Dragoner

“It’s finally over Alioquith!” P’tan said as he pull his graduation robe over his head and tossed it on the bed. The red rumbled and said, “Yes I know but now I am beginning to wonder which wing we will be put in. P’tan frowned. “Why are you worrying about that now?” Alioquith shrugged and said “I may be large of size but my T-power isn’t as strong as some of the others. P’tan smiled. “Alio, who cares? I’ll be happy on whatever wing they put us on. I mean, anything would be better then doing cargo runs like we used to.” Alioquith sighed and said, Yes I suppose you’re right. P’tan rubbed his dragon’s eyeridges and asked, “When was the last time you had a bath?” Alioquith snorted in surprise. I believe

it is time for another. P’tan nodded and said, “Alright then. Let’s go down to the lake and get the stink scrubbed off your hide.”

Alioquith glided down to the lake, P’tan on his back, gripping one of the neck ridges in front of him. The red set down lightly and waded into the warm water. As soon as he was in deep enough P’tan took a bar of soap from his pocket and started scrubbing the dragon’s withers. The color of the soap turned from a creamy white to a dark, saddle colored brown in only a few minutes. “Ugh, I had no idea you were this bad,” P’tan commented as he scrubbed the neck ridges. Alioquith sighed and said, Yes my dark red coloring seems to, well, hide the grime. P’tan cringed and said, “Yes I can see that.” He worked up the long sinewy neck and was about to start on his head when someone called out to him. “Hey P’tan! You want some help with that overgrown flit of yours?” P’tan turned around to see who it was and came face to face with Az’tak, who was sitting on the back of his blue Zahirth. P’tan smiled. “I’d love the help!” Az’tak smiled back and dove into the water swimming towards Alioquith so that he could help with the large red.

“You got any flitters?” Az’tak asked as he scrubbed the base of Alioquith’s wings. P’tan nodded. “Yes I’ve got two of them.

I’ve got a blue named Limbar and a green I call Stardan. How about you?” Az’tak shook his head. “No I don’t. Well not now, but sometimes I wish I had one. Hey, do you think you could call your flitters down so they can help wash as well?” P’tan nodded and called them down. A few moments later they flew down and landed on Alioquith’s withers. “You guys can help alright?” P’tan told them. They chirped happily and immediately went to work. “Deligent little buggers aren’t they?” Az’tak commented as he scrubbed the large wingsails gently. P’tan smiled and said, “Yes they are but most of the time you have to go over their work. They miss some spots in their excitement.”

They worked on Alioquith most of the morning and about noon P’tan stood up and stretched. “My back is killing me!” Az’tak stretched as well and said, “mine isn’t that bad but my legs hurt. Can we take a break?” P’tan nodded. “Yes and we’re out of soap. I’ll send Stardan and Limbar for some.” Hearing their names the flitters looked up and chirruped. P’tan smiled and said, “Can you two go get soap from the lower caverns?” Stardan chirped as soon as the words were out of her owner’s mouth and she flew off quickly. Limbar sat pondering and P’tan sighed, sending him a mental image of the soap and the lower caverns woman handing him some. He warbled and flew off after Stardan. “Not the brightest crayon in the box?” Az’tak asked as he sat down again. P’tan shook his head. “No unfortunately he’s not but as soon as I give him something to work with he picks it up quickly.” Az’tak nodded and said, “I sure am glad that my Zahirth is small in size!”

When they finally finished bathing Alioquith it was starting to get dark. “Go wash that soap off and then we have to go back. I have to eat before my stomach implodes. Alioquith snorted. “The chances of your stomach imploding would be slim to none P’tan.” P’tan laughed. “Yes I know Alio. It’s a figure of speech. Now go wash!” The red grumbled and dove under the surface, coming up again near the other shore. His red hide shone in the lessening sunlight and P’tan was pleased with himself. Alioquith shook himself off and then swam back slowly. “May we stay longer P’tan? Please?” The red begged. P’tan shook his head. “No I’m sorry Alio, but I’ve really got to get back. I’ve got a paper to write as well, and I’m pretty sure it’s due tomorrow.” Alioquith sighed and said, “Alright then I’ll take you back to the caerlet.” P’tan smiled and climbed to his dragon’s back

. “Thanks for all the help Az’tak,” he told his friend. Az’tak nodded and swam for the shore where his blue Zahirth was waiting. “Stardan and Limbar, let’s go!” The flitters chirped and took to the air, flying just in front of Alioquith. The large red flapped his wings and emerged from the water slowly. When he was out he warbled and flew back towards home.

P’tan called down the service shaft for dinner and then sat down at his desk so that he could work on his paper. “What must you write about?” Alioquith asked from the other room. P’tan shrugged. “The wingleader said it had to be about the history of a certain flight formation.” Alioquith crooned and then was quiet. P’tan continued to write until gears in the shaft began to grind. He stood up happily and took the tray of food from the little platform. “P’tan? Can you eat it here with me? I have to ask you something.” P’tan raised an eyebrow and walked into the other room. He set the tray down on the floor and then sat down, looking up at his dragon. “What’s up?” He asked. Alioquith hesitated and then said, “Well I was wondering if, well, I could enter a mating flight soon.” P’tan nodded as he chewed on some meat. “Not a problem,” he said when he had swallowed. “Who’s raising here?” Alioquith hesitated again and then said, “Well that’s the thing. The only female that is raising here is small in size so I will not be able to give chase. I was wondering if we could transfer to Pern, only for the flight of course.” P’tan coughed and said, “You want to go to Pern to chase a female?” Alioquith nodded slightly and P’tan smiled. “Well why not?”

The next morning P’tan woke with a start. When he opened his eyes he saw Stardan and Limbar standing over him. When they saw that he was awake they started chittering and picturing their owner and Alioquith transferring to Pern. “Oh yeah,” P’tan said. “Clear off guys,” he said as she brushed his flitters away. He rubbed his eyes and then got slowly out of bed. “Alio you ready to go?” He asked as he went to the dresser and put on some clean clothes. “Yes I am. I got the coordinates for Cincanta Weyr from the caerlord’s dragon already this morning.” P’tan nodded and walked into the other room. He ran his hand through his hair and then said, “Well let’s go then.” Alioquith warbled happily and kneeled down so that his rider could put the saddle on. When he had buckled it on he climbed up to his dragon’s back, strapping himself in. Alioquith walked to the ledge and dove off towards the Caerbowl. He stopped mid-dive and started flapping his wings, gaining altitude quickly. When they were at the minimum height for transferring Alioquith pictured the Weyr and then made the jump.

Alioquith looked down at Cincanta Weyr after the transfer was complete. “It is beautiful here,” he said as he circled lazily around the Weyr. “Let’s set down and see who’s rising alright?” P’tan instructed. Alioquith warbled and began his descent. When they landed P’tan jumped from his dragon’s back and started walking towards the Weyr. People looked in their direction but P’tan didn’t seem to notice. “Why are they looking at us so?” Alioquith asked nervously. P’tan looked around and shrugged. “I have no idea but it could be because you’re a red colored dragon. Or because you’re not a Pernese dragon.” Alioquith sighed and followed his rider as he went in search of the mating flight board. They looked around for a bit and then a man cam up to him and asked, “You looking for something?” P’tan nodded and said, “Yes I am. Where is the flight board posted?” The man pointed towards a hall and said, “They’re on the wall right before you enter the hallway.” P’tan thanked him and walked towards the board.

P’tan looked over the board and said, “Well they set things up differently here. Give me a sec to figure it out.” P’tan scratched his head and said, “I don’t know what you’d be eligible for. They don’t say the sizes that are allowed. I mean, there’s a section about large rares but you’re not a rare, you’re a red.” Alioquith sighed and said, “Maybe you should ask someone for help?” P’tan nodded and waved over the nearest person. When she came over she said, “Well you sure aren’t from around here are you?” P’tan shook his head. “No we’re not. My Alioquith here wanted to transfer between worlds to chase so we did but I don’t understand your charts.” She nodded and said, “Well what are you looking for?” P’tan shrugged. “Anything he’d be able to enter I suppose.” The woman nodded and said, “Alright well then you’re limited to the queen’s flights because your umm rare is extremely large.” P’tan raised an eyebrow. “He’s not a rare though, he’s a red, which is a very common color.” The woman shook her head. “Just where are you from anyway?” P’tan smiled and said, “Alskyr, a planet far from here.” She nodded and said, “Well a red dragon may be common there but we have absolutely none here on Pern, or as far as I know. And if we did they would be small, like that white,” she said as she pointed to a white dragon who was walking through the bowl. P’tan nodded in understanding and turned back to the board. The woman was turning to walk away when Alioquith said, Thanks for your help. The woman spun around, jaw slack and then turned around again, walking away briskly.

P’tan rubbed his chin and said, “Well there’s a queen rising. Would you like to enter that flight?” Alioquith warbled and lowered his head so that he could see the board. “What is her name?” “Her name is Oraenuth.” Alioquith warbled and said, “Alright that flight sounds just as good as any.” P’tan nodded and wrote his dragon’s name into one of the empty spots. “Now all we can do it wait,” P’tan said as he put the pen down. “Where are we to stay until the flight occurs?” Alioquith asked. P’tan shrugged and said, “Let’s go find out.”