When fighting she smiles by mistake (open)

[lyonza]

Who knows what is normal? Rudoth asked. And Mine has been Mine only a short time, so there will be plenty of time for him to need my help. Maybe Yours thinks it’s a mating ritual to throw others around? The blue dragon sounded quite curious at that idea.

K’nar grinned. “Obviously,” he said. “And, if I know draconic responses, then she will say that she was looking for you despite what you think.” He sighed. “I still wonder sometimes what makes a dragon choose someone,” he said. “I’ve stood on the sands a few times back at Telgar and none of those hatchlings thought I was good enough, yet I came here just as the Hatching started and Rudoth didn’t even hesitate when he chose me. It doesn’t make much sense, but I’m not going to complain at all.”

He nodded. “I know, but its fun to do every now and again. I won’t try my luck with the weyrleaders of course, but we’ll see how it goes now that I’m a rider.” He pulled at some grass, thinking. “Of course you have a choice, but whether or not I’m going to let you have it is another thing altogether. I’m ready now if you want to give a few pointers and then we can start in all earnest tomorrow.”

K’nar nodded, not completely convinced, but he found her interesting enough to put up with the seemingly random mood swings. “Unless of course it’s some deadbeat rider, then I might not want to know. Though in his defence, Mom didn’t quite know who it was herself, so I can’t blame him for not being around much,” he said with a dismissive shrug.

[missing]

I don't think that's the case, although she has thrown those who tried to interest her in one before, Viviath sounded amused, Mostly the ones who were pushy about it.


"She did, she doesn't seem to think it was possible for her to be looking for anyone else," she shrugged, "I think it's a bit like how some humans are with love though. When they end up with someone special they've been 'searching their whole lives' for that one person where in reality they may have been just as happy with someone else, or happier even," her expression was thoughtful before she smiled at K'nar's description of Rudoth's Hatching, "Wouldn't do you any good, the beasts are rather difficult to get rid of once they decide they like you." She laughed as Viviath huffed at her, knowing her rider was joking.

C'yan grinned, her eyes twinkling with mischief, "Pointers hm? You ever learn how to fall properly?"

"Yeah I guess, I'm not really used to that aspect of weyrlife yet I suppose. I hope my kids know who their father, or fathers are," being a greenrider it was not even slightly outside the realm of possibility to have multiple fathers for any kids she had. Although she really hadn't deiced if she wanted any kids at all, well she had plenty of time to think about that right?

She glanced over at Viviath, she was getting bigger by the day and would rise for the first time sooner than C'yan was probably ready.

[lyonza]

Rudoth scoffed. She shouldn’t throw them around when you rise, it might cause a few problems that she could do without. What he knew about greens rising was only what instinct told him.

K’nar nodded at her words. “I think I’ve heard a few Harper songs about that phenomenon, but I don’t put much stock in love at first sight. Yet, I do believe in dragons choosing in a moment.” He grinned. “I was tempted to try and give him back, but I like him too much so I’m not even going to consider it.” He looked over at Rudoth with a fond smile on his face.

K’nar grinned back at C’yan. “I can’t say as I’ve learned that particular skill, but I’m will be most willing to learn.” He snickered, his eyes twinkling as well. “Just don’t throw me too hard, please? I’m all delicate-like and I bruise easy.”

K’nar just nodded. “It’s the way it works out in a Weyr, I’m used to it. You’ll come to accept it I guess,” he said. He smiled. “I don’t want to make it sound inevitable, but I guess you have a choice one way or another.”

[missing]

If she didn't then she wouldn't be mine, Viviath puffed up with pride, Besides some males need to be thrown around, especially during a mating flight.

There was a short laugh at the word 'phenomenon' as C'yan rolled her eyes, "Don't put too much stock in it period, much less at first sight. After Impressing Jolly and then Viviath I've realized nothing human comes remotely close. There's a reason why dragon's choose and not humans, we just don't do it right I don't think." She shrugged, "Doesn't mean you can't care for someone or have fun if you're so inclined, but true love is permanent and unwavering, like what we have with our bonded."

As if hearing his name a small blue flitter 'popped' into the air above C'yan, who smiled and reached arms up to scoop him down against her chest, "Lazy Jolly, you enjoying the peace of the new weyr?"

Jolly twisted in her arms, looking very much like a tunnelcat who had found a child suddenly attached to it, C'yan laughed and released him. The blue settled next to her of his own accord and immediately turned on K'nar, eyes whirling an angry red, "Jolly no, he's a friend."

He looked back at his, obviously not believing her, but stayed put anyway. C'yan sighed, "K'nar Jolly, Jolly K'nar." Jolly ignored her save for an angry flick of his tail.

C'yan stood, dusting herself off, "It's not that bad, but it's the first thing I learned. You can't spar using throws unless both parties know how to fall safely. It will also protect you if you happen to try and creep up on me. You'll still be thrown, but not really any worse for wear." She stuck out her right arm, pointing it downwards at a 45 degree angle, "Go on and grab my wrist, doesn't matter how tight. We'll go through it slowly first okay?"

She nodded, "Yeah."

[lyonza]

Rudoth hummed with amusement. I won’t know about that, he said. Yet. But I’ll take your word for it.

K’nar just chuckled. “You are way too jaded, Miss C’yan,” he said. “But I can understand it to an extent, having a dragon of my own now. It’s not the same with a human, and it can never be. They will always come after the bond we have with our dragons.” He nodded. “They are much better at choosing than we are, huh?” he grunted. He had his fair share of ill-advised romantic choices from the time he noticed that girls and boys were different and had received everything from friendly rebuffs to a black eye for his trouble.

He watched as the little blue firelizard joined them, squirming as C’yan gave him an enthusiastic hug before the little beast turned its baleful gaze at him and he held up his hands. “I’m friendly, I promise.” He really didn’t want a firelizard misunderstanding what was going on and having to get nursed for scratches gained by accident. “Hello, Jolly,” he said with a smile.

He stood when she did, not sure what to do, so he listened carefully. He frowned when she stuck out her hand and told him to grab her wrist. “Slowly, right?” he asked before reaching for her, taking a good grip without hurting her. “Now what?”

[missing]

Rudoth hummed with amusement. I won’t know about that, he said. Yet. But I’ll take your word for it.

Viviath nodded her head a little, You're cute, for a blue., most of what she knew on the subject was what C'yan had been told by various riders. Some meant well, others not so much, but all had warnings of what to look out for when Viviath rose.

C'yan laughed at her dragon's words, "Viviath no hitting on children."

Why must a compliment be flirting? Cute is what I think of Jolly and he couldn't chase me if he tried. C'yan laughed, her dragon was so easy to bait sometimes.

"Probably, although maybe I'm just venting my frustrations over hearing people pine over lost love or that they don't have human love. Seems silly to me, I have Viviath and Jolly and no desire to be greedy for more. Once she rises she'll be doing so often enough for the level of human companionship I usually want anyway."

Jolly simply glared at K'nar and C'yan rolled over to tap him lightly on the head, "Be good, he's not bothering me I promise." Somewhat mollified the firelizard settled down on the grass, but kept an eye on K'nar all the same.

C'yan smiled, noticing he was careful of his grip, "The basic throw should be good enough to practice falling with, you can adapt most others from there. Now first... go with it okay? Don't fight me, I'm not going to whirl you around or anything. We're just going to d this step by step," she took a hold of the wrist of the hand that was grabbing her with her free hand and twisted the 'trapped' hand around in his grasp until she had a hold of him with that one too. She lifted up and pulled forward and to the side a bit as she stepped to the opposite side, all very slowly, "Now when I bring your arm down..." she did so enough to put him off balance, but not quite enough to drop him, "You want to tuck your head and roll forward."

[lyonza]

Rudoth would have grinned if he could and his mental tone sounded pleased. Thanks, I think. You’re quite beautiful too. The last was said a bit shyly. She was a pretty green dragon, but other than that observation, he wasn’t sure what else to say.

K’nar’s eyebrows threatened to take up residence in his hairline. “Did you just tell Viviath not to flirt with Rudoth?” he asked incredulously. “He’s still a baby,” Am not! Just not fully grown yet. “and it’s at least a turn before he’d be ready to chase any dragon.”

He nodded. “I guess you’re right,” he said. “I can’t really claim to have loved on that level at all other than Rudoth, but that’s different, so to me it’s pretty much a moot point. Besides, I’m way too young for it all,” he added with a grin.

K’nar watched in fascination at what C’yan was doing that he almost missed the instruction, only taking note of it because she was pulling him off balance a bit. “Ok, tuck and roll?” he asked as he tried tucking his head down to his chest while talking. He tried not to brace too much or it wouldn’t really work all that well. He did ask her to teach him, so he couldn’t expect it not to hurt at least a little bit. He looked up again. “Do I aim to land on anywhere specific like the shoulder? I’m guessing that landing on my head will be frowned upon?”

[missing]

Viviath laughed mentally, Tell Yours to relax, it wasn't flirting, only an observation. Besides, young ones should have
someone telling them nice things other than Theirs.

"You aren't exactly a grandma yourself my dear," C'yan grinned at Viviath before turning to look at K'nar again, "She probably wasn't actually. She really only flirts with Burgundies as far as I can tell, and he is rather handsome."

Now who's flirting?

Exactly what would I have to gain by flirting with a dragon?

My point exactly.

C'yan rolled her eyes, "If you remember correctly I was defending you. If you're going to be like that then..."

"Too young for love or young to be pining over it?" Her own sister was younger than he was and she claimed to be in love nearly ever letter she sent via Jolly. Usually with a different guy every time which made C'yan smile. Who would have thought her little sister would be just as, if not more outrageous than C'yan herself?

She nodded, "Yep, just try to go with it and it kinda flows from there. You want to distribute the force of the fall as much as you can since you won't have as much control over it usually as you would a true roll. And no, you are not allowed to land on your head. Whenever you're ready, normally I'd pull you through it but since you're learning I'll follow you instead."

[lyonza]

Rudoth chuckled. He’s a bit protective, isn’t he? He looked at K’nar. Viviath said you don’t have to worry.

“Rudoth said something along those lines. I was just a bit startled.” His look softened. “He is rather handsome, isn’t he?” he said as he smiled over at this dragon. Don’t let that go to your head, he added.

I won’t because I know I’m handsome, Rudoth said causing K’nar to laugh again.

“He agrees with our assessment of his handsomeness,” he said to C’yan.

K’nar shrugged. “A bit of both I guess. I haven’t found the person I could claim to be in love with yet, so more the former than the latter.” He looked out over the Bowl. “Well, I had a few friends back at Telgar that claimed to have been in love and were pining over this or that person every other week. I thought they were being silly.”

He nodded at her explanation. “How about you just do what you need to and I’ll go with it as much as I can? Otherwise I’ll just sort of dive forward and hope that I land on something that will heal.” He wasn’t sure how he was supposed to fall from the position he was at that moment with her holding his wrist with both hands like that. He looked a little uncertainly up at her. “Or do I do some diving roll over our hands and land on my shoulder and roll with it?”

[missing]

Well you're still little, humans tend to think that means we're defenseless. Of course Jolly still rarely lets anyone near me but I think that's just him.

C'yan smiled, "He is at that. I'm sure he'll be rather impressive when he's a bit older." She wasn't just being nice either, you could tell by looking at him that he would probably outlast other blues as well as greens and burgundies fairly easily.

C'yan raised an eyebrow at K'nar's laughter, and laughed herself when he explained, "Well he is, so why wouldn't he?"

"Well let me know if you find one of these miraculous loves, see if they have any cute siblings," she was only half joking. Despite the idea being elusive to her, she did like seeing people who were legitimately in love. It gave one hope for the future, "I've known a few people like that." Her own parents weren't exactly the poster children for love, but they were quite fond of each other and never strayed to C'yan's knowledge.

She smiled, "Alright then make sure you keep your head tucked," she made sure he had done so before pulling down on the arm, causing him to flip if he went with it. If not... well his arm would probably be hating him very shortly.

(he should land on his back, probably get the wind knocked out of him, but he would be able to roll away and get back up if he felt up to it)

[lyonza]

I’d say we’re anything but defenseless, no matter how young we are, he said a bit petulantly.

K’nar smiled with pride. “Oh, I know he is going to be impressive,” he said as he hugged Rudoth for a moment. Looking at Viviath, he thought a moment. “She’s very fast, isn’t she?” he asked after taking in her sleekness and smaller size.

He nodded seriously. “I’ll make sure to ask if I ever find that love,” he said. If ever, he added to himself very privately. He knew by now that he wasn’t one to fall in and out of love at the drop of a hat and finding someone that he would be able to spend more than just casual time with was going to be a serious undertaking for him. He shrugged. “My mother is definitely one of those who loves whoever is available at the time,” he said without rancor. “I can say with conviction that none of my siblings have the same father… there are five of us.”

K’nar kept his head tucked down and went with the movement when C’yan pulled futher, but he wasn’t quite expecting the force with which he landed on his back, knocking the wind out of him. He lay there wheezing for a moment with his eyes closed until he felt something poking his ribs, opening his eyes to see Rudoth looking at him, eyes whirling yellow with alarm.

“I’m alright, Rudoth,” he said shakily. “It was intended, she wasn’t hurting me.” He reached up and patted the dragon on his nose.

Are you sure?

“I’m sure,” he said as he rolled over and groaned. “It was a bit more than I anticipated,” he said as he dusted himself off. “Ok, tell me what I did wrong and what I should do better,” he said, taking a deep breath.

[missing]

That was actually the point I was trying to make, if she could she would have smiled, and her tone was reassuring.

"Very," her tone was affectionate, she was very proud of her lovely green, "I wonder if the males will be able to catch her at all. Wouldn't that be frustrating? A flight that lasted until everyone got too tired to chase anymore."

C'yan smiled, "Good for her, holders are so stupid about that sort of thing. Especially where women are concerned. My-" she cut herself off, she'd been about to mention her own parents again, "My hold certainly wasn't very accepting of that sort of behavior, but I never really saw the big deal. As long as they're not hurting anybody people should be allowed to go about their own business without fear of persecution."

C'yan released the wrist, leaning over him with her hands on her knees and hair falling past her shoulders in black waves, "You okay? It's a shocker that first time but as I was told, it's better to get that shock when in the company of friends instead of from those who would do you harm."

Viviath crooned reassuringly to Rudoth, Don't worry, Mine knows what she's doing.

"It usually is the first time," she offered him a hand up, "The main thing, and it's not something I expected out of you a first go, is that you want to be able to roll away immediately. Break their hold on you and get away from their following attack. I'll teach you how to break holds too so they can't pin your arm and break it as long as you're fast enough."

[lyonza]

Rudoth just crooned his assent and watched curiously at what their riders were doing.

K’nar laughed. “I guess as much as she would want to lead them on a merry chase, at some point she’ll make a choice of some kind and one of them will catch her. Her endurance isn’t that of a bronze, so she’ll tire relatively easy I guess.” He wasn’t trying to disparage her dragon’s abilities, he was just being honest in his assessment.

He coughed once and got to his feet with her help. “Logically I should have known it would hurt, but its still a surprise.” He rotated his shoulders and rolled his head a bit to loosen his neck muscles. “So if I get thrown like that, I can get out of the wrist hold with relative ease? Or is it a case of tuck your head down, go with the movement and roll away or later on to your feet?” He made vague motions with his hands. “Do you think you should rather teach me to break the hold first or just throw me repeatedly so I can learn to roll with it?

[missing]

The idea still amused C'yan, "That's true I suppose. Still, it is a funny thought. I'm not sure if I'm ready for her to mate yet though... I'll have to admit she's not a baby anymore." She smiled at her dragon, eyes shining with love. Viviath had been to big to be called a baby for some time now, but it was almost as if a mating flight would force C'yan to realize she was grown now.

"Well logic doesn't always factor in, and realistically most of what happens in a fight should be instinct. Of course one should still have some degree of control over that instinct... something I'm very good at myself," hopefully she hadn't hurt him too badly, the soft dirt and grass should have helped to absorb some of the blow, but gravity was an ever present factor, "You can get out easier if the person doesn't expect you to go with it, and if you get good enough at breaks you can get out of just about any grip. Rolling away is just a good idea. It keeps them from re-establishing their hold on you or pinning you in other ways before you can get up. If you roll away fast enough you have time to get to your feet and counter before they realize hopefully."

[lyonza]

K’nar just nodded – he knew his time would come when Rudoth was old enough to fly and catch a female – probably a green, though it wasn’t out of the question that he could catch a grey. Maybe not really that big a possibility, but still a semi-entertaining thought. The only grey here was Iroth and he wasn’t sure she would ever let a blue catch her – she seemed to be partial to the black dragons if rumor was true. “She’s everything but a baby, that’s for sure,” he said.

He nodded as she explained. “I kinda guessed it should be instinct,” he said. “Do without thinking about it and all that stuff?” He moved around to face her again. “Let’s just keep doing it until I get some of it right,” he said with a smile. “I’m going to do that again,” he said to Rudoth, to keep the dragon from getting upset again. “C’yan is just teaching me, OK?” he smiled at his friend and nodded to the girl. “I’m ready to do this again – throw me at your pleasure.”