"Naeodin? What was so important you needed to see me?" asked a soft voice. The Weyrwoman of Ryslen Weyr entered the small office, with a concerned look on her face. "Is something wrong?" The green eyed woman sat down, a frown knitting her forhead. "You sounded pretty urgent."

Naeodin eyed the other woman, and felt immensly guilty about what she was going to say. Tiyanni was... a valued friend, and she hoped this wouldn't ruin their friendship. "Actually, yes. We've got a candidate on our hands, but our clutch is too full. This boy... his name is Ailan, and he must impress soon, as he is not allowed to stay here, doing nothing." she smiled. "He isn't from... our world, and they want him back if there isn't a place for him to stand." she smiled sheepishly. "We've heard that Ryslen has a clutch at the moment..."

"...And we'll be very happy to accept him." Tiyanni finished with a grin. "Ailan you say? We'll take him as soon as possible."

Naeodin smiled gratefully. "His things are already packed. We'll meet you downstairs then? I'll bring the boy." she looked around, and whispered in a hushed tone. "Just... um... well, he can be slightly annoying."

Tiyanni though about G'nat, and smiled ruefully. Nothinig could be worst then G'nat...right?

Naeodin looked down at the boy with a stern expression on her face. "This is your only chance Ailan so... don't... make a fool of yourself... at least not until you become an official candidate, okay?" she asked, a worried expression on her face. Yet she couldn't help but smile, this boy.... ah, she felt so sorry for Ryslen!

Ailan, was a thousand and twenty two years old, yet he looked to be only eight. Mentally as well, he only acted like a ten year old, yet he was able to become a candidate because of his other wordly age. There was nothing suspicious about him, a small, scrawny little kid with pale skin, dressed in a sailors outfit. His face was round, with pink cheeks, and small pert nose, and a smiling mouth. His eyes were extrodinarily large, filling up half of his face. They were almond shaped, and a bright blue color, the color of the ribbons in his outfit. His hair was cut in a... mushroom style, flopping over his eyes as he nodded enthusiastically. It was blonde, a bright blonde with streaks of lighter yellows running through it, and very silky. At first glance, he looked to be the perfect little boy....

"I promise." he said, a grave expression on his face. He knew what this meant to him, yet he couldn't help but break into another grin. "At least for the rest of the trip."

Naeodin groaned, and made her way forwards with the little boy. She smiled at Tiyanni. "Tiyanni, this is Ailan. Ailan, this is Tiyanni, Weyrwoman of Ryslen Weyr, and that is J'lenn, rider of blue Scith. remember your promise, okay?"

Tiyanni frowned at the worried note in the woman's tone. Yet she didn't have a chance to speak out, as Ailan looked at her, and gave her the most beautiful smile, causing all her worries to melt away. She smiled down at him. "Why don't you ride with me, Ailan?" she asked, grinning. This boy couldn't be that bad...

Ailan looked up at Ikara with a grin. "But why?" he asked. His big blue eyes stared up with such innocent, Ikara sighed.

"Because your a candidate, and all candidates must do some dirty work."

"Why?"

"Because you need to do something to earn your keep."

"Why?"

"Because your candidates."

"Why?"

"Because---" Ikara frowned, and was about to loose her temper when Ailan gave her another one of his smiles. She sighed, what was she to do with this kid? Suddenly, she had an idea. Smiling a very sly smile, and hoping that the whole of Ryslen Weyr wouldn't come after her, she said. "Ailan? You've been here for a day. I know a rider who wants to see you... his name is G'nat."

Ailan smiled at her. "G'nat? Why?"

"He wants to see you because he's interested in you."

"Why?"

"Because your new, and he's.... friendly."

"Why?"

"Because." she groaned. "Ailan, just got find him, okay?"

Ailan giggled, and right in front of Ikara, just vanished. She let out a sigh of releif, yet couldn't help but feel a sense of impending doom...

Ailan suddenly appeared infront of G'nat, causing the rider to let out a small yelp, then eye the kid. "Who're you?"

"Who're you?" Ailan asked, just as cheerfully.

"G'nat."

"G'nat."

"Are you copying me?"

"Are you copying me?"

"Your Ailan, aren't you?"

"Your Ailan, aren't you?"

"Stop it."

"Stop it."

"I mean it."

Yet G'nat couldn't help but smile. His smile turned into a real grin. He hadn't had so much fun in a long time. "I've got a song I think you'd like to learn..."

"I know a song that gets on everybody's nerves...
everybody's nerves...
everybody's nerves.
I know a song that gets on everybody's nerves,
and this is how it goes!"

Both boys repeated the song over and over again as they made their way through the whole of Ryslen Weyr. And everyone in their path couldn't help but groan. One G'nat had been good enough... but now, two? As they retraced their steps to sing the song once more, the whole of Ryslen Weyr started to hide under their beds.

"Will you stop it?" came a real soft voice. Both turned to see J'lenn standing there.

"Why?" G'nat asked, grinning.

"Because your giving everyone a headache."

"Why?" Ailan asked, looking up at J'lenn with his innocent blue eyes.

"Because your singing that stupid song."

"Why?" G'nat asked, and swung his arm over Ailan's shoulder.

"Because your annoying."

"Thank you!" Both boys retorted, and grinned at each other, before starting off again.

G'nat! Ailan! Came a agitated voice from the Sands. Stop it! Ailan grinned, and winked at G'nat before disappearing, and reappearing at the sands, right infront of the green Ainchisth.

"Why?"

Because your giving me a head ache

"Why?"

Because your getting on my nerves

"Why?"

Because if you don't stop, I'm not going to let you stand for me clutch. The green replied sneakily.

Ailan paled, and frowned, muttering about how unfair some greens were. He stuck his tongue out at the green. "Fine, as you wish my lady."

I'm not a girl.
"Yes you are."

No I'm not!

"Yes you are."

No I'm not!

"Yes you are."

No I'm not!

"Yes you are."

No I'm not!

"Yes you are."

No I'm not!

Ailan, leave her alone. Ainchisth, silly girl, your merely baiting the candidate by talking back. Ambroseth replied softly, getting up from his position. Sighing, he walked up to the candidate and.... pushed him out of the sands with his paw.

Ailan reappeared once more infront of Ainchisth, retorting. "Yes you are." with a very angelic expression on his face, and then disappeared once more.

"Tiyanni! We've got to do something about him! He's been... ah..." J'lenn blushed. "Appearing in and out of the female candidate barracks, hiding insects in their pillows, replacing suger with salt, scarcing the herd beasts by appearing out of no where and letting out a sudden yell, and... singing that song with G'nat." he finished off, his voice gone quiet. He sighed. "Both him and G'nat.."

"I should have been suspicious when Naeodin called me over, giving me such a perfect little boy. But he's standing for the clutch J'lenn, he's accepted." Tiyanni rubbed her temples warily. On top of that, he has a habit of giving you the most innocent expressions, which somehow... stops you from getting angry at him." she sighed. "He'll be gone soon. If he manages to impress, he'll only be here to finish up on his training..."

Just then, Ailan appeared out of nowhere, dressed in his simple sailor outfit. Running up to J'lenn, he gave him a big hug. "Thank you for putting up with me!" he said, and disappeared again, leaving a very surprised J'lenn.

Tiyanni smiled. "See? He's impossible. The moment he knows your getting annoyed with him, he does something to change that. Don't worry J'lenn... if you really want him to go, just try to search as many candidates as possible." she chuckled. "The sooner he impress's, the better... and I think I'm speaking for the both of us when I say that."

"Think I will?"

"You will."

"Think I will?"

"You will."

"Think I will?"

"You will."

"Think I will?"

"You will."

"Think I will?"

"You will."

"Think I will?"

"You will."

"Think I will?"

"You will."

"Think I will?"

"You will."

"You two! Stop is." J'lenn said quietly. "If you don't be careful, I'm going to ship all three of you..." he said, looking pointedly at Impatienth. "Into between before Ailan has a chance to impress, ruining your lives."

Ailan paused. He turned to J'lenn and made a face, then had a quiet competition with G'nat on who could make the most annoying looking face.

"Gee... act your age." came someone's voice.

Ailan grinned innocently at that person, and resumed his competition. When the first egg hatched. Ailan stilled, just watching the eggs as his attention was absorbed...

"G'nat... I didn't impress..." Ailan said softly, almost losing his sense of pestiness. He pouted, causing many people to look over at him sympathetically. He suddenly brightened up. "Can you share Impatienth with me then?" he asked, his big blue eyes staring up at G'nat innocently.

G'nat stuck his tongue out at the younger (??) boy. "No."

"Please?"

"No."

"Please?"

"No."

"Please?"

"No."

"Please?"

"No."

"Please?"

"No."

"Please?"

"No."

"Please?"

"No."

"Alright then..." he made a face. "Then I guess Impatienth is all miine~"

G'nat made his own face. "Be careful with what you say..." he warned.

Ailan grinned cheekily. "Or you'll do what? Respect your elders!" he said, causing both of them to laugh.

Ailan let out a giggle of delight as he watched Pezth jump into the lake, causing water the fly everywhere and drench each dragon and each passerby. He suddenly disappeared, and re appeared on Pezth's back, chortling with glee. Should I do it again Ailan? Should I? Should I? Pezth asked his rider, his voice like a little childs. Ailan nodded very enthusiastically, yet suddenly stilled when a shadow fell over both of them. Ailan looked behind him and let out a chilling scream, causing G'nat to jump back as well.

"Why you... brat!" he yelled out, grinning from cheek to cheek.

"Thank you!" G'nat replied. his head tilted to one side, watching the rider and his duo winged dragon. "So, how do you like impressing?

Ailan grinned cheekily. "I like it alot... but I don't think anyone else..." he paused, letting the water from both Impatienth and Pezth's dive settle down. "does..." he finised. They both turned then, to see a very... scary looking figure of J'leen. "UM..." he started.

"Who started this?"

Ailan grinned. "He did!" he said, pointing to G'nat, and then disappeared.