Senior Fledglings "Would you two stop goofing off for a moment?" Istin asked calmly, looking up from the ledgers at the desk in front of him and eyeing both the bronze fledgling and the now-grown Makis, who was dashing about the room in playful anticipation. "Sure Istin. Never mind us over here having fun. We'll just hush up so you can get some work done." Makis said sarcastically, looking over his shoulder and glaring as he ruffled his white wing feathers and trotted towards Istin's bed. Sighing, Istin stood and stretched, stifling a yawn and massaging a kink in his back. Heavily muscled arms strained as he reached for the ceiling, but neither of the two other males in the room seem intimidated by the fact. Indeed, they both seemed mildly amused, and Istin resisted the urge to stick out his tongue or tackle them. "It's not by choice I'm doing these." He said simply, scratching at his suddenly curly brown hair and shaking his head. Since bonding two years ago, a few things had changed, his hair being one. It might just be that it liked the temperature at Ryslen better, but even Istin had his doubts as to that one. Kesava told you to take time off while we train. Ilybikyfth mentioned, for the thousandth time, shifting uncomfortably on his hard bed and looking at his bond with worry shining brightly in his gently whirling eyes. "Guys, I'm fine," Istin said with a small laugh, yawning again and shaking his head to try and clear some of the cobwebs. "I don't know what you two are talking about..." "Bull," Makis muttered, the same time the bronze snorted and slightly flared his awkward wings. Wincing, because he knew they were partly right, Istin glanced at the half-down papers on his desk and then out the window, where the sun was still hanging in the sky and a gentle breeze stirred the green grass just outside the Weyr. "I guess a few hours won't hurt..." he said slowly, and both Makis and Ilybikyfth rose to their feet and were halfway out of their room before he could say otherwise. Raising an amused eyebrow, Istin followed more slowly. Walking through the knee-high grass, Istin nodded politely to those who called his name, and raised his hand in greeting a few times. Heads turned to watch him walk, rushed ahead to his racing bonds, then back to his with a smile. He smiled back, and continued walking, all the while his mind racing, trying to figure out a way to keep up with the records if he couldn't be at the Caer. Snorting and rubbing the back of his head, he finally gave in and sighed. Not even being on the same planet wasn't helping things. He just couldn't keep up. Not at the rate the dragonesses were laying eggs and everyone was growing up. What with his own training to consider, and the fact that, with the bonding of both Makis and Ilybikyfth, he had a few problems of his own to deal with, and simply couldn't concentrate long enough on the pages to do his job. He thought briefly of conversing telepathically with someone over the distance, but threw that thought aside immediately. He couldn't really speak to people, but with the bonding, he could feel what they were feeling. Empathy, they told him. Great. There was no doubt in his mind that he would take back over his position when he returned to Brynmor, which, by Alskyr, he would be, but until then.... Look out! Was all the warning he got before Makis barrolled into his legs and sent him crashing into the water he was standing beside. Spluttering, he grabbed the wolf and dragged him in as well, and the two of them quickly attacked the bronze who stood snickering beside them. Gasping as he came up for air, Istin simply looked at the two before throwing back his head and laughing. They exchanged glances and climbed out of the water, shaking, and Istin shook his head. "You two are terrible for me!" He claimed, gesturing to his clothes and the water. Soaking wet, he dragged himself from the water and shivered, looking from the winged-wolf to the winged-lizard. Heh, Ilybikyfth said quickly, I resent that comment. Istin gave a short laugh and continued his study. So caught up had he been in keeping up that he had missed Makis' quick growth from juvenile to adult, and Ilybikyfth's transition from hatchling to fledgling. Makis, who once had been no more than an ankle-biter, now stood almost waist high, and was respledent in his coat of mixed brown with angelic white wings. Ilybikyfth, on the other hand, had shed his cute hatchling stage to take on that of the awkward yearling. His wings were too big for his body, his head too big for the neck that was too long. He was, however, a very large fledgling, and Istin felt a small surge of pride resulting from the fact that he would outgrow his siblings. "How did I get stuck with you?" He said, half to himself and half to the pair before him. They both laughed at him for even asking, before they both wandered off somewhere to eat, and Istin found himself moving inside to dry off and grab supper. The day had been spent outside, working on flying drills, and if he was sore, he couldn't imagine what Ilybikyfth felt like, but the bronze was not one to complain, and Makis had kept himself busy while they were out. "Where's the shadow?" Someone asked, and Istin laughed and shrugged, not even knowing to whom he was addressing his casual dismissal. Makis had become a bit of a shadow, while Ilybikyfth made them (shadows, that is), but Istin honestly couldn't have been happier. With his fork halfway to his mouth, Istin suddenly coughed and sat up, his eyes widening in surprise as he payed closer attention to what Ilybikyfth was doing. It's just a girl, the bronze defended, but Istin scarfed down his food and dashed for their room. Just a girl! He said, perhaps more forecefully than was necessary. He felt surprise following him, and turned back to see a few sets of eyes watching. "Uh, Istin?" A young woman asked, and Istin swallowed and nodded. "You know, then?" "No, he won't be flying." Istin said harshly, and the girl nodded and scampered away. Overgrown hatchling! You aren't strong enough, fast enough, smart enough, or wily enough to fly, nor grown enough to do anything should you win! She would carry our eggs. Ilybikyfth protested, and Istin stopped short in the hall and gaped. You have half a year before you're fully grown.... So? The bronze replied, more shortly now that he had been withdrawn from the flight he wanted to participate in. I grow fast! "It is not allowed." He said as he entered his room, closing the door firmly behind himself and turning to glare at the bronze. He was mildly surprised to see Lily there, but she was a Searcher, and so could come and go from places usually as she pleased. "He wanted to fly?" She asked with an amused grin. "It's not funny," Istin growled, and Makis echoed the sound when Istin pushed him off the bed. "It's....amusing." Lily said with a half smile. Crossing his arms, Istin waited for her to explain. She had nothing more to say, though, and he shrugged and left it. "I caught up for the most part, but I couldn't get everything. Tell Kesava I'm sorry, but I just can't keep up." Smiling, Lily gathered up the papers from the desk and sighed. "Oh, Istin, no one expected you to keep up. In fact, I came to tell you that Kesava doesn't want you doing anything more because she's found a temporary replacement. Mind, she wants you back," she added shortly, raising a single eyebrow, "but until then." "Of course." Istin muttered, masking his surprise. Makis smiled smugly, before jumping back up on the foot of the bed and curling up, and Ilybikyfth absolutely reeked of smugness. "So, I'll expect the three of you back soon?" Lily asked, and Istin nodded. "Good," she said, pausing in the door, "we need some virile males to stir things up a little." Mouth gaping, Istin could only struggle to think of a reply as three laughing voices echoed about him. Istin bonded at Ryslen Makis is from Lantir-Setia