Stupid shardin’ greens! If she doesn’t move her tail, I’ll flame her!
M’thew cursed and held on as some green crossed there path. She was obviously not in formation. He looked harder at her, wanting to know who to deck when he got back on the ground. Instead he smiled. It’s just Olyth and Feena, Ser. Give them a break. They’re new.
The dragon snorted. Not that new! They shouldn’t be allowed in the sky until they can stay in formation!
M’thew laughed to himself. Give her credit, she’d riding the stubbornest dragon in the weyr. I’m surprised she’s flying with the greens. With her ability and ... and... He searched for a non-insulting word. ... style, you’d think they would have moved her up with us or to the browns.
Don’t give them any ideas!!
M’thew watched as the greens were called it. Threadfall was almost done, the browns and blues would just clean up. He watched as every green started in a slow spiral back to the weyr, except Olyth. She rose, trying to join the browns. Feena eventually reined her mount in and they headed towards the weyr. M’thew smiled. They’re really something, aren’t they?
Serenth quickly fell back into formation, and they began the final sweep. Yes, the blue agreed. They’re something. They’re a nuisance, they’re a flying hazard, they’re... M’thew just grinned and let his dragon rant.
* * *
"You go wash off, Ser. I’ll pick up Kar and meet you at the lake." M’thew finished putting his tack away and wiped his hands off on a towel. "Okay?"
The blue dragon nodded. Serenth was tired and didn’t feel much like talking. He stalked out of the weyr and headed towards the lake. M’thew looked across the Weyrbowl. Every other flitter in the weyr immediately returned to it’s owner after a pass. Why can’t Kar?
M’thew walked into the Dining Hall and was immediately greeted by chirps. The big room was full of firelizards. During Thread passes, the firelizards were all housed here, with Jr. Headwoman Mala. M’thew sighed and started searching. "Kar! Kar! Mala!"
The firelizard didn’t answer, but the girl did. "M’thew! Here! Kar’s with me."
M’thew approached the voice and saw why Kar might prefer to stay here. His green firelizard was spread out on Mala’s lap, letting her stroke her stomach. Kar turned a head to her master, chirped once and made no move to leave Mala’s lap. M’thew sighed over-dramatically. "Guess I’ll just have to leave you here." He made a move to go, hoping the green firelizard would come, not wanting him to leave her alone. Kar chirped once and happily closed her eyes, letting Mala continue.
Mala laughed and stood up. The green firelizard quickly spread her wings and caught herself. M’thew raised an eyebrow at the creature. "Coming now?"
Kar chirped once and flew to M’thew’s shoulder. M’thew waved to Mala and left, noticing that most of the firelizards had returned to their owners of their own accord. He glared at Kar on his shoulder. "Sometimes, I don’t know whether your really mine or not."
The firelizard cocked her head, not understanding.
M’thew sighed. "One day I will leave you with Feena, I’ll...Ugh." Someone plowed right into M’thew. Both people ended up on the ground, and Kar and the other firelizard started screeching at each other. M’thew looked over to swat his assailant, only to realize it was Feena. He stood up smiling.
Feena put a hand to her head. "Ugh....sorry."
M’thew watched as Kaye, Feena’s green flit, and Kar got reacquainted. "Entirely your fault." He laughed and helped her to her feet.
He smiled as she blushed and he noticed her toying with her necklace. It was a shell. M’thew recognized it as the one he’d given her over four turns ago, right before he left to impress Serenth. He smiled. She probably didn’t even know she was fooling with it. It’d become an unconscious habit of hers. He thought it was adorable. Kar and Kaye returned to their respective shoulders and chatted back and forth with one another. Feena was now 19 turns, like M’thew, and she looked much better than he remembered.
M thew smiled. "Long time no see, Feena."
Feena stared at her shoes. "I’ve been busy." She smiled as she watched Kar and Kaye. "And so have you."
M thew grinned. "I guess." He rubbed Kar s head. "Where are you running off to?"
"The lake. Olyth’s waiting for me."
M thew took her arm in his arm and headed towards the exit. "What a coincidence! That s were I m meeting Serenth." M thew quickly lead her off, not giving her time to object.
* * * Feena laughed as she watched Kaye and Kar play in the water. M’thew watched Feena. At the last moment Serenth bothered to warm M’thew that he was ready to kill them. M thew watched as Kaye got to close to Serenth and the blue snapped at the firelizard. He moved to grab Kaye, but lack of balance ended him in the water. Feena laughed as the blue rider floundered about in the water. "Do you want some help?"
M thew, wet bangs hanging in his eyes, glared at her. "I don t need any help thank you." He attempted to get out of the water, slipped and ended up back on his butt.
Feena s sided hurt from laughing so hard. M thew glared at her, but finally cracked and started laughing himself. "Maybe I could use a hand."
Feena walked to the edge of the water and leaned over. M’thew grinned. He grabbed her arm and tried to pull her into the water. Feena planted her feet and pulled back. A full scale tug-of-war broke out, with neither side conceding an inch. In the end, Feena gave up and threw herself at her friend. M thew, unprepared for her to suddenly give, barely caught her, and they both ended up in the water.
Serenth laughed and Olyth sighed. Feena pulled herself out of the water and glared at her lifemate. "What?"
She’s thinking exactly what I am. Serenth felt it necessary to inform his rider. You both look like idiots.
M’thew glared at his dragon and saw, out of the corner of his eye, Feena shivering. It was night and cold. I shouldn’t have pulled her in, she’ll freeze. M thew quickly offered her his jacket. He hadn’t been wearing it when he fell into the water, so it was dry. She blushed and accepted.
M thew walked Feena back to her weyr. She entered the weyr and he stopped at the door. She took off the jacket and looked at him. "What? Don t you have your own weyr?"
M thew grinned. She hasn’t changed. "Yep. But I kinda wanted my jacket back."
Feena blushed and handed him the coat. "So, I ll see you around?"
Serenth snorted. Not likely. I’m chasing at Dawn Sisters soon.
M thew smiled faded slightly, but he regained his composure quickly. He glared at Serenth. "Sure. G night Feena."
She smiled brightly. "Good night Matt."
M’thew blushed at the use of his old nickname and headed off towards his weyr, spirits lower than ever.
Kar seemed to catch on that it was a sad moment and the firelizard popped between to give her master some quiet time.
Serenth didn’t understand. What?
M’thew sighed and flopped himself down on his bed. "I forgot that you’re flying."
Serenth shrugged. So?
M’thew glared at his mount. He loved the dragon dearly, but sometimes Serenth just didn’t get it. "So, if you win. I’ll have a girlfriend."
The dragon once again shrugged. What’s the problem with that?
M’thew sighed. "I like Feena."
Serenth sighed and flopped down on his dragon couch. I was hoping you wouldn’t say that.
M’thew rolled his eyes. "Thanks for the support, Ser." He rolled onto his stomach and looked out his window, across the Weyrbowl. "What do I do now?"
Serenth was nodding off. Dunno. It’s your mess Romeo.
Although he was dead tired, M’thew couldn’t sleep that night. He laid awake and thought of what he could do.
Continue...
* * *
M'thew impressed Serenth at Xaviea Weyr.
M'thew impressed Kar at Quinalt Weyr.
View M’thew’s hatchling story!
View M'thew's candidate story.
