He opened his eyes and, to his shock, he was laying on the beach of Gini Hold. It was a spot he knew well, having spent his youth escaping his large family by roaming the seacoast. He gazed up into the dark blue sky and saw the dragons. He smiled. "They always fly over our Hold after bathing out in the sea." He turned to see a shadowed figure laying beside him. He couldn't see it's face, or even determine it's sex, but he knew it was a friend. "I watched them many times...it's why I demanded to be sent to Ananuk Weyr...it's why I wanted to be Searched."
He couldn't see the shadow's face, but he knew the tone was harsh. "You hit her."
He smiled at the memory. "Yes I did. It was an accident...sort of. She searched me anyways."
He blinked once, and his eyes opened upon an new scene. He stood on the Sands at Andromeda Weyr. He saw the other candidates standing around him, knew their faces even if he couldn't remember all of their names. "I was very nervous..." He remembered the feeling of standing stupidly, waiting for a dragon to possible approach him.
"You were angry." The figure would not even leave this memory untainted. "Your first words to your lifemate were violent."
He shifted from foot to foot, ashamed that the shadowed presence was right. "They were making fun of me in the stands..." He tried vainly to explain, but he had no excuse. He'd gotten angry at a comment someone had made about him and had impressed while still angry.
"You wanted to hurt them." The figure reached for him. "But you didn't."
He smiled as he saw a bronze hatchling moving towards him. "Enojoth stopped me." He bent to touch the neck of his bronze lifemate. As soon as his fingers touched Enojoth's neck, the world swirled. Enojoth grew to the size of an adult dragon and they were standing in the Weyrbowl of Adanuk.
Enojoth nuzzled his rider and then walked to a group of dragons...his wing. He smiled as he watched his dragon lead them in their drills. "Enojoth is a born Wingleader, he's so patient with them."
"But you're not." The figure seemed bent on tearing him apart. "You have no patience. You simply got the job because the Weyr was small and understaffed. There must be somebody better for the position by now."
He turned to the shadow and balled his fists. "I'm the Wingleader. I have been the Wingleader for 3 turns...and I was Wingsecond under Weyrwoman Magika for 2 turns before that! I've trained many pairs who have moved on to other wings, and my wing still manages to operate even though we're short-handed! I can do this job."
The figure laughed. "You do this job out of necessity, not because you're good at it. You don't have the patience. Look at you now, all wound up like an animal ready to strike, and we're only talking. There must be somebody better for teh position by now."
He looked to his bronze for help, but Enojoth was still with the wing. He tried to relax, but the more he thought about this shadow's words, the angrier he got. "I'm the Wingleader and I'm damn good at it too! Magika needs me!"
There was a moment of silence as the world seemed to fall away. Soon only the rider and the figure were the only things in the universe. The shadowed figure's face slowly became clear. "Magika had A'diar, and Mik'len and J'kar and K'rik now...Magika doesn't need you." Magika stood before him, a cruelty in her eyes that he had never seen before. "I don't need you anymore. There must be somebody better for the position by now."
He couldn't control his temper any longer. He swung at the Weyrwoman, a blow that would have broken her nose, but she just began to fade away. She let out a sad laugh as she disappeared. "Can't deal with the truth huh?"
"M'slin!" The bronzerider leapt from his bed and grabbed the person standing over him by the throat. He threw all his weight against the taller man and backed him into the wall of the weyr. The man began to choke, gasping his name. "M'slin!!"
M'slin! It's only M'thew! Although he was still having trouble adjusting his eyes from sleep to dark room, M'slin trusted his lifemate entirely.
He dropped the person and took a few steps back, rubbing his sleep-filled eyes. The figure collapsed to the ground rubbing his throat. "Jeez, remind me never to wake you up again." It was M'thew, a blue wingrider from M'slin's Wing.
M'slin sat down on his bed and stretched his neck, the dream he'd been having still amazingly prominant in his imagination. "Sorry. What did you want?"
Uh oh. Enojoth quickly moved from his dragoncouch out to his ledge. M'slin's gaze followed the dragon, and the bronzerider knew that it was not going to be something he wanted to hear.
"I wanted to know if you were okay." M'thew stood up. "Mik'len ran the drills this morning and wouldn't say why."
M'slin clenched his teeth and balled his fists, struggling to remember that you weren't supposed to kill the messanger. "I'm fine. Perfectly fine." M'slin didn't look at M'thew, he was watching Enojoth's tail disappear over the edge of the ledge.
"You sure?" M'thew actually seemed concerned.
The tone of his voice startled M'slin enough to turn his attention back to the bluerider. He and M'thew had never been friends, in fact, he'd never really made friends with any of the other riders. He was a very solitary person, and didn't need company most of the time. The only person he'd gotten close to during his time here had been Media, the Headwoman and Magika. "I'm fine." He scratched his head. "What time is it anyways?"
M'thew didn't seem convinced, but he didn't exactly want to risk M'slin's temper either. "If you say so...it's about mid-day."
"Mid-day!?!" M'slin jumped to his feet.
"Yeah. If you hurry you can make lunch." M'thew opened the door to the weyr. "See ya later Wingleader." He disappeared.
As soon as the door was shut again, M'slin sighed. ENOJOTH!!!
The bronze dragon sheepishly climbed back onto his own ledge. You yelled?
What in the name of the first egg possessed you to let Mik'len and that beast Vekunth run drills? M'slin stood before the bronze, hands on his hips.
He needs to get used to it. Besides he's Wingfirst, he needs to know how to lead. Enojoth pushed past M'slin and returned to his dragoncouch. Besides, it's not like he's trying to swipe your position or anything.
How do you know? M'slin sat on the edge of the dragoncouch. He probably thinks he could handle it.
He can handle it M'slin. The dragon hated opposing his rider, but M'slin could be very pig-headed at times. Besides, you know there's talk of opening a new wing and Mik'len will probably be Wingleader. Enojoth knew the next sentance was just going to make M'slin angry, but he couldn't keep secrets from his rider. Magika wanted him to get the practice.
M'slin tried very hard not to explode. He ended up knocking the stuffing out of the punching bag Celeste had made for him when she got tired of bandaging his broken knuckles.
Enojoth mentally sighed. I don't see why you get so upset about stuff like this. You are not being usurped.
M'slin continued to punch the bag, sweat rolling in droplets down his face and back. "I know. And I know that I'm still a Wingleader even if Mik'len becomes one too, but that worm and his beast will probably take half my wing to accent theres and he's a thief and his friends a thief and they're both trouble makers...and...and..." M'slin stopped leaning against the bag, breathing heavily.
Enojoth smiled, knowing that he was getting to the point of M'slin's paranoia. And?
M'slin sighed and sank to the floor. "And even though I've been working for her longer, Magika likes them better."
The bronze rose from his couch and walked across the weyr to lay beside M'slin. That really bugs you, huh? He put his head in M'slin's lap.
M'slin shrugged. "I guess."
You do know that Magika still likes you, even if she does get along with them better. And you do know that the only reason she gets along with them better is because they're more like her. Enojoth was very good at making everything better.
His rider sighed. "I know."
Enojoth's eyes whirled faster with momentary amusement. She's a theif and a worm and trouble as well...
M'slin couldn't help smiling. As un-Weyrwoman like as the description sounded, it was Magika to a tee. "I know." The bronzerider's stomach growled.
Enojoth's head was on M'slin's lap and he heard the noise quite well. You're hungry.
M'slin laughed. "I know! But I have a huge bronze head in my lap!" He pushed Enojoth's head off of him and headed for the baths. He pulled his fingers part way though his long hair and cringed as he caught a tangle only a few inches down. "Ugh..."
It's your own fault for keeping your hair so long. Enojoth returned to his ledge and stretched his wings. He was a medium-large beautiful honey coloured bronze. He had a gigantic wingspan, larger than the average bronze. He loved flying and therefore put the wings to good use. Enojoth adored training the newbies and following his lead was always easy. His tail flicked back and forth as he stretched his long neck. He lay down in the sun to wait for his rider to clean himself up.
M'slin stretched his neck and pulled his shirt off. He quickly dunked his entire upper body into a basin of water left entirely for that purpose. His teeth chattered as he washed himself with a cloth. The water was freezing. He quickly changed into a fresh set of clothes and began the long and tiring process of brushing and braiding his hair.
M'slin always considered his hair to be his crowning glory. It was a dark chestnut brown and, unbraided, hung to the back of his knees. He kept it in good condition, considering it was the only part of himself that he was ever vain over. Most of the time he also braided it, leaving him a long braid that reached to the small of his back. He did have bangs, although since he only bothered to trim them once a pass they usually hung in his eyes. His eyes were a startling blue and always seemed to be watching everything from behind their veil of hair. After 6 turns of working with Enojoth and several turns before that working at Adanuk Weyr, he was in excellent shape. He was actually a fairly attractive man, if girls didn't mind the hair, but he never saw himself as such. He sighed as he gazed at his appearence in the mirror.
I'm short. The bronzerider stood at about 5'3".
Not when you're atop me! Enojoth was in a good mood today, even though he passed up the chance to exercise with his wing.
M'slin couldn't help laughing. "Okay, okay. Let's eat."
About time. Enojoth spread his wings and gracefully glided down into the Weyrbowl. A gold weyrling, Semmonith, bugled at him, trying to taunt him. Enojoth didn't even glance her way. He continued on towards the Feeding Grounds, trusting M'slin to follow him.
M'slin shook his head as he opened the door and began to walk quickly through the halls towards the kitchens. I can't figure out why he hasn't tried his wings in a mating flight yet... M'slin never brought it up with Enojoth, and never pressured the bronze to enter one. He knew Enojoth would chase whoever he felt like chasing. And with his wings, he'd win.
"Slept late this moring Bronzerider?" Media smiled and handed him a sweet bun as he entered the kitchen's from the back entrance, like he always did.
M'slin smiled. Media'd been nice to him from the day he'd set foot in the Weyr. She understood that he wasn't amazingly social when he moved to the weyr 10 turns ago and often let him eat in the kitchen. Especially when he'd been in a fight with the other boys. "Thanks Media."
The Headwoman/Cook smiled and patted his shoulder. She quickly turned back to her work and M'slin headed out to the Feeding Grounds to meet up with Enojoth.
"Finally getting up huh?" A'diar's ever annoying face appeared in M'slin's way.
M'slin didn't honour the question with an answer. He really had nothing against A'diar, aside from the fact he was annoying, always sided with Mik'lin in everything and a theif.
A'diar grinned. The brown/black-rider always enjoyed seeing how far he could push the Wingleader before getting his nose busted. "Don't worry. Mik'len handled things fine. He'll make a first class Wingleader."
M'slin balled his fists, crushing his sticky breakfast. "I'm sure he will." The sentance came out through clenched teeth.
A'diar snickered. "You ruined your breakfast." He walked past M'slin, clapping him on the shoulder as he passed. "You gotta learn how to control your temper."
I'll show you control... M'slin took three or four steps towards the receeding figure of the Wingsecond.
Hey!! Enojoth, apparently finished his own breakfast, quickly approached his rider. No beating up A'diar. Magika's looking for you and would be...upset if you pounded him into the ground.
M'slin took a few deep breaths, calming himself down. "What'd Magika want?"
To see you. Something about a new Weyr. The bronze was inwardly proud of the fact that M'slin hadn't hit anything.
"A new Weyr?" M'slin started walking towards Magika's 'office'. "What's that got to do with us?"
"Seiryuu Weyr has a lot to do with you. They're holding a gather to celebrate their opening and you might get to see a mating flight." Magika approached from the side, startling the bronzerider
"I might?" M'slin couldn't help smiling, Magika had the effect on people. "From here?"
Magika rolled her eyes. "Yeah right. You're going to the gather as the rep from Adanuk." She shook his hand in mock congratulations. "Be diplomat-like."
M'slin sighed. Great...socializing with a bunch of people I don't know and probably will never see again. Fun. "When do I leave and how long will I be forced to stay there?"
Magika gave him a look which clearly indicated that she was not pleased with his lack of enthusiasm. "You're leaving today and you'll be there for a seven-day. Try to show a little emotion."
"Sure." M'slin turned to walk away.
"There's a reason why I'm sending you." Magika's comment caused him to turn back around.
"Really?" M'slin thought he'd been chosen because she wanted to send a Wingleader and K'rik was busy.
"I know you won't get into trouble." Magika smiled, reminding him that they were still friends. "Mik'len and/or A'diar are only okay here because I forgive them so much. They'd be thrown out of any other Weyr in minutes. K'rik can't socialize without accidently offending someone. Without Syna he's a fish out of water. J'kar's too quiet and shy. You may have a temper, but I know you can control it." Magika grinned. "I know A'diar and Mik'len have been idiots lately, but they're men. I've heard that's there job."
M'slin stood, shocked, for a moment. He was ashamed to acknowledge that he cheeks were turning slightly red. "Oh."
Magika clapped him on the shoulder. "Clear skies." She headed back for her office, probably days behind in her work.
Enojoth's eyes whirled blue. Oh?
M'slin shook his head to clear it and glared up at his lifemate. "Oh what?"
Enojoth seemed to smile secretively. Oh nothing. Let's go. The bronze spred his wings and pushed himself into the air, returning to their weyr.
M'slin shook his head, wondering what Enojoth had been hinting at.
Is that it? M'slin couldn't supress a shiver as Enojoth burst from between.
Seiryuu Weyr. The bronze informed the watchdragon of their arrival and began his decent into the Weyrbowl.
Looks kinda like a dragon doesn't it? M'slin cocked his head as he regarded the oddly shaped Weyrbowl.
Looks a lot like a dragon. Enojoth noted as they desended towards it. The bronze swooped down quickly over the ground, waiting for the very last instant to backwing. He was showing off and M'slin couldn't help wonder why.
He wasn't on the ground four seconds before a middle-aged woman, with faded blue eyes was approaching him. "Here for the gather I suppose." Her golden firelizard chirped and she smiled. "Everybody is. My name is Reca, the Headwoman of this soon-to-be-Weyr. My gold's Krilly. I'll show you to your quarters if you want."
M'slin smiled. She reminds me of Media. "I'm M'slin and the bronze is Enojoth. We're from Adanuk. I'm sure I can find a drudge to lead the way to my room. You must have a million things to do, what with the gather and all."
The woman smiled back. "Don't you know it. If you end up needing my help after all just send a flit after me..." Reca quickly left, obviously busier than she'd let on.
Odd eyes. He couldn't help thinking as he watched her leave. Very pale...
She's blind rider-mine. Enojoth was oddly alert. He seemed to be scanning the Weyrbowl for someone.
"Really?" M'slin shivered slightly. The autumn air was rather chilly, but the sun was out and it was altogether a beautiful day.
Maybe you need your eyes checked rider-mine. Either that or you need to trim your bangs again. The bronze dragon reared and stretched his wings, still showing off and looking for someone.
What are you doing? M'slin crossed his arms. And what's with all the rider-mines?
There's a gold ready to fly! Enojoth seemed very excited.
Magika said there might be a mating flight. Finally catching on to what Enojoth was thinking M'slin glared. One that you are not participating in.
This didn't seem to faze the bronze. Why not?
That is not why we came here. M'slin sighed. Enojoth was acting like a weyrling. C'mon. Let's get you a cold bath. He remembered where the lake was from seeing it from the sky. He headed off in that direction, trying to be 'diplomat-like', as Magika had phrased it.
Suddenly Enojoth bugled from behind him and leapt into the air. He soared over M'slin's head and plunged into the lake. His large size made a large splash. M'slin sighed and ran to catch up with his lifemate.
"Hey!" A feminine voice obviously protested being soaked by Enojoth. A child's cry accompanied the woman's voice.
Nice move Enojoth. M'slin picked up his pace and saw a woman sitting on the shore of the lake with a child in her arms. Three firelizards, a brown, blue and green, fly around her head. Also obviously distressed at becoming wet. The woman stood and glared at Enojoth. She tried to comfort the child and quiet the firelizards. Her hair was sandy blond and her skin tanned from obviously spending a lot of time indoors. As the bronzerider got closer he could see that her eyes were brown.
M'slin quickly grabbed a blanket from the pack he was carrying and walked over to them. He wrapped the blanket around the girl's shoulders. "I'm sorry. Enojoth's an idiot." He didn't know what else to do.
The woman continued to glare at him. "I just got Xachir to sleep you know."
M'slin did his best not to look like he was amazingly sorry, but he couldn't help smiling a little. "Like I said, Enojoth's an idiot." She's cute when she's angry.
That's not why we're here. Enojoth was obviously pleased with himself as he tried to impress the gold that was sharing the water with him.
"Who are you anyways?" She smirked, for no apparent reason. She rocked the child and he quieted. The flits flew out to the gold dragon in the water.
"I'm M'slin, Wingleader of Ikusa Wing at Adanuk Weyr. Weyrwoman Magika sent me as the representitive for the gather." He grinned. "I'm supposed to make a good impression."
The woman smiled faintly as well, watching Xachir the entire time. "You're doing a good job."
I should give you some lessons on flirting with females. Enojoth seemed confident of himself, even though he was getting nowhere with the gold. The dragon seemed to want to attack him rather than look at him.
Because you're just a regular ladies-dragon aren't you? M'slin tried to keep the two conversation's he was running straight. "Like I said. I'm really sorry. Enojoth was hot and tired and really needed a bath. He just got a little excited."
I was not. The bronze dragon pulled himself out of the lake. I just wanted to show this gold how to really swim.
When did your head grow three sizes? M'slin tried to refrain from lashing out at his lifemate.
"Probably when he started showing off for Mekoth." M'slin was rather shocked when the woman answered his question.
"What?" He brushed his bangs out of his eyes.
"Probably when he started showing off for my Mekoth." The woman sat back down on the shore, brushing a piece of her own dripping hair out of her eyes. "Dragon's always get really prood when they're showing off."
M'slin put two and two together quickly. "You're a HAD."
Way to go Mr. Blunt. Enojoth walked up behind him.
The woman smiled and M'slin was positive she'd heard Enojoth speaking. Shut up would you. M'slin could tell Enojoth was amused, but luckily the bronze behaved himself. He spread his wings and headed back for the main part of the Weyr. Thank you.
"Enojoth doesn't seem like such an idiot to me." The flits returned to the woman as the gold dragon leapt from the waters and headed for the Weyr as well. She passed rather closely overhead and M'slin could see her eyes were tinted red. A very protective dragon.
"Get to know him a bit." M'slin sat down beside her. "Three flits, a dragon and a baby eh?"
She seemed to blush slightly. Obviously, when she wasn't angry at being soaked, she was rather shy. She also obviously had better control of her temper than M'slin. If someone had soaked him, they'd end up at the healers.
"Jester, Taka, Xiptra" She pointed to the brown, blue, and green flits in turn. She pointed towards the weyr, and the absent gold. "Mekoth" She then pointed to the baby. "Xachir." And finally to herself. "Quachir."
M'slin smiled. He had no idea why he was being so friendly with this Quachir person. He was usually rather quiet. "Must keep you busy."
Quachir smiled. "I always manage to find something to do around here." She smiled secretively and blushed again.
The two sat talking for a period of time before a drudge interupted them. "Weyrwoman! Weyrwoman!"
M'slin started at the noise. "Jeez...I should probably find the Weyrwoman too. I should introduce myself."
Quachir grinned. "You already did." She stood up and left with the drudge, flits in tow.
M'slin headed back towards the Weyr himself, still surprised by the fact that the soft-spoken girl was the Weyrwoman. She can't be that old either...maybe even a turn younger than me. He grinned. She did seem to understand that she was in control though.
You will not touch her. M'slin nearly jumped out of his skin when Mekoth bespoke him. The protective queen was glaring at him with red eyes.
Enojoth roared and dropped from the air between the dragon and his rider. A brief conversation between the two dragon ended in them both roaring and Mekoth leaving. Enojoth turned back to his rider. She's the gold who's flying you know.
"The one you're -not- chasing?" M'slin stopped a drudge and asked for directions to the weyr he'd be occupying for the next seven-day.
Why not? You like Quachir. Enojoth soared up to his temporary ledge.
I do not!! M'slin snapped. Besides, she's the Weyrwoman.
You'd make a fine Weyrleader. You'll never get that far at Adanuk...think about it...no more Mik'len or A'diar...let them both be Wingleaders...you're a much better leader than them. Prove it! Enojoth was obviously very anxious to try his wings at catching Mekoth.
No!! M'slin threw his bag violently at his bed and whirled to face the dragon. We're supposed to be diplomats here!
Enojoth grinned. That's even better. We won't get in trouble for joining the flight. Diplomatic immunity.
M'slin, exasperated and in desperate need to hit something, punched the rock wall, cracking one of his knuckles. "What part of no don't you understand?"
Enojoth sighed. Fine. I'll behave. The bronze moved to his dragoncouch and curled up there.
M'slin sucked his bleeding and probably broken knuckle as he lay on his own bed. At least I'm here for a whole seven-day. That's enough time to get to know Quachir better...enough memories of her to last when I get back to Adanuk.
Enojoth grinned. You'd make a wonderful Weyrleader.
M'slin sighed. He knew that Enojoth couldn't fly Mekoth. She probably already had a weyrmate, she had a child after all. But for the moment he thought he could dream. Whatever.
Enojoth is chasing Mekoth at Seiryuu Weyr.
Read M'slin's normal story.
M'slin impressed Enojoth from Andromeda Weyr.
Background from Morion Designs.
