Adult “What would you like to do today Del?” J’ril asked as he folded some clothes. The black was lounging on the couch, tail twitching restlessly. I thought you would never ask. I wouldn’t mind going down to the lake today, I feel like swimming with the females. J’ril smiled and said, alright then. We can go down as soon as I’m done with my folding.” Delduwath sighed and got up slowly, stretching his large wings as he did so. J’ril put his shirts into the dresser and then walked to his dragon’s side. He patted him once and then climbed to his back. The black walked towards the ledge, warbled and then dove off, heading to the lake. J’ril knew what he was planning so he gripped the neck ridges strongly and smiled widely. His dragon did this every time went to the lake and J’ril tended to enjoy the exhilaration. Delduwath flew quickly to the lake, losing altitude but gaining speed as he went. J’ril leaned back and panted his heels down, ready for the impact. Delduwath bugled as he hit the water, sliding along the surface like a water-skier. Large waves of water were thrown up behind them and J’ril knew that they must have upset some people, as well as dragons but he enjoyed it too much to care. When Delduwath finally lost all his momentum he ducked his head under the water, brought it back up and shook himself, warbling happily. J’ril patted his dragon’s neck and then jumped into the water. The black looked down at him and then turned sharply, sending a decent sized wave towards J’ril. He took a deep breath and dove under, coming up on the other side. He looked around the lake and saw his dragon swimming towards a group of greens bathing in the afternoon sunlight. They ignored him at first but when he warbled a polite welcome a few looked up. One bugled back and Delduwath pulled himself out of the lake and sat down next to them. He conversed with them for a moment and then must have excused himself for he slid back into the lake. He began to swim toward his rider so J’ril treaded water as he waited. J’ril I do not like being the color black. I get extremely warm when I sit in the sun for even a short period of time. J’ril patted his shoulder and then said, “I’m going back to shore to lie down. Why don’t you invite the greens into the water? If they don’t feel like swimming then ask if they would prefer standing in the shallows." Delduwath warbled and headed back towards the greens. He climbed up out of the lake again and said, Excuse me ladies, I would really like to remain out here and talk but I’m afraid my hide absorbs the heat. Would you like to join my in the shallows? He asked. A few of the greens stood up while three remained. Delduwath warbled and hopped into the lake, sitting down lightly as he reached the shallows. The greens did the same and they sat and talked for the rest of the afternoon. Meanwhile J’ril was sleeping on the other side of the lake, that is until something rather hard his him in the stomach. He sat up, rubbed his eyes and then looked down at the ground where a large ball was lying. He picked it up and then stood up, looking around for whoever threw it. “Oh I’m so sorry!” A young woman said as she ran up to him. “I guess I don’t have the best aim.” J’ril smiled and said, “Don’t worry about it. I’m J’ril by the way.” He stuck his hand out and she took it, gripping it strongly. “Kara, rider of green Ellioath. She’s over with that black.” J’ril nodded, smiling. “Yes that’s Delduwath, he’s mine.” Kara smiled and said, “Care to join us?” She asked as she gestured towards a group of women talking. “Uh sure,” he said as followed Kara towards the rest of the group. J’ril introduced himself and then asked, “Alright, how do I play?” One of the girls, Jaklyn said, “All you do is kick the ball and try to get it to got between the two posts in order to make a goal. Your team tries to get the ball in between the posts with the red streamers and we try to get it through the ones with the blue. Got it?” J’ril nodded, not quite sure if he understood fore she made it seem extremely easy. “Oh I almost forgot, you’ll have three people on offense and three on defense, but one will be the goalie.” J’ril nodded and asked who would prefer to play what. No one had a preference so he said he’d play offense. “Alright then, let’s play,” Jaklyn said as she dropped the ball in the middle of the field. J’ril got in there first and kicked the ball to the side and then dribbled down the field until one of his teammates was open for a pass. He ran up the field and waited for Andreia to get to the goal. He played with the girls for almost two hours and then they called it quits. “You did really good for your first time,” Jaklyn said. “Must be beginners luck,” she said with a smile. J’ril smiled back and said, “Well I’ve got to get my dragon dried and back into our weyr before he turns into a raisin. Thanks again for the game!” He said as he walked back towards the lake. “Del, time to get out. It’s going to take forever for your hide to dry now.” Delduwath curled his neck back towards his rider and warbled. “Come on Del,” J’ril said again. Alright I’m coming, he said sadly. The black swam towards shore and then climbed out, shaking himself off and soaking his rider. Sorry, he said as J’ril climbed to his back. “It’s alright,” he said. “Now let’s get home so I can take a shower.” A few months later J’ril woke to the sound of Delduwath’s bugling. “What’s the matter?” J’ril called out as he got out of bed. The black warbled, pleased that his rider was awake and said, J’ril I would like to enter a mating flight. The blackrider rubbed his eyes and opened the door to the room that his dragon occupied. “You had to tell me this now? I was enjoying my time of sleep.” Delduwath snorted and said, J’ril, you have been sleeping since eleven last night and it is now noon. You have had plenty of sleep. May I enter a flight today? The black asked again. J’ril waved his dragon away and said, “Alright, alright. Just let me get dressed and we’ll see who’s rising.” Delduwath crooned and then walked out onto their ledge, blinking in the bright afternoon sun. When J’ril walked back into the room, fully clothed and clean Delduwath was still on the ledge, this time fast asleep. “Well I guess you don’t want to go,” J’ril said with a bit of impatience. Delduwath opened one of his opalescent eyes and said, Who says? J’ril smiled and walked to his dragon’s side, patting his smooth hide and then standing back as his dragon shifted his weight and stood up. Am I permitted to enter a gold’s flight of must I stay in green and white flights? J’ril shrugged and said, “We’ll have to see. It depends on what the female wants, so let’s go see what they prefer to catch them.” Delduwath warbled and glided from the ledge and spiraled down towards the Weyrbowl. When they landed J’ril dismounted and walked towards the mating flight board. He looked it over, Delduwath’s head resting lightly on his shoulder. “Well there’s white Ziiareth. Would you like to enter her flight?” Delduwath warbled and asked, Ziiareth? Yes, that is fine. Do you think that she is nice? J’ril shrugged as he wrote Delduwath’s name and color in an empty spot beneath the female’s name. “I’m sure she is Del, and I think you will have a good chance in this flight.” I bet her rider is pretty as well, the black commented. J’ril sighed. “Delduwath are you listening to me?” What? Of course I was listening. J’ril smiled and patted his dragon’s jaw. “Hmm, I’m glad to hear that. I think you’ll have a good chance in this flight Del,” He repeated. 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