Naysi
:Story::Search::Hatching::Weyrling::Adult:
:Moon Shadow Weyr::Tripaldi Weyr

Naysi sat by the weyrlake, in the shade of a small tree. Halurath was busy frolicking in the water and generally trying her hardest to splash her rider. Naysi was out of range though and she sat in the shade of the tree, her hand in her pocket, gently turning a fragment of Halurath’s egg over and over while she thought about the path her life was on. Halurath was now a weyrling and before long she would be an adult. The hatching of the beautiful rainbow hued dragon had surprised everyone and truly Naysi found herself the envy of many of the weyrlings. She smiled softly to herself as this thought drifted across her mind. To think, the girl who’d grown up in the stables, almost one of the runners, was now the envy of a large group of people, and rider of the beautiful Halurath.

“Ah, so you do smile from time to time, do you?” said a voice and Naysi jumped. Her smile vanished as she turned her gaze to the young man standing just outside the shade of the tree. He had a big smile on his face, which she surprised herself by finding quite charming. She cocked her head to one side as she looked at him, but her smile did not return and she said nothing. “You should smile more often, you look quite lovely when you do.”

Still she said nothing, just sat there and watched him as he fidgeted a bit under her scrutiny.

“I’m B’den,” he said with a smile and turned to point to a brown dragon that was now cavorting in the lake alongside Halurath, “rider of Brown Croluth.”

Now she was forced to reply but he cut her off before she could finish. “I’m Naysi-”

“Rider of Rainbow Halurath and the envy of the Weyr!” he said with a grin and she found it hard to keep from smiling in return. “Do you mind if I join you? I’ve long wanted a chance to talk to you.”

Naysi’s eyes widened in surprise; he wanted to talk to her? Few people ever wanted to talk to her. But she nodded her head and moved over to give him room enough in the shade to sit down.

“Thanks,” he said as he took a seat. They sat in silence for a while watching the dragons as they cavorted and wallowed in the water of the weyrlake. Halurath crooned and Naysi’s gold fire lizard, Ori, landed on her back to scrub her. Several of the Weyr fire lizards arrived to help a few of them landing on Croluth’s back. Eventually B’den turned his attention back to her. “So, how do you like being a dragonrider?”

“Fine,” she replied with a shrug and he arched a brow as if expecting a more detailed answer. “I mean, it’s hard work, and I admit I wasn’t always strong enough, but it gets easier.”

“I agree, it is very hard work,” he said, smiling at her.

“Do you like it?” she asked, surprising herself.

“I do, though part of me misses my old life,” he sighed then smiled at her. “I was an apprentice beastcrafter and mostly dealt with runners and genetics. My master and I spent a great deal of time trying to match up genetics in such a way that would produce certain traits in runners. I confess I miss being able to do that research.”

She just nodded in response and he smiled at her.

“I admit, your Halurath has inspired me to do some research in dragon genetics as well,” he smiled and Naysi’s eyebrows went up in question. “I’ll be very interested to see what sort of colors she produces when she’s old enough to rise and clutch.”

Naysi’s eyes grew wide at the mention of her dragon rising and she turned her head away. Halurath was padding out of weyrlake then and she shook some of the water from her back and walked over to lie not far from the tree.

What’s wrong, Naysi? Asked the rainbow dragon, concerned by her rider’s turmoil of emotions.

Nothing dearest, don’t worry about it.

You’re upset! What is it? Cried Halurath, her eyes whirling in alarm.

Nothing dear, it’s nothing for you to be concerned about.

But Halurath would not give up the subject. Did that man upset you? What did he do? Halurath growled, moving away from Croluth who had left the lake and found a spot next to her in which to lie.

“What’s wrong with her?” asked B’den in surprise, concern creasing his brow.

“Nothing, we need to go though,” replied Naysi, standing quickly and rushing to Halurath. She mounted quickly and the two of them quickly took off. It wasn’t them, Halurath. You should not have growled at Croluth.

But you were upset! Croluth understands, I explained it to him.

Naysi sat in stunned silence as Halurath landed on the ledge of their weyr. She would have to keep an eye on Halurath and Croluth; she didn't want Halurath forming any attachments.