V'oz and Ispiranth

Magika sighed and looked at the man standing before her. She turned to face Mik’len and A’diar, who were both giggling at her. "Please..." She definitely sounded desperate. "Get Ehzeia."

The two continued to giggle, Like schoolchildren... Magika mentally added, as they went off to find the Searchrider who seemed to be the only one capable of talking to this man without losing her mind. God knows, Magika tried.

The man in question smiled quietly at her, the look on his face clearly telling her that he thought she was the one with problems. Magika was almost annoyed enough to get violent, but luckily, Ehzeia appeared.

"Yeah Weyrwoman?" Ehzeia was obviously a little annoyed at being roused at this ungodly hour for some task. She was only using the formal name to keep from expressing her true feelings on the older woman.

Magika, vowing to pummel Mik’len and A’diar for the simple reason that she was angry and they deserved it, rubbed her temple and pointed to the man in front of her.

The Searchrider smiled. "Vasyoz!"

Magika pointed to the blue hatchling sitting beside her desk, creeling. "No. V’oz."

"C’mon Magika," Ehzeia had reappeared in Magika’s office a few hours later, once the sun, and Weyr, were up, and continued her case for her friend. "He’s harmless."

"Physically!" The Weyrwoman was exhausted and really didn’t feel like having this conversation. "Mentally, he’s driving me crazy!"

Ehzeia rolled her eyes. "You’re just saying that because he woke you up so early last night..." She caught Magika’s glare. "...this morning..."

Magika sighed, mentally ordering herself to calm down before she popped something. "Look, Ehzeia, he needs help...like seriously! We should send him to Healers, or something." She saw the pleading look on Ehzeia’s face and sighed.

"I know he’s a little off the wall, but he’s a nice guy, and somebody has to teach him to ride..."

Magika interrupted with a snort. "Faranth only knows how he got a dragon."

Ehzeia the Searchrider, smiled. "I know as well as you do that dragons look at the heart not the mind."

Magika glared.

"I’ll watch out for him! I promise!"

Magika glared.

"You won’t even know he’s around."

Magika glared.

"Thanks Magika!! You won’t regret it!" Ehzeia patted the other woman on the head and bounded off to find V’oz.

Magika glared.

Oh lighten up!

Rider-mine? The little blue dragon had to admit he was completely confused. His egg dreams of finding his perfect rider hadn’t been anything like this. Deep within his soul, he knew V’oz was the man for him...but V’oz didn’t seem to want to acknowledge him.

The blue flit, Gaero, sat on Ispiranth’s head and sent the dragon comforting feelings. The flit was trying to tell his new companion that you couldn’t really expect much from the man they looked too. Ispiranth shook his head, dislodging the creature and walked over to where the horse was lying in the grass.

The horse, who was amazingly smart for a beast, knickered to welcome the dragon. Ispiranth was amazed at how his rider’s companion welcomed him. It seemed wrong somehow. The dragon’s eyes whirled a sad grey. He knew it was wrong for a hatchling, barely six seven-days old to be wandering Pern. He knew that he and V’oz should be under the tutelage of a Weyrling Master, but he didn’t have that luxury either. The dragon flopped down beside the horse. Here I am, wandering the country side, barely old enough to walk, and only acknowledged by my rider half the shardin’ time!

That’s awfully strong language for such a little dragon. Letaemyth towered over the tiny blue hatchling.

I have awfully strong feelings. The blue’s eyes whirled a light blue to show that he was happy to speak with the older Midnight Forest, but was still upset over his rider’s mental condition.

Cheer up. You’re staying at Adanuk. Letaemyth couldn’t help feeling sorry for the youngling. She couldn’t imagine what life would be like if Ehzeia decided to forget about her.

At least until V’oz decided to hop on Treaj and take off over the coutryside. He’s going to get us all threadscarred! Ispiranth’s eyes whirled faster as he grew worried about his beloved rider. Tae, how am I going to protect him?

The older dragoness smiled as the barely hatched blue used her nickname, treating her like an old friend. You act like you’re already grown child.

Ispirnath heaved a draconian sigh. I feel like I am. I’m sorry, but I need to know he’s safe.

Letaemyth smiled. Call me Tae, everyone else does, then I’ll call you Isp and we’ll be even. She waited for Ispriranth’s eyes to whirl green in amusement. And for the record, my rider Ehzeia has determined he is staying. She will keep him here forcibly if necessary. We won’t let you two out on the world until you are big enough to protect him.

Really? This was the best news Ispiranth could have possibly heard. Thank you.

No problem. Letaemyth headed back to her rider and Ispiranth followed her.

To his surprise both Treaj and Gaevo followed him. Seeing his friends leave, V’oz followed as well. "Where are we going little Isp?"

The dragon froze in his tracks as his rider used the nickname Letaemyth had just given him. What?

V’oz smiled, love for his new lifemate flowing from him freely. "Where are we going?"

The Weyr...we’ll be staying there for a while...okay? Ispriranth realized he was completely in control of this situation and it scared him.

V’oz rubbed his lifemate’s eyeridges. "Okay."

Ispiranth lead the way back to the Weyr, glad that V’oz finally recognized him, but a little nervous about his new role as leader. He sighed. This is what I get for impressing someone being hauled off the sands...

V’oz laughed, but it quickly died off. "One day...one day I’ll explain Isp...but not know...please don’t make me now." Tears came to the rider’s eyes and he slowed. The pain flowing from him almost physically hurt Ispiranth. The dragon could tell V’oz was forgetting him again.

On one condition! He called quickly, drawing V’oz back into the real world.

"Anything..."

Don’t forget me!

"How could I?"

Ehzeia came and helped lead V’oz back to his new room.

V'oz impressed Ispiranth at Talor Cliff Weyr.
Treaj's picture is from Beach Shards Weyr.
Gaevo's picture is from Keandyn Weyr.
Background from Morion Designs.