K’lot yawned and stretched, rolling over and pulling the covers up over his head to block out the early morning sunlight. Moments later his bronze firelizard, Aajmai, warbled and head butted his forehead lightly. “Aaj, go away,” K’lot mumbled as he rolled over again, trying to get away from the pestering firelizard.

The bronze crooned and climbed up onto his owner’s shoulder, stretching his neck out and screeching right into his ear. K’lot jumped and sat up, rubbing his ear. “Sharding lizard!” He cried out as he batted Aajmai away from him.

The firelizard landed on the bedpost and crooned happily, beginning to preen.

K’lot threw the covers off and still rubbing his ear, walked into the bathing room to get washed up and dressed.

When he came back out twenty minutes later Aajmai was still sitting on the bedpost but was now looking towards the room where K’lot’s lifemate, Etronth, slept. Moments later he chirped and then flew through the door. K’lot shrugged and pulled a light jacket from the drawer, putting it on as he walked towards Etronth’s chamber.

As he opened the door and walked in his blue dragon looked up, crooning happily as his rider approached and rubbed his eye ridge. I see that Aajmai finally got you up?

K’lot nodded and rubbed his eyes, then put his hand up to his mouth, covering an immense yawn. “The stupid thing woke me by screeching into my ear.”

Etronth rumbled in laughter and said, Yes I know.

K’lot glared at him and asked, “Did you have anything to do with this Et?” He asked as he stood up and crossed his arms, looking from his dragon to his firelizard, who was perched on Etronth’s shoulder.

Etronth shrugged and got up, stretching his wings. I was hungry, he said simply.

K’lot rubbed his head and said, “Well how about next time you just try to wake me instead of sending Aajmai alright?”

Etronth crooned and cocked his head in thought. I didn’t think of that. Ok K’lot, I will do that next time. Now, however, I would like to go down to the hunting grounds if that’s alright with you.

K’lot nodded and walked out onto the ledge, followed closely by his lifemate. He climbed to Etronth’s back and had barely seated himself between two of his neck ridges before the blue leapt from the ledge and flew lazily towards the hunting grounds.

When they reached the hunting grounds K’lot slid from his dragons’ back and watched as he took off again, circling the frightened herd and then picking one of the large males, grabbing him and lifting him into the air, taking him to one of the feeding ledges. K’lot yawned again and sat down in the grass, watching the other dragons feed.

Aajmai warbled and K’lot stroked him absently, still watching the other dragons on the grounds. Aajmai warbled again but K’lot didn’t even look at him. “If you want something to eat, go bug Etronth, not me.” The firelizard growled and bit K’lot’s finger. “Shards Aaj! What’s you’re problem today?” K’lot looked at his finger and then to his lizard who was looking behind him.

K’lot turned around and came face to face with his friend Y’war. “Don’t tell me you had something to do with that,” he said, nodding to his firelizard.

Y’war smiled and sat down next to his friend. “No I didn’t, I just told him to get your attention. He’s very well trained lizard he is. How’d you get him to listen so well?”

K’lot rolled his eyes and turned his attention back to his dragon, who had just plucked another herdbeast from the herd. “I don’t know actually. He was always very attentive. However, I wish he wasn’t at times, like this morning.”

Y’war raised an eyebrow and asked, “Et had him wake you I take it?”

K’lot nodded and said, “Yeah and I got a good headache out of it too. Etronth had him scream right in my ear. I was up almost instantly and unfortunately that’s exactly what Et wanted.”

Y’war laughed and said, “Now you see why I don’t have one of those things. Pternith would wake me himself if he needed to.”

K’lot smiled and rubbed Aajmai underneath his chin. “Yeah he would, if you didn’t get up and the sharding crack of dawn. I would think you’d have to wake Pternith up rather than him wake you. Speaking of Pternith, where is he?”

Y’war looked around the grounds and then said, “Over there, pestering that green.”

K’lot followed his friend’s gaze and then asked, “I’m surprised Et isn’t down there as well. I suppose he’s too hungry though. Wait a minute,” he said after looking the green over. “Isn’t that Nodonath?”

Y’war raised an eyebrow and then stood up to get a better look. “I actually think it is. That would explain it though, he’s liked Nodonath ever since her and Illiana transferred here.”

K’lot stood up as well and was about to say something when Etronth flew down and interrupted his thoughts. I am ready to go now rider-mine.The bluerider smiled and said, “Well I’m not quite ready yet Et, give me a second ok?”

The blue snorted and looked towards Pternith and Nodonath, who was beginning to look upset. You may was to warn Y’war that his dragon may be stepping over the green’s line. She is beginning to look irritated.

K’lot nodded and told Y’war, who laughed and said, “Yeah, I think I go collect him. Will you meet us all for dinner tonight K’lot, or will you have better things to do?”

K’lot shook his head and laughed. “No, I’ll be there don’t worry.”

Y’war smiled and then trotted off towards his dragon before he could get himself in trouble.

Etronth nudged his rider and K’lot patted the leathery nose before climbing to his lifemate’s back. He sat down and gripped the neck ridge as his blue took off for their weyr again.

K’lot laughed and walked out of the dining hall, somewhat unsteadily. Quara grabbed his arm and helped guided him towards the stairs. As they were walking up K’lot stopped and turned to face her. “No, I have to go get Etronth, he is down by the lake. I told him to wait for me there, he’d be upset if I left him.”

Quara shook her head and said, “No it’s all right K’lot, I’ll go and tell him that you went to lie down ok?”

She tried to lead him up the stairs again but he fought her, pulling away from her tight hold. “No, I have to go get him. I said we’d go swimming after the celebration anyway so he’s waiting. I can’t keep him waiting, he doesn’t like to be kept waiting.”

Quara smiled, but quickly hid it away. “Ok K’lot, you’ve convinced me. I’ll take you down there so you can meet up with Etronth.”

K’lot shook his head and stood up straighter and letting go of the railing. “No that’s alright Quara, I can make it down there just fine by myself.”Quara was about to argue but she shook her head and said, “Alright K’lot, you go ahead, I’m going to let Dimenth know that you’re on your way. You know, incase anything goes wrong.”

K’lot through his hands up into the air and said, “I’m not a little child Quara. I understand you’re trying to help me but if I pass out on the way, which I highly doubt I will, I’m sure Etronth will take me back to the Weyr, so I don’t need Dimenth’s help either.”

Quara nodded and said, “Ok K’lot I’m sorry, I won’t say anything.” She patted him on the shoulder and then walked down the stairs, back towards the dining hall, letting her dragon know that K’lot was slowly on his way at the same time.

When he finally reached the lake he was a little more aware of his surroundings, but not by much. He walked over to his dragon, who was lying by green Dimenth’s side. You do not look well K’lot. Perhaps you should lie down and we can swim tomorrow.

K’lot nodded and sat down heavily in the grass. “Yes I think that’s a good idea Et. I’m sorry I kept you waiting also, I didn’t mean to.”

Etronth nudged his rider and said, That’s all right rider-mine. I didn’t mind. I do think you should lie down though. You look like you’re about to collapse.

K’lot climbed to his dragon’s back and held onto on of the neck ridges in front of him. Etronth warbled a good bye to Dimenth and then took off slowly, flying back to their weyr.

The next morning K’lot woke up to the happy croons of Aajmai and a welcoming bugle from Etronth. K’lot pulled the pillow over his head and attempted to fall back asleep. Etronth, however had other plans for the day. She’s here K’lot! Come and see! She’s finally here!

K’lot groaned and asked, “What in Faranth’s name are you talking about Etronth?”

The blue warbled and poked his head through the arched doorway. She is here. The one that I wish to chase.

This caught K’lot’s attention so he thrust the pillow aside and looked towards his dragon. “What? Why didn’t you tell me you were interested in entering a mating flight?”

Etronth crooned and said, I was not interested until I saw her. I wish to chase her when she rises K’lot. Also, I’m going to try my best to catch her.

K’lot sat up and rubbed his head, he was beginning to get a headache, but he ignored it for the moment and asked, “Who are you thinking of chasing Et? I mean, I have no problem entering a flight but I’d like some info first if that’s ok.”

Etronth parted his jaws in a dragonic smile and said, Her name is Vareanth. She is green in color and her rider is Laora. I think you would like her rider K’lot, she is very pretty and if she is anything like her dragon than she is very nice and well tempered as well.

K’lot smiled and got out of bed, throwing some clean clothes on. “Oh you think so do you? Well have you talked to this female recently? They tend to be a little less well tempered when their flight date draws nearer.”

Etronth sighed and said, I am aware of that K’lot. She is still well tempered though, which is one of the things that drew me to her.

K’lot walked towards his dragon and patted his nose, pushing on it gently so that his dragon would move his head and allow him to enter the room. “Well if you’re mind is made up then let’s go and sign you up ok?”

Etronth warbled and trotted out to the ledge, waiting impatiently for his rider to catch up.