Strangers

[Khaliall]

Khaliall felt odd, watching Blue Orchid Weyr coming into focus as she and Absinth spiralled down from the sky.
She'd Impressed here--In a sense, she'd grown up here. She'd spent Turns here, and yet instead of coming home...She felt like she was a stranger.
You're being silly scolded her Leaf dragoness. You've been away. Now you're back. Why do you feel awkward?
Khaliall smiled sheepishly, and glanced nervously down over the dragoness' wings once more, trying to quell her dread.
She didn't want to land.
Not yet. She wasn't sure that she was ready.

Well, we don't have to land just yet Absinth told her, puzzled. I can hover for a while if you would like, though I don't think I understand why...
Khaliall opened her mouth to enlighten her, and the Leaf hastened to continue. I mean, I don't think I WANT to understand why. Human brains confuse me...
After these Turns, Khaliall knew Absinth well enough to know when the Leaf didn't want to be bothered by her rider's convoluted thoughts so, with a sigh, resigned hereslf to pretending her dragon actually cared.
You know I do! Absinth protested, but she wasn't vehement.
It didn't worry Khaliall. She was used to that.
Reflectively, she tightened her grip on the Leaf, and prepared herself for the jolt of landing.

She'd left Blue Orchid Weyr...oh, it didn't seem like long ago, but it must have been at least a Turn. Her father had fallen ill--and with her mother Faranth only knew where, she'd felt obliged to return home.
It had been just as odd to return there as it was to be coming back now...But at least she knew everybody there. They'd been older, perhaps, but they'd been delighted to see her, and to a lesser extent Absinth, who had generally made a pest of herself.
At one point, it had seemed that her father was on the brink of death...And only now that he was well did she dare come back to the Weyr.
Absinth touched down lightly in the Weyrbowl, and Khaliall slithered down her back the instant she landed, before she lost the nerve and fled. Raking a hand through her short brown hair, she looked about. It didn't look as though much had changed...
She was home. But that didn't change the fact that she felt like an outsider.

[Prissy]

Janth saw the Leaf Dragon as she was coming into view she told hers about the Dragoness, Reana feeling odd but still willing went to go and greet the rider. When she got there she approached the other rider with a smile, and greeting.

"Hello, I'm Reana rider of Rainbow Janth." She said in the traditional greeting as Luina, Solrin and Henrin appeared. The Leaf flit still liked to cause trouble, she was chittering away on Reana's shoulder, while Luina perched on her left shoulder and gripped it lightly. Solrin took his position on the top of her head and chirped a greeting and fell silent.

Hello How do you fare? Janth asked of the Leaf, she was trying to be polite to her.

[Khaliall]

Khaliall smiled self-consciously, thinking to herself that she really didn't like being around people, but at least this wasn't anybody intimidating. She didn't think that she could handle that right now.
Absinth, on the other hand, was a bit disappointed that it wasn't a male dragon who'd come to greet them. They were so much more fun than females...
Absinth! her rider scolded her, and dipped her head to the rider.
"Khaliall," she said softly, then cleared her throat. "I mean, I'm Khaliall. This is Absinth." She gestured to the Leaf, who couldn't resist giving a flirty toss of her head.
ABSINTH! she repeated, trying not to smile.

"Sorry about her. Erm...I've just gotten back."
She tilted her head to the firelizards, greeting them silently, then looked back to their Bonded.
"I'm very sorry if I've troubled you at all...Or disturbed you from something you were doing..." The young woman sounded uncertain, looking up through her lashes.
Hello, Janth. I'm very well. replied Absinth matter-of-factly. You?
Her attention, much to her rider's dismay, was not on their companions. The Leaf had been deprived of male companionship for a Turn, and she was eager to make up for the lack.
Her rider was not, exerting a stiff hold on her mind.
"I'm afraid I've forgotten where everything is..." Oh, embarassment of embarassments.

[Prissy]

I'm well Janth responded as she looked at the Leaf who was acting oddly. She shrugged it off and then watched Hers and Absinth's.

"Its all right, I can help you I'm not to scary so I don't think there will be any problems." Reana was trying to sound helpful and reassuring.

[Khaliall]

That's good Absinth responded, then got to what was really on her mind: So. Do you think there are any handsome males in the Weyr right now? I haven't been around, you see, and I'm afraid I'm not up to date on who is eligible and... She continued on.
Her rider almost hid her face in her hands, but restrained herself. Barely.

Self consciously, Khaliall smiled at the rider, and raked back her hair.
"I appreciate it," she said dryly. "The not too scary thing." There was a hint of irony in her voice. "But I really do appreciate that you're willing to help me. I'm really am very sorry if I've taken you away from something important...I'm sure I could manage if you have other things to do..."
She sounded uncertain. She could always call T'vril, her half-brother, but...after he'd refused to come home with her, saying that they didn't share a father, she wasn't sure if they were on speaking terms or not.

[Prissy]

I dothink that there are many good males. Janth said as she looked at the other Dragon she was not one to talk of males unless asked she was a gossip but only when it suited her.

"No I was only working on my flying straps when Janth told me there was new rider so I came to greet said rider. Then I find out she is not new but has been here before and is merely returning from a long trip, oh and the flitters are Luina the Moonshine, Solrin the Sunshine and Herin the Leaf." She said as she pointed at each of the flitters.

[Khaliall]

Completely oblivious to the other dragoness' potential discomfort, or at least her non-gossip-y nature, Absinth tilted her head inquiringly.
At last she was fully focused.
Really? She was intrigued. I do believe that I've almost forgotten what it is like to associate with males. I miss it very much, you know...
I think she knows by now Khaliall told her sarcastically. Say something intelligent, for Faranth's sake! You must be boring the poor thing!
Hmph sniffed Absinth. Fine. Do you like runnerbeasts or herdbeasts better?

Her rider rolled her eyes.
"Well, I appreciate it," she said for probably the fifth time. "Though I suppose we're new enough to merit it...I'd just graduated from Weyrlinghood when I left, you see." She blushed. "I don't think we know anybody anymore! So...thank you. And it is a pleasure to meet you and your firelizards."
She dipped her head to the trio.
"They're very well trained."

[Prissy]

"Ah well I've only been here little over a Turn, Luina and Solrin have taught Herin very well I trained them both and they taught the little green." Reana said with a smile she was liking this girl who was a new rider the fact that she was barely out of Weyrlinghood when she left didn't matter she had been doing something for her family probably.

Herdbeast I have never tried Runnerbeast. Mine tells me not to. Janth told the Leaf after she had thought about the answer a moment.

[Khaliall]

Khaliall was feeling slightly less self-conscious now, and standing a little bit straighter, with what might be a hint of a smile hovering about her lips as she nodded, listening to the other Rider.
"You must have arrived just as I left," she observed softly. "That's sort of funny."
A shadow drifted across her face, at the memory of her quarrel with T'vril more than her memory of her father's illness, then vanished.
"I don't have any firelizards. I've heard they're hard to train, but obviously you've done it well..." She tilted her head. "Is it that difficult?"

Absinth seemed put out.
Never tried Runnerbeast? She was shocked, thuogh she did like Herdbeast better than Runnerbeast. The latter were far more stringy and tough...
But then again, Khaliall always HAD told her to stay away from Runnerbeasts. Maybe that was why the humans at the Hold didn't much like her.

[Prissy]

"Not as hard as teaching a Dragon not to eat Runners." Reana said with a smile oblivous to the conversation between the Dragonesses. She didn't want to know what they had been talking about, that was always a thing she enjoyed Janth only told her important gossip, the life changing kind.

Nope not once. Mine would yell it is not fun to be yelled at for eating. Janth told the Leaf Dragoness as she touched down nearby and curled up next to Hers.

[Khaliall]

((-dies- I responded, then my internet died. And I lost it.))

This startled Khaliall into a laugh. "I can't imagine why they do it," she muttered. "I mean, they're as intelligent as we are, so you'd think that they would grasp the concept that Runnerbeasts are not to be eaten. They're to be ridden. Perhaps we're alone in having to do so..." Trailing off, she realized something. "Wait. You've actually taught your dragon NOT to? Absinth refuses to learn. I think she likes being threatened by Holders."

Runnerbeast is a delicacy sniffed the Leaf. It is worth being threatened. I think the risk is what makes it fun.
Her rider rolled her eyes.
Anyway...You should. Mine yells at me, too, but I don't mind. I know that she'd never hurt me. She sounded smug.
Her rider ground her teeth.

[Prissy]

"Well you just have to catch them before their first Maiden flight and tell them only to blood or eat Herdbeast. At least thats how I taught Janth." Reana said as she and her three flits were standing talking to the other woman this would be interesting indeed as to what would happen next.

Mine is very stubborn I do not like yelling it hurts me. Janth told the Leaf who seemed to be a trouble maker and who needed a good whipping as Hers called it.

[Khaliall]

Khaliall wrinkled her nose at this. Absinth hadn't flown yet--and she was in no rush for the Leaf to do so.
"Absinth hasn't flown yet," she said, in an echo of her thoughts. "But Leafs don't blood before they Fly. They just...do." She sounded slightly put out at this, as if she'd hoped that there were some way to 'cure' her errant dragoness.
"Lucky you." Her brows quirked.

Mine is very stubborn too she replied gravely. Not that you'd know it. She tilted her head towards her Rider, and gave a dragonic sigh. I don't know what to do about her!

[Prissy]

"Well thing is Janth can clutch one egg but still it is important to me and if she bloods then there is a higher chance of her clutching an egg." Reana told Khaliall about that. She often wondered what would happen if Janth did clutch and what color it would be.

Mine is protective and she hates seeing me eat anything that is useful. Janth told the other Dragoness she did not like her much but that was normal for a Dragoness capable of youngsters.

[Khaliall]

"Ah." Khaliall nodded solemnly, wondering how this sophisticated woman would deal with her errant Leaf. No doubt she wouldn't have such problems!
If only Khaliall had a backbone...Figuratively, of course, or she wouldn't be standing here now. "I know I'm going to sound terribly ignorant, but I thought that only Queens blooded."
Now she just looked like a stupid little Leaf rider. Great. At least she didn't fit ALL the stereotypes. "I can see why that would be important to you. That said, I can't imagine Absinth as a mother...It's probably a good thing for the Weyr that she doesn't clutch."
She shuddered at the thought.

Why are they useful? Absinth was puzzled. I do not understand.
The Leaf was, apparently, a bit of a ditz. She made her rider hide her face in her hands, and moan "Absinth!" under her breath.
Mine is protective too, but really I have to be protective of her!