A Meal Between Riders

[Sh'mal]

Ligeth was kind enough to carry Sh'mal close to the dining caverns before verbally kicking him off. Mine, there are greens and greys and golds and young ones to impress. Please go to your "meal" so I can oblige them.[/color]
Sh'mal laughed and sent a wave of love back at the great blue as he launched himself back into the sky. Don't get too involved; you know what happened last time. He caught a wave of amusement before Ligeth backed as far out of his mind as he could while staying sane. He remembered.

When Ligeth had chased his first green, Sh'mal had been attempting to get a bite to eat with his friends, one of whom happened to be the rider of said green. Everyone understood what had happened, but Sh'mal and his friend had been thoroughly embarassed. That day, Sh'mal forced Ligeth to promise to alert his rider before he started chasing any dragon, so that any further situations could be avoided.

Sh'mal chuckled to himself at the memory and took a seat in the dining cavern. He found a plate and piled it with bread, cheese, and cold meat. He nibbled calmly on a slice of bread while he waited for Garret to arrive.

[lyonza]

Garrett loved to fly, when it wasn’t needed to pop back and forth all over the place. Then going between made sense. Of course most of his duties and things, when it required flying, meant going to other Weyrs or doing something somewhere that required arriving swiftly. So, flying back from the chance encounter with Sh’mal was a welcome activity.

Iroth landed near the dining caverns, waited patiently for Garrett to slide off her back and then took off for the Rim to sun herself. Do you need to hunt? he asked, taking a good look at her color – her time to rise was very near.

I am fine for today, she replied and then turned her attention from him to talk to the other dragons sunning themselves. Garrett just shook his head and headed into the Cavern, quickly piled some food on a plate, grabbed a mug of klah and joined Sh’mal at the table.

“So, you wanted to know about the weyrlings?” he said before taking a mouthful of klah.

[Sh'mal]

"Wha...Oh, yes," Sh'mal replied, remembering his excuse. He hoped that Garret wouldn't catch his slip. "Yeah, I, er, didn't stay for much of the Feast. Are they all fitting in well?" After all, as a blue rider, he was avaliable to sort out problems that a weyrling might not want to tell to their weyrlingmaster. And most weyrlings were hesitant to approach the higher-ranked riders with their "trivial" problems as well. Blue and green riders were much more approachable, and could usually be counted on to keep secrets if secrets needed to be kept.
Sh'mal continued, "I also heard that we have a couple new transfers." He wouldn't mention that he'd also heard several interesting facts about a certain black rider. "You know anything about them?"

Ligeth scanned the crowd of sunning dragons beneath him, finding several acceptable greens. He also caught sight of Iroth as she lay down to sun near the caverns. Also acceptable. A few weyrlings were with their dragons on the edge of the crowd. Good. He'd impress them all.
He flipped over onto his back in midair and dove, seemingly uncontrollably, towards the group. As soon as he was sure that all attention was on him, he corkscrewed before snapping his wings open and coming to a stop only a few dragonlengths from a frightened weyrling. His eyes whirled blue with amuzement. He caught a few orange glares from some of the older dragons, but also saw green and blue gazes from others. Overall, a good show. He glided over to an open space next to some more-appreciative greens.

[lyonza]

Garrett applied himself to the food as they talked. “The weyrlings seem to fit in with life in the weyr from what I can tell. I don’t have all that much contact with them right now. Our two new junior weyrwomen still have some learning to do before I introduce them to the wonderful world of weyr management. I’ve only really had chance to talk to Midneal, he impressed white Norpoth. But Nyx hasn’t said anything yet, so I guess things are going well.”

Garrett admitted to himself that he would have to get to know the weyrlings individually at some point. “As for the new transfers… there again I’ve only really met one of them. E’rra seems to be a capable rider and the reports from Telgar are impressive regarding his performance.” He didn’t add that he genuinely liked E’rra, not only for his good looks, but for many reasons.

Iroth glanced up as the other dragons took note of Ligeth’s stunt. Impressive, Ligeth, she said as she lowered her head to her paws again. Just don’t hurt yourself trying to overdo it.

[Sh'mal]

"Ah." Sh'mal's heart sank; so he'd already "met" E'rra. He wondered, not for the first time, why someone like him had impressed a blue and not a green. It always seemed like having a green would make his life so much easier. Not that he would have traded Ligeth for the world, but with his always being attracted to bronze, black, and brown riders, it would have helped his love life out a lot. And, he cursed his luck, when it finally looked like he might have actually found someone he could stand for more than a couple days and that his dragon would approve of, he finds several ready candidates already lined up. Well, he mused, there's always the mating flight. "It's good to hear that everyone's fitting in well," Sh'mal replied, trying to hide his disappointment. "I guess I'll have to talk to some of them eventually.

Ligeth rumbled with amusement. Very well, swift Iroth, I shall obey.[/color] He curled up and soaked in the rays. It was a very good show.

[lyonza]

Garrett looked up at the single word, not sure what it meant. “Have you met any of the newcomers? Or the weyrlings? You might have some information that I don’t,” he asked with a smile.

He wasn’t sure what to make of Sh’mal yet. This is their first real conversation and due to his recent revelation of what he wanted in life, he looked at most riders in a new light. He was very nice to look at, maybe not quite what Garrett thought of as his particular taste in men, but that wasn’t a reason to completely discount the bluerider from any future recreational… fun.

Garrett nodded. “It think its very important for the Weyr to be an integrated whole, not a collection of disparate personalities. We’re all here to protect Pern and we should be able to rely on each other without second thought based on the fact that we’re all riders.” He cocked his head to one side. “Or am I being idealistic?”

[Sh'mal]

(sorry 'bout the late reply. My muse has been hiding under the couch for the past couple of days)

Sh'mal shook his head. "Not really. Ligeth and I have been drilling pretty constantly. But I did hear that a few new Candidates should be coming in soon. For Iroth's clutch." He looked down and took a few bites of his food to keep from saying anything he would regret.

"No, I think you're right. It didn't feel like that when I was at High Reaches, but ever since I've come to Western, I feel...like what I've always expected being a rider to be like. I'm not looking forward to Thread, but I believe that fighting in a Fall will unite us even more. Just being part of a new, independent Weyr unites us in some respect." Sh'mal laughed nervously. "Now I'm idealizing."

Sh'mal finished off his plate and rose. "I...I should probably be going now... I don't want to take up too much of your time."

[lyonza]

“Keeping up with the drills, the bane of my existence at the moment, I swear,” Garrett groaned. “I’m almost wishing for the Pass to start so we can put all of this to practice.” He raked a stray strand of hair out of his eyes before continuing. “Yes, we’re slowly getting some more Candidates. Iroth the eggs will only hatch about three months after the flight, so we have some time to get more.” He kept the topic if the flight as brief as possible… Ligeth would probably try chasing Iroth, like just about all the male dragons in the weyr. It shouldn’t irritate him as much as it did… but it did. He didn’t let it show, since he’s had years of practice, but he hid his expression behind the mug of klah before taking another bite to eat.

Garrett frowned a little. “What do you mean you didn’t feel it at High Reaches? Aren’t they preparing for the Pass? Or are we just being overzealous here?” He really hoped the other weyrs were taking the coming Pass as seriously as they did, or Pern was in for a lot of trouble the next fifty Turns. “You’re right, though. The start of Thread will either unite us into a mighty force, or it will rip us apart and spit out the pieces.” He smiled. “I like being idealistic, it makes one feel so much better when one is correct and everything works out.” He didn’t mention the other side of the coin, it didn’t bear pondering about for the moment.

He was lifting a piece of cheese to his lips when Sh’mal made a move to leave. “Sh’mal, don’t you dare leave. I hate eating alone, and you are not wasting my time at all. It’s part of my job here to talk to everybody, so don’t make me neglect my job,” he said with a smile.

[Sh'mal]

Sh'mal replied quickly, "Of course they're preparing for the Pass. It's just...I don't know. We didn't seem like a unit like the Wings here seem. It didn't feel like we were ever going to be able to cooperate enough to fly Thread. That might have just been because of a new change in Wingleader, but I figured that it would just work itself out. The Wings here just...work. Everyone works together, and it feels like we'll be ready when Thread finally arrives." He nodded at Garret's words. "I believe we'll keep everything together. There's no other option."

Sh'mal smiled back and returned to his seat. "Thank you. I'd much rather be here than sitting alone at my weyr." And I'm just a stuffed wherry, am I? a tired, sunning Ligeth asked, amuzement in his mindvoice. Sh'mal let out a laugh. Of course not, sleepy. You're much too big to be a wherry. He sent the blue a wave of love. Now, get back to sleep. Unless your 'lovely greens' are keeping you up. He shook his head a bit and asked, "Does your Iroth interrupt your conversations as often as Ligeth does?"

[lyonza]

“Sh’mal, it’s a great compliment to know that our weyr is more than ready for the coming threat and an even greater feeling to hear that our wings and everybody riding just work together as a cohesive whole. I don’t think any Weyrleader could ask for more than that. A’dion and Talaria will be happy to hear this.” He knew their riders worked well together and that the wings were all at top efficiency but it was still nice to hear it from someone that is relatively new to the weyr to confirm this.

Sh’mal was right, there was no other option, they had to keep it together. “I’m sure we will, its just my usual cynicism having a go at what we’ve accomplished here. Ignore it, I do most of the time even though I’m the one saying it.” He drained his mug of klah, gave it a mournful look and continued eating instead.

“I’ve had my fair share of eating alone in my weyr, or just sitting around. I love having company in most things I do.” He smiled at the very familiar look on Sh’mal’s face which showed he was talking to his dragon. He waited until the other man’s eyes refocused. “Oh, you have no idea. She always comments when she feels I need her guidance. Apparently not right now, I think she’s napping on the Rim,” he said.

I just did not feel you needed my guidance right now, you were doing well enough on your own, Iroth said.

I know love, now go back to your nap. I’ll wash you later if you want, Garrett said and then smiled apologetically at Sh’mal. “I spoke too soon,” he said.

[Sh'mal]

Sh'mal laughed lightly. "You're welcome, I guess." His face grew serious as he thought of what that meant. "I hope that they'll be prepared when the Fall comes, though. I still have friends back at High Reaches that I'd rather not hear bad news from."

"No, it's good to be prepared for the worst," he replied, shaking his head. "Then you can celebrate when things aren't that bad." He noticed Garret's look and asked politely, "Want me to fill that? I don't mind." He wondered when he'd gotten so used to the other man's presence. There wasn't any awkwardness, like he had around M'kal and some of the bronzeriders, but there wasn't any half-expectant tension either. Of course, he wouldn't mind if Ligeth somehow managed to catch Iroth in the future, but he didn't need him. He smiled. Maybe he could find some casual friends here, as well as a lover Ligeth could stand.

Sh'mal grinned as he saw a familiar expression cross Garret's face. "I've been told that most dragons view us as children that they need to help out." Maybe not a child. More like a pet, like one of those canines.[/color]

And you'd be the child who doesn't know how to take care of a pet yet?

Ah, but it can still do better than the pet on its own,[/color] Ligeth replied with a touch of finality.

[lyonza]

Garrett shook his head. “I don’t think any of the Weyrs are unprepared but it sounds like Western is better off with working as a cohesive whole, rather than a collection of people that do a job. I wouldn’t worry too much about it if I were you.” He didn’t know everything regarding the other Weyrs, it wasn’t part of his duties to know. Frankly he didn’t really want to know – there was enough of Western to keep him busy. “I don’t think any of them will require assistance or anything to that effect. I trust in the Weyrleaders. All of them.”

He laughed at Sh’mal’s words. “Oh, I’ve never thought of it that way, to be honest. I like the way you think.” He looked surprised at the offer. “Thanks, I’d appreciate it,” he said. It was strange. Before now, most riders seemed to just tolerate him because of his rank within the weyr, but lately it appeared that some of them actually started to like him for who he was after all.

“Thanks,” he said as he accepted the mug when Sh’mal returned. “You didn’t have to, but thanks all the same.” He took a sip and sighed. “I’m ashamed to admit that I’m probably addicted to the stuff.” He grinned over the rim of the mug.

Garrett shook his head. “I guess that could be true, but sometimes I wonder if they aren’t the children after all. So very innocent most of the time,” he said.

[Sh'mal]

Sh'mal smiled, grateful for his words. "Thanks." His smile turned into a laugh. "Wow, I wonder what my old friends would think about me being worried. Problably say I'm losing my mind." He hadn't really thought much about it, but now he felt a pain in his heart. Some was loneliness, some was homesickness, and, he had to admit, some was longing. He still hadn't forgotten what drove him to Western in the first place. He tried to clear his thoughts and listen to what Garret was saying.

Sh'mal refilled both his and Garret's cups and walked back to the table, setting Garret's cup down and returning to his seat. "It's no trouble." He grinned at the Greyrider's comment. "Half of Pern is, my friend. I could say the same for myself."

The bluerider leaned back in his chair and put his arms behind his head, mulling over Garret's words. The dragons were like children in some ways. They needed to be bathed and oiled by their riders, they forgot things at the drop of a pin and needed to be reminded of them, and they couldn't live without their riders. But one couldn't go five minutes after declaring them childlike to be given a clear example of their sage-like wisdom. He supposed that, just as every child has a bit of adult in them, every adult has some child left in them. But he simply replied, "I'm sure they wouldn't appreciate being told that."

[lyonza]

Garrett smiled. “I don’t think that,” he said. “I think we all worry about each other all over Pern, it’s what us riders do, after all. They are probably as worried about you as we are about them.” It sounded strange to hear him say it, but it was still correct all the same. The Weyrs haven’t made the mistake like they did in the past, although it must’ve been difficult for Benden in the last Interval, being the only weyr around. With a better draconic presence this time, it wasn’t so easy to forget about them. Not if more weyrs were being founded during the Interval to help prepare for the expansion that had happened during that time.

He laughed. “I can believe that most people are addicted to the stuff,” he said. “It’s the first thing we reach for in the morning and the last thing we think about before going to sleep. Which doesn’t say much for my love-life, or lack thereof, does it?”

Garrett grinned. “I won’t say anything if you won’t,” he said. “Iroth surprises me on a regular basis with pearls of wisdom, yet other times she’s so naïve. I can’t make up my mind if she’s just teasing me or not.”

[Sh'mal]

Sh'mal took Garret's words with a light laugh. "Yeah, I guess you're right. Especially during an Interval, right before the Pass, we dragonriders need to look out for one another." He'd seen how the Holders grew suspicious and distrusting of the Riders through the Interval. There was probably less suspicion than in the first major Interval, where it was said that the Holders felt they didn't need the dragonriders any longer and stopped tithing, but with such long times between this Pass and the last, doubt creeps in.

Sh'mal's original grin turned into a laugh as Garret mentioned his love life. "You think your love life is bad; if it wasn't for Ligeth, I doubt I'd get anyone into my bed!" For his efforts, he recieved a mental snort from his not-quite-sleeping blue.

The bluerider's smile widened. "Deal." He could hear Ligeth's snort from the room, telling him the blue was eavesdropping on their conversation. So much for sleeping, eh, Ligeth? "I guess that plan didn't work so well..."

Sh'mal nodded. "Ligeth seems so ancient-minded sometimes that it's hard to remember that he's still young."