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Green Sxoith gazed out over the East Rock lands, remembering with the aid of her rider Kerli how much it had changed over the decades. Even Ryslen itself had changed. Rough natural stone walls had slowly become carefully built walls of smooth red stone, with wooden doors instead of leather curtains, except where the riders preferred them. Seated in her shadow was a young boy � sixteen at most, with dark hair and dark eyes like his mother, the watchrider.
"Kelkerli..." she said, stepping around the green dragon so she could see him. In his hands was a small bird, no, a kitten. Kerli blinked. "What is that?"
Kelkerli looked at this mother and held up the squaking fluffball. "They call them alis gryphs. They bond just like flits. I call her Willow." The small half-bird half-feline peeped a greeting to the greenrider, and then rubbed her beak on Kelkerli's hand in an affectionate way.
"Where did you get her?" Kerli asked, settling herself against Sxoith�s flank. The green dipped her great head so she could see as well.
"Well..." Kelkerli began, "There have been a lot of offworlders at Ryslen lately, former candidates returning from other places to visit or whatever, and some of them are willing to talk to me about their homes, and some have taken me there for a short visit. Alskyr is really nice. They have gryphons there, and seadragons. Moe and Twengith would be incredibly happy there."
Kerli took this all in stride. There wasn�t really much that could phase the quiet watchrider � though she was certain that the pair of candidates Sxoith had found during that thunderstorm had tails. "Does Tiyanni know about this?" She asked at last.
"Yes, and Weyrwoman Jeyann as well. In fact, they seemed to encourage me to explore the other worlds."
Kerli quietly considered as Sxoith confirmed this with Mezireth and the silvering Litayth. Sure enough, they had encouraged the boy's interest in other worlds. The best way to prevent xenophobia in future generations was to acclimatize this one.
* * *
Time passed and the little Willow grew strong, and rather vocal. She'd talk to anyone who'd listen and was very social. When R'tiel, rider of green Mrussith brought Aliyssa to stand on Ryslen's sands, he brought with him an egg that supposedly was sent by Catharite Kataela, as a gift for Kelkerli, whose explorations and adoption of unique pets was becoming well known (if somewhat exaggerated, considering his only pet was Willow). "It�s a winged snake egg," R'tiel explained. "They were quite popular as pets for a time, since they imprint like dragonflies or other flitters."
Kelkerli was overjoyed. A new exotic pet! From a pocket the Danachian rider produced a stone which glowed quite brightly on the table. "I also thought you might like to have one of these." R�tiel said. "Danachian Findstone. Do you know how it works?"
"No." Kelkerli admitted, petting the snake egg unconsciously.
"The stone is coated in a sort of sensitive bacteria that glows, and when a dragonrider touches it, it will stop glowing." R�tiel explained.
"It�s called findstone because the potential of potential candidates can be found with it?" Kelkerli asked.
"More or less." R�tiel said. "At Ryslen, the dragons pick the candidates � but dragons can be wrong..."
"All except Amitath!" Kelkerli laughed.
"... on Danach, candidates are tested with Findstone, to see if they�re truly qualified. It�s very objective..."
"I see." Kelkerli said. He reached for the stone, and as his fingertips neared it, the glow dimmed. When he lifted it, it was glowing just as brightly as it had before. "What does that mean?"
R'tiel smiled. "The dimming would seem to indicate that you've potential � but the renewed glow definitely marks you as qualified to wield it. Even if you don't imprint a dragon, you could 'search' candidates by testing them with the Findstone."
Kelkerli smiled. "Thank you for the gifts. Please convey my thanks to Cathairte Kataela when you see her next."
R'tiel promised he would, and then left the room. Kelkerli was alone for less than a minute before a grinning J'rin bounced in.
"R�tiel said you�ve been playing with a piece of Findstone." The Searchrider said.
"He just gave it to me." Kelkerli admitted. "It still glows when I hold it. What does that really mean? I�m skeptical about what R�tiel said."
"It means you can hold a glowing stone without it stopping glowing, Kelkerli!" J�rin laughed. "Don�t worry about rocks � they�re not infallible."
"Amitath is." Kelkerli said with a small grin.
Of course I am. Amitath purred. I've never chosen a candidate who didn't impress, and I'm not about to now. Kelkerli � you will Stand, and you will impress a dragon.
"I can�t argue with that!" Kelkerli said with a grin, and thus he became a candidate.
* * *
Time passed, and the egg from Kataela hatched into a handsome copper snake with large feathery wings. Kelkerli named him Jasper. He was quite antisocial, except when it came to Kelkerli and Willow, who had grown into a fine adult alis gryph � and was no less chatty.
When Sasiath's clutch hatched, a red dragon came to Kelkerli, and named himself Xhimboth, and all was good. Kelkerli became Ke'li. After the hatching, a messenger from Cy Dragonstake sought him out. "Head Knight Sherra heard about your collection, and sent you a flitter egg." Flitters were nothing new, but the Dragonstake flitters were different than the other flitters around Ryslen.
"Thank you!"
Yes, Thank you! Xhimboth echoed, his eyes whirling happily.
* * *
Xhimboth grew, and the Cy Flitter hatched into a spectacular red, who was almost as outgoing as Willow, but he had a temper. Ke'li and Xhimboth named him Snapper. It was only fair.
As soon as Xhimboth was permitted to fly at all, he and Ke'li would make trips to the heights to watch with Kerli and Sxoith. Ke'li ran the stairs at first, but later rode up once D'lrik gave them permission.
Unsurprisingly, both found they being Watch a pleasant thing to do, and thus entered formal training for the position.
* * *
Time passed, and as Xhimboth neared his second year, his clutchmate Lollaseth and her rider were installed as the Leader of Vella Crean, and not long after, the clutch of Black Dusky and Blue Scith hatched, and at that hatching, Lani presented a phoenix draca egg to Ke'li. It hatched into a red-gold male who they named Xavin.
Pheonix Draca, while only the size of any other flitter, are far more intelligent than their cousins, and while they can and do converse with the other critters, are capapble of carrying on decent conversations with humans and dragons as well. With his intervention, Snapper became more docile, and Jasper more personable. It was quite interesting.
Soon, Ke'li became the Head Watchrider of Ryslen, allowing his mother Kerli and Sxoith to be partially retired � no watchrider ever fully retired. Having to stop watching would likely crush them.
* * *
What would become of Ke'li? Would he gain any new pets? And what of Xhimboth? Will he take a mate? Only time will tell...
* * *
* * *
An unexpected day off sent Ke'li and Xhimboth flying about, with their managerie of friends orbiting around them in a red cloud - save Hekki, the blue fairy dragoness. A mental smirk traveled from Xhimboth to his rider as his sparking eye caught a rift that would take them to a new place. Their friends hung back as Xhimboth leapt through it, and into a new world.
High above the ground, Ke'li and his red bond surveyed the land. The only settlement they spotted looked rather primative. Looks like we won't be finding any new friends here. Ke'li thought, but Xhimboth rumbled and turned to the east.
Truth is here. the Ryslen Red purred, and began to decend towards a clearing in a valley. And something is hatching. Come. Let us see... There was no way for Ke'li to refuse to go along - not that he would, considering he was just as curious as his dragon.
What they found, and were quickly welcomed to, was the nest-breaking of some tiny jewel-toned dragons...
* * *
Ruby Male Aymile
Garnet Male Dyneale
For whatever reason random things get done at Ryslen, the doorway leading from the hallway into the small sandy cavern where firelizard eggs once were kept was sealed off with small blocks of red granite and black-tinted mortar. This made the miniature hatching sands only available by passing through the hatching sands. This kept all but the most intent persons from going to that small sandy place, as the watchful and sometimes disdainful stares of the broody queens turned most people away from the sands before hatching day.
It came as quite a surprise to Jeyann and Ke'l when his half-brother Ke'li (the Watchrider) interrupted their breakfast with the news that there were eggs in that tiny nook.
Quickly, the Primes of Ryslen saw the tiny eggs for themselves, and soft lighting hung carefully in the cavern to illuminate the area. Who, or what, had lain their eggs in this dark and overly warm space?
They are mine. A quiet but masculine voice said.
And mine. A second masculine voice added.
Ke'li was fastest to turn and look at his pair of gemstone mini dragons. "What did you say?" Ke'l and Jeyann were looking at the pair of red males as well.
We went back to Lia and were exploring the hills surrounding the place where we broke nest. Garnet Dyneale began.
We found these eggs in a small cave not too far from the Nook. They were alone and cold. One was already dead. Ruby Aymile continued sadly.
We could not leave them there to die. That would have been even more wrong than abandoning them in the first place. Dyneale admitted.
So we brought them here. Consider it a Wild clutch if you must, but Dyneale and I will tend it. Aymile said, quite boldly compared to the shy manner he had been presenting up until this point.
"Well that settles it then." Ke'l said, scratching his head. "We'll have to find some bonders for Lian Mini Dragons." Jeyann grinned, and Ke'li hugged his red friends.
* * *
At the Hatching of Uthnath & Narwyn's Clutches...
One of the smallest eggs fell to pieces, and a hatchling that was undeniably pink soon stood before the hopefuls. She looked and she inspected and she nuzzled some of the other Lian hatchlings, and then strode purposefully off into the crowd. Or so it seemed. Her path would have taken her directly between the two red Minis who were bonded to the Watchrider Ke'li. Deneale and Aymile.
There was no bonder waiting for me. The pink tourmaline hatchling said to the two males. But you are here, and I feel... the hatchling faltered for words. She was young; it was bound to happen.
Like your heart pulled you to me...? Aymile queried, and then looked into the eyes of his brother.
To us. Dyneale finished, and the pink hatchling began nodding furiously.
Yes. Exactly. She purred, and tried to lean up against and nuzzle the two simultaneously. It didn't work particularly well.
What is your name, little one? Dyneale asked.
The pink stood still for a moment and considered.
Mypaolya. Aymile said, and the hatchling bounced joyously.
How did you know? Mypaolya squeeled.
That feels right. Dyneale said somewhat dreamily. Why didn't I know? he asked his brother on as tight a wavelength as he could manage.
She hadn't chosen one until the split second before I said it... I think. Aymile responded with the same emotion-laden distance to his mental voice.
* * *
 | Xhimboth is participated in the Valentine's Frenzy at Cy Dragonstake. His offpsring with Latidoth are:
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* * *
Willow the Alis Gryph is from Volucris Mountain Range - Furtim Aerie
Jasper the Winged Snake is from Cathair Fionabhainn
Snapper the Flitter is from Cy Dragonstake
Xavin the Pheonix Draka is a gift from Lani of Ring of Fire
Ke'li and Xhimboth are attending the nest-breaking at The Lian Dragon Nook
The Red Marble Chibi Flit is from Seiryuu Weyr
Xhimboth was impressed here, at Ryslen.