The green blinked, perhaps a little in surprise. The same reason? Did your bondmate abandon you too? There was something of hope that filled her voice, a small glimmer of light at the end of a very dark tunnel. "No, but...I know what it is like to be abandoned. My father beat me and dumped me off on the first hold that would take me. I ran away and never looked back. Since then, no one has stayed long enough to be my friend." "No one ever really tried..."

His final thought filtered through to the green who gently seperated herself from her fellows and gave them soft farewell nuzzles before approaching Choron. I would like to try to be your friend, Ch'ron. He looked up, noticing that he had never told her his name and that she'd shortened it as if he were...a dragon rider... "You mean?" She nodded, I choose to re-Impress and it is you I have picked. My name is Caligoth, my rider. Sneer and Scald both danced a firelizard's dance of joy, accompanied with their sharp creals.

The flits rejoicing drew the stewards attention as he continued his search for Choron. Partoc pressed his ear against the door and, hearing the boy's voice, wrenched it open and seized the first solid thing he reached. "Now I've got yeh!"

Big mistake... He had latched onto Caligoth's muzzle as she and Ch'ron had turned to leave. Realizing this, the portly man promptly let go. "Whose this? Didja find a friend ta hide behind, ya fardlin' thief!" Grinning, Ch'ron nodded. "Yes, my good man. This is Caligoth, my new bond." The green swelled up to her full size, a rather impressive green beast she was, and bugled full in the man's face.

Uttering a very feminine squeal, Partoc tumbled over out the door, was head-butted in the rear by Caligoth and flew a good two or three meters before landing on his back in the dirt. Don't you ever call him a thief, you fat wherry! I'll have you for lunch! She trumpeted again, filling the whole corridor with noise. Partoc struggled upright and hobbled off with a look of sheer terror on his face.

"Well Caligoth, I think we are going to make a very good team."