The day had come...he knew. Kicking out at the shell that contained him, Kjedoreth already knew there was but one bond for him on those sands, and she wasn't a human. Finally he shattered the shell and tumbled out, landing on his back. He gazed up at his dam for a few moments until he heard his sister hatch beside him. Promptly hopping up, the blue-sunset turned to face his sister.

It's getting awfully small in here... Cynnath thought and began to butt the inside of her shell with her head. Soon enough it broke open and she spilled out to face her brother and her bond. Well, Cynnath, where would you like to live? he asked her. She paused a moment in thought then shrugged her wings indifferently. I don't care. Wherever you want to go, Kjedoreth.

Cynnth was irritatingly indecisive, leaving Kjedoreth to make the choice. Well then, how about Draco's Inferno Weyr? he suggested, spying the weyrwoman of Draco's Inferno herself watching him, her queen settled up on a ledge behind her. Cynnath however, neglected to see them and crooned to her bond, That would be perfect, bondmine.

Draco's Inferno it is, then. Let's go eat. Kayla nodded at the small blue-sunset and his sister as they approached. "Draco's Inferno welcomes you, Kjedoreth and Cynnath." she said as she escorted the pair to the meat table.

It hadn't been that long since the pair had arrived at Draco's Inferno. They'd drawn quite a few stares, being the first dragon-dragon bonding the weyr had housed. The welcome was warm though, the dragons and their people friendly. Kjedoreth, while he remained small, was allowed to peruse the records room and libraries while Cynnath sunned herself constantly between weyrling training sessions.

At first the Weyrlingmaster hadn't quite known what to do with them; they had no need for riding harnesses, mounting and dismounting techniques and the like. Consequently, they had to just sit and watch the first couple of classes until firestone and flying took place. Kjedoreth, I do not wish to chew firestone right away...I think I would like to have children some day. Cynnath said almost pleadingly to her bond as he carefully chewed his own sack of firestone.

You do not have to, bondmine. It is all up to you what you wish to do.

The green rumbled happily and informed the Weyrlingmaster she was not to chew firestone. He just shook his head and went back to teaching the rest of the class. Once the day was over Kjedoreth and Cynnath rested by the lake, she in the water, he upon a high ledge. From around the lake came a weyrbrat holding a basket full of straw. He shouted up to Kjedoreth in a high voice. "A gift from all of Draco's Inferno Weyr!" before setting it down upon the lakeshore and toddling off. Paddling over to the shore, Cynnath peeked into the basket as Kjedoreth trumpeted a thank-you after the boy

Oooohh! the green practically squealed, Eggs! Dunno what kind though... Spreading his sunset wings, the blue glided off of his outcropping and landed lightly next to his bond and gave a soft snort. They must think that because we have no humans we need something else to bond. he mused and delicately took one of the eggs from the basket as it began to hatch. Cynnath cuffed him on the shoulder with her wing and said, Be nice! Her egg was hatching as well, and she mothered it as it's inhabitant struggled into life.

From Kjedoreth's egg struggled a sleek, furry black form which spread a pair of leathery wings once it had freed it's rear. It's head remained inside the egg and it flipped back and forth, trying to shatter the offending shell. Chuckling softly, Kjedoreth gently crushed the egg that bound his new...weasel-thing. It churriped then squealed at the light the setting sun cast across the weyr and dove for shade within the folds of Kjedoreth's wings.

Cynnath's egg had rapidly hatched to reveal a violet-colored flitter that was positively adorable. She crooned to the little female, who trilled in a high voice. Aw, she's lovely! And your's...well, your's is creepy... She peered between her bondmates wings to see a pair of glowing eyes looking back, awaiting full sunset so that it may leave shelter. What'er you going to call it?

Kjedoreth looked back for a moment before rumbling and replying, I will call him Eji. The little bat-weasel just chittered in an irritated sort of way.

And I...I shall call mine...Kønet! You, pretty one, will be Kønet. Kjedoreth rumbled at his bond. Let us go and find some food for our new friends. The pair headed off toward the weyrbowl to kindly ask for some meat from the Headwoman, Cynnath slightly pleased to see her a little awkward in dealing with dragons with no human intermediary.

Life passed in a lazy sort of way at Draco's Inferno, lazy for Cynnath anyway. Kjedoreth wanted to get out and experience the world, to learn all he could about everything. It had taken some time but he had persuaded a number of weyrbrats to bring him up some of the more sturdy books from the records room now that he was too large to fit down the tunnels.

Mostly due to having a Weyrwoman who couldn't bear any kind of history being lost due to neglect or unpopularity, the books were all in good condition. Some turns ago there had been a mass restoration effort of the older records while they were still legible, Kjedoreth had participated in dictating the books to scribes who wrote them down into new and more durable copies. His mind-voice was very clear and precise in pronunciation, something he prided himself in.

One day while sifting through some records pertaining to other worlds, Kjedoreth happened across an old clutch record where a dragon had stood to Impress another dragon. It appeared that, on worlds like Alskyr and in the Nexus, dragon-dragon bonds were much more common than on Pern. This gave him an idea, one that would feed his quest for knowledge and perhaps enhance the life of his bond as well.

Cynnath, could I ask you a question?

The green, currently basking in the sun on the banks of the weyrlake with Kønet sprawled out on her shimmering green side, rolled her upper half toward him in a cat-like way. Of course you can, bondmine. Kjedoreth laid down next to her and rested his chin upon her shoulder, careful not to squash Eji, who lurked in a spacey saddlebag-like sack that the blue-sunset had had made especially for the highly nocturnal creature. This way, the bat-weasel could come out of their weyr but still stay in the darkness.

I was going through some old records...

As usual? Cynnath teased her bond. Kjedoreth whuffled irritatedly and said, Yes, as usual...As I was saying, in the records I found something about a dragon standing to Impress another dragon, sort of like what we did I suppose... Cynnath nodded and turned her gaze to the sky, watching a pair of weyrlings fooling around, annoying the watchdragon.

Well, I was thinking of finding a place where we could stand to Impress another dragon...what would you think of that? And please don't say y- Cynnath cut him off by saying, I don't care, whatever you want to do... in a far-off voice. Uttering a low growl, Kjedoreth stood and loomed over his bond. Come on! You have to make a decision! I can't pick for both of us on this and I'm tired of doing it anyway! But Cynnath had rolled back over and was breathing rhythmically, signaling she'd fallen asleep. Now extremely aggravated, Kjedoreth spread his wings and flew off for their weyrledge and sought refuge inside. Eji eagerly sprung from his satchel and bounded for the bowl of meat one of the kitchen drudges had kindly left for him and Kønet.

The weyr had been specially altered for Cynnath and Kjedoreth. The archway between what was traditionally the dragonrider's side and the dragon's side had been knocked out so that the dragons could move freely from one side of the weyr to the other. There was plenty of room for an extra pair of dragons, Kjedoreth decided. More if it was possible. So, without a definite answer from Cynnath, the blue-sunset busily inquired around where he and his bond could try for an Impression. It came down to one place in Kjedoreth's mind, Shivran Aerd where they could apply for what was called a "Dragon Master" bond. He made plans to visit, with Cynnath, the next day.

Much to his surprise, they were asked to go as official Envoys of Draco's Inferno. It seemed that the Weyrwoman was trying to extend hands of friendship amid the worlds, and no one from Draco's Inferno had been Searched by Shivran Aerd. Even if they weren't accepted to bond, they could still make friends with them. Kjedoreth had the impression that Kayla had as many ideas for the pair of dragons as he did.

The Next Day...

I don't see why you have to drag me along, if you're the one so interested in bonding again. Cynnath complained as they prepared to leave. Inside, she was slightly hurt that Kjedoreth wanted to bond again. Did he not like her, was she not enough of a friend? She'd deliberately gotten up late to irritate him further, but it did nothing for the gnawing hurt within her.

You have got to come with me, you're my bond! Hurry up! the blue-sunset snapped as he hastily downed a wherry for breakfast. She continued to pout as she thought to herself, Well, maybe I'm happy with my life as it is...unlike some people... But Kjedoreth was resolute in his decision, nothing would change his mind now. He continued to prod Cynnath until she was finished and they took flight, arriving over Shivran Aerd.

A one-track mind was an asset at some times, a blinder at others. Kjedoreth was so set on signing up to try and bond, holding his plan so firmly in his sights that he neglected to notice Cynnath's hurt looks and dark comments. She clearly wasn't so enthusiastic about bonding again. What was wrong with her that he would want another dragon? As he signed himself up, the green continued to gaze sulkily at the surroundings. This definitely was an interesting place, dragons meandered everywhere.

Kønet sat prettily upon Cynnath's shoulder and crooned in a concerned way to her bond. I'm fine, little one. I can deal with Kjedoreth. Besides, mayhap this second bonding thing will not be so bad. Maybe I'll bond someone with whom I share more in common with. She cast another irritated and hurt look at Kjedoreth and signed up along with him for a Dragon Master bond. Perhaps, in time, the blue-sunset would realize her hurt and apologize. For now, she would just have to make do with his unbearable self.

But if he calls me lazy one more time, that's it. He's loosing a limb...