“Get out of the lake Pternith,” Y’war said as he walked towards the water’s edge, brown firelizard clutching to his shoulder.

I haven’t been in here all that long Y’war. Let me enjoy its’ coolness for a little longer will you? His blue looked towards him and then playfully snorted water at him.

Bakier squawked in annoyance but Y’war smiled, wiping the water from his face. “Fine have it your way. I’ll go play football with the guys then until you’re ready.”

Pternith crooned and said, I knew you’d see things my way.

Y’war rolled his eyes and then trotted out to his friends, who were kicking a ball around. As he reached them one of the men, his friend G’ran, waved and said, “We’ve got Y’war.” There was some groaning and cheering both and Y’war smiled as he set Bakier down on the ground.

“Behave yourself while I play alright?” He asked the little brown as he patted his head and jogged out to the makeshift field. “Do we have a goalie?” He asked as he reached G’ran.

The brownrider shrugged and said, “We were kind of hoping that you would play goalie. That’s why Stergroth told Pternith to convince you to stay.”

Y’war shook his head in amusement and said, “I should have known guys. Alright, well let’s go I haven’t played in about a sevenday so let me get in a few stops ok?”One of the men on the other team shook his head and said, “No way. If you’re unplayed and rested then there isn’t as much of a disadvantage for us. If you were warmed up already I think I’d forfeit.”

Y’war smiled and said, “Alright fine it’s not going to be that important anyway. I can stop them just as well now as I could when I’m warmed up, so let’s go!”

Y’war walked over towards their goal and as he reached the goal he turned around and hopped up and down a couple times, getting ready for the thing that his life pretty much revolved around, well excluding Pternith and women of course.

As they started the game the other team passed the ball up to their forwards and Y’war got ready for the stop he might have to make if his team’s defense couldn’t stop them. His friend K’lot, who was playing for the other team dribbled the ball up and took a shot on the goal, which Y’war easily caught.

He smiled as he kicked it back into play and watched as his team dribbled the ball up the field and attempted to make a shot on the other teams goal. Unfortunately the ball hit the goal post and bounced back in but the goalie quickly grabbed it to prevent them from making another shot.

Y’war shook his head in disappointment but quickly refocused on the ball, which K’lot was moving quickly up the field towards him. He was about twenty yards from him when Y’war put his hand up in the air and cried out, “Off sides!” K’lot stopped the ball and cursed himself, them pushing the ball towards G’ran so he could put the ball back into play.

About forty-five minutes into play Y’war stopped the ball as it was passed back to him and then kicked it halfway down the field to their forwards. He backpeddled to the goal and was watching the game when Pternith said, I am ready to go now Y’war.

Y’war kept watching the ball as G’ran crossed and made a heel pass to someone that Y’war didn’t know. A few moments later G’ran had the ball and crossed again, this time making a shot on the goal that went in. Y’war smiled in anticipation as the ball came towards him, K’lot looking very determined. He hadn’t gotten much action this game, maybe only three or four stops but he wasn’t complaining. When he got action it was good, and shutting K’lot down was going to feel good.

K’lot crossed and avoided one of the defensive players and then took the shot. He watched as J’ril headed it out and then carried it down the field quickly. Y’war blinked in surprise, he hadn’t realized he was so quick before. He called out to G’ran who looked back but shook his head. “Shards he can’t hear me,” he said as he watched J’ril cross in and out, passed the ball right between a players’ legs to make a shot.

Y’war! I am ready to go now! His blue said, sounding rather irritated now.

Y’war sighed, he had forgotten all about poor Pternith, who probably looked like a prune now considering how long he’d been in the water. Yeah I know you’re ready Pternith, I’m sorry. I can’t leave now though, I’ll have to wait for the ball to go out of play or something. The goalie can’t just get up and leave you know. He looked back at the players just in time to see J’ril make a goal and do a backflip in his excitement. “Sharding circus clown,” Y’war said in amusement.

A few moments later when the ball was kicked out and a corner called Y’war said, “I’ll have to go after this guys. Pternith is starting to sound a little annoyed with me.”

G’ran nodded in understanding and took the position next to the goal post to help Y’war block the ball if it happened to actually reach the goal at all.

K’lot took the kick and Y’war watched as it bounced towards him and then was headed away by J’ril again. “Does anyone ever get the headers besides that blackrider?” Y’war asked as everyone stopped playing.

J’ril shrugged and said, “Does anyone know how to stop a ball besides that rider with the waterlogged blue?”

Y’war sighed and said, “Yeah, speaking of my blue, I’ve got to go. I’ll play next time for sure though. Are you guys coming back out her tomorrow?”

G’ran looked towards the lake and said, “I don’t know, but Pternith is looking over here and he doesn’t look too happy right now.”

He followed the brownriders’ gaze and then said, “Yeah I think I’d better get going.” He said good bye to everyone and then jogged off towards his dragon, hoping he wasn’t too upset with him.

“I’m going to go play football with the guys Pternith alright?” Y’war asked as he walked into his dragons’ chamber.The blue looked up and said, Not today you are not. I have things I wish to do today and they will not get done if you are out being affected by that sharding football fever.

Y’war laughed and stroked Bakier as he landed on his shoulder. “Football fever? That actually describes us all pretty well I guess. Well fine then, I guess. What did you want to do today?” The blue sat up and stretched his wings, the thing he usually did when he was trying to delay. “What do you want to do?” Y’war asked again.

Pternith folded his wings against his sides and said, I would like to enter a mating flight today if that’s alright.

Y’war raised an eyebrow and said, “Oh, really? Is the female rising here or somewhere else?”

The blue thought this over and said, She is rising here and I wish to enter her flight Y’war.Y’war scratched his head in thought and asked, “Green Vareanth? You wish to fly her? Are you sure this is the one you wish to fly?”

Pternith snorted and said, Of course I’m sure rider-mine. Also, her rider is very pretty, well by your standards anyway if they are still the same and she is nice as well and, what? Pternith stopped when he saw his rider smiling and shaking his head.

Y’war scratched his chin and said, “Nothing Ptern, absolutely nothing. Her rider is Laora correct?”

Pternith nodded slightly and said, Are you going to let me enter Y’war or must I wait for the next one?

Y’war snorted this time and said, “Of course I’m going to let you enter. I think you’ll have a good chance in this one and if you don’t catch her, there is always the next one right?”

Pternith warbled in happiness and trotted out to the ledge, looking back to see that his rider was walking towards him, slowly. Hurry up Y’war! I don’t want to get down there and find out that all the spots are filled!

Y’war smiled and patted his dragon’s shoulder before climbing to his back. “Well if the spots are filled then she’ll miss out on a lot won’t she?”

Pternith bugled in agreement and dove from the ledge, heading for the Weyrbowl.