Alex stretched and watched as her small hatchling climbed out of the lake and walked towards her. “Are you ready to leave?” Alex asked in surprise. Her dragon loved the lake, and she usually would prefer to stay down there for hours on end.

Mynterath shook herself off and then sat in front of her rider. I think so. I am getting hungry as well, and my hide is starting to itch.

“Already?” Alex asked, as she looked her dragon over. “Where does it itch? I’ll put some oil on it when we get back to the weyr.” Joris warbled and landed on her owner’s shoulder. Alex stroked her absently and waited for her dragon to reply.

Mynterath scratched at a spot on her shoulder and said, My shoulders as well as my hindquarters. She was silent for a moment and then added, and on my neck, by the neck ridges.

Alex nodded and said, “Well let’s go take care of that first and then I’ll go down to the lower caverns and have the drudges bring up a basket of meat to the weyr alright?”

Mynterath nodded slightly and said, Yes that’s fine. Can we come back down here after I’ve been oiled and have eaten?

Alex shrugged and said, “I don’t know. It depends on what time it is really. Also, we have to let that oil soak in before you get wet again.”

The green warbled and said, Alright, well let’s go. I want to come back down here later today. Alex smiled and followed her dragon as she set off for the weyr.

Mynterath came out of between and said, Now that we’ve done this six times can we go down to the lake?

Alex shook her head and said, “No, I’m afraid not. We have to wait until the weyrlingmaster tells us we are dismissed.”

The green snorted and said, I am tired of betweening to the same spot over and over again though rider-mine. Do you think that he’ll let us try to between to somewhere else today?

Alex shrugged and said, “Probably not. Since we’ve only just started to between I think he’ll keep us practicing betweening back to the Weyr for quite some time.”

Mynterath sighed and asked, Can we go down to the hunting grounds later today? I think the last time I ate was two seven-days ago.

Alex smiled and said, “Yes of course we can go later, but first we must finish out our weyrling training session, alright?”

I suppose, Mynterath said. They hovered there in the sky for about ten minutes and then Mynterath said, The weyrlingmaster says we are allowed to depart.

“Are you sure?” Alex asked, not really sure if her dragon was telling the truth or not.

Don’t be silly, of course I’m sure, the green replied testily.

Alex smiled and patted her dragon’s neck, saying “Ok, let’s go down to the hunting grounds now then.”

Alex and Mynterath reappeared over the Weyr, blinking in the bright morning sunlight. “It was good to see my family again. Well, my parents anyway.”

Mynterath warbled and asked, You weren’t happy to see your siblings?

Alex repositioned herself in the saddle and then said, “Well I didn’t get to see my siblings. All of them have either Impressed or are waiting to Impress. None of them are at Tiynarea so the only time I see them is if I travel to their Weyr, or if they come to mine.”

Mynterath crooned in understanding. You should send them a message and have them come here.

Alex nodded and said, “Maybe I will later. However right now I think we should land. I’d like to soak in the Weyr lake if that’s alright with you.”

The green warbled and said, Do you think I would pass up the chance to lounge by the side of the lake and soak my weary muscles? I don’t think so rider-mine.

Alex smiled and patted her dragon’s neck, pointing to a place near the lakeshore. “Land there,” she told Mynterath.

The green snorted and said, Why would I land there when I can just land in the lake?

Alexandreta shrugged and said, “Do whatever you want Myn.”

The green spiraled down towards the lake and then spread her wings, slowing her speed until she was almost hovering and then dropped them so that she fell into the lake lightly.

Alex undid the riding straps on the saddle and took off her helmet and goggles. She strapped them to the saddle and then dove off of her lifemate’s back. When she came back up she brushed the hair out of her face and said, “Oh this feels so nice.”

Mynterath crooned and said, I agree. Now if only I had a male to enjoy it with.

Alex laughed and looked at her dragon. “What are you talking about? Since when did you want anything to do with the males?”

Mynterath shrugged mentally and said, Well I suppose they aren’t that bad. I think I could handle having one around for awhile.

Alex rolled her eyes and said, “Well I’ll see if I can find you one then Myn.”

The green rolled over onto her back and said, Well I didn’t mean this second rider-mine. I was thinking that maybe when I rose.

Alex raised an eyebrow and asked, “Will that be soon?” She had hoped that she would have risen while they were still at Talis Weyr but Mynterath wasn’t running on the same schedule that her rider was however.

Mynterath shrugged again and only said, We’ll see.