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Zetharon looked around the weyr silently, judging its appearance. It was busy, but not anxiously busy. Everyone seemed to know their job and didn't dawdle to do it. He nodded decisively and decided to apply for a candidate's slot. He had wanted a dragon for a while now and hopefully that wish would come true. He smiled and the points of his fangs poked out below his slip. Suddenly reminded of his vampire nature, Zeth hoped that he wouldn't be denied. He continued to walk silently towards the weyr, mentally toting up all the things he would need for a new home. As he neared the weyr, Zeth saw a woman walk up to him with a smile on her face. "Welcome to Celeanor Vale. I'm Weyrwoman Copper. Have you come to apply for candidacy?" the woman asked. Zeth nodded, replying, "I have," while matching the woman's smile. Copper seemed surprised at the fangs displayed, but nodded anyways. She took Zeth's arm and said, "New candidates are always welcome here. We have a clutch on our Otherworld Sands. Would you like to sign up for that one?" Zeth nodded, taken aback by the woman's acceptance of his nature. He shook his head wonderingly, causing the silver braid he kept his hair in to whip around his back. "We have many Otherworld people coming to apply," the weyrwoman was saying. "So we meet all kinds of interesting people. Why, just a few days ago, a telepathic cat-person wandered by and checked out the Weyr." Zeth nodded at certain points of her dialogue, not saying much in return. His violet eyes swept the Weyr as they walked through the inner portions. He saw the same intent work, but never any nervous energy. A few people stopped to greet the Weyrwoman as she walked by, and some gaev Zeth a welcoming smile. He smiled back, not bothering to hide his fangs. No one seemed uncomfortable around him, and he was amazed and relieved. "Oh, by the way, I never asked your name or where your from," Copper said suddenly. Zeth smiled and said, "My name's Zetharon, Zeth for short. I come from a world a distance from here named Star's Rest. It's a vampire world, but we've learned to live side-by-side with humans." Copper nodded and started to explain each of the sections of the Weyr. When they passed through the living quarters, Copper pointed out an empty room. Zeth stepped inside to explore it while she explained, "We always keep a few open rooms. This one will be yours, for as long as you wish to stay. We usually recommend a few months to let the dragon grow." Zeth nodded again, starting to feel overwhelmed. Finally, Copper led to way to the Otherworld Sands. Zeth looked inside and saw the protective mother curled around her eggs. She was a beatuiful dragon, colored like the ice Zeth remembered from his home. She eyed him quietly and Zeth bowed to her. Seemingly satisfied, the ice dragon lowered her head and closed her eyes. Zeth looked at the eggs and counted nine. He wondered, though, how many would sign up. Copper clapped him on the shoulder and said, "Well, Nylave seems to have accepted you. I'll get you the form. Follow me." Copper led the way to her study and Zeth filled out the candidate's form. "Is this all?" He asked when finished. Copper nodded and looked towards her door at a sudden humming sound. A bronze fire lizard hovered in her doorway, staring intently at Zeth. Then, he flew over and landed on the startled vampire's shoulders. He stretched out over their broad expanse and closed his eyes to sleep. Zeth turned to Copper, perplexed. She laughed and said, "It seems as if our wandering flit has found a home. He flew in here last week and has been eyeing all the new candidates." Zeth raised a hand to pet the sleeping bronze. He knew he would keep him, knew as soon as he locked eyes with the little flit. 
"I've never had a pet before," he started. "I think I'll name him Kae." The flit stirred under Zeth's stroking fingers then settled down again. Copper nodded, happy that the creature had found a home. She settled down behind her desk and said, "You'll be wanting to set up your weyr. You can talk to me or one of the other riders about getting essentials. We know a few craftspeople willing to sell to or make things for us." Zeth nodded on his way out and found his way back to his weyr. He found it without getting lost, his excellent memory already mapping out the complex. He looked around his room again, wondering what he would place in it. A cough made him aware of someone standing in his doorway. Zeth turned, the bronze still sleeping on his shoulder, to face the newcomer. He was slightly shorter than Zeth's six feet and had sandy hair. He kept it short, fluttering about his grey eyes. The newcomer smiled welcomingly and said, "Hey, I'm Shadow. Welcome to Fire Ridge." Zeth returned his greeting and invited Shadow in. The other man looked around the room and grinned. He knew what it felt like to face an emtpy room like this, knowing it is yours. "You want some help filling in this room? I'm sure Ranarth wouldn't have a problem with some exercise," Shadow said, his eyes sweeping the room. Zeth caught the TH sound at the end of the name and asked, "You've bonded a dragon here?" Shadow nodded, replying, "A few clutches ago. Ranarth is old enough to fly me and mate now, but he really hasn't had much to do." Zeth decided to accept the man's offer and they discussed what he would need. A few companionable hours sped by before the men were satisfied with the ideas for Zeth's new furnishings. "I hope you don't mind me asking you a personal question," Shadow started. When Zeth shook his head, Shadow continued, "I've noticed you have vampire fangs. Where do you come from?" Zeth described his homeworld of Star's Rest, complete with the bond between human and vampire. Shadow asked wonderingly, "From all that I've heard of vampires, tehy hunt humans to drink their blood. They consider humans cattle." Zeth laughed and said, "Vampire ancestors on my world did consider human cattle and hunted discriminately. Star's Rest was a world of chaos and fear, ruled by vampires who only thought of pleasing themselves." Shadow nodded, finding this to be the same as what he had heard of vampires. "But some vampires, my ancestors included, realized that this couldn't last much longer," Zeth continued. "The world would be destroyed before long. So they started to fortify the land they controlled and started changing the relationship between them and the humans. This change took many centuries, but all were determined to make it work. The vampires who didn't believe in moderation were eventually killed by the others and their values and beliefs died with them. Star's Rest has been at peace since then." Shadow absorbed that for a minute then asked, "Do you still drink human blood?" Zeth nodded and explained, "Vampires still need a little to survive. But we no longer hunt humans. They give blood willingly and we have rituals that involve drinking that blood. When a vampire feels the urge to hunt, he goes after animals, often bringing back a feast for his people. I need human blood rarely, usually about once every two months, and I'm hoping to come to an agreement with the Weyrwoman." Shadow pondered for a moment then said, "Well, if people here aren't willing to give a little blood, we could probably get some from your homeworld." Zeth nodded, smiling, and said, "Exactly. It may be a somewhat difficult, but I will be able to survive here. And I have found two friends." He held Kae up to show Shadow. The other man examined the flit and smiled. "He's been floating around here for a little while. I'm glad he's found a home. Congratulations," Shadow said. Zeth smiled his thanks and stood up. He stretched to get the kinks out of his back then said, "Why don't we get the furnishings for my room and talk some more after? I have to admit, I don't know much about the weyr and I would like to know more." Shadow nodded and slung an arm over the shoulder that Kae had previously occupied. The bronze flew after the two men, now fully awake. They walked towards the Bowl and Shadow's dragon, talking the whole way. Visit Naronis Beaches to adopt a flit like Kae. |
