A’bi sat by the side of the lake, patiently painting a life-like replica of his brown hatchling, Neterth. “Do you think this color is right?” He asked as he looked up and searched for his dragon.
Neterth popped his head above the surface of the lake, blowing water from his nostrils and wading over to his rider. He looked the little figure over and then said, I’m not sure that I am quite that dark rider-mine. I would try a shade lighter if it were my decision.
A’bi sighed and said, “Alright. I was kind of thinking the same thing as you anyway.” He rubbed his chin in thought as he looked his paints over and then turned back to his dragon. “What else do you wish to do today?”
Neterth shrugged and said, I have nothing that I would like to do. I would be content to just swim in the water all day.
“Well you can’t do that,” A’bi said. “Your hide will become too soft and will cause you problems. You should get out in about an hour or so.”
If I lay by the side and dry off completely can I go back in? Neterth asked.
A’bi smiled and dipped his brush into a slightly lighter shade of brown paint. “I suppose so.”
Neterth warbled happily and climbed out of the lake, shaking himself off before approaching his rider and lying down in the grass next to him. Why do you do that? He asked as he spread his wings so that they would dry.
“Do what?” A’bi asked without looking up from the little figurine.
That, Neterth said simply.
A’bi looked up at his dragon and said, “You’ll have to be more specific than that Neterth, you’re just confusing me.”
Why do you make wooden figures? He asked his rider.
A’bi shrugged and said, “I always have. I’m not sure why, but I suppose that it’s a way for me to remember things. If I had decided not to make a figure of you as a hatchling, that image would be gone to me forever once you were older.”
Neterth crooned and said, I am sure that I look just like any other brown hatchling that you could find at this Weyr.
A’bi shook his head and said, “Of course you don’t. Would you look around the Weyr and say that I look like any other rider here?”
Of course not, but that’s quite different, Neterth insisted.
A’bi smiled and asked, “How is it different? I’m just another rider, and if you go along with your own comment, you’re just another dragon.”
Neterth snorted and said, I can pick you out though, not all humans look alike, unlike dragons.
“I can look at a whole group of browns and pick you out Neterth. Not all browns are the same shade as you, or have the same bone structure,” A’bi said as he turned back to painting his figurine.
Neterth sighed and rested his head on his front legs. You would have to know me well to pick me out of the group though.
A’bi nodded and said, “Yes, I would, but wouldn’t you have to know me well in order to pick me out of a seemingly similar group of humans?”
You win, he said as he looked back up at his rider.
A’bi set the figurine down momentarily and patted his dragon on the head. “See this is a good thing though. Now we know that if either of us gets lost in a large group of humans, or dragons, we’ll be able to find each other.”
Neterth warbled and said, I would not lose you rider-mine!
