though he’d enjoy being able to have his chivalrous moments. He looked around to everyone as they all threw in their bits and pieces of conversation. He enjoyed being in a group like this, especially when everyone here was good friends. R’xis started on laughing again at the image of Hasima walloping anyone. “Hasima walloping ‘anything’ is just too much for me.” He then raised his hand a bit, shaking it slowly, “No offence Hasima.” Everyone knew how gentle Hasima was though, so the girl would lose nothing by him hinting at it.

R’xis looked over at R’yo as he spoke about Resith, grinning, he knew that it wouldn’t be long before R’yo built up a relationship with his dragonet. Then the boy would have no trouble at all answering personal questions concerning the brown. “A thing?” he smirked, eyeing Akki. He puffed out some air through his nose, “I’d be surprised if that boy ever has a thing with anyone. He’s quite the flirt, if you haven’t noticed. He’s quite the troublemaker also, no, I’m thinking Tanwen’s just his next piece of meat before he moves on,” R’xis explained. L’der was pretty easy to peg, for those that bothered to pay the boy any attention, which wasn’t many. R’xis didn’t consider him suitable company, or at least when they were in the company of women.

~ ~ ~

Tieler again found herself nodding along, and just listening to what Kestrel had to tell her. The girl was wise, that much was clear, and Tieler felt that she could really benefit from the information that the other girl had to offer her. She agreed with everything that was being said, after all. “You’re right,” she said, wanting time now to just think over everything they’d talked about, including the things that Kestrel had chosen to share with her. “Hasima?” she blinked, supposing that Kestrel had noticed what she had. “Oh... yah, well, you can if you want to. Don’t feel as if you have to or anything, you know? It’s not like-well; it’s not that I don’t want you to.” She frowned, feeling foolish that she couldn’t even just tell the girl that she’d prefer her staying here with her. What if Raska looked back and saw them, what would she think? Perhaps it was best if Kestrel did just go and see her friend? No, Kestrel was her friend too, right? Tieler tried at a smile, feeling that the moment warranted one. “Well, what do you feel like doing, or do you mind just sitting here? These stupid things are so boring, and personally I don’t exactly like the clutter of useless bodies in the room.” Tieler rolled her eyes, glaring at someone who looked back at her, raising her eyebrow a bit as a: “What do you want punk?” kind of question. The person looked away quickly, obviously not wanting to get into it with her. Tieler would still have to work on transitioning to the kind of person she wanted to be, it wasn’t going to be an overnight change. It'd be a challenge.

“Congratulations on impressing,” she muttered, eyes rising to Kestrel. “You got a male though, what’s that mean for you? That’s got to suck, right?” She then realized that her words could’ve been taken harshly, so she held back from saying more about it. She attempted to correct her err. “I’m sure he’s cool though, who would want a female dragon? From what I can tell, they’re a pain. Flights, my word, at least with a male you can prevent that kind of shardin’ stuff from happening by just disappearing when a flight comes about. You’re lucky.” Tieler did have a point there, Kestrel didn’t have to go through that experience now if she didn’t want to, and when she did want to perhaps by then she’d have found a suitable male Greenrider or something.

~ ~ ~

“No worries Marletta, as I said, I’m sure you’ll come up with something,” Wolf smiled. She’d already eaten all that she wanted to, never having been a big eater. She picked at her food and often found herself leaving far more on her plate then she should. In any case, she was happy to be seated here with the two girls. Then, just as that thought came to her mind, a third feminine voice could be heard from beside her. She turned look, recognizing the girl as one who had just recently impressed along with the others.

“Yes, I’m Wolf. The pleasure’s all mine Kira,” she grinned, the idea of a handshake lingering in her mind before she dropped it. “You impressed a Copper, no? What’s her name, pray tell?” She knew that Copper’s were far from being common, and they chose special people that were deserving of them, most times. So, going by this, Wolf found she was interested in getting to know the girl, along with Kaiya and Marletta. “Care to join us perhaps?” she asked, motioning to the empty seats at the table.
Being more of a big sister then a little one, she kept up her routine check of looking back at R’xis. He appeared happy, which in turn made her equally happy. She smiled at R’yo, doubting he’d notice. A hand went to her necklace and the majority of her focus returned to her own group, though her attention was divided as she stared down at the pendant in hand. She coloured a little and then froze in embarrassment, looking up. She doubted that any of the girls knew who had given it to her, and if any did it would be Kaiya. It’s not like she expected Kaiya to rush to any assumptions even though. Riler hadn’t left all that long ago, though it did feel like ages ago, like the literal ages ago when J’kel had left. So, all in all, I'm just admiring the necklace, she convinced herself.

~ ~ ~

L’der went over Tanwen’s back as purposed, and tumbled, finishing it soon after her to be able to be ready for the next move. And like so, he found that they’d both ended their tumbles facing each other. When Tanwen aimed to kick at his head, he dodged down to the side, her foot going over his shoulder. Then, he reached forward in a punching motion, as if to punch her stomach.
That felt really cool, probably looked really cool too, he guessed. For him he was just going along with what he already had memorized and knew well.

[Kino]

J'kiran nodded in agreement to X'ions plans. He looked up when the color of his dragon came up and rolled his shoulders in a shrug with a smile. "Well, I certainly never expected to impress to a bronze either. I don't think I'd even given much thought to impressing a brown." The boy blinked once, bringing a hand up to touch his chin. "Actually, come to think of it, I don't believe I ever gave much to thought to what color I'd impress in general." He smiled, though, at the thought of Kaenith curled up in sleep back in the barracks. "I suppose we never can tell what's going to happen. I don't know about you, but I'm thinking that Kaenith choosing me is a sign that there's bound to be something interesting in store for the future."

He looked over once more when the question of his parents came up, and he thought on it for a moment. "Well, they're older than most parent's of the average 18-turn-old. Usually they handle the work on the farm closer to the house, and I was always out with the herd in the field with our canines." He thought back to when he'd left. "Honestly, I refused to go with the Searchrider at first. We went back to the farm to talk to my parents because he was so adamant about it, and eventually they convinced me to go." He smiled a bit. "I'd really only refused because I hadn't wanted to leave them on the farm alone, but they promised they'd find other help."

J'kiran took a sip of his juice before continueing on. "They've always been great to me, though. When they thought I was old enough they told me that they weren't my real parents, and ever since then I've been wondering about my past. Or rather, my birth parent's past, since I've been with my foster parents since I was an infant." He smiled again. "I did have something to help me feel connected to them though - my mother, at least." He held up his wrist. "This band, which you already saw. My parents told me it was left with me." He let his hand fall again. "And my name, too. They told me it was in a note that was left with me, and they decided to keep it - you know, to honor my mother's wishes."

J'kiran suddenly realized that he'd said a bit more than just what his parents were like. He blinked and then ducked his head a bit, bringing a hand up to scratch at the side of his head. "Sorry, I suppose I went on a bit more than the question asked for."

- - -

Tanwen had expected his move, and she continued the movement of her leg without skipping a bit. She brought her leg down and around, moving herself to dodge his punch as she did so, and ended up standing with her back to L'der. The next part she knew, if he was still keeping up, they would do together. The girl turned once more so that her shoulder was facing L'der, setting her right hand by he side and lifting her left to hold out towards him. If his hand was where it should have been, she'd touch her wrist against his and begin to step in a circular motion. She would continue to circle with him for a moment, then turn away from him in a sort of spinning motion.

Once that was done with she side stepped, ending up once again on the outside of the circle. Tanwen lowered herself into a crouch, and then leapt back in an arching motion. It was a jump that would arch her in her leap across the circle that the people had formed for their dance, and she would land lightly on her feet facing away from where L'der should have ended up by now. She'd heard his feet hit the ground at the same time hers did, and with barely a breath between her motions she launched off the ground into a backwards handstand, continueing with her momentum and flipping onto her feet once more to land near L'der yet again.

[Torva hasn't posted yet, so no K'ris part xD]

[Torva Anian]

Kallan grinned up at K'ris, "Always," He gestured grandly at the place K'ris was already starting to sit down in, "Have a seat." He let the boy get settled for one second before starting his questions, "So what's your dragon's name? He's an odd color that's for sure. Almost thought it was a blue, what would you call it? I was looking and I'm not sure which one is smaller the white or him. Not that size really matters. I'd have been happy for the smallest dragon in the world ya know?"

Kallan had apparently gotten food from the tables, but more of it was untouched. In fact he just seemed too excited to eat. His leg kept bouncing while he drummed his fingers on the table lightly. "I've always loved Gathers and feasts. Only down side is too much going on. You'll get into the middle of something only to find out you've missed something." He winked at the other as if he'd just imparted a great fact of wisdom.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Satnee arched an eyebrow, "It might not sound like much, but without the work the drudges do this Weyr wouldn't run. That's like saying the dragon riders 'just drill.'

And of course I didn't tell her I love her. How could I? She's just a dragon I met today. Even if I did feel something for her, I don't think I'd tel her. It'd just encourage her to think she was right in choosing me. I don't expect her to get nicer, I don't want to get to liking this. I've resigned myself to becoming a dragon rider, because short of killing myself that's what I am now."

She glanced over towards the white and sighed. "You're completely okay with that dragon knowing your every thought. To the fact that just because .. Sarcth choose you that you have to drill and fight thread, or ferry people around?" She shook her head, "I've resented dragon riders for a very long time, it's hard to think of myself as one now. It's not very often one Impresses from the stands, even less often that it's someone like me. Most people come to Hatchings, half hoping that they'll Impress.

It came as a complete shock. I've stood at many of Hatchings and none of them have even so much as glanced at me. I've heard about one dragon being fated for a person, I just didn't think I was such a person." She shook her head. "I'm not so sure what to do." She looked at him and said with a voice half filled with humor, "And if you say I should accept and just love her, I think I'll have to use my connections to make your new living quarters very smelly."

(( Sorry about taking a while. I went away for a week to visit family and they didn't have internet. ))