A sound. Humming, soothing, contentment. Peaceful. But must get OUT! The shadows surrounded him, suffocated him, tried to wring consciousness from his mind and air from his chest before he'd taken his first breath.
He thrashed against the suffocating darkness, desperate to escape, to where the humming music was coming from. He rocked wildly, clawing out at the darkness, and his claws came in contact with a rough, curved surface. He slashed and thrashed about. He had to get out, out, out! Suddenly, the darkness broke.
The round, hard surfaces surrounding him fell away, and his jewelled eyes were instantly blinded by the bright light beyond the walls of his shell. He blinked his green-blue eyes to clear them, and looked around. The humming sound had increased a hundred-fold in volume, it seemed to him, and he located the source as his mother, a radiant, pale dragoness in clouded rainbow hues.
The darkness was gone, driven away by bright daylight. He felt safe now.
He was lying sprawled out upon warm sand, surrounded by the shards of his siblings' eggs, who had all already left to eat, either with their bonds or alone. He sat up and shook his head, then looked down at himself. His paws were blue, but further up his legs, they faded to white, as was the rest of his body. He stood up, splaying his bright blue wings on either side of him and turned to his mother.
I think I'll just stick around here a while. By myself. I'm Jilameth. He laughed before running off to join his siblings. He was hungry.
Normally, it was very boring up here, and lonely. Jilameth may not have been the most social of dragons, but he was far from a misanthrope, and preferred company, whether human or draconic. However, the weyrling was too self-sacrificing for his own good, and had uttered not one complaint during his stay.
Besides, the scenery made it all worthwhile.
At sunset, the dying sun painted the sky in warm reds and oranges that made the sky look like a giant firestorm and gave the ocean of trees a reddish tint, before its light was swallowed by the encroaching darkness and the sky turned to indigo.
Tonight, the clouds rose like scarlet giants on the horizon in front of the setting sun they obscured. The sky was pinkish-orange, but to the east, the encroaching darkness was steadily painting the sky black. Times like this were the reason he didn't mind watching duty.
"Hey, Jilameth!"
Jilameth jumped, and turned to look behind him, where R'ei was hovering in the air. His pet rukel, Kemei, perched on the weyrling's back and purred, begging to be rubbed. Jilameth cocked his head and stared at the rukel, eyes whirling amusedly, and he reached over with one snowy wingclaw to scratch the creature's back. Kemei arched her back in pleasure, purring.
Jilameth rumbled in amusement as he looked up at the partially draconic bluerider. Hello, R'ei. What are you and Kemei doing up here so late in the evening?
The dark blue rukel snorted from her position on the white-blue's back. "Isn't it obvious? We're visiting you, silly!"
Jilameth glanced at the rukel and seemed to smile, but his attention was turned back to the bluerider as R'ei pulled out a bundle of something to show to the weyrling. "I thought you might like to have these, seeing as you don't have a bond of your own." The dragonboy said with a smile. In his outstretched hands, he held two medium-sized, brightly-colored fire lizard eggs.
You sure those are flit eggs? They aren't rukels, are they? Jilameth asked playfully as Kemei sniffed indignantly on his back.
"As if we'd waste our perfection on you." She said with an evil grin. "Yes, they're flit eggs, dummy." She swatted his flank gently. "We got them from the Healing Den. They just got a whole huge batch of eggs!"
Jilameth regarded the two eggs skeptically. They're rather...bright, aren't they? He shrugged and shook his head. Ah, never mind. When are these eggs due to hatch, R'ei?
"Within the week, so you'd better keep a close eye on them." R'ei said with a parting wave. Whistling to Kemei, he leaped down the side of the mountain, using his oversized dragon-like wings to keep himself from tumbling down head-over-heels. Jilameth looked down at the eggs nestled in his claws, and wondered...
R'ei had been a bit off when he said the eggs would hatch in around a week; early the next morning, the weyrling awoke to hear the shrill cries of hatchling fire lizards. He opened his eyes to see a large brown male and a violet female staring at him reproachfully, bombarding his mind with hungry thoughts of food.
The white-blue blinked in surprise, then shook his head and stood up. Alright, I get the idea. You're hungry! He picked up the hatchlings and dumped them inside a large bowl of sliced meat and fish that he'd filched from the kitchens last night.
The fire lizards went through the meat quickly, then they curled up on either side of the siamese weyrling and fell asleep.
Jilameth snorted, then fondly settled the brown into a more comfortable position on his foreleg. What shall I name you two? He mused silently to himself. Earth for you. He said, cocking his head to look at the little brown. And Nebula for you. He turned his gaze towards the violet female. Neither Earth nor Nebula answered, they had already fallen asleep. Seeing as it was still early and he could scarcely move with two fire lizard hatchlings on him, Jilameth decided to do the same.
It was after midnight, but Jilameth was still awake, sensing that the eggs would be hatching soon. His violet-colored flit, Nebula, lay curled against his side, snoring softly in her sleep. The brown male, Earth, sat nearby, scratching his side with a hind leg as he yawned. The fire lizards, sensitive little creatures that they were, noticed the humming before he did, but it wasn't long before the siamese dragon perked up himself.
With a yawn, Jilameth stood up and strode to the entrance of his weyr, growling in distaste at the shadowy night outside. The heavy, dark clouds promised it would be a dark night and difficult to see very far. Very carefully, he spread his wings and glided slowly to the ground, before striding off to the hatching sands.
The eggs had already started to hatch when Jilameth entered the hatching area. He stayed near the entrance, out of sight, and watched as the first two hatchlings bonded. Jilameth smiled. Despite not having had such a close relationship with another being himself, he was not lonely, and was very outgoing and friendly. He had no immediate desire for a bond, though he felt he would eventually visit some other planet in order to stand.
Many more dragonets hatched, some showing the cloudy or starry markings of Kashvtaith, his brother, and a couple even bore siamese patterns like Jilameth; most likely, it was inherited from their 'siamese striped' mother.
By now, most of the eggs had hatched, and there were only three small-sized eggs left rocking in the sand. One of the dragonets chose that moment to break free of his shell, revealing a cloudy, black body with brilliant white star marks.
The clouded starry black fell to the sand clumsily, and he jumped to his feet, shaking loose sand from his mottled hide as he looked around. After an admittedly short pause, he turned his attention to the Weyrwoman sitting nearby. Jilameth heard the hatchling's statement quite clearly. My name's Niohbhoth, my bond's not here. May I stay here for now?
I suppose I should go find one of the elementals? The golden queen Eoth asked dryly, referring to the dragons who usually took on sponsorlings until they were grown.
Jilameth crooned and spoke up. Tell your rider, Queen, that I would be willing to care for the youngling. If you don't mind. He said demurely with a bow of his head to the gold.
He saw the queen nod her head in reply as she relayed to the message to the Weyrwoman, and Teah smiled as she told the hatching, "You can stay with Jilameth while you're here."
The hatchling's name is Niohbhoth. Eoth told him as the hatchling nodded happily and went to join his siblings in the kitchens. Take good care of him.
Of course. Jilameth stated. Thank you. He added softly as he left to join his new charge in the kitchens. He knew there was some reason for him to attend this hatching. Now he knew what it was.
Niohbhoth scowled at the older dragon as he reluctantly climbed to his feet. I'm up. He griped. Why do I hafta go to weyrling classes anyway? It's not like I have a bond, and can't you teach me to fly yourself? The weyrling asked plaintively.
Jilameth thought it over with a chuckle. Probably. But who knows, maybe all that stuff you learn there will come in handy someday. Besides, someday you will have a bond. He pointed out.
Niohbhoth perked up at that. You think so? Oh, he said sadly. I still have to wait until I'm an adult, though. And then I'll have to go through weyrling training all over again. He wailed as he realized his fate.
Jilameth just chuckled. You know, even I had to go through weyrling training way back when.
You, old man? Niohbhoth said with a snicker. Jilameth, however, was only about two and half years older than him, making the white-blue seem more like an older brother than the uncle that he was in actuality.
Jilameth grinned wryly. Yeah, even me. Come on, you still need to get a bath before weyrling training, little bugger. The siamese teased.
Niohbhoth groaned predictably at the mention of a bath, causing Jilameth to chuckle again. Thoughtfully, the clouded starry questioned the older dragon. Do you really think I'll find a bond someday, though?
Definitely. Was the dragon's firm answer.
Then how about you? Will you bond someday, too? The weyrling asked mischievously.
That made Jilameth pause. Maybe. He said at last, making Niohbhoth grin smugly. Now, the white-blue said, picking the smaller dragon up by the scruff of his neck-not exactly an easy feat, seeing as Jilameth was a fairly small dragon, but then Niohbhoth wouldn't grow to be very large himself-It's definitely time for your bath. He growled.
Aww...
Barely a day after Niohbhoth graduated from weyrling training, he suddenly decided that Darkling Dawn was no longer a good enough dragonry to call home. He decided to travel to other worlds and dragonries until he found a satisfactory abode; nevermind that he barely knew what he was looking for in the first place. He'd never been anywhere but Darkling Dawn, as Jilameth reminded the young black when he told his caretaker and friend that he was leaving. Jilameth could hardly let him wander the worlds alone, however, so he offered to accompany the restless dragon until he'd gotten over his wanderlust and found his niche in life. Though Niohbhoth was too proud to just out and say, Jilameth could tell that he was grateful for his company.
Now they were on Atu, the barren desert planet above which Star City Dragonry hovered. While Niohbhoth talked to some of the residents about lodging or some such, Jilameath had heard from some of the other dragons visiting the desert city Driolo about the Frenzy. It was called the Fur and Feathers Frenzy, and it had flown several months ago. Quite a few of the eggs had hatched already, and about twenty of them had bonded, but there were still many more dragons waiting to bond.
Jilameth had never been particularly interested in a bond of his own; as far as he was concerned, he could bond someday off in the future, and that would be fine, but he may never bond at all, and that would be fine as well. However, he had no doubt that Niohbhoth intended to stand for a clutch sooner or later, preferably sooner, and the white-blue wanted to be there when he did.
As it turned out, the chance for both of them to bond was coming much faster that Jilameth imagined.
Niohbhoth came out of between. No doubt the sudden heat after such intense cold was quite welcoming on his dark hide, but that was obviously not the only reason for his good mood.
Have you found a home already? Jilameth asked teasingly, although inside, he was wondering what was wrong with Darkling Dawn, anyway...
Not yet. Niohbhoth answered lightly, flexing a wing before tucking it neatly under his wing-arm. But that's not what I came to tell you about. You've heard about the Frenzy that happened a while back, didn't you?
Jilameth blinked, as the mention of the Frenzy drew him out of his thoughts. Yes, I was talking to some of the parents of kits earlier, in fact. Why?
Niohbhoth's rainbow eyes were whirling excitedly. I've decided to sign up for it and maybe try to bond.
Jilameth tried not to look disappointed. Oh. Then you really aren't going home?
It's your home, not mine. Niohbhoth replied rather forcefully.
That's not what you've seemed to think for the last two years, or when you decided to stay after hatching. Jilameth shot back.
Niohbhoth's eyes flooded with red. Well, if you want to go back so much, what's keeping you?
I came with you. I intended to stay with you. Jilameth answered coolly.
Niohbhoth growled a reply at the older dragon. I don't need a keeper. I'm full-grown now, I can take care of myself. He snarled before jumping into the air and disappearing between.
Jilameth watched him leave, then sighed heavily to himself. That, he thought wryly to himself, Could have gone better.
He shook his head. All he wanted to do was just go home to Darkling Dawn. Still, he didn't really want to leave Niohbhoth here on his own either, and despite what the younger dragon may have thought, he knew the other dragon intended to bond, and he did want to be there to watch it.
What are you still doing here? Niohbhoth asked when he met the older dragon some time later.
I've decided to become a candidate for the Frenzy. Jilameth answered coolly.
Whatever. The black dragon said sulkily and turned away.
Jilameth almost rolled his eyes at the younger dragon's behavior. At least he was still here, and even though he didn't actually plan to bond, if he ended up with one, well, so be it...
