An Odd Group, {{tags: Silver}}

[Fia]

"WHAT?!"

"Please!"

"No way!"

"But you just...."

"Forget it!"

"All you have to do is stand there!" K'rion pleaded, looking imploringly up at the girl.

"I said forget it, K'rion, now let go of my arm!" The boy was stronger than he looked...

Will you two knock it off? Chrysanth interrupted, curled up behind his Rider.

Please? I don't want you to hurt youselves, Rabbith added, standing behind his Rider.

"PLEEEEAAAASE!"

"ARGH! OKAY! O-KAY! Shards..."

"Aw, thanks a bunch!"

Grumbling irritably, Fia snatched a large, lightly-woven reed hat from the infuriating Barkrider and stomped over to a large tree-stump. She climbed onto it, placed the ridiculous hat on her head, and folded her arms, glaring at the boy.

"Okay, buddy! Blow!"

The silver-striped Bark lifted his head, peered at the annoyed girl, and sent a gust of wind towards her. However, for fear of knocking her over, it had been a very gentle , gust, and the hat didn't move.

"CAN'T THAT OVERGROWN HATCHLING DO BETTER THAN THAT?!!!"

'Overgrown Hatchling' was Fia's word for Rabbith, because despite his being an adult, he was still an very innocent (though often overly anxious) dragon that sometimes had the mind of a very young dragon.

"He can, too! Try again, Rabbith," K'rion coaxed his Bark encouragingly.

I'll try. The dragon sent another gust of wind at the Chicoryrider.

This one was much, MUCH stronger, and quite literally swept the girl off her feet and sent her flying into a bunch of bushes.

MINE!

I'M SORRY!

"OW!"

"ARE YOU ALRIGHT?!"

CRASH.

"OW! GETTOFFME, YOU IDIOT!"

"I-IT WAS AN ACCIDENT, I SWEAR!"

"DON'T GIVE ME EXCUSES!"

The scene? Two teenagers thrashing about in the bushes, yelling at the top of their lungs; two dragons watching in both concern and amusement; and a small group of flitters sitting in a tree and 'laughing' their little wedge-shaped heads off. It was a VERY odd little group. Little, because the 'lizards didn't really count. So. to be more specific, the four of them were a VERY odd little group.

"OH, SHUT UP!"

"OW! YOU KICKED ME!"

"YOU FELL ON ME!!!"

"IT WAS AN-"

"OH, SAVE IT!"

[Silver]

"Woah!! That's the weirdest thing ever!!! .... Do it again."

:.... Hello?:

Nata squealed in delight and covered her ears with her hands, staring in awe up at Vasuki like a little puppy dog all full of adoration for the young man. "How come I can't do that?!"

Thank Faranth you can't do that... Laetath murmured, subconsciously shaking her head a bit. It was strange to have someone else talk through her mind... that was what Vasuki had been doing, after all, and was the reason for Nata's delight. She was simply beside herself with glee at the notion of someone talking directly into her brain, rather than thinking it a bit odd or frightening as most people would have.

As most normal people would have, at least...

He is like me, Mine. Like how I do not have my own color. He does not have a voice. Laetath explained.

"Hmph. Well I like that color. It's not confusing." Nata murmured, waving a hand to indicate the dark blue color that the dragoness had taken to liking. It had a slightly metallic, silvery sheen to it... anyway, it was unlike any other dragon's hide, so it was less confusing when she talked. Nata had found that her dragoness's voice took up different 'flavors' depending on what color she was at the moment, and it was confusing.

Well... he has a voice, he just can't use it... Laetath murmured again, pondering to herself, but Nata wasn't listening.

She'd just noticed Fia and K'rion.

And was delighted.

Rabbith was the dragon that had flung meat into Fia's face at the firelizard hatching, she recalled, Tara and Raen appearing in the air above her head for that thought as if she had summoned them simply by thinking of them. It was nice. She liked having Firelizards.

Her father would be so proud of her! If a little weirded out that she'd named both her firelizards after him... but she couldn't help it XD

Back to the present!

"Everything all right?" Nata asked, tugging on Vasuki's arm and dragging the young man over to where the two were writhing about in the bushes. Diiiirty..... only not. Because it was Fia and K'rion. But still. The thought amused her.

Laetath snorted slightly in amusement and crooned a greeting to Chrysanth and Rabbith while she watched, rumbling.

[Fia]

"AH!" That was both of the kids.

A PERSON!

TWO PEOPLE!

AND A DRAGON!

"Yes, yes, everything is fine!" Fia exclaimed, sounding very distracted and on the verge of losing her mind. She gave another tug, trying to escape a particularly thorny bush, fell out of said bush, and landed facedown in the dirt. Great.

K'rion gave her a weird look. "Uh... actually, no, could use some he- ACK!" He too, fell out of a bush, fortunately managing to avoid hitting his head. "Never mind," he corrected, standing up and offering his hand to the furiously grumbling girl. She glared and stood up herself.

The boy sighed. "Hey there. Yeah, I guess everything's okay."

Fia, who had placed the side of her hand, palm down, between her teeth and bitten it hard to keep from losing her temper, growled. It was, quite frankly, a rather freaky sight. An extremely tall girl, with unbrushed, tied-back brown hair with twigs in it, in a navy-blue, dirt-stained shirt, glaring at you while biting her hand. Not a very welcoming sight. K'rion was definately scared.

"Um... at least, I am... are you?" he asked Fia timidly.

"Fine," she growled, voice muffled, since she spoke around her hand. Why she had bitten her hand was a mystery, though it might have been that the pain distracted her from her fury.

Hello, Laetath, Chrysanth greeted, 'smiling' warmly at the younger dragon.

Hey there, Rabbith said, rather shyly.

[Silver]

Nata blinked at the two, wiggling her nose slightly as Tara came to settle to her shoulder, Raen chittering and flitting back and forth when Laetath decided to imitate his color. He wasn't used to the Chameleon at all... and he didn't like her looking like him. Only he was allowed to look like him, it wasn't fair!! Tara chirred in amusement and rustled his wings as Nata tilted her head this way and that, regarding the two with a curious expression.

"What happened?" She asked, assessing Rabbith for a moment before her eyes set alight with amazement. "Oh, you're a Wind-Essence, right?!" She asked, squirming with excitement and bouncing on her heels a bit. She was very proud of herself for recognizing his markings and knowing what they meant.

Well duh he was a Wind-essence, how else would he have conjured a wind to fling meat at Fia's face at the firelizard hatching? Silly girl...

Why is Yours so upset? The Chameleon asked Chrisanth curiously, tilting her small head towards Fia curiously, ignoring Raen, who was diving angrily at her head.

Vasuki smiled shyly at the two, but was content to just stand there and listen, being that Nata didn't seem to be willing to release his arm. Kima was crooning from his shoulder and swaying his head back and forth, staring at the larger Chicory silently.

[Fia]

K'rion glanced sideways at Fia, wondering if it was safe to speak. Deciding that it was, he cleared his throat and said mildly "Rabbith knocked her over by mistake. I tried to help and... tripped... chaos followed said trip..."

Yes, I am, the Bark exclaimed happily, delighted that the girl had noticed. He'd completely forgotten his recent mistake. He had also forgotten the 'speak-only-to-Rider-and-Rider's-'best friend'-(as he considered her)' policy. He blew a gentle breeze towards Nata, only hard enough to ruffle her hair slightly.

Would Nata never forget the flit Hatching...?

Fia saw the Chameleon and smiled around her now aching hand, waving with the other. She was oddly good with young creatures (human, hatchling, whaddever).

She got blown into the bushes by my friend here. The Chicory indicated Rabbith with his wings. Then her friend-

Despised enemy...


-tried to help and tripped and fell on her back, and she didn't like that, Chrysanth finished calmly, ignoring the interruption from his Rider.

Then the Chicory turned to Vasuki, offering Kima a light croon before blinking in surprise. Hello, he said gently to the young man, lowering his head and sniffing his head curiously.

Hi, Rabbith murmured, in his soft, oddly furry voice.

Saffire chose that moment to burst in, chittering a greeting to Tara, squeaking loudly at Raen, and chattering at Kima from his perch on Chrysanth's head.

Ria, the little Mutation called an 'Arbor', trilled lightly from a branch overhead.

K'rion's Moonshine, Cara, swooped down and landed on his shoulder, chirping stiffly at the others. She wasn't an overly sociable flitter. Chakra, however, landed on K'rion's other shoulder and squealed a cheerful hello. Storm, who was alseep on the branch, didn't even stir. Noelani, Fia's little Leaf, snoozed right on, curled up with her Chicory brother.

[Silver]

Nata bobbed her head somewhat when K'rion spoke, though she just as soon ignored him and giggled in delight when the Brown Essence dragon blew a breeze towards her, reaching back to catch the ribbon in her hair before it was teased away and tightening it before clapping her hands gleefully. "That is so cool!! I wish I could control something like that..." She commented wistfully, sighing somewhat before shrugging her shoulders somewhat.

Laetath crooned softly at Fia and opened her wings slightly, wagging one of them up and down as if she was waving back at the female before returning her attention to Chrysanth and bobbing her head in much the same way as her bonded one had, her color changing again, this time back to her deep blue with silver pieces. She liked that color, it seemed.

I see... She commented, tilting her head while she stared at Rabbith's strange markings, similar ones appearing on her own hide soon after, though of course they meant nothing, aside from looking pretty.

:Hello.: Vasuki replied to both the dragons in his gentle way, smiling slightly when Chrysanth sniffed at his head and lifting a hand to softly scratch the Chicory's nose.

Kima was delighted with all the new company, and he chittered excitedly from the young man's shoulder, turning his head every which way as if hoping he could look at all the new flitters at the same time. Tara crooned slightly from Nata's shoulder while Raen was still staring at Laetath in utter shock and confusion, choosing to flutter to her head so that he could poke at the rings around her neck with his tail.

"You want a healer to look at that?" Nata asked suddenly, gesturing towards Fia's hand. Wow, she was capable of concern and actual sane thought! Who'd have guessed?

[Fia]

It is rather difficult to control, the Bark admitted, though he sounded as thrilled as Nata. I still must practice... but yes, it is a lot of fun! he added cheerfully, rustling his wings and snorting in surprise at Laetath. OH, pretty! he exclaimed, sitting back on his tail and bobbing his head in utter delight. K'rion laughed at him. Fia giggled around her hand at Laetath, ignoring K'rion's astonished stare.

Very, Chrysanth ageed, his Rider's artistic nature appearing in him. He turned his attention back to Vasuki, not at all bothered when the stranger scratched his nose. In fact, he hummed lightly and closed his blue-and-green-whirling eyes.

Saffire chittered back in almost equal excitement, pleased to have met someone new, especially a Chicory. Ria snorted softly before curling up beside the sleeping hatchling, as if she was their mother. Cara buried her head in K'rion's neck and fell asleep. Chakra watched Raen curiously, squeaking in a sort of flit-laugh.

Fia blinked, looking down at her and as if she had just realized that it was in her mouth. It was quickly removed, and discovered to have a small cut just behind the thumb. Fia glared at her own bleeding hand, then wiped it on her already dirty shirt with a shrug. "It's not bad," she muttered. This was proved untrue by the fact that it was still bleeding, and the pain was visible in the girl's eyes; and by the fact that Chrysanth opened his eyes drowsily, flexing his claw slightly as he felt the pain in his Rider's hand. How many times had he told her that pain was not a good distraction unless necessary...? Oh well...

"She's prob'ly right..."

"Shut. Up. K'rion."

".........."

[Silver]

"At least practicing seems like it'd be amusing." Nata commented with a broad grin, smiling over at Fia and K'rion apologetically. But it was true. If she could knock people over by sending gusts of wind at them... hoo, would she bever take advantage of that every possibly time that she could... so much fun!! "And I guess it's harder since you don't really have anyone to teach you how, huh?" She asked, continuing to speak to the Bark. He was the only Essence dragon that she knew of, after all... so there wasn't really another one that could instruct him on how to use it properly.

Vasuki continued to scratch the Chicory dragon's nose softly, watching as Kima chittered away at the other Firelizard that was colored like him, bobbing his head again and flaring his wings somewhat. Tara seemed to be asleep on Nata's shoulder (though how long that would last given the girl's random outbursts was beyond him), and Raen was still staring down at Laetath. The dragonet was amusing herself by making the pretty silver circles spin and writhe around her body like little snakes, and the Columbine seemed as if he wished to attack them...

"Oh, here!" Nata murmured, tugging the ribbon out of her hair and walking over to Fia, tying it around the girl's hand with a smile. Note: This is very special!! Nata never lets anybody touch her ribbons... Goodness, she must be crazy. or else it's the apocalypse!! Or maybe she's just in a really really good mood! Or maybe she didn't really like that ribbon after all...

Nobody knows...

[Fia]

It is fun, Rabbith agreed, opening his mouth slightly in a 'smile'. And yes, it is difficult with no one to teach me. But if another Essence hatches, I will be able to help her or him, he added proudly, arching his neck a little. K'rion shrugged goodnaturedly at Nata's apologetic look, not bothered.

Fia grimaced, but smiled soon afterwards. Then she stared at Laetath, the moving silver shapes reminding her forcefully of the Red Star dragonet, Chrysanth's brother...

GET OUT OF MY HEAD, YOU SHARDING CREATURE, she cried mentally, struggling to keep the memory away from her dragon, who had never seen his freakish brother, and therefore held no hate for him.

Chrysanth opened his eyes and stared at his Rider, concerned, but closed his them again with a contented sigh as Vasuki continued to scratch him. Who are you, dragon-talker? he murmured, opening one blue eye a fraction. Saffire was happily 'conversing' with Kima, tilting his head from side to side and flaring his own wings in similar gestures.

Nata's action caught Fia by surprise, and the girl looked down, blinking. 'Oh. Thank you!" She smiled at Nata. "Much appreciated!" Well this was a pretty ribbon... was her ming going fuzzy now, or what? Maybe she'd hit her head harder than she'd thought...

"Someone's in a better mood," K'rion muttered, smiling and earning himself a cheerfully reprimanding chirp from Chakra.

[Silver]

"Right, and then you can teach them!" Nata exclaimed, clapping her hands together and beaming towards the Wind Essence. "You'll be like your own kind of Weyrlingmaster, because a regular one probably wouldn't be able to teach an Essence properly."

She then returned her attention to Fia, still beaming, and tilted her head a bit. "It's quite all right. I have so many of them... goodness, I don't even know how many." She admitted, blinking slightly before her eyes narrowed a bit in thought. "Well... I brought a bag full of clothes... and then another bag just full of ribbons, so... I dunno!" She determined after a while, stretching her arms wide and continuing to beam. "But a lot! So you can keep that one."

Laetath crooned softly, sensing she had upset the Chicoryrider somehow, and her hide changed to a soft gray color in response, hoping that change wouldn't upset her, too. She didn't know exactly what it was she'd done, after all, but it seemed to have something to do with her color changing, so she would stop doing that...

:My name is Vasuki.: The young man responded, continuing to scratch the dragon's nose. Dragons truly were amazing creatures...

[Fia]

Exactly, Rabbith exclaimed. What a very very clever human! You're very smart, miss Nata! The Bark was quite delighted with the girl. So very smart and so much fun!!

Fia was just slightly bewildered -not a common occurance- and blinked a few times. "Well.. thanks! That's a lot of ribbons..." Blink-blink. Wow, a speechless Fia. That species was believed to have gone extinct the day Chrys hatched. K'rion stared at her, eyes wide, then looked back at Nata. What sort of inhuman powers did this weyrling have...?!

Oh, good! The Chameleon had changed again. Thank Faranth. Pretty as the silver shapes had been, they were soooo familiar. Ack, no, no, don't think about that critter... A relieved smile was offered to the now gray Laetath. Well, that was a pretty color... oh NO, had she upset the young dragon? She was probably confused... Fia certainly acted tough, but her extremely empathetic nature flared up and she hoped fervently that she hadn't hurt the dragon's feelings.

Vasuki... a Candidate? The Chicory opened one eye and pinned the young man with his suddenly intense gaze. Such a talented human, surely he must be...