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Mine wants to swim? Feylith's huge blue head cocked at the grime-streaked Tethis, eyes swirling affectionately.

"Quite." Tethis admitted. "It's been a sharding awful morning." she leaned in close to her darling, resting her hand on his side briefly. Feylith leaned in, nosing her blonde hair affectionately before bending down so that she could mount him. She pulled herself up onto him, dismounting quickly at her weyr and changing into something just respectable enough for public decency. The last thing she needed, with the day she had, was someone taking offense to her bath.

Pulling out a small canteen full of her favorite Benden wine, she mounted back up on Feylith. "Just drop me in the lake, sweetling; there I'll soak in my Benden until I learn to go Between without you."

That would be dangerous. Feylith's mind-voice was mild, amused. When the weyrleader started asking where all the wine was going, I would have to explain that Mine had become a dragon herself. They dropped off the edge of their weyr and soared towards Dragon's Foot Springs. Feylith caught sight of the other dragon and rider first, trumpeting out a greeting.

As the small woman dropped off his side, she pulled her riding straps with it, setting it in a location she could keep a careful eye on. Thank you, love. She smiled, watching Feylith perk up at being called her love. "Hello there!" she called a friendly greeting to the other rider, taking the initiative as she moved towards the shallow waters edge.

Tethis suppressed an annoyed sigh at the cold shoulder- one could not be irritated at the common state of things, after all- she gave the brown a polite smile. "Fair greetings to you as well, rider." it was a pointed, gentle response to his gruff greeting.

Feylith, for his part, was extremely curious about what the brown and his rider were doing. Did you lose something in the water? Mine is a good swimmer, we can find what you lost, he volunteered. His large head swung to peek curiously at the pile.

Tethis couldn't stop a hiss of pain as she slipped into the heated water, the sensation of warmth stinging the ridged scar that went from one shoulder to the other hip. The various cuts and bruises on her hands and legs were typical; she would rub ointment into them later. Setting the Benden next to her, within reach should she desire, she let her head loll back and allowed herself to go limp in the water.

Feylith's eyes immediately whirled anxiously. Remember to not go between without me, he instructed her. You might get lost.

Feylith snorted, displeased with the brown's rider. It did gall him so that people disregarded his Choice. Still, His was not bothered by it, and he wasn't being insulting, so he snaked his head around and stretched out by His on the dirt. "Won't you be going in for a soak, Feylith?" her voice was gentle, and it was obvious she spoke aloud from habit more than a desire to interrupt the other pair.

No, mine, the brown is searching for rocks.

"Rocks?" she sounded amused. "So, Yours is a collector of rocks, or is that your particular hobby?" she uncorked the Benden, trying to be sociable with the other rider and knowing that her attempts would probably fail.

Never let it be said that Tethis was not a determined, bullheaded sort. A swig of the drink and she was light-headed with pleasure, letting the taste dance through her mouth until she had to swallow. She shook her head with a happy sigh when it had gone down and watched the brown rooting about underwater, then took another swig of her wine and put the cork back in the container.

Her lips quirked ruefully at the shortness, even as Feylith snorted in the direction of the brown and his rider, blocking His from their view, eyes swirling displeasure. Feylith, why don't you see if the brown would like your help? Tethis asked, seeing the unhappy look in his eyes. You know I am not bothered by it.

You might not be, but it displeases me. My decision was not wrong! His eyes whirled at her anxiously and he rested his large head next to her. You are the most perfect in the whole world for me, even if you aren't a man!

I know. The words were gentle, even in mind-voice. The attitude of riders towards her and other female riders had bothered Feylith since he was old enough to understand. And the fact it continued meant that it never left his short memory, even after other faults would. They'll see, when Thread comes. It doesn't matter the gender of the rider, our bond is a good one. She soothed his temper for a few minutes, taking another swig of the Benden. "Would you like some wine, rider?" she asked finally, tone one of bland courtesy. "It's good."

Feylith lifted his body from its almost protective circle, eyes swirling again in curiosity at the stones. Would you like some help? I won't give them to Mine, since Yours seems to know what to do just fine. Then you can have another digging rocks while you look through? Plus, it would give him an excuse to submerge himself for a good soak!

She sighed quietly. "You know what I've always wanted to ask the people who try and ignore me for being what I am?" she said finally, taking a third swig of the wine- for a boost to her courage, naturally. "Why am I treated coldly for being what I am?" she pulled out of the water, watching her dragon's eyes swirl with concern at her agitation. She knelt next to the creature, rubbing a few smudges off of his brilliant scales. "It isn't my fault I was Chosen by Feylith, and it wasn't his fault I was meant for him." Her tone was soft, conversational. "Just like it isn't the fault of the man who rides a green; but they aren't frowned on." Not that she'd noticed. "Is it then my mother's fault, for birthing a female?"

I do not think he will understand this, Mine. Feylith's mind-voice was soft. This is how it is done, and you knew I would be condemning you to this when I joined with you.

I would not change my mind even now, my love. her own voice was soft in response. The answer is just something I need to hear.

It will hurt you. I cannot bear it when you bleed inside, I cannot heal you there.

"You are the only thing that heals me, my beloved." Her voice was soft. "You are what I live for, my Feylith." she leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to the blue dragon's nose.

The blue snorted. The brown wishes us to leave. He informed Tethis. His mind voice made her shudder. I know you do not wish to. His eyes narrowed at the other dragon, and shifted his body, as if starting to his feet.

"No." Tethis kept her voice cool, and the brown rider would tell it would be as much to command her dragon to be still as to tell the rider of her intentions. "I am not less than you, brown rider, nor will I leave a common area because of you. You have no more and no less rights than I. I will be silent, if being questioned displeases you. But me and mine will not leave."

Feylith let his heavy body relax, but his big head moved, pushing His towards the lake. Get your swim then, Mine. If you wish it, we will not leave this place. He looked over at the brown. You heard mine. If yours thinks he is better than mine, then he'll have no problem with her agreeing to leave you be- in silence. He was pleased with her choice; she capitulated and gave in too much. She was too often full of anger at the things she suffered for love of him. It gave him pangs. Mine is full of tolerance, is she not?

Tethis nodded, splashing into the lake, Feylith's anxious eyes on her. His was hurting, he knew it as well as he knew that his name was Feylith; when she was in pain, he was too, and struck out accordingly. To reflect this pain and anger, the mix of his emotions, his eyes were whirling dangerously, red and yellow prevalent in the colors. Still, his attention was on his rider, watching her wade her way around the water as carefully as though she were a child who would slip and fall at any moment, and he a worried parent.

Tethis dove into the water, moving quickly through the deep parts of the pool. She swam like a fish, her arms strong and sure. She'd been a fisher apprentice once, a woman who had made it through the hazing of men who did not all feel that women belonged on a boat. A strong arm, a strong back, and her instinct had served her well, and earned her respect, in time. Why was it not enough?! To be fair not all riders of Telgar were narrow-minded sexists, but the majority were. It narrowed down the list considerably of those she was comfortable with.

Her insides quaked with rage. She ached to scream, to rail, and it would do no good. It never did. All it did was hurt Feylith. What was one more brown rider to add to the list of sexist fools? Her body shook, and she dove under the water to release her shriek of anger, knowing unless ears were keen it would not be heard. And then she surfaced, moving in quick, steady laps around the spring, careful to avoid the area where the brown was seeking his rocks.

May he find nothing. she thought uncharitably. And may he get a rock in his teeth.

You could be nicer. What if that were me?

Then I would love you as I do now.

No! Feylith said at first, mindvoice a firm reply to the worried brown. But His saw the brown pacing when she surfaced, saw Feylith watching her, his eyes twirling as though any moment he was going to fling himself on the keening dragon. All he needed was her to flinch, make the tiniest sign...

"Fine." Tethis said simply, in response to the riders words. Feylith cried out in protest, hauling himself to his feet. She moved from the water, giving the rider a chilling look. "For my dragon." Her blood was running heated and chill in her veins, all at once. Her own hurt sought some outlet, that hurt rubbed raw by Feylith's temper. "Shards." it was a mutter and she bent down to grab the Benden. "A parting gift." she moved over to him, set it calmly down by his side. "Since I houldn't have bothered to try and speak to someone as cold as you in the first place."

Feylith screamed, behind her, and she whirled on him at once, moving over and pressing her hand to his hide. Feylith, we go.

No! I don't want to. And he shouldn't get your Favorite. His mind-voice was resigned though, his body tense as a wire, watching as though he suspected the other pair of some deed, some cruelty that they in truth had not expressed. His eyes were only red now, whirling hate at the brown and his rider.

She moved away, waiting for her dragon to follow her, tapping her foot when he continued to stare for a moment. You only don't want to leave because you're angry. I got in enough of a swim to get the grit off. We can leave for now, come back later. They aren't worth trying to deal with. Look at the way his brown paces and keens. Not like you, my love. she cajoled him. And I have more in our weyr, I don't need that bit that's left. It would leave a bad taste in my mouth. The canteen of Benden now sitting at Ma'k's side was almost full.

The massive blue turned finally, following her. Mine and I will be back, he snapped at the brown. Go away from here quickly so I can make Mine happy. I care not for your rocks or your rocking day. This place is not yours. He saw the thin line between Her brows as she tossed a pad over him to avoid being cut on his scales; the line that said she was strained almost to her breaking point by the overflow of his anger. Immediately his demeanor, his anger at those who hurt His, faded from anger to worry. Eyes that were suddenly yellow-grey looked her over and he nudged His with his nose gently. Come, Mine. We will go from here. He turned his head. We will go to the big waters, where you lived once, and you will swim and we will wallow in the sand.

She mounted him, paying the other dragon and rider no mind, and they were off.