Karlean sighed and watched her dragon dive under the surface again. Stroking her white firelizard absently she said, “I’m never going to get her out of there.” Fossit, for that was his name, warbled in agreement and flew towards the green when her head came above the surface again. She snorted in annoyance and said, Karlean, Fossit will not leave me alone! Karlean smiled slightly and said, “Well Val, I’m sure he would if you would just come out of the water, he’s been trying to get you out for almost and hour now.” Valirith crooned and said, I’m sure he would leave me alone just as well if I went under the water again though don’t you agree? Karlean was about to protest but her lifemate filled her lungs and disappeared beneath the surface, sending Fossit into the wter with a started squeak.

When Valirith came above again she saw her rider standing by the edge of the lake, her arms crossed over her chest. What? The green asked innocently. Karlean sighed and said, “You know very well what I’m standing here for Val.” Valirith snorted and said, You just want me to come out because you’re not having any fun. Of course, you’d have fun if you swam with me, but you don’t want to do that either. Karlean smiled slightly and said, “I bathed right before we came down. If I hadn’t you know very well that I would have swam with you. I wouldn’t have had time to take another bath though.” Valirith snorted again and said, You humans and your baths. Why must you take one every day? I only take one once, maybe twice a week and I don’t smell. Do I? Valirith added this last part thinking that her rider might be hinting at something. Karlean laughed and said, “No you don’t smell dearest, but it is time to come out of that water. You’ll end up looking like a wherry who got caught in a rainstorm.” Valirith warbled in surprise and practically jumped out of the water.

As Valirith dried off Karlean looked to the sky and watched a senior weyrling class as they learned to flame. "I wish you had reconsidered Val, flaming looks like it would be fun, though it does stink to the high heavens.” Valirith switched her tail in irritation, they must have had this conversation at least twenty times. I have made my decision rider-mine. I wish to rise and clutch before I begin to flame with the others. If I had agreed with you and started flaming I would not be able to reproduce, you know this just as well as I do. Karlean put her hands up in the air, almost like protecting herself from her lifemates’ harsh rebuke. “I know dear I know, it’s just that I wish we had something exciting to do once in awhile. The only thing we really do that is somewhat exciting is coming down here and betweening, and that only lasts a few short moments.”

Valirith crooned and said, Do not worry rider-mine. I will rise soon and after that I will be happy to flame and fight Thread for the rest of my life, just let me get a clutch on the sands so that my progeny will carry my name forth. Karlean smiled and wrapped her arms around her dragon. “Of course dearest. I wouldn’t keep you from reproducing, forgive me, I was wondering about the what-ifs again.” Valirith warbled and nuzzled her rider. Yes Karlean, I know. I did not mean to snap at you either, its just that I have become very proddy lately, and I’m not quite sure why. Karlean looked up at her dragon in surprise. “You sneaky little devil! How soon will you rise?” Valirith crooned and said, Soon rider-mine, soon.

I don’t want to transfer to a different Weyr L’das. I like it here at Moon Shadow, Oricanluth argued once again. L’das sighed and said, “The last time we talked about this you were more than willing to transfer. What made you change your mind this time?” The blue snorted and said, Well it wasn’t a female if that is what you are thinking. Quite the opposite actually. L’das raised his eyebrow in question and the blue stomped his clawed foot on the ground. No you wherry-brain! I know exactly what you’re thinking, and let me inform you that you are thinking it quite loudly and that you are way off. L’das rubbed his chin and sat down on the Weyr floor next to his dragon’s couch. “Alright then, tell me why you do not want to leave, and you’d better make it good because I think I can counter whatever you are about to say.”

The blue made himself more comfortable on the stone couch and then said, I have become close friends with a pair of blues and also that large brown that spends most of his time at the lake. I do not wish to leave them L’das. his rider nodded in understanding and said, “Well I can see where you are coming from but I think you would enjoy living at a different Weyr. New males to become friends with and also, new females to harass.” Oricanluth snorted and said, I do not harass the females around here. L’das shrugged and said, “Ok you’re right, pester is a better word.” L’das put his hand up when his dragon started to protest and then continued on. “However, I think you will like the Weyr I am thinking of, and I already know of someone else who is transferring there as well.” Oricanluth cocked his head to one side in question and asked, Really? Well, which Weyr did you have in mind and who is transferring?

“I was thinking about Tiynarea Weyr. As for the other dragon who is transferring, I think you can guess.” Oricanluth sighed and said, Tiynarea? I have heard a lot about that Weyr. Especially about the senior queen, I heard that she is one of the biggest gold dragons since Ramoth. I would like to meet her, I hope she is nice. I bet she is, He added after a moments thought. L’das shook his head in amusement and asked, “So you’ll be willing to transfer?” Oricanluth hesitated and then said, I suppose. By the way, who else is transferring? L’das smiled and said, “Karlean and Valirith.” Oricanluth rumbled and would have rolled his eyes if he had been able to. L’das, I don’t think this is a very good idea. I mean, I know you like her just as much as I know that I like Valirith but she doesn’t like you and the green despises me. L’das waved that notion away with a slight whisk of his hand and said, “Nonsense, she likes you it’s just that dragons tend to get into quarrels when they live together and are also clutchmates.” L’das sighed and said, “Shards I never thought of that Ori.” The blue crooned and said, I was wondering when that little bit of information would become apparent to you. I do not mind though L’das, transferring I mean.

As they reappeared over Tiynarea Oricanluth bugled a welcome, which was returned by a number of dragons, one of which was the old bronze watchdragon. He spiraled down, landing lightly on the grass outside the Weyrbowl. I like this place already L’das. The dragons and people here are friendly. L’das patted his dragon on the neck and then dismounted, taking in his surroundings. “I like it too. Do you want to go in and get a weyr now or later?” Oricanluth looked from the bowl to the lake and said, Well I was actually thinking about entering a mating flight if that is alright with you rider-mine. L’das looked at his dragon, trying to decide if he was being serious or not. After figuring out that he was, he said “alright, well let’s go see who’s signed up and then you can go to the lake while I find us a weyr.” Oricanluth warbled in happiness and followed his rider as he walked into the weyrbowl in search of the mating flight board.

When they reached is L’das ran his finger down the list, looking the females over. “Well there is green Demith if you’re interested and also… whoa you won’t believe this Ori, Valirith is rising as well!” Oricanluth warbled warningly and said, That may be so but you must remember that we are clutchmates. It would not be right for us to mate L’das. The bluerider nodded and asked, “So would you like to enter Demith’s flight?” Oricanluth pondered over this for a moment and then asked, Do you think she’s pretty? I bet she is. I would think she would be nice too, well not all that nice considering she’s about to rise, but I bet she’d be nice after that don’t you think? L’das smiled and shook his head. “I suppose that your quick, incoherent rambling could be considered a yes?" Oricanluth looked down at his rider and said, I was not rambling L’das, I was pondering. And yes, I would like to enter her flight. Do you think I have a good chance in it? L’das shrugged and wrote his dragon’s name in one of the empty slots. “You have just as much as anyone else who enters the flight Ori.” Oricanluth, happy with this answer crooned and said, Green Demith and blue Oricanluth… I like the sound of that L’das. The bluerider mumbled an agreement and then said, “Ok let’s go get ourselves situated.”